IUP changes nickname to Crimson Hawks

What's in a name?

For Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a nickname is worth about nine months of study, three open forums, two online polls and a formal vote.

In the end, the university decided that its athletic teams would be known as the Crimson Hawks, replacing the Indians moniker used since the 1930s.

IUP's Council of Trustees on Friday approved President Tony Atwater's recommendation that the Crimson Hawks be the new nickname and mascot.

"It's an important step," Atwater said. "It's a historic step we took today."

IUP settled on Crimson Hawks after the NCAA ruled last spring that the school was one of several across the country that would face postseason sanctions if it continued using names or imagery considered offensive to American Indians.

The NCAA ruling started a study on campus as to whether IUP should change the nickname or stay with Indians and face the consequences, including losing the ability to host championship events.

But Atwater said the change would help the school rid itself of confusion that surfaced with the Indians nickname and a bear as the mascot. He said the change would also aid in marketing the university.

"You're talking about something that's going to translate into dollars and cents," Atwater said.

In September, the trustees decided that the Indians name would go, and university officials began looking at potential new nicknames.

Nearly 170 nickname suggestions were submitted, and officials narrowed the list down to three: Crimson Hawks, Crimson Thunder and Gray Wolves.

Crimson and gray are IUP's colors.

More than 1,180 people responded to an online poll of the three nickname choices in November. They chose Crimson Hawks overwhelmingly, officials said.

The new mascot pays homage to red-tailed hawks -- a couple of whom make their home in IUP's Oak Grove.

Nick Posey, of Red Lion, York County, an IUP student of American Indian descent, said he was pleased with the decision to change the nickname, although he considered Crimson Hawks "generic."

"What the name was changed to I wasn't as concerned with as I was that the name was changed in the first place," Posey said.

Still, he said work needed to be done on ridding the school of its fight song, which conjures up American Indian imagery.

Atwater said the university would evaluate the fight song and other American Indian imagery on campus.

"We're going to have to take this a step at a time," Atwater said. "I'm not going to say they're totally abandoned, but we're going to have to take a look at this whole new package."

Other students said they like the new name.

IUP cheerleader McKenzie Meyer, 20, of St. Mary's, Elk County, said she and other members of the squad hoped for Crimson Hawks.

"I liked that better than anything," she said. "Wolves -- that sounds so scary and mean. How would you do thunder?"

IUP junior Gina Martell, 21, of Harrisburg, liked the change, too.

"It's going to be hard to get used to it though," Martell said. "We've been the Indians for so long."