The Conversations Project on Monday, November 17th, was the second in the five lecture series for the 2008-2009 school year. This program was entitled, “What’s in a Name? The VU Crusader Mascot” and explored the appropriateness of the mascot given current controversies, Crusader’s legacy, and the importance of preserving Valparaiso University’s (VU) traditions.
The main purpose of the Conversations Project is to promote open dialogue about world issues and forge connections between VU and the community at large.
Giving some historical background, Professor Tomasik, panelist and VU professor of foreign languages and literature, said that the Crusades were a series of religious wars during the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries organized by European powers to recover Christian holy places from Muslims in the Middle East. During the attempts to conquer the land, many Jews and Muslims died in the bloody massacres and battles.
Why would a Lutheran institution want to associate itself with an image that carries so much negative baggage? Recently, new definitions of the term have emerged. For some people at VU, the Crusader does not represent the original Crusades, but has a more positive meaning. Professor Tomasik explains that the word “crusade” means “one who bears the cross.” Tomasik mentioned that many believe the VU Crusader relates to a spiritual crusade or journey for the truth.
At the same time, though, there is a growing presence of VU students abroad and an increasing number of international students at here on campus. Thus, VU has become very conscious of the mascot as a depiction of the university as a whole. “Students studying abroad often have to take off VU gear with the Crusader mascot on it,” Johnna Venuto, panelist and VU student, pointed out. Another panelist and VU student Alan Holderread explained that mascots are an essential part of a university’s identity and questioned whether a university should have a mascot that holds such religious pain.
The discussion not only focused on the mascot’s meaning in past years, but also how it relates to the current situation on a global scale. “Right now we are in a sensitive time,” Venuto, said, “We are at war. The question is, are we at war with the Muslims who were attacked by the Crusades? No. We are in combat with terrorism.”
Though the word “Crusader” is placed into a different context, the image is harder to change. Professor Tomasik indicates, “Once that image is put out there, it is too hard to go and connect that with reconciliation.”
The panel included Alan Holderread, a VU senior majoring in Civil Engineering; Professor Tim Tomasik, Assistant Professor of French in VU’s Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures; Johnna Venuto, a VU sophomore majoring in International Business; Mark LaBarbera, VU’s Director of Athletics who served as moderator; and Courtney Gwinn, a VU junior.
All Conversations Project Events are held in the Christopher Center Community Room at 7pm. The event is free and open to the public. Following the conversation, a reception is provided. Upcoming events include a February 2009 event on the $700 billion federal bail-out and an April 2009 event on energy policy and environmental justice.
For further information, please contact Professor Jeremy Telman, VU Law School, 465-7811 or Jeremy.Telman@valpo.edu.
Kathy is a 2L and can be reached at forum@valpo.edu.
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