Herky The Hawk’s Facial Expression Can Cause Aggressivity And Violence According To Iowa Professor

The University of Iowa is currently represented by their longtime mascot Herky the Hawk, but if certain members of the faculty get their way, that could change to Herky the sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but never depressed Hawk who loves people.

It doesn’t really roll off the tongue, though, so it might need some work.

Herky is coming under fire after Resmiye Oral, a professor of pediatrics at the university, commented that the mascot is not welcoming enough to new students, and encourages aggression with his static demeanor. She detailed her response in an email to the athletic department, which was obtained by the Iowa City Press-Citizen (via The Washington Times).

“I believe incoming students should be met with welcoming, nurturing, calm, accepting and happy messages and our campus community is doing a great job in that regard when it comes to words. However, Herky’s angry, to say the least, faces conveying an invitation to aggressivity and even violence are not compatible with the verbal messages that we try to convey to and instill in our students and campus community,” she argued.

That message to the University of Iowa athletic department was also sent to the University of Iowa Faculty Senate, and she continued with her reasoning for the change.

“As we strive to tackle depression, suicide, violence, and behavioral challenges and help our students succeed, I plead with you to allow Herky to be like one of us, sometimes sad, sometimes happy, sometimes angry, sometimes concentrated,” Ms. Oral wrote.

While the mascot’s angry facial expression might rub the professor the wrong way, the Faculty Senate doesn’t seem to share her passion for the subject, as they told the Press-Citizen that “At this time, the committee is not focused specifically on how Herky is depicted,” said Thomas Vaughn, president of the UI Faculty Senate.

For now, at least, Herky the Hawk is staying angry.