Lucasfilm Addresses Admiral Ackbar's Mascot Prospects http://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-trail/2010/03/01/lucasfilm-addresses-admiral-ackbars-mascot-prospects.html Ackbar the best choice for new Rebel mascot http://media.www.reflector-online.com/media/storage/paper938/news/2010/03/02/Opinion/Ackbar.The.Best.Choice.For.New.Rebel.Mascot-3882406.shtml Letter to the Editor: Introducing Admiral Ackbar http://www.thedmonline.com/content/letter-editor-introducing-admiral-ackbar Admiral Ackbar for Ole Miss Mascot http://www.notatrap.org/ University of Mississippi Library: Digital Collections http://clio.lib.olemiss.edu/archives/ College mascots have come under close scrutiny over the past several decades, and a number of institutions have changed their mascots after objections from groups who found the mascots offensive and distasteful. One mascot that has been receiving attention as of late is Colonel Reb, who has served as the University of Mississippi's official mascot for 24 years. Colonel Reb is a distinguished looking gentleman with Van Dyke style facial hair, and to some, he is also an unpleasant reminder of the traditions of the Old South. Since the student body voted to replace him on February 23, one leading candidate has emerged to replace him: Admiral Ackbar. Ackbar is a character from the film "Empire Strikes Back", and he is perhaps best known for his line "It's a trap". Ackbar bears a more than uncanny resemblance to an upright, humanoid type squid, and some people have commented that his candidacy is part of a new spirit at Ole Miss. An official decision has yet to be made, though it is worth noting that George Lucas, the man behind the "Star Wars" series has indicated that he supports the Admiral's candidacy, having done so in a humorous press release via Lucasfilm, his production company. The first link will take visitors to a news story from this Monday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the voting process for a new mascot at Ole Miss. The second link leads to a post from the U.S. News & World Report's "The Paper Trail" blog on Lucasfilm's official take on the Admiral Ackbar nomination. The third link will whisk users to an editorial piece from the pen of Matt Watson, a columnist for Mississippi State University's student newspaper, "The Reflector". Watson happens to like the idea of Admiral Ackbar as the mascot, and his piece is worth a look. The fourth site leads to a passionately written editorial from the Daily Mississippian endorsing Admiral Ackbar as the new mascot. The fifth link leads to the official homepage of the "Ackbar for Ole Miss Mascot" movement. Finally, the last link leads users to the homepage of the University of Mississippi Libraries Digital Collections. Here visitors can learn about blues history, the integration of the school in the 1960s, and student life in the 19th century.