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Help wanted! SLU seeks advice on Billiken 3.0

SLU's new version of its Billiken mascot as of September 2016
Bill Barrett | provided by SLU

Stung by the negative reception given its recent revamping of the Billiken mascot, Saint Louis University wants public input for a do-over.

SLU President Fred Pestello resorted to his favorite communication channel, Twitter, on Tuesday in a politically themed presentation titled "Decision 2016." It directs anyone interested in helping to shape Billiken 3.0 to an online poll to give views on the color, eyes, hairdo and other features on the upcoming revision.

The poll is an effort to help SLU rebound from what was a strongly negative response to its unveiling of  the new Billiken mascot in September. Students quizzed about their reaction used descriptions like “creepy,” “menacing” and “something you’d see in a child’s nightmare.”

Conceding defeat, Pestello went to the Zoo to ask animals what they thought, posting thevideo on – you guessed it – Twitter. It promised upcoming changes, and urged everyone to stay tuned.

That field trip apparently led to the latest campaign-style pitch. But before you cast your real election ballot next Tuesday, if you’re interested in the new Billiken, you have only until Sunday to give your thoughts.  As Pestello reminds everyone, if you don’t vote, you have no right to go on Facebook to complain.

Decision 2016: Time to weigh in on the new, new Billiken mascot costume. I need your input. WATCH: pic.twitter.com/BG5UMBuCGW — Fred P. Pestello (@SLUPresident) November 1, 2016

Follow Dale on Twitter: @dalesinger

Dale Singer began his career in professional journalism in 1969 by talking his way into a summer vacation replacement job at the now-defunct United Press International bureau in St. Louis; he later joined UPI full-time in 1972. Eight years later, he moved to the Post-Dispatch, where for the next 28-plus years he was a business reporter and editor, a Metro reporter specializing in education, assistant editor of the Editorial Page for 10 years and finally news editor of the newspaper's website. In September of 2008, he joined the staff of the Beacon, where he reported primarily on education. In addition to practicing journalism, Dale has been an adjunct professor at University College at Washington U. He and his wife live in west St. Louis County with their spoiled Bichon, Teddy. They have two adult daughters, who have followed them into the word business as a communications manager and a website editor, and three grandchildren. Dale reported for St. Louis Public Radio from 2013 to 2016.