Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The college does not have a traditional mascot like many other schools, but it does have a unique symbol known as the "hampster." The hampster is a playful combination of a hamster and a Hampshire sheep, which are both animals that can be found on the college's campus. The name "hampster" is a clever play on words, combining the words "Hampshire" and "hamster" to create a fun and memorable mascot. The hampster represents the spirit of Hampshire College, which is known for its unconventional approach to education. The college encourages students to take a hands-on, interdisciplinary approach to learning, and the hampster embodies this spirit of creativity and curiosity.
Pick veggies in the community garden, explore nature trails through campus, or check out the college farm. You'll find the Hampshire campus is specifically designed for forging friendships and building community. The best way to experience one of the nation's most innovative campuses? Visit for yourself.
Before coming to Hampshire, newly appointed Assistant Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies Noah Romero was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and collaborated extensively with the Center for Indigenous Peoples Education at Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, in the Philippines. One of the results of this trend was a desire to integrate photography, film, and sound recordings with text for a variety of purposes, academic and social.
The college encourages students to take a hands-on, interdisciplinary approach to learning, and the hampster embodies this spirit of creativity and curiosity. Although the hampster is not a traditional mascot, it serves as a symbol of the college's values and community. It can be seen on various items around campus, such as t-shirts, banners, and promotional materials.
Hampshire college mascot
For nearly my entire high school career, I had been adamant that I wouldn’t go to college. Maybe I’d go to a trade school or take a few classes at a community college on the side while I worked. But I certainly wouldn’t be a four-year student.
Middle school and high school had been an uphill battle. It’s a system that was designed by committee so it would work well enough for most people. Anyone who didn’t fit? Fall in line, or you’re on your own.
Blaise Paine [ Provided ]I felt there was no place for me in higher education. I would always be the square peg trying to force itself into a round hole.
But then, on Sept. 20, 2022, I first set foot on the New College of Florida’s campus in Sarasota. I was met by two student admissions ambassadors. They spoke to me like I was a person, instead of a marketing demographic. They talked about the school as they led me around campus, filled with excitement and deep love for the school. They weren’t trying to sell me a degree, dorm room or intercollegiate sports. They were trying to tell me they had a place for me.
They had a place for me.
There’s a place for me.
The day I got my acceptance email, my mom ordered a shirt from New College’s online store. I didn’t know until Christmas. She held it up in front of her. It said “New College Mom.” I didn’t cry that day, but I’ve cried plenty of times since. My mom wanted me to go to college, but she saw my point of view, too. She knew there might not be a place for me. But I found it. She was so proud of me.
That joy turned into a source of unending stress on Jan. 6. With no warning, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he had appointed six new members to New College’s Board of Trustees, and they quickly got to work tearing down everything that made the college special. In some ways, literally.
For months, I kept alive the idea that I could stick it out. That the board could only do so much, and if I just waited for them to score their political points in the media, they’d grow bored of their march to the sea, the returns diminishing.
The breaking point was the commencement. New interim President Richard Corcoran stood at the back of the stage as students crossed to receive their diplomas. He didn’t shake their hands.
It took me many months to realize that I was clinging to a dying dream. In early May, I reached out to Hampshire College, a similar school in Massachusetts that had previously offered admission to New College students looking to transfer in the wake of its takeover. Their transfer and admissions departments were incredibly accommodating, helping me to apply and speak with various departments as fast as possible, despite the fact that their application deadline had long since passed.
The hampster also makes appearances at college events and sports games, helping to foster school pride and unity among students, faculty, and alumni. In conclusion, Hampshire College's mascot, the hampster, is a unique and fun symbol that represents the college's unconventional approach to education. While it may not be a traditional mascot, the hampster serves as a source of pride and unity for the Hampshire College community..
Reviews for "The Hampshire College Mascot: A Source of Inspiration for Creative Expression"
1. John - 1 star
I must say, Hampshire college's choice for a mascot is truly baffling. The Amherst Mammoth? Really? It's hard to take a college seriously when they've chosen such an absurd and irrelevant mascot. I mean, what does a mammoth have to do with an educational institution? It's just laughable. I expected better from Hampshire college, but this decision really disappoints me.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I have to admit, the Hampshire college mascot is quite strange. The narwhal? I understand that the college wants to be unique and stand out, but come on, a narwhal? It just feels completely random and out of place. A college mascot should represent the values and spirit of the institution, and I fail to see how a narwhal fits into that. Overall, I find it hard to take the mascot seriously, and it definitely doesn't leave a positive impression.
3. Mike - 1 star
The Hampshire college mascot, the purple squirrel, is just plain ridiculous. It feels like a joke or a parody, rather than a serious representation of the college. I understand that Hampshire college likes to be unconventional and whimsical, but this choice is just too over-the-top. It's hard to feel any sense of pride or connection to a mascot that is so absurd. I hope that Hampshire college reconsiders their choice and opts for something more grounded and meaningful in the future.