Maryland Daily Photo

Thanks to the UMD class of 2004, the University of Maryland is quickly becoming the nation’s top public university for creative depictions of its mascot.   I don’t just appreciate the medium of this sculpture, I also appreciate his pose for this particular piece.  Its all too often that we see shots of the paranoid Testudo, who is always looking over his shoulder and sort of growling and sticking his tongue out at whichever members of the opposition have gathered to his left.   Don’t get me wrong, I am going to stand behind Testudo no matter what he’s doing or looking at, but if I had to choose, I’d say that I’m a fan of quadruped Testudo and I’m very much a fan of his home here in front of Cole.  

In this state, Testudo appears confident and relaxed.  You do still have to fear him because of his intimidating stare, but now you must also fear him for the confidence of his walk and the resigned intelligence indicated by his posture.   His inquisitive stare is indicative of where this Testudo wants to go: to the library? Maybe you should fear him for his mind.  

Now, like in all art, there are alternative interpretations available to the viewer.  At first, I thought that he was staring, with a sad and longing eye, towards the site of his beloved and now empty WaWa.   It was after further thought on the subject, I decided that he was likely just headed towards the library.