Newspaper Page Text
www.thewestgeorgian.com
\ ohmic 54 lwiic I "
UWG selects wolves as new mascot
By Kristal Dixon
News Editor
shunta\2l @ hotmail.com
It’s official: beginning
in Fall 2006, the University
of West Georgia will be
officially known as the West
Georgia Wolves.
The decision brings
the eight month process
to an end with UWG
President Dr. Beheruz
Sethna accepting the
recommendation of the
President’s Advisory
Council.
“The alliteration
sounds great and it’s a
name that has legs to it,”
said Tara Singer, vice
president of University
Advancement and head
of the Athletic Marketing
Identity Task Force.
Singer went on to
say that the choice of
wolves as UWG’s mascot
fits perfectly, considering
that the red wolves are
indigenous to the area.
Athletic Director Ed
Murphy emphasized that the
process was open and fair
and that the West Georgia
family was involved in the
selection process.
“We surveyed
everyone, considered
every suggestion, and we
thank those who sent their
opinions on the mascot
issue.” Murphy also
stated that the choice of
FYRST offers programs
to encourage leadership
By Kelly Williams
Staff Writer
kellyuwga@bellsouth.net
Being involved on
campus is never a hard task.
There are several ways
to be involved and take
leadership roles.
The First Year
Residents Succeeding
Together program headed
up by the Department
of Residence Life is
offering its students two
new opportunities.
First of two new
activities coming up is
the FYRST Council.
According to Cathy
Roberts, coordinator of
FYRST, “It’s a brand
new student organization
being formed for current
FYRST students.”
The group would be
similar to the hall council
organization in residence
halls but different in
some ways.
“Most organizations
have an executive board,
but this group will be set
up with committees so
that students can have
more opportunities to
"I he Student l nice at the I niversily oj West (ieorgiu \inee I.VJ4"
the Wolves was the most
popular among the current
student athletes.
“West Georgia
athletics is going into a
different era. Our goal is
go move into Division I,
but this is a start.”
Murphy and Singer
also pointed out that the
transition to being the
Wolves will be phased in
slowly and the monetary
factor will be small.
Only four universities
in the country have the
wolves as a mascot, but they
are not in the Southeastern
region of the country.
Now that the new
mascot is set in stone, the
task force will still have to
come up with a permanent
design and logo for the
mascot. Rickabaugh
Graphics, who worked
with the task force in the
selection of the mascot,
will continue to work with
the task force.
Rickabaugh Graphics
has designed graphics and
logos for many sports teams
ranging from the National
Basketball Association to the
National Football League.
It has also worked with
corporations such as Coca-
Cola and Dave & Buster’s.
The task force is made
up of 12 members, which
included members from
the student government,
student athletes, faculty,
lead,” Roberts said.
Roberts also hopes
that in the years to come
former students of FYRST
will be able to take part in
the council as well.
For now it is only
open to currently enrolled
freshmen in FYRST.
Interest meetings are
Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. in Strozier
classroom, and Jan. 18 at 5
p.m. in Row Lobby.
The second upcoming
activity for FYRST
students is the Emerging
Leader Series. This is
a seven week program
geared toward freshmen.
Roberts has also
coordinated the Emerging
Leader Series and hopes
students will find it useful
for resume building and
gaining the skills they
may need to acquire
internships.
Also, it will help
students in other
organizations to learn
skills they need to run their
student organizations.
“Most leadership
programs are geared
towards upperclassmen
or those already in a
staff, athletic boosters,
and alumni. The selection
process tested factors
such as alliteration,
design, compatibility with
traditional school colors
and uniqueness with the
potential mascot choices.
Methods such
as online polls,
questionnaires, focus
groups, and open forums
were held to get feedback
from the student body,
faculty, staff, alumni, and
community members.
UWG begin to
look into the mascot
issue to determine if
the nickname “Braves”
should be changed. Those
who argued for change
pointed to several factors,
including the derogatory
nature of the mascot
and the disadvantage of
having a major league
baseball team close to the
UWG community with
the same mascot.
Along with the name
change of the UWG
mascot, the university is
also looking to continue
to expand with future
athletics projects.
The university is
seeking to raise $lO
million to build a 9,000-
seat football stadium,
along with a multi-sport
athletics complex.
Another future
project is the continuing
leadership position,”
Roberts said.
Guest speakers on
campus will be present
during the seven weeks
and allow for students
to make connections
with staff and faculty on
campus.
The deadline to apply
for the program is Jan 20.
Preference will be given
to those in FYRST.
While the focus of
the FYRST program is
on freshmen, there are
roles for upperclassmen
as well.
They can be involved
by becoming Resident
Assistants in FYRST
buildings or by being
Student Academic Mentors
in the FYRST program.
Student Academic
Mentors play a big role
in helping freshmen with
their transitions from high
school to college.
More information on
any of the programs can
be obtained by contacting
Cathy Roberts through
email croberts@westga.
edu or phone (678) 839-
6426.
, till .* *.%;/■
wmmmgm jw \ ? . -• f
1 Bps llijj .j#
1 ~ ■%,
Photo by Mariam Abuhaideri
Dr. Beheruz Sethna, president of UWG, enjoys a moment of celebration during the new
mascot announcment. The president accepted the recommendation from the President’s
Advisory Council and chose the wolves as West Georgia’s new mascot.
look into the university
possibly moving into
NCAA Division I.
This process,
however, will take seven
to ten years and will be
substantially determined
by future enrollment at
the university.
UWG currently
competes in the Gulf South
Conference of Division 11.
Many students are
pleased with the choice of
the mascot. Blake Lord,
president of the Student
Government Association,
Students, Sethna
celebrate the legacy
&9 2 JL
UNJVERS/' 1
>st Gf ’
Photo By George Hawkins
Lauren Daigle, left, Jordan Campbell, center, and Adrian Myers, right, hold the Univer
sity of West Georgia’s banner while leading UWG President Dr. Beheruz Sethna and
the rest of the UWG participants march in the Unity March. The march is one of four
events that are scheduled to be held this week celebrating the life and legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Wednesday, Jan nary IS, 2006
said that the choice of
the wolves was a good
decision and was thankful
of the chance to help in
the process.
“It’sagreatopportunity
to have had an opportunity
to participate in a body to
make a decision.”
Paul Kamau, a
sophomore, was also
satisfied.
“It’s a great decision.
I’ll be happy howling at
the football games.”
Drum major Matthew
Bass said, “I’m very excited
and I’ll be very happy
charging the field as the
West Georgia Wolves.”
Dr. Sethna, president
of UWG, expressed his
feelings on the decision of
the mascot.
“It was the top choice
of the students and that is
what attracted me to the
name,” Sethna said.
“I have a vision of a
whole football stadium
filled with 10,000 students
and fans howling when we
win a game. It’s a powerful
and unbeatable image.”