TO ALUMNI If you are an alum who holds onto the Indian image and symbols of the past, I understand. In truth, I only recently discovered, that these symbols were never "offically" adopted by The College... or so it claims. But make no mistake... the Indian symbol was adopted by The College... regardless of its equivocating.   While I doubt that it was ever meant to be willful, The College's unoffical, but true, representation was nonetheless a false one created on us who were affected by it.   More than the Indian loss, I say, get agitated over this "hoax."  We were robbed.   I don't know whether The College has ever apologized to the alumni over this matter  Frankly, I'm over it.  But I'm not you. So for this reason, The College should apologize to all for the misrepresentation and dislocations of feelings caused upon gung-ho eighteen year olds.    Regardless of The College's actions, time moves on... and the choice is to stay locked in time and concept... or move on as well.    For myself, the Indian symbol, while a part of my life at Dartmouth, was but a fraction. And with every passing year, it becomes even a smaller percentage.     The College has already existed 60% as long without the Indian as with it.  And it's a thought, that The College may try to remain uncommited until the last person standing under the Indian symbol passes on to the Big Sky.  So far, deflection seems to be its modus operandi in this matter.   As for the Dartmouth Review which peddles paraphernalia emblazoned with Indian symbols, your market is shrinking, literally, physically, and numerically... all while The College sits patiently, like a buzzard, for your carcass. If profit is even slightly important, you need get a new product line, Pronto!  That's right, PRONTO!  Consider debating for the new mascot to your future product line.    Seriously, all sarcasim aside, for the alums who choose to hold on to the past, it is my hope that you survive and thrive beyond the day when The College has existed longer without the Indian Symbol than with it.   That's another 20 years of Good Health and Good Fortune.

	TO STUDENTS It's a startling fact: Mascot ideas have been offered to The College since a decade before your birth!     Yet a survey of college mascots, ranging from bees to bison and turtles to tigers, show that regardless of the mascot, ALL WORK to represent the college, plus rally athletic teams and the student body.  In the end, most any selection will do... well almost anyone.   It's my understanding that "Keggy" has a following.  As a creative concept, it's great; unfortunately, as a college mascot, it's a non-starter.  Eliminating Keggy, leaves the moose, and perhaps some other ideas. Not a big selection after 30 years of concepts pitched in vain to The College which never set a criteria or date by which ANY decision would be made.    Analyzing this mascot issue, one is struck with the idea that the mascot is more than a icon... it's the EXPRESSED NEED OF STUDENTS & ALUMS, which The College hasn't served.   More than The College having a mascot, it is we who must have one. It's our need; so I say, "Let's fulfill it!"   Since, The College admits to being "other-directed" in its use of the Indian symbol; it's entirely possible that it'll remain other-directed once again.  This leaves the mascot decision to those with the best marketing skills.  That's us.   Here's my thinking:  I've an address in Dartmouth, MA... also home of UMASS - DARTMOUTH.  If The College fails to decide, I'll form an online entity to wholesale reindeer gear to you for your eBay / online sales (visit www.bizhosting.com to build your storefront).  Normal retail will be handled by the Hanover's bricks 'n mortar merchants. The company will represent no association with either college.  No logos, no references... BUT, we will market items under my tradenames/marks of "Dartmouth Reindeer" (tm), "Dartmouth Reigndeer"(tm), "The Reigning Dartmouth Deer"(tm) and perhaps "The Big Green Bou"(tm) which following.   So far, "push marketing" (attempting to sell) has failed to budge The College on a mascot. Perhap "pull marketing" (wanting to buy) will work. If it doesn't, at least a mascot need will be profitably fulfilled.    First, let's see what The College does. My goals are for it to decide on any mascot and for the rest of the Dartmouth Community to finally relax in this fact.  Stay tuned.