The end for Indians

Southeast Missouri State University embarked on a new future as the Redhawks after officially saying goodbye to its Indian nicknames at a retirement ceremony Friday.

About 200 people attended the outdoor ceremony near Academic Auditorium to hear what school officials and invited guests had to say on this historic occasion. The men's sports teams have been called the Indians since 1922, and the women's sports teams have been the Otahkians since 1972.

The board of regents unanimously adopted the Redhawks nickname for the men's and women's sports teams June 30 after listening to the recommendations of a 18-member committee.

American Indian musician Bill Miller started off Friday's hour-and-a-half long ceremony with flute songs.

"I never thought I'd be on a campus that would change its name," Miller said. "It's awesome. You're setting a precedent."

Ed Leoni, the nickname-mascot committee chairman, told the audience how proud he was that the university was honoring its mission to serve all people, and the university's leadership all recognized "the need for Southeast Missouri State University to embrace its past while bravely defining its future."

After the joint presentation of colors by the university's ROTC and the Intertribal Native American Dancers, university president Dr. Ken Dobbins addressed the audience. He said the transitional period will culminate on Jan. 22 when the university's sports teams start competing as the Redhawks.

A reason for the delay is that the Redhawks logo will not be ready until January, university officials said. The logo and a costumed mascot will make their first appearance during the men's and women's basketball games Jan. 22.

Dobbins said the ceremony was also intended to pay a respective tribute to the American Indian community, as well as to express the pride in the thousands of student-athletes that had achieved greatness under the Indian and Otahkian name and that the name change "in no way diminishes their accomplishments."

Following Dobbins, Richard Eichorst made remarks on behalf of the university's National Alumni Council and athletic director Don Kaverman spoke on behalf of his department.

Eichorst said the university was the envy of schools around the country because of its decision and the way in which the issue was handled.

"We did the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons," Eichorst said.

The keynote address was given by Carol Spindel, a professor at the University of Illinois and the author of "Dancing at Halftime," a book that looks at the controversy over American Indian mascots.

"Here at Southeast Missouri State University, you have taken a courageous and farsighted action," Spindel said. "While other schools have spent years divided, you have shown it doesn't have to be that way."

The ceremony also featured the reading of plans stating how the university intends to celebrate the American Indian culture and history.

They include: exploring the creation of an endowment to fund an annual scholarship for a student interested in cultural preservation; the creation of a standing committee on American Indian cultural preservation and education to coordinate and recommend university programming; part-time administrative support and an annual budget to pay for the programing; the commission of an interpretive painting in the University Center depicting an American Indian theme; the commission of a sculpture; and the planting of Cherokee roses near sculpture.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182