For the first time in over ten years, Fr. Christopher Steck will not be the human at the end of Jack the Bulldog’s leash.
The selection of the new Jack, a three month old bulldog, was first announced on Aug. 30 to replace Jack Jr, who left Georgetown in mid-August to live with a nearby family after University officials decided the bulldog was not suited to a college environment.
Because of his commitments as the chair of the theology department, Steck originally proposed to continue his role as mascot caretaker with the addition of a student assistant.
“I thought the University might be interested in paying a senior, chosen competitively, $3,000-$5,000 a year for doing 10-15 hours of work a week,” Steck wrote in an email to the Voice. According to Steck, the University rejected this because “it felt it was simpler to have just one, stable person in charge of the role.”
However, Rachel Pugh, director of media relations, said Fr. Steck chose voluntarily not to be the caretaker: “Father Steck’s decision [to no longer be caretaker] was his own. It was not a decision of the committee, but was a personal decision by Father Steck.”.
When asked about Pugh’s statement, Steck wrote, “That is not exactly true. I wanted to be caretaker as long as I could get help doing the job. Hence my suggestion about the student.”
Former members of Jack Crew have expressed discontent that Fr. Steck will no longer be the caretaker. “I think this is really a shame. Father Steck understood the importance of Jack to Georgetown students and our greater community. I am very disappointed that the University has not found a way for Father Steck to continue as the new mascot’s caregiver,” former Jack Crew member Jackson Dealey (COL’08) wrote in an email to the Voice.
Neve Schadler (COL’15), head of Jack Crew, did not comment on the replacement of Fr. Steck. “The caretaker position has been carefully crafted by myself and other members of the BAC [Bulldog Advisory Committee] in order to insure that the puppy will be happiest in his new home,” she wrote in an email to the Voice.
The BAC will offer a townhouse on 36th Street to the new caretaker. “I think the hope is that the free rent for a two-bedroom house would be a big draw for applicants. Also, it was felt that the puppy would benefit from having a space away from the bustle of campus life,” Steck wrote. The townhouse also includes a bricked-in backyard.
The cost effectiveness of maintaining a townhouse, however, remains in question. Pugh asserts that the townhouse idea is not definite. “That’s just one of the offers on the table,” she said.
Jack’s arrival to campus is contingent on multiple factors, but the BAC hopes to expedite the process. “As soon as we have identified the caretaker, I think we’d like to bring Jack to campus as soon as possible. So I think it’s very realistic to say we could meet Jack this semester,” Pugh said.
“Currently, we’re developing the position description that we’d advertise in a few weeks to find qualified candidates. We’re still trying to figure out what exactly the criteria would be,” she added.
The new bulldog will come from Janice and Marcus Hochstetler, breeders from San Diego, Calif. who also donated Jack Jr. The new dog will come from the same line as Jack Jr. The mascot will be formally named Jack, but, according to Pugh, the committee looks forward to “see[ing] what the community comes up with for nicknames.”
The BAC, first convened before the summer, is composed of students, faculty, alumni, and staff. The committee has met almost weekly since the school year began. The committee has only three students: Adam Ramadan (SFS ‘14) and Schadler, both members of the Jack Crew, and Joe Fiorica (COL ‘14), president of Hoya Blue.
Although Jack Sr. is retired from activities, he will remain at Georgetown. Jack Sr.’s finances will be separate from those of new Jack. While the new Jack may be living off campus in a townhouse, Jack Sr. will continue living with Fr. Steck in New South.
The BAC additionally hopes to see the new and old mascots become friends. “What we haven’t discussed at all is when Jack might meet Jack Sr … [but] doggy play dates are important. It’s great for dogs to have time with other dogs,” Pugh said.
I think the new bulldog should live with Father Steck. Father Steck’s idea of having a student as an assistant to help with the young bulldog’s
care is a good idea. Father Steck has lived with EB’s for at least 10 years. He knows the breed and their personality traits. He loves English
bulldog’s.
Also, the Butler mascots have and continue to go to campus everyday to their caretaker’s office. If those bulldogs could spend a lot of time on campus, so can the future bulldog mascot for Georgetown.