Washington Redskins

An effort led by the Oneida Indian Nation to have Washington D.C.'s professional football team change its name has gained more support from members of Congress.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., sent a letter Monday to NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell urging the league to take a stand for the Washington Redskins to change its team name.

While the debate continues between the Oneida Indian Nation and the Washington Redskins regarding the team's name and mascot, in upstate New York, several institutions faced similar decisions more than a decade ago and did change their names.

Christina Alexander was the president of the sophomore class at Sherburne-Earlville Central School in rural Chenango County when the student body decided to retire its Indian mascot, while leaving the team's name - the Marauders -- unchanged.

A poll conducted by the Oneida Indian Nation has found that a majority of Washington D.C. residents wouldn't be bothered if the city's professional football team changed its name.

The poll, released Wednesday, finds 55 percent of residents say it would make no difference if the Washington Redskins went by a different mascot. A quarter of those surveyed said they would be less of a fan, but 18 percent said they would be more.