After four years without a graphic representation, the University is getting closer to seeing a new version of the Colonel mascot. Tillou, former mascot, was retired by University President Stephen Hulbert during the 2003-2004 school year.

Since early summer, the process for revamping the Colonel has been underway. The designs for the Colonel were based on feedback from “focus groups held with students, faculty and alumni,” Alex Barnes, Student Government Association president, said.

An e-mail was also sent to students to inform them of the process, which gave them a chance to respond with their input.

The feedback was then sent to Rickabaugh Graphics Design Company, which will make various designs for a new Colonel for the Nicholls community to be able to see and vote on a new Colonel design.

“We are hoping that the new Colonel will be more modern and less confederate, and less like the Colonel from Kentucky Fried Chicken,” Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs and enrollment services, said jokingly.

The design company will return to the University during the semester and will give students an opportunity to see the three new designs.

“There will be several meetings throughout the day for the students to see the choices. The students will then be able to rank their first, second and third choices. No pictures will be able to be taken of the new designs at this point, however, because of copyright issues,” Dial said.

Students will be able to view and vote for the new mascot on Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Alumni will be able to vote on Sept. 29 and faculty and staff will vote on Oct. 2.

SGA will make a decision on the new Colonel from the top three designs the students choose, but the final decision rests with the SGA president, Dial said.

“We hope the new mascot will be a representation of the school spirit we want to build on the community. Something students can look at and say, ‘That’s Nicholls!'” Dial said. “We hope that it will make the students proud to be a Colonel.”

“I think that the mascot is the embodiment of Nicholls spirit. Having a new mascot will be a boost to our school spirit and Colonel pride,” Barnes said.

The new Colonel is expected to be chosen and ready for the University by the end of the semester, Dial said.