NITZSCHKE: NO RUSH ON SEMO MASCOT PROPOSAL

The sun isn't setting at Southeast Missouri State University. But it isn't rising either.

A Southeast Missouri State University committee recommended last month that the school adopt a sun figure as its mascot.

The committee made its recommendations in a report to Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president.

But Nitzschke isn't rushing to bring the proposal to the school's regents, who would make the final decision.

"I would rather take the time and do it right," said Nitzschke.

"We have gone a long time without a mascot," he said. The school doesn't need to have a mascot in place for the start of the football season in August, he said.

After abandoning its Chief Sagamore and Princess Otahki mascots 10 years ago, the university experimented briefly with two other mascots.

"I do have the report and I have read it," Nitzschke said of the committee's recommendations.

He said he would discuss the committee's recommendations at a retreat with the school's executive staff, scheduled for July 10-11.

No location has been set for the retreat, according to school officials.

"We will give it a lot of discussion and a lot of thought," said Nitzschke.

The executive staff includes the university's vice presidents and assistants to the president.

Jim Biundo, assistant to the president for university relations, chaired the committee that recommended the university adopt a sun figure as its mascot.

The committee recommended a hawk and an eagle as its second and third choices.

The committee advised the school to keep its Indian and Otahkian nicknames, but said the university should "strongly discourage" caricatures of Indians or Indian culture.

Committee members also said the school should scrap its war-beat-sounding pep song.

The mascot committee included members from the faculty, staff, students and the general public.

Nitzschke said he will listen to the advice of his executive staff and then decide what to recommend to the Board of Regents.

He said he also could send the issue back to the committee.

Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents, said the issue hasn't been brought to the board yet.

Even after the board makes a decision, the university will have to have costumes made and train students for the mascot role, Nitzschke said.

Nitzschke appointed the committee last year after students suggested that the school needed a mascot to boost school spirit.

Nitzschke said the issue is important to the campus and the community.

"We are always interested and concerned about the general public," he said. "Obviously, we depend upon the general public for support."

But he said, "The issue of a mascot is fundamentally a student issue."