What’s Koan On?

A petition to redesign the Student Union logo to incorporate the Koan has been started, attracting around 140 signatures since Sunday 12 February.

The founder of the petition, Chemistry student Oliver Holmes, hopes to get enough signatures to be able to call a Union-wide referendum on the matter.

On the petition’s website, Holmes stated, “While Warwick Students’ Union has a recognisable and adored mascot (Spank the Monkey), it lacks an iconic symbol to mark its importance on the University’s campus.”

When asked whether this issue is likely to go to referendum, Students’ Union Democracy Officer Chris Luck said: “In order to call a referendum it has to be within a referendum period and unfortunately that deadline has passed.

“They could collect enough signatures to call a general meeting, but at the moment it all seems a bit of fun.”

The Koan, located outside the Arts Centre, was created by artist Lilane Lijn in 1972. It is based on the Zen Buddhist concept of a kōan, meaning questions without answers.

Its recent popularity has been attributed to the Facebook group ‘University of Warwick Memes’, where it has become a popular meme.