Sonoma State Star

Issue date: 2/1/06 Section: Sports

For over forty years Sonoma State had been represented, to both the public and athletic opposition, as the formidable Cossacks.

With the founding of the university in 1960, the Cossack was introduced as the school's mascot. Yet, as time continued on and university trends evolved, it was not meant for the Cossack to reign forever as the dominant symbol of SSU.

Criticism and complaint followed the Cossacks throughout its entire career as the school's mascot. By 2001 enough pressure was placed on the University to completely change the name and image of the Cossack into a new and less offensive representation of the school.

The word Cossack derives from the Turkic word qazaq meaning "adventurer," or "free people". Genuine Cossacks traditionally roamed southwest Russia serving as protectors of Russia's outermost territories. These early Cossacks prided themselves with their autonomy from direct Russian rule. Serving as mercenaries for Russia, Cossacks were known as fierce fighters with particular skill in horseback riding.

Due to the Russian connection to Sonoma County, the self-righteous image of the Cossack was a unique and fitting choice for SSU's mascot. However, with most peoples and nations, dark, less positive histories can be found if looked for. The Cossack is no exception.

There was a time in history when Cossacks fought and massacred numerous Jewish peoples living in eastern Poland. It is this portion of Cossack history that ultimately led to its demise here at SSU.

Because of the ambiguity and obscurity the Cossack connotes to the average person, the outcry against its use was meek and somewhat unnoticed by the public and the student body alike. By 2001 though, sentiment against the Cossack gained enough momentum to trigger a change of mascot at SSU.

During the 2001 school year a committee was formed as a resolve to the complaints directed towards the use of the Cossack as a mascot. According to a Sonoma State News Release seen on February 26, 2002, the Alternative Mascot Committee (which was comprised of students, students athletes, along with faculty and alumni) generated eight alternative mascots solutions through a series of survey's and focus groups. From these eight, two were presented to SSU President Rubin Arminana. When confronted with the choice of either Condors or Seawolfs, Arminana found the Seawolf to be a more suitable resolution to the Cossack.

Also contained in the news release was a mention to the Jack London Collection, which at the time, had been recently given to SSU by a Mr. Warning Jones. The collection included at least one first-edition copy of each of London's novels (one being The Sea Wolf), correspondence written either by or to Jack or Charmian London, writings by both Jack and Charmian London published in magazines, articles about Jack London, movie memorabilia, ephemera, photographs, and artifacts. This donated collection would be accessible to both students and the general public.

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