New BU statue allows students to high five a bearcat
VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – On Thursday, another statue was unveiled, this one on the main Vestal campus, of Binghamton University's mascot, a binturong, more commonly referred to as a Bearcat.
The bronze statue perched on a granite pedestal was unveiled at its temporary location inside the lobby of the Admissions Building.
Dubbed 'Bingturong,' the monument is the creation of President Harvey Stenger's Road Map interns, a group of students who met weekly with the president to assist with the university's strategic planning initiative.
The students wanted to create an iconic symbol of the school for students to take pictures with. It was designed with its paw extended so people can give it a high five when passing by.
First look: Harriet Tubman statue in downtown Binghamton
Nora Monasheri graduated from BU last year with her MBA and returned to campus for the unveiling. She says the statue creates a great opportunity to make lasting memories.
'It really started with the belief from the administration, and the belief that the students can do it, having that power we really helped this come to fruition. We started with Road Map interns sitting around a table saying what can students bring with them as a start when they arrive here on campus as a freshman and continue to walk away with them,' said Monasheri.
This is the 25th anniversary of the university adopting the Bearcat as its mascot.
The statue will be placed at its permanent home near the school's clock tower along the campus's main central walkway known as 'The Spine' once construction in that area is completed at the end of this summer.
New BU statue allows students to high five a bearcat
First look: Harriet Tubman statue in downtown Binghamton
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