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The “Hey Reb!” mascot is no more. This week, UNLV officials announced that the school would be ditching the mascot but keeping the “Rebels” nickname.
University president Keith Whitfield announced the news in a letter the university community.
The “Hey Reb!” mascot was under fire for its connections to the Confederacy.
“Personally, I have always viewed the term ‘Rebels’ as a strong, nationally recognized brand synonymous with UNLV,” Whitfield said in a letter, via TMZ Sports. “I believe the word ‘rebel’ represents an attitude or spirit.
“It captures the essence of an iconic city that is unconventional and celebrates its independence, tenacity, and resiliency. Rebels have a purpose or motivation for a greater cause and are not afraid to take risks to make incredible things happen. As UNLV continues to rise as a top public research university, we must do so in a way that represents all of our students, staff, faculty, alumni, and supporters.”
There are currently no plans for a new mascot.
