Baby Jay

Infobox College Mascot
name = Baby Jay


image_size = 250
caption = Big Jay and Baby Jay before a basketball game in 2005. Photo courtesy [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kansasexplorer3128/ kansasexplorer] .
university = University of Kansas
conference = Big 12 Conference
conference_short = Big 12
description = Baby jayhawk
name_origin =
first_seen = 1971
related_mascots = Big Jay

Baby Jay is one of the mascots of the University of Kansas's sports teams. She and fellow mascot Big Jay are Jayhawks. Baby Jay was created by student Amy Sue Hurst and "hatched" at half-time of KU's Homecoming victory in football over Kansas State University on October 9, 1971, and has served as a mascot ever since. [cite web | title =Take the Jayhawk Walk | url =http://www.union.ku.edu/traditions/walk/babyjay.html | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04]

History

In 1970 Amy Sue Hurst saw a Jayhawk bumper sticker depicting Big Jay and hatchlings which inspired her to create a new mascot. [cite web | title =Original Baby Jay Now Roosting in Kansas Union | url =http://www.oread.ku.edu/Oread03/Nov7/babyjay.html | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] After talking to a co-worker who was a Big Jay [cite web | title =Fund Helps Support Baby Jay Costume | url =http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/aug/14/fund_helps_support | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] and getting approval from the KU Alumni Association [cite web | title =Baby Jays to Reunite | url =http://www.oread.ku.edu/Oread01/Oct5/jays.html | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] she created Baby Jay.

Baby Jay made her official debut October 9, 1971 during the half-time of KU's homecoming game against in-state rivals Kansas State University. In front of 55,000 fans Big Jay hauled a large egg to the 50-yard line of Memorial Stadium. A few moments later Baby Jay "hatched" from the artificial egg and has served as an ambassador of KU at events across the country ever since. [cite web | title =KU Heritage & Traditions | url =http://www.studenthandbook.ku.edu/heritrads.shtml | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04]

The original costume weighed 30 pounds [cite web | title =Fund Helps Support Baby Jay Costume | url =http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/aug/14/fund_helps_support | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] , consisted of chicken wire, fiberglass, and felt. The total cost was $53. [cite web | title =Original Baby Jay Now Roosting in Kansas Union | url =http://www.oread.ku.edu/Oread03/Nov7/babyjay.html | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] In 2003, Amy Hurst Rachman, the original Baby Jay, started a fund to help cover the cost of the now $5,000 costume that is replaced every two years. [cite web | title =KU Baby Jay Mascot Creators Establish Fund | url =http://www.news.ku.edu/2003/03N/NovNews/Nov7/babyjay.html | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04]

election Process

The selection process to become Baby Jay is generally during the spring semester. The student applicant must create an original skit. The skit can last no longer than one minute and must include a plot with music and props. The student must also meet several physical conditions. To be able to fit into the Baby Jay costume the student must be between 4 ft 11 in and 5 ft 1 in tall. [cite web | title =Baby Jay FAQs | url =http://www.kumascots.com/faqs.shtml | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] The auditioning process may also include 20 minutes of running, performing an entrance and exit routine, emotion and reaction exercises, dancing with the pep band and leading cheers. [cite web | title =Baby Jays to Reunite | url =http://www.oread.ku.edu/Oread01/Oct5/jays.html | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04]

Duties

The primary duty of Baby Jay is to be an ambassador of KU, roaming the sidelines at football and basketball games giving hugs to youngsters. [cite web | title =The Word on the Bird | url =http://6news.kusports.com/news/jayhawk_history/story/2 | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] Baby Jay, being smaller than Big Jay, is often involved in entertaining children and adding comedic relief. She is also present at most major university events such as athletic competitions, Tradition Night [cite web | title =Traditions Night Stirs Spirit For New Jayhawk Students | url =http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/aug/20/traditions_night_stirs/ | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] , Band Spectacular [cite web | title =BAND SPECTACULAR! | url =http://www2.ku.edu/cgiwrap/sfa/new/details.php?eventID=16163 | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] and graduation. [cite web | title =Ending Their KU Years With Plenty of Cheers | url =http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/may/23/grad05/?ku_news | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04]

Baby Jay is also seen in the community attending weddings, opening the Godzilla film festival [cite web | title =Baby Jay to Inflate Godzilla | url =http://www.news.ku.edu/2004/04N/OctNews/Oct27/godzilla.html | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] , or even lobbying legislators to fund higher education. [cite web | title =Hemenway Blasts House Budget Plans | url =http://6news.ljworld.com/section/highered/story/199260 | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04] In return for these services Baby Jay receives either a $100 or $400 scholarship per semester. [cite web | title =Baby Jay FAQs | url =http://www.kumascots.com/faqs.shtml | format = English | accessdate =2007-03-04]

ee also

* List of U.S. college mascots
* University of Kansas

References

Further reading

* cite book
title = The Big Blue Eggventure: The Hatching of the Baby Jay
first = Deeann
last = Downs
publisher = Kr Book Company
location =
year = 1997
id = ISBN 0-9658-3920-6
url=

External links

* [http://www.kumascots.com KU Mascots]