This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Amherst chapter.
One of the main goals of Her Campus Amherst is to reflect all the opinions of Amherst College students. Yesterday, students voted whether or not to keep the Lord Jeffrey Amherst mascot, the British-American general who allegedly proposed giving Native Americans small pox. This topic is not only a hot topic for Amherst College students. The story was featured in the New York Times and BBC, two of the most widely read periodicals in the world. This morning, the mascot poll results came out and I wanted to collect the most interesting, moving and, maybe even, controversial viewpoints. Please note that none of the comments here were written by Her Campus Amherst, HC Amherst Campus Correspondents or HC Amherst contributors and do not represent our collective views.
The Moose
“Moose”
“MOOSE”
“While I support keeping Lord Jeff, I think that there should be a credible replacement mascot before we consider eliminating Lord Jeff. As an athlete, I feel that the moose would be an embarrassing mascot.”
“Just don’t make it the moose.”
“Absolutely get rid of Jeff. Replacing him with the bull moose would be lame. The moose that visited campus was a female moose, and using a bull moose would be a reflection of the disappointing and sexist fact that most people cannot conceive a female mascot.”
Addressing The Real Problem
“Stating that we are ‘Amherst’ and not ‘Jeffs’ seems somewhat ironic considering that Lord Jeff Amherst’s last name is no less indicative of his genocidal tendencies than his first. Why completely gloss over the fact that our school’s name is inherently linked to Lord Jeff, and thus inherently offensive? It seems hypocritical that there is no greater protest (regardless of whether it would be symbolic or not) against our school’s name. I therefore question the intentions of this movement, and cannot support it until it acknowledges its hypocrisy.”
“It is ridiculous to suggest that a mascot makes anyone feel uncomfortable. If it were such a huge issue, than whoever feels that way should have chosen a different school.”
“Let’s take down the American Flag because we used to be associated with slaves, the dropping of the atomic bomb, and atrocities in Vietnam. Don’t hide from history. Who cares.”
“This is still Amherst college, and Amherst is Lord Jeff’s last name. Taking away Lord Jeff as the mascot does not change the fact that Amherst college was found by Lord Jeffery Amherst”
“There needs to be conversation towards those who say no as this is deeply problematic and the poll helps target these students”
“I believe that Lord Jeff, the mascot, has lost its historical and cultural connotation because of its long-lasting history at Amherst College. I am neither for nor against changing mascots but I personally think that there are more important things to worry about at the moment. This thing has been blown out of proportion, especially considering that it’s about something as silly as an unofficial mascot. I truly hope this problem resolves as promptly as possible.”
“How can you change something that is unofficial? “
Other Mascot Proposals
“We should be the Royals (a plural, gender neutral form of Lord which would also go well with our colors) or the Knights”
“We should be the dingos.”
“I SWEAR TO EVERYTHING I LOVE ALL I WANT IS FOR US TO BE THE AMHERST FROST. ITS A SIMPLE REQUEST. IMAGINE THAT PURPLE AND WHITE ATTIRE WITH LITTLE ICE BLUE TRIM AROUND THE LETTERING. MY GOD, THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES. IT’S UNIQUE, IT RELATES TO ROBERT FROST AND HE DID SOME SH*T HERE. FURTHERMORE, ITS COLD AS SH*T HERE BASICALLY ALL YEAR SO THAT FITS IN NICELY AS WELL. JUST GIVE ME THE FROST, GIVE ME SOME NEW MERCHANDISE AND I’LL LIE ON EVERY LONELINESS SURVEY AND SAY I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER AT AMHERST. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE HORNETS (IN THE NBA) COLORWAY, WE COULD HAVE SOMETHING WILD SIMILAR. I’LL BUY NEW SWEATERS, NEW SWEATPANTS, ILL GET GEAR FOR MY RELATIVES AND ILL MAKE BIDDY AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RICH AS SH*T OFF THE ROYALTIES FROM MY VARIOUS PURCHASES OF AMHERST’S NEW GEAR. JUST GIVE ME THE FROST, THATS ALL I ASK. I CANT STRESS IT ENOUGH. THAT SAID, IT WOULD BE REALLY CORNY TO MAKE ROBERT FROST OUR MASCOT, ANOTHER OLD DUDE WOULD JUST SEEM BORING AND LIKE WE WERE UNORIGINAL. I WANT LIKE A BLOCK OF ICE RUNNING AROUND THE FOOTBALL AND HOCKEY GAMES, LIKE A MOUNTAIN OR MAYBE EVEN A FROSTY WIND. I KNOW FROSTY THE SNOWMAN IS PROBABLY POLITICALLY INCORRECT AND I SYMPATHIZE BUT IF WE COULD HAVE A SNOWMAN MASCOT OH MAN, WE COULD BRING BACK THE YOUNG JEEZY SHIRTS FROM 2005, THE ONES THAT WERE BLURRED OUT IN THE MUSIC VIDEOS. THE ONES THEY WOULDN’T LET YOU WEAR TO SCHOOL. THAT WOULD BE LEGENDARY.I WOULD VOLUNTEER TO WEAR A SNOWMAN SUIT IF WE GOT A SNOW MAN MASCOT. I REALLY NEVER ASKED FOR MUCH AT THIS SCHOOL BESIDES CHICKEN THAT DOESN’T TASTE LIKE THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF THE WOLF FITNESS CENTER, SO JUST GIVE ME THIS.”
“Amherst Snow Leopards“
“The Amherst Frost and The Amherst Purple“
“Purple squirrel. Or just a squirrel.“
“Go mammoth!!“
“We should be the Amherst Koalas instead.“
“suggestion: Amherst Wolves“
“PURPLE DRAGONS“
Financial Aid
“I still want financial aid tho“
“Yes but I like my financial aid… :P“
“I am concerned about alumni backlash–as a student on financial aid, alumni contributions are essential to my ability and that of many others to attend Amherst. I don’t believe Lord Jeff is a good mascot, but if its removal has serious repercussions for a large percentage of the student body, we may need to consider other courses of action that would also foster the safe environment Amherst should be.“
“Multiple people have expressed the view that they’re worried getting rid of Lord Jeff will affect financial aid and alumni donations. It would be much appreciated and a great comfort of these worries could be addressed or explained. Thank you.“
“If Lord Jeff’s symbol hurts students and makes them feel uncomfortable while leaving others simply indifferent, it should be removed. Yes there will be backlash from our Alumni, but we can’t allow our monetary dependence to prohibit progressive, morally right, change. This school was once essentially all white male, and that isn’t the Amherst, nor the world for that matter, that I attend and live in. We’ve got to let Jeff go and step with a firm foot forward.“
Where do you stand? What do you think? We would love to know! Email Carina or Caroline and we can make sure your opinion gets represented.
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