UNLV removes controversial Hey Reb! statue from campus as the school moves to change its Confederate-themed Runnin' Rebels nickname

• UNLV removed a statue of its mascot, Hey Reb!, from campus and returned it to its donor as the school moves to change its Runnin' Rebels nickname
• President Marta Meana referenced the ongoing national discussion about racism and civil rights while explaining her decision to remove the statue 
• Nevada was never a part of the Confederacy and did not even become a state in the Union until 1864 - just a year before the end of the Civil War
• According to the school, the Runnin' Rebel mascot dates back to the mid-1950s, when UNLV was a satellite campus for the University of Nevada in Reno 
• UNLV students, hoping to contrast themselves with their rivals to the north, picked a wolf in a Confederate uniform for their mascot before changing it 
• Ultimately the Hey Reb! mascot and Runnin' Rebels nickname were adopted 

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has removed a statue of its controversial mascot, Hey Reb!, from campus as the school moves to change its Runnin' Rebels nickname in favor of one that is unrelated to the Confederacy, Civil War, or racism. 

In a statement, UNLV president Marta Meana explained her reasoning for the decision, while referencing the ongoing nationwide civil rights protests over racist police brutality in America.

'I wanted to let you know that the Hey Reb! statue in front of the Tam Alumni Center was taken down this evening,' read Meana's statement. 'In recent conversations with the donor we mutually agreed it was best to remove the statue and return it.' 

+5

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has removed a statue of its controversial mascot, Hey Reb!, from campus as the school moves to change its Runnin' Rebels nickname in favor of one that is unrelated to the Confederacy, Civil War, or racism

KLAS-TV's shot of the Hey Reb! statue being removed from campus to be returned to its donor. The school is also considering changing its team nickname away from the Runnin' Rebe;s

'Over the past few months,' she continued, 'I have had discussions with multiple individuals and stakeholder groups from campus and the community on how best the university can move forward given recent events throughout our nation.

That includes the future of our mascot. The frequency of those conversations has increased in recent weeks, and I will have more to share with campus once the listening tour is complete.'

According to the school website, the Runnin' Rebel mascot dates back to the mid-1950s, when UNLV was a satellite campus for the University of Nevada in Reno.

In a statement, UNLV president Marta Meana explained her reasoning for the decision, while referencing the ongoing nationwide civil rights protests over racist police brutality in America

'[Students] and administrators drew the idea for Rebels from the natural rivalry that accompanied the split between what would become UNLV and UNR,' reads the UNLV website says.

Initially students drew up a cartoon wolf in a Confederate uniform named Beauregard to 'rebel against Nevada-Reno and its wolf-pack mascot in the North.'

UNLV, on its website, admits that 'while it was a decision based in rivalry and fun, the choice of a Confederate-themed mascot was nonetheless an unfortunate one.'

After the wolf, Beauregard, was banished, local artist Mike Miller designed the Hey Reb! mascot and sold to the school for $1.

Recently a change.org petition was started to convince the school to abandon the Hey Reb! mascot.

'UNLV's current mascot, the 'Rebel' is racist and is rooted in a Confederate mythology which has no place on our campus,' read a description of the petition written by David J. Morris. 'The mascot, originally named 'Beauregard' after the Confederate general who fired the first shots of the Civil War, presents a public image that runs counter to our core values and UNLV's mission to become the leading multicultural university in the United States.

+5

Recently a change.org petition was started to convince the school to abandon Hey Reb! 

'Having a mascot that is inextricably connected to a failed regime whose single aim was to preserve the institution of slavery is an embarrassment to our campus and to our community. In 2017, our Congresswoman and 30-year UNLV Professor Dina Titus (D-NV) argued on KNPR that the university should consider retiring the mascot. Former Senator Harry Reid has also suggested that the 'Rebel' mascot should be replaced.

+5

The University of Mississippi (commonly referred to as Ole miss) discontinued use of its mascot, Colonel Reb, in 2010, but has not changed its nickname, the Rebels

'It's 2020 now, and time to turn the page on the 'Lost Cause' of the Confederacy in Nevada. We, the undersigned, demand that UNLV President Marta Meana hold a campus-wide vote as soon as possible to select a new mascot that better represents our community and our school.'

Many schools have adopted new nicknames in recent years, typically changing away from terminology considered to be offensive to Native Americans.

Another college, Mississippi, discontinued use of its mascot, Colonel Reb, in 2010, but has not changed its Confederate nickname, the Rebels.

UNLV's athletic department has had its ups and downs over the years.

Four-time NFL Pro Bowler Randall Cunningham played quarterback and punter for the Runnin' Rebels. Other famous UNLV football players include ex-Cincinnati Running back Ickey Woods, former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Keenan McCardell, ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne, and Suge Knight, the co-founder of Death Row Records who is now serving a 28-year prison sentence for a fatal 2015 hit-and-run.

The Runnin' Rebels have had more success on the basketball court, where former coach Jerry Tarkanian famously led Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony and Stacey Augmon to an NCAA title in 1990. Retired NBA stars Shawn Marion and Reggie Theus also played at the school.

+5

The Runnin' Rebels have had more success on the basketball court, where former coach Jerry Tarkanian famously led Larry Johnson, Greg Anthony and Stacey Augmon to an NCAA title in 1990. Retired NBA stars Shawn Marion and Reggie Theus also played at the school