Some Faculty Members are trying to get rid of the Crusader & Change the Mascot..

[valpo64]

And a prof says changing the mascot will bring in more students?  Are you kidding me?  And this person is a faculty member at Valparaiso University?
Maybe we really do need to clean house and get rid of some programs/profs.  If so, let's start with this person.

[vu84v2]

valpo64 - Perhaps you need to look at the broader set of issues from the Podcast and surrounding this professor.

-He is a professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Valpo is not getting rid of that program, nor is it being downsized.
-By any account, he is a good effective teacher. Furthermore, he is likely taking less pay than he could earn at other universities because the academic mission of a school like Valpo resonates with him.
-While recommending that Valpo change the mascot/nickname, he seems to be as personally committed to the university as anyone could hope of a professor.

I didn't agree with his argument that changing the nickname/mascot would bring in more students, but he is free to make that argument. Can't we disagree on issues or assumptions as adults without hating the other person or wanting him or her removed? Perhaps you need to understand that rejecting the "cancel culture" goes both ways.

[valpo64]

Your point is well-taken, VU84.  My comment was very much tongue-in-cheek.  He may be the best prof on the entire campus and perhaps the most dedicated to VU's success than anyone, I don't know.  However his comment/opinion was about the most stupid thing I have heard in a very long time.

[usc4valpo]

I actually thought it was Decent,, interesting,  graceful interview, and I disagree that changing the mAscot nickname will have an impact in student enrollment, positive or negative.

Valpo has German heritage, we should called the Pilsners.

[valpo tundra]

That would give Valpo Czech heritage.

[bbtds]

That would give Valpo Czech heritage.

The Lubos?

Barton should Czech that out!  ;-)

Valpo Deutsch>

Valpo Fighting Germans?

Valpo Brauer?    It's German for Brewers and honors the Art Museum and it's namesake Richard Brauer.

Valpo Myths?

Valpo Victors?

Valpo Flying V's?

[valpotx]

I support going back to the Uhlans.  We still get a unique mascot, and those of us with Northern European ancestry, are not going to feel offended at being represented as a mascot

[crusadermoe]

On a serious note, I concur with a prior post that all view points should be heard in a fair way.  Neither side should shout down the othcr without listening.  Would the BoR hear both sides of the question from VU students?..is it really an urgent topic? 

Would faculty or student groups allow a reasoned debate of the topic by students and/or alumni in front of the alumni?  Would they allow even and full debate of any sensitive cultural issues and factual historiy without the woke crowd impugning any opposing debaters as "-ist" or "--phobic" ?

[a3uge]

How about "The Valpo University Athletics Teams"

[bbtds]

I think in response to the Washington Football Team Valpo should go with Goldepiderms. Or Brownhides.

[usc4valpo]

I am fine with a new nickname or no nickname - I am not fine with a large operating deficit and a drop in excellence at Valpo. Many smaller universities are really hurting right now.

[valpospartan]

How about the Valparaiso Spartans?

[bbtds]

How about the Valparaiso Spartans?

Must be unique. We might as well call ourselves the Bulldogs. Why Spartans (Michigan State, Izzo, confusion for Brandon Wood, are we now Greek?)

Valpo Virus? Maybe not.

[crusadermoe]

With Spartans you are still in the realm of aggressive Europeans.   That's a no no.  Have MSU faculty risen up to protest?  Maybe so.

Sounds like the safe bet is to become the "Cardinal" and have a pine tree for a mascot. 

[valpopal]

The time to start seriously considering a new nickname and mascot for Valpo sports might have arrived. Despite the large cost, apparent divisiveness, and possible alienation of a number of alums, including generous donors, the Faculty Senate unanimously passed a resolution today "that the Crusader mascot immediately be dropped." This seems to be a priority with faculty senators and the Student Senate will follow with a similar resolution shortly. The university's Interim President, who seems sympathetic to the proposal, reported the Board of Directors has established a task force to examine the issue, and a decision will be made by the end of the year. She declared she would like the issue resolved while she is still in her position.

[JBC1824]

The Valparaiso Monks! Or Fighting Monks. Whichever. We are after all the nations second largest Lutheran institution. And being The Monks would fit very well with our current team colors (monks robes are brown). Students will probably get a kick out of wearing monks robes to games in order to support our teams, too. So lets honor Martin Luther and our schools Lutheran heritage by choosing The Monks. 

[valpospartan]

How about the Valparaiso Spartans?

Must be unique. We might as well call ourselves the Bulldogs. Why Spartans (Michigan State, Izzo, confusion for Brandon Wood, are we now Greek?)

