RE: Happy Citronaut Day
The article introducing Vincent the Vulture hit the stands on Nov. 3, 1969. It pointed out to students the obvious - he carried the school's colors and, in answer to the school's motto, "Reach for the Stars," a bird was perfect. Also, where falcons, hawks, eagles, etc. were common among school mascots, a vulture would certainly be unique, thereby emphasizing the "focus on the individual" staple of FTU's philosophy.However, unlike the aforementioned birds of prey, Vincent did not hurt innocent little animals, he merely cleaned up after the vicious feedings of his cousin birds. Not only was he a pacifist, he helped fight pollution!The end of the article offered a spectacular visual description of training FTU's real-life Vincent to circle opposing football teams when they're in a huddle, or perching him on a dead tree branch at basketball games to stare at the other team. "Nothing," it pointed out, "stares like a vulture."However, even as Vincent fan clubs began to dot the FTU campus, creating what is to be remembered as "Vulture Mania," he was resolutely ignored by the SGA, and did not appear in the final list of mascots to be voted on, of which included the Knight of Pegasus, a scorpion, a fox, a black hawk, and a cheetah.The Future, as Vincent's primary supporter, lashed back, encouraging students to write in his name when they voted, reminding voters that the adversary, Pegasus, was created from the blood of a dead man in mythology.
Funny how things changed. Students hated the citronaut in the 60's.
|