11/6/2003

Freddy the Falcon could be in line for an extreme makeover -- and the staff of the Crimson Chronicle wants your opinion. The deadline for your thoughts about the Friends University mascot has been extended to November 17.

What do you think? Does Freddy need an extreme makeover? Do you think he looks like a chicken hawk? Do you like the current mascot? Do you like the idea of returning to the old days of the "Fighting Quakers?" Email us by noon on Nov. 3 at epaper@friends.edu. We’ll compile the survey and let you know the results.

“It would be a great opportunity to find out what the students feel about Freddy,” Gisele McMinimy, Director of Public Relations, said. However, she noted that while the University is interested in what the students say, the administration has the final decision.

Here's what some Friends students have already had to say about the issue:

"I think that Freddy needs a facelift.  BUT, I have seen at least one of the proposed Freddys and I don't like it.  It looks like a chicken hawk on steroids, with the lettering off a pro sports team.  I think that the POWER FALCON was cool, and they are phasing that out.  I think that they should give the people of Friends the opportunity to design a new Freddy. The K-State PowerCat was designed by a professor at Kansas State, not by some overpriced design firm.  All this coming from a Graphic Design Major. . ."
 
Jonathan Wood

"As to the revamping of the mascot, I have a better idea:  I hear from reliable sources that once upon a time our mascot was not the prosaic and ubiquitous Falcon but rather the unique and ironic Fighting Quaker.  While I admit that Falcon is a lot easier to work into cheers, I think the Fighting Quaker has a lot more meaning and personality and should be re-adopted.  This would also help to unite the sports and fine arts factions of the campus -- singing or fighting, we're all Quakers.  I'm sure someone in the Art Department would be able to draw a serious, tough-looking Fighting Quaker, and if we need cheers, we can borrow some from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
                                                       Thank you!"
                                                                                                              Tawni Langness