GW students make up their minds on Colonials mascot. The administration is not so sure.

Students at George Washington University have played for teams with the “Colonial” mascot for years, but that just might change, if student voters have their way. 

In late March, 54 percent of more than 5,000 student voters approved a referendum calling on George Washington University to change the name to something less “offensive,” The GW Hatchet reported.

“We were ecstatic that students took the time to express their voice,” student government Sen. Amy Martin said, according to the Hatchet. “We always thought that it was a decent portion of the student body that didn’t feel comfortable with this.” 

[RELATED: VIDEO: GW students say ‘Colonials’ mascot too offensive]

Resolution co-sponsor and fellow senator André Gonzales called for cooperation between the student government and the administration, with both parties “honoring what students are saying in this matter.” Student government President-Elect SJ Matthews told the Hatchet that she was “very excited” by the result of the vote. Matthews supports a name change.

“The University has been following the conversation,” GWU spokeswoman Maralee Csellar said. “The leadership of the University will continue to listen to our students, faculty, staff, and alumni as we study various naming issues.”

Many conservative students did not support the name change. 

“We actually were never reached out to by anyone in the SA about changing the mascot, so if they would like to hear our opinion and administrators would like to hear our opinion, we would be happy to give that,” GW Young Americans for Freedom Co-President Kara Zupkus, who is also a Campus Reform correspondent, said.

[RELATED: GW conservative groups slam initiative to change Colonial mascot]

George Washington University’s athletic department declined to comment. The school did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. 

Follow the author of this article: Seth Segal