Did you know that our mascot, the tiger, is critically endangered and could be lost before our current students retire?
Did you know that the tiger has lost over 90% of its former natural habitat and is now confined to smaller and smaller patches of forest?
Did you know that the tiger is already functionally extinct in three of the 13 Asian countries, where it historically ranged?
If you were surprised that you did not know some of these facts, do not feel alone. Most people don’t! — Even those who are passionate about tigers, like those of us that populate Clemson Tiger Nation!
That is the purpose of Tigers United Week (Sept 2-7) on the Clemson campus – raising awareness – awareness of the plight of our beloved mascot – and awareness of just what we plan to do about it!
On Tuesday morning, Clemson University faculty and scientists will meet with counterparts from Auburn, LSU, and Missouri for a Summit on Tiger Conservation. At this meeting, Clemson also will host officials from the Global Tiger Forum, which serves as the secretariat for coordinating tiger conservation efforts across the 13 tiger range countries. There, amidst robust discussions of collaborative research projects, technology and doctoral programs, the Tigers United campaign will be announced.
On Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the Strom Thurmond Institute Auditorium, the public is invited to a showing of the PBS documentary, “Siberian Tiger Quest.” Join “The Cub” on our orange carpet (beginning at 3:45 p.m.) and have your picture taken. This documentary has amazing footage of the Siberian tigers captured by Korean cameraman Sooyong Park, the first individual ever to film Siberian tigers in the wild.
During the week, Clemson students will have the opportunity to participate in our scarcity scavenger hunt. Each day, Tigers United will release clues on its social media accounts to find a tiger on or near Clemson University’s campus. The clues will teach participants facts about the species and the dangers they face – like poaching and human encroachment are two dangers to the tigers’ extinction.
Participants are asked to follow @TigersUnited on Instagram or Facebook and tag friends and then take a selfie with the tiger you find while using the hashtags #tigersearch and #tigersunited. The more clues participants find, the more chances they receive in the cash prize drawing happening at the Tigers United pre-game sponsor tent. The drawing will be held at 2 p.m. on September 7 (before the Texas A&M game) at the Tigers United booth near Death Valley Gate 1. Join First Lady Beth Clements and Grace Clements before the drawing from 12:45-1:15 p.m. and learn how you can join the fight. Giveaways are available while supplies last. You can also register to receive daily clue reminders by texting “TIGERSEARCH” to 51555.
Finally, during the game, Tigers United, the consortium of four tiger-mascot universities, will be announced to a cheering sea of orange, with a 30-second video on Paw Vision entitled We Are All Tigers! Watch for it! We are grateful to Graphics Communication students Sydney Thompson, Alyssa Pittman and Megan Smith for producing this video as part of their contribution to Tigers United. Later this week, the students will share their story of producing the video. Check back to the blog for their story.
Incidentally, on September 7, Tigers United will make the same announcement on the campuses of Auburn, LSU, and Missouri. Our goal is to harness the power of four great land-grant universities, manifested through faculty innovation and research, graduate study, student engagement and the passion of its fans and alumni!
Join us in the fight and support Tigers United by texting CUtigers to 41444.
