A mascot needs to produce excitement as well as inspire loyalty from students, alumni, parents, and many more. Ideally, fans must be proud to say that they love your university just because your mascot offers them a sense of belonging. Remember that mascots came up to unite groups of people seeking the same cause.
It’s always important to choose a mascot wisely. While school mascot options are many, the process can be overwhelming. There are a few things you can consider when it comes to choosing a mascot for your university. This page discusses the best way to choose a university mascot.
Historical events and people
Your city or local area can have some historical events that you can consider when coming up with a mascot. For example, you can consider the unique history of your area, how it was founded and developed, why the university is placed in this location, or anything that was discovered in the area, such as archaeological artifacts.
You can also look into the historical people and landmarks in the area when you consider creating a mascot. Therefore, you should think of names and occupations, the presence of architects or railroaders, the presence of a monument or bridge close by, and many more.
Animals, weather, and community leaders
Another good way you can choose university mascots is to check an animal that is native to the area. You can list down all the animals that live in the area of the school. Likewise, you can consider the weather, such as hurricanes or tornadoes to be the mascot.
Community leaders can also be a great option for a university mascot, so you can check people who have been community leaders. You should think of the individuals who founded the university or who donated cash to help the university grow. But you need to be careful when you decide to utilize the name of a person because unknown areas of their history can taint the mascot over time.
The university mascot selection and approval process
After going through the key things worth considering to come up with a university mascot, you can now take those thoughts via the following vetting process. There is a good chance that your brainstorm may have brought several mascot ideas. Therefore, you need to choose at least three ideas to present to the parents, students, and alumni.
You should allow the school groups, such as parents, alumni, and students to vote by utilizing a poll. Even better, it can be worthwhile to add a suggestion box, especially if you are sure about your ideas. Keep in mind that you don’t need to make promises that the mascot that comes on top after voting can be chosen, though it can be a good gesture to consider all the ideas.
Lastly, you have to form a committee or even allow the school board to decide on the best mascot. However, don’t allow one person to decide on the right option. When you choose the idea, all decision-makers can commit to entirely supporting the new university mascot.