Scrotie, the mascot of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), is a unique and controversial figure. It is an anthropomorphic penis dressed in a graduation cap and gown, complete with a set of testicles. Scrotie has been the official mascot of RISD since 2001, when a group of students formed a club called the "Nads" and proposed this mascot to represent their school spirit. The name "Scrotie" is a play on words combining the words scrotum and mascot. It is a deliberate choice to provoke reactions and challenge societal norms. The creators of Scrotie wanted to promote a sense of humor and irreverence, aiming to break free from the conservative image often associated with academia.
Substantial changes were made from the more extensive original plan for the Ala Moana reef; rather than multiple islands for several resort hotels built on the reef flat off of the Ala Moana Park, in 1964 a 30-acre peninsula, with “inner” and “outer” beaches for protected swimming, was constructed adjoining the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and Ala Wai Canal outlet.
There is good reason to fear Ala Moana Park may be wiped out entirely so far as the people of Oahu are concerned if they don t keep alert and guard against every effort to encroach upon it. Then it directs the reader s attention to land that can be reclaimed from the sea by utilizing reefs, especially the 300-acre area of Ala Moana Reef.
The creators of Scrotie wanted to promote a sense of humor and irreverence, aiming to break free from the conservative image often associated with academia. Scrotie's appearance is intentionally exaggerated, featuring bulging veins, a large glans, and noticeable pubic hair. Its design represents a departure from the traditional imagery one might expect from a mascot, challenging the idea of what is considered appropriate or acceptable in a mascot.
Ala Moana Beach Park and ʻĀina Moana (Magic Island)
At the beginning of the twentieth-century, this stretch of coast makai of Ala Moana Boulevard was the site of the Honolulu garbage dump, which burned almost continually. The residue from burned rubbish was used to reclaim neighboring wetlands (which later were more commonly referred to as “swamp lands.”)
In the 1920s, Kewalo Basin was constructed and by the 1930s was the main berthing area for the sampan fleet and also the site of the tuna cannery, fish auction, shipyard, ice plant, fuel dock and other shore-side facilities.
In 1928, a channel was dredged through the coral reef to connect the Ala Wai Boat Harbor and the Kewalo Basin, so boats could travel between the two. Part of the dredge material helped to reclaim swampland that was filled in with dredged coral.
When the area became a very popular swimming beach, the channel was closed to boat traffic.
The City and County of Honolulu started cleaning up the Ala Moana area in 1931. They used funds provided by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal Project to create a city park in the Ala Moana area.
Back in the early twentieth century, most playgrounds consisted of large areas of pavement used to get children off of the street and had no aesthetic value.
In 1933, Harry Sims Bent was chosen as the park architect for the City and County of Honolulu. Bent’s design went beyond the modern level and into the realm of art deco, allowing for play, as well as contact with nature. His works at Ala Moana include the canal bridge, entrance portals, sports pavilion, banyan courtyard and the lawn bowling green.
President Roosevelt participated in the dedication of the new 76-acre “Moana Park” in 1934 (it was later renamed Ala Moana Park in 1947.) During his visit to the islands, Roosevelt also planted a kukui tree on the grounds of the ʻIolani Palace.
Ala Moana Park was developed on a swamp and the Honolulu garbage dump.
In the mid-1950s, reef rubble was dredged to fill in the old navigation channel (between Kewalo and the Ala Wai); it was topped with sand brought from Keawaʻula Beach (Yokohama Beach) in Waianae.
At the same time, a new swimming channel was dredged parallel to the new beach, extending 400-feet offshore; in addition, the west end of the fronting channel was closed by a landfill project that was part of the Kewalo Basin State Park project. A large fringing reef remained off-shore protecting the beach area.
Reportedly, in 1955, Henry Kaiser was the first to propose building two artificial islands and six hotels over the fringing reef. His proposal included inlets for boats, walkways and bridges. He called it Magic Island and offered to pay the $50-million cost. (Sigall, Star-Advertiser)
In 1958, a 20-page booklet was sent to Congress to encourage them to turn back Ala Moana Reef to the Territory of Hawaiʻi for the construction of a “Magic Island.” Local businessmen and firms paid half the cost and the Territory paid half through the Economic Planning & Coordination Authority) (Dillingham interests were among contributors, Henry J. Kaiser interests were not.) (Honolulu Record, February 13, 1958)
The booklet puts forth the argument that “Tourist development is our most important immediate potential for economic expansion,” and displays pictures of the crowded Waikiki area to show the lack of room for expansion. Then it directs the reader’s attention to land that can be reclaimed from the sea by utilizing reefs, especially the 300-acre area of Ala Moana Reef. (Honolulu Record, February 13, 1958)
It was supposed to be part of a new high scale beachfront resort complex with a half-dozen hotels that would have included two islands built on the fringing reef, offshore of the Ala Moana Park.
