Dating back to the 1800's the use of mascots in colleges and universities has helped to foster pride and raise the spirit of fans. At the earliest incarnation, mascots used on college and university campuses for sports were largely live animals. This has become a tradition and some campuses still practice this even today. Mascots for hundreds perhaps thousands of years have been viewed as symbols of luck.
This is why some college and universities will still bring out a live animal onto the field as a mascot to get the crowd involved. Animals such as: lions, tigers, buffaloes, and bulldogs have been used as live mascots to name a few. The Colorado Buffaloes will often bring a buffalo out onto their home field during half-time. Boosters at most campuses supply the necessary funds for the feeding and upkeep of live mascots.
Use of Live Mascots a Controversy for Colleges and Universities
However, the use of live animals as mascots on college and university campuses has been fraught with controversy. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has had much to say about the use of animals as mascots over the years. Many people in the group feel that it is unethical and perhaps unhealthy to keep animals in captivity for the sole purpose of being a mascot. Their concern arises amid some animal mascots dying such as a tiger from renal failure.
PETA argues that the cages that the animals are kept in are barely large enough to allow for free movement. Also, sometimes temperatures can be extreme and having thousands of fans in one place near the animal can cause it distress. Rival schools will at times steal the mascot of other schools. This is an ongoing controversy that hasn't come to a clean end. Some colleges and universities view using live animal mascots as a long standing tradition that is harmless. Animal rights activists feel it is inhumane and unethical and needs to end.
Many Mascots Resemble Those in Professional Sports
Several colleges and universities don't use live mascots. Their mascots are very much like the ones seen at professional football, soccer, and basketball games. Someone wears a suit and becomes the personality for the team. A lot of intense training can go into becoming a mascot for a college or university. The person has to have a high level of energy, be enthusiastic and engaging, be able to give the mascot "personality," and adopt gestures befitting a mascot.
Many will learn dances, mime, perform skits, waves flags with the crowds, or hold up signs to get the crowd involved. It is quite the acting job and demands that the person performing as the mascot maintain consistent, upbeat, and positive behavior. It's not only important for the mascot to interact with other college students. A mascot needs to be accessible to all college and university fans such as alumni, community, faculty, and children of fans.
College and University Mascots aren't Always Stereotypical
The use of mascots in colleges and universities do not always fall along stereotypical lines. Mascots are often patterned for characteristics of the school or the students attending the schools. The boll weevil has been used in college sports as the mascot for The University of Arkansas at Monticello. Some would argue that it doesn't look like a formidable foe. Yet, it is one of the biggest detriments to cotton crops in the U.S.
The Fighting Okra is the mascot representing Delta State. Fans of the school's team were opposed to using the vegetable because they didn't feel it portrayed the right image. Some argued that it was mean, green, and indigenous to the Southern region of America. Given this reasoning the mascot name has stuck.
The University of Hawaii-Hilo has taken a different approach with their mascot. They have emulated the Vulcans of Star Trek fan and made them their mascot. Their reasoning is due to the large amount of volcanic activity through the islands, the name fits perfectly.
Related Articles
College Sports Ticket - Motivate the Team, be There to Cheer Them
By: Robert Riles | 21/12/2007 | Sports and Fitness
College sports tickets are a big rage in the west and are available on all leading sports related websites. Right from the time when children are in school, they are encouraged by their parents to play at least one sport or take up some form of extra curricular activity.
Buy Sell Sports Ticket – Play it Safe to Have Fun
By: Robert Riles | 21/12/2007 | Sports and Fitness
To buy sell sports tickets is like picking out tickets when there is a concert of our favorite band in town. Then we would be the first to look for tickets and block as many as possible. This is just in case any more of friends want to come along and need extra tickets, if not, the option of buy sell the sports tickets is always there.
Picture of Athlete – Run and Get Captured
By: Robert Riles | 21/12/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Picture of athletes and professional players are found in most houses reflecting on individuals' interests and personality. If there is an athlete who is currently ranked on top in the world, he is the most popular and pictures of that athlete will sell the most.
Contemporary Wall Art – New Styles in Vogue
By: Robert Riles | 21/12/2007 | Art and Entertainment
Contemporary wall art is any form of art that is created in the present day that is anything modern falls in this category.
College Sports Apparel – Clothes From a Different League
By: Robert Riles | 21/12/2007 | Sports and Fitness
College sports apparel is available on various websites today, and so interested fans can buy them from there instead of hunting for them in stores. You could be an avid basketball, baseball, cricket or hockey fan, and can be assured that you will find your team related products and apparels on the Internet.
