Understanding the Nickname Selection Process The Board of Trustees announced a new process by which a new athletics nickname will be chosen and also announced the formation of the Marquette Nickname Advisory Committee made up of representative students, alumni, faculty and staff.  The process will include: Within the next two weeks, a list of as many as ten names will be presented to the Marquette community. All the names presented will be selected from the hundreds of names suggested by the Marquette community during either the 1994 or 2004 nickname processes. While the final list has not been decided, the list will certainly include some of the obvious names given Marquette’s athletics history, including Blue and Gold, Golden Avalanche, Hilltoppers and Golden Eagles. There will also be a write-in option, presented with the parameters that votes for Warriors will not be counted, and that all write-in’s must be consistent with both our Jesuit, Catholic mission and the Board resolution on Native American imagery All members of the Marquette community, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff will be asked to choose two nicknames from the list, or can offer a write-in option. The two options receiving the most support from the first vote will be presented to the Marquette community for a second vote. The nickname with the most support in the second vote will then be presented to the President to be announced as Marquette’s new athletics nickname going into the Big East Conference. Both votes will be binding, and will be conducted on the Web with provisions made for those who do not have Internet access.  Members of the Marquette community will be notified via mail and e-mail in the coming weeks about steps for participating in the voting process.  More information about the voting process will also be available online. Marquette Athletics Nickname Advisory Committee The Marquette Nickname Advisory Committee, made up of  representative students, alumni, faculty and staff, will oversee the voting process and will advise the university in the development of the look of the new nickname, following its selection after the second vote. Timeline Marquette has preliminarily planned that the timing for the nickname process will be as follows: Week of May 23: List of nickname options will be presented to the Marquette community for the first vote. The Marquette community (students, alumni, faculty and staff) will choose two names from the list, or offer a write-in. Mid-June: Second vote will be conducted with the top-two vote getters. By July 1: The winning nickname will be announced. Athletics Nickname Visual Identity Following the choice of a new nickname, Marquette will further engage the Marquette community, through focus groups and other forums, in the design of a visual identity for the new nickname, with a new logo to be chosen by the start of the school year. Students will be asked to give input on design and name the mascot (the costumed character appearing at games) in the fall. Parameters for the Nickname Selection The Board agreed that any nickname selected must be consistent with the university’s mission and adhere to the resolution passed last September banning use of any Native American imagery or references in Marquette’s athletics nickname, logo or mascot.  In addition, the new nickname must be selected by Marquette’s official entry into the Big East Conference on July 1. The Golden Eagles will remain Marquette’s athletics nickname until July 1.     If you are a member of the media, please contact a member of Marquette University's Communications Team directly with your questions. All other inquiries and questions about Marquette University's athletics nickname decision should be directed to the Office of Public Affairs at (414) 288-7491 or submitted through our contact form.