A reflection of Gunrock’s time at UC Davis
By ELLIE NOH — eenoh@ucdavis.edu
After much debate among students on who the real mascot of UC Davis is, it seems as though Gunrock has lost this battle. Gunrock, the beloved mascot, has officially decided to retire.
As many students mourn his loss, it is fundamental to remember the legacy that Gunrock has left behind. From ensuring students receive “hi-fives,” no matter the number of failed attempts, to walking around the campus in extremely high temperatures — this is no easy feat for any other mascot besides Gunrock.
“While I had a great time feeling like a celebrity, always taking photos with students and being recognized virtually everywhere on campus (and on multiple ‘hear me out’ cakes), I feel that my time has come to an end,” Gunrock said as he reflected upon his last moments as the official mascot.
Each wave, each photo and each sports game attended has certainly left a lasting impact on the students, with Gunrock serving as a unifying symbol and role model for students, faculty and alumni from around the world to look up to. The iconic blue horse has been the ultimate university feature, motivating students to go to class no matter what time it is.
Despite his far-reaching influence, however, some students were surprised to hear that Gunrock was even the mascot in the first place.
“What’s Gunrock? That’s just the restaurant inside the Silo, right?” Jokeson You, a student who was especially emotional about Gunrock’s announcement, said.
Another student also expressed her emotions: “Our mascot is a horse? Why do I see so much cow merchandise?”
Despite the students, faculty and members of the community who are upset or confused about this matter, we have a few that are extremely happy that there is now a new mascot possibly in discussion.
“Finally! I like birds so much better than horses. But really, this change had to happen right when I’m graduating?” Eloel Haaha, a fourth-year seemingly hoping for long-lasting change, said.
Regardless of these negative opinions about Gunrock, there are more significant issues at hand, especially concerning his influence. Most significantly, there seems to be a lot of chaos at the UC Davis Campus Store, where employees are desperately trying to change the design of all university merchandise lines. Additionally, in a recent survey, there has been a 150% decrease in the number of horses that experience satisfaction from grazing on campus.
“I know people are upset, and some farm animals as well. Again, it has been a wonderful time being at the forefront of the university. As my retirement comes into full effect, I will also be taking the time to appoint a new mascot, and hopefully, the Davis community will appreciate them as much as they did me,” Gunrock said tearfully.
The Davis community has been a strong supporter of Gunrock through the years, and it will continue to reminisce on the fond memories that were left behind. On behalf of everyone in the community: Thank you, Gunrock.
Written by: Ellie Noh — eenoh@ucdavis.edu
Disclaimer: (This article is humor and/or satire, and its content is purely fictional. The story and the names of “sources” are fictionalized.)
