Cochise Lucas/ Whetstone
How much is Wally the Wolverine’s presence on the football sidelines worth?

Was it worth the $1,200 Student Life and the football team spent to send the student and costume with a student life activities administrator to a game in Texas last semester?

Officials of the Student Government Association don’t think so.

SGA president Tanner Polce said called the Dec. 3 trip “frivolous spending.”

“It’s a waste of money when the registrar’s office can’t even buy pencils,” he said.

The money paid for the plane ride for the mascot and Sarah Smith, student activities director.

The SGA became involved after Smith and the student who acts as the mascot asked the SGA for money to go to Texas with the football team.

The organization denied the request.

Polce said the trip would have been more worthwhile if the school was not decreasing its budget.

“All of these activities are great except when we’re cutting back,” he said.

The mascot had asked for Smith to come along to act as navigator while the student was in the suit, as well as helping the student in and out of the costume.

“SGA has the ability to fund or not what whatever requests come their way,” Smith said.

Because of the denial, Smith got Student Life and the football team to fund the trip.

“The football team covered the cost of the hotel and some of the meals with the team,” head football coach Mike Drass said.

Polce said the trip was described to him as a personal opportunity for the student, but Smith disagreed.

“The decision to send Wally to Texas was based on the improvement of school spirit,” Smith said. “No students and very few supporters were able to make the game as it was far away and this was an opportunity to support the entire football team, who brings the national attention to our school.”

“Who is in the suit is supposed to be a mystery so it would not be for personal gain,” she said.

Drass said Wally improved the school spirit.

“Over 100 Wesley fans were there from families and alumni,” he said. “I believe they felt it was very supportive.”

Drass said the teams Wesley has played against have previously brought their mascots to Wesley’s home games.

“It was really great to have Wally come with us,” he said. “After seeing all the mascots over the years travel to Dover and represent their college, we felt proud to have Wally with us.”

Polce said he requested Wally to be present at the holiday parade held the same weekend.

“We bought Wally (the costume) and we wanted Wally to be in the holiday parade, but we couldn’t because he had to be in Texas,” Polce said. “Bryan [Zarou] told Sarah they wanted the costume then.”

Smith said there was no formal request.

“I was aware of the parade as the Greek community was a participant but no formal request had been presented to me to have Wally present,” she said.