Nickname committee selects final five

If Southeast Missouri State University does wind up with a new nickname and mascot for its athletic teams, the chances are good one of the school's colors, red, will be emphasized.

A university committee on Wednesday narrowed the list of prospective nicknames to five from an original pool of more than 800 suggested by various groups that included Southeast students, staff and fans. Three of the five possibilities include "Red" as part of the name.

The five possible nicknames are Red Hawks, Red Birds, Red Wolves, Explorers and Sentinels.

"We got a lot done," said Southeast health and recreation professor Ed Leoni, who chairs the 17-member committee of faculty, staff, students, alumni and boosters that was appointed by school president Dr. Ken Dobbins. "We haven't made any decision, but we're certainly closer."

The committee hopes to make a recommendation on a new nickname to Dobbins in May and the board of regents would then consider the matter in June.

Leoni emphasized that the committee has no final say on whether or not a new nickname is selected. The committee will simply provide their recommendation on a new nickname and mascot, but the board of regents will have the final say.

It's all part of an effort by the committee to retire the Indians and Otahkians nicknames for the school's men's and women's athletic teams and replace them with one that can be better marketed and doesn't demean Native Americans.

The committee concluded last month that the Indians and Otahkians nicknames should be retired. That decision followed similar recommendations reached last year by the school's National Alumni Council and student government, and narrowly in February by the Boosters Club board of directors.

Dobbins has said he won't recommend that the regents scrap the current nicknames unless there is a replacement name and mascot that has widespread support by the university's employees, students and fans.

Leoni said the committee feels good about its five choices.

"The reason we feel that way is they came from the community, from the athletes, from alumni, etc., and all came through with great favor," Leoni said.

Leoni said the committee has developed nine different criteria to help decide among the five finalists.

"Among the criteria are: Is it marketable? Will it stand the test of time?" Leoni said.

Leoni said the five nicknames, along with the nine criteria, will be placed on the university Web page devoted to this topic. People will be asked to rank the five nicknames and the committee will go back to the various groups in order to gain as much feedback as possible prior to its next meeting on May 5.

Leoni also said that another significant development from Wednesday's meeting is the committee voting unanimously that the university maintain a relationship with the current Indian nickname.

"We want to maintain a relationship in a dignified way that won't involve a mascot," Leoni said. "We feel there's a better way, a cultural way, to honor the Native American Indian culture.

"We're not saying we want to sever the relationship. We want to change the relationship to something we feel will be more appropriate."