‘Otterly obvious’: Lewis & Clark College moves away from ‘Pioneer’ mascot

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A Portland liberal arts college is rebranding after community members determined they should do away with their original mascot.

On Friday, Lewis & Clark College announced that its community will now be known as the river otters. The private school was previously known as the Pioneers — or Pios, for short. But a survey conducted in early 2024 found that just 18% of current students believed the original mascot was appropriate, thus launching the search for a new mascot.

Students, alumni and employees chose river otters over the seven other options presented in a ranked-choice voting system, according to Lewis & Clark. The selection was “otterly obvious,” Speech and Debate team member Keida Glidden said during an event held by the college.

“L&C students are creative, curious, and caring,” Glidden added. “We live in tight-knit communities that allow us to make meaningful impacts. Otters embody characteristics that we want to be associated with our student culture.”

The pioneer has served as the college’s mascot since it rebranded from the Albany Collegiate Institute and relocated to Portland in 1942, taking on the current name associated with Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

While the men are known as pioneers for leading the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition across the U.S., a Mascot Steering Committee noted that their journey’s impact on Native American communities could be considered as “problematic.”

“Moving forward, it is important to recognize that for some alums, students, and other members of our community, the Pioneer mascot is — and may continue to be — associated with cherished memories and positive connotations,” the committee wrote in a report on survey results. “For others, concern about the displacement of Native Americans has always shaped their feelings about terms and images like the Pioneer.”

The college has reported that its sports teams that are competing during the fall will continue using the “Pios” nickname through the season’s end. Winter sports will take on the River Otters name, while all varsity programs will rebrand starting next year.