On Thursday Aug. 26, a small group of eager SMU students and faculty joined the football team to welcome Liberty and Justice officially into the SMU family.

Members of the Seminole Nation, a Native American tribe that began in the 18th century, blessed Liberty and Justice at the ceremony.

“The importance of the horse to us is a new beginning,” Travis Jackson Jr., a member of Seminole Nation, said. “We became one with the mustang. You mustangs are warriors.”

When asked what it meant to have members of Seminole Nation present at the ceremony, June Jones, head coach of the SMU football team, said he believed it to be very powerful.

“The importance of the horse to us is a new beginning,” Jones said. Painting the mustangs was an “ancient ritual before war [for the Seminole Nation] and we are going into battle,” he said.

The two rescued and trained mustangs were given to SMU by Madeleine Pickens, founder of the non-profit organization Saving America’s Mustangs, during half time at the SMU-Navy football game on Oct. 17, 2009. Many SMU athletes have called themselves Mustangs, but do they know where that name came from?

According to Brad Sutton, associate athletic director and departmental spokesperson, the first few football teams to grace SMU were unofficially known as the Parsons, but after SMU won the state women’s basketball championship, many felt the athletic teams needed a proper mascot. In a pep rally on Oct. 17, 1917 the name Mustang was selected and has been the same ever since.

“The new mustangs have been a welcome addition at SMU,” Sutton said. “Peruna represents a proud tradition, and the rescued mustangs have shown the rugged determination to survive and thrive, a fitting metaphor for Mustang athletics. Together, they will represent a spirited tradition at SMU which is enjoyed by students, parents, alumni and other Mustang fans.”

CJ Camerato, junior finance and economics major, believes “the names of our new mustangs are appropriate because they fall in line with the ideals of the university,” Camerato said.

Students like Camerato can look for Liberty and Justice alongside Peruna at future football games.