Campus Celebrity: Bananas The Bear
Catching up with Bananas was a challenge, because, if you haven’t noticed, he is quite busy these days. I was given the rare opportunity to spend a few hours with this weeks’ Campus Celebrity: Bananas the Black Bear. I was able to get to know Bananas; the bear that embodies the spirit of UMaine, and who better fit for this week’s celebrity.
The Black Bear has been UMaine’s mascot since 1914, and the name Bananas was adopted shortly after. The name came quickly after the mascot would make the crowd go bananas. Originally, the University of Maine had a live Black Bear as Bananas, but now the Alpha Delta fraternity is in charge of the mascot. Bananas does not speak, however the brothers of Alpha Delta have been able to give him a voice, and a quite prominent status on campus.
Bananas makes appearances at special events on campus. You can find him skating around the Alfond Arena at hockey games, shooting hoops at basketball games, congratulating graduates at graduation, and many other UMaine events. You never know when and where you are going to run into Bananas, but you can be sure he will always be ready to take a picture with you.
Bananas is always looking for something fun to do whether it be taking pictures or just fooling around on campus with UMaine students. I was able to ask a bunch of students to describe Bananas in a few words, and here is what some people had to say…
Bananas is…
· “amazing”
· “a beauty”
· “bananatastic”
· “funny”
· “sexy”
· “Cheerful”
· “hot”
· “fabulous”
Banana loves sports, but he admitted that UMaine hockey is his favorite. At hockey games, Bananas skates around before the game and in between periods to pump the crowd up. Bananas also has quite the wardrobe! From home and away jerseys, Go Black Bears shirts, to a graduation cap and gown.
To keep up with Bananas, follow him on Twitter (@BananasTBear) or friend him on Facebook (Bananas T Bear). Her Campus would like to thank the brothers of Alpha Delta, especially Dusty Graham and Dan Sipe for being so accommodating in this interview. If you have any questions regarding Bananas or how to get involved with the philanthropy, contact one of the Alpha Delta brothers or you can look on their Facebook (Alpha Delta, Sigma Xi Chapter (UMaine)).