2008 Woodie Awards
Stuffed animals collect in students' dorms
Tiffany Schreane
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: Culture
Many UTC students say despite their adult appearance, they are still attached to their stuffed animals.
These stuffed animals are used for different reasons: sometimes due to attachment, because of longevity, a memory or simple decorum.
According to Nancy Badger, director of the counseling center, stuffed animals may be referred to in psychological terms as transitional objects.
"This object may not necessarily be a stuffed animal, but a reminder of something good before they moved into a new stage," Badger said.
Badger also stated these objects may also be around for security reasons, whether they are collectibles or something else.
Several students admit to still keeping track of their childhood toys.
Dolly Leeseberg, a junior from Chattanooga, said she has stuffed animals because her relatives gave them to her as gifts.
Amanda Pippin, a sophomore from Chattanooga, said she has a lot of stuffed animals for no particular reason.
"I have a bed full of stuffed animals. Just something for decoration," said Pippin.
Jillian Williams, a sophomore from Lewisburg, Tenn., said she does not have any stuffed animals.
"I have no attachment to any I received when I was younger," Williams said.
Other students became collectors later in life.
DeMarcus Boyce, a Memphis freshman, said he has had a Chuck E. Cheese stuffed animal for two years.
"It is hanging on the wall next to my [Chuck E. Cheese] Employee of the Month picture," he said.
Boyce also said he has all but two of the Chuck E. Cheese collection.
Also, Boyce said he has friends with stuffed animals, but he is not going to tell on them.
Lydia Grafton, a Nashville junior, said she was not a stuffed animal collector until she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and received lots of frogs, because they are associated with the sorority.
She said her favorite stuffed animal is "Mr. Froggy."
She said: "He's my honey."
Grafton also said when people make her angry or mad, she tells them Mr. Froggy is going to get them.
These stuffed animals are used for different reasons: sometimes due to attachment, because of longevity, a memory or simple decorum.
According to Nancy Badger, director of the counseling center, stuffed animals may be referred to in psychological terms as transitional objects.
"This object may not necessarily be a stuffed animal, but a reminder of something good before they moved into a new stage," Badger said.
Badger also stated these objects may also be around for security reasons, whether they are collectibles or something else.
Several students admit to still keeping track of their childhood toys.
Dolly Leeseberg, a junior from Chattanooga, said she has stuffed animals because her relatives gave them to her as gifts.
Amanda Pippin, a sophomore from Chattanooga, said she has a lot of stuffed animals for no particular reason.
"I have a bed full of stuffed animals. Just something for decoration," said Pippin.
Jillian Williams, a sophomore from Lewisburg, Tenn., said she does not have any stuffed animals.
"I have no attachment to any I received when I was younger," Williams said.
Other students became collectors later in life.
DeMarcus Boyce, a Memphis freshman, said he has had a Chuck E. Cheese stuffed animal for two years.
"It is hanging on the wall next to my [Chuck E. Cheese] Employee of the Month picture," he said.
Boyce also said he has all but two of the Chuck E. Cheese collection.
Also, Boyce said he has friends with stuffed animals, but he is not going to tell on them.
Lydia Grafton, a Nashville junior, said she was not a stuffed animal collector until she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and received lots of frogs, because they are associated with the sorority.
She said her favorite stuffed animal is "Mr. Froggy."
She said: "He's my honey."
Grafton also said when people make her angry or mad, she tells them Mr. Froggy is going to get them.
