The Bradley Scout reports:
Student Senate passed a resolution this week calling for University President Joanne Glasser to form a mascot committee. If formed, that committee would be responsible for slating ideas for a new mascot….
[Student Body President Kyle] Malinowski said there are several reasons senate wants to make the change now. Philosophically, it fits with the Campaign for a Bradley Renaissance because of the mindset of being in a renaissance as well as campus’ physical changes.
“The less philosophical reason is we have the best people in the position right now to do it,” he said. “We have a new university president who is all about shaking things up, a new athletic director, a new director of marketing whose job was charged by President Glasser to brand the university and we’ll eventually have a new provost.”
In 1993, Bradley decided to keep the Braves name, but use a bobcat as its mascot. In 2000, officials said the students had a “lack of affinity” for the bobcat and got rid of it. Then a survey for a new mascot was circulated in 2006-7 resulting in several options (including oddities like a fighting squirrel and a clock tower) but the university didn’t choose any of them.
The Bradley Braves Councilmen! The Bradley Women’s Braves Councilwomen! All you need is a guy in suit (woman in a woman’s suit), with a martini glass in hand. The Indians had councils of Braves and Bradley has council persons staggering door to door. It’s a win win.
What if they stay with the Indian theme, but make it more politically correct and reflect Caterpillar’s influence on campus?
An Indian Elephant? Or a Brahma Bull?
I was thinking, how about the Bradley Jaywalker? The mascot could unexpectedly cross the middle of the court during play and act like it’s the players’ job to avoid him.
The Big Thirsty Red Cups
Bradley Blaze. It sounds a bit like Braves, works well with the school colors, is gender neutral, and a flame-like character for it can be created. We can even call the character, Sparky.