Plans to add a life-size marble Stag statue launched FUSA’s Stag-positive campaign two weeks ago. However, FUSA Sen. Kate Cota ’07 took this initiative one step further, asking for the addition of a live Stag mascot to increase school spirit.
“If we could get a baby red deer, the male version of which is the Stag, we could raise it from birth and somewhat domesticate it. There’s room behind Bellarmine and the library lawn,” said Cota.
Since the stag would require a caregiver, Cota said the biology department could have students care for the deer as part of a work-study job.
“[Stags] do live in our climates and red deer breeding exists. Maybe this could be the beginning of an agricultural sector in Fairfield,” Cota added.
Caring for the live mascot would be the common bond to unite students and the surrounding community, according to Cota.
“The stag could make appearances at other community events, even do something with Bridgeport and fundraisers,” said Cota. “We were hoping he could be outside the games at Alumni Hall, soccer games and other outdoor games.”
The FUSA Student Life Committee looked into having a live stag mascot and discovered it could be dangerous, and our campus lacks a facility in which to contain an undomesticated animal. But Cota said further research is necessary before making an official decision.
“Outside of being a senator, just as a student, I still think it would be a great thing for our school,” said Cota, who thinks the stag would be a great addition to the other wildlife on campus.
Elizabeth Kirk agrees with Cota.
“We have a plethora of animals on campus, why not add another?” asked Kirk.
Kristine Werner ’10, who wonders where it would live, thinks it is a “cute idea.”
Though many students are excited about the idea of a live mascot, Fairfield athletes think it is absolutely necessary.
“It’s an awesome idea to have a real stag on the sidelines,” said lacrosse player Tim Gazzini ’07, who wants to change the mascot’s name from Lucas to Stanley the Stag.
“We need a stag, a big stag” that could be caged on the traffic circle outside the campus center said Mike Bocklet ’07.
“The crowd would get more into [the game]. All the big schools have them,” said Bocklet, co-captain of the lacrosse team.
Bringing the stag inside Alumni Hall or the Arena is not feasible. But basketball player Jon Han ’09 said a live mascot would be a huge step toward increasing school spirit.
“Students would be fascinated with it and see how much we care about sports,” he said.
Nonetheless, a stag is a wild animal at heart that can never be fully trusted or domesticated according to wildlife experts.
It would also need “an acre fenced in area” because if it got loose, a red deer could gouge a person with its antlers enough to injure – if not kill – them, according to Jessica Sopranovich, the manager of the Action Wildlife Foundation.
“They are not afraid of humans, and I wouldn’t suggest trying to walk them around to different events,” said Sopranovich. “It’s not possible to put them on a leash and walk them around.”
Safety is an issue when a large, aggressive animal is in close proximity with humans.
However, Director of Public Safety Todd Pelazza said safety concerns may be heightened or lessened by the age of the animal and its level of domestication.
“One school out West has a (live) buffalo that they actually let run up and down the field before football games,” said Pelazza, who advised looking into safety precautions at other schools as a model for Fairfield.
“[Safety issues] would have to be worked out to determine if we would have such a mascot,” he said.
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