Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – Since 1926 the George Washington University mascot has been the Colonials, according to the university’s website, but some students say the name is offensive and are petitioning for it to be changed.
“The historically, negatively-charged figure of Colonials has too deep a connection to colonization and glorifies the act of systemic oppression,” says two petitions – one on the GW Student Association website and another on change.org.
The change.org petition also says, “The use of “Colonials,” no matter how innocent the intention, is received as extremely offensive by not only affiliates of the University, but the nation and world at large.”
Both petitions suggest the mascot be changed to hippos, which is already an unofficial mascot according to George Washington University Student Association President Ashley Le.
“We have a hippo on campus, a statue of it, and it just, the idea of a hippo is fun,” Le said.
The student association will respond to the petition on its website if 500 students sign it.
Copyright 2018 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Jessica McConnell /George Washington University)
