SEMO Opts To Do Away With Indian Nicknames For Sports Teams

Southeast Missouri State University has decided “Indians” and “Otahkians” are improper nicknames for sports teams and improper mascots for the school. The board of regents has adopted “Red Hawks” as the new sports team name. The school has been phasing out references to Native Americans in team logos and mascots almost 20 years ago. A Native American group spokesman told regents, “We are human beings, not mascots.”