Photo: Proposed Pioneer mascots – Boone the wolf and Cassius the horse
A blood-curdling mascot controversy is raging at Transylvania. Not Transylvania, Romania – but Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. And this confusing story includes pioneers, a wolf, a horse and even Boone – but not our Denver Boone.
Lexington’s Transylvania University became the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s first institution for higher education in 1780. It was founded by pioneers of the day. Thus, they logically became the Transylvania University Pioneers.
Suddenly, after over 230 years of thoughtful deliberation, just like Dracula himself, the University has risen from their long slumber and is doing a little bloodletting of their own:
In honor of that Pioneer spirit, Transylvania Athletics is introducing a new mascot—an animal that has close ties to the pioneer nickname but more importantly exemplifies what being a Transylvania Pioneer really means. As part of our steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion, we want our mascot to be a symbol of strength and pride that unifies Pioneers from all backgrounds and generations.
Of course, a wolf and horse were carefully selected as the options. A wolf and a horse have close ties to Pioneers? Hmmm? Sounds familiar, no?
Still, non-administrative types are not happy at Count Dracula’s namesake University.
https://twitter.com/MESCCS/status/699241578104229888
@Transy @TransySports This mascot nonsense is the dumbest thing I've heard in a long time. I expect better from my alma mater. #neither
— Brian Jewell (@GroupTravlBrian) February 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/JHawk42/status/699303732610207744
It is no surprise to anyone who studies this stuff, 84% of the students selected for the mascot phlebotomy selected ‘Neither’ (1,933 out of 2,414 students) when presented with the options of Boone the wolf or Cassius the horse. Ouch – who didn’t see that one coming all the way from Bucharest! The silly students think a Pioneer should actually represent a Pioneer. How dare they!
But don’t expect the controversy to stop here. Not even one student’s suggestion of ‘Dracula’ as a replacement shall stand. They administration wants their full measure of blood – Dracula be damned.
“Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.” — Julius Caeser in William Shakespeare’s 1599 play, Julius Caesar, Act 1, scene 2, lines 190–195.
Interesting name choice for the wolf, Cassius.
Unfortunately, Transy, a 200+ year old liberal arts school, will learn what DU already learned 10-15 years ago: Non-human mascots don’t work very well when your nickname is “Pioneers.”
Your fans, students, alumni and opponents will ridicule you. You all be a news story that will not be positive.
And in the words of another tormented Shakespearean hero, you “will suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.”
Sic Transit Gloria.
Brilliant, as usual. The Shakespeare connection could only be made by our own Swami!
“Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much; such men are dangerous.” — Julius Caeser in William Shakespeare’s 1599 play, Julius Caesar, Act 1, scene 2, lines 190–195.
Interesting name choice for the wolf, Cassius.
Unfortunately, Transy, a 200+ year old liberal arts school, will learn what DU already learned 10-15 years ago: Non-human mascots don’t work very well when your nickname is “Pioneers.”
Your fans, students, alumni and opponents will ridicule you. You all be a news story that will not be positive.
And in the words of another tormented Shakespearean hero, you “will suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.”
Sic Transit Gloria.
Brilliant, as usual. The Shakespeare connection could only be made by our own Swami!