On Friday, November 3, 2023, Union College students gathered around the Schaffer Library to see their new mascot come to life. It was the first sighting of the mascot for the students who had been waiting for a long time. For myself and others, this was a riveting experience. The new mascot was revealed to us as being named  ‘Garnet Chargers’ and showcased a puppy named ‘Charger’ as well as a Garnet lightning bolt symbol. 

The mascot pays tribute to Schenectady, Electric City, where Union is located, with its vibrant history of electricity from the General Electric company to the energy production present in the city today. The name may have seemed puzzling to many students at first, but is able to capture the city’s dynamic and rich history well and feeds into what makes Schenectady so unique. 

Many students at the unveiling were concentrating on the dog Charger where it was observed that to the students, the cuteness of the dog mattered more than the name itself. However, many students had also regarded the change as impractical and unnecessary. I saw swarms of comments all over social media that criticized the school for its decision to impel a name change so quickly, launching the idea that the change was a mistake. 

This name was a necessary move by the school to usher into a comprehensive branding update designed to strengthen the communication of Union’s uniqueness and the power of a Union education; it is a name that has the ability to win over the hearts and minds of many students and faculty. The very important fact remains that the college took student data over who they wanted and used a survey that broadcasted a fair representation of everyone’s feelings. 

The mascot may not be what everyone wanted, but it is able to showcase the unique location of Schenectady while paying homage to the city in a respectful and sensitive manner. In the end, the students will decide the lasting impact of the Garnet Chargers’ name and identity, but I believe that this name will stick around for the ages. After all, Charger is the cutest puppy imaginable and what other school can compete with that? 

However, in all seriousness, Garnet Chargers logo and mascot is able to accurately bridge the gap missing between the old logo and its historical inaccuracy and a new logo that accomplishes the goal of catering to every student. We also have a better question to answer – Union has existed since 1795, so how is it that we want to present our image? I believe that image is much more than a logo – it is the people who present the image.