I would just like to comment a little about the Alaska teams, mostly Anchorage. Two letters were sent out by both AD's from Anchorage and Fairbanks. One each to the WCHA and the CCHA. Both of letters were requested by the conferences. There has been some conversations about the fact that in the past the Alaska schools don't want to join a conference. It's not true from what I have heard. The conversations that I have heard here in the past have been that the problem is that none of the conferences want us to apply, because of the cost of coming up here and the fact that students will miss so much time at school. To curb this, both AD's have agreed to pay for the airfare up here, and promised that the visiting teams could travel on Thursday and be back on Sunday. These two things have cut costs down to the price of lodging. Now that the cost has been reduced so much, it seems like the CCHA and the WCHA are most interested in the programs. Both campuses are more interested in joining now that the independant bid has been removed. I don't want to imply that is the only reason we are interested in joining. But now, it's more important that we are accepted into a conference by 92-93. The idea of the merger is one thing helping the Alaska schools keep hope. The hockey booster club in Anchorage is doing a great deal supporting Mr. Ron Petro's (Anchorage's AD) efforts. I am a member of the Lion's club that supports the UAA Athletic department. We bring in a great deal of money in support of the hockey team, and this will help pay for the airfare for the visiting teams. The members of the Lion's Club all support joining a conference. I hope this clears things up a little. Melanie Daniels University of Alaska Anchorage axmjd@alaska [log in to unmask]