(Photo Courtesy of Northwestern College)Orange City, Iowa — Northwestern College has introduced Red the Raider, a new mascot who’ll represent Raider Nation at campus and community events. Instead of being representative of an actual “raider” as one of Northwestern’s former symbols used to depict — a knight holding a lance riding a horse — “Red” is a red fox.
Red has already made a few early appearances and will be formally introduced during Raider Nation Celebration on October 2nd and 3rd.
The mascot is the result of a year-long development process aimed at strengthening Northwestern’s brand identity and expanding its reach. Red will appear at admissions and alumni events, athletic contests, and community activities throughout the region.
President Greg Christy says Red reflects the qualities Northwestern wants associated with its Raider identity. He says the college has spent years defining what it means to be a Raider — smart, strong, courageous, faithful, servant-minded leaders — and that Red embodies those values rather than traditional “raider” imagery.
A campus survey last winter helped guide the mascot committee’s decision. Members determined that a fox-inspired design best met their goals of creating a mascot that is both fierce and friendly, while remaining distinctive from other colleges. Models for the non-literal approach included KC Wolf of the Kansas City Chiefs and Cy the Cardinal at Iowa State.
Red the Raider was developed by Street Characters Inc., a leading mascot design firm whose clients include the Colorado Avalanche, San Francisco 49ers, A&W Restaurants, Energizer, and the University of Iowa, among others.
