Tuesday, July 17, 2012: Day 14

Rhetorical Pictures

     I recently visited Wofford College's campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina where the mascot of the school is the Wofford terrier dog shown above. The dog holds tradition in place for the small liberal arts college. The way it's presented on the statue here shows the dog looking high off into the distance as if it is superior to any other. This is kind of ironic when the dog itself is such a small animal compared to say . . . uh . . . a Clemson tiger. It's ears are propped up which isn't their normal position; this tells us the Wofford terrier dog is aware, keen, and on the look out. The school itself says the dog is on the lookout for bright futures. The sculpture really captivates the Wofford tradition--strength, dignity, powerful young leaders. It shows that the Wofford student is a strong individual and not one to reckon with. The dog's flappy mouth and wrinkles makes it appear much older than it really is; perhaps it is to show wisdom or that a Wofford student is an experienced worker. The students of Wofford college are proud to wear shirts with pictures of this statue which shows unity through this dog.

    My sister recently graduated from Wofford College in May 2012 where she herself had a strong, emotional connection to the Wofford dog. She told me how this statue was the single most important one on campus. The president of the college owned a terrier when the football team started; it became a tradition for every president of Wofford College to own a terrier dog to bring out to the football games. The dog represents the strength of its students. Its determined face is supposed to show how Wofford will stop at nothing short of their very best work. It holds tradition in place as it used to be a conservative males only school yet is still open to what the future brings. Wofford tradition also holds students to be accountable for their own actions--with a strong dog with a stance like this it'd be safe to say that the dog not only holds a sentimental value for each student but reminds them to be ethically sound as well.