Eastern Nazarene retired its Crusader mascot this week, announcing that its athletics teams will become the Lions.

The Christian liberal arts college’s president and others – including a former student-athlete whose grandfather created the original nickname – said the new nickname replaces a term that has taken on a negative connotation with a “symbol of courage and strength.”

The new mascot was introduced to students, faculty and staff Tuesday night during an ice cream social held to mark the end of the semester and celebrate seniors’ upcoming commencement.

“We wanted to share the news of our new mascot before our graduating seniors left campus,” President Corlis McGee said, adding that the entire campus community participated in the process of selecting the new mascot.

“When ENC and many other Christian colleges first adopted the Crusader mascot, the term was perceived much more positively,” said McGee, who noted that Wheaton (Illinois), Point Loma Nazarene and other U.S. colleges also have opted to replace their Crusader mascots.

“In today’s world, the term often carries a negative connotation, and there was a growing awareness among ENC students, faculty and alumni that the Crusader no longer represented the positive message of Christian love we aim to share with the world.”

Eric Severson, a professor of religion at Eastern Nazarene, noted in a statement supporting the change that use of the Crusader image has overlooked a complicated historical record that includes cruelty and barbarism, and Mark H. Mann – a former basketball player at the school whose grandfather, longtime ENC President Edward S. Mann, selected the Crusader – also supported changing the mascot.

“It fills me with great pride to know that, in disassociating ourselves from the atrocities of the medieval Crusaders, we are better able to communicate the distinctly Christian mission and vision of those who, like my grandfather, sought to build a college that above all glorifies Christ,” Mann said.

After agreeing that it was time to retire the Crusader, ENC officials established a selection committee, which solicited suggestions and feedback from the campus community and alumni.

“I think the very fact that ENC was willing to explore the mascot issue, and to open a dialogue on the subject, exemplifies the strengths of a Christian liberal arts education,” McGee said.

McGee pointed to the Biblical reference to Jesus as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” in noting that the lion symbolizes strength and courage.

The college’s 11-sport athletics program competes in The Commonwealth Coast Conference.