When Being Politically Correct is Incorrect...

Gunston: what is it? Good question. Ever since I have been a student at Mason that has been the mystery around campus. Aren't we the George Mason Patriots? Apparently GMU's verison of a patriot is a furry green blob, who looks like a poorly constructed Sesame Street character. I guess this is supposed to better represent our campus and its vast diversity? Our school just made it to the Final Four, its time for a real mascot.

Let me just start off by saying that I hate Gunston and think that "it" is an embarassment to our school and most notably our basketball team. And believe me I am not alone. As a poster on the CAAZone.com I communicate with fellow alumni and students on our shared hatred of Gunston. The hatred of Gunston is so wide spread these days there is a website selling anti-Gunston t-shirts in order to raise money to buy their own mascot costume. I'd gladly buy a "Guck Gunston" shirt in order to get in a new mascot.

I have heard the arguments from Mason fans that "hey hes got tons of fans in his facebook groups". Are you kidding? I could make a group tonight on facebook that is titled "I eat dog shit" and I could probably get 500 members by the end of the week if I tried. I love facebook, but using it as a source of statistics or facts is laughable. And on a side not I am happy to see that someone started a Louis Birdsong fan club group, which I am still currently waiting for an invite.

After the final four run had ended, the Washington Post had run an article stating that Gunston was on his way out and that a new mascot was being created. I nearly jumped for joy. National exposure and Gunston gone? But it was proved to be too good to be true. This is a quote from university spokesman Dan Walsch:

"He [pause]... 'It' is here to stay, and we're looking to give Gunston a makeover. That'll be the only change, but the decision of the university is that he is very much here to stay. When the spotlight went on the university in the Final Four we thought the feelings Gunston helped generate were positive. We thought the character did a good job of being fun and representing the school, and we thought he was not only worth keeping but enhancing his look and if anything making him more visible...The general feeling from what I hear is that Gunston is very positively received, that people like him and it's good that we're keeping him."

Give Gunston a makeover? Dear god. I can't even begin to ponder what the hell Mason will do to "makeover" Gunston. I don't think a shower and shave is gonna do it for our muppet-like mascot. Will we see this new mascot at Midnight Madness? When Mason is calling the shots anything is possible and they will most likely find a way to make Gunston even more hated at the Patriot Center. I think they will need to add more t-shirt giveaways (if thats possible) to keep fans under control. And Walsch says make Gunston more visible!?! Doesn't it scare enough children in the stands during games? And let me get something straight, Gunston did not generate positive school spirit, the basketball team's heroics did and I'll be damned if Gunston tries to take credit for anything besides causing mass confusion among college basketball viewers.