Here at Missouri State University, we obviously love our bears. One of the most photogenic bears on campus would be the bear statue located in front of the Plaster Student Union on the North mall. This bear is iconic and is involved in a very important tradition: students and families must take a picture with her.
Personally, I have taken quite a few photos with the statue, most important being my move-in day freshman year. I plan to try to take at least one photo with the statue for the 4 (or 5 or 6) years I’m here at Missouri State. It is known that after graduation, eager graduated bears line up in their cap and gowns to get a photo of their college days coming to a close with the statue. On different occasions, I still snap a selfie when I get a chance to document how I am changing with my college experiences while the statue will always remain the same. Many older students say they can still remember the first time they took a photo with the statue.
If you think a bear statue is too boring for you, swing by during a game day or graduation. The bear statue has her own collection of attire including, but not limited to, a football jersey and graduation cap and gown. At night, she has her very own spotlights to let her shine and be available for pictures at any time. She also is very active on social media and can be followed on twitter @ThePSUBear.
I am sure that many students have already gotten at least one photo with the bear statue, but I also encourage families to stop by to get their photo taken next time they make a visit. The bear statue loves seeing Missouri State families!
~Zoe
Zoe Pixler, a sophomore majoring in Photography and Art Education, is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma where she is the Goals and Resource Coordinator. She is also one of the two Family Orientation Coordinators.