Hey It's Not A Big Flaming Pepper

Controversy has landed upon Nicholls State University in the form of it's new mascot logo. In an attempt to modernize, their old logo of a grey uniformed, white bearded Confederate Colonel named "Tillou", the University commissioned a new logo and mascot, complete with market research and a cost of $30,000. The results have not been met with resounding approval.

"It looked like a Nazi soldier -- a very angry Nazi soldier," said Nicholls alumna Hollie Garrison, 27, who saw the logo online for the first time this month. "My jaw dropped. I was speechless. I kind of thought it was a joke." Garrison, who lives in Lafayette, has started a group on Facebook called "I hate the new Tillou a.k.a. 'Nicholls the Nazi.'¤" As of Saturday afternoon, the site had attracted more than 275 members.

Director of University Relations, Renee Piper, says creating a logo that pleased everyone was almost an impossible task.

"Consider how challenging it is to create a mascot that would please multiple generations of Nicholls alums," Piper said. "There was never a prayer that everyone would love it."
While the university is not planning to rescind the design, Piper said it could fade away within a couple of years if no one buys the merchandise.

"But the market will do that," she said. "It's not our job to undo all the work of the focus group. This logo is what was voted on in a very inclusive and open process."

Read the article here byJenny Hurwitz of the Times Picayune.