Carthage College Team Name & Mascot Redesign

Carthage College requested submissions from alumni and the community to replace their current culturally insensitive team name. The War Elephant was my choice for the replacement team name and mascot. A War Elephant is the perfect symbol for Carthage College because an elephant’s attributes closely match the values of the Carthage community.

Seeking Truth, Building Strength, Inspiring Service—Together

“That’s the Carthage mission. It’s not a stodgy old saying recited at alumni banquets and presidential dinners. It’s a challenge. One that we put forth anew every single day. To our students. To our faculty and staff. To make this world a better place for all of us.”

Seeking Truth
Elephants are one of the most intelligent land mammals. How could you not be when your brain is 5 kg? This intelligence makes them inquisitive just like the past, present and future students, faculty and staff. 

Building Strength
An elephant’s size also means it is one of Earth’s most powerful creatures. This power is a reason elephants were selected as mounts during early warfare, most famously in ancient Carthage. Their famous crossing of the Alps challenged an empire and demonstrated their resilience. Carthage athletes should be represented by a mascot who is as strong as they are. 

Together
Elephants develop complex communities and foster relationships that span lifetimes. Their compassion matches both their strength and intelligence and nearly rivals that of humans. Carthage College is more than just a place, but a community that connects people across generations. 

Why War Elephants?
War elephants are a symbol of ancient Carthage. While Carthage College is named for the city of Carthage, Illinois, the city borrowed its name from an African city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Carthaginian leader Hannibal amazed the world when he crossed the Alps with Elephants in a battle against Rome, but a name isn’t the only connection between our College and the ancient civilization. According to legend Queen Dido fled as a refugee and was welcomed along the shores of modern Tunisia. Carthage College was itself a refugee moving from one location to another until it finally settled along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan. Both Carthage College and its namesake have a reputation of attracting strong, intelligent people who are willing to take risks in pursuit of changing the world. This is why Carthage should embrace its history and adopt the war elephant as its mascot.

Mascot: Abe the War Elephant

Abe would be a great mascot for Carthage College because of Abraham Lincoln’s history with the college as a trustee as well as his representation on campus with the statue of him and John Hay. Abraham Lincoln led our Nation through its deadliest war and paid the ultimate price to preserve our values. Elephants have also served in both war and peace alongside humans making the two a perfect pair as the representation of Carthage College’s fighting spirit.