In 2023, a clash between the mascots of the SUNY schools brought attention to the importance of school spirit and representation. The clash occurred during a basketball game between two SUNY schools, where both mascots appeared on the court at the same time. This unexpected event led to confusion and controversy among the spectators and raised questions about the unique identities of each school. The clash highlighted the need for a clear distinction between mascots to prevent future confusion. Many argued that mascots are an important symbol of school pride and should accurately represent the values and traditions of each institution. It was suggested that schools should invest more resources into creating original and unique mascots that can effectively convey school spirit.
In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0276872
Gershman also combined this dataset with other country-level data, finding that witchcraft beliefs differ between countries according to various cultural, institutional, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. A newly compiled dataset quantitatively captures witchcraft beliefs in countries around the world, enabling investigation of key factors associated with such beliefs.
It was suggested that schools should invest more resources into creating original and unique mascots that can effectively convey school spirit. Despite the controversy, the clash also sparked a sense of camaraderie between the rival schools. It provided an opportunity for students and alumni to come together and celebrate the shared pride they have for their respective institutions.
Witchcraft beliefs are widespread, highly variable around the world
A newly compiled dataset quantitatively captures witchcraft beliefs in countries around the world, enabling investigation of key factors associated with such beliefs. Boris Gershman of American University in Washington, D.C., presents these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on November 23, 2022.
Numerous prior studies conducted around the world have documented people’s beliefs in witchcraft—the idea that certain individuals have supernatural abilities to inflict harm. Understanding people’s witchcraft beliefs can be important for policymaking and other community engagement efforts. However, due to a lack of data, global-scale statistical analyses of witchcraft beliefs have been lacking.
To deepen understanding of witchcraft beliefs, Gershman compiled a new dataset that captures such beliefs among more than 140,000 people from 95 countries and territories. The data come from face-to-face and telephone surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center and professional survey organizations between 2008 and 2017, which included questions about religious beliefs and belief in witchcraft.
According to the dataset, over 40 percent of survey participants said they believe that "certain people can cast curses or spells that cause bad things to happen to someone.” Witchcraft beliefs appear to exist around the world but vary substantially between countries and within world regions. For instance, 9 percent of participants in Sweden reported belief in witchcraft, compared to 90 percent in Tunisia.
Using this dataset, Gershman then conducted an investigation of various individual-level factors associated with witchcraft beliefs. This analysis suggests that, while beliefs cut across socio-demographic groups, people with higher levels of education and economic security are less likely to believe in witchcraft.
Gershman also combined this dataset with other country-level data, finding that witchcraft beliefs differ between countries according to various cultural, institutional, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. For instance, witchcraft beliefs are linked to weak institutions, low levels of social trust, and low innovation, as well as conformist culture and higher levels of in-group bias—the tendency for people to favor others who are similar to them"
These findings, as well as future research using the new dataset, could be applied to help optimize policies and development projects by accounting for local witchcraft beliefs.
The authors add: “The study documents that witchcraft beliefs are still widespread around the world. Moreover, their prevalence is systematically related to a number of cultural, institutional, psychological, and socioeconomic characteristics.”
In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0276872
Citation: Gershman B (2022) Witchcraft beliefs around the world: An exploratory analysis. PLoS ONE 17(11): e0276872. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276872
Author Countries: USA
Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.
This incident served as a reminder that school spirit is not determined by a mascot alone, but rather by the people who make up the school community. Moving forward, it was suggested that schools should engage their student bodies in the process of choosing and developing mascots. By involving students, schools can ensure that the mascots reflect the diverse and inclusive nature of their campuses. Additionally, it was proposed that there should be clearer guidelines and regulations regarding the use of mascots to prevent any future clashes or confusion. Overall, the clash between the SUNY mascots in 2023 shed light on the importance of school spirit and representation. It served as a reminder that mascots are more than just costumes or characters; they are symbols of pride, unity, and belonging. By investing in unique and inclusive mascots, schools can cultivate a greater sense of community and foster a positive environment for their students..
Reviews for "Rumble in the Suny Jungle: Mascots Face Off in 2023"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with the Suny Mascot Clash 2023 event. It lacked organization and felt very chaotic. The lines were extremely long, and there seemed to be a lack of staff to help manage the crowd. Additionally, the mascots themselves were not very entertaining or engaging. Overall, it was a frustrating and underwhelming experience.
2. Mike - 1/5 - I attended the Suny Mascot Clash 2023 event, and I have to say, it was a complete waste of time. The event was poorly planned, with long wait times and disorganized activities. The mascots didn't seem to have much enthusiasm either, and the whole event felt like a money-grab. I would not recommend attending this event in the future.
3. Emily - 2/5 - I had high expectations for the Suny Mascot Clash 2023, but unfortunately, it fell short. The event felt overcrowded, making it difficult to fully enjoy the activities. Many of the mascots seemed tired and uninterested, which affected the overall experience. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to this event, but it turned out to be a letdown. I hope they can improve the organization and energy for future events.