A plan is currently in place for Longwood University to have a new mascot and a new fight song. The university will still be called the Lancers. However, starting later this year a person in costume will be present at Lancers sporting events, alumni events, promotional events and student-organized events and various functions around the town of Farmville. According to Director of Athletics Troy Austin, a committee was created for the purpose of coming up with choices for a new mascot and creating a fight song.
"We are hustling and working to get this done quickly," said Austin. "The Spirit Initiative Committee is working to cover all bases. We are excited about putting the best product out there."
The Spirit Initiative Committee consists of Austin, Director of Marketing and Game Operations Eric Stoller, Lancer Lunatic Tucker Dowdy, Assistant Director for Student Union and Operations Jonnelle Davis, Professor of Music Gordon Ring, Assistant Professor of Theatre Melissa Panzarello, Staff Advisory Committee Daphne Norton, Director of Alumni Relations Nancy Shelton, Associate Vice President for Marketing & Communications Dennis Sercombe, Assistant Director of the Office of First Year Experience Stacey Wilkerson, Cunninghmans/Colonnades Residence Education Coordinator Zachary Guca, Student Government Association Secretary Danielle Brown (Secretary, SGA), Head Men's Basketball Coach Mike Gillian, and Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations Greg Prouty.
The committee first met on March 21. Austin said the committee members did a lot of research into what concepts would be best used in designing a mascot. The idea for a live animal mascot was tossed around by the committee, but it was decided that it was not feasible. Austin said having a costume would be easier to store and maintain, without having to hire someone to take care of an animal.
The committee took several weeks to brainstorm ideas for the new mascot. At a brainstorming session several weeks ago, the committee finalized what ideas they thought was best. Panzarello then went to work putting together drafts for costumes. She was tasked with that job given her experience working with theatre costumes.
"We're relying a lot on our content experts and utilizing their expertise. We are trying to be as creative as possible in terms of ideas," said Austin. "Each committee member was charged with going back to their departments to explain what was going on."
Austin said the committee will meet again very soon to look at finalized drafts for the mascot. He hopes to start the campus-wide voting process at the Midnight Breakfast on Sunday, May 1. The final possible choices for the mascot will be on display. The students will be able to vote on site. After that, Austin hopes to move the voting online through Facebook, campus e-mail and other outlets. Voting will be limited to Longwood faculty, staff, students and alumni. The committee had discussed opening the voting to Farmville residents but decided against it.
Austin said the voting for new mascot needed to be done right away because of the time it takes to send off for and create the costume. He said that process of creating the costume could take four to twelve weeks. He added that one student has already volunteered to wear the costume.
"Our target date for release is New Lancer Days in August," said Austin. "We want something exciting for the kids on campus to be able to see. We felt like this would be great for the new students on campus. Hopefully, the returning students will be back to enjoy the release." After that, the new mascot would be around for the start of the new athletic seasons.
The release of the fight song is scheduled for later in the fall. Ring was tasked with creating the song. According to Austin, Ring took ideas back to the music department. There will probably be some sampling in test groups before the song is released to the public. There will be no voting for the song. One version will be created and will be tweaked before release. Given the later release date, there is more time to work on the song.
Austin added that President Finnegan provided the charge for the spirit committee. Although Finnegan is not on the committee, he will still have input in the process.
