Pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges later this year and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents in January, the two schools will consolidate in January 2013.
"The selection of a common mascot for is an important part of building community as we join together as the University of North Georgia," said Dr. Bonita Jacobs, who is currently president of North Georgia College & State University and will be president of the consolidated university. "We are beginning this process now, because we want students to have a strong voice in selecting a new mascot that will represent the new institution, its athletic program and student spirit."
A mascot work group, comprising student, faculty and staff representatives from each institution, is now soliciting feedback via an online survey on an initial list of suggestions. The survey, which is open through Sept. 4, also allows participants to write-in suggestions not included on the list. After the survey is closed, the work group will narrow the list down to a short list of recommendations to the Consolidation Implementation Committee for further consideration. The university plans to reveal the new mascot in January 2013 and for it to become effective beginning with fall semester 2013.
Gainesville State College was founded in 1964 as Gainesville Junior College and in the early years began an athletic program. The teams were known as the "Lakers," and the school's colors were blue, gold and white. Intercollegiate athletics were eliminated in the mid-1980s, but the anchor, other nautical symbolism and colors remained a key part of the institutional identity. In 1997, the college retired the "anchor" logo, as well as its blue and gold colors.
In the mid-2000s, students turned a joke about the plethora of Canada Geese on the Gainesville Campus into an idea for a mascot and named him "Laker T. Goose." Today, the mascot serves to promote school spirit and camaraderie.
In the early days of athletic programs at North Georgia, the men's athletic teams were known as the "Cadets." Women's intercollegiate basketball began at North Georgia in 1971, and initially, that team was called the "Gold Diggers." In 1972, with intercollegiate athletics growing at North Georgia, the student body elected to adopt a Saint Bernard dog as the athletic mascot. The students also chose the nickname of the "Saints" for the teams.
Today, North Georgia College & State University competes in the NCAA Division II Peach Belt Conference and fields teams in baseball, basketball, women's cross country, golf, rifle, soccer, softball, and tennis. The colors of North Georgia's athletics program are blue and white.
For more information on the mascot selection process and access to the online survey, visit www.gscngcsu.org/consolidated/mascot/.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/8/252278