I have been meditating lately on the fact that Portland State University choose to represent itself with the fine metaphor of…the Vikings. Not just something silly like the Ducks or the Beavers. Not an animal at all. Not some sort of respectable person or group, either. No, we picked one of the last groups in history you'd associate with scholarship, or education, or even vaguely civilized behavior. Next to us, Pirates are models of sophistication.
Sorry, for a moment there I thought we were at a University. My bad… So I've come up with a plan for addressing this situation. My plan involves taking the metaphor to its logical conclusion. I would like to see if I can get some of my students to start sneaking metaphorical references to actual Viking beliefs and practices into the school paper. Stuff like this [warning: disgusting]. (B)