Vic the V-Hawk retires, Quincy steps up as new mascot

It’s general knowledge that Viterbo has undergone some significant rebranding over the past couple of years. The university’s logo, color scheme, and website have all been revamped to appeal to a new generation of Viterbo students, but the one question that everyone’s been asking—what about our mascot?—has been left unanswered. That is, until now.

Yes, the rumors are true: Vic the V-Hawk is finally flying the coop after years of faithfully representing Viterbo University. Vic is a familiar presence on campus, and he even received national attention in a mascot tournament back in 2017. “It’s been a good run, but I think it’s time for me to move on to a new chapter,” Vic said in an interview last week. “I’m proud of the work I’ve done here, and I’m even more proud of the students I’ve gotten to represent during my time as Viterbo’s mascot.” He says he plans to stay in the La Crosse area following his retirement, so we may still see him around at community events. “You can’t get rid of me that easy,” Vic joked.

A great deal of thought went into selecting Vic’s successor. “It wasn’t a decision we felt we could take lightly,” said Molly Robertson, a senior marketing major who served on the committee to pick a new mascot for the university. “We wanted someone who would really capture the essence of our Franciscan values of service and hospitality, but we also wanted someone who the students already knew and could identify with,” Robertson explained. “We wanted our new mascot to feel like an old friend.”

Their choice? Quincy, the friendly and slightly chaotic service dog. “He’s kind of become everyone’s dog over the past couple of semesters,” said Andrew Brunstead, a junior nursing major who also served on the selection committee. “Even just for me personally, it’s really been nice to have him around when I miss my dogs back home, and I know lots of students who feel exactly the same way about him.”

“I was skeptical at first, I’ll be honest,” said Emily Wagstrom, a sophomore theatre major from the selection committee. “He’s just not always super professional, you know? I mean, I’m pretty sure I saw him trying to drink tie-dye water at Vic’s Picnic. But as the committee talked through our concerns about Quincy, we realized that while he’s not perfect, he’s very involved in the Viterbo community. And after all, we’re all works in progress.”

What does Vic think about his successor? “Oh, he’s a good dog, and I think the students really like him,” Vic told us. “I’ve actually interacted with Quincy many times since he’s been here, and I think he brings people real joy.”

We attempted to reach Quincy for comment, but unfortunately, he can’t talk. He did wag his tail and sit on our reporter’s lap, though, and we’re taking that as a good sign.