Keggy the Keg
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Keggy the Keg is an unofficial mascot of Dartmouth College. Keggy is an anthropomorphic beer keg, invented in 2003 by members of the College humor magazine the Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern to fill the mascot void that followed the abolition of the Indian mascot in 1971. Due to its nature, the mascot was controversial on Dartmouth's campus, and it was reported on in a variety of national media. However, with time it has become an "ingrained part of Dartmouth culture".[1]
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[edit] Context and creation
After dropping the mascot of the Indian in 1971, Dartmouth had no official mascot.[2] Dartmouth continued to be known by its nickname of "The Big Green," but, citing the ambiguity, lack of dynamism, and intangibility of having no mascot, the Dartmouth Student Assembly proposed a student poll in spring 2003 to decide upon a new mascot. While the Moose came in first in this poll,[3] many students remained dissatisfied with the choice. Students involved at the Jack-O-Lantern humor magazine expressed interest in creating a mascot that "wasn't racist, biased or sexist, yet [was] entirely unacceptable."[4] In an effort to force the administration to adopt a more interesting mascot, they created Keggy, an anthropomorphic keg that represents "the most obvious Dartmouth stereotype: the beer-swilling Animal House fraternity culture."[5]
[edit] Reactions
Reaction to Keggy's introduction was mixed: the student body president personally endorsed Keggy in the mascot search,[6] while the College newspaper The Dartmouth reported a mixed student reaction and published opposing opinions.[4][7][8][9] The paper also reported on "flak" over the mascot from College administrators,[6] though the Dean of the College lauded the students' capacity to "come up with imaginative and creative ideas."[4]
Keggy subsequently received media attention beyond the College at other Ivy League newspapers and on several national media outlets.[10][11] Michael Wilbon of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption called Keggy "some stupid beer thing,"[12] and Playboy magazine published a feature on Keggy as part of a "Mascots Talk Back" series.[13] A posting of a photo of Keggy on CollegeHumor was popular enough to receive status as a National Pick.[14][15]
[edit] Theft and subsequent attention
Shortly after Keggy's introduction in 2003, a group of students stole the Keggy costume from its home in the Sigma Nu fraternity library and sent threatening notes to Keggy's creators, including photographs of the mascot bound and gagged with one black eye.[16] Some thought this to be a publicity stunt by the creators, but the mascot had truly been stolen. Keggy was eventually returned with minor damage to the costume.[17]
Keggy continued to make occasional appearances at Dartmouth sporting events, and became an "ingrained part of Dartmouth culture"[1]: at Dartmouth's 2005 Winter Carnival celebration, students named the snow sculpture of a large ship "Captain Keggy's Carnival Cruiser."[18] In early 2006, College officials denied Keggy entrance to a sold-out hockey game, prompting a Jack-O-Lantern-penned editorial in The Dartmouth condemning the incident;[19] the Jack-O-Lantern website alleged "anti-keg racism."[20] A similar incident occurred in October 2006 when Keggy was not permitted on the field at halftime of the Homecoming football game, again resulting in further complaints in The Dartmouth and on the Jack-O-Lantern website.[21][22]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Reid, Stuart. "Greek issues and politics dominate seniors' first two years", The Dartmouth, 2006-06-10. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Wallace-Wells, Benjamin. "The Indian and the Rock", The Dartmouth Review, 1998-11-17. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Spradling, Jessica. "Moose tops mascot survey", The Dartmouth, 2003-05-23. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ a b c Orbuch, Steve. "Jacko mascot 'Keggy' wins many Dartmouth fans", The Dartmouth, 2003-11-04. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Blodget, Kelsey. "Straight from the Tap: the men behind the mascot", The Dartmouth, 2007-01-05. Retrieved on January 25, 2007.
- ^ a b Garland, Kevin. "Assembly drops search for mascot: SA will not endorse moose in report", The Dartmouth, 2003-11-05. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Labun, Lance. "On 'Keggy'", The Dartmouth, 2003-11-10. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Wolkoff, David. "Lighten Up!", The Dartmouth, 2003-11-12. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Tonelli, Alex. "'Some Beer Thing...'", The Dartmouth, 2003-11-25. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ "Around the Ivies", Yale Herald, 2003-11-07. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Brauntuch, Steve. "Steve Brauntuch: Is Keggy the greatest mascot ever?", The Daily Pennsylvanian, 2003-12-04. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Pardon the Interruption (Windows Media Video). Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern. ESPN. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Simigis, Antonia. "Mascots Talk Back: Keggy", Playboy. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ "Dartmouth College's newest mascot... Keggy the Keg", CollegeHumor, 2003-11-05. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ FAQ. CollegeHumor. Retrieved on January 10, 2007.
- ^ Orbuch, Steve. "Jacko receives threatening email", The Dartmouth, 2003-12-05. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Buck, Jean. "Still on tap: Keggy returned", The Dartmouth, 2003-12-10. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Kelley, Kristen. "Pirate ship sculpture marks revival in tradition of scope, grandeur", The Dartmouth, 2005-02-11. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Entress, Cole. "Consider the Plight of Keggy", The Dartmouth, 2006-02-22. Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Keggy Blog. Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern (2006-02-11). Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
- ^ Schlossberg, Dane. "Weekend proceeds with fifteen arrests", The Dartmouth, 2006-10-16. Retrieved on December 28, 2006. “In a BlitzMail message to The Dartmouth, the staff of Jack-O-Lantern claimed that Keggy 'was treated rudely and unfairly, simply because of his status as an anthropomorphic keg.'”
- ^ Keggy Blog. Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern (2006-10-13). Retrieved on December 28, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Keggy the Keg, at the Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern Humor Society
