Over the years, sports articles and photography have been sprinkled with glimpses of our beloved mascot, Beaker the Eagle. He’s been supporting our athletes since the beginning, and we all love to see him coming down the sidewalk during special events and games. Beaker is extremely important to our sports culture, but we want to dive into why he is so important.
Colleges and sports teams all around us have their own mascots and each one represents a different aspect of the university or team’s history. While the face of each mascot may be different, they can all have the same effect on students and the community. Mascots are commonly seen at sporting events trying to hype up the crowd and keep the energy during a game. They can be seen dancing in front of the fans, starting the wave, or even posing for a photo op. All of these different activities help foster connection and engagement in fans at the games.
Mascots also help bring students and faculty together at these events. When a team is losing, it can bring the morale down of everyone including those in the stands, but a good mascot, like Beaker, will keep the energy up during these losses. It could include leading chants, continuing to hype up the crowd, or even just reminding people that this is a community. Our mascot Beaker the Eagle does a great job of helping students feel connected and hype at our sports events. But what do we really know about our one and only Beaker outside of his appearances at these events?
Beaker’s appearance has changed a few times throughout the years as we have covered in previous articles. From the early days of a suit that looked like something out of a horror movie to now, the lovable, fluffy bird we know and love, he has still remained the same eagle, just in slightly different forms. The question you might be asking though is, why would Eastern choose an eagle? We are next door to the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, so doesn’t that get confusing and seem overdone?
According to Eastern’s website, the eagle was chosen to be the school’s mascot on Nov. 16, 1953. The school allowed the students to come together to choose what they wanted to represent them, and they collectively decided on the Eagle. While some may feel that the eagle is overdone in both the world of sports and in the country as a whole, considering the colleges, sports teams and even the government who claim it as their symbol of choice, it is important to remember exactly what the Eagle means to us as both Americans and college students.
The American Eagle is typically seen as a sign of freedom and liberty within our country. Despite how current events may make people feel, the average American grew up pledging allegiance to the flag and probably had a bald eagle image or statue somewhere in their schools.
This is because despite our feelings, the goal of the eagle is to constantly remind us that we have the right to be free and truly free, even if it can feel far from the truth.
The same goes for students, and even faculty, here at Eastern. We have our rights, demands and beliefs, and even though it feels as though they may be silenced at times, our eagle is our reminder that those things are still ours, and we are entitled to them as students.
This may not have been the original intent of the decision to make the Eagle our mascot and unfortunately there are few resources when it comes to finding out exactly how it was established, but that gives students the liberty to claim what it means to them now.
So, while Beaker is a fun and energetic symbol out on the fields and roaming our hallways, he signifies much more than just a bird in a jersey. He is a direct symbol of what we, as students, have the right to demand: freedom and liberty.
