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Photo by Jennifer Robinson
Students, faculty and Carrollton residents were treated Sunday night to what has
become a UWG tradition: the 22nd annual “Opening of School” fireworks display.
Mascot selection - back
to the drawing board
By Daniel Bell
Editor-in-Chief
uwgpaper@westga.edu
College students all
around the country are
returning to class this
month. Many will be
filling their dorm rooms
with school colors and
mascot memorabilia,
and at the University of
West Georgia that means
loads of red and blue and
Braves stuff.
Wait, no it doesn’t.
As most returning
students should remember,
UWG’s old mascot (The
Braves) was officially
displaced after a series
of panel discussions and
heated debates.
Late in July, the
Athletic Marketing Identity
Task Force whittled the list
of potential replacements
to eight, which were
then voted on by UWG
community.
However, the voting
process resulted in no
clear favorite, and the Task
force is headed back to the
drawing board.
The new plan is to
reexamine a list of more
than 100 nicknames, in an
attempt to find an option
students may be more
likely to support.
"7 hi' Student Voice (it the University of West Georgia 'since 1954"
WELCOME HOME TO UWG
On the previous
semi-finalist list were the
nicknames Bravehawks,
Cardinals, Firebirds, Fire
Hawks, Mustangs, Patriots,
Power and Red Hawks.
None of these would
be mascots tickled the
fancy of the West Georgia
students. Or perhaps most
students simply were not
aware of the proceedings.
“This is all news to
me,” said sophomore Tim
Brown, “I knew they were
deciding on anew mascot
during the summer, and
I knew students were
supposed to be involved,
but how many students are
aware of what’s going on
when they aren’t around
campus?”
A website has been
created to help students
give feedback during the
process and to post news
and updated information
about the situation.
According to http://mascot.
westga.edu the Task Force
will meet again during the
week of Aug. 8 to begin
choosing the next list of
semi-finalists. Anyone
who wishes to participate
in the process, or at least
give feedback, should visit
the above website.
“The Braves” was
found to be ethnically
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www.thewestgeorgian.com
insulting last semester and
the search for UWG’s new
mascot has been moving
forward since.
Last semester The West
Georgian asked students to
weigh in on the debate and
the emotions were mixed.
Brown explained, “I
can see both sides of the
argument, but it’s tradition.
I think. Washington’s
NFL team is ‘The
Redskins.’ That seems
much more offensive
than ‘The Braves,’ but
someone is always going
to complain.”
Another student,
Ashley Owens, was aware
of the proceedings during
the summer months, but
thinks that there should
be a bigger effort to get
students involved.
“It may sound like
something out of high
school, but why not pass
out surveys in class?” she
asked. “At least this way
it would be super easy for
students who wanted to
vote to do so.”
The West Georgian
will continue to follow this
story as it develops, but
in the meantime, students
and faculty are welcome to
submit letters on the issue.
All submissions will be
considered for publication.
UWG president:
'Welcome back'
By I)r. Hcheruz N. Sethna
President. UWG
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff
Colleagues. Alumni and Friends of the
University:
As more than 10,000 Georgians
make their way to Carrollton to begin
another academic year on our campus,
I take great pride in saying “Welcome,
Welcome Back, and Thank You.”
“Welcome” to our new students,
especially our freshman class. As you
pursue and obtain your degree here, we
look forward to your discovery of what
UWG has to offer you: Educational
Ex**iJlenu;,tß a-RefMMwF’Hn vironment. *
“Welcome” to our new faculty and
staff members. As you walk into your
office or classroom each day, you join a
collegial community committed to the
success of every UWG student.
“Welcome Back” to the members of
our campus community who know' what a
great place this is to work and learn. We
always welcome back our loyal alumni
and community supporters - come to
campus often!
"Thank You” is expressed to you
all! This University continues to exhibit
strong growth in a variety of arenas
academic reputation, enhanced facilities,
alumni and donor support, community
engagement —and we owe a debt of
gratitude to all those who have brought
this institution to where it proudly stands
today.
On August 18 of this year, we
celebrated our 99th birthday and eagerly
anticipate the upcoming year-long
celebration of our Centennial in 2006!
Take a moment to look with me at where
our focus will be for this academic year
and to review just a few' of UWG’s
accomplishments during the past year.
Last year’s increase in admission
requirements continues to strengthen the
academic standards of this university by
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Photo by Jennifer Robinson
Eager students flock back to the residence halls last week, creating a mini traf
fic jam outside University Suites.
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Wednesday, August 24, 2005
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Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna
admitting students who have a greater
chance of successfully completing
their degrees. Within the past 11 years,
our retention rates of students have
dramatically increased. Since 1994, the
Fall-to-Fall retention rate has increased
from 57.2 to 71.6 percent.
The increase in the size of the
entering class combined with this relative
25.2 percent increase in retention, means
that more than 400 additional students
each year have an increased chance of
success and of participation in Georgia’s
economic growth.
Additionally, less than one half of
one percent of today’s entering class of
traditional age students is on learning
support. Our students are coming to
UWG better prepared to complete
university-level study. Through our
enhanced admissions requirements, we
are also communicating to these students
the serious nature of college. Our average
SAT scores have risen within the same
time period by 59 points.
In August, 2005, the Board of Regents
of the University System of Georgia
See WELCOME page 3