1st National Tiger Awareness Week a ROARING Success!

Seven tiger-mascot schools across the nation participated in T4T’s 1^st Annual National Tiger Awareness Week from November 10^th - November 16^th. The idea was sparked at the last National T4T Summit held in Columbia, MO and is the first nationally student-led initiative for Tigers for Tigers!

The overall purpose of this week was to raise awareness on campus by engaging with students through interactive activities. One activity known as “The Tiger Skit” involves the university mascot being chased by a “poacher” in high traffic areas throughout campus. Encouraging conversation on social media, students are asked to tweet photos of the mascot using #MakeARoar. As a result, over 300 tweets were produced with the hashtag! Melissa Ventura, Towson University T4T club member said, “The Tiger Skit was a fun and creative way to bring awareness around campus regarding endangered wild tigers.” Rochester Institute of Technology’s mascot, Ritchie, even managed to make it on their local news channel, Fox Rochester WUHF, while competing in a #MascotMatchup! Click here to watch the clip.

Towson mascot, Doc, helps T4T #MakeARoar

A main focus of the week was to showcase the award-winning documentary, “The Elephant in the Living Room.” Starring Tim Harrison, Director of Outreach for Animals, this documentary explores the world of private ownership of exotic animals from both the owner’s and law enforcement’s side. Tim Harrison, expert on the removal of exotic animals, spoke at the 2^nd Annual T4T Summit at Mizzou and most recently at Clemson University for National Tiger Awareness Week. Over 100 students showed up on a Friday night at Tillman Auditorium in Clemson, SC to listen to Tim Harrison speak about the consequences of owning exotic animals, why it’s dangerous, and why it’s important to act now. Harrison said, “This is my favorite organization here in the U.S., and I’m not exaggerating, because you guys are going to pick up the baton.” Tigers for Tigers has gladly accepted that offer!

Ranging from Colorado, to Texas, all the way to New York, these universities reached a total student population of over 130,000 on their campuses. Being mostly an awareness campaign, clubs across the country still managed to raise over $1,000 to go towards tiger conservation. Organizations such as National Wildlife Refuge Association, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Big Cat Rescue and Outreach for Animals promoted the week as well, reaching out to over 1 million fans on Facebook and Twitter. Hats off to the T4T clubs at Colorado College, Trinity University, LSU, Mizzou, RIT, Towson University and Clemson University for participating in a very successful National Tiger Awareness Week!

Visit our Facebook to view more photos from the event!

Go Tigers!

Carrah Lingo

Communications Associate

NT4TC

clingo@clemson.edu 

Tigers for Tigers Hopes to #MakeARoar for Tiger Conservation

The National Tigers for Tigers Coalition will be holding its 1^st Annual National Tiger Awareness Week at various tiger mascot schools across the nation starting Monday, November 10^th through Sunday, November 16^th in hopes of raising awareness for tiger conservation.

Inspired at the 2^nd Annual National Tigers for Tigers Coalition Summit this past April, students decided to coordinate a tiger awareness week in efforts to save their mascot. Throughout the week, the Coalition hopes to amplify school spirit, increase local membership, and to share stories across social media.

College students across the nation have been working together to plan and execute this weeklong series of events. Various activities include:  “Pie an athlete in the face,” screenings of the documentary, “The Elephant in the Living Room,” and restaurant fundraisers.

“Forming just under two years ago, this first student-driven national collaboration is a big feat,”  National Tigers for Tigers Coalition Coordinator, Sean Carnell, said.  “These dedicated students are willing to sacrifice their time and energy to take part in something bigger than themselves.”

The National Tigers for Tigers Coalition is the first known organization to rally students across the country for the conservation of their mascot.  Seven universities ranging from the states of New York to Colorado and hundreds of students are working together for this event with one common goal, to save their mascot. 

”With big schools such as LSU, University of Missouri, and Clemson University, they’re sure to grab the attention of their fellow tiger fans,“  added Carnell. “When we work together, and when we can come together under a common cause, we realize that we have true power and influence to make a change.”

Founded at Clemson University in 2012, the Coalition stands 13 schools strong today. Its mission is, “to mobilize students to connect the dots through the affinity that we share for our mascot to improve the status of tigers in the wild and in captivity.

Carnell urges, “If you’re not able to physically participate in any of the schools’ events, join the conversation by tweeting @T4T_Coalition with #MakeARoar, and share why you think it’s important to save the tiger from extinction."

To learn more information about the National Tigers for Tigers Coalition, visit www.t4tcoalition.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

  

Go #MakeARoar!

Carrah Lingo

Communications Associate 

National Tigers for Tigers Coalition