CONWAY, Ark. (March 20, 2007) – Hendrix President J. Timothy Cloyd unveiled a new athletics mascot today in a brief ceremony in the lobby of Grove Gymnasium.
Hendrix has been without a mascot since 2001, when the College decided to eliminate the Native American imagery that had been used to promote its athletics teams – the Hendrix Warriors. A shield with the word “Warriors” across it has served as the athletic image of the College since that time.
The image unveiled today has evolved through a year-long process that involved input from students, faculty, staff and alumni of the College. Students and student athletes initiated the process, with the idea of creating not just a graphic image but a physical mascot who could help build spirit at athletic events. To begin the process, the College solicited ideas from students and alumni, receiving 34 distinct concepts from 53 individuals.
“The new Warrior image is designed to capture the fiercely independent spirit of Hendrix students and to radiate confidence and competence,” President Cloyd said. “The College worked deliberately to develop an image that would capture the proud Warrior spirit without being associated with any specific ethnic group.”
The new image draws on a classic, barbaric vision of a warrior, including leather armor and face-painting – in white, black and Hendrix orange (PMS 158).
The imagery will be reflected in the College’s new Wellness and Athletics Center, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2007. In addition to the Warrior image, a new version of the Hendrix shield and a third variation incorporating the Hendrix wordmark were also unveiled. To view these images, click here.
Hendrix moved to eliminate the use of Native American imagery to promote its athletics teams well before the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) implemented its ban on such imagery in February 2006. Other institutions around the country, including the University of Illinois which recently retired its Chief Illiniwek, are now feeling pressure to replace outdated imagery.
“We know that changing a college mascot can be a sensitive matter, especially for students and alumni who have fond memories of their college days. Yet, we also know that it is important that we respect the beliefs and traditions of Native Americans and other ethnic groups,” President Cloyd said. “We believe the new images we’re sharing today will represent Hendrix well. We expect the image to evolve over time, and believe that it is a mascot we can be proud to have associated with Hendrix athletics.”
Click here to view photos from the unveiling ceremony.
Hendrix, founded in 1876, is a selective, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college that emphasizes hands-on academic experiences in a demanding yet supportive environment. The college, which enrolls approximately 1,100 students, has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. For more information about Hendrix, visit www.hendrix.edu.