Union University senior class donates live mascot to campus

JACKSON, Tenn. — Union University has grown by four feet — make that four paws — with the addition of its new live mascot, Buster.

Buster is a 12-week-old English bulldog who comes from a kennel in Kansas.

“I don’t think they could’ve picked a better mascot,” Buster’s handler and assistant residence director Rusty Tuders said. “They got him Saturday night, we got him Sunday, and he’s probably met a thousand students since then.”

Each year, the senior class at Union donates a gift to either students or the community. This year they gave the puppy.

Buster will live in the Heritage Complex with Tuders and his wife, Susan. “Every year, new freshmen will meet him and he’s going to have a little area where we can sit him outside and he can meet as many people who want to come by and pet him,” Tuders said.

Web exclusive: Watch Buster meet another puppy for the first time since living on campus.

Susan said it was a no-brainer to welcome Buster into their home. In July, the couple will also welcome a baby girl into the family.

Susan joked that Buster is giving the couple a head start in learning how to take shifts while the pup is potty training and not sleeping much.

Buster has brought even more school spirit to the campus, according to Susan.

“He’s like the biggest part of Union right now, so everyone’s excited and wants to meet him — squeeze his wrinkles,” she said.

Buster makes the second live mascot for the university.

The bulldog is going to enter obedience classes and finish just in time for the fall semester.

Tuders said the senior class also ordered a bow tie for Buster to match Union University President “Dub” Oliver’s signature attire.