Western Connecticut State University announced on April 19 that the new mascot to represent the school will be the Wolves. This change comes after years of discussion and a recent vote from nearly 3,000 respondents, consisting of students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Students from Professor Roche’s Sports Writing and News Writing classes went out and spoke with the university community, asking their opinions on the newly announced mascot.
Kyle Maysonet, Junior, Bronx, NY
“Whales, it should have been Whales. Wolves is not the most original name that we could have chosen. It is a very generic name and is just a bland copy of the UConn mascot. If I ran the school, we would not be in debt because of my mascot choices.”
Jessica Browne, Sophomore, New Fairfield, CT
“I think the new mascot being the wolves is pretty cool. Wolves are strong, smart, and take care of each other. I think this makes for a nice representation and goal for the students at WestConn. Hopefully, this new mascot reminds us that we are one student body that’s stronger together and takes care of each other.”
Dezia Worrell-Wright, Senior, Danbury, CT
“I think that the new mascot is pretty good. It was better than the Colonial thing which represented a lot of racism and brought up a lot of issues for people of color like myself, so I think changing it to a wolf is a good improvement; I’m happy that that was a decision that was made.”
Emily Wilcox, Junior, Naugatuck, CT
“I’m happy with the new mascot, not only because it’s way less offensive and inappropriate than Colonial Chuck, but also because it will serve to promote student empowerment. Wolves are pack animals that symbolize unity and community for our school. The colonials historically were white men who went over to ‘undiscovered land’ and stole it away from the native people who were already living there. This is a fresh step toward the 21st century that WestConn has been needing for a while, and I’m thrilled to witness changes like this happening on campus.”
Tony Jaimon, Freshman, Brookfield, CT
“I like the way the new mascot looks because it’s more than a dude with a coat on.”
Samantha Cross, Senior, Watertown, CT
“I had voted for the new mascot to be the Dragons, I thought it would have been way cooler. The Wolves are overrated, but better than having a symbol of genocide as our mascot.”
Jade Carriero, Sophomore, New Fairfield, CT
“I am not really a fan of the new mascot. I do like the sound of WCSU Wolves, however, I don’t think the mascot is fitting for our school. Wolves are not native to Connecticut so I don’t see how that really relates to representing us. I also fear it is similar to UCONN’s mascot, a husky, and am worried the design will be too similar. Overall, I am okay with the wolves but I would prefer if another option was chosen.”
Nicholas Ribbens, Junior, Stamford, CT
“I am a transfer student, so the change did not really affect me. I came in while we were the Colonials, and now we are the Wolves.”
Raymond Sanchez, Senior, Harrison, NY
“I think it’s better than the Colonials, it gives me more of a Patriots kind of vibe, Colonials. So, I do like wolves, I think it’s better than Trailblazers so all things considered it is an improvement at the end of the day… I think I voted for Warriors, but I wanted Bulldogs. That’s what I wanted in the first semester this year.”
Pleasant Paschael, Senior, Danbury, CT
“I love it, because I voted for the WestConn Wolves, and I like the alliteration.”
Jasmine Caldwell, Junior, Mount Vernon, NY
“It’s definitely a different change from Colonials. I feel like out of all the other options that was the better choice. It’s not that bad.”
Evan Walker, Sophomore, Mahopac, NY
“I mean, it’s better than Colonial Chuck; he just looked like the Crimson Chin. But you know, I thought that there were cooler options. Wolves seem like a budget UConn mascot because they’re the Huskies. I don’t know, Worms would’ve been more fun.”
Mary Mazza (left), Faculty, New Milford, CT and Inita Mix (right), Faculty, Redding, CT
“Yes, I love it too! I like it too that it’s WestConn wolves, you know it kind of goes together.” – Mary Mazza
“I love it! Wolves is the best, and the colors and everything… I really love it. For me, it’s not associated with anything else, and it incorporates a spirit. A wolf is a very predatorial, strong, helps in the ecosystem, so there’s a lot of layers for me when I think of the wolf. Behind the word there is a spirit! A wolf is a very strong animal and I think we need that.” – Inita Mix
Dylan DiSalvo, Sophomore, Bethel, CT
“I don’t know, I don’t really care honestly. I don’t think it had to be changed. The wolves are a good option considering it had to be changed. It connects with the WestConn name.”
Nick Macchia, Sophomore, Bethel, CT
“I like the change to the Wolves, I think it sounds cool. I do, however, wish we had a wolf as the logo instead of just the word ‘Wolves.’”
Hannah Maghini, Senior, Bristol, CT
“I think the new mascot is a great change for WestConn. It is something new and exciting. It is unfortunate that I am a senior and will not really get to represent the new Wolves mascot, especially as a student athlete.”
Leo Toledo, Freshman, Newtown, CT
“I like the wolves, but I wanted the dragons ’cause dragons are cool. But wolves are cool too cause WW. It goes with our school name.”
Devin Quirk, Sophomore, Danbury, CT
“I don’t really have an option of the Wolves. I personally picked the dragons but I didn’t really care what the new mascot was. I’m also transferring in the fall so that could have something to do with it.”
Rosie Regan, Freshman, Monroe Township, NJ
“I like it, it’s something new and fresh,
and I like how it’s WestConn W and Wolves W.”
