Submitted photoDon’t say one person can’t make a difference. Since the beginning of the semester, one UW-Eau Claire sophomore has been proving people wrong, while at the same time making believers out of others.
His name may appear foreign – just one of the thousands of students making their way through college. But, there’s a greater chance that students, especially those living on Upper Campus, that you have heard about the guy who gives out free high-fives. Meet Casey Driscoll.
Since February, Driscoll has stood at the bottom of the hill almost every Monday morning giving high-fives to students walking to class. He began by wearing a sandwich board that read: “Momentum Monday, Free High-Fives.” At the bottom read the caption: “Move with the Motion.”
This is in connection with his larger goal – to form a grassroots following of students to support his bid to have an official Blugold mascot. He even designed and constructed his own Blugold suit he has worn on several occasions.
Why the high-fives?
Driscoll wants people to feel good about themelves, he said.
“It’s just about getting people giddy and laughing and feeling good about themselves in an overall community, and that’s the whole idea,” he said.
“Four thousand students live on upper campus,” he said. “Several thousand of that (number) walk down the hill early every Monday-Wednesday-Friday. What better time to get the attention of a whole lot of people?”
Driscoll, who is a RA in Sutherland Hall, said about 70 percent of the people he comes in contact with get what he’s doing while others are unsure of his motives.
“The idea was just to get people involved whether they liked to or not,” he said. “I set myself up and they would have to interact, positively or negatively, but at least I got it out there.
“Sometimes, people are just kind of perplexed – they’re skeptical. A lot of the times they’re like, ‘Did you lose a bet?’ or ‘You’re high on meth.’ Something like that. And I’m like ‘No, no. I’m genuine. I just want to wish you a happy day.'”
Junior A.J. Garcia, also an RA in Sutherland Hall, said he has overheard conversations about Driscoll. Some people had positive remarks but others couldn’t care less about his campaign.
He said he has heard people say they think he’s crazy but it makes them smile and forgot about the stressful things in their lives. “It brightens up their day for a second,” Garcia said
“If he can just do that, reach out to the person that walks by with their head down and puts a smile on their face for that second then he’s accomplished something,” Garcia said.
Sophomore Lindsey Meyers agrees.
“It’s nice that he does something out of the ordinary just to make your day a little happier,” she said.
In fact, she has created a Facebook group called “I Love the Momentum Monday Man” about Driscoll and his early-week motivation tactics . People have consistently written on its wall saying how an encounter with Driscoll made their day or expressing regret for missing him when he’s not there.
Mascot beginnings
The idea to push for an official Blugold mascot had its beginnings before Driscoll came to Eau Claire. He said he had an interest in mascots in high school and wanted to see Eau Claire have a mascot of its own.
Initially, Driscoll undertook a massive poster and flyer campaign, advertising his pitch for a Blugold. Driscoll started a project during the Fall 2006 semester called “It’s coming-10/4.” However, the project suffered from what he called “poster blindness.” Not enough people noticed the signs he hoped would create a buzz around campus.
Driscoll did his homework regarding the issue of a mascot on campus. He researched The Spectator archives and found dozens of plans to create a Blugold mascot were proposed but later fizzled.
Committees were formed in the past to create a Blugold mascot. There were movements in 1945, 1965, and 1967, according to The Specatator archives.
Additionally, Driscoll petitioned members of the university administration for the creation of an official Blugold and attended numerous meetings, including the Chancellor’s Roundtable. Members of the administration cited long-standing traditions and the continuation of the ‘Blugold Spirit’ idea as reasons to oppose Driscoll’s plan, he said.
Finally, by the end of the semester, Driscoll concluded his plan was headed in the wrong direction.
“I spent the rest of the semester finishing the suit. And then, in late January, I realized I was approaching it all wrong,” he said. “I should start as myself.”
Plan into motion
For the first month or so of his high-five campaign, Driscoll stood at the bottom of the hill with just his sandwich board draped over his shoulders. He said he wanted to establish his identity as a guy who cared about people and their happiness. He hoped people would come to expect his presence at the bottom of the hill every Monday morning.
Once that trust could be built, he adorned his Blugold suit. He suitably named his mascot, Chip E. Wa.
“His middle name is ‘Excellence,'” he said. “It’s his measure, his motto, his goal – this whole tacky thing.”
At first, people were confused about the suit, Driscoll said.
“With the mascot thing, there’s a guy running around in spandex, you know people don’t really know what to think unless you kinda know what’s going on,” Garcia said. “It’s caught people’s attention. It makes them wonder.”
Even so, he still has his supporters.
“It’s exciting seeing him at the bottom of the hill every Monday,” Meyers said. “I like him. I’m a fan.”
Not only does he stand at the bottom of the hill every Monday morning, but he also has walked around campus – with and without his mascot suit.
Driscoll can be found some days in Davies Center, approaching people and high-fiving them. One day, Driscoll said he went around to almost every office on campus wishing people a ‘Happy Monday’ and of course, high-fiving them as well.
Jane Brownell – program assistant in the admissions office – remembers an encounter with Driscoll.
“He’s friendly. He’s enthusiastic. He gets you pumped . It’s good to have a positive image. He gets everyone in a good spirit,” she said, noting that she liked his suit.
Brownell was unsure, though, about his intentions with the mascot.
Driscoll explained how his broader goal is to create a community that shares a common identity. He said there are many barriers that separate people on this campus.
“We have a massive river and a freezing bridge that cuts off one part of the campus where everybody lives,” he said. “And then a massive hill that nobody really enjoys walking up at least. I mean, that already divides campus hugely.”
Driscoll said he does not want to bash the administration but has questioned some of its judgments regarding this issue.
“When I say the administration, I mean specifically the chancellor and other people who don’t want to make a controversial decision – people who work specifically with the chancellor,” he said.
Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich could not be reached for comment.
Other than a small group opposed to the idea, the support for the mascot has been overwhelmingly positive from others employed at the university. Alumni Association Director of Relations, John Bachmeier, for instance has backed Driscoll since the very beginning of his plan, Driscoll said
People who don’t understand Driscoll’s plan think he is criticizing the university. That is not the case, he said. What he is criticizing is a certain conformity that exists on this campus and in society on the whole.
“That is, a set of rules you think you need to follow, like a belief of how society works and people go throughout their daily lives without asking any questions,” he said
What does it all mean?
Whether it’s “Momentum Monday,” or his plan to have an official mascot, it’s all encompassed in Driscoll’s idea for a better community and a better campus, he said.
Giving everyone a high-five who walks down the hill may seem trite, but it’s an act that is accomplishing part of his goals, he said. He is the change he wants to see in the world.
“I’m putting my foot down and I’m saying ‘Look! I really do care,’ ” he said. “I really am emotionally invested in this campus, in my life and in other people’s lives.”
Driscoll’s high-five gesture is one way to show he cares, he said.
“Every time somebody does these little random acts of kindness, it sends out all these little ripples that add up to huge waves that will knock down the walls of oppression,” he said.
Driscoll said he has talked with countless people about his ideas, and says many support what he’s doing and believe he can make a difference.
Driscoll will carry over his two-part campaign to next year. He is hoping for a following of students that will force the administration’s hand in authorizing his pitch for a mascot.
He said he wants it to be known that he and his ideas are not going away.
“This is something I believe in and something I want other people to believe in too,” Driscoll said. “And I want to get their input.”
