“In 1969, Clayton Junior College was
established and along with the college was a beautiful setting of trees and
eight gorgeous lakes. When the construction crews were building a dam for the
lakes, an amazing discovery was made. Initially the crew assumed it to be a
huge chunk of ice. However, upon returning to the dam one day, the crew noticed
that the ice had split in two and a hollow inside was left, as if something had
hatched from within.
Around 1990, a strange string of
occurrences began to happen. Several of the ducks around the campus were
turning up dead, looking as if some animal had feasted on them. When the campus
police was filming a portion of the duck crime scene, they saw on the tape that
a large, shadowy creature was walking amongst the trees and disappeared in the
lake. Rewards were offered to any student who could capture this beast on film.
Anyone who could retrieve this thing alive would be granted immediate completion
of a Bachelor’s degree” (Our Mascot, Loch).
Over the years,
hundreds of photos and video footage has turned up claiming to feature this
famous creature of Clayton State. He has come to be known as Loch. Loch is the
representation of Clayton State University to me. Clayton State portrays “Loch”
to be a big, orange and blue, half human/ half reptilian creature. For me, Loch
represents the uniqueness of my campus. Clayton State is one of the most
diverse campuses I have ever set foot on, from the different ethnicities of the
students and faculty, the various degree programs and the numerous student
organizations. The color of his skin is a physical manifestation of our school
spirit, while his intimidating stature represents our strength as a community
of individuals working to better ourselves on a professional and personal level.
His craftiness is a mirror image of the intellect and cleverness of the Clayton
State students as he manages to attend all major university functions but has
yet to be captured.
I am often asked
“what is a Laker” or “what is a Loch;” and with great pride, while beaming
orange and blue, I declared “Clayton State.”
--- Lady Shabreka
By declaring
that the Loch is (a representation of) Clayton State, in my opinion, it is
slightly over board when addressing the question thereby, as for what represents
the blue and orange students and faculty we wear so proudly. When one thinks of
Clayton State University, one may consider the beautiful lakes surrounding our
campus, the stunning white swans accredited to the schools possession, or even
the wobbling ducks that walk with pride and strut down the paths of our
sidewalks as if they are too, paying tuition every semester; furthermore, when
conversing with someone and receiving their intake and knowledge pertaining to
CSU, to my understanding, there is not one single thought that includes
references to the Loch and or rather the Loch-Ness Monster. The reason for my
cause and strong feelings about this acquisition is because when representing
something or someone, you take pride in the things they have no matter what. There
is a meaning behind an institution and or corporate representation, and whether
it is a tree, a building, a mascot, or a sheet of paper people are moved or
drawn to these entities. There are people who will recognize you or an
establishment, without having to proclaim a name or accommodating any form of conversation;
one can imply that another person, they are the face of their brand, team,
school, or whatever it is they are representing, and such is intriguing and
cultivated by ones experience, and thus leads to a significant representation
of some sort, for their school. An individual, who presents their selves with
pride and dignity and with every bone in their body, wears their school
(attire) proudly and thus represents their brand and the community to the
highest level; however, it is sad to imply that the Loch does not participate
in the latter or show these attributions. The Loch Mascot, he is rarely seen on
campus, so how can he represent Clayton State in a positive manner? I am a CSU
Cheerleader, and I know from experience that Loch (The Loch Mascot) has barely
been seen at any games or events this year; it is unfortunate that the student
body does not even know what he is and represents, or that he even goes by the
name LOCH. He (The Loch Mascot) may wear the colors orange and blue on his
sleeves and look intimidating but he is a misrepresentation of who we are as
Clayton State students and what our school is really offering. Instead of
showing dignity, pride, knowledge, integrity, and wisdom, instead the LOCH
implies a lack of his commitment for our school, community, and most
importantly the image and foundation he is supposed to display.
---Lady Zandra
