Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Alma Mater, HAIL
Sadly, my beloved Alma Mater has come under some pretty ridiculous attacks lately. Apparently our fairly understated logo is being interpreted as "hostile and abusive". Are you wondering what is hostile and abusive about a "W" "M" and two feathers? It's the feathers. You could probably poke someone's eye out or hold up a (green) 7-11 with the end part (hostile) or tickle someone mercilessly (abusive) with the other.
We've been graciously permitted to keep our school mascot, The Tribe, because "the College's use of the term "Tribe" reflects our community's senseof shared commitment and common purpose. "
A few excerpts from the president's letter:
"I am compelled to say, at the outset, how powerfully ironic it is for theCollege of William & Mary to face sanction for athletic transgression at the hands of the NCAA. The Association has applied its mascot standards in ways so patently inconsistent and arbitrary as to demean the entireundertaking. Beyond this, William & Mary is widely acknowledged to be aprincipal exemplar of the NCAA's purported, if unrealized, ideals." (ouch! Hark upon THAT gale, NCAA!)
"Not only are our athletic programs intensely competitive, but according tothe Association's own Academic Progress Reports, the College ranks fifthamong all institutions of higher learning in scholastic excellence. Eachyear, we graduate approximately 95% of our senior student athletes. ...Meanwhile, across thecountry, in the face of massive academic underperformance, embarrassing misbehaviors on and off the field, and grotesque commercialization of intercollegiate athletics, the NCAA has proven hapless, or worse." (Amen...)
However, I applaud President Nichol. He appreciates the alumni funds that would surely be given to fund a very bloody, legal throwdown with the NCAA -- but would rather see those funds invested in the school.
Ah, alas, we loose two feathers. But maybe, for those of us who hold W&M so close to our hearts, we're loosing much more?
We've been graciously permitted to keep our school mascot, The Tribe, because "the College's use of the term "Tribe" reflects our community's senseof shared commitment and common purpose. "
A few excerpts from the president's letter:
"I am compelled to say, at the outset, how powerfully ironic it is for theCollege of William & Mary to face sanction for athletic transgression at the hands of the NCAA. The Association has applied its mascot standards in ways so patently inconsistent and arbitrary as to demean the entireundertaking. Beyond this, William & Mary is widely acknowledged to be aprincipal exemplar of the NCAA's purported, if unrealized, ideals." (ouch! Hark upon THAT gale, NCAA!)
"Not only are our athletic programs intensely competitive, but according tothe Association's own Academic Progress Reports, the College ranks fifthamong all institutions of higher learning in scholastic excellence. Eachyear, we graduate approximately 95% of our senior student athletes. ...Meanwhile, across thecountry, in the face of massive academic underperformance, embarrassing misbehaviors on and off the field, and grotesque commercialization of intercollegiate athletics, the NCAA has proven hapless, or worse." (Amen...)
However, I applaud President Nichol. He appreciates the alumni funds that would surely be given to fund a very bloody, legal throwdown with the NCAA -- but would rather see those funds invested in the school.
Ah, alas, we loose two feathers. But maybe, for those of us who hold W&M so close to our hearts, we're loosing much more?
# posted by Cathy @ 7:09:00 PM 
