Write to Tim Rose to get his support for Admiral Ackbar and the Rebel Alliance! EDITED WITH A RESPONSE FROM THE ADMIRAL HIMSELF!!!

EDITED WITH HIS RESPONSE:

Write to Tim Rose (the original Admiral Ackbar) at info@admiralackbar.co.uk

Here's what I had to say:

Mr. Rose,

Here at the University of Mississippi, or as many prefer to call it, Ole Miss, we have struggled for years with issues of racial equality and the understanding of many cultures. Amongst this debate, the Ole Miss Rebels have encountered anger, frustration, and vocal opposition in our attempts to move away from an on-field sports mascot that resembled the southern American Civil War general, Robert E. Lee. While Colonel Reb was created in the 1970's (10 years after the violent integration of black students on our campus), he was removed from athletic events in 2003, based on requests from other schools that refused to play against our teams, the coaches who found it hard to recruit African American players, and students who felt offended to be represented by such a mascot. I tell you this, because this week, Ole Miss will finally attempt to put our racial woes behind us, and vote on whether or not we want a new mascot on the field during our sporting events. Among the many typical dogs, sharks, and birds that have been suggested, a large grassroots movement has forged an effort to become the Ole Miss Rebel Alliance, with Admiral Ackbar leading the way! This is the website with much of the information that has been created:

http://notatrap.org/

I send you this for a few reasons:

1. The hope and utter enjoyment that you have inspired in many people around the world with your characters continues to fascinate and excite me.


2. Many of us would love a statement of your support or denial of this movement.


3. Some things are just too cool to not tell the creators about.
Thanks for your time in reading this arduous synopsis. Here at the University of Mississippi, there are many who still appreciate your contribution to puppeteering and acting. If you have any questions, you can reach me at:

________

or 

on twitter @dgmcdowe

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Hi There!

If it were only up to me, I would be thrilled and honoured to be the
Universities Mascot. But I would suspect that you will need to get
permission from Lucas Film who own the rights to the character. That's not
impossible to do, and if you write to them as eloquently as you have to me,
could be a distinct possibility. I wish you luck with your quest and look
forward to hearing future developments. 

Your letter has taken me back to my youth. When I was four years old my
parents were working as foster parents at a children's home in Cedartown
Georgia. I spent my days playing with the orphans that lived at the home.
We had a sand box to play in with lovely white sand from Pensacola Florida.
There was a black orphan that played with us who would ask to be covered in
the sand so the dust would get into his skin and then he could look like us
at least until bath time. 

That was in 1960 and the memory can bring a tear to this day. It's such a
simple truth, "All men are created equal" 

Tim Rose 
Admiral Ackbar