Authentic Collectible Sports – Genuine and Pure as Gold
By: Robert Riles | 22/12/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Authentic collectible sports available on the various websites and sport good stores are a rage and have created a revolution among sports lovers. These include the sports jerseys, caps, jackets and even shoes at times.
Team Apparel- Colors and Patterns Galore
By: Robert Riles | 22/12/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Team apparel is what gives the team an identity and a personality, adding the final touch making them ready for the match. The team apparel should be of a bright color and each of the jerseys, caps and other accessories must have the names and numbers of all the players.
Sports Collectible Store – the One Stop Shop for All you Love
By: Robert Riles | 22/12/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Sports collectible store is where a sports fan goes to buy stuff that is related to their favorite sports or teams. These sports collectible stores have everything one can dream of, from apparels to accessories and even books and magazines related to different sports.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Boxing match
By: chocolate | 22-07-2008
when is floyd mayweather's next fight and who's he fighting
I just was curious if degrees from Breyer State ...
By: Paradise | 22-07-2008
I just was curious if degrees from Breyer State University were legitimate?
Who is the national champion ncaa football 2003 ...
By: Tyrone | 22-07-2008
who is the national champion ncaa football 2003 who has the trophy
Pacing calendar
By: dleeodahl | 22-07-2008
Is there a month pacing calendar for Literacy and Writing that can be found online or purchaed? I have the writing and reading curriculum, but I have new teachers that don't know and have never used curriculum. I need something that I can give to them that will guide them weekly.
DC
I ran the 100 yard dash in 9.3 seconds. How fast ...
By: Don | 22-07-2008
I ran the 100 yard dash in 9.3 seconds. How fast would the time be for the 100 meter dash?
Can you supply Golf Associations in South America ...
By: imisseldine | 22-07-2008
Can you supply Golf Associations in South America,especially those who have a Junior program?
Q&A Powered by:
More from Amy Nutt
How to Prepare for Reality TV Show Auditions
By: Amy Nutt | 25/07/2008 | Television
Part of the appeal that has reality TV shows so intriguing is the fact that the characters are true-life people, folks who could be your neighbors or co-workers.
What to Do If Your Dog Has Gas
By: Amy Nutt | 25/07/2008 | Pets
Canine flatulence is not a fun thing to experience. Dogs tend to have very smelly gas and, apart from the nasal assault, you`ll notice that your pet is rather uncomfortable as well.
History of the Piano
By: Amy Nutt | 25/07/2008 | Music
Acoustic pianos have been around for about 500 years, giving the piano a long history of providing music. Despite numerous attempts to create an instrument that involved strings and a hammer, Bartolomeo Cristofori was the one who is credited with actually inventing the first acoustic piano.
Digital Piano vs. Acoustic Piano
By: Amy Nutt | 24/07/2008 | Music
The piano has come a long way since it's invention 500 years ago. The original version has now been replicated and improved countless times, resulting in a large number of different piano styles and with the latest technology, digital pianos have cropped up and become a popular alternative.
History of Counterfeit Money
By: Amy Nutt | 24/07/2008 | Law
Counterfeit money actually has a very long history, which means the concept is not really all that new. Currency has been around for a long time and with currency comes greed. They say that money is the root of all evil and counterfeiting is definitely not an exception.
Celebrities Make Tooth Whitening Famous
By: Amy Nutt | 24/07/2008 | Health
Whitening your teeth is not a new concept and it is something that has been used throughout the ages, particularly by the upper class. While original formulas included things like nitric acid, pumice and human urine among other ingredients, teeth whiting products these days are far more benign, yet still effective.
How A PR Firm Quotes Project Rates
By: Amy Nutt | 24/07/2008 | Marketing
There are several elements factored into a quote from a PR firm. There is also the fact that no two quotes will be the same because every individual seeking out a public relations firm needs something a little different. The PR firm provides a number of different services that benefits each and every business that seeks out what they have to offer.
How to Remove Pet Odor From Your Carpet
By: Amy Nutt | 23/07/2008 | Pets
If you have dogs, you know how that unpleasant odor can stick to carpets. It's not that you don't love your dogs, you can love them and not the smell! Wet dog odors are particularly stubborn and tend to get right into carpet fibers.
Education 
| Posted: 27-03-2008 | Comments: 
