Comments:

Ypsidixit - 2007-08-14 13:53:23
When the students chose "Royals" for their new mascot, certain oversensitive types called this symbol "undemocratic." So what do the miffed adults do? Let the kids vote again? Nope. The adults banned the "undemocratic" "Royals" with dictatorial authority, which I found wonderfully ironic.
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srah - 2007-08-14 15:02:29
I like "yaks." They're not going to run into many other teams with the same mascot.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-14 15:21:14
I like yaks too, and musk oxen. Particularly musk oxen. They always seem so implacable. And cuddly, in a pointy sort of way.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-14 15:30:22
Stanford has a tree as a mascot.

Pittsburgh Steelers: "Steely McBeam."
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Denise (East Middle School Student) - 2007-08-14 19:11:52
Ypsi Tigers
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-14 19:47:31
Denise, thank you for visiting the blog. I am flattered that an old fogey like me would be of interest to a student. Thank you.

I think "Tigers" is a good choice. Something strong and distinctive. It would also be good for the swim team, since tigers are the only cats, in the entire cat family, who enjoy swimming.

The only other cat in the cat family that likes swimming is the famous Turkish Swimming Cat, which it white with touches of cinnamon, very pretty. Nobody knows why these 2 cats love to swim when all other cats regard swimming with wide-eyed horror.

It's one of Nature's many mysteries.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-14 21:16:55
YPSIDIXIT EXCLUSIVE: a former mayor of Ypsi, I won't say which one, kindly writes in with support for musk oxen! I quote:

"Musk Oxen are great. Smaller than you imagine. Not tiny mind you, but far smaller than a bison. And they roar like a lion."

Roar like a lion! My goodness! Take a look at these pictures, also sent from said former mayor!:

Ooh, musk ox family! Cute as a button!

Awwww! You just want to kiss that drippy little muzzle.
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Ypsidixit yet again - 2007-08-14 22:25:03
This mascot issue upsets me all out of proportion to its apparent significance. Speaking as a former teacher, I think it's wrong that the students' democratically-chosen pick of "Royals" was vetoed by the school board.

What I read was that the board felt that this choice was "anti-democratic." What nonsense. They insult their students by suggesting that the young people are so dumb that they are expressing a wish for a monarchy.

Oh, please. I imagine the students picked it because it sounds cool. Suggesting the same sort of meaning as in the common phrases "a royally good time" or "the royal treatment," with "royal" meaning "special, exceptional, elevated." What's wrong with that?

I feel bad about the message that the board's fiat gives to students who put their time and effort into picking a mascot. The message: democracy means nothing, since the powers that be can overrule it.

Ann Arbor's Huron High School students were allowed to pick their own mascot some years back, and they came up with something just as good as "The Royals": the River Rats. This is an awesome mascot: weird, threatening, scrappy. The kids made a great choice, and the powers that be approved it. They are the River Rats to this day.

Why aren't Ypsilanti young people allowed to conduct their own democratic campaign to choose their own mascot?

I think they should unite and stick to the Royals. Mount a Royals campaign. Have some artistic students design a logo. Have a badge shop take the design and make up a Royals patch to sew on clothing. Put the design on fliers and post them periodically around the high school. Demonstrate, with such respectful, harmless civil disobedience, that the democratic choice of students deserves respect.
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timmy - 2007-08-15 08:40:05
How about the Ypsilanti BRAVE. Just drop the logo and s and keep the BRAVE. A nice compromise.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-15 09:12:52
Timmy: Hmm....that's an inventive solution. What logo or image would go best with that good idea? Perhaps a bicyclist on a Depot Town sidewalk?
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timmy - 2007-08-15 09:46:04
Just "the BRAVE" maybe, no mascot logo. Central kept Chippawas, but dropped the logo, a big C.
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timmy - 2007-08-15 09:49:38
bicyclist on a Depot Town sidewalk logo? Not bad, apparently you have to be "BRAVE" to do that these days.
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ypsidixit - 2007-08-15 09:54:26
Timmy: That is interesting. I hadn't known there were sports teams with mascot *names*, but not logos. That might be the way to go.

Or perhaps the Zen "enso" circle symbol, which symbolizes, among other things, "no-symbol" or "void".......that would psyche out the competition.
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timmy - 2007-08-15 10:00:31
I was around at EMU in the early 90s when they dropped the HURONS. Keeping the name Hurons or Huron but dropping the mascot was on the table with other ideas. Sorry, don't want to open up the EMU Huron debate again.
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Ingrid - 2007-08-15 10:15:00
The name Brave was considered and rejected by the Board of Ed. Rightfully so, since the link between the offensive Braves and Brave is too strong, and many, including me, still consider it degrading.
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timmy - 2007-08-15 10:20:09
Well that ends my idea. thank you, thank you, timmy has left the building.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-15 10:21:43
Hmm...how about picking something that is intrinsically brave, as a sort of reference to the old name for those who are attached to it, while breaking completely from it for those who'd prefer a new name?

I also think a mascot should be "grounded" in the area--should be something that existed or exists in Ypsi (like mastodons--the mastodon tracks in the Ann Arbor Natural History Museum was found in Saline!)
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Lisele - 2007-08-16 08:54:30
I stand by my original suggestion of The Borg. Talk about scary. A reference all could enjoy. And think of the possible chants at events: "Resistence is Futile!!! You will be assimilated!!" Also, imagine the fun gear: hats with little laser fold-down eyepieces... Implant stick-ons. And hey, teens are already purported to have a group mind.
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Steve Pierce - 2007-08-16 09:01:43
They could use the Celtic word Braw. which is a person of great honor and respect. Then use a large B as the logo.

Cheers!

- Steve
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Laura - 2007-08-16 09:07:59
Two good suggestions. Hmm, much as I like Lisa's suggestion, I fear "The Borg" is copyrighted, rats.

"Braw"...good idea, and when you think about it, there likely are Celtic threads in Ypsi, given the migration of folks from Tennesee and Kentucky years ago, and the ties between Appalachia and Ireland.

How about "Brawnies," with the logo as that rugged guy pictured on the paper towel roll, in a plaid shirt with rugged pine trees in the bakground?
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Lisele - 2007-08-16 09:20:22
Naw, not Celtic. I think it oughta be Greek. What about the Spartans? Boring, yet a propos. Or the Generals (honoring Ypsilanti), then one could riff on the other meaning of the word, with bar codes, plain white tee shirts, etc. Or go with a truly unique idea, copy off Amanda Edmonds, "The Ypsi-plantis," then the mascot could be a wildflower.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-08-16 09:26:14
"Spartans" is a great idea--think of all the money they'd save on athletic uniforms!
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maryd - 2007-08-18 06:53:18
I just wanted to say that Ypsi BoE member Linda Horne was one who spoke in favor of the kid's choice of the Royals. She said we should honor their choice. Just for the record...
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