The Rutgers Scarlet Knight

The Scarlet Knight Mascot

 

The Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA) has passed a bill to change the look of the school mascot; the Rutgers Scarlett Knight. Why do they want to change it, well it seems that the mascot does not reflect the diverse student population of Rutgers University.  Per the student paper The Daily Targum, “The Rutgers University Student Assembly recently passed a bill intended to support ethnic and gender diversity by adding multiple Scarlet Knights that could be black, Latino, Asian, female or third gender in addition to the existing Caucasian Scarlet Knight, said Emmet Brennan, student assembly parliamentarian.”

 

Someone finally noticed that the Scarlett Knight has white face and blue eyes, big deal! The idea of making multiple versions of the Knight is not only way too politically correct, but it would require so many versions that it would be very expensive and hard to give equal time to each version.

 

Brennan also said, “We’re still keeping the same mascot, so I don’t think it will be nearly as much negative pushback. And also with the alma mater, I believe there wasn’t much of a say — the student body didn’t have a lot of say — a few individuals decided they were going to make this change. Next to community responses, funding might pose a considerable challenge.”

“The student assembly could rely on University funding, alumni funding or student assembly funding which is derived from student fees. Although student funding is an option, he said the assembly is least likely to explore this choice.”

Plus he had the nerve to say the following, “I think we can get the other two sources of money much easier, and I would rather not spend student money on something I can get someone else to pay for.”

My response to his ideas is completely negative. Firstly the Scarlett Knight is not about representing the diverse population of Rutgers; it is just a mascot not a representative of the university’s student body. Secondly there would have to be three versions for each race; male, female and transgender. It would quickly become cumbersome to maintain and keep track of who should be on the field next. And lastly, if Mr. Brennan feels so strongly about this why does he think that student fees should not be used to be for this change? It should not fall to the grossly overtaxed citizens of New Jersey to pay for a politically correct school mascot! Maybe he himself and the rest of RUSA plus any of his politically correct friends should do the paying.

If it is so important that the mascot not have a white face and blue eyes I propose the following; the helmet should cover the whole face so no one would be able to tell what race the mascot is. Either that or make the face purple in color, after all that seems to be a politically correct color representing all of us.

As a graduate of Rutgers University it is a sad thing to see such stupid ideas given any credence.

That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike

 

 

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