KAMLOOPS-The public is invited to participate in two initiatives that have sprung from UCC’s name and role change.

Right now, the UCC Athletics Department, set to join the Canada West Universities Association, a member of Canadian Interuniversity Sport, in basketball and volleyball next year, is also looking at a name change.

The call has gone out to students, staff and community members to come up with a new nickname and mascot for our varsity teams: a title and symbol that will inspire pride in our players, respect and fear in our opponents, and enthusiasm in our fans.

Some nicknames will be great for all three, but can’t be matched to a mascot image. For instance, the Thompson Rivers University Rapids sounds good, but even though it suggests shades that would match the new team colours of blue and green, how do you depict it in a costume? Other names may sound great, but have already been used, particularly the monikers for tough, strong animals like cougars, grizzlies, lions, and the like. Others just won’t work for all teams. It’s okay to be a trout or an otter if you’re on the swim team, but it’s not that workable for, say, men’s soccer.

People with ideas for a nickname and mascot to replace the Sun Demons team name and purple and red dinosaur mascot Beamer are asked to drop off their suggestions at the UCC Gymnasium or email them to trunickname@tru.ca by November 22nd.

The Cariboo Student Society has also put out the call for a name change. The society could just rename itself Thompson Rivers University Student Society (TRUSS), but it’s thinking there may be some other great titles out there, and wants to hear suggestions from campus and community by November 19th . Anyone with an idea can email css_manager@tru.ca or drop off their suggestions at the information desk in the Old Main building, or at the CSS office in the Campus Activity Centre.

It’s exciting to be in the midst of planning a whole new organization and image, and this excitement isn’t just limited to the campus. Many people in our region, from future students now in grade school to business people looking for educated employees, have a stake in our university. Let the names begin.

For more information, contact:
TRU Nickname and Mascot: Kenneth Olynyk, UCC Athletics & Recreation
Director, 828-5273
CSS Name Change: Jenna Walsh, CSS VP External Affairs, 372-5882