The Evolution of the College of Wooster Logo: From Fighting Scots to Archie the Scottie

The College of Wooster, a private liberal arts college in Wooster, Ohio, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1866 by the Presbyterian Church. While officially non-sectarian since 1969, its traditions and symbols have evolved over time, reflecting the changing values and priorities of the institution. Among these symbols, the college logo and mascot have undergone significant transformations, most notably with the recent introduction of Archie, the Fighting Scottie.

Early Years and the Fighting Scots

Wooster's athletic history began with its first baseball team in 1880. The football program followed in 1889. Early on, the college adopted the "Fighting Scots" moniker, a nod to its Scottish heritage. The earliest uses of a Scottie dog as a mascot at The College of Wooster reach as far back as the early 20th century.

The Introduction of the Highlander

In the late 1960s or early 1970s, a new mascot emerged: the Scottish Highlander, a kilt-wearing figure wielding a sword. For decades, the sword-wielding, kilt-wearing Highlander mascot led the College of Wooster sports teams into battle. This image became a prominent symbol of Wooster athletics. However, this representation eventually faced scrutiny.

The Shift Towards Inclusivity: Concerns and Considerations

As the college evolved, concerns arose regarding the inclusivity and representation of the Highlander mascot. Students and faculty questioned the use of weaponry and sought a more gender-neutral symbol that could be embraced by the entire community. The Scottish Highlander fighter with sword and shield was introduced in the late '60s/early '70s but a decade later the Scottish Terrier still was on the cover of our athletic programs. It wasn’t until 2013/14, when we added the Scottish Highlander Fighter to our split W, that we started using it regularly.

The college recognized that in a world where opportunity is not distributed equally, creating a diverse, equitable, welcoming, and inclusive campus community must be a top priority. The introduction in recent years of the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians are two examples of professional sports teams who recognized the harm caused by human mascots. Results from a survey of students showed a majority of student respondents did not relate to the Scottish Highlander mascot.

Archie the Scottie: A Return to Tradition

In response to these concerns, The College of Wooster reached back to its history and rediscovered its original mascot: a Fighting Scottie dog. On March 30, 2023, the college introduced an updated mascot that reflects the inclusive community we aim to create while also paying homage to our storied history and heritage. The Scottie dog has served as a source of pride for generations of Fighting Scots beginning with our earliest days of existence and will be sure to do the same for generations to come.

The updated mascot reflects the collaborative efforts of students, staff and alumni, who generated ideas, gave of their time to help with the research efforts, design, launch events, and provided input along the way. The new Scottie dog logo made its debut on campus on Thursday, March 30, 2023, during a pep rally in Timken Gymnasium. This summer it will be added to wind screens on our new tennis courts on Wayne Avenue and to the gymnasiums.

The name for Wooster’s new Fighting Scots mascot is Archie. Staff collected those suggestions and developed a poll that allowed constituents to rank their favorite names among the top three suggestions: Archie, McWoo, and Mac. After four days of voting and nearly 1,500 responses from community members, Archie will be the name of the new Fighting Scots mascot.

The Design and Symbolism of Archie

Slagle Design had the privilege of working with The College of Wooster to design their new mascot, Archie, the Fighting Scottie. Other issues plagued the old mascot. It was dated, overly detailed, and difficult to reproduce. The college adopted the first Scottish terrier as a mascot in the early 1900s.

The Scottish terrier is a throwback to the college's early days. It also represents the modern College of Wooster, the college explains. The dog predates the Highlander by roughly 60 years, said Melissa Anderson, a spokesperson for the college. Both literal and fake terriers donned a white outfit emblazoned with a "W," according to the college.

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Implementation and Future Plans

Street Characters in Alberta, Canada, will design and manufacture the new mascot costumes, which are slated to arrive in Wooster in June. New Scottie dog costumes arrive on campus this summer in time to recruit and train a new roster of student mascot performers who will work to entertain crowds at home games, admissions and alumni events, and engagements across the local community. The College will be working throughout the next year to replace old logos with the new logo.

Student and Alumni Reactions

Student reactions to the change ranged from happy to unsure, with some concerned about Archie's design. Third-year Connor Krucek said many students thought the design could be cleaner while some were sad to lose the overtly Scottish heritage of the Highlander. Another student, fourth-year Abigal Beard, agrees with Krucek, but she wasn't surprised by the decision to change mascots. Despite some criticism, other students were happy with the change like fourth-year Simon Kim.

The Fighting Scots Legacy

Despite the change in mascot, The Fighting Scots will retain their famous yellow and black MacLeod plaid colors. While this is the end of the Highlander era, the college said all historical pieces will be saved in the archives as it is part of the Fighting Scots' history.

The Wooster "Index": A Chronicle of College Life

The College of Wooster's "Index" collection serves as a comprehensive yearbook, chronicling the annual events and milestones of the college. Spanning numerous volumes, each edition offers a unique glimpse into the academic, social, and cultural landscape of Wooster during a specific year.

Content and Structure of the "Index"

Each volume of the "Index" typically includes:

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An annual record of events at Wooster.
Photographs of the campus and student life.
Listings of the board of trustees, faculty, and student body.
Dedications to individuals who have made significant contributions to the college.
In memoriams of faculty, staff, and alumni who have passed away.
Information on student organizations, athletics, and social affairs.
Advertisements from local businesses.

Notable Dedications and Memorials

Throughout the years, the "Index" has been dedicated to numerous individuals who have played pivotal roles in shaping the College of Wooster. These dedications offer insights into the values and priorities of the college at different points in its history.

Some notable dedications include:

Dr. Jonas O. Notestein (1916)
William F. Wier, D.D. (1914)
Harvey Carson Grumbine and Dr. George Daniel Gable, Ph. D. (1913)
J. Lawrence Erb (1912)
Professor Delbert G. Lean (1911)
Dr. Chalmers Martin (1910)
Reverend Elias Compton (1908)
Horace N. Mateer (1904)
Louis Edward Holden (1903)
Trustees of the College (1899)
Class of 1892 (1896)
Robert Shields Christy (1895)

The "Index" also includes in memoriams of individuals who have left a lasting impact on the college community, such as Ruth E. Marshall, Dr. Thomas K. Davis, and Dr. Oscar A. Hills (1920).

Evolution of the "Index"

The "Index" has evolved over time to reflect the changing nature of the College of Wooster. Early editions, such as the 1904 volume, provide detailed information on fraternities, literary societies, and other organizations that were prominent at the time. The 1903 Index details the trustees, faculty, officers, fraternities, students, history, literary societies, athletics, clubs, and organizations at the then "University of Wooster." Additionally, the 1904 volume includes local advertisements from the time.

Later editions, such as the 1917 yearbook, feature high-quality images of the campus and profiles of students, showcasing the college's growth and development. After the dedication, there are 27 high quality images of the campus throughout that year. Highlights include profiles for the students attending the college during 1917, history for each class, profiles and nicknames for the members of the football team, and information and pictures of all of the social affairs and events on campus.

The "Index" as a Historical Resource

The College of Wooster's "Index" collection serves as a valuable historical resource for students, alumni, and researchers interested in the college's past. These yearbooks provide a comprehensive record of the people, events, and traditions that have shaped the institution over the years.

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