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Diversity miss again for WVU mascot [1]

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Date: 2023-03-06  

The first official West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot was named in 1934. Since that time, students representing the ideals of the university have been selected to wear the buckskins, coonskin cap, and carry the musket with honor. These students are generally outstanding young people who love their University and the State of West Virginia. I can’t say enough about the quality of these individuals.

Where the university has come up short is in demonstrating a commitment to diversity with one of the most visible symbols available. Most college mascots are concealed beneath a costume the likes of the Wisconsin Badger, the Georgia Bulldog, and so on. The mascots with visible faces are relatively few and not without controversy, e.g. the Florida State Seminole.

The Mountaineer had been the Hollywood version of a frontiersman for decades. White, male, and with an obligatory bushy beard. Some diversity was introduced when Natalie Tennant became the first female mountaineer in 1990. She is another outstanding individual who went on the be West Virginia Secretary of State and U.S. Senate Candidate. Not male, no bushy beard. Things seemed to be progressing. Since then there have been 2 additional female Mountaineers.

Notre Dame crossed this hurdle in 1999-2001 when Michael Brown became the first African-American to represent the University as the “Fighting leprechaun” mascot. It’s time West Virginia University showed the nation how seriously it takes diversity and brings a little to this beloved symbol.

Photos of prior Mountaineers and information about the process of applying are available on the university website. Maybe at the end of next February some more history can be made.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/3/6/2156590/-Diversity-miss-again-for-WVU-mascot

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