Momentous moves
Junior touts hopes for mascot, school spirit
Nicole Strittmater
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: Campus News
Senior Tim Louderback, who is not a part of the union, said he supports the mascot idea.
"It's a good way to boost spirit in students," he said.
So far there are about 30 students involved, Driscoll said, one of them being senior Phil Kolas.
"It's really a lot of fun to see someone actually enthusiastic about change instead of cynical. Most people who want to do something for the campus don't seem to be having as much fun as he is," Kolas said. "I think it's a really good idea, and I hope it works and I'm pretty sure it will."
Associate Vice Chancellor Kimberly Barrett said she likes the idea of campus symbols like a mascot and Tree of Excellence.
"I'm very supportive of students taking initiatives to create these symbols," she said. "What better place for that to (come) from than the student body itself?"
Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich said Tuesday that he hadn't read Driscoll's thesis yet, but as far as a mascot goes, it's up to students and alumni to decide.
"It's not up to me to decide that it is or isn't," he said, adding that Driscoll attended a Chancellor's Roundtable where they discussed the issue. "The point he was making was that we lack spirit at the university. The students, I think, very effectively argued opposite of that."
He said Driscoll also argued that students don't have a voice.
"I disagree with that. We have Student Senate. We have elected student representatives," he said. "Maybe they aren't going to promote every single idea, but to say that we don't have student voice … is not true in my view."
Student Senate President Ray French said he fully supports the mascot and Tree of Excellence ideas.
"I'm happy to see a student with the amount of initiative he has to get this sort of thing started," French said.
But he said he also has some hesitations.
"I'm a very institutional person. My concern is having a culture change happen without an institutional change," French said.
Driscoll said there are several great things going on at the university, but it needs some change. However, by being the one pushing for that change, he said he doesn't want to be seen as the enemy.
"Ultimately we just want to help out the campus and connect things. It's our own students and the apathy on campus that's the bad guy," Driscoll said. "We hope to claim that things can change, because it's only after you claim that they can change that most people will be willing to change them."
"It's a good way to boost spirit in students," he said.
So far there are about 30 students involved, Driscoll said, one of them being senior Phil Kolas.
"It's really a lot of fun to see someone actually enthusiastic about change instead of cynical. Most people who want to do something for the campus don't seem to be having as much fun as he is," Kolas said. "I think it's a really good idea, and I hope it works and I'm pretty sure it will."
Associate Vice Chancellor Kimberly Barrett said she likes the idea of campus symbols like a mascot and Tree of Excellence.
"I'm very supportive of students taking initiatives to create these symbols," she said. "What better place for that to (come) from than the student body itself?"
Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich said Tuesday that he hadn't read Driscoll's thesis yet, but as far as a mascot goes, it's up to students and alumni to decide.
"It's not up to me to decide that it is or isn't," he said, adding that Driscoll attended a Chancellor's Roundtable where they discussed the issue. "The point he was making was that we lack spirit at the university. The students, I think, very effectively argued opposite of that."
He said Driscoll also argued that students don't have a voice.
"I disagree with that. We have Student Senate. We have elected student representatives," he said. "Maybe they aren't going to promote every single idea, but to say that we don't have student voice … is not true in my view."
Student Senate President Ray French said he fully supports the mascot and Tree of Excellence ideas.
"I'm happy to see a student with the amount of initiative he has to get this sort of thing started," French said.
But he said he also has some hesitations.
"I'm a very institutional person. My concern is having a culture change happen without an institutional change," French said.
Driscoll said there are several great things going on at the university, but it needs some change. However, by being the one pushing for that change, he said he doesn't want to be seen as the enemy.
"Ultimately we just want to help out the campus and connect things. It's our own students and the apathy on campus that's the bad guy," Driscoll said. "We hope to claim that things can change, because it's only after you claim that they can change that most people will be willing to change them."
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