SEMO TEST-FLIES EAGLES IN CONTINUING SEARCH FOR MASCOT

Southeast Missouri State University hopes its latest efforts to create a mascot will take wing.

Acting at the direction of university president Dr. Dale Nitzschke, the school's mascot committee is taking a hard look at making the eagle Southeast's mascot.

Jim Biundo, the school's assistant to the president for university relations, chairs the committee. Biundo said Wednesday that the university hopes to have a mascot in place in the spring semester.

The university hasn't had a mascot for a number of years. Nitzschke appointed the mascot committee last year at the request of student leaders, who said a mascot might improve school spirit.

The committee last month scrapped its earlier recommendation for a sun figure because it couldn't find a suitable costume design.

Last May the committee recommended to Nitzschke that the university adopt a sun figure as its mascot. It was suggested that the mascot be called Bernie or Burnie.

Committee members recommended a hawk and an eagle as their second and third choices.

Committee members said the eagle is native to the region and would tie in with the school's Golden Eagles Marching Band.

The committee's written report in May said a sun character would tie in with the Sundancers pep group. But committee members warned in the same report that coming up with a suitable sun costume could be difficult.

Nitzschke has said the ultimate decision rests with the Board of Regents.

After the committee made its initial recommendation, the university looked at a number of possible designs for the three suggested mascots.

In mid-September, Biundo received a memo from Nitzschke. In it, the president said he had talked with a number of people and found the eagle concept generated the most interest. He asked the committee to take a closer look at a possible eagle mascot.

"The eagle seemed to surface as more preferable," Biundo said.

The committee reconvened on Oct. 15 and met again on Oct. 29.

At its last meeting, the committee decided to check with Student Government, Faculty Senate, cheerleaders and other campus groups to see if they favor the eagle as a mascot.

The committee has circulated three sketches of a possible eagle mascot, but Biundo said the final costume could be a different design entirely.

"Obviously, we would want it to be well designed," he said.

Two of the sketches were submitted by a St. Louis company that makes mascot costumes. The third came from a Southeast graduate and graphics designer.

The mascot committee will meet again Wednesday. If the campus supports the eagle concept, the committee will seek more refined sketches so a decision can be made on an actual costume.

He said he hopes everything can be finalized before the end of the year.

Jason Lane, Student Government president, said he hasn't seen overwhelming reaction from students either for or against the eagle idea.

I want a mascot as quick as possible, but I want one that is viable and students will support," Lane said.

Sketches of possible eagle costumes are on display at the University Center this week. Student Government has asked students for their comments. Student Government representatives are scheduled to vote on the issue next week.

Lane said the eagle costume sketches have been on display for a day. A number of students have dropped written comments into the suggestion box.

Lane refused to talk about his personal feelings concerning the proposed eagle mascot in advance of Monday's meeting. He said he wanted to see how other students feel about the issue.

"If students aren't going to support it, it isn't going to work out," Lane said.

The mascot committee last May advised the university to keep its Indian and Otahkian nicknames, but "strongly discourage" caricatures of Indians or Indian culture.

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