Usually, the birthday guest is expected to attend their own party. But campus celebrity Bevo is so in demand that he could not find the time to attend his own birthday bash Monday.
“He’s a busy longhorn,” said Angela Park, event coordinator for Campus Events + Entertainment. “We will definitely try to get him for next year.”
Texas Traditions, an E+E committee, tried reserving Bevo for the celebration of the mascot’s 101st birthday, but there was an overscheduling conflict and the mascot couldn’t attend, said Park, human development and family sciences junior.
The party took place at the East Mall and offered cookie decorating, cupcakes, Cornhole games and selfies with UT’s costumed mascot Hook ‘Em and Silver Spurs members.
Volunteers from Silver Spurs helped E+E helped host the event. Silver Spurs is responsible for handling Bevo and scheduling his events, said Spurs member Hudson Nix. Groups can request Bevo on the Spurs’ website, but his appearances don’t always work out, finance junior Nix said.
“There were a lot of scheduling (problems) and the ranch is a little far away,” Nix said. “They just like to have him graze normally because he gets stressed out if he has too many events in one week.”
According to Nix, four Spurs members are elected by the group each year to handle Bevo and transport him to events. None of the handlers attended the birthday bash, but Nix and another Spurs member, Sean Kelly, said they have heard from the handlers that Bevo has a spunky demeanor because of his youth.
“He’s nice,” petroleum engineering junior Kelly said. “He’s a little shy and can get a little ornery sometimes.”
This is the first year E+E is hosting a birthday party for Bevo and they hope to make it a tradition, Park said.
At the event, E+E collected toy donations for Partnerships for Children, which aids children under the care of Child Protective Services.
Nutrition sophomore Krystal Martinez found out about the birthday bash from a campus poster and brought a friend. Both said they were disappointed Bevo was not there but would be sure to come in future years if E+E can score an appearance for the birthday bash.
“It is his birthday after all,” Martinez said.
