The bronze tiger bares its teeth, mouth open in a roar. It stretches forward, as if about to stride across a lawn at Towson University, but all four paws are planted firmly on the ground.
That makes it harder to steal a leg.
At a ceremony yesterday, university officials unveiled the statue, a gift from the alumni association, and said that they hoped it would bolster school spirit. They also expressed the wish that this tiger would fare better than the last.
FOR THE RECORD - An article in Friday's Maryland section about the unveiling of a new tiger statue at Towson University incorrectly identified the Student Government Association's president. His name is Patrick Dieguez.
The Sun regrets the errors.
"It's an amazing tribute to the university that will obviously last for many, many years," said Student Government Association president Patrick Dominguez. "Much longer than our old tiger."
For nearly a decade, a growling fiberglass tiger stood in front of the university library. Vandals seemed not to take its raised paw as a threat, but as an invitation. They broke off its leg - as well as the tail and numerous teeth - in episodes spanning a decade, according to university police.
Nearly toothless and emblazoned with profanities, the old tiger was taken down in April after being attacked twice over spring break.
Some students said that losing the tiger was a blow to morale.
"I think people were generally upset by it because it was something that defined Towson University," Dominguez said in an interview. The culprits, he said, "were kind of messing with our history and messing with us."
The university community pushed for a new tiger, but a beast of a different stripe. This mascot needed to be indestructible, they said.
So the Alumni Association commissioned a bronze tiger with all four paws bolted to the platform and its tail wrapped around its right hind leg.
"The vendor told us that it will last forever," said Lori Armstrong, vice president of alumni affairs.
The tiger perches on an expanse of grass in front of Stephens Hall, the university's oldest building and the home of its iconic clock tower. Motorists passing by on York Road will be able to see it, as will students who have classes in that part of campus.
University police officers will also be able to keep a closer eye on it. But students say that they're not quite sure that this tiger won't be mauled.
"The head is still up for grabs," joked senior management major Terrel Dumars, as he sat in a group study room in the Cook Library. He was working on a business proposal with his friends John Donovan, a senior business administration major, and Nick Paska, a senior management major.
