College to choose new mascot
April 6, 2016
On April 6, President Kathy Murray announced that Whitman College will change its mascot. The decision came in response to the recommendations of a working group organized in December to determine the appropriateness of the Whitman College mascot.
Murray wrote in an email to the college community that after reviewing feedback from more than 7,000 students, alumni and other members of the Whitman community, the Mascot Working Group recommends the college abandon the Missionary as its mascot. Both Murray and the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees endorsed the working group’s unanimous decision.
“I do not think a mascot (defined as a person, animal or object adopted as the symbol of a group and believed to bring good luck) should precipitate the difficult conversations around challenging ideas,” wrote Murray in her email. “A mascot is meant to be something around which supporters of a college, and particularly athletic teams, rally.”
A new working group will identify and evaluate potential mascots. This group, which will consist of faculty, staff, students and alumni, will consider options over the summer of 2016 in anticipation of a community-wide vote this upcoming fall.
The mascot survey was sent to over 18,000 individuals, including students and their families, faculty, staff, alumni and other friends of the college. In addition to over 7,000 responses to the survey, the working group also received almost 1,000 pages of additional written feedback.
Prior to reviewing the data, the group developed a list of principles they would use to guide their recommendation. These principles were to “honor with integrity the spirit and tradition of Whitman College and create a positive dialogue around it,” “foster a sense of inclusion and unity amongst the Whitman ‘family’ – past, present and future,” “provide a positive platform for the college to resolve an issue that has been discussed for decades” and “create a positive inflection point in the college’s history and a bridge between past and current students.”
In their recommendation, the Mascot Working Group noted that approximately 40 percent of all individuals surveyed held a very strong opinion on whether or not the ‘Missionary’ is an appropriate mascot for Whitman College today. Because of this, the Working Group acknowledged that some people may not agree with the recommendation.
Percentage of surveyed alumni, organized by class year, that believe that the ‘Missionary’ is an appropriate mascot for Whitman College today.
“With utmost respect for those who have a strong tie to the Missionary as the college mascot, the working group sought to develop a deep understanding of those opinions and offer an evaluation of that perspective as part of this recommendation,” the Mascot Working Group said.
Murray was careful to specify that the changes would extend no further than the mascot.
“Some might suggest that a change in the mascot might portend more dramatic changes at Whitman. To the contrary, Whitman staff, faculty, students and graduates across the generations are united around the value Whitman College places on intellectual inquiry in the liberal arts and how that education prepares students to make a difference in the world,” said Murray. “Even as we retire one mascot and eventually identify another, our pride in the 134-year history of this college makes it clear that Whitman College will remain our name.”
Do you think that the ‘Missionary’ is an appropriate mascot for Whitman College today?
Director of Institutional Research Neal Christopherson released an executive summary of the mascot survey results. He explained some of the reasons for changing the mascot, including that it “celebrates the systematic oppression of Native Americans” and that the ‘Missionary’ is not a “mascot we can be proud of.” Proponents of the Missionary mainly cited upholding Whitman history and tradition and “bridging generations of Whitman students” as their reasons for leaving it unchanged.
A committee of faculty, staff, students and alumni will work over the summer to compile a list of possible new mascots. According to Murray’s email, the entire Whitman campus community will then be able to vote on the new mascot in the fall of 2016.
Grandpa Simpson • Apr 12, 2016 at 4:09 pm
This is rather embarrassing. News flash…your efforts will amount to nothing. You are not real Civil Rights activists, Feminists, or any group that actually takes real risk and fights for human rights. You seem to think we should spend time trying to legislate feelings. You may be well intentioned, but you are ultimately misguided. Name one tangible improvement this will bring aside from soothing your own guilt. Will application and acceptance rates suddenly change for various ethnicities? Or will the college keep putting all three minority students on the cover of the Whitman Magazine to look diverse (like they’ve always done)?
P.S. We love you, don’t have a cow. But seriously, go fight against real oppression in the world
Clay Widmayer Ph.D Class of 1988 • Apr 11, 2016 at 9:52 am
Fear not. I have a solution that will make everybody happy. For generations students have opposed the Whitman Missionary mascot. For just as long, certain Walla Walla residents have opposed the Walla Walla High School mascot, the Blue Devil.
Just trade mascots. Both problems solved.
You’re welcome.
Clay Widmayer Ph.D, Class of 1988
Jerry Zahl • Apr 7, 2016 at 9:00 pm
it were not for the Missionaries and the Pioneers, do you really think that the Walla Walla Valley would still be an unsettled territory, inhabited only by free roaming Indian tribes?
I am very proud of the history of the Valley, and of all of the good, including Colleges, that were established and financed by early settlers.
Almost every well educated graduate should make every attempt to be a Missionary for some sort of common good, whether it be in Science, business, medicine, education, or any other beneficial service toward the welfare of this planet, and beyond. Pioneering spirit is still a very beneficial trait.
I can not believe that the common mindset associated with Whitman College can not understand this, while also grasping that most “development ” around the world and over time, did come at a loss to someone. Where are the History majors at a time like this.
Everyone should be looking back and giving great thanks for all that we have been given and now enjoy, not trying to erase history. Now i can gather the true meaning of the fact that it is a small world after all, -even at Whitman College. Jerry Zahl
Graham G. Storey • Apr 7, 2016 at 6:59 pm
Social justice has come to Whitman and it is sad to see. It is hard to believe (to quote a former classmate) that the biggest issue facing Whitman right now is removing references to Marcus Whitman’s past. Change the name if it doesn’t strike fear in our opponents, the Banana Slugs did that a couple of decades ago, but to bring up the supposed imperialism of a missionary who truly believed in his calling? By that measure, we also must change the name of the school.
Western civilization may not currently be in vogue on campus, but we owe it oh, so much. Our system of justice and law comes from the West, our respect for difference comes from the West, our drive for gender equality comes from the West, our standard of living comes from the West, our ideas of individual freedoms and liberties come from the West. To deny Western Civ its due is to deny our past; and that is what the justification for the mascot change does.
I am done with Whitman, I have not donated for a decade or so and stopped volunteering as a class rep three years back, but now I am completely done. I will not recommend Whitman to the high school seniors I teach and I will not write letters of recommendation to students who wish attend.
I am ashamed of my college.
Graham G. Storey, class of 1995