Marquette's Email

I just received a sort of press release a few minutes ago, in which they outlined the process and timeline for the new nickname.

1. Within the next two weeks, a list of as many as ten names will be presented to the Marquette community. All the names presented will be selected from the hundreds of names suggested by the Marquette community during either the 1994 or 2004 nickname processes. While the final list has not been decided, the list will certainly include some of the obvious names given Marquette's athletics history, including Blue and Gold, Golden Avalanche, Hilltoppers and Golden Eagles.

There will also be a write-in option, presented with the parameters that votes for Warriors will not be counted, and that all write-in's must be consistent with both our Jesuit, Catholic mission and the Board resolution on Native American imagery.

2. All members of the Marquette community, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff will be asked to choose two nicknames from the list, or can offer a write-in option.

3. The two options receiving the most support from the first vote will be presented to the Marquette community for a second vote. The nickname with the most support in the second vote will then be presented to the President to be announced as Marquette's new athletics nickname going into the Big East Conference.

Marquette has preliminarily planned that the timing for the nickname process will be as follows:

Week of May 23: List of nickname options will be presented to the Marquette community for the first vote. The Marquette community (students, alumni, faculty and staff) will choose two names from the list, or offer a write-in.

Mid-June: Second vote will be conducted with the top-two vote getters.

By July 1: The winning nickname will be announced.

Following the choice of a new nickname, Marquette will further engage the Marquette community, through focus groups and other forums, in the design of a visual identity for the new nickname, with a new logo to be chosen by the start of the school year. Students will be asked to give input on design and name the mascot (the costumed character appearing at games) in the fall.

The Board agreed that any nickname selected must be consistent with the university's mission and adhere to the resolution passed last September banning use of any Native American imagery or references in Marquette's athletics nickname, logo or mascot. In addition, the new nickname must be selected by Marquette's official entry into the Big East Conference on July 1, 2005. The Golden Eagles will remain Marquette's athletics nickname until July 1.

This is their reason for excluding the most popular name in the history of the University:

"While I recognize that some people are disappointed that we are not reinstating the Warriors nickname, we cannot teach one principle about respect for human dignity in our classrooms and then fail to act by that same principle when making decisions," Father Wild said. "The Warriors nickname will always be part of our proud athletics tradition, and we will honor that tradition. But we live in a different era than when the Warriors nickname was selected in 1954. The perspective of time has shown us that our actions, intended or not, can offend others. We must not knowingly act in a way that others will believe, based on their experience, to be an attack on their dignity as fellow human beings."

Can you say cop out? Why don't they just ask that Tribal leader what he wants the nickname to be, since his input is apparently more important than the rest of the community. I have an idea, let's be the Marquette Bubble, since the only way to really avoid offending anyone is to seal yourself off in a bubble.

I even have a catchy chant...WE ARE, P.C.