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George Washington University to discontinue 'Colonials' moniker

DerekJohnsonDerekJohnson Administrator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 59,711
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The George Washington University is discontinuing the use of its Colonials moniker, the school announced Wednesday.

GW’s Division I sports programs have used the nickname, which has been criticized by students for its association with colonialism, since 1926.

“We made this decision only after a thoughtful and deliberate process that followed the renaming framework and special committee recommendation that considered the varying perspectives of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and athletics community,” Board Chair Grace Speights said in a statement.

“A moniker must unify our community, draw people together and serve as a source of pride. We look forward to the next steps in an inclusive process to identify a moniker that fulfills this aspiration.”

The school joins a number of collegiate and professional organizations that have changed their monikers in recent years.

Last year, Valparaiso University adopted the Beacons as its new team name, replacing the Crusaders, a term school officials dropped after saying it had been embraced by hate groups.

In 2020, the NFL’s Washington Commanders dropped their Redskins name and MLB’s Cleveland franchise changed its nickname from Indians to Guardians due to criticism that both monikers were offensive to Native Americans.

Colonials will continue to be used until a new moniker is introduced, which is expected by the 2023-24 academic year after “a broad university community engagement process.”

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