Festive & Fuzzy!
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The fifth annual Ten with Ken Holiday Special continues our review of highlights from more than 500 college and university greeting videos released around the world last December. In part 3, \\u201cFestive & Fuzzy,\\u201d we turn to the cuddlier side of the season, with a look at campus mascots, puppy dogs, and classic movies.
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Mascots appear often in holiday videos, as we saw in parts 1 and 2, including the University of Virginia\\u2019s Cavalier, Upper Iowa University\\u2019s Pete the Peacock, Wheaton College\\u2019s Roary the Lion, James Madison University\\u2019s Duke Dog, and Cape Breton University\\u2019s Caper. \\xa0Mascots played Santa as well, such as JW the Mustang in Western University\\u2019s video.\\xa0 At Atlanta\\u2019s Emory University, it was not the official mascot, Swoop the Eagle, but the \\u201cspirit\\u201d of campus, Dooley the Biology Lab Skeleton, who played Santa. The best-in-class \\u201cMascot as Santa\\u201d video, though, came from the University of Alabama: Big Al, the elephant, was rushing around campus dispensing gifts, when he needs to figure out how to cheer up a disappointed little girl.
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Although cat videos (like my current fave, Owl Kitty) dominate the internet, when it comes to higher ed holiday videos, it\\u2019s all canines all the way! They make cameo appearances at tree-lighting ceremonies, music recitals, and even serve as a prop for presidents. An adorable golden retriever puppy warmed up the bonfire at Algoma University. Two malteses cheered up a fireside chat from Quinnipiac University president Judy Olian. At Duke University, president Vincent Price recited a poem to his golden doodle and labradoodle.
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Dogs are also increasingly the stars of holiday videos. Teddy and Travis toured the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ohio State University. At North Carolina\\u2019s Meredith College, president Jo Allen\\u2019s dog Bachelor has starred in holiday greetings for years \\u2013 delivering ornaments and candy canes, making a fitness resolution and hitting the treadmill. Last year, he took us on an aerial tour of campus, flying his WWI prop plane. Bachelor has earned a special lifetime achievement award for his contributions so far.
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Landmark College president Peter Eden talked to the animals \\u2013 by Facetime!\\xa0 And the campus therapy dogs texted each other.\\xa0 And speaking of therapy dogs, the theme of well-being has been increasing in holiday videos. The SAIT Student Association released several videos last year emphasizing support services. The Thompson Rivers University student life office produced a tongue-in-cheek video about winter wellness. And of course, plenty of videos focus on homesickness and loneliness.
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Lonely mascots often find a happy ending. At the University of California Merced, Rufus the Bobcat felt neglected by busy students until he launched a campus feel-good initiative. At the University of Guelph, Gryph snuggled up to watch holiday videos with president Franco Vaccarino. At Scotland\\u2019s University of Stirling, the mascot Squirrel was deeply depressed until he was brought into a warm circle of friends to celebrate the holidays. \\u201cBe the Difference\\u201d was the best-in-class video of this type last year.
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Often, lonely mascots parody classic Christmas movies like \\u201cHome Alone,\\u201d eating tons of ice cream and getting into trouble. Last year it was Penn State\\u2019s Nittany Lion, and the University of Alberta\\u2019s GUBA the golden bear.\\xa0 But we also saw the president of Regis University, Father John Fitzgibbons, recreating holiday classics like \\u201cHome Alone,\\u201d \\u201cElf,\\u201d \\u201cChristmas Vacation\\u201d and even \\u201cLove Actually.\\u201d With even higher production standards, the John Chambers School of Business & Economics at West Virginia U produced a wonderful best-in-class collection of movie parodies. It was matched only by another outstanding parody of \\u201cChristmas Vacation\\u201d from the University of Tennessee \\u2013 Martin, in which Chancellor Keith Carver performs superbly. Of course, the other popular holiday movie parody was \\u201cThe Grinch,\\u201d from UK\\u2019s Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group to Bellarmine University.
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This episode contains clips from more than 500 higher ed holiday videos that Ken collected last year. You can find our full collection of 2018 videos on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXZ7unDyH9cDK-lwTwGul7B
And we\\u2019ve started collecting 2019 higher ed holiday videos at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXaztYot1vitgTZ5AHfAfJk
If you want to add one, please use this special link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLodJ8ParJmYXaztYot1vitgTZ5AHfAfJk&jct=Tm_lbyblL2ee4fhdD9En0aFVEu-NVg
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After 3 parts and 40 minutes, we may have done what we can for this month.\\xa0 Ten with Ken will be back in January with more serious topics, from virtual reality in pedagogy, to student mental health and therapy dogs.\\xa0 To be sure you don\\u2019t miss a thing, be sure to subscribe at http://eduvation.ca/subscribe/
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