Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University will unveil a statue of its mascot, Wolfie the Seawolf, on Thursday, September 26, at 4 pm. The statue includes a dedicated bench for resting and taking photos. A rain date is set for Friday, September 27, at 11 am.

Vice President for Student Affairs Rick Gatteau emphasized Wolfie's importance to the campus community: "We are so excited to show everyone how much we love Wolfie, as he is the heart of our community." He added that featuring Wolfie as a lasting symbol was part of the university's efforts to beautify the campus.

Ken Marcus, a Stony Brook alumnus from the class of 1971, funded the statue. He was inspired by his experience at the University of Michigan and its prominent campus landmark. Marcus reflected on his time at Stony Brook when the mascot was called the Patriots and expressed hope that the new statue would become a focal point and meeting place on campus.

Chris Murray, who earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from Stony Brook in 2010 and 2013 respectively, spoke about Wolfie's unifying presence: "Wolfie is more than just a mascot — he's a symbol that brings the entire Stony Brook University community together."

Christian Sugiarto, class of 2016, shared his personal connection with Wolfie: "Wolfie means a lot to me. He represents what a model school-spirited student should be." Sugiarto described how embodying Wolfie helped him grow personally.

Dylan Schreiber, class of 2017, also expressed his pride in seeing Wolfie receive this tribute: "I think it's great that Wolfie's getting a statue and I hope it can help be a focal point of students' pride in Stony Brook."

The unveiling event reflects broad support from faculty, staff, students past and present, and alumni who view Wolfie as an essential part of their university experience.

— Emily Cappiello