Mascot says a lot about a school

The Pacific Northwest is home to many fine academic institutions. They all have their academic strengths and weaknesses, just like every university in the country.

But there's a factor besides education to consider when you're choosing a college: the institutional mascot. The mascot must be intimidating and fearsome, yet dignified. A mascot must have integrity and class, yet be something that can rally a community.

The mascots at four area universities represent the full spectrum of qualifications.

When Eastern Washington University chose its mascot, it went with a timeless classic, the eagle.

The eagle is the king of the sky, the most majestic of birds.

It's a fierce hunter that shows no mercy for its prey. The only thing wrong with the eagle as a mascot is that it lacks originality.

Gonzaga University also loses points for originality. The bulldog is among the most common mascots in the NCAA.

However, the school's unique nickname (Zags) partially makes up for this.

But bulldogs aren't the most dignified of mascots.

Then again, just like Gonzaga's basketball team, bulldogs are scrappy fighters who never give up. It's a fitting mascot.

Cougars are a dime a dozen, and Washington State University doesn't even try to give them a new spin. They use the same hissing battle cry every cat school uses.

But the cougar does meet some mascot criteria. It's a dignified, intimidating animal whose strength of character and quality of moral fiber is unquestionable.

But clearly, the University of Idaho's "vandal" mascot is the most original of the four.

He is a large, disheveled-looking man with a ragged beard who scares children with his jerky, walking style and his crazed grin. He is descended from a line of bold warriors who struck fear into the hearts of their enemies (unlike Idaho's sports teams) but failed to earn their respect. They were brutish, savage and unmerciful.

Idaho tries to play this off as a good quality, printing posters featuring slogans such as "Help good kids become Vandals!" But even with his questionable past, you can't help but become attached to this lovable gargantuan. The vandal is definitely here to stay.

The next time you think about college, ignore all that junk mail they send you about course requirements and financial aid.

Pay attention to what really counts: the mascot.

Copyright 2001 Cowles Publishing Company
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