Comet Character Shines Brightest in Survey

 

The surveys are in, and the choice is overwhelmingly clear:  UT Dallas Comets want to be represented by a comet-like character.

 

Recently, a questionnaire was sent to the campus community asking them to choose from among four suggestions for a new mascot.  Ideas included a fox, a hawk, a coyote or the comet character. Students, faculty, staff and alumni preferred the comet 2 to 1 over the other choices.

 

Now that an idea has been chosen, members of the University’s mascot steering committee — a group made up of students, administrators, staff and faculty — will focus their attention on what the new mascot will look like. The committee is once again asking the UT Dallas campus community to submit sketches with name suggestions.

 

The suggestions can be sent by e-mail, delivered in person or sent through U.S. mail.  The group will review the submissions before handing them over to a professional artist, who will then create the new character.

 

In late January, a different survey sent to campus revealed the desire to retain the University’s nickname of Comets but to bid farewell to the mascot, a blue-skinned, red-headed “comet in human form” named Temoc.

 

Early ideas for a new mascot included an astronaut, a robot, a greyhound and a “crusher” character.  The committee subsequently narrowed the choices to a fox, a hawk, a coyote or a comet character.  Of the 3,899 individuals who voted, the fox received 8 percent of the vote, the hawk and coyote both received 21 percent, and the comet character received the remaining 50 percent.

 

Sketches of the new mascot should be e-mailed to Dr. Darrelene Rachavong at dar@utdallas.edu.  They can also be delivered in person in the Administration Building (AD), Room 2.412, or mailed to:

 

 

The University of Texas at Dallas

Vice President for Student Affairs, AD31

800 West Campbell Road

Richardson, TX 75080-3021

 

 

All submissions must be received by Wednesday, June 25.

---