mascot

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Nebraska's Mascot Loses Hand Gesture Used Since 1974

In recent years, the 'ok' sign has been read by some as a white power reference

(Newser) - The hand gesture that the University of Nebraska's mascot has been making since 1974 has been changed after that gesture took on new meaning about five years ago. For decades the Herbie Husker mascot formed an "OK" hand gesture by placing his thumb and forefinger together to form...

School Board Meeting Over Mascot Ends With a Punch

Things got heated in Glastonbury, Conn., Tuesday night

(Newser) - A school board meeting in Connecticut got heated on Tuesday, and for once, COVID requirements and critical race theory weren't the cause. At issue was Glastonbury High School mascots, the subject of the special board of education meeting being held that night in Glastonbury. The school's mascot has...

West Point Cadets Fail to Get Navy's Goat

They made off with retired Navy mascot instead of the current Bill

(Newser) - A top-secret mission involving West Point cadets went wrong over the weekend when they kidnapped the wrong goat. In what Dave Philipps at the New York Times calls a "Bay of Pigs-style embarrassment," US Military Academy cadets trying to carry on the long, but officially banned, tradition of...

Valparaiso Is Dumping Its Controversial Mascot

University says Crusader is a 'symbol of division'

(Newser) - After decades of controversy, Valparaiso University is retiring its Crusader mascot. In a video statement on Facebook , officials at the Indiana university noted that Crusader imagery "can be associated with aggressive religious oppression and violence," some of it a lot more recent than the religious wars of the...

Pringles Mascot Gets a Body Thanks to John Oliver

And Feeding America gets $20K

(Newser) - John Oliver has spent more time than anyone really should spend wondering what the body of the Pringles mascot looks like. He discussed some possibilities before Last Week Tonight went on hiatus, per the Hollywood Reporter , then released a web exclusive video on Sunday in which he showcased viewers' drawings...

Police: Mascot Didn't Assault Young Fan

Investigation clears Gritty in a case that many say couldn't be 'more Philly'

(Newser) - Whoever that is under the costume of the Philadelphia Flyers mascot—the team won't say—has been cleared of an accusation of assault against a 13-year-old fan. The boy's father had lodged the complaint over his son's encounter with Gritty last fall at Wells Fargo Arena, NBC...

Philly Team Is Suing Mascot's Creator

And not the Philly team you would think

(Newser) - If any Philadelphia sports team was to sue the creator of its mascot, one could reasonably presume it would be the Flyers . Alas, Gritty will remain while the Philadelphia Phillies are suing the New York company that created the Phanatic to prevent the green furry fan favorite from becoming a...

Mascot Is a Smash at Kid's Party. Literally

NJ Devil breaks window in possible attempt at humor

(Newser) - Possibly weary of the quiet, nonviolent offseason, the New Jersey Devils mascot shook up a child's birthday party Sunday by smashing into a plate-glass window. The young partiers had been playing with a rainbow parachute when, as the parachute hit the ground, NJ Devil turned his back on the...

This Sight Will Soon Be Banned in Maine

Gov. Janet Mills signs law banning Native American mascots in public schools

(Newser) - Maine has adopted a ban on Native American symbols as public school mascots, making it the first US state to do so, reports CNN and the Hill . "While Indian mascots were often originally chosen to recognize and honor a school's unique connection to Native American communities in Maine,...

West Point Prank Injures Air Force Mascot

Gyrfalcon was returned with bloodied wings

(Newser) - The United States Military Academy at West Point has apologized for a "prank" that injured the Air Force Academy's official mascot. Aurora, a 22-year-old white gyrfalcon, suffered injuries initially thought to be life-threatening after she was abducted along with another bird ahead of Saturday's annual Army-Air Force...

Flyers Unveil Bizarre New Mascot, Internet Convulses

'Gritty' drew a massive response online

(Newser) - The Philadelphia Flyers have introduced an odd-looking new team mascot—a 7-foot fuzzy creature named Gritty with a wild, orange beard. The character's debut triggered an outpouring of comments online, including "Good luck sleeping tonight, Flyers fans" and comparisons to ZZ Top and the Muppets. The cross-state rival...

'Monopoly Man' Explains 'His' Stunt in Online AMA

The 'man' is really financial activist Amanda Werner, and she had quite a lot to say on Reddit

(Newser) - She came, she saw, she conquered the Equifax Senate Banking Committee hearing —dressed up like the "Monopoly Man." Amanda Werner went viral after she donned her top hat, mustache, and monocle Wednesday to resemble Rich Uncle Pennybags, sitting behind ex-Equifax CEO Richard Smith, and on Friday, Werner...

There's Something Off-Putting About This Denny's Mascot

And the internet knows what it is

(Newser) - When it comes to creating a new mascot for your restaurant, maybe brown and log-shaped isn't the way to go. USA Today reports Denny's debuted its anthropomorphized sausage character "Sausage" back in 2014. But the internet wasn't going to ignore a restaurant mascot that looks like...

Honey Nut Cheerios Bee Disappears

It's for a good cause: to bring awareness to declining bee population

(Newser) - He's known for tempting our tummies with the taste of nuts and honey, but it looks like Buzz the bee (or, at least, the northern version of him) will be taking a temporary hiatus. The General Mills mascot used in promotions for Honey Nut Cheerios will be taken off...

University of ND Has New, Non-'Hostile' Nickname

It's now the Fighting Hawks

(Newser) - University of North Dakota backers have selected Fighting Hawks as the school's new nickname, the school announced Wednesday. The predatory bird received 57% of the mascot vote compared to 43% for Roughriders. The new nickname replaces Fighting Sioux, which was retired by the state Board of Higher Education in...

Amherst Set to Dump 'Racist' Mascot

Lord Jeff advocated giving smallpox to Native Americans

(Newser) - A British lord now best known for advocating biological warfare may be America's most endangered mascot. At an informal vote at Amherst College on Monday night, faculty voted unanimously in favor of dumping the Massachusetts institution's unofficial "Lord Jeff" mascot, reports the New York Times . The mascot...

High School May Lose Live Tiger Cub Mascot

Booster club fails to satisfy state's guidelines for using exotic animals

(Newser) - Is a 45-year tradition coming to an end? A football-crazed Ohio high school brought out a live tiger cub before its season opener on Thursday as it always does, but the Guardian reports the school apparently did so without meeting new state regulations on exotic animals. Every year since 1970,...

Illinois School Refuses to Drop 'Midget' Name

Freeburg Midgets will remain as such

(Newser) - Athletes at a southern Illinois high school will keep the nickname Freeburg Midgets, despite the objections of a group representing people with dwarfism who find the name offensive. About 500 people gathered at the Freeburg Community High School late yesterday to urge the school board not to dump the mascot....

NSA Recycling Mascot Is a Bit Scary

Apparently a recycling bin needs huge arms

(Newser) - The NSA has revealed its mascot for Earth Day tomorrow, and though the fact that the agency has a recycling mascot is odd enough, Gizmodo reports it's "an anthropomorphized and oddly buff recycling bin named Dunk" that "breaks new ground creepiness-wise." The Verge , meanwhile, thinks he'...

'Not Your Mascot:' Native Americans Protest Redskins

As team bus is involved in an accident on way to Minneapolis

(Newser) - The Washington Redskins are having a rough time of it today: Things started with a crash this morning involving two of the team's buses, which were en route to play the Vikings in Minneapolis, reports the AP . A police escort in Minnesota crashed into a guardrail around 8:30am;...

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