I am a llama (and no, my mama is not). The story behind my scholarship hall’s unique mascot is an interesting one that dates back to the early 1970s. According to legend, a South American student who lived in Watkins Scholarship Hall wanted to go home for Christmas break, but was unable to afford the plane ticket. The other girls in the hall heard of her plight and took up a collection to buy her a ticket home. When the girl returned to Watkins, she brought back two stuffed llamas for the house as a symbol of her gratitude. The llama has been our house’s mascot ever since, serving as a reminder to everyone of what the women of our hall do for each other.

As KU students, we all recognize the Jayhawk, but there are so many other mascots around campus with interesting stories of their own. Here are just a few.

Hashinger Flamingo

History: According to Diana Hall, 2007 graduate, and former president of the Hashinger Arts Council, the Hashinger Flamingo dates back to the 1970s. At that time, Hall says, the residents were having problems with their hall directors, who lived off campus, and decided to steal a flamingo from one of the directors’ yard. The flamingo ended up on the roof of Hashinger, and stayed there for at least a year, says Hall.

Today: Nowadays, the flamingo has expanded its domain to more than just inter-Hashinger events. There are two Ultimate Frisbee intramural teams with the flamingo namesake: the Stinkie Pinkies (co-rec) and the Funky Flamingoes (men).

Hall says that flamingoes are a good representative of Hashinger because they, like the residents of Hashinger, are kind of odd, quirky and dwell together in flocks. Hall equates the flamingo to a Hashinger love symbol—showing the close bonds the residents share with one another.

“Flamingoes are always together, Hashies are always together,” Hall says.

Betties’ Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team

History: Meghan Herndon, 2007 graduate, and former co-captain of the women’s ultimate Frisbee team at Kansas, says that the Betties first made their appearance on campus in 1987. Calling someone a “Betty” back in those days, says Herndon, was a huge compliment.

“They were the cool people on campus,” Herndon says.

Today: Even though the team is from Kansas, it has kept the Betty as its mascot instead of opting for the Jayhawk. Herndon says this is most likely because although the team is allotted some money from the university, the members are very independent in raising the necessary funds.

Besides that, Herndon says that it’s all about tradition. The first year the Betties competed, they made it to Nationals. Keeping the mascot the same is a way to pay homage to past teams as well as to the memory of the original Betties. Herndon also points out that the team is established as the Betties, not as the Jayhawks, so there would be no point in changing the mascot now.

Although there isn’t a specific physical appearance for the mascot, in past years the members have made skirts with Betty Boop on them, and recently started selling frisbees depicting a rather attractive woman wearing nothing but a bandana and strategically holding two Frisbees over her more private regions.

Delta Force Dog

History: Raymond “Studie” Red Corn, Shawnee, senior, and former Delta Force president, says he can safely say that the DF Dog has been around for at least four years. Red Corn says that someone just had a stuffed dog toy and decided to make it Delta Force’s mascot.

Today: The significance of the DF Dog is still developing, but Red Corn says its main role is to honor members of Delta Force who have done something noteworthy. Whenever a member pulls off a big project or event that is Delta Force-related, Red Corn says, the DF Dog is handed over to the member of honor. More recently, the DF Dog was the face of Delta Force’s Web site last year, says Red Corn, and even has its own Facebook profile, complete with a photo album of people kissing it.

Red Corn says that the DF Dog is also important because it shows the fun side of Delta Force.

“It was an internal entity that has taken on an external role,” Red Corn says.