Online edition: Volume 16, Number 4 - October 7, 1999.                  

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At least we’re not slugs

By Amy Geiszler-Jones

A mascot that’s basically an animated shock of wheat may seem unique to Shocker supporters, but it wasn’t unusual enough to earn a spot on U.S. News and World Reports list of the 25 weirdest college mascot names.

Among those receiving the dubious honor were the Banana Slugs of the University of California at Santa Cruz, the Billikens of St. Louis University, the Fighting Squirrels of Bradford College, and the Webster University Gorlocks. The mascots of three Kansas colleges made the list, including the Ichabods of Washburn University.

Noting people’s penchant for trivia, Web site producers for the magazine, famous for its more serious annual college rankings, decided to run lists on various college characteristics. The mascot listing was a purely subjective one, assured producer Kathleen Hogan.

WSU did make another list: Division I schools with no football team. The listings can be found at www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/find/ comasct.htm.

Off with his head

WSU’s mascot WuShock, who got a makeover last year, is going to lose his head as he undergoes another redesign, possibly in time for the basketball season which starts in early November.

The facelift includes making the head much larger and giving WU a more aggressive, intimidating look, said Howard Taylor, who has responsibility for the Spirit Squad and the mascot. The rest of the mascot costume will remain the same, although WuShock may wear a basketball uniform, Taylor said.

A university group worked on the redesign last year, transforming the larger, scowling WU into a smiling WU with a less cumbersome head meant to make the mascot more mobile.

"It wasn’t well-received" by a number of people, Taylor said. Shocker Athletic Scholarship Organization is funding the redesign; student fees paid for last year’s operation.

Part of the challenge of bringing WuShock to life is that he’s a unique, original character, Taylor said.

— Amy Geiszler-Jones

 
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Inside WSU is published by the Office of University Communications for Wichita State University faculty, staff and friends on Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters. Items to be considered for publication should be sent to campus box 62 or amy.geiszler-jones@wichita.edu 10 days before publication.

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Amy Geiszler-Jones

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Kang, Tae-wook