IC Mascot

Last fall Ithaca College undertook a search for an official mascot to represent the Ithaca Bombers and the incredible history and heritage associated with the college since its first year in 1892. This initiative involved an outreach to the extended Ithaca College family current students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the larger Ithaca community for contributions to the search for a mascot. Over the course of a six-week submission period, over 250 suggestions evidence in itself of the strength of the Ithaca College family were winnowed down to three finalists: a Phoenix, a Flying Squirrel, and a Lake Beast.

We, the undersigned, agree that the addition of an official mascot to Ithaca Colleges collective identity is an excellent source and conduit of school spirit and pride. However, we are adamantly and unequivocally opposed to the three finalists selected by the Mascot Selection Task Force. We do not deride our fellow Bombers who conceived these designs, but do believe strongly that none of the aforementioned final mascot selections properly convey what it means, has meant, and will continue to mean to be a Bomber.

As stated in the Ithaca College Student-Athlete Handbook:

Ithaca College has one of the finest and most comprehensive NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics programs in the country. It offers 25 varsity sports (12 for men and 13 for women) and supports 4 junior varsity teams. Through competition in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Ithaca College has won national championships in football, baseball, softball, wrestling, field hockey, womens soccer, womens rowing, and womens gymnastics (NCGA); garnered state and regional titles in most of its sports; and produced many All-Americans.

As this impressive paragraph suggests, to be a Bomber is to epitomize the hard work and dedication that are the essential ingredients to success of this magnitude. A Bomber carries him- or herself with pride knowing that he/she will, under no circumstance, give an ounce less than 100\% in the pursuit of this excellence. Make no mistake: we harbor no illusions that these traits apply only to the hard-court or gridiron; these are characteristics that manifest in the classroom as well, and which drive Ithaca Colleges tradition of academic excellence.

These mascots simply do not represent the essence of what it is to be a Bomber, and we feel that these three finalists do equal injustice to our institutions core identity. The arbitrary choice of a mascot, and the arbitrary choice of a back story with which to communicate a link between said mascot and college, simply is not the proper method for such an important decision.

We, the undersigned, are in wholehearted agreement that the selection process has failed both ourselves and the Ithaca community in choosing a mascot worthy of our Bomber spirit. Ithaca College is an institution built upon character, integrity and a continued commitment to excellence. We do not feel that this selection process reflects the latter of those values, and respectfully protest Ithaca Colleges decision to move forward with any of the three named mascot finalists.

It is our wish, evidenced here by this document and its support, that Ithaca College strongly reconsider the finalist selections, and instead revisit the selection process in the true spirit of pursuit of excellence. We ask for a mascot we can be proud of and embrace as our own, and are committed to seeking and finding the proper personification of the Bomber spirit.

The undersigned stand united in this effort as Ithaca Bombers.