David Ciorba | Senior Forum Editor

The Bear has served as the WashU mascot for over a century. Though the original fur ball was a black bear from Canada, today, our school spirit takes the form of a student in a bear suit. Having worked closely with the Bear, I have witnessed the mascot’s magnificent ability to enliven any setting — from sporting events to Olin brunch parties. Yet, no matter where our game-day grizzly appears, one question is sure to follow: what’s your name? The truth is, the WashU mascot is nameless. But, how did this happen, and what does it say about WashU?

Like many St. Louis traditions, the history of the WashU mascot began at the 1904 World’s Fair. The amusement section of the fair, named the Pike, ran a mile down the north side of Lindell Blvd., taking a turn at Skinker. When WashU relocated near this site, students and athletic teams adopted the nickname “The Pikers.” As decades passed and the term “Piker” gained a negative connotation, the student body voted to adopt the Bear as the new mascot. Since that fateful vote in 1924, the WashU Bear has taken on many shapes and forms. Yet, to this day, the mascot does not have a name.

I find it comical to imagine a nameless fursuit roaming the stands of a football game, but I also believe that the mascot’s lack of identity tells us a lot about our university.

For starters, it is no secret that WashU has an identity problem. Last year’s rebrand, which emphasized the university’s colloquial name, aimed to raise the profile of WashU. Still, we are consistently mistaken for other universities with “Washington” in its name. In fact, WashU’s FAQ page features a list of universities which bear a similar title to ours.

Within the walls of the university, things aren’t much better. Take school pride at sporting events, for example. Student Life has published countless articles urging students to celebrate WashU’s exceptionally successful “Scholar Champions.” Yet, attendance at games remains low. For many, WashU feels less like a place of deep-rooted culture and pride and more like a temporary stop on the road to something greater.

There is nothing more symbolic of these issues than a nameless mascot — the symbol of our school pride and spirit. I believe offering a name to our mascot would be a step forward in resolving our identity issue.

A name carries weight. It transforms something generic into something recognizable, personal, and enduring. Universities with iconic mascots — like Wisconsin’s Bucky the Badger or Georgia’s Uga — have built strong traditions around them, fostering school pride and a deeper connection among students and alumni. A named WashU Bear could serve as a rallying point, reinforcing a sense of community and school spirit. It would no longer just be “the Bear” but a character with history, personality, and significance, strengthening the bond between students and their university.

The question remains, what would we name the Bear? While some argue “George” would be a fitting title (an obvious reference to WashU’s namesake), the name would only feed into WashU’s identity dilemma, especially as George Washington University’s mascot goes by the same moniker.

Instead, our mascot’s name should be distinct, have a unique significance to the brand, and if possible, be gender-ambiguous. That’s why I propose the name Piker. Though it has been a hundred years since WashU students have officially gone by the term, the name holds a special place in WashU history (and, let’s be honest, I have never heard the word “piker” used as an insult). Reviving the term would honor the university’s past while giving the mascot an identity rooted in tradition. It’s a name that connects old and new, reminding students of where WashU has been and where it’s going.

By naming the WashU Bear, we wouldn’t just be giving a mascot an identity — we’d be strengthening our own. A name would serve as a symbol of unity, tradition, and school pride, something students and alumni could embrace for generations to come. If we want WashU to stand out in name and spirit, why not start with the emblem of our community? Maybe the mascot doesn’t need to go by “Piker,” but one thing is certain — the time has come to give the WashU Bear the name it deserves.