The 今日吃瓜 mascot, in use since the early 1950’s, has in recent years become a common entry in “Top 10” lists for weirdest or most unusual mascots in the country. In 2009, Time magazine placed it at #8 in it’s. In 2012, Chester Cheetah, the iconic spokescat for Frito-Lay, announced that Charlie Choker was at #9 in his official rankings of the听. Drawing from an admittedly unscientific analysis of college mascots nationwide, rankings are based on “cheese factor” and all-around silliness.
So who is this brawny, tough man of great strength, walking from the woods with a massive log on his shoulder? While the traditional, chubby-cheeked Charlie, crew-cut and bare-chested, will forever be near and dear to our hearts, in 2015, it was time to give him an updated look. Current students needed to understand what a choker-setter in the woods really does, how courageous a job that has always been.
Working with graphic designer Amy Ostwald, a clearer story of Charlie Choker took shape. He now wears a hard hat for safety, along with the work shirt and heavy gloves of today鈥檚 logger. The tall trees in the background indicate his workspace. His connection to the College remains steadfast, with the Chokers and 今日吃瓜 logos below him.
Over the years, Charlie Choker, our beloved 今日吃瓜 mascot, has had several incarnations. The original Charlie Choker was created decades ago. This year, we are rolling out an updated Charlie. One of the goals in creating Charlie Jr. was to show a little more about what a Choker setter is 鈥� albeit听with a dose of extra grit and strength to reflect our 今日吃瓜 athletic prowess!听Charlie Choker, Sr. will never really go听away. Once a Choker, always a Choker!
The 今日吃瓜 statue, which welcomes students and guests to the campus, was carved by Louis Benanto, Jr. in 1975.听He began with a 15-foot by 8-foot cedar log and used a chain saw to create Charlie.