Departments
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Week of 31 October 1997 |
Vol. I, No. 10 |
Feature
Article
Homecoming Weekend opens on a Rhett-letter day
by Eric McHenry
A proclamation from Mayor Thomas Menino gave new meaning to the phrase "Every dog has its day."
In honor of the terrier mascot's 75 years at Boston University, Menino officially declared Friday, October 24, "Terrier Pride Day." Mike Eruzione, director of development for BU athletics, read the proclamation shortly after noon in front of the GSU, where cheerleaders and the pep band joined other members of the University community to wish the wizened terrier well. It was a lighthearted kickoff to Homecoming Weekend.
". . . In 1922, the students of Boston University selected the Boston terrier, known for its expression of determination, strength, energy, and activity, as the school's mascot," Menino noted in one of the proclamation's "Whereas . . ." clauses.
After 75 years, Rhett continues to evince that energy and activity. Although he had no comment on the event, he seemed to be in a celebratory mood. After making a dramatic entrance through a gauntlet of cheerleaders and pep band players, he quickly made himself the life of the party, dancing to the band's serenade, extending a paw to people in the crowd, and mugging for a battery of cameras, including one from CNN.
Tino Galluzzo (COM'69), president of BU Alumni, said Rhett's endurance is one of the main reasons for his popularity.
"I think that this is a University that holds its traditions very high," Galluzzo said, "and Rhett is one that has been a constant through the 75 years. I think that's something that a lot of alumni can relate to. As opposed to a new building or professor, Rhett's always been here, and he is terrific."
Cake, ice cream, and cookies shaped like dog biscuits, as well as Frisbees and decals, were provided for party-goers. Following the reading of the proclamation, Rhett himself received a large cake decorated with his likeness. He managed to blow out its candles without visibly unclenching his teeth.
The pep band provided a soundtrack for the festivities with such familiar tunes as "Rockin' Robin" and "Eye of the Tiger," appropriate to the occasion's spirit, if not to its species. They yielded briefly to an all-male student a capella group, the Dear Abbeys, which performed three songs.
Several actual Boston terriers made appearances at the festivities. Vicki Kennedy, who raises, breeds, and shows the dogs, brought them at the University's request. They approached Rhett with some apparent trepidation, but seemed eventually to warm up to him.
Boston terriers, Menino's proc-lamation pointed out, were first bred in the United States in 1869, the same year that the commonwealth of Massachusetts granted Boston University its charter. Rhett, it seems, is uniquely qualified to be the University's mascot.
But, Kennedy said, a terrier would be a dignified choice to represent any school.
"I've got 22 of them at home," she said. "Everyone loves them. They've got a lot of personality -- they're people dogs. And you can take them everywhere. They're definitely wash-and-wear."
That last observation is particularly true of Rhett.