Wednesday, June 29, 2005
 
Wild Day
A message from the President of Marquette University, anouncing the name-change-back-to-the-name-before-the-name-change:
    I am pleased to announce that our athletics nickname effective July 1st will be the Golden Eagles. This decision was made by you, the Marquette community, through the "MU Voice" voting process. I want to thank all of you who participated in "MU Voice" for taking the time to vote for the nickname that we will use as we enter the Big East Conference on July 1st.
The decision, had it been left to the Marquette Community, would have been Marquette Warriors, but Marquette University is a European democracy. You can choose from amongst the choices your betters put before you, of which the most popular choice will not be allowed.
    The name Golden Eagles has a proud association in Marquette's history since it was our name from 1994 to the present. I am pleased that this tradition will continue in the Big East Conference, one of the most prestigious and competitive conferences in the nation. The Big East is also known for the academic quality of its student-athletes, and our Marquette student-athletes will be no exception. They excel both in the classroom and in athletic competition.
Marquette shows its committment to academic evidence by finding the last ten years indicative of history.
    Ultimately, more than one-third of the Marquette community eligible to vote participated in either phase one or phase two of the voting process, with 35,777 total individuals casting votes. Thank you for your passion and enthusiasm for Marquette University. Your dedication is vital to ensuring our future progress and success.
Clicking a radio button and typing in a secret code number is not dedication. Volunteering, financial support, and whatnot are. I've done one of the above. Guess which, and you wouldn't necessarily thank me.
    Let me also thank Advantage Research, Inc., the independent firm that administered "MU Voice," for creating and executing an honest, fair and scientific process. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Nickname Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives from the Marquette community, for ensuring the integrity and transparency of this process.
No, no, thank you, Marquette, for expending a large sum of money on a farce that didn't address anything but an ill-conceived name change on your part. Advantage Research just sucked up some dollars from students and those alumni who are dedicated and passionate, or at least just dedicated, to go back to a slightly less ill-conceived.
    Of course, we know that Marquette is first and foremost an academic institution committed to educating men and women to be a leaven for good in our society. We must not lose sight of this important mission rooted in our 450-year Jesuit tradition. Thank you for your care and concern and for the pride we share in the values of this wonderful university. We Are Marquette!
You are Marquette. Me, I am just a guy who graduated there and managed to find a series of jobs in the private sector.


 
To say Noggle, one first must be able to say the "Nah."