Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 11/12/97
      Contact:                           Rebecca Tucker   1

FOOTBALL INTEREST SURVEY UNDERWAY AT SLU
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University President Sally Clausen
announced today that the University has contracted with Applied Research
Technology Corporation of Baton Rouge to conduct a survey to determine the level
of interest and financial support for reestablishing a varsity football program at
Southeastern.
     "When I became president of Southeastern in 1995, a number of students,
community members, individual board members and some legislators requested that
I take steps to explore the financial feasibility of returning football to Southeastern. 
I was not prepared to address the issue in isolation until a complete assessment of
Southeastern's immediate and overall academic and capital outlay needs had been
conducted," Clausen said.  "However, I did promise to address the specific issue of
football within a two-year period.  Also, when applying for membership in the
Southland Conference, I made a commitment to the Conference Presidents' Council
that I would assess the financial feasibility of reinstating the football program."
     The objective of the SLU Football Interest Survey is to ascertain the opinions
of various defined populations with regard to interest and rationale for favoring or
opposing the return of football to Southeastern and their willingness to financially
support the football program.  

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Football Survey
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     The populations to be polled as part of the survey are :  1) SLU faculty and
staff, 2) SLU students, 3) SLU alumni and development supporters, 4) businesses
and corporations, 5) core community members, 6) stakeholders, and 7) public and
elected officials.  The survey of faculty and staff, students, alumni and development
sponsors and core community members will be administered by telephone.  A mail
survey with appropriate follow up will be conducted of businesses and corporations,
stakeholders and public and elected officials.
     The survey is scheduled to begin in early November, however, Dr. Clausen
was quick to point out that this is only one step in the process.  "A lot of people
have spoken to me about both sides of this issue," she said.  "My commitment is to
gather the relevant data to make a sound decision regarding football, and this survey
will be a part of the overall information package that will assist us in making a
sound, fiscally responsible decision."             
                              -SLU-
                                
    This press release is available on the World Wide Web at
    www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf97.htm