Sure, you have bulldogs, panthers, knights, and hawks. But not every school chooses a conventional mascot. In fact, some schools select rather unconventional ones and often for rather strange and unorthodox reasons. Here are ten of the strangest, in no particular order — except for the last one.

Boll Weevils. At six millimeters longs, not many schools boast a mascot smaller than that of the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Still, despite its diminutive size, the boll weevil is a formidable opponent — after all, it is the most destructive cotton pest in the United States. With that in mind, it is curious why men’s athletics at Monticello are represented by the Boll Weevils whereas the women are known as the “Lady Blossoms.”

Anteaters. Is it any wonder that the 1960s, a decade famous for political unrest and protest, would also see the rise of University of California-Irvine Anteaters? Inspired by Johnny Hart’s comic strip, “B.C.,” Zot the Anteater was introduced at the school’s first athletic event, a water-polo game, in which cheerleaders led the crowd in the now-infamous chant, “Give ‘em tongue!”

Banana Slugs. While famous for its marijuana culture as well as the infamous “Porter Run,” in which students streak en masse through campus one night of the year, the University of California-Santa Cruz is also known for its distinctive mascot. The idea for the mascot grew out of the students’ disapproval of the fierce athletic competition fostered at other universities — hence, they chose the peaceable slug.

Fighting Okra. There are several legends as to how the Delta State “Statesmen” actually became known as the “Fighting Okra.” One version involves a group of athletes who decided to adopt a mascot that was more intimidating. Okra was suggested because it was green (the school color), Southern, and ugly. The name stuck.

Chokers. Although this rather unfortunate name is also slang for athletes who “choke” in the final minute and fritter away an easy victory, the Grays Harbor Chokers actually refer to an archaic logging term. Traditionally, “chokers” were men who wrapped logs with ropes prior to moving them to the lumberyard.

Vulcans. Given the volcanic activity in Hawaii, it is certainly appropriate that a local school would invoke the Roman God of Fire. That being said, upon hearing of the mascot of the University of Hawaii-Hilo, don’t most of us actually think of another prominent Vulcan as its representative? (Hint: Live long and prosper.)

Battling Bishops. Prior to 1925, the Ohio Wesleyan teams were known as the “The Red and Black” or as simply “The Methodists.” But given that there were a dozen Methodist colleges in the area, Ohio Wesleyan decided to have a contest and select a new name to distinguish itself. “Battling Bishops” was the winner.

Artichokes. Coming on the heels of protest-mascots such as the Anteaters and the Banana Slugs, the Artichokes was chosen by the students of Scottsdale Community College in the early 1970s as a protest against the school administration’s practice of using scholarships intended for Native Americans to attract out-of-state athletes.

Poets. Named for a prominent poet and leader in the abolitionist movement, John Greenleaf Whittier, the Whittier College Poets are not quite as intimidating as the Fighting Okra nor even as peace-loving as the docile banana slugs. Then again, the Poets are also not as ridiculous as at least one mascot …

Fighting Pickles. Apparently, the Fighting Pickles was first suggested as a joke in 1972 when the North Carolina School of the Arts decided to have a contest to create a mascot. As with many mascot-choosing contests — when will school administrators learn? — the unlikely vegetable won, giving it not only the honor of becoming the school’s official mascot but probably the most ridiculous mascot of all time. Then again, what’s your school’s mascot …
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.

With the cost of tuition on the rise, college students are seeking new ways to save a buck while going to school. "Scholarships Around the US" has compiled a number of such ways — 118 to be precise — that can help offset the cost of higher education. While the entire list ought to be required reading for any co-ed, I’ve excerpted the ten that I thought were most effective and most striking, and then I added the one that they forgot: getting a Costco Membership.

1. Borrow Textbooks. If you can’t borrow, buy used. If you can’t buy used and have to buy new textbooks, check for an “international” edition. International editions are nearly identical, except for maybe some Chinese characters on the front, and it will be exponentially cheaper.