Liam Melvin, Junior, Baldwin, NY
“Wolves is a terrible name; I did not like it when it was proposed, and I don’t like it now. Am I going to have to pay out of pocket for the process of the rebranding of the school and BOTH campuses? I wholeheartedly believe that Whales or Whalers would have been better mascots.”
Nicole Vivian, Sophomore, New Milford, CT
“I love the new mascot. I think it fits very well, and I am excited to have one.”
Katelyn Fanning, Senior, Dobbs Ferry, NY
“I like it. I like the Wolves. It’s new, it’s different. I voted for it.”
Cosette Liosi, Sophomore, Maywood, NJ
“WestConn Wolves is okay. A dragon would have been cooler and would make us stand out way more. I guess with the ‘W’ in WestConn and wolf makes sense. However, I still prefer being the dragons.”
Farren Torreso, Freshman, Newtown, CT
“I just wish that it was something that was not like, so simple. I just thought that we could be different, like maybe the Wolverines would just be better. Wolves is just a spinoff of UConn.”
David Ross, Senior, Port Jervis, NY
“They should have had the money to change things before they changed the mascot. The football field still has Chuck on it. Where will the money come from to change that?”
Miller Tetreault, Freshman, Newtown, CT
“I don’t mind it. It’s different from before and I think it’s not a bad change. I think it’s cool to have an animal. It’s whatever. It’s cool.”
Olivia Monteleone, Sophomore, Cold Spring, NY
“I love the Wolves. I’m happy we finally got a mascot; it’s been a year now. I’m excited.”
Logan Farley, Senior, Belvidere, NJ
“I think it’s great. I think it was necessary and long overdue, and I hope moving forward WestConn uses the money from rebranding the mascot to put towards more scholarships for BIPOC and students of color and different sexualities, and I am really hoping something like this doesn’t happen again here… but glad we have made this change.”
Haley Napier, Senior, Hopewell Junction, NY
“I love it. I haven’t had an animal mascot since I was in elementary school so I am really excited to have one again!”
Colleen Callahan, Senior, Easton, CT
“I think it was a necessary change and I’m very glad that it was able to happen. I really had no preference, I think I would have preferred to be the whales, personally, because wolves are so close to UConn’s mascot, but yeah… I am so happy we are no longer the Colonials and I am so glad that mascot costume is gone because he scared me.”
Aidan Cintron, incoming Freshman, Danbury, CT
Didn’t know they changed anything. Sounds more rad than the Colonials though.”
Juel Figueroa, Freshman, New Milford, CT
“I think it’s cool, way better than the Colonials. It also rolls off the tongue easier than the Colonials do.”
Matthew Martins, Sophomore, Danbury, CT
“I like the new change,
however, I’m not sure if it fits us.”
Megan Wiese, Freshman, Brooklyn, NY
“It seems that the new mascot is very close to the UConn Huskies sense with the WestConn name, wolves is a close comparison to huskies. Something more closely tied to Danbury might seem more adequate, but Wolves is much better than Colonials.”
Morgan H. Freshman, Danbury, CT
“I personally like the Wolves a lot better for our new mascot, and it flows a lot better. I thought the Colonials was problematic, so change was needed.”
Tania F. Freshman, New London, CT
“I am glad we made the switch to the Wolves. The idea of the Colonials may not have had bad intentions, but when we look at their history, it doesn’t align with school’s values.”
Jordan Carbone, Freshman, Marlboro, NY
“I like it much better than the Colonials because I like having an animal mascot and because the Wolves seem more intimidating than the Colonials. WestConn Wolves also sound better than WestConn Colonials. Also, the Colonials are outdated.”
Daniel Kornhaas, Junior, Newtown, CT
“Boring, but it’s good. May I suggest WestConn Worms? I think WestConn Worms are the better alternative. It’s more attention-grabbing than wolves, nobody expects it.”
Hamza “Baki” Ghannaj, Freshman, Stamford, CT
“It should’ve been a dragon. Or a wyvern, specifically.”
Nicole Antonowicz, Senior, Wolcott, CT
“What I think about the new mascot is that I am happy it starts with W for WestConn. I feel that WestConn Wolves flow a lot better than WestConn Colonials. Being a senior now, I am also happy to end my college softball career with a mascot because we haven’t had one for two years now.”
Abigail Green, Junior, Bethel, CT:
“I think the new mascots are awesome, it shows change.”
Markus Wessel, Senior, Bethel, CT
“I actually voted for the Wolves, so I think they’re pretty good.”
Giovani Francois, Freshman, Newark, NJ
“I think the new mascots is a big update from the old one, the school stands together as one & not as a racist school.”
Jack Teplica, Sophomore, New Milford, CT
“I feel it’s too similar to UConn – it’s too basic. It’s not fun.”
Vincent Diesta, Sophomore, Brookfield, CT
“I feel like the people who care most about it are athletes.”
Karly Vito (Freshman, Holbrook, NY)
“I think that it is a good change from the Colonials and I am excited to get a new mascot and get a new mascot for our sports teams. I am also excited to get new clothes with our new mascot on it.”
Contributed by: Karly Martin, Jackson Sheehan, Jasmine Tenesaca, Jenna Visca, Brian Germinaro, Kathleen Dowling, Peter Falcone, Sean Macgillivray, Jennifer Macancela, Ciara Santiago-Gamble, Brian Thomas, Haleigh Johnson, Dylan Rossetti, Ricardo Machado, Aniyah Barnett, Hayden Pham, and Madison Zicchinelli
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