George Washington University has removed ‘Colonial’ from the premises after students protested against the mascot, arguing that it meant oppression.
As a result of the move, the student body named “Colonial Central” was renamed to the “Student Services Hub.”
“While the official mascot remains the colonial, the university recently renamed ‘Colonial Central,’ the student center focused on registration and financial services, to the ‘Student Services Hub,'” Kara Zupkus, from Young American’s Foundation, told the Daily Wire.
“The student group ‘Colonial Army,’ which draws students to attend sporting events for the school, re-branded itself ‘George’s Army,'” Zupkus added.
In a referendum held last spring, 54 per cent of students voted to change the mascot. The referendum came after the students started a petition to replace the mascot in May 2018.
The petition argued how the use of ‘Colonials’ could be offensive not only to the students on campus but also to their nation and the rest of the world.
“The historically, negatively-charged figure of Colonials has too deep a connection to colonization and glorifies the act of systemic oppression,” the petition said, adding how the administration could consider alternative nicknames such as ‘Riverhorses,’ ‘Hippos,’ or ‘Revolutionaries.point 538 |
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Andrew Hesbacher, one of the organizers of the petition, told the GW Hatchet at the time: “It’s very wrong for us to call ourselves an open and welcoming university when the name means such demise and terror for students who could possibly come here.”
Rachel Yakobashvili, another organizer, told Campus Reform that the petition was started because “it was time for students to be able to voice their concerns and desires in a more public and organized manner.'”
George Washington University named the ‘Colonial’ as its official mascot in 1926.
At the time, the GW Hatchet published an editorial, saying: “Dissatisfaction has been expressed for the past several years with the nicknames usually associated with the George Washington University’s athletic teams.”
The outlet listed a number of nicknames suggested for the mascot, before adding how none of them reflected the dignity of their team.
“In the place of the names the University Hatchet suggests the use of the connotation “Colonials” for the teams of the Buff and Blue,” the editorial continued.
“What name could be more fitting? This, the school named after George Washington, and having as its colors the Continental Army buff and blue, the colors of Colonial America, should be entitled to bear the name of “Colonials” if any school is so entitled.
“George Washington University, in its antecedents, is a colonial school. Dating back to very early post-Revolutionary days, it was founded when the term “colonial” still applied to an era which was then passing.
“Let us then, in just regard for our precious heritage, adopt as the name for the warriors wearing the Buff and Blue the term ‘Colonials.'”
In 2000, Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, the president of George Washington University at the time, installed a statue of a hippo. Ever since then, it has remained the school’s unofficial mascot.
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