2. Brew your own coffee. Your daily latte, cappuccino, or mocha from a coffee house will run you between $2.50 and $3.50. Seven days of that routine costs you $17.50 per week, $70 per month, and around $280 per semester. Making your own coffee or drinking less could save you $500 over the course of a year.

3. Kick the bottled water habit. Support your local tap water and drink for free. Get a filter if you want better-tasting water.

4. Two words: Ramen Noodles.

5. Decline extended warranties on computers. Your computer should be under manufacturer’s warranty for the first year anyway. Companies dupe you into believing the plan is worthwhile and become rich off your extra cash.

6. Don’t buy ink cartridges from the manufacturer. Instead, purchase cartridges online where you can compare prices and get free shipping. Better yet, refill your own cartridges (refills can cost as little as $5 per cartridge).

7. Save money on utilities. Living on an upper floor will typically keep you warmer in the winter, but it’ll get hotter in the summer. So, if you go to school in a region where winters are longer, then try to get a room on the upper floor, otherwise live low. Also, try to find an apartment where utilities run on natural gas (stove, hot water heater); it’s generally more cost-efficient.

8. Don’t shop hungry. This goes for any kind of shopping. If you’re in the grocery store, you’ll grab more and spend more; if you’re somewhere else you’ll probably spend more than you planned getting something to eat. Carry a snack in your purse or backpack.

9. Get your haircut at a cosmetology school. They charge much less for cuts, highlights and color in exchange for the use of your head.

10. Two more words: donate plasma.

Finally, there was one idea that didn’t make the list but which — I know from personal experience — is a gold mine. Get a Costco membership. The reason for the membership is not so you can buy in bulk, which, frankly, can mislead customers into thinking they are saving more than they really are. Rather, the real perk of membership is access to the free samples.

Let’s be honest: a Saturday morning trip to Costco is a trip to an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord. You can taste a variety of cuisines without ever having to commit (like you do at a restaurant). That’s the beauty of samples — you never get bored. If you don’t like something, toss it in the garbage. On the other hand, if you really like something, take a lap around the aisle and get back in line for seconds or even tenths (believe me, it’s possible).

Truly, there’s no better place to get full and explore the subtle nuances of your palate than Costco. And the best part of it all is that you can go as often as you want — every Saturday or every day. Trust me, whatever you invest in your annual membership will be more than repaid, even if you have to earn it back by the tablespoon.

What is your best money-saving tip?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.

Recently, The New York Times published an article entitled "For Achievers, a New Destination" in which they noted that community colleges are no longer a last resort for unmotivated or underachieving students. On the contrary, more and more community colleges are becoming an attractive alternative to students looking to earn their core academic credit at a significantly reduced cost before transferring to a four-year school to complete their bachelor’s degree.

Citing the College Board, The New York Times observed that the average tuition at community colleges is less than half the cost of a state school ($2,272 compared to $5,836) and almost one-tenth of what it might cost at a private school, which, on average, is upwards of $22,000. As a result, the face of community colleges is beginning to change — to be more precise, it is getting younger. Quoting The Times:

Many two-year colleges are now recruiting students who fit the traditional profile of baccalaureate undergraduates: 18- to 24-year-olds who have strong high school records and are moving directly into higher education full time. Such students are helping to lower the average age of community college students, which has steadily declined: 42 percent taking courses for credit are under 22, compared with 32 percent a decade ago, according to a 2005 federal study. No longer wed primarily to a work force-training mission, these colleges consider it a major, if not predominant, goal to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions.

The article also notes that many community colleges are becoming increasingly successful in placing graduates in top-flight four-year schools. In other words, top-flight schools are beginning to recognize that students from community colleges are academically competitive, which means that community colleges offer a comparable education to that of four-year institutions.

If this report is true — if you really can get a competitive education at half the price — then it means that community colleges offer more bang for a student’s buck than either state or private schools. Sobering thoughts. I wonder if we’ll be reading a similar article about online education soon …

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.