Student Senate passes mascot resolution

Chancellor asked to form research group on Blugold

By: Nicole Strittmater

Posted: 3/6/08

The mystery still remains: What is a Blugold?

Currently UW-Eau Claire is the only school in the UW System without a mascot, a situation laced with mixed emotions.

While some claim the university needs a figure to identify with and bring everyone together, others tout the creation of one would only hurt the school's mystique.

No matter how people feel, Student Senate recognized this is a hot topic and passed a resolution at Monday night's meeting, 28-1-0, recommending that Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich form a workgroup to research the university's possible need for one.

"It's not in support of a mascot or not. It's just focusing on the idea that we should figure whether or not our university community would like a mascot," Vice President Meghan Charlier said. "I think that if students want it addressed, it's something that we should address."

This resolution will go onto Levin-Stankevich for approval, and, if he signs off on it, he said he will assist in the formation of a workgroup to research and evaluate ideas through tools such as surveys.

"If the students want to form a group, I support their doing so, if they have the student support," Levin-Stankevich said.

However, he said it is important to include not only students but alumni in the group.

The time frame for this workgroup is not determined, but he said if they're going to take action this semester, things need to begin quickly.

Senior Seth Chilsen said he doesn't care one way or the other.

"It'd be nice to have a mascot finally but whatever," he said. "I don't think there's really a need for it but it's fun to have and it gives you something to actually put with the image of the school."

Freshman Mindy Delzer also said it's not a big deal, but a mascot is kind of important to have.

"It's something to represent who you are and your school," she said.

This isn't the first mention of a mascot workgroup.

According to a May 2007 article in The Spectator, the university created a mascot committee in 1965, asking faculty and students to give their input on what a Blugold should be.

Five finalists, including Blugold Beaver, the Norse God Odin, Blugold Eagle, Golden Eagle and the Eau Claire Riverman, were named, and students and faculty voted to pick one or keep the Blugold ambiguous, according to the article. No record of the vote can be found.

Two years ago Student Senate passed a resolution to recommend the then chancellor form a similar workgroup, but in the end nothing much came of it, Levin-Stankevich said.

Finally, the idea surfaced again in Fall 2006 when junior Casey Driscoll began a student-run initiative to create a mascot and even created a costume of what he envisions a Blugold to be - a mythological bird, Chip E. Wa. in which the 'E' stands for 'excellence.'

"It seems to me that a lot of the sentiment was that we have a good spirit on campus and people are proud of being a Blugold. They didn't feel they needed a symbol to actuate that pride," Levin-Stankevich said, "but other people believe they do."

Information Technology Commission of Senate director Aaron Brewster voiced the lone opposition to the resolution Monday night.

"I have a lot of school spirit. I just don't have it in the type of 'Rah, Rah let's go make Blugold cookies.' A mascot and the 'Rah, rah' homecoming just seems like a bunch of empty gestures," he said. "I would rather have us concentrate our energies on building something that we can be proud of as opposed to some superfluous symbol that runs around with little legs in some felt outfit."