It went relatively unnoticed, but on Dec. 16, 2024, the IU Student Body Congress passed the following bill:
On December 16, 2024, Congress passed Bill No. 1013, authored by Representatives Ryan Gray and Eric Cannon, which advocates for Indiana University Bloomington to Bring Back the Bison.
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Congress reaffirms its recognition and adoption of the Bison as the official mascot of Indiana University Bloomington as established in 1965.
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Reinstating the Bison mascot as a tangible symbol would enhance the sense of pride and unity among students, faculty, alumni, and other supporters of IU athletics.
The December 2024 online edition of the IU Student Government monthly newsletter discussed the initiative:
Since the retirement of the bison mascot in 1969, IU Bloomington has lacked an official mascot or a central symbol beyond the IU trident and the Hoosier identity. The FUSE Administration is leading the charge in addressing this long-standing void by advocating for the return of the bison, a mascot deeply rooted in IU’s history, heritage, and traditions. This initiative has garnered overwhelming support, with a recent student poll showing that 72% of respondents favor bringing back the bison. The excitement surrounding this effort builds on the unity fostered during the 2024 football season, which brought students together to celebrate a high-winning record.
Student Body President Cooper Tinsley is working closely with IU Athletics and other stakeholders to seamlessly reintegrate the bison as a lasting emblem of IU’s identity. This initiative seeks to elevate school spirit, enrich campus traditions, and enhance IU’s branding as a vibrant and united institution. The advocacy from the FUSE administration revives a cherished tradition and underscores the importance of shared symbols in fostering connection and belonging. The bison will represent Indiana University’s excellence, resilience, and a sense of community for current and future generations. We invite the entire IU community to join us in celebrating this historic milestone as we embark on a new chapter of shared pride.
Indiana hasn’t had a mascot in decades.
The one that lasted the longest and probably still has the most popular support today is the bison. Bison once roamed throughout Indiana and appear on the state seal. Various versions of the bison mascot costume appeared from roughly 1965 to 1973 and continue to appear on licensed IU apparel.
Even before Dec. 16 there have been hints from IU Athletics that a return of the bison mascot was coming. When the 2025 schedule was announced, bison imagery was included in several graphics, such as the following.
So with that as a backdrop, the IU Athletics X page posted the following video on Thursday morning:
— Indiana Hoosiers (@IUHoosiers) May 15, 2025
Is that a tease for the return of the bison?
One can’t be sure. But there are clues.
Note the mention of Dec. 16, the same date the Student Body Congress passed the bison mascot bill. Is that the day the light was turned back on for the bison? And are those bison sounds in the background? Certainly could be.
Now to be sure, that’s not a bison hoof poking out of the box later in the video. So what’s in the box!?
Indiana is obviously having some fun with this, as they should. They might tease this for a while before making a major announcement.
But as has been the case since December, it appears Indiana is moving towards the reintroduction of the bison as its official mascot.
As the video states — to be continued.
For more on Indiana’s mascot history, GO HERE:
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