Columbia University - Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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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

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Q, ,m9Jmx.C?s-X as The original Lion banner, heraldic in character, is treasured among the Columbiana collection. The action of the Fates is sometimes strange. All this seems singularly to have failed to popularize the selection. The late Robert Arrowsmith '82, in an interesting article on 'AThe Genesis of Leo Columbiae published in the Alumni News of May 30th, 1924, states that once accepted the new institu- tion was quickly assimilated into the body of student tradition. This, to the view of the writer, is scarcely borne out by the facts. Diligent inquiry and careful observation has failed to note among the classes of that period any attempt to capitalize this tradition. Possibly this may be ascribed to the absence of any football teams, for football was under a faculty ban. Perhaps it may have been due to the fact that all attention was focussed upon, and all thoughts centered in and about the World War. Still again there may be said to have been a student apathy upon the subject. Whatever the reasons, there is little evidence that the Lion was popularized from the time of its selection in 1910 to at least until after the close of the war. About this time a new and more vigorous attempt is evident to bring the Lion into popularity. Football which had been resumed as a major sport re- ceived a hearty support from an anxious and eager Colum- bia multitude, and by 1920- l92l, the Columbia teams were heralded by the press and the public as the Lions With the writing and pub- lication of the now famous 'Roar Lion Roar song in 1920, a newly added and much needed stimulus to the Lion movement was given. The inspiring music of the song was composed by Roy Webb '10 and Morris Wat- kins '24 and the stirring words were written by Carey Ford '23, and for it in 1923 the prize was awarded by the Alumni Federation in its Football Song Contest. Other noteworthy Lion songs have been written by Ray Perkins '17 Fight Lion THE L1oN IN COLUMBIA ARCHITECTURE Fight and ffwhen the CO, lumbia Lion Roars by Leon Davidow, dedicated to the Class of 1899. I The Lion mascot for Columbia was now vitally crysta1l1zed. l35l