The Northern iuwka mascot holds a significant role in the identity and spirit of the university. The mascot, known as the "Northern iuwka," represents the pride, determination, and camaraderie of the university's athletic teams, especially its popular football team. The Northern iuwka is a symbol of strength and power. It embodies the spirit of the university's athletes and fans, who are known for their passion and dedication. The mascot is often seen at sporting events, rallying the crowd and boosting the team's morale. It has become a beloved figure among students, alumni, and the local community, serving as a source of unity and pride.
Weber said he has spoken with Assistant Athletic Director Brandon Hays about SGA establishing an athletics committee so student government can stay updated on happenings within athletics.
Weber and his Vice President, Ellen Wilshire, also have a plan to pair SGA senators with five or six student organizations in an effort to promote transparency, which he says could also be a way to better distribute surveys, like the ones from the athletic department, so students don’t miss important information.
“Hopefully we get a lot more input beforehand,” Weber said, “I want to avoid the ‘it’s too late to do anything’ scenario.”
Despite the gap in communication, Weber acknowledges that the student body is at fault as well.
“It’s having an idea and then following up,” Weber said. “Brandon (Hays) hears all these ideas, which is great and we get things going and people are excited beforehand, but then less than half of those people don’t show up when it is show time.
Weber said he has spoken with Assistant Athletic Director Brandon Hays about SGA establishing an athletics committee so student government can stay updated on happenings within athletics. According to Nageleisen, however, the university has sent more than 60 newsletters to alumni since July 1, 2016 and over 200 emails to alumni all of last year about everything from homecoming to supporting the university in Frankfort.
It has become a beloved figure among students, alumni, and the local community, serving as a source of unity and pride. The design of the Northern iuwka mascot is a closely guarded secret, with only a select few individuals aware of its appearance. This secrecy adds to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the mascot.
University Mascot
Nighthawks are smart, strong birds whose power comes through unity, determination and an eagerness to embrace the next challenge. Like native nighthawks who are indigenous to the region, NNU Nighthawks soar above the competition as they focus on an elevated purpose. This bird, as a symbol of NNU, adheres to the University’s strong ties to its location and the culture of the Northwest. Nighthawks are small, quick, stealthy and embody the power of character, a strong will and an aptitude for achieving success despite their size. Just as in nature, NNU Nighthawks find success through collaboration as they work together toward a common goal—regardless of the context in which they find themselves.
The Birth of a Mascot
In 1933-34, Northwest Nazarene College’s intercollegiate athletics came onto the scene with the formation of a basketball team initially known as the “preachers” because so many of the young men were preparing to become ministers; shortly after, “Crusaders” was adopted as the official mascot of NNC.
The NNC Crusaders Take Form
In the 1980s, a knight costume was purchased and students were recruited to dress up as “Clyde the Crusader” at home athletic events.
ImageA Changing Vision for a New Mascot Emerges
As we entered a new century, in response to changing cultural associations with the term “Crusader,” President Richard Hagood formed a committee to discuss the idea of changing the NNU mascot; after receiving strong feedback from alumni, it was decided the issue was too divisive and the idea was tabled.
In response to a growing diversity of opinion regarding “Crusaders,” the Board of Trustees again reconsidered the need for a mascot change. The board acknowledged that a crusader was historically understood as one who is committed to a worthy cause. It had served our institution well for many years, but they also recognized that in the global climate of the day, the potential existed for the term “Crusaders” to be associated with violence and destruction. Ultimately, as a compromise between strongly held beliefs on both sides of the issue, the University decided to retain the nickname of “Crusaders” but stopped using the image of a crusader as its mascot and began the process of deemphasizing the term within the athletic department and around campus.
In 2016, as concern continued to grow about the cultural meaning-change associated with “Crusaders,” the board appointed a task force composed of NNU trustees, alumni, students, representatives of NNU athletics and faculty members. This task force revisited the possibility of changing the NNU mascot to something that would serve as a name and image around which students and alumni could rally, and would reduce the potential for misunderstanding and potentially impeding the University’s ability to minister to an increasingly interconnected global community.
The Nighthawks Take Flight
During the Fall 2017 Board of Trustees meeting, after extensive research, there was a unanimous vote to change the University's nickname and mascot to "Nighthawks." NNU students were welcomed back to campus after Christmas break 2018 with the unveiling of the new Nighthawks mascot which we still proudly celebrate to date.
At the moment there is no set time for any action to take place, but McEldowney said it is on the horizon, especially with basketball season weeks away.
“We don’t have a timetable for anything just yet,” McEldowney said.
SGA will also welcome members of the athletic department to an SGA meeting on Monday Nov. 7 at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the changes to the mascot and how to improve communication, which Weber hopes to learn more about the decision making process in the department.
“What was the decision making process? What were all the steps that went into place that will affect the person coming to games,” Weber said. “I also want to know where they are going from here. In my eyes they didn’t include us in the logo, strike one. We weren’t involved enough in the mascot, strike two. What will the third thing be? How can we avoid strike three?”
Each year, a new student is selected to portray the mascot at various events and games. This role is highly coveted and seen as a great honor among the university's students. The Northern iuwka mascot is not only important for the university's athletic programs but also for its overall brand and image. It helps create a sense of belonging and loyalty among students and alumni. Additionally, the mascot serves as a marketing tool, as its image is often used on merchandise and promotional materials. Overall, the Northern iuwka mascot plays a crucial role in fostering school spirit, pride, and community engagement at the university. It is a symbol of strength and unity, representing the resilience and determination of the university and its athletes..
Reviews for "The Role of the Northern Iuwka Mascot in Building School Community and Pride"
1. John - 2 stars - I found "Northern iuwka mascot" to be quite disappointing. The story was confusing and lacked a clear narrative thread. It felt like the film was trying to be deep and symbolic, but it ended up being pretentious and confusing instead. The characters were poorly developed and I didn't feel any connection or empathy towards them. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and confused by this film.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I really did not enjoy "Northern iuwka mascot" at all. The pacing was incredibly slow and dragged on for what felt like forever. The cinematography, while visually appealing, didn't make up for the lackluster storyline. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and their motivations felt shallow and undefined. It was a struggle to sit through this film and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging or fulfilling movie experience.
3. Michael - 2 stars - "Northern iuwka mascot" was a film that left me scratching my head. The abstract nature of the story made it difficult to follow and understand what was happening. The dialogue was often cryptic and seemed more interested in being poetic than actually conveying any real meaning. The performances were decent, but they were overshadowed by the confusing narrative. Overall, this film left me feeling frustrated and unsatisfied.
4. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Northern iuwka mascot" based on the reviews I had read, but I was ultimately disappointed. The film lacked a cohesive plot and seemed more interested in creating a mysterious atmosphere than actually telling a compelling story. The characters were underdeveloped and their actions often didn't make much sense. While there were some visually stunning moments, they weren't enough to salvage the overall experience. Overall, I found this film to be confusing and ultimately forgettable.