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Next season, fans at Alfond Arena and other venues will notice a renovated and revamped Bananas the Bear. The mascot’s costume, which is cared for by the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, will be redesigned and updated this summer, according to Andrew Formalarie, a brother of APO.
“We’re looking for a more agile [costume],” Formalarie said. “Visibility is a big thing … It’s big and clumsy.”
The current costume’s setup and facial design is also something the brothers of APO are looking to change. According to Formalarie, the bear’s face will be more fierce and look more like a bear.
“It doesn’t really look like a bear,” Formalarie said.
The new design should be finished by the end of the semester, at which point APO will begin fundraising for the new costume. The fraternity plans on purchasing two costumes, so Bananas can be in two places at once and double APO’s philanthropy efforts, Formalarie said.
The brothers of the fraternity take turns donning the costume for athletic events, a service project for the group since 1969. Bananas became the name of the university’s mascot in 1941, when a black bear cub strayed onto the football field during a game and the crowd went “bananas,” according to a brief history on UMaine’s Web site. The bear’s costume has changed five times, with the last change occurring in the mid-1980s, Formalarie said.
The brothers of APO are working with the university’s marketing department for the makeover. While the brothers do not need university approval to make the changes, they would like to have UMaine’s blessing, Formalarie said.
President Peter Hoff has seen the changes and endorsed them, Formalarie said. While the brothers have the university’s support, they will have to shoulder the financial burden of the new costumes without university aid. Soon the brothers will begin a campaign to raise the required funding.
To start the process of fundraising, the brothers held a bowling fund-raiser at the Old Town Bowling Lanes on Friday night. Supporters paid $6 to spend an evening bowling with Bananas and support his upkeep.
While the administration supports Bananas’ new look, some students prefer the current mascot.
“I like him. I think he’s cute, and I like it when he strips,” said Meredith Szeliga, a second-year pre-veterinary major.
However, some students are willing to consider the changes.
“I have an issue [with the change], but on the other hand, I think Bananas should be a little more intimidating,” said Erika Davis, a second-year animal science major.
Fans can expect the new Bananas to make an appearance during the athletic season this fall, Formalarie said.
