SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – Evangel University in Springfield plans to retire its Crusader mascot immediately, the school announced Friday.
The university’s board of trustees and interim president voted Thursday to drop the mascot, which has represented the private, Christian school since shortly after it opened in the 1950s.
University spokeswoman Erin Hedlun said the Crusader mascot originally represented bravery, loyalty and courage. But in recent years, it has connotations linked to a bitter ware between Christians and Muslims in Europe and the Middle East from the 11th to 13th centuries, she said.
She said university alumni who work and minister in the U.S. and globally cannot advocate or support the Crusader mascot, The Springfield News-Leader reported.
A mascot selection committee will begin working in April and will seek input from several groups. The plan is to have a replacement mascot selected by the start of the fall semester, Hedlund said.
Evangel is the flagship college for the Assemblies of God Christian church, which has its headquarters in Springfield.
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