DANBURY, Conn. - After a multi-year discussion, that included town-hall meetings and online balloting, Western Connecticut State University announced today that a new nickname has been selected to represent the University. Following the committee's official recommendation, the university has adopted
WOLVES as the university's new nickname.
The design of additional branding for the athletic department and university and the development of a mascot is ongoing.
A committee co-chaired by Student Government (SGA) President Patrick Moody, a Digital & Interactive Marketing major from Bethlehem, Conn. and Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services Jay Murray, solicited input from a wide swath of the university's constituents leading up to the final announcement.
"In June 2019, WestConn's President Dr. John Clark tasked a committee to select and adopt a new mascot identity," stated Moody. "The Mascot Advisory Committee was created and began working toward a final ballot to the community where a new mascot identity would be chosen."
More than 27,000 students, alumni, emeriti, faculty and staff received an email in late March from the Mascot Advisory Committee containing the final five options and a unique voting link that allowed everyone to vote only once. Nearly 3,000 respondents, 51% of whom were students, 39% of whom were alumni/emeriti and 10% of whom were faculty and staff, voted.
Wolves received 49% of the overall vote.
"This is an exciting time for not only our University but Athletics," said Lori R. Mazza, WestConn's Director of Athletics and Recreation. "Wolves truly signifies all the characteristics we embody here at WestConn. Wolves are loyal, work together, protective, instinctive, curious and most of all, family ("pack") first mentality. These characteristics are what we see every day in our student-athletes and best describes our recruits. These characteristics also symbolize what we hope each student-athlete develops while here at WestConn and takes with them upon graduation. Whether you are an alumna, prospective or current student-athlete, or any member of our community, we are a family… we are the Wolves."
"As the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), I am very excited to finally have an identity to represent our student body," said
Erica Romeo, a senior Lindenhurst, N.Y. native, a member of the Mascot Advisory Committee and a member of the women's lacrosse team. "This new nickname and eventual mascot will symbolize the power and strength behind our program and university."
WCSU, founded in 1903 as the Danbury Normal School, has undergone several name changes and logo variations in its 119-year history; now a new mascot identity will complete its transformation from a 20th century teachers' college to a 21st century regional state university. WCSU changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.
