Pro football team and fan group think Suffolk should change mascot
Matt West
Issue date: 4/1/08
 The Suffolk Ram has been our university's mascot for as long as most people can remember. There are many logos that accompany Suffolk's mascot, one of which has brought the school under scrutiny by a professional football team. Recently, the St. Louis Rams'-located in Missouri-largest fan club, the Association for a Glorious Rams Future, have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the university, on behalf of the NFL franchise.
John Wytrash, the leader of the AFGRF, is said to have been on vacation in Utah, when he saw what appeared to be a St. Louis Rams logo emblazoned on a jacket. The windbreaker was worn by a Suffolk student, who is a member of the hockey team.
People close to the group said they were irked when they were that told teams around the country used their logo prominently. Said one source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, "John is a very powerful and prideful man, and he wants the term 'Ram' to be synonymous with his accomplished football team."Â
In his lawsuit, Wytrash lamented that Suffolk was in blatant disregard of the copyright laws in place. He asked that Suffolk immediately desist using the logo and mentioned the possibility of the school being forced to change its mascot altogether. He offered that the school change their name to the Rats, due to the rodent's prominence on Beacon Hill.
"Their name used to be the Royals, what do these guys just steal mascots until they get caught? The Rats would be fitting," said Wytrash.
It would seem unlikely that anyone could bring a lawsuit like this on a university, considering the wide usage of mascots around the country. It would also seem that Suffolk is not the only school using a mascot similar to another school or professional organization. Teams such as the Seaton Hall Pirates and St. Josephs Hawks are also colleges with logos similar to that of professional teams.
Anyone who has been in or around Suffolk has seen the symbol emblazoned on sweatshirts, t-shirts, and other miscellaneous products; athletic or otherwise. When discussing Suffolk athletics, it is not uncommon to refer to them as the "Suffolk Rams." The specific article of clothing in question carries a less-used version of the Suffolk Ram, which may make this lawsuit seem trivial to many onlookers. But it is important to those who are involved with the university as Ramses was the name of Suffolk founder Archer Gleason's brother, which the mascot is named after.
To hear that their mascot may be removed because of this lawsuit upsets many of the students and faculty. Said one disconcerted member of the Communications department, "I am extremely surprised something like this would happen to this University. In all my years teaching here, I have never seen anything like this."
Knowing...
-04-02-2008, 02:24 PM
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