Penn searches for a Quaker

As a child, College freshman Holly Johnson carefully studied the moves of National Basketball Association mascots. She knew she could do better. "I didn't really have a role model," said Johnson, who was one of four students to attend an introductory session at the Palestra last night for people interested in becoming the next Penn mascot. "I think you have to be your own role model," Johnson continued. "You have to just go out there and see what the audience wants, and give it to them." She said if chosen as mascot, she might take a few hints from University President Judith Rodin. "If we have a woman president, we could have a woman Quaker," Johnson said. Quaker candidate Tina Lopez, a College sophomore, agreed. She said she was pleased the ratio of female Quaker candidates to male Quaker candidates was three to one. The only male who attended was College junior Daniel Gingiss, a Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer. "It's the Year of the Woman Quaker," Lopez said. "It's the '90s." Johnson added one of the reasons she is so interested in the position is because she likes the idea of wearing men's clothing. "I was looking for a legitimate way to cross-dress at Penn," she said. "I am exploring the androgynous aspects of the Pennsylvania Quaker." But Penn cheerleading coach Marci Sartor said she does not care whether the mascot is male or female -- as long as the Quaker "holds her own." "I want to see them be able to work with [the cheerleaders] and with the crowd," Sartor said. "My main objective is crowd response -- sometimes it's pivotal to our game." According to Cheerleading captain and College senior Brian Coyne, the need for a new mascot arose when current Quaker Rick Miller decided he could not dedicate as much time to the position in the future. Johnson said she thinks she has what it takes to get a crowd excited. "I have always been a ham. I have always liked to perform in front of large audiences," she said, adding she starred as "Helena" in A Midsummer's Night Dream in high school. College junior Shelly Waldman, who also attended the meeting, said competing in national gymnastic contests before crowds of hundreds has prepared her to face rowdy sports fans at Quaker games. Waldman said if she is selected as the Quaker, she hopes Sartor will revamp the Quaker's outfit -- hopefully by adding a mask. Sartor said she thought only four students attended the meeting because she thinks people are uncomfortable performing without a mask. But Johnson said she thinks performing bare-faced is ideal. "You have to be able to transcend your costume," she said. "When you have [a mask], it's a persona you present as opposed to real facial expressions."

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