Valpo Virus? Maybe not.

  Kidding! 

[crusadermoe]

So the faculty during a time of an 11% budget deficit has written a resolution to the Board asking to drop the mascot?

God love 'em.   

They should try working a 12-month per year job with accountability and then come back and tell us that this is a priority for them.  It's good to be woke, but it's better to be paid.

[valpo64]

This topic should be the least of the Faculty's worries.  It always amazes me that some people in academia think they know everything about everything.  I do agree that our Crusader mascot is probably one of the ugliest mascots around.  OK, drop the mascot but keep the "Crusader" name.

[vu84v2]

So the faculty during a time of an 11% budget deficit has written a resolution to the Board asking to drop the mascot?

God love 'em.   

They should try working a 12-month per year job with accountability and then come back and tell us that this is a priority for them.  It's good to be woke, but it's better to be paid.

While I am not very fond of the Crusader, I reiterate what I said previously that there are far more important issues to address.

However, I have to take exception to the comment about professors not working a 12-month per year job. There are some in which that statement is true, but many do research over the entire summer to maintain their publication productivity. If you are tenure track (but not yet tenured), that is absolutely essential (or you end up being fired). If you are tenured, you should be doing research or teaching in the summer (though admittedly there are some who do not). Also, tenured faculty who do not publish research are required to teach more classes with no extra pay.

[Pgmado]

This topic should be the least of the Faculty's worries.  It always amazes me that some people in academia think they know everything about everything.  I do agree that our Crusader mascot is probably one of the ugliest mascots around.  OK, drop the mascot but keep the "Crusader" name.

I ask this question with all the respect in the world...but what should the faculty's worries be right now? Meaning, do you think there is brain power not being used because some people are caring about this?

Unrelated, yet at the same time, 100 percent related, I read a critique of the Indianapolis Colts last week. Frank Reich knelt before the game and then the Colts lost. The comment was "Maybe if Coach Reich spent less time kneeling and more time working on his game plan, the Colts wouldn't have lost." Um, the Colts lost because Philip Rivers throws interceptions, not because Frank Reich knelt before the game.

I've seen people say "the faculty should be worried about other things instead of a silly mascot." As a faculty member, what am I supposed to worry about that I'm not already worrying about? (Most faculty members are smart enough to worry about multiple things at once)

[a3uge]

What about "The Beach"

[valpopal]

This topic should be the least of the Faculty's worries.  It always amazes me that some people in academia think they know everything about everything.  I do agree that our Crusader mascot is probably one of the ugliest mascots around.  OK, drop the mascot but keep the "Crusader" name.

I ask this question with all the respect in the world...but what should the faculty's worries be right now? Meaning, do you think there is brain power not being used because some people are caring about this?

Unrelated, yet at the same time, 100 percent related, I read a critique of the Indianapolis Colts last week. Frank Reich knelt before the game and then the Colts lost. The comment was "Maybe if Coach Reich spent less time kneeling and more time working on his game plan, the Colts wouldn't have lost." Um, the Colts lost because Philip Rivers throws interceptions, not because Frank Reich knelt before the game.

I've seen people say "the faculty should be worried about other things instead of a silly mascot." As a faculty member, what am I supposed to worry about that I'm not already worrying about? (Most faculty members are smart enough to worry about multiple things at once)

You seem to be responding to these as literal statements, while I view both the comment about the faculty and the one about the football coach more as sarcasm, a clever form of verbal irony.

[crusadermoe]

As a faculty member you chould be worrying about whether you are playing a full role in the admissions process so that enrollment and revenue is maximized.  If you do that, congratulations!!

Once that's done then it seems only natural that a faculty member would turn his/her efforts to the next logical task, reversing the enrollment work by splintering your identity and sewing alumni dissension as rapidly as possible during a vulnerable time for all universities. 

Any thoughts on other faculty roles that could be more productive than mascot provocations? 

[vu84v2]

I do not look at the mascot issue as an issue of available faculty time as much as a potential negative visibility issue at a vulnerable time. Regardless of your position on this, consider what happens if Valpo announces a mascot name change. The announcement certainly appears on ESPN's website....which is not likely to be that big of a deal. However, what happens if a media outlet on either side of the political spectrum decides to make a story out of this? Students and faculty on both sides of the issue are shown in a manner that draws eyeballs to the media outlet, which may portray a false narrative about Valpo (e.g., there are massive protests at the university, students/faculty viciously disagree with each other). This negative portrayal of the university, regardless of your position, dissuades prospective students from considering the university...in which case everyone loses (see the University of Missouri for an example).