LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — UNLV announced Tuesday evening that the Hey Reb! statue near the Tam Alumni Center has been removed.
UNLV President Marta Meana said Hey Reb! was taken down after mutual conversations took place with the donor about the removal of the statue.
The university shared the president's message Tuesday evening:
On Monday, 13 Action News shared an online petition that was gaining traction in calling for a new mascot at UNLV.
The university’s first official mascot was Beauregard, a cartoon wolf wearing a confederate uniform.
Students voted to banish Beauregard in the 70s and Hey Reb! is currently in place -- reportedly inspired by the Western Trailblazers of the 1800s.
However, some have argued that Hey Reb! doesn’t sever the confederate connection enough.
UNLV Athletics drops 'Hey Reb!' logo
“If that change is needed to bring everyone together -- students, teachers, faculty, athletes, across the board. If it makes more people smile then that’s what needs to happen, that’s the focus,” said Jon Goldman, who performed as Hey Reb! for six years before ending that role in 2013.
