Baby Jay

{{Short description|One of the official mascots of Kansas Jayhawks}}

{{Infobox mascot

| name = Baby Jay

| image =

| caption =

| university = University of Kansas

| conference = Big 12 Conference

| conference_short = Big 12

| description = Smaller Jayhawk costume

| name_origin =

| first_seen = 1971

| related_mascots = Big Jay

}}

Baby Jay is one of the costume mascots of the Kansas Jayhawks.{{cite web |title=The Mascots |url=https://www.ku.edu/about/traditions/mascots/ |publisher=University of Kansas |website=KU.edu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404200941/https://www.ku.edu/about/traditions/mascots/ |archive-date=April 4, 2018 |access-date=January 15, 2022 }} Together, Big Jay and Baby Jay are Jayhawks and are the mascots used by the University of Kansas. Another mascot named Centennial Jay was temporarily used in 2012.

Baby Jay was created by student Amy Sue Hurst and "hatched" at half-time of KU's Homecoming victory in football over Kansas State University on October 9, 1971, and has served as a mascot ever since.{{cite web |title=Take the Jayhawk Walk |url=http://www.union.ku.edu/traditions/walk/babyjay.html |access-date=March 4, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902022055/http://www.union.ku.edu/traditions/walk/babyjay.html |archive-date=September 2, 2006 }}

History

In 1970 Amy Hurst saw a Jayhawk bumper sticker depicting Big Jay and hatchlings, which inspired her to create a new mascot.{{cite web | title=Original Baby Jay Now Roosting in Kansas Union | url=http://www.oread.ku.edu/Oread03/Nov7/babyjay.html |access-date=March 4, 2007 }} After talking to a co-worker who was a Big Jay and getting approval from the KU Alumni Association she created Baby Jay.{{cite web |last=Andrews |first=Kim |title=Fund Helps Support Baby Jay Costume |url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/aug/14/fund_helps_support |date=August 14, 2004 |access-date=January 13, 2022 }}{{cite web | title=Baby Jays to Reunite | url=http://www.oread.ku.edu/Oread01/Oct5/jays.html |access-date=March 4, 2007 }}{{Cite web |last=Peterson {{!}} @CarlosWritesKU |first=Carlos |date=2019-03-07 |title=The history of Big Jay and the birth of Baby Jay |url=https://www.kansan.com/sports/the-history-of-big-jay-and-the-birth-of-baby-jay/article_cdb3f310-3ea1-11e9-8c85-d7118dd5f907.html |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=The University Daily Kansan |language=en}}

The official debut of Baby Jay was October 9, 1971 during the half-time of KU's homecoming game against in-state rivals Kansas State University. In front of 55,000 fans Big Jay hauled a large egg to the 50-yard line of Memorial Stadium. A few moments later Baby Jay "hatched" from the artificial egg and has served as an ambassador of KU at events across the country ever since.{{cite web| title= KU Heritage & Traditions| url= http://www.studenthandbook.ku.edu/heritrads.shtml | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070222125003/http://www.studenthandbook.ku.edu/heritrads.shtml |archive-date=February 22, 2007 |access-date=March 4, 2007 }}

The original costume, which consisted of chicken wire, fiberglass, and felt, weighed 30 pounds. The total cost was $53. In 2003, Amy Hurst, the original Baby Jay, started a fund to help cover the cost of the now $5,000 costume that is replaced every two years.{{cite web | title=KU Baby Jay Mascot Creators Establish Fund | url=http://www.news.ku.edu/2003/03N/NovNews/Nov7/babyjay.html |access-date=March 4, 2007 }}

Selection process

The selection process to become Baby Jay is generally during the spring semester. Baby Jay is typically a female student and must be between 4' 11" and 5' 1" tall.{{cite web | title=Baby Jay FAQs | url=http://www.kumascots.com/faqs.shtml |access-date=March 4, 2007 }} The auditioning process may also include 20 minutes of running, performing an entrance and exit routine, emotion and reaction exercises.

Duties

The primary duty of Baby Jay is to be an ambassador of KU, roaming the sidelines at football and basketball games giving hugs to youngsters.{{cite web|title=The Word on the Bird |url=http://6news.kusports.com/news/jayhawk_history/story/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060118002214/http://6news.kusports.com/news/jayhawk_history/story/2 |archive-date=January 18, 2006 |access-date=March 4, 2007 }} Baby Jay, being smaller than Big Jay, is often involved in entertaining children. Baby Jay is also present at most major university events such as athletic competitions, Tradition Night, Band Spectacular, and graduation.{{cite web | title=Traditions Night Stirs Spirit For New Jayhawk Students | url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/aug/20/traditions_night_stirs/ |access-date=March 4, 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070228195810/http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/aug/20/traditions_night_stirs/ |archive-date=February 28, 2007 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=Band Spectacular! |url=http://www2.ku.edu/cgiwrap/sfa/new/details.php?eventID=16163 |access-date=March 4, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704235359/http://www2.ku.edu/cgiwrap/sfa/new/details.php?eventID=16163 |archive-date=July 4, 2007 }}{{cite web | title=Ending Their KU Years with Plenty of Cheers | url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/may/23/grad05/?ku_news | access-date=2007-03-04}}

Baby Jay is also seen in the community attending weddings, opening the Godzilla film festival,{{cite web | title=Baby Jay to Inflate Godzilla | url=http://www.news.ku.edu/2004/04N/OctNews/Oct27/godzilla.html | access-date=March 4, 2007 }} or even lobbying legislators to fund higher education.{{cite web

|title=Hemenway Blasts House Budget Plans

|url=http://6news.ljworld.com/section/highered/story/199260

|access-date=March 4, 2007

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108083106/http://6news.ljworld.com/section/highered/story/199260

|archive-date=November 8, 2006

}}

In return for these services Baby Jay receives a $300 scholarship per semester.

Baby Jay

History

Selection process

Duties

See also

References

Further reading