Mascots bring a sense of fun with them wherever they go. When watching any sport, even if your team is losing, you can’t help but smile looking at the mascot’s goofy reaction.
I’m a huge fan of my hometown Philadelphia sports teams, and our mascots are a huge part of every game. We have the Phillie Phanatic, arguably the greatest mascot in history. I’ll admit I was pretty scared of him when I was three years old, but now watching him shake his furry green belly and dance with little kids on the top of the Phillies’ dugout fills my heart with joy. We also have Gritty, and while people had mixed opinions when he was first introduced, he has since become a lovable orange goofball and the inspiration for many memes. These mascots represent the city of Philadelphia so much that they all showed up to celebrate the reopening of a section of Interstate-95 last year after an overpass was destroyed by a massive truck fire.
When I first got accepted to F&M, naturally, I did a Google search for “Franklin and Marshall College mascot.” The results were images of two cartoonish, old white guys named Ben and John. Obviously, these were Ben Franklin and John Marshall. They looked a little creepy, I thought, but who knows? Maybe they would have a fun presence on campus? I decided to give them a chance.
Now, I’m in my third year here at F&M, and I’ve never seen Ben and John in the flesh. Why? It turns out, these mascots are taking some time off and have not been spotted in years. Rumor has it they might be replaced, too.
In a time where we are surrounded by so much racism and sexism, it makes sense why we would want a break from old white guys from the 18th century. John Marshall was racist and fought to keep slavery in the United States, and while Benjamin Franklin was well known for being an abolitionist, he once owned slaves and held racist views too. As more people become aware of their racist histories, now seems like the right time for a mascot change. Franklin and Marshall founded our college, but our wonderful community can be represented by so much more than just their names. We are Diplomats, after all, and you don’t have to be the ghost of a white man to be a diplomat.
So, who should the new cartoon face of our school be? There are several options that I think would be a great representation of F&M. Animal mascots are very popular, and they tend to be the most well-liked mascots among people who aren’t very into sports. To pay homage to our home in the farming capital of the Northeast, why not have a farm animal mascot? Cylo the cow, the mascot of the Lancaster Stormers, is a perfect fit for our local professional baseball team, and Cecelia the cow has already been serving as a great mascot for our own College Entertainment Committee. An adorable blue cow or horse would definitely be well-received by the student body. They could even wear a fancy little suit to make this classy cow look like a true Diplomat. I think a mascot like this could get more people into the Diplomat spirit, thus increasing excitement and school pride and drawing higher attendance to sports games and school events.
Another option could be to create a whole new creature, like the Phanatic or Gritty. A fluffy blue monster would be pretty fun, and it would definitely make a lot of people laugh! Even if it is not initially well-received, like Gritty, it will become lovable in no time. Maybe it could be named Dipper, and this one would also look pretty adorable in a suit.
F&M really loves their ampersands, this (&) little symbol that’s been popping up everywhere, and I’ve heard rumors that this sign just might be our next mascot. While this would be a good representation of the college and our community, I would prefer an animal or other creature mascot to a symbol. I think it would be easier to engage with an animal-based mascot than the little symbol that shares a spot with the number 7 on my keyboard. Maybe if it had a name and a cute cartoon face, I would feel differently, but if it is just the symbol then that is not the kind of mascot F&M needs right now.
Mascots are a great way to increase school spirit, and I think our school needs a fun mascot to keep students engaged and excited about our community. Personally, the mascots of Franklin and Marshall College being Franklin and Marshall feels pretty boring. And again, they’ve been dead for a very long time. It’s time for something fresh and new.
Junior Carrie Teti is the Arts & Leisure Editor for The College Reporter. Her email is cteti@fandm.edu.