Baylor’s Live Mascots

Transcript

All right, folks, let’s check out another aspect of Baylor University that makes it truly unique. We’re gonna meet up with Aidan. She’s a junior double majoring in human resource management and Spanish. Aidan can’t wait to introduce you to two of her favorite Baylor bears who are always hanging out on campus. Aidan, you are on.

Thanks, Alex. I’m standing in front of the Bill & Eva Williams Bear Habitat, which is a class C zoo located in the heart of Baylor’s campus. Inside, we have some of the most memorable individuals of the Baylor community, two North American black bears named Lady and Joy. They are biological sisters from Oregon, and are 19 and 20 years old, respectively. Lady and Joy are taken care of by a student group on campus called the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, or Baylor Chamber, for short. This organization has been caring for Baylor’s bears for over 100 years, and they do a remarkable job. The bears eat twice a day. Once in the morning, and once in the evening. Their primary diet consists of raw meats, fruits, and vegetables, but I’ve occasionally seen them enjoy peanut butter inside their toys. Both Lady and Joy are trained to do the Baylor Sic ’em, which is a natural movement for them in the wild when pulling leaves and berries from low-hanging branches. In fact, Lady is left-pawed, and the only one allowed to do a Sic ’em with her left hand, because every Baylor Bear knows a Sic ’em, the symbol of spirit used at athletic events and other celebrations, is traditionally done with the right hand. I’ve stopped by the Bear Habitat many times to see a member of the Chamber conduct training routines with the bears to evaluate their health and provide mental stimulation. Just a few weeks ago, I spoke with a trainer who explained the importance of Lady and Joy’s oral hygiene. Bears can get cavities, too. To demonstrate this, he motioned for Joy to open her mouth widely for inspection. Not only was I impressed by her sharp teeth, but I was reminded that these exercises ensure that the bears are healthy and content. As a student, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed having live bears on campus. This habitat is a serene place to come visit and take my mind off of school-related activities. When they were cubs, Lady and Joy were able to walk the grounds of the university with members of the Chamber. Now that they’re older and bigger, they have a special playground outside of town where they periodically go to enjoy outdoor activities. It’s special to have Lady and Joy so close to us. They bring the student body together, and mark another unique aspect of the Baylor family. That’s all from the Bear Habitat. What’s next, Alex?

Wow, Aidan, that was fun! It was great to hear about Baylor’s live bears and their home on campus. It sounds like they’re really members of the Baylor family, and are well cared for and loved, which is awesome. I mean, you even throw ’em birthday parties, for crying out loud. How fun is that? Thanks again for letting us meet Joy and Lady. Take care, Aidan.