Several Native Americans on campus are concerned with changing the name of Central Iowa’s Squaw Creek — but few have time to do anything about it.

Some ISU students would like to see the creek’s name changed because they believe it is offensive not only to Native Americans, but particularly to women in general.

Jeanne Spaur, graduate student in natural resource ecology and management, and former president of American Indian Rights Organization and United Native American Student Association, said the word “squaw” is offensive because its original meaning was another word for women’s genitalia.

“In the old days, when fur trappers said they were going out to get ‘squaw,’ it was not a positive term,” she said.

The name is not just offensive to Native Americans and women, said Spaur.

“The name is offensive to all people — everyone has a mother, sister or girlfriend,” she said.

Spaur said the Squaw Creek name issue was brought up a couple of years ago at AIRO meetings. The group brainstormed different ideas on how to change the name. Unfortunately, time constraints among members are the main reason more has not been done, she said.

“The name still needs to be changed,” Spaur said. “If someone had a lot of available time, more could be done.”

Story County Supervisor Wayne Clinton said his office could not comment on the name change without having direct knowledge and all input on the matter, but he would be open to hearing the group’s concerns about the name.

“I would be interested in what they had in mind and sit in on a meeting and listen to the rationale,” he said. “It is important to be open to concerns and issues brought forth by the community.”

Clinton said a name-change decision would not be considered until all facts and concerns were presented to him.

Irma White-Wilson, program assistant for minority student affairs and adviser to UNASA, said both UNASA and AIRO have been trying to change the name of the creek since the early 1990s. Many people have been resistant to the name change because they are holding on to tradition and do not know what the name means, she said.

The creek is located in Hamilton, Boone and Story counties, which this has hampered a possible name change, White said.

Because the creek spans several counties, this makes it hard for one single government to have jurisdiction over the creek, White said.

Spaur said because other Squaw Creeks around the nation have been renamed, she is hopeful the one running through Story County will also be changed.