Soophie the swamp witch is a popular character in children's literature. She is known for her mysterious and magical powers, as well as her unique and eccentric personality. Soophie resides in a vast and enchanting swamp, where she spends her time concocting potions and spells. Despite her intimidating appearance, Soophie is actually quite friendly and helpful. She often lends a helping hand to those in need and uses her magic for the greater good. Many creatures and animals seek her guidance and advice, as she possesses deep wisdom and knowledge of the swamp.

Intimidating yellowjackets and copyright legality: The surprising history of UR’s latest mascot

In 2015, the UR Baja Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) team wanted to make merchandise using an original design they created of Rocky — a design which can only truly be described accurately as “badass”. But once UR found out about “Ricky the Honeybee,” the Baja team was told not to use it at all. Why? Because the orientation of Rocky is actually really important.

In 2008, UR decided to change the school’s mascot from URBee to what we know today as Rocky. At least 3,400 members of the UR community agreed that URBee was too cute for UR Athletics, and the new mascot needed to be “intimidating” and have an edge.

URBee gave the following parting statement : “I didn’t have the name. I didn’t have the looks. I didn’t even have the fingers for downs and quarters. But I had heart, and I wore it on my sleeve each and every day. I like to think that counts for something.”

That same year, our beloved Rocky made their stunning debut during a basketball game.

But Rocky has a doppelganger: Meet Buzz , Georgia Institute of Technology’s mascot, who debuted in 1980. Buzz is also a yellowjacket. Buzz is also a very intimidating yellowjacket. To some, Buzz may look very similar to UR’s own intimidating yellowjacket, Rocky.

Rocky’s design is based heavily on UR’s own history with the insects. The yellowjacket mascot was first introduced in the 1920s and went through several variations until landing at the current iteration.

Georgia Institute of Technology was involved in the 2008 redesign process of Rocky, but the details of UR and Georgia Institute of Technology’s agreement are not publically available. There is an agreement between the schools that allows the bees to coexist.

Comparing the two, there are some clear distinctions. The orientation of Rocky and Buzz is different. Rocky will almost always be forward-facing, and must always have the “R” on its chest. UR’s official guidelines on custom Rocky designs is to treat Rocky like a paper doll according to the UR Identity Guide .

Georgia Tech has been in mascot rumbles in the past. In 2017, the town of Damascus in Maryland wanted to paint their high school mascot, the Swarmin’ Hornets, on their water tower to celebrate the town’s high school football team. The town raised the money to get their own intimidating hornet on the water tower until Georgia Institute of Technology stepped in and shut it down.

In years prior, Georgia Tech had requested that the Damascus High School change their mascot to not be so similar to Buzz, and a licensing agreement was signed. The agreement did not include a painting of the hornet on the water tower, which Georgia Tech was quick to point out.

In 1988, Georgia Tech filed a copyright infringement suit against a minor league baseball team in Salt Lake City called the Buzz, and who also had an intimidating yellowjacket as their mascot. The Salt Lake City baseball team lost the lawsuit, and had to pay Georgia Tech $600,000 dollars .

The team’s lawyer, Gregory D. Phillips, commented on the suit to the Chronicle of Higher Education .

“Georgia Tech might think their mascot is famous, [but] no one here has ever heard of them,” he said. “No one ever showed up at a game out here expecting to see a Georgia Tech game, and no one ever showed up out there looking to go to a Salt Lake Buzz game.”

The non-public agreement between UR and Georgia Institute of Technology seems to have prevented a “bumble” between the two universities.

Rocky and Buzz do have their differences as intimidating yellowjackets, but it can be difficult to differentiate which yellowjackets UR departments, clubs, and organizations can use. The UR Identity guide has been made to help navigate the UR yellowjacket identity and mascot world of intimidating yellowjackets.

The UR Baja SAE team is not the only group to accidentally venture into the confusion of what Rocky imagery can be used. When the Campus Times was creating our newspaper-themed Rocky design, we ran into the cut and paste game of intimidating yellowjackets, too. If you were to go to the bottom floor of Meliora Hall at the moment, you might find this sign:

An image of Buzz found in Meloria Hall. Melanie Earle, Features Editor

Look a little off? That’s actually Buzz. That yellowjacket goes against the UR Identity Guidelines, and is not Rocky.

Rocky’s image has been carefully curated to not bug the other intimidating yellowjackets, which is why UR’s so protective of the way it looks.

What URBee lacked in intimidation in 2008, he at least made up for in heart and copyright legality.

Buzzkill: Why Georgia Tech is deflating a Maryland high school’s spirit

Math teacher Rob Hyman has been part of a seven-year effort to get the Damascus High School mascot, a hornet, painted on the water tower overlooking the football field. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

Add to your saved stories

Victor Furnells and Rob Hyman thought they were this close.

In April, after seven years of campaigning and cajoling, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) had finally agreed to paint the mascot of their beloved Damascus Swarmin' Hornets atop the water tower that looms over this northern Montgomery County town of 15,000.

Furnells, 54, a sales executive with a national marketing company, saw the mascot project as a way to boost civic pride, honor the state champion high school football team and beautify what some residents have long regarded as an eyesore.

When WSSC said the hornet could be added this summer, during the first scheduled repainting for the 170-foot-tall tower since it went into service in 1990, Furnells offered to raise the extra $15,000 it would cost.

