Embedded Files
Tigers are so prevalent on the RIT campus, found in so many fixtures, signs, and costumes. However, their full history may not be widely known. To uncover the link between the tiger symbol and campus spirit, we, the students and faculty from the Fall ‘24 Digital & Critical Curation (MUSE 359) course, partnered with RIT Archives. We soon understood that within the ever changing representations of RIT spirit, student pride in RIT was the predominant drive, spearheading every development and addition.
RITchie Sells His Stripes
RITchie Sells His Stripes
Finding a tiger on campus won’t be hard. Take a look at students’ bags, t-shirts, or even trash cans at Saunder. RIT has a long history of using a tiger for their marketing–and it didn’t just start with RITchie. The alias of “RIT Tigers” originated in late 1955 after a particularly successful sports season, replacing the previous name “RIT Techmen.”
While it may not seem like marketing is integral to RITchie and RIT spirit, the way RIT has marketed itself and its mascot reflects changing trends, beliefs, and design choices, especially those pertaining to the tiger symbol. As time goes on and students become more familiar with RITchie, we even see RITchie derivatives pop up, such as balloon RITchie and the Tora-con mascots.
RITchie Sells His Stripes explores the stylistic ancestry of the RIT tiger, its impact on RIT collectibles, and the ensuing looks that proud students have been assigning to him for sixty-nine years.
Student Pride: Written in Bronze
Student Pride: Written in Bronze
For the past thirty-five years, a symbol of RIT’s spirit continues to shine and stand solid: the RIT Bronze Bengal. This statue pays homage to the school’s adopted tiger cub, Spirit, while embodying and celebrating his namesake on campus: Student Pride In RIT.
In 1989, the RIT Student Government commissioned wildlife sculptor, D.H.S. “Duff” Wehle, to create a bronze statue of a Bengal tiger representing Spirit. It became an exciting project for students, who funded the initiative to immortalize student pride.
Today, the statue is located just beneath the intersection of the Student Alumni Union and The SHED. Students have invented fun, new traditions such as dressing the statue and putting fruit in his mouth. Old ones persist, with many students taking a picture with him upon entering school or graduation.
What spirit do YOU see on campus today? What does RIT Spirit mean to you? Leave a note and let us know!
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[Headshot of SpiRIT], 1963
Reproduction of photograph
From RITArc-0762, Box 509, RIT Archives
Two-month old SpiRIT has a big smile
in his portrait photo taken in 1963 when
he arrived at RIT.
Tiger Pride: RITchie and SpiRIT
Tiger Pride: RITchie and SpiRIT
Our tiger mascot has evolved a lot since we became the Tigers in the mid 1950s. Ever since his inception, our costumed mascot, now RITchie, has been a staple at sports games and special events around RIT. There were early costumed mascots that looked more like pajamas than the felt-and-foam heads we’re used to seeing now. No matter how he looked, he was always getting into antics! We see him dunking a basketball, intimidating a ref after a bad call, and even skydiving into a soccer game!
We also had not one, but two live tigers adopted by students! The tigers, named SpiRIT (Student Pride In RIT) and SpiRIT II, lived very different lives. SpiRIT lived on campus for a short time, until he grew too big, at which point he moved to the Seneca Park Zoo. SpiRIT II lived his whole life at the Seneca Park Zoo and was sponsored by students to live a healthy life in captivity. These days, the closest you will get to seeing a “live” tiger on campus is seeing RITchie at special events or checking out the preserved pelt of SpiRIT in the RIT Archives.
In this exhibit, we invite you to explore the evolution of RITchie through the years, his deep connection with Student Pride in RIT, and the tigers that take that name.
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Tiger Mascot In The Library, 1963
Reproduction of photograph
From RITArc-0762, Box 509, RIT Archives
SpiRIT the tiger rests on The Spring Street Library table as an unidentified student, possibly SpiRIT’s Handler, Caroline Rinschler, tries to study.
"...CAMPUS...
Characteristic of man's peculiarities is his use of symbology. On the quad is a large gaily painted rectangular piece of cloth bearing stars and stripes. In physical magnitude not much but within the viewer is the connotation of an expanse of people and territory called the United States. This symbol has been around for some time. But what about tigers? What can we do to associate a meaning between RIT and a Bengal tiger? We have to accept it, then educate the public!"
Techmila Yearbook, 1964, page 40
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