Hampshire College, located in Amherst, Massachusetts, does not have a traditional mascot like many other colleges and universities. The college prides itself on its non-traditional and innovative approach to education, and this extends to its lack of a mascot. Instead, Hampshire College embraces a spirit of individualism and uniqueness. While Hampshire College does not have a mascot, it still fosters a strong sense of community and identity. The college's students, faculty, and staff often refer to themselves as "Hampshireians" or simply "Hampsters." This creative nickname reflects the college's commitment to thinking outside the box and embracing unconventional ideas.
In 1985, in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of Hampshire College, recent Hampshire graduates and graphic designers Marc Tuchman 81F and Barbara Kann 81F were commissioned to produce a booklet that would serve to introduce new students to the Hampshire program. The result was an illustrated booklet in comic strip form called, The Seeing Eye Frog Presents: Taking Root, or, More Precisely, Hampshire for Beginners (and Others)! The seeing eye frog takes readers through an irreverent but highly accurate account of Hampshire's history, philosophy, and former academic program. A classic, it has been updated several times since 1985.
Known as the original disruptors of higher education, we ve scrapped generic models of learning, empowering you to address urgent issues, be unbounded in your studies, and entrepreneurial in your academic journey. One year, student orientation leaders were issued frog t-shirts, and another year the library and academic computing gave away mousepads emblazoned with a green and yellow frog.
" This creative nickname reflects the college's commitment to thinking outside the box and embracing unconventional ideas. The absence of a traditional mascot does not diminish Hampshire College's school spirit or sense of pride. Students and alumni are passionate about their unique college experience and cherish the freedom to express themselves in a way that aligns with Hampshire's values of creativity and independent thinking.
Hampshire's Whip-Pur vies for Mascot Madness title
The Whip-Pur, the mascot for Hampshire High School at 1600 Big Timber Road, is competing in a contest for the state's most unusual high school mascot name.
CSN and CSNChicago.com, according to their website, are "searching for the most unique Illinois high school mascot nickname in Mascot Madness."
AdvertisementThe Hampshire Whip-Pur mascot beat out the Sequoit mascot on Thursday by a score of 51 percent to 49 percent of the votes. The Whip-Pur mascot will advance to the next round next week.
"This is exciting," said Hampshire High School Principal Brett Bending. "The Sequoits put up a good fight. I encourage Hampshire Whip-Pur fans to vote early and vote often."
AdvertisementHampshire's mascot competed against 15 other mascots in the Skyline Region in the first round. The other contestants in this region were: New Trier Trevians, East Aurora Tomcats, Evanston Wildkits, Zion-Benton Zee-Bees, Argo Argonauts, DeKalb Barbs, Carmel Corsairs, Mount Carmel Caravan, Andrew Thunderbolts, Collinsville Kahoks, Antioch Sequoits, Lockport Porters, Schaumburg Saxons, Elk Grove Grenadiers, and the Joliet Central Steelmen.
Dave Hicks, Hampshire High athletic director, said CSN contacted the school about the contest.
"They asked us for information about the Whip-Pur," Hicks said. "The Whip-Pur was originally a tiger with purple and white stripes and a whip. Hampshire High students came up with the mascot during the 1940s."
"Fans are encouraged to vote for each of their favorite nicknames in a four region, 64-team bracket, similar to the National Collegiate Athletic Association's March Madness" according to the CSNChicago.com website. "Each week, they advance one round with the coronation of the Mascot Madness champion taking place during the Illinois High School Association 4A Boys Basketball Championship on Saturday, March 19. Voting is done exclusively through www.csnchicago.com/MascotMadness. On each regional voting page, official tallies are recorded via Twitter and Facebook. Fans are encouraged to not only vote for their favorite school, but for others in each region as well. Each week, the voting round opens on Monday at 12 p.m. and ends on Thursdays at 4 p.m."
Images of the Whip-Pur are found in Hampshire schools.
There is a 3-foot high, fiberglass statue of the mascot at the front entrance of Hampshire High. It was a gift of the Hampshire High Class of 2015.
The Hampshire High Class of 2013 gift to the school was a mural of the Whip-Pur in the school's middle stairwell.
The water tower by Hampshire High is painted white with purple paw prints.
AdvertisementIn addition to serving as the mascot for Hampshire High, the Whip-Pur is also the mascot for Hampshire Middle School, 560 S. State Street, and Hampshire Elementary School, 321 W. Terwilliger Avenue.
The mascot for Gary D. Wright Elementary School, 1500 Ketchum Road in Hampshire, is the Wildcat.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter.
Although Hampshire College may not have a physical mascot to rally behind, its community is bound by shared values and a commitment to exploring new ideas. Hampshireians take pride in their intellectual curiosity, social activism, and interdisciplinary approach to learning. Overall, Hampshire College's lack of a traditional mascot is a testament to its mission to challenge conventions and encourage individuality. The absence of a mascot does not detract from the college's sense of identity; rather, it reinforces the institution's commitment to carving its own path in the world of higher education..
Reviews for "Hampshire College Mascots: How They Inspire School Pride"
1. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars: I have never been so disappointed in a college mascot before. The Hampshire College mascot is just plain boring. It's a simple Hampshire logo on a person dressed in a generic animal costume. There's nothing unique or memorable about it. It doesn't inspire school spirit or excitement. I would expect a college with such a vibrant community to have a mascot that reflects that. Hampshire College needs to seriously consider redesigning their mascot.
2. John - 2 out of 5 stars: The Hampshire College mascot feels like a missed opportunity. It lacks creativity and fails to evoke any sense of enthusiasm. The design is simply too plain and unimaginative. It doesn't capture the essence of the college or its students. I believe Hampshire College could do so much better by coming up with a more engaging and visually appealing mascot. It's time for a change.
3. Michelle - 2 out of 5 stars: As an alumna of Hampshire College, I was hoping to see a mascot that truly represented the uniqueness and creativity of the student body. Unfortunately, the Hampshire College mascot falls short in that aspect. It's just a basic representation of the college's logo and doesn't have any distinct features or character. It lacks the charm and excitement that a good mascot should have. Hampshire College should reconsider their mascot and aim for something more captivating.
4. David - 1.5 out of 5 stars: I find the Hampshire College mascot to be incredibly dull and unoriginal. It's an uninspired choice that fails to capture the energy and vitality of the college community. I expected more from Hampshire College, known for its innovative approach to education. The mascot should reflect that same spirit of innovation. I urge Hampshire College to rethink their mascot design and come up with something more engaging and unforgettable.
5. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars: The Hampshire College mascot is extremely forgettable. I can't even remember what it looks like without having to look it up. A good mascot should be easy to recognize and leave a lasting impression. Unfortunately, the Hampshire College mascot does neither. It feels generic and lacks any memorable traits. Hampshire College should consider revamping their mascot to create something that truly embodies the spirit of the community.