"Visitors coming to and through Damascus will easily recognize the water tower and immediately know they are in the proud town of Damascus, MD," Furnells wrote on GoFundMe.com after the agency said yes. Within a month, boosters had raised nearly all the money in small donations from Damascus residents.

Then came the buzzkill, in the form of Georgia Tech.

The Atlanta-based university so zealously protects the trademark integrity of its own mascot, a yellow jacket named Buzz, that alumni must fill out a "grave marker permission form" before the insect can join them in their eternal rest.

A couple of years ago, Georgia Tech insisted that Damascus modify the hornet on its uniforms and marketing material so that it didn’t look so much like Buzz.

The high school slapped a “D” on the bug’s chest and changed the color scheme from Georgia Tech’s black and yellow to yellow and green. Then Montgomery County Public Schools signed a licensing agreement with Georgia Tech that spelled out in granular detail where and how the mascot could appear, including on helmets, hallway signs and the school paper, the Buzz.

The water tower was not mentioned in the legal document, one of more than 400 such agreements that Georgia Tech has signed with high schools across the country.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Mascot - Modern Disc Mirrored Wall Sign

Many creatures and animals seek her guidance and advice, as she possesses deep wisdom and knowledge of the swamp. Soophie's appearance is distinct and memorable. She is often depicted wearing a long, flowing black robe adorned with various intricate symbols and patterns.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Mascot - Modern Disc Mirrored Wall Sign

Our Georgia Institute of Technology Modern Disc Mirror is perfect sign to show your school pride! With it's simple and modern design, our logo mirrors display the Georgia Tech logos in a style that fits any setting. Our high resolution digitally printed images provide clean and vibrant color. Made of mirrored acrylic with hi-impact styrene frames, our safe and lightweight mirrors are built to last. The Fan-Brand’s Modern Disc Mirror is ideal for your office, garage, fan cave, or game room. Whether purchasing as a gift for a recent grad, sports superfan, or for yourself, you can take satisfaction knowing you are buying a mirror that is officially licensed by the Yellow Jackets and made in the USA.

• Made of Heavy-Duty, Injection Molded Plastic
• High-Resolution, Digitally Printed Image Direct to Surface
• Safe, Lightweight Mirrored Acrylic
• Rigid, Durable Look & Feel
• Officially Licensed Product

• Dimensions: 17.5"L x 17.5"W x 0.5"D
• Automotive Grade, UV Stable Ink
• Ready to Hang, Mounting Hardware Included
• Easy to Clean
• Made in the USA

Her hair is wild and untamed, and her eyes are piercing and filled with ancient secrets. Soophie's face is marked with intricate green and blue designs, representing her connection to nature and the elements. The swamp itself is a fascinating and mysterious place, teeming with life and magic. Thick, tangled vines hang above the murky waters, creating an eerie yet captivating atmosphere. The air is thick with the scent of moss and decay, and strange creatures can be heard chirping and croaking in the distance. Soophie's main companions are her faithful familiars - a mischievous black cat named Midnight and a wise old owl named Solstice. Midnight is known for his playful nature and knack for getting into trouble, while Solstice is the voice of reason and serves as a trusted advisor to Soophie. Children are drawn to Soophie's story as it combines elements of fantasy, magic, and adventure. Through her adventures, they learn the importance of bravery, kindness, and embracing their unique qualities. Soophie's character inspires young readers to explore their own creativity and imagination. In conclusion, Soophie the swamp witch is a beloved character in children's literature. Her enchanting personality, magical powers, and connection to nature make her an intriguing and inspiring figure. Through Soophie's stories, children are transported into a world of magic and wonder, where anything is possible..

Reviews for "Soophie the Swamp Witch and the Lost Amulet: A Quest for Power"

1. Jane - 2/5 stars

Soophie the Swamp Witch was not my cup of tea. I found the story to be dull and lacking depth. The characters were underdeveloped, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The plot also felt disjointed, with random events happening without any clear purpose. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.

2. Mark - 1/5 stars

I really disliked Soophie the Swamp Witch. The writing style was poor, riddled with grammatical errors and awkward sentences. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to engage with the story. Additionally, the pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest multiple times throughout. It's rare for me to give a book one star, but I believe this one deserved it.

3. Sarah - 2/5 stars

I had high hopes for Soophie the Swamp Witch, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The concept of a swamp witch intrigued me, but the execution fell flat. The world-building was lacking, and I never felt fully immersed in the swamp setting. The storyline was repetitive and predictable, with very little surprise or intrigue. While the book had potential, it ultimately failed to captivate me.

4. Michael - 2/5 stars

I struggled to get through Soophie the Swamp Witch. The writing style was clunky and often confusing, making it hard for me to follow the narrative. The characters felt one-dimensional, and their actions didn't always make sense. The plot had potential, but the execution was lackluster. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.

5. Emily - 3/5 stars

Soophie the Swamp Witch didn't quite hit the mark for me. While I appreciated the unique concept of a swamp witch, the execution felt lackluster. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest at times. However, the book did have its moments of charm and wit, which prevented me from giving it a lower rating. While it wasn't a book that resonated with me, I can see how others might enjoy it.

Exploring Soophie's Swamp: A Journey Through the Unknown