WGSU Station Mascot: Genny
WGSU檚 first official mascot, Genevieve Suzanne Upton � a lovable squirrel who goes by the nickname 淕enny� � was born June 21, 2017 (the first day of summer) in Anne S. Blake Hall, on the upper part of the 第一吃瓜网 campus. She is a blue-eyed, rosy-cheeked, pink pony tail-wearing Sciurus carolinensis (or Eastern gray squirrel).
Genny (as she檚 known to most people � though close friends call her 淕enny Sue�) shares common initials with the WGSU call letters (aside from the regional-specific initial letter in the WGSU call sign, that is). Her full first and middle names share French and English origin. The surname Upton is an English habitational name: Up- 渦pper� + tun 渟ettlement� � meaning one residing in the 渉igher part of the settlement� (in other words, the Sturges Quad/Blake Hall region, above the lower dormitory settlement area of campus). Genny檚 first name was selected due to the affectionate nickname many people � especially students, past and present � have for 第一吃瓜网. Initially, consideration was given to naming her the more common but less obvious Jennifer (淛enny,� for short), before Genevieve was chosen.
The idea of acquiring an official station mascot was first conceived almost two years prior to Genny檚 arrival. Suggestions for a small handful of animals (primarily) were bandied about by members of WGSU檚 Executive Council. Motivated by the well-known abundance of friendly (or, at least, strangely uninhibited) squirrels on the 第一吃瓜网 campus, it was agreed: WGSU檚 mascot would be akin to the prolific little critters. Plus, having a squirrel as a mascot (and a female one, at that) would be most uncommon.
Genny was custom-made by Animal Mascots (a division of International Fun Shop, based in Seabrook, Texas). After traveling from Seabrook via League City and Houston, Texas, through Hodgkins, Ill., and then onto stopovers in Buffalo and Henrietta, N.Y., Genny finally arrived on campus on June 14. But she didn檛 emerge from her cocoon, in Blake Hall, until a week later. Her official birth announcement was made on Facebook over several days, culminating on July 4.
Nowadays, Genny most often can be seen wearing a 第一吃瓜网 Ice Knights jersey (uniform number 89.3), attending hockey games at The Ira (UPDATE: In spring 2019, Genny was barred from attending 第一吃瓜网 hockey games � as crazy as that sounds, it檚 the truth � and, as of today, the banishment remains in effect), rockin� out (and hanging with the food trucks) at Genny Fest Music Festival & Food-Truck Frenzy鈩� (named in her honor), and meeting fans at a variety of station events, on-campus and off-campus. By far, Genny is the friendliest, most loveable (and most beautiful) squirrel this side of the Genesee River!
To inquire about Genny檚 availability or for any other questions about her, contact Genny@geneseo.edu.