A recently hired Auburn University professor took to social media this week to let everyone know he would not say the school’s “battle cry” of “War Eagle” … because it contains the word “war.”
Jesse Goldberg will be joining the Alabama institution this coming academic year as a “lecturer of African American & American Literature and Composition in the English department,” according to Yellowhammer.
On his now-protected Twitter account, Goldberg wrote “I know it’s just a mascot but I’m never gonna be able to call myself a ‘war eagle’ or say ‘go war eagles.’ Sorry.
“I can’t bring myself to enthusiastically and sincerely use a slogan/greeting/cultural signal with ‘war’ as a primary descriptor. Yeah I know I’m being a party pooper but it’s the kind of language thing that sticks with me.”
Goldberg might have done a little research into his new employer; according to Auburn’s website, “War Eagle” is not a mascot. As noted, it’s the school’s chant/battle cry.
The prof’s Twitter bio reads “Lecturer @ Auburn U | Black Studies, Critical Prison Studies, Queer Theory, American Literature | Abolitionist | martial artist | views are mine | he/him/his” and his account includes this background image:
The official Auburn Twitter account noticed its new hire’s tweets and responded thusly:
We know it's been explained to you that we only say "Go Tigers" & "War Eagle," but just give it some time… you'll see what they mean!
(Wait until you meet @AubietheTiger01!) #WarEagle
— Auburn University (@AuburnU) May 13, 2020
As you might expect, Goldberg’s remarks about the school chant weren’t greeted very cordially by the Auburn community:
^This is the only correct response to this tweet.^
— Tactics (@tacticsradio) May 13, 2020
Hopefully for the sake of the university and its students, his contract allows for cancellation for this kind of behavior on social media. Auburn is too good to put millennials with agendas and little common sense in front of a classroom.
— Scott Ellis (@scecreative) May 14, 2020
I’m very liberal, but this guy is being ridiculous. #WarEagle #WDE (or in the case of a particularly monumental win, #WFE).
— Matt 🌊🇺🇸🥁 (@CMattShores) May 14, 2020
And the prof responded in kind:
Goldberg also noted it’s a “[g]ood thing I’ve been training in martial arts even longer than I’ve been training in anti-racism, I guess.”
Read the Yellowhammer article.
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IMAGES: Shutterstock.com; Yellowhammer, Twitter screenshots
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