The Interest of the Dillingham’s in developing off-shore areas is obvious, since Hawaiian Dredging is the only local company large enough to undertake such sizable dredging operations.
The Dillingham interest in the current “Magic Island” project is more obvious because of the immediate increase in value it would bring to Dillingham land mauka of Ala Moana Boulevard. (Honolulu Record, February 13, 1958)
The Dillinghams figure to do the dredging and construction of Magic Island, itself, of course, and it must be recalled that the original Dillingham idea was to use Ala Moana Park for hotels and apartments and build the reef island for a park. (Honolulu Record, May 15, 1958)
But now that Magic Island is being proposed as a hotel and apartment site, it doesn’t mean for a moment the first plan has necessarily been abandoned. There is good reason to fear Ala Moana Park may be wiped out entirely so far as the people of Oahu are concerned if they don’t keep alert and guard” against every effort to encroach upon it. (Honolulu Record, May 15, 1958)
Substantial changes were made from the more extensive original plan for the Ala Moana reef; rather than multiple islands for several resort hotels built on the reef flat off of the Ala Moana Park, in 1964 a 30-acre peninsula, with “inner” and “outer” beaches for protected swimming, was constructed adjoining the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and Ala Wai Canal outlet.
The project stopped after the development of “Magic Island,” leaving the State with a man-made peninsula, which they converted into a public park.
In 1972 the State officially renamed Magic Island to ‘Āina Moana (“land [from the] sea”) to recognize that the park is made from dredged coral fill. The peninsula was turned over the city in a land exchange and is formally known as the ‘Āina Moana Section of Ala Moana Beach Park, but many local residents still call it Magic Island.
Between 1955 and 1976 the beach eroded, and in 1976, more sand was brought in from Mokuleʻia on the north coast of Oʻahu.
The project stopped after the development of “Magic Island,” leaving the State with a man-made peninsula, which they converted into a public park.
The reactions to Scrotie have been mixed. While some students find it amusing and embrace the mascot as a symbol of their RISD identity, others see it as offensive and inappropriate. There have been debates and discussions within the RISD community about whether Scrotie should continue to be the official mascot. On one hand, supporters argue that Scrotie represents free expression and individuality. It challenges the status quo and promotes a sense of inclusivity and acceptance. They view the mascot as an embodiment of RISD's unconventional and creative spirit. On the other hand, critics argue that Scrotie is vulgar and offensive. They believe the mascot can be seen as objectifying and sexualizing male genitalia, which goes against the principles of inclusivity and respect for all members of the community. Despite the controversy, Scrotie continues to be the official mascot of RISD. It has become ingrained in the school's culture and is often seen at sporting events and campus celebrations. Scrotie's presence has sparked discussions about the boundaries of art and self-expression, highlighting the importance of dialogue and understanding within a diverse community. In conclusion, Scrotie, the mascot of RISD, is a provocative and polarizing figure. While some embrace it as a symbol of their school spirit, others find it offensive. The ongoing debates surrounding Scrotie reflect the larger discussions about art, expression, and societal norms within the RISD community..
Reviews for "Scrotie and Tradition: Exploring the Role of the Unusual Mascot at the Rhode Island School of Design"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I am not a fan of "Scrotie the mascot". The whole concept is just too crude and offensive for my taste. It's not something that I feel comfortable watching or supporting at a public event. The design of the mascot is also quite unsettling, and it's not something that I think should be representing a sports team or any organization for that matter. Overall, I just don't think "Scrotie" is appropriate or appealing.
2. Michael - 1/5 stars - "Scrotie the mascot" is absolutely terrible in my opinion. It's an offensive and tasteless representation that has no place in a respectable environment. I find it baffling that anyone would think it's an acceptable mascot for any team. The fact that it brings a sexual reference to a sports event is completely unnecessary and inappropriate. It's not something I want to see or support, and I believe it detracts from the overall experience of attending the games.
3. Sarah - 1/5 stars - "Scrotie the mascot" is just plain offensive. The name alone is enough to make me cringe. It's ridiculous and embarrassing to see such a mascot representing a team. It's not clever or funny, it's just tasteless. I cannot understand why anyone thought this was a good idea. I would definitely think twice before attending any event where "Scrotie" is present. It's a poor choice that reflects poorly on the team and the organization that endorsed it.
4. John - 2/5 stars - As a sports fan, I appreciate mascots that are fun and engaging, but "Scrotie" is just distasteful. I believe mascots play a role in creating a positive atmosphere at games, but "Scrotie" doesn't achieve that. Its offensive design and crude name are a distraction, and they detract from the actual sporting event. I think the team should reconsider their choice and find a mascot that can add value and entertainment without resorting to offensive imagery.