By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Today (Wednesday) is the last day students, faculty and staff, and alums of UM-St. Louis can submit ideas on whether the school's nickname of the Rivermen and women should stay or be replaced.
Curt Coonrod, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, is chairing what is now the third committee to look into the issue.
He says a number of people want to keep the current nickname but others think it's time for a change. "They point to, for instance, Mizzou, and they have the Tiger," Coonrod notes. "And they have sweatshirts that have the cat paws on the road, and there seems to be a sense of pride that is surrounded by that.
"And I think there are a number of students that are interested in having something like that, as well."
Coonrod says the committee will also study what kind of mascot the school should have to go along with whatever nickname is used. He says the last effort at a mascot was the River Pup, which put a person in a dog costume, but it hasn't been used this year.
One name that has surfaced in the past as a possible replacement is the Hellbender, after the endangered salamander. But Coonrod says he's not sure that would have enough support from top administrators.
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