Why is Muskie our mascot?
Thomas Vought
Issue date: 11/15/01 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
Just why is it that the students of Lakeland College adorned ourselves, our walls, and some of our news articles with the visage of a fish? A mascot is, by definition, a symbol that represents the values and characteristics of an organization. So what does our muskie represent? A horrible smell and gasping motion that the students exhibit going to early classes? Searching for a deeper answer, I began a quest to find just why the muskie is our mascot.
First, I toddled over to the Lakeland College museum and attempted to get the lowdown from Dr. Allen Wangemann, the curator. However, Wangemann knew about as much as I did on the subject. He did remind me, "The muskie is the 'fighting fish,'" an interesting point, to say the least. But I refute that argument because the only fighting I see a muskie doing out of the water is that for air.
On my way out of the museum, I stumbled upon Gary Bauer, maintenance director, who didn't have a clear answer but directed me to professor J. Garland Schilcutt in the Laun center. As luck would have it, the good professor was in his office as I made my first pass and he was free to comment on the matter. That did no good in the end, as once again the person being asked became the more current one.
Getting desperate, I made my way towards professor Kathy Marr's office, where I finally made a breakthrough and got some information on the topic. When asked of the existence of muskies on campus, she said "Not in the lagoon or the other ponds as far as I'm aware of."
So, because of the lack of an accepted and historical origin of our mascot, I've come up with my own version that all you Lakeland students can enjoy telling around a bonfire, with your favorite (non-alcoholic I'm sure) beverage in hand.
It was back in the days of the Mission House when the sacred ritual of the "one" was first preformed. In the ritual, one special person was chosen, usually an outcast soul, based on bad luck or fate.
The name of the first one has been lost like a grain in the sands of time, so we'll refer to him as Bob.
The goal of the one was to leave an impact upon Lakeland College, a timeless impact, and Bob gave us our mascot. You see, after a big sporting event of some sort, Bob made the mistake of insulting a 6-foot-6 bulk of pain affectionately called Tim. To make a long story short, Tim decided to kill Bob, and after a violent confrontation on Main Street in Howard's Grove, Bob escaped with his life by bludgeoning Tim to death with a muskie conveniently acquired from a nearby kiosk.
To glorify the dead animal which had saved his life, and perhaps slightly because of the brain damage received during the beating, Bob decided to dress up like a muskie for the remainder of his college life, becoming the "one." Thus, the muskie became our mascot.
First, I toddled over to the Lakeland College museum and attempted to get the lowdown from Dr. Allen Wangemann, the curator. However, Wangemann knew about as much as I did on the subject. He did remind me, "The muskie is the 'fighting fish,'" an interesting point, to say the least. But I refute that argument because the only fighting I see a muskie doing out of the water is that for air.
On my way out of the museum, I stumbled upon Gary Bauer, maintenance director, who didn't have a clear answer but directed me to professor J. Garland Schilcutt in the Laun center. As luck would have it, the good professor was in his office as I made my first pass and he was free to comment on the matter. That did no good in the end, as once again the person being asked became the more current one.
Getting desperate, I made my way towards professor Kathy Marr's office, where I finally made a breakthrough and got some information on the topic. When asked of the existence of muskies on campus, she said "Not in the lagoon or the other ponds as far as I'm aware of."
So, because of the lack of an accepted and historical origin of our mascot, I've come up with my own version that all you Lakeland students can enjoy telling around a bonfire, with your favorite (non-alcoholic I'm sure) beverage in hand.
It was back in the days of the Mission House when the sacred ritual of the "one" was first preformed. In the ritual, one special person was chosen, usually an outcast soul, based on bad luck or fate.
The name of the first one has been lost like a grain in the sands of time, so we'll refer to him as Bob.
The goal of the one was to leave an impact upon Lakeland College, a timeless impact, and Bob gave us our mascot. You see, after a big sporting event of some sort, Bob made the mistake of insulting a 6-foot-6 bulk of pain affectionately called Tim. To make a long story short, Tim decided to kill Bob, and after a violent confrontation on Main Street in Howard's Grove, Bob escaped with his life by bludgeoning Tim to death with a muskie conveniently acquired from a nearby kiosk.
To glorify the dead animal which had saved his life, and perhaps slightly because of the brain damage received during the beating, Bob decided to dress up like a muskie for the remainder of his college life, becoming the "one." Thus, the muskie became our mascot.