Strip Search is one of the favorite spots on the UExpress website. Aspiring cartoonists are invited to submit their strips for possible inclusion. (Note: The Big Picture book on the Spring 1999 list came through this site.) To further the search for new cartoonists, AMU has joined with Follett College Stores to sponsor a Strip Search contest.The Follett Company manages approximately 450 college bookstores throughout the U.S. These stores range from full-service campus bookstores to small outlets that sell books on the opening day of school. The contest is running from August 1 through October 31, 1998.

Entries are submitted for one of three categories: comic strip, comic panel, and other. Contest submissions will be evaluated by the Universal Press Syndicate editorial staff. After the closing of the contest, the winning strips will be transmitted to AMP editorial, who will produce the book.Publicity and promotion for the book will be in April 1999. The contest winners will be announced to coincide with the book publication. A publication party for the overall winner will be at the Follett store nearest his or her college residence.