Let's Go Mountainettes?

There’s a new argument amongst fans of West Virginia University, and this time it doesn’t involve who’s coaching what, strength of schedules, or the governor’s family.

In case you haven’t heard, the new Mountaineers mascot will be a woman. Rebecca Durst from Point Pleasant, W.Va. was recently selected to carry the musket and lead the Mountaineers into battle.

Some people don’t think that is such a great idea.

Now the topic of West Virginia University is they’re making a politically correct choice. I almost could understand the basis of the argument except for one thing: this is not the first female mascot in the history of the university. Some of you may remember 1990 when Natalie Tennant filled the position. She too received criticism. She is now the Secretary of State for West Virginia.

I don’t see what the problem is. Some think that the mascot should always be a man. Jokes have been made about the woman growing a beard or not shaving her legs. Why? The statue of the Mountaineer in front of the MountainLair at WVU doesn’t have a beard. And is it that offending that a woman is the mascot? Even though it’s a tradition that the male mountaineers grows a beard, it’s not necessary (although we all expect a beard just as much as hockey players in the Stanley Cup finals).

Secondly, and in my opinion the more important point, the state motto is “Montani Semper Liberi.” The Latin phrase translates into “Mountaineers are always free.” A motto is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of an organization. The last time I checked women weren’t slaves.

Has anyone ever bothered to check out the application process to become the Mountaineer? It’s staggering and impressive involving essays to different questions, an interview in front of a panel of 12 people consisting of alumni and administrators, and more.

The mascot isn’t just a mascot at West Virginia University. It’s an ambassador and a role model. Just because a woman will be leading the old gold and blue doesn’t take anything away from what it is to be a Mountaineer. I’ve heard of some people talking about not going to WVU games now because of the mascot. Seriously? If that’s the case, maybe those people shouldn’t be going to Mountaineer games in the first place.