Library Exhibits
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3RD FLOOR EXHIBIT
Hooray for the Husky:
Celebrating 75 years of Bloomsburg's Mascot
Cheerleader Al Watts with Roongo, the first Husky mascot, from the 1934 yearbook.
On October 9, 1933, the student body of the Bloomsburg State Teachers College voted nearly unanimously in favor of adopting the husky as the school's first official mascot. Proposed by art professor and avid husky trainer George J. Keller as the ideal mascot because of his noble qualities, an actual husky donated by Keller made his first appearance at a pep rally on October 13. Named Roongo after a combination of maroon and gold, our first mascot proudly served in his role, sporting a blanket adorned in the school's colors.
A total of five dogs served in the role of official mascot from 1933 until 1958, three of them with the name of Roongo. It was eventually decided that the cost of keeping an actual dog was too great, but since the school still needed an actual representation of the mascot to promote spirit at athletic events a costume was designed in 1979 for a student to personify the husky. Five costumes have been used since that time, the latest debuting in 2005. Originally known only as the husky, he now once again goes by his historic name of Roongo.
In addition to the dogs and costumed mascot the husky has been represented many times over the years in different ways, on university publications, buttons, bumper stickers and even candy wrappers. Competitions have been held to create a two-dimensional caricature of our mascot, and after years of effort a statue was commissioned and dedicated in 1984, proudly proclaiming the husky as the symbol of the University's athletic prowess.
The exhibit is currently installed in the flat cases on the third floor of the Andruss Library, and includes photographs, newspapers and clippings, correspondence, yearbooks, meeting minutes, t-shirts, buttons and programs. The display will be in the flat cases until October 20, when it will be moved to the vertical cases in front of the Archives and remain there until January 30, 2009.
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Updated 9/11/08