GW0509 wrote:

 Tough break for a mascot that many see as adventurous and exciting

I didn't realize there is a large number of 8 years olds that attend GW.  I mean, only an 8 year old or a complete moron would find a Hippo "adventurous or exciting".  You aren't telling me the student body is full of morons, are you?

As may know, the George Washington University is in the midst of the process to identify a new moniker.

I'm writing to give you a heads-up that Hippos (or a related or similar name) will not be considered for the new moniker, because it does not meet the standards of the guiding principles

Those principles provide the framework and personality traits from which the new moniker names will be developed and will serve as inspiration that will keep the new moniker name options connected to the GW community’s identity. The principles are 1) Shaping the Future; 2) Free to Be Bold; and 3) At the Center of Power.

Ideal personality traits that should be reflected in the new moniker to represent our community at-large are 1) Tenacious; 2) Electric; and 3) Open.
Learn more and suggest a new moniker →

With these guiding principles in mind, GW is issuing an open call for new moniker suggestions. Members of the GW community can provide their suggestions for GW’s new moniker at moniker.gwu.edu from January 18-31.

After evaluating suggestions that are aligned with the guiding principles for the new moniker, GW will present options to the community for feedback next month. Throughout the spring semester, we will conduct a variety of engagement activities to continue to get feedback from the GW community and we will again invite and encourage your leadership and participation.

It remains crucial that, together, we identify a moniker that unites and unifies the GW community, and increase pride in our institution with a moniker that reflects the values, strengths and diversity of our worldwide population. I will look forward to your continued participation in our shared process.

Tanya Vogel
Director of Athletics
GW Releases Guiding Principles for the Selection of the New Moniker
GW community members can submit their suggestions until January 31.

Based on input from nearly 4,000 GW community members throughout the first phase of the moniker development process, the George Washington University Moniker Project has released a set of guiding principles for the selection of the new moniker. While the university has already received hundreds of new moniker name suggestions, GW community members are encouraged to submit moniker suggestions that align with the themes and personality traits outlined in these newly released guidelines.

Members of the GW community can review the guiding principles and submit their own suggestions at moniker.gwu.edu. Suggestions will be considered through January 31.

The guiding principles provide a framework to help identify moniker options that reflect the GW community’s shared experiences, serve as an identifier for GW athletics spirit, connect GW’s history to its future and are as inclusive and diverse as the global GW community.

“We’re pleased to have had such robust participation from the very beginning of this process, with thousands of members of the GW community already providing feedback on the direction of the new moniker,” said Vice President for Communications and Marketing Ellen Moran. “As we begin to explore options for the new moniker, we will continue to engage our community each and every step of the way.”

The new moniker must be related to at least one of the themes outlined in the guiding principles as noted below:

• Shaping the Future: This will honor GW’s long history developing students into leaders, doers and thinkers.
• Free to Be Bold: This will symbolize the university’s trailblazing spirit.
• At the Center of Power: This will reflect the energy and drive that brings the GW community to Washington, D.C., to be changemakers on the world stage.

The guiding principles also outline personality traits that should be represented in the new moniker, including tenacious, electric and open.

In releasing the guiding principles, the university also shared that “Hippos,” or variations of it, will not be considered in the moniker selection process. As a moniker, it would not align with the guiding principles and received negative feedback during engagement events from various members of the community, including student-athletes who are closely identified with the moniker in competition. The hippo and statue on campus will remain an important part of the university’s traditions.

The GW Moniker Project partnered with the marketing agency Sullivan to craft its guiding principles based on research and several community engagement activities during the fall semester, including the GW Moniker Feedback Form, an engagement booth during Alumni and Families Weekend, focus groups with students and alumni and multiple student-athlete town halls. In total, the process has included more than 20 hours of direct stakeholder input, 55 individual interviews, 237 engagement booth participants and 3,000 feedback form responses.
The George Washington University
Development and Alumni Relations
1922 F Street, NW, Suite 202
Washington, DC 20052
alumni.gwu.edu | alumni@gwu.edu
 

Let's leave the silly animal monikers to the UCSCs, IPFWs, and UMKCs of the world.

While I'm glad Hippo is out, a part of me wanted to see a live hippo mascot in the endzone with the First Ladies.
 

Last edited by GW0509 (1/18/2023 1:36 pm)

It should be easy to come up with a great moniker that is non-sexist, non-militaristic, non-violent, and can't possibly offend the oppressed peoples of the world! That leaves animals and, unfortunately, "eagles" is taken and "hippos" is out.  I like "Presidents" but that too may be unacceptable as sexist because, so far, all of the Presidents have been men.

Continentals
Revolution
Liberators
Presidents
???

I'm just really happy that Hippos is out!

You all didn't like my suggestion before but it fits squarely with the following:

• Shaping the Future: This will honor GW’s long history developing students into leaders, doers and thinkers.
• Free to Be Bold: This will symbolize the university’s trailblazing spirit.
• At the Center of Power: This will reflect the energy and drive that brings the GW community to Washington, D.C., to be changemakers on the world stage.

The Wokesters!

Our Mascot can be an undefined entity that wears the bumper stickers of the latest cause much like you used to see in the 60's/70's with those vans adorned with bumper stickers.

Think of it this way   ... if you mess with our mascot you will be cancelled and what better way to virtue signal to the World that GW is the place to be.

The Insurrectionists would also fit squarely. We can claim victory if we're winning at halftime and never have to lose.

GWRising wrote:

You all didn't like my suggestion before but it fits squarely with the following:

• Shaping the Future: This will honor GW’s long history developing students into leaders, doers and thinkers.
• Free to Be Bold: This will symbolize the university’s trailblazing spirit.
• At the Center of Power: This will reflect the energy and drive that brings the GW community to Washington, D.C., to be changemakers on the world stage.

The Wokesters!

Our Mascot can be an undefined entity that wears the bumper stickers of the latest cause much like you used to see in the 60's/70's with those vans adorned with bumper stickers.

Think of it this way   ... if you mess with our mascot you will be cancelled and what better way to virtue signal to the World that GW is the place to be.

 

Last edited by Hugh (1/18/2023 7:25 pm)

Hugh and BGF-good stuff.

Based on the criteria I doubt we go with an animal-based mascot.

I saw on Twitter someone put the school's announced "principles" into that AI bot and it came up with Titans.  Very bland but makes sense. 

I could also see the following:
Senators
Monuments
Federals
Explorers (doubt we'd pick a new name that's already used in the A-10 but I think Explorers would make sense given the criteria)
Giants
Trailblazers
Buff-and-Blues

You left out "and the American Way" although that might too nationalistic!