Volume XVVIIII, Issue 12
Educating Women to Excel
December 13, 2006
ON THE
INSIDE:
President
Hartford's
Sabbatical,
p. 2
Club News,
p. 3
Doll
Collection
Shows
History
of
Meredith,
p. 3
(ioodbye, Angels?
College Looking for New, Bolder Meredith Mascot
By Laurel Benedum
Staff Writer
Athletic advancement
and the joining of the
USA South Conference
in fall 2007 has led
President Maureen
Hartford to search for a
new, bolder and more
intimidating mascot,
college officials said
last week.
Joining the
conference guarantees
an increased level
of competition for
Meredith's athletic
teams, said Director
of Marketing and
Communications, Kristi
Eaves-McLennan.
"With
our athletic teams
beginning to compete
in more regional and
national tournaments.
President Hartford, the
senior management
team and the athletics
department feel that
the timing is right for
the College to adopt a
different mascot," said
Eaves-McLennan.
Meredith College Basketball team at a recent tournament in Atlanta. The team won't be called the
Meredith Angels for long, college officials say.
For the last 26 years,
Meredith teams have
been known as the
Meredith Angels, and the
school's affiliation with
angels dates back to the
mid-1920s. The Meredith
Supply Store is full of T-
shirts, mugs, and other
paraphernalia depicting
the Angels logo. But not
for long.
Two student
representatives were
selected to serve on a
committee appointed
by Hartford to consider
the change, said Eaves-
McLennan.
The committee
is also planning a
number of ways, such
as holding a forum early
in the spring semester
and soliciting name
ideas electronically,
to involve students
and other members of
the community in the
process, said Eaves-
McLennan.
The athletic team
logo change would need
to be implemented by the
beginning of the fall 2007
sports season, said Eaves-
McLennan.
The 'AngeT has
been a long-time tradi
tion and focal point to
the college and although
it was not officially
adopted until April 18,
1980, the mascot has been
heavily associated with
the college since the mid-
1920s, according to Dr.
Jean Jackson.
Eaves-McLennan
said it is important to
note that the official
mascot design, created by
Teresa Parker, will only
affect the college's athletic
teams.
"The 'Angels,'
a term for which many
students and alumnae
have a profound
affection, will remain
a part of the College's
identity and will continue
to be associated with
Meredith students and
alumnae," said Eaves-
McLennan.
Eaves-
McLennan anticipates
that Meredith Angel
merchandise will
continue to be sold and
promoted in the Meredith
Supply Store and many
students and graduates will
undoubtedly retain the masco
traditionally known to the
school: The Meredith Angels.
"The potential
athletics mascot change and
joining an athletics conference
are among several efforts
underway to raise the profile
of Meredith's athletics teams
both on campus and off," said
Eaves-McLennan.
In September, the
• college hired its first full-time
sports information director
who has been working to
promote Meredith's athletics
program. Eaves McLennan
said.
The newly redesigne
athletics page can be viewed
at www.meredith.edu/a»hli*Hrft to
learn more about Meredith's
sports teams.