KEEP INDIAN MASCOTS FOR SEMO TEAMS

Southeast Missouri State University is still mulling over a new mascot. Many options have been raised, but few have fueled much enthusiasm from students, alumni or the community.

Traditionally the university has embraced Indian mascots such as Chief Sagamore and Princess Otahki. But there has been some recent worry that continuing the trend would offend Native Americans.

Lately that concern seems to be lessening. President Dale Nitzschke said some Native Americans have told school officials they don't have a problem with an Indian mascot as along as it is culturally accurate.

That is good news. Indians are a proud heritage for both the university and the region. The Indian tradition seems to make sense for the university, whose athletic teams are called the Indians and Otahkians.

Just consider:

Louis Lorimier, founder of Cape Girardeau, was part Indian, and he had an Indian bride. He brought large numbers of Shawnee and Delaware Indians to Cape Girardeau. These Indians were forced out of their lands in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. When Lorimier called a general council of the Indians at the Cape Girardeau post in 1793, a total of 22 tribes were represented.

The Cherokees also have close ties to this region. Otahki was the daughter of an Indian chieftain, Jesse Bushyhead. Legend suggests she was buried near Cape Girardeau during the Cherokee's Trail of Tears forced migration. A memorial to her was dedicated at the Trail of Tears State Park in 1962.

Many of Cape Girardeau's city parks are named in honor of Indian tribes: Capaha, Shawnee, Indian, Osage and Cherokee. The Capaha baseball team proudly bears a tribe's name.

A university committee gave ample consideration to the prospect of a new mascot. Frankly, the options, bathed in political correctness, were dull. Nearly a year ago, the committee recommended the sun. It is hard for anyone to be opposed to the sun, but it generated very little support. The idea was later scrapped when no suitable costume could be found.

The committee then suggested an eagle, but a group of 400 students launched a petition drive in opposition. This too was discarded.

The university doesn't need a mascot to survive. But university mascots do play a role in building school spirit, especially at sporting events. It is time to drop this issue and support the Indian mascot. The costume can be done in a way that honors Indians. The region is proud of its Indian heritage. An Indian mascot at Southeast is the perfect way to display this pride in a spirited way.