OSU feels the heat, puts Brutus back in Pride Parade
Following considerable public pressure (read: massive hate on social media), The Ohio State University has decided to put Brutus back into the Pride Parade.
The decision was made public less than an hour after Ohio University announced their mascot, Rufus, would be marching in the parade.
Notably, there’s bad blood between the two mascots. You might recall back in 2010 when Rufus tackled Brutus in Ohio Stadium during the team entrance.
Ohio State released the following statement regarding the change:
“After additional consultation and reviews, the spirit program has decided to reinstate Brutus Buckeye in the Columbus Pride Festival and Parade on Saturday. Brutus will join a campus-wide group of faculty, staff and senior officials led by President Michael Drake and Athletics Director Gene Smith. Ohio State looks forward to participating throughout the weekend.”
6/15/16: Brutus drops out of Pride Parade
Brutus Buckeye was almost the first Big 10 and Division 1 mascot to march in a gay pride parade… until earlier today.
According to Outlook Magazine, the Columbus Ohio Gay Lesbian & Ally Hockey Association received an email from Ohio State saying that Brutus would not be marching in the Pride Parade due to heightened safety concerns.
The COGLAHA invited all of Columbus’ biggest mascots, including The Columbus Blue Jackets’ Stinger, the Columbus Clippers’ Lou Seal and Krash and the Columbus Crew’s S.C., and as of now, only Brutus has dropped out.
The organization released a statement empathizing with the university’s decision, saying they understood and did not want to downplay the university’s safety concerns.
They also discouraged allies of the organization from sending hate mail to Ohio State.
“We wish to make it clear that by all indications [Brutus’ removal] is not due to homophobia or any way to be exclusionary,” the group wrote on Facebook. “The Ohio State University has been a leading partner in supporting us throughout the year, especially during our Pride Nights with Ohio State Men’s Hockey.”
Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs has stated additional police officers and other security measures will be implemented for Pride Fest.
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