SG considers reviving living mascot tradition

Student Senate bill proposes wolf-like dog to represent University alongside current mascots

Nick Tran

News Editor

Student Senate will be meeting tonight to discuss a number of new legislations, one of which will propose that a live mascot be purchased to represent the University beside Mr. and Ms. Wuf.

According to the bill to be presented at the Senate meeting, reviving the Lobo wolf mascot tradition with a Tamaskan Dog is under consideration. The Tamaskan Dog is very similar in appearance to a wolf and will be the fourth live mascot in the Lobo line.

The legislation said this is not an attempt to replace Mr. and Ms. Wuf, who will still be active mascots, but a desire to restore historic traditions of NCSU for the student body. Sen. Andy Walsh, the senator who wrote the bill, said the Senate is making an effort to push traditions at the University and he thought of idea after finding a Facebook group petitioning for a real wolf.

“We had one before and we wanted to bring it back,” he said. “We want to do something cool for the students and hopefully it’ll pass without problems.”

The decision to get a wolf-like dog instead of the traditional wolf came from maintaining the animal, Walsh said. “N.C. laws are strict on vaccinating a wild wolf so it was better to find a wolf-like substitute.”

According to Walsh, the a full-bred Tamaskan will cost about $2,000 which, depending on student approval via a campus survey, will be taken from Student Government funds. Walsh said he was hoping to find an alumnus to keep and train the dog as well as absorb the food and maintenance costs. The Veterinary School is expected to help with the medical responsibilities of keeping the mascot.

“We talked to the people at the Vet School to find housing for the mascot,” he said. “We will make sure it’ll be a visual mascot but also that it’s treated properly.”

Kevin Norris, a freshman in business administration, said he liked the idea and supported the attempt to increase school spirit.

“It’s pretty cool and would make a great addition, but we should still keep the old mascots,” Norris said. “It may not really be necessary, but since I’ve been a State fan since I was five, I’m pro anything to promote N.C. State.”

Nikhil Singh, a senior in industrial engineering, said a number of arguments could be made for and against the bill. “As far as a live mascot, it can go both ways,” he said. “I think it would be cool to see how the students react. People will support the idea, but I don’t see it improving anything in particular.”

Singh said logistical issues would raise questions about how practical having a live mascot would be.

“I feel the cost will be divided among a large student body so I’m not worried about that, but an issue will arise on how the dog will be taken care of,” he said. “If the past animals expressed discontent, getting another one probably isn’t a good idea.”

Sen. Kyle O’Donnell said he would oppose the legislation because of the logistical issues and the lack of specificity of the bill.

“Will the maintenance costs come from fees or appropriations? There are a lot of specifics missing from the bill,” he said. “I don’t think an individual alumnus should have to bear the cost of the animal and the Vet School hasn’t even endorsed the mascot.”

O’Donnell said it was impractical to think the University can maintain a live animal as a mascot. “Mr. and Ms. Wuf are already properly embodying the University’s sprit,” O’Donnell said. “That spirit never dies, unlike a Tamaskan.”

Katina Mitchell, a freshman in environmental engineering, said the intent of the legislation is good, but the bill itself shows how impossible the idea is.

“I like the idea and how it would help school spirit, but $2,000 upfront for a dog is ridiculous,” she said. “It wouldn’t be worth it, unless maybe it was a real wolf.”

Mitchell echoed O’Donnell’s sentiment that a single alumnus should not be made responsible for the animal.

“It should be left at the Vet School, if we do get it. I don’t think it should be given to an alumnus,” Mitchell said. “Obviously they didn’t think it out very well. They should plan out the logistics a little better at least before voting on it.”