The Student Government Association accepted an offer from University President Stephen Hulbert to hire a consultant to advise the University on creating a new mascot. Alex Barnes, SGA vice president and president-elect, said Hulbert offered to hire a consultant and have the University pay for it.

“We decided to take him up on his offer, being this would be a valuable resource,” Barnes said. “Instead of paying with students’ money, we had another source. Why not take it?”

Barnes said he accepted the offer Tuesday and requested the consultant begin as soon as possible.

He said the SGA has not ruled out other methods of creating a mascot such as University committees and student contests.

“The consultant will just give us direction on which way to go,” Barnes said.

Barnes said the University is not looking to change the name of the team to accommodate a new mascot.

“My intentions are to modernize the mascot and revamp it so it represents what we have in common and not what’s different about us,” Barnes said.

Barnes said a mascot is important as it gives the student body and the Nicholls community, as a whole, something to unite behind. A mascot may also help to increase school spirit, he said.

“For example, athletes get pretty upset when they see students walking around on campus wearing LSU shirts,” Barnes said. “If we had a mascot, we could, quite possibly, have more school spirit and more people at the games supporting our athletes.