June 6, 2007 -- Members of the Mascot Review Committee at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro are continuing to talk to their constituents and other interested persons, in preparation for the committee's next meeting on June 18.

A web site, http://www.astate.edu/mascot, is now available to the public with reference materials and other information about the issue.

According to Jim Pickens, chairman of the committee and a trustee emeritus at ASU, the committee is seeking to make a recommendation that "will be in the short-term and long-term best interest of the university and our students." He encouraged the public to review information on the web site and offer suggestions as to the best course of action.

The ASU Athletic Department also announced today that it will host a brown-bag luncheon on Monday, June 11, at the Football Complex to give everyone a chance to discuss the mascot and nickname issue.  A panel, comprised of selected members of the Mascot Review Committee, will be present to help answer questions that might arise.

Chancellor Robert L. Potts announced in March that he would appoint a broadly-based committee of constituent representatives to study the Indian mascot and nickname issue, in light of directives by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In August 2005, the NCAA declared that institutions with Native American nicknames and imagery would not be allowed to use the names or imagery at post-season competition.

The committee will develop a recommendation to Dr. Potts, who will take it forward to Dr. Les Wyatt, ASU president, and the Board of Trustees later this year.

Essentially, the university has three choices: take no action and deal with the sanctions imposed by the NCAA; file a lawsuit, an action which would be a very expensive undertaking; or select a new nickname and mascot. Other appeals have been successful only when a namesake Indian tribe gives its support to the school, such as the case with the Florida State Seminoles.