Fall 2012 Alumni Magazine - Lake Erie College

History
Tiberius statue represents beloved traditions
by Holly Menzie MBA ’06
Tiberius, an impressive statue of a black
Labrador retriever, has been an important
part of Lake Erie College culture and lore
since the early 1900s, when it was moved
from the property of former dean Harriet
Young to campus.
The statue originally stood on the lawn east
of College Hall, where it welcomed students,
faculty and visitors to the College. This
statue of Tiberius was stolen, presumably by
members of a Case Western Reserve fraternity,
and was never seen again. The following
poem, originally published in the 1957 “Tiber,”
describes the demise of Tiberius I (side panel).
Tiberius II appeared on campus in 1975, thanks
to Jane White Lincoln, who found a duplicate
of the original statue in an antique shop in
upstate New York. This statue stood on the
College Green between Lincoln Commons
(where the Holden Center is now) and
College Hall, where it stood guard until it was
destroyed in 1984.
Tiberius was only a memory until a new
statue (a sitting-down version) was presented
as a commencement gift from the Class of
2004. The class was proud to bring back
the tradition of Tiberius and wished all who
looked upon him many good luck blessings.
This statue still sits next to the gazebo on
the College Green.
Before the first football game of the 2008
season, another new Tiberius, a gift of
President Victor and Deborah (Blanchard)
Remington ’74, was dedicated. Tiberius IV
now stands on the original base, which has
been recovered and placed again on the
Campus Green between College Hall and
the Holden Center. It has become a new
tradition that all members of the Storm
football team pat the head of Tiberius for
good luck throughout the season.
Tiberius also serves as the symbol for the
Lake Erie College Ambassadors. Student
leaders who become members of the
Ambassadors are accepted into the Order of
Tiberius as a prelude to their roles as official
greeters and event hosts.
Through the years, there have been many
stories of Tiberius taking midnight walks,
smoking cigarettes, eating cookies, and
even barking. He has been sat on, dressed
up, painted and revered by all. Tiberius
represents the pride the College community
has in this institution. His loyalty symbolizes
everyone’s steadfast faithfulness to Lake
Erie College – its mission, traditions and
students. He serves as the guardian of the
campus and the entire Lake Erie family.
Tiberius has long survived as a symbol of
longevity, protection and school spirit. The
traditions associated with this beloved statue
of a black Labrador retriever will live forever.
34 LAKE ERIE | FALL ‘12