Regents governing SEOSU vote to change nickname

DURANT, Okla. (AP) _ The regents governing Southeastern Oklahoma State University vote to change the school's nickname to the Savage Storm. <br/><br/>Southeastern Oklahoma President Glen -D- Johnson

Saturday, January 21st 2006, 2:14 pm

By: News On 6

DURANT, Okla. (AP) _ The regents governing Southeastern Oklahoma State University vote to change the school's nickname to the Savage Storm.

Southeastern Oklahoma President Glen -D- Johnson recommended to the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges that the name be changed to the Savage Storm from the Savages.

Officials said yesterday that no American Indian imagery will be associated with the new nickname, which will comply with NCAA policy guidelines. The new nickname and imagery is expected to be in place by May 15th.

In August, the NCAA Executive Committee adopted a new policy to prohibit NCAA colleges and universities from displaying hostile or abusive racial/ethnic/national origin mascots, nicknames or imagery at any of the group's national or regional championship competitions.

The policy also bars those schools from hosting NCAA postseason championship events.

Officials said Southeastern Oklahoma did an institutional self-evaluation examining the use of the mascot, nickname, and logo before the NCAA meeting.