Simon Fraser University drops controversial ‘Clan’ varsity nickname

Simon Fraser University has officially dropped its “Clan” nickname, effective immediately.

The Burnaby-based university announced the retirement of the 55-year-old name in a statement Wednesday.

SFU is retiring its varsity athletics team name, effective today. For more information and updates on the name change process visit https://t.co/RtEiXTlVy3.#RepTheLeaf 🍁 pic.twitter.com/9qwEUPaa6C

— SFU Athletics (@sfu_athletics) August 12, 2020

"The primary factor contributing to the decision was the well-being of student athletes, many of whom reported that the current name had caused them to experience unsafe situations, upsetting conversations and other harm," the statement read.

SFU initiated a “stakeholder engagement process” in January after a poll of student athletes indicated strong support for a new name.

“The university is deeply troubled by and attentive to the emotions and concerns to which these associations have given rise, and the impact they have on our athletes, particularly in light of our revulsion to and condemnation of anti-Black racism.”

School officials will launch a process this fall to choose a new name, with “key groups within the university community” involved in the process.

The announcement follows a similar decision from Edmonton's CFL club last month that it would be changing its long standing Eskimos nickname.