The Rutgers mascot controversy refers to the debate surrounding the choice of mascot for Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Rutgers has a long history and a diverse student body, which has made the selection of a mascot a contentious issue. In the past, Rutgers used a variety of mascots, including the Chanticleer, a rooster, and the Queensmen, based on the University's original name, Queen's College. However, these mascots were not widely embraced or identified with the university. In 1955, the Scarlet Knight was chosen as the official mascot of Rutgers. The Scarlet Knight is a medieval knight dressed in scarlet armor and is meant to symbolize strength, courage, and honor.
Rutgers mascot not diverse enough; ethnic and gender-neutral Scarlet Knights to be sought
The Scarlet Knight at a recent Rutgers basketball game.
I've been trying to get to this all week but Tom Brady and Manny Pacquiao's shoulder and live-streaming piracy and all this other stuff kept getting in the way. But did you hear that a kid in the Rutgers student assembly introduced a bill asking that more diversity be exhibited in the university's Scarlet Knight mascot?
Yes, first-year assemblyman - sorry, assemblyperson - Emmet Brennan crafted a bill that was easily passed, mandating that the Knight be more representative of the State University of New Jersey's rich diversity.
As Steve Politi of our sister site nj.com wrote on Tuesday, if you didn't know better, you'd immediately think this was ripped straight from The Onion. But it's not.
The Rutgers University Student Assembly recently passed a bill intended to support ethnic and gender diversity by adding multiple Scarlet Knights that could be black, Latino, Asian, female or third gender in addition to the existing Caucasian Scarlet Knight.
Honestly, I want to see the new third-gender Knight. I might actually pay to attend a Rutgers football game just to see this.
As you doubtless know, the Knight as he's currently composed, looks like the stereotypical hetero white male. Caucasian complexion. Blue eyes. Frozen smile. Giant foam burgonet helmet. Flamboyant scarlet plume waving out the top. Really big cartoonlike hands made to look like gauntlets. I mean, he's Joe Six Pack straight out of a Tea Party rally.
According to reporter Katie Park, news editor of The Daily Targum, Brennan is a School of Environmental and Biological Sciences first-year student. Based on his Facebook page, he appears to be Caucasian. Park quoted his rationale this way:
"What we were thinking - the way the bill's laid out - it's not defined that we need an Asian knight, a black knight, a Latino knight. That we would really leave it up to the different student organizations . and basically the student body as a whole to determine how many knights they'd like and what these knights would represent."
According to the Targum story, Brennan conceptualized the bill when he noticed at a Rutgers football game that the Knight had light skin and blue eyes:
"This does not seem right. Our mascot does not represent how diverse we are as a school.
"The bill did pass the body, and it wasn't by a slim margin. [But] there were some concerns over the [new] mascot possibly being offensive if it wasn't done properly."
And, boy - I mean, man; I mean, person - the last thing anyone wants to be is offensive with one's mascot.
Because cartoon-character embodiments at athletic contests clearly need to reflect the student body at large, I've drawn up a rough outline of possible additions to the traditional Scarlet Knight that transcend mere ethnicity and could translate to any major university. I mean, if we're going to be diverse and inclusive, let's do it:
* Drunken Belligerent Knight would honor the rich tradition of college students learning how to overindulge in alcohol for the first time.
* Freshman Fifteen Knight would celebrate the lack of sleep and exercise and mass consumption of carb-heavy cafeteria food and bagged snacks resulting in a gain of >15 pounds for many first-year students. Suddenly Obese Knight is also an option.
* Daddy Issue Knight is a sullen, tatted-up knight with Goth makeup who's clearly just trying to embarrass his father.
* Socially Awkward Knight would interact inappropriately with fans in an attempt to gain acceptance and then slink away, not understanding why they boo.
* Frat-Boy Knight could spend the game bragging to fans and the other knights about his trust fund, his sexual conquests that didn't actually happen, how little he had to study for his Entrepreneurship 323 exam and belching the alphabet.
* Join Our Cause Knight would pester with earnest activism while simultaneously using it as an entree to pick up other knights as sexual partners.
These are just brainstorms; I'm open to your ideas.
Further, it's clear to me that it may be time to diversify the Penn State Nittany Lion mascot. So, I'm anxious to hear your suggestions on that, too.
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The Scarlet Knight is a medieval knight dressed in scarlet armor and is meant to symbolize strength, courage, and honor. This choice was meant to represent the university's history and connections to the state of New Jersey. However, in recent years, there has been growing criticism and controversy surrounding the Scarlet Knight mascot.
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Rutgers Mascot
Rutgers University is a public research university founded in 1766, and is the 8 th oldest college in the nation. The university is named after Colonel Henry Rutger who saved the university from financial failure by giving a generous donation. The school currently enrolls over 48,000 students, inclusive of both undergraduates and graduates.
The university is ranked 26 th among public universities in the United States. It has 175 academic departments that offer over 400 undergraduate degrees and graduate programs. It is one of the many research institutions that is part of the Association of American Universities.
Rutgers University has three campuses. The New Brunswick and Piscatway campus, The Newark campus and the Camden campus. The Newark campus has been previously rated the most diverse campus nationwide.
Below are the latest Rutgers University mascot info:
Some argue that the mascot is outdated and not inclusive enough. They claim that it does not accurately represent the diverse student body of Rutgers or reflect the values of the university. Others argue that changing the mascot would be a disservice to the university's history and traditions. They believe that the Scarlet Knight has become an iconic symbol of Rutgers and is deeply rooted in the university's identity. The debate over the Rutgers mascot has sparked discussions and protests on campus. Students, alumni, and faculty members have shared their opinions and suggestions for a new mascot. Some have proposed alternative options, such as the Raptor, a bird native to New Jersey, or the Griffin, a mythical creature that symbolizes strength and wisdom. Rutgers has taken steps to address these concerns by forming a Mascot Task Force in 2020. The task force is responsible for gathering input from the Rutgers community and making recommendations for a potential new mascot. As of now, the controversy surrounding the Rutgers mascot remains unresolved. The university continues to explore different options and engage in ongoing discussions to ensure that the mascot reflects the values and diversity of the Rutgers community..
Reviews for "Exploring the racial undertones of the Rutgers mascot controversy"
1. John - 1/5 - The Rutgers mascot controversy is just another example of our society becoming too politically correct. I don't understand why people are getting so worked up over a mascot. It's a fictional character, it's not meant to represent any specific group of people. We should be spending our time and energy on more important issues.
2. Amy - 2/5 - I appreciate the need for inclusivity and sensitivity, but I think the Rutgers mascot controversy is being blown out of proportion. The Scarlet Knight has been the school's mascot for decades, and suddenly people are claiming it's offensive? It just seems like another case of people being overly sensitive and looking for something to complain about.
3. Mike - 1/5 - I find it ridiculous that people are demanding a mascot change because they believe it promotes violence. The Scarlet Knight is a symbol of strength and bravery, and I don't see how that can be interpreted as condoning violence. This controversy is just another example of people trying to find offense where there is none.
4. Sarah - 2/5 - While I understand the importance of inclusivity and diversity, I think the Rutgers mascot controversy is an overreaction. The Scarlet Knight has been the school's mascot for decades, and it holds sentimental value for alumni and fans. Instead of demanding a change, let's focus on addressing real issues of racism and discrimination. Changing a mascot won't solve those problems.
Note: These reviews reflect the opinions of fictional individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of the writer.