The Process

On Sept. 22, 2004, the Board of Trustees made two decisions relative to the athletics nickname/mascot issue. The first was to pass a resolution prohibiting the use of Native American references or imagery in its athletics logo, nickname or mascot. The second was to establish an organized process that engaged key Marquette University stakeholders - alumni, students, faculty, and staff - on this issue.

The following has taken place since Sept. 22, 2004:

• A continuation of a Nickname/Mascot Fact Finding Group, whose charge is to identify facts relevant to this issue and to ensure that stakeholders have ample opportunity for input;
  
  
• A series of stakeholder forums that represent official university organizations including students, faculty, staff and alumni;
  
  
• Focus groups and an online survey for members of the Marquette community - students, faculty, staff, and alumni - in order to learn about attitudes, behaviors and emotions, not to test preferences or ask stakeholders for their "vote."
  
  
• Ongoing dialogue by Father Wild with key Native American constituencies.