Mascot Committee cries: 'Wolves'

The Arkansas State University Mascot Steering Committee has unanimously voted Wednesday to recommend "Wolves" as the new mascot theme, leaving discretion with Chancellor Robert Potts on whether to leave the name simply the Wolves or to add color detail to the name.

Students and Morgan Pippin, president of the Student Government Association and member of the Mascot Steering Committee, alike have proclaimed the Red Wolves as their favorite between the two names.

"I think student preference would be Red Wolves," Pippin said. "I think the uniqueness of it would give it new life."

Jennifer Walker, a senior accounting major of Keiser, agreed. She said, "I like Red Wolves better because the colors of ASU are already red."

THE SEARCH

The committee's recommendation comes after months of narrowing down more than 1,500 possible mascot names submitted by students, faculty and staff and fans. The committee was formed in August 2007 after a mascot review committee unanimously recommended in July 2007 to retire the Indians as the ASU mascot.

It represented nine constituent groups in the selection process. The groups included students, the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, faculty, athletics, ASU Alumni Association, Indian club, Letterman's Club, ASU Staff Senate, and a final group for the public.

The Wolves was one of three themes chosen at a Jan. 4 meeting of the committee. The other two themes included A-Train or Express and Ridge Riders.

The two themes were dismissed early in the meeting Wednesday.

"One of the things I think was so important was for us to listen to Morgan (Pippin) because he has the ear of the current students," Cari White, executive vice president of the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce and a committee member, said.

She added, "I am a graduate a long time over, and I think part of our responsibility was to be sensitive to what the student body now and our future student body would be proud of and could build on."

The Wolves' theme is one that Gleen Hart, assistant director of athletics for marketing and promotions, said would give the athletic department plenty to work with.

"We can do a lot with game day atmosphere, so we are very excited about it," Hart said.

However, not everyone is happy with the mascot change.

"If we do have to change it, the Wolves will work with me, but I personally think the Indian is better," Stacy Kitts, a sophomore pre-vet major of Searcy, said.

Kitts said he liked Red Wolves the best as well.

Chancellor Potts said he could see where ASU was the Red Wolves.

"… But we (would) use the word wolves in our fight song and in some of the imagery and other things that we do. A depiction in a logo is never going to be exactly like the creature in the wild. The shade of red, for example, is going to be different. I can see us taking these two things and meddling them together and really having a dynamite brand," said Potts.

The final name choice is one Crystal Poole said students would just have to accept.

"I think (the Wolves) is okay. Whatever the pick, because no matter what they pick, we're still going to be ASU," Poole, a junior early childhood major of Mountain Home, said. "We're going to have the same players, coaches, and no matter what, they chose we're going to have our ASU pride."

THE NEXT STEP

The final say is now in the hands of Potts and Phoenix Design Works, the graphics firm in charge of drafting the new mascot's image.

Potts said the next month will be spent consulting with ASU System President Les Wyatt, key alumni leaders and the design team, among others. He said he would also be speaking to the music department about the ASU Fight Song.

"I'm just hopeful that we get all this done during February," Potts said.

Jamie Skiles, principal and creative director of Phoenix Design Works, said the mascot image should be the calling card for the school and athletics and should spark interest.

Developing the theme further would be the next step for his company, Skiles said. He added this could be done several ways through topography, design and color.

"Each step of the way, we'll put different items together so people can make a decision. It's up to Arkansas State. Our job is to stay with it until it's done," Skiles said.

Skiles said a time frame could not be put on the job because "it's whatever the idea merits. Sometimes everyone gravitates to one, sometimes to half a dozen."

And no matter the outcome, the Wolves theme is pleasing to TraJhan Wilkerson, a digital media and design major of Little Rock. The freshman was one of the many to submit the Red Wolves idea and said he thought the recommendation was awesome.

"I just feel that the Red Wolves is just a better mascot than the Indian. It sounds more fierce," Wilkerson said. "I think it would be better to be the Red Wolves.

FAREWELL TO THE INDIANS

The retirement committee for the Indians has made excellent progress, Richard Carvell, chair of the committee, said. The committee has come up with a brief outline for the ceremony and has presented tentative dates to Chancellor Potts. Carvell said Potts will be the one to make the final decision on when the ceremony will be, but that it will more than likely be before the school year is out.

In regards to the new mascot choice, he said he was glad that a decision had been reached. "If we can't be the Indians, let's be the Wolves."