Towards end
of the Fall 2023 semester, students taking classes in the Department of
Communication Studies took to YouTube to debate this very question.
Around 20 students entered the debate and created short videos that argued their point. They gave speeches, wrote poems, acted in skits and drew pictures to back up their arguments. Then, students and members of the Department of Communication Studies judged the debate entries over pizza and chose the best overall video, honorable mention, funniest video and most creative video.
The prizes at stake? Target gift cards.
“We were looking for something that
would be fun and bring us together, but that would also tie in the skills that
students learn in communication studies classes. Things like building strong
arguments and connecting with audiences,” said Lindsay
Morris-Neuberger Woodburn Professor and Chair of the Department of
Communication Studies.
While both the Mothman and the Mountaineer had their merits, there was one clear winner: the Mountaineer, of course.
“I thought the Mothman was really good mascot idea, but people were not feeling it,” Morris-Neuberger said. “We have a whole lot of Mountaineer fans.”
