ELON COLLEGE — Dr. Leo M. Lambert, president of Elon College, has named a 15-member task force to recommend the college’s new athletics identity. The committee is made up of trustees, students, alumni, faculty and staff. Co-chairs are Dr. Alan White, director of athletics, and Nan Perkins, vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions.
Task force members include:
Trustees
W.E. “Dub” Love Jr., Burlington (Elon class of 1948)
Robert Ward, Burlington
Alumni
Virginia Wilburn, Burlington (Elon class of 1972)
Harold Hill, Burlington (Elon class of 1983)
Faculty
Janie Brown, professor of physical education
Kyle Torke, assistant professor of English
Students
George Dennis, senior, president, Student Athletic Advisory Committee
Katie Feyes, senior, women’s volleyball player
Katie Gosselin, freshman, Student Government Association representative
Athletics staff
Ann Lashley, senior women’s administrator
assistant women’s basketball coach
Trip Durham, assistant athletics director for marketing and promotion
Staff
Dan Anderson, director of college relations
Tait Arend, director of leadership development
“This task force represents all of the college’s major constituencies,” says Lambert. “I am confident that the members will listen carefully to our community and find a name that honors the traditions of Elon College.”
SME Powerbranding, New York, a world leader in strategic brand building specializing in sports-related identities, will assist the college in researching and creating the new identity. The committee will work with SME representatives to identify criteria for the new name. SME will then generate a list of possible names that meet those criteria.
Members of the Elon community will have the opportunity to suggest names at this stage of the process. Beginning immediately, anyone with a suggested moniker or mascot may e-mail suggestions to: newmascot@elon.edu. Suggestions will be forwarded to the task force for consideration along with names generated by SME.
In late November, a list of possible names will be presented to groups representing several Elon constituencies to test their reactions and gain further input. The task force will use the results of those group reactions in deciding on its final recommendation.
Once the final name is selected and approved, SME will begin work on a set of graphic designs. The goal is to unveil the new athletics identity and graphic design in May 2000, with full implementation for the fall 2000 season.
Members of the Elon community may follow the progress of the selection process on a special Web site: www.elon.edu/athletics/new_identity.
The search for a new athletics identity was launched Oct. 13 when the Elon College Board of Trustees voted to retire the Fightin’ Christians moniker and adopt a new identity.
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