IUP forum explores alternative for ‘Indians’

Since Indiana University of Pennsylvania's athletic teams won't be called the "Indians" any longer, students and others attending a forum Friday offered ideas -- some unusual and some tried-and-true.

Will IUP be known as the "Hellbenders" or the "Fighting Squirrels"•

Maybe the teams will stick with their current mascot and call themselves the "Bears," or steal a page from the University of Georgia and go with the "Bulldogs."

The ideas are endless for the teams known since the 1930s as Indians. But officials at IUP know one thing -- the university officially will change its nickname by the end of the academic year.

The forum was the first such meeting held since April, when the NCAA issued a final ruling against IUP's use of the Indians nickname.

If IUP were to keep the moniker, its teams would not be allowed to host NCAA championship events, and athletes in those contests would not be able to wear uniforms or use equipment with the nickname.

Last week, the IUP Council of Trustees authorized the university to discontinue use of the Indians nickname.

Robert Davies, vice president of institutional advancement at IUP, expects university officials will present a new name to the trustees at a March meeting. He also anticipates the university will petition the NCAA to hold off on any sanctions this year since IUP is moving to change the name.

IUP officials have discussed the matter numerous times in the past. In the 1990s, the Indians nickname was kept, but a bear mascot was added in a compromise.

At yesterday's forum, more than a dozen people offered name suggestions. A second forum will be held next week.

Some expressed their gratitude that the Indians nickname is being dropped.

"I'm really happy that everybody finally decided this is a wise thing to do," said student Cole Hood, 27, of Indiana.

He suggested "Hellbenders" as a nickname. The large salamander is native to the region.

"How can you go wrong with a large orange lizard?" Hood asked. "It's highly marketable."

Student Nick Posey, whose father is American Indian, said he was "thrilled" that IUP will drop the Indians nickname, but he wasn't happy with the reasons.

"The reasons, I think, are suspect -- more financial and to help the sports teams than to respect a living people," said Posey, 26, of Red Lion, York County.

Lia Holtz, the head IUP cheerleading coach, said the cheerleaders like the "Bulldogs."

"You can actually have a real living mascot, which is neat as well," she said.

Others suggested the "Fighting Squirrels," in honor of the animals that make their home on the campus.

But whatever the outcome, student-athlete Brittany Pikur, 20, of Richland, said she hopes athletes' voices are heard.

"We'd like to have some say in what you change the nickname to," Pikur said. "We wear the uniforms."

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