Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           www.selu.edu/NewsEvents
    Date: 2/20/98
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  1

SLU PRESIDENT DELIBERATING ON FOOTBALL'S FATE
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University President Sally Clausen has begun
her careful deliberation on the fate of Southeastern football. Clausen appointed a committee in
December to review the feasibility of returning the sport. On Feb. 18, the committee voted 9-7
against the return of a football program using operating dollars. The decision now rests with the
president.
      I know this has been a tough process for the committee. They worked diligently to arrive
at this decision and have made their preference known. I appreciate all their hard work and will
now take all of the information under advisement to reach my own decision,  Clausen said.
     Clausen has already spoken with some committee members, staff and community leaders
who have called to express their opinion on the vote. She has held the first in a series of staff
meetings planned throughout the university's Mardi Gras holidays to study the findings.
      I want to review the committee s charge, financial data, and survey results. The
members of this panel have read over volumes of information and heard from a number of
experts. I need to review all of that data as well. I realize that this is a very difficult decision, and
I will do my best,  Clausen said.
     In addition, Clausen plans to meet with her leadership team regarding the committee s
concerns with the use of state funding for football. Clausen also plans to meet with the
Feasibility Committee, finance experts, SLU's Athletic Director, the president of Southeastern s
Alumni Association, and will speak with other university presidents as part of her deliberation. 
     Clausen has scheduled a long afternoon session with her staff today (Feb. 20) as well as 
                                 (MORE) 
PRESIDENT STUDIES FOOTBALL FATE -- Add One
meetings over the Mardi Gras break (Feb. 23-24) in order to get a full appreciation of all the data
presented to the Feasibility Committee. Clausen was not a part of the committee and only
attended meetings when visitors were present to share survey results or other data. She has
requested and received all of the committee s minutes, informational binder, survey results and
budget data.
     Clausen has not stated when she will make a final decision on the fate of football. 
                                    
                                 - SLU -
         This press release is available on the World Wide Web:
          www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp98.htm