Colleges update mascots, mottos amid pressure from students

Students across the U.S. are pressuring colleges to update mascots, mottos and building names that they say are insensitive.

Amherst College in Massachusetts is poised to cut ties with its unofficial mascot, Lord Jeff, which is based on a colonial British military general who suggested giving smallpox to Native Americans. Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. is renaming buildings that were named after slaveholders. Union College in New York has changed its motto to be inclusive of women.

Many of the changes follow a wave of student demonstrations inspired by racially charged protests at the University of Missouri. At Princeton University in New Jersey, protesters Wednesday demanded better treatment of black students.

Supporters say the changes are long overdue. Critics say it's another example of coddling by universities.