A student touches a hippo statue for luck as she leads prospective George Washington University students and their parents on a 2017 tour of campus. Some students want to change the school’s nickname to “Hippos.” (Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post)Some students are asking to change a longtime nickname for George Washington University, arguing that “Colonials” is offensive because it is too evocative of colonization and oppression. GW Students: it is time to help decolonize university spirit! Posted by GW Students for Indigenous and Native American Rights on Tuesday, April 24, 2018Leaders of GW Students for Indigenous and Native American Rights did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. The Colonials nickname began in 1926, according to a university website.

Source: Washington Post May 03, 2018 22:34 UTC