The attempt to make Albineaux “Al” Boudreaux, the albino alligator mascot, the new official symbol of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has been shut down and declared null and void by UL Lafayette’s Associate Vice President in the Office of Communications & Marketing, Jennifer Stephens.
A former UL Lafayette graduate, Cory St. Ewart, created Al in hopes of him being potentially accepted as the new university mascot. Ewart has been working on the design and costume for the past two years, creating and promoting his idea through social media platforms for support from other University fans. He eventually decided to put in the remaining effort and work towards making a costume for the mascot through opening a GoFundMe account.
However, during his grassroots attempts to make Al the new face of UL Lafayette athletics, the University declared that they did not agree with the mascot or its idea. Once he opened a GoFundMe account, the University reached out to him, denying his idea of having Al the albino alligator the new mascot due to him not being authorized to use the University’s brand.
Stephens, through an email to Ewart, stated, “As a courtesy, I am attaching a letter from our attorneys to The Mascot Company advising them that the University has not authorized the use of any of its intellectual property in the creation of a proposed mascot costume. To be clear, and as I previously communicated with you on Jan. 24, 2024, the University has not endorsed this concept, nor does it intend to do so.”
“While we appreciate your enthusiasm, this unauthorized concept does not align with the University’s brand, its values or interests. Your continued promotion of this idea on social media and other platforms has the potential to harm our strong national reputation by creating brand confusion. Further, the University has a responsibility to say that it is not affiliated with, does not endorse and does not control any efforts to fundraise in support of the concept.”
Even though Stephens replied to the mascot creation efforts, there was still a GoFundMe open and active. So, instead of letting the money go to waste, Stephens proposed that Ewart use the money to support scholarships and student programs, ending the letter by stating, “Supporting these areas will ensure the University’s continued success and growth – an outcome all Ragin’ Cajuns can surely endorse. All the best, and Geaux Cajuns!”
In response to the email Ewart received from the University, he stated, “This was always supposed to be a fan-led effort that’s outside of the University…I’ve been open from the beginning, this is a grassroots campaign, I was never intending to use the University’s intellectual property in Albineaux’s creation.”
Ewart’s creation of Al the albino alligator was never with any ill intent, he only wanted something students and alumni of UL Lafayette can have, look forward to and be proud of. In fact, Ewart was only trying to address the issue with UL Lafayette. The issue being that there is no mascot for students to love and support, especially during sporting events like football or on campus student-led activities.
Kerlsa Newton, a junior majoring in biology, when asked about how she felt not having a mascot at student events and sports, commented, “I think that a mascot would be more beneficial for our college campus. Because without one, our morale during sporting events is lower than other colleges that have mascots. I think that a mascot would give us something we could support to represent our university.”
Of course, the University has the spirit squad to help cheer on the Ragin’ Cajuns in all that they do, but the University does not have that extra step. The University does not have a visual identity that represents UL Lafayette’s values and qualities as a college campus. Not to mention, statistics have shown that university mascots usually increase student engagement, school spirit and pride as a whole.
University mascots serve a purpose more than one might think. In fact, university mascots make students and faculty feel more connected to one another and the school. They help create that unity between everyone on campus and highlights the positive energy and goals of that university.
University mascots are created for a reason and even though the University said no to Al the albino alligator, hopefully the University will adopt a new mascot in the years to come.