Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer
The most underdog a wolf can get, Waldo, a.k.a. “Wolfie” was employed as Western’s mascot for only five years. While he looks like a vintage Build-a-Bear with his black and brown fur, his red eyes emit a feeling of danger.
His tongue falls from his mouth in a dorky fashion and a singular sharp tooth can be seen — Waldo seems to be the mascot equivalent of a chihuahua with no teeth. Waldo is a dog, not a wolf — and he brings a sense of pack comradery that only wolves know best.
Waldo is disliked by many. In Leanne Merrill’s “Math of Voting” class, he is consistently voted last compared to the 1981, 1988 and 2006 mascots. His head is left to gather dust in Western’s buildings, nobody leaves flowers and letters to appreciate him like he deserves.
Yes, some may describe him as “nightmare fuel,” but others consider him to not be threatening enough to defend Western sports teams. Is he too scary, or not enough?
Waldo is the best mascot because of his subjective ambiguity. A rival sports team may laugh at his awkward qualities, but once they go up and look into his eyes, they’re petrified.
Waldo is a guard dog in that way, he brings comfort and safety to his own while defending them against others. His heroic nature is not appreciated enough, because some may find him just a little too dorky to be intimidating.
This retired mascot used to bring joy to Western students, but now his head sits in a glass box, alone and unloved. Students walk past him each day without even glancing his way. We must end Waldo’s suffering by starting to appreciate him more.
We must support and love his lack of typical wolf qualities, as it makes him different and unique. His comically long tongue has value along with adding importance to his personality and character.
While he might not have many teeth, he sure packs a bite to battle off other intruding mascots. His fuzzy body invites comfort for those in need.
There is more to Waldo than what meets the eye. He represents Western to the fullest because of his uniqueness. People may see themselves represented in him, through his lovable and awkward qualities and mannerisms. All one needs to do is open their heart, even if it is to one of the uglier and goofier mascots that Western has to offer.
Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu
