Columbia University - Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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2. he not meet with popular approval on the whole, and most of the letter was strenuously opposed in a series of Spec editorials. Just after the publication of this letter John C. Depler and William L. Murray, assistant football coaches under Charles Crowley, resigned from the coaching staff, although it is not believed that their resignations were caused by the football controversy. On February 26th Student Board announced that the name of the Blue Key society, formerly reserved for Sophomore managerical candidates, was to be given to a new group of Juniors whose duty it would be to meet visiting athletic teams that come to Columbia and assist them in any way possible. Student Board had been working on the idea all Winter, but it was not until February that an approved constitution was put into effect. Late in February President Butler announced gifts to the University to the amount of S75,000. At the I. C. A. A. A. meet a few days later Joe lllagen scored the only Lion points by retaining his two-mile title. , Varsity show opened on March 5th and continued a successful run throughout the week, including a matinee given for the visiting delegates to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association which was holding its convention at the time. With the coming of Spring Football practice it was announced that Edward Walker of Stanford and M. V. Hanley of the University of Wash- ington had been added to the coaching staff. Additional gifts to the University, totaling S24,000, were announced on March 13. Gregory and Smith were chosen for posts on the mythical all- eastern basketball team and Columbia received the honor of being the only college to place two men, 1903 AND ITS LION CUB MAscoT l 32 l

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5- A fA94mig.l A3 THE COLUMBIA LION BY ERNEST A. CARDOZO, '99 OR ONE reason or another many familiar customs and traditions are shrouded in mystery and obscurity, but the adoption of the Lion as a symbol by Columbia is clearly deined. How many for example know that the colors of Columbia-the Blue and White-were chosen because they happened to be the distinguishing colors of the two old Literary Societies-the Peithologian and the Philolexian. Yet such is the historical fact. For many years-from time to time-stu- dents and Alumni had stressed the point that Columbia had no mascot, and there does not ap- pear to have been any organized attempt to 'iilx V A in, A V choose one. 2' ft'. At the Spring meeting of the Alumni Asso- ciation of the College in 1910 George Brokaw ,f?55i .1 - ii,-p Compton of the class of 1909, inspired with - 1 3- 11 ,i . in A- - ,sl 1' . .f ,J ' ' ' ' 'f fa.,-is .r .,, ff 49'x.'a',faw. -.1 J -' .u 'VS 'isfgfff-T'-QV, ' 'fi N t' is 'ba n, 53 i . ff 'iff ,f 'K 1 1' ,. sn- . scintillating and rare acumen and foresight sug- gested, after a thorough examination of the mas- cots of other Universities, the adoption of the if wigL'i':51?ia ,375 . - .i My 1 Lion- as a mascot for Columbia, Sponsored by ,jx-ggfiig. Williani Curtis Demorest '81-then President ' of the Association the resolution was unani- ' gf' mously and enthusiastically adopted by the 'e 1 meeting. ERNEST A. CARDOZO The ferocious Bull Dog of Yale-the famous Army Mule-the curious Cioat of the Navy- the Bears of California and Brown-the Tiger of Princeton-the tribal Indian of Dartmouth were to be faced with a new symbolic rival-a roaring Lion of Columbia. Arguments pro and con were immediately advanced upon the passage of the resolution. There were some who vehemently contended that the Lion savored of Royalty-of British domination imbued with Kings College. There were others who insisted that the characteristics of the animal were not appro- priate-that of the cat tribe it was expressive of cowardice, and by nature pos- sessed of treacherous and stealthy instincts. There were still others who urged the claims of the Eagle and other animals. Students and Alumni aired their views in the Spectator and presented many heated diatribes against the choice. On the other hand the noteworthy qualities of the aptly called King of Beasts became more and more appreciated. His great strength, his boldness-his courage-determination vigor and power-all these splendid attributes were recognized. Finally, however-the vast majority of students and Alumni accepted the symbol as a happy solution and waived aside all prejudices. By a vote of the Student Board, on May 4th, 1910 the Lion was formally chosen as the oilicial 'mascot of Columbia: and not long after that, the Hrst of the Lion Songs was being sung on the campus. F541