Senate analyzes mascot
Student leaders consider a resolution to re-define the'Blugold' symbol
Alison Pelleymounter
Issue date: 2/15/06 Section: Campus News
A mythological bird? The letters of bulldog rearranged? The school spirit inside each UW-Eau Claire student? Student Senate considered a resolution Monday that would establish a committee to answer one of the most frequently asked questions on campus, "What is a Blugold?"
The resolution, authored by President Aaron Olson and submitted by him and Vice President Emily Ascher, included results of a survey Olson conducted during the fall semester of 2003.
According to the survey, in which 400 students participated, 53 percent said they valued the Blugold name.
Additionally, 40.1 percent said creating a tangible mascot would increase school spirit and 61.4 percent said they would not encourage Senate to change the Blugold name to another mascot.
Aaron Brewster moved to table the resolution immediately, questioning its relevance to the student body.
"Looking at the survey results, this isn't something that's especially important to the majority of students," Brewster said. "Students think (Student Senate) is wasting time."
Ascher said it was unfair to postpone any consideration of the resolution, titled "In Support of Redefining the Blugold Identity," and that questioning the document's relevance was unfair.
"I think it's something that students need to have," Ascher said of a tangible Eau Claire mascot.
Senator Jeff Baldovin agreed, arguing the resolution only calls for the creation of a committee, and those who consider it a "waste of time" can choose not to participate in it.
The resolution was sent to the Student Services Committee of Student Senate for further consideration.
The resolution, authored by President Aaron Olson and submitted by him and Vice President Emily Ascher, included results of a survey Olson conducted during the fall semester of 2003.
According to the survey, in which 400 students participated, 53 percent said they valued the Blugold name.
Additionally, 40.1 percent said creating a tangible mascot would increase school spirit and 61.4 percent said they would not encourage Senate to change the Blugold name to another mascot.
Aaron Brewster moved to table the resolution immediately, questioning its relevance to the student body.
"Looking at the survey results, this isn't something that's especially important to the majority of students," Brewster said. "Students think (Student Senate) is wasting time."
Ascher said it was unfair to postpone any consideration of the resolution, titled "In Support of Redefining the Blugold Identity," and that questioning the document's relevance was unfair.
"I think it's something that students need to have," Ascher said of a tangible Eau Claire mascot.
Senator Jeff Baldovin agreed, arguing the resolution only calls for the creation of a committee, and those who consider it a "waste of time" can choose not to participate in it.
The resolution was sent to the Student Services Committee of Student Senate for further consideration.
