Sometime in the early 70’s, an MCC student mentioned to art professor Chuck Haas that his family was dismantling a run-down Irondequoit cabin. Chuck can’t remember who the student was. Can’t even recall much of what he looked like. But Chuck does remember the student told him there was a moose head inside that was up for grabs.
“I drove over with this kid,” said Chuck more than a quarter of a century later. “We had to walk through the woods into this gully and cart him up the hill. That’s when he lost one of his eyes.” The “him” they carted was Melvin. Melvin the Moose. The eye was one of those glass ones taxidermists use. Melvin has been the furry guardian of Chuck’s classroom ever since. Students have incorporated his likeness into their drawings and sketches. They’ve immortalized Melvin in pastels and charcoal.
“I suppose we could have named him Chuck Head or Head O’Chuck but he just looked like a Melvin,” said Julianna Williams, art faculty member.” She’s the one who stood on a chair yesterday armed with the holiday spirit and a fistful of blinking colored lights which she used to festively lasso Melvin's massive neck and antlers.
When the art department moved from Building 4 to Building 12 in the mid-90’s, Melvin came along for the ride. If the department had a mascot, some say they already have a moose that would be perfect for the gig. But Chuck doesn’t like to trivialize Melvin’s importance. He’s not particularly amused when Melvin is occasionally discovered sporting a party hat or a pair of sunglasses. Chuck even resisted the Christmas lights. “I guess I’m just trying to preserve his dignity,” he said.
Janet Ekis
Public Affairs
12/15/2003 |