The Oski Yell
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The Oski Yell is the UC Berkeley spirit yell from which Berkeley's mascot, Oski the Bear, derives his name. Although Oski appeared in 1941, the yell was first performed around the turn of the 20th century. The yell's origins are uncertain, although the University of Illinois (which performed the yell with a different last line) has laid claim to it. The lyrics are:
Oski Wow-Wow!
Whiskey Wee-Wee!
Olee! Muckie-eye!
Olee! Berkeley-eye!
California! Wow!
Supposedly, a parody called "Farm Oski" exists at UC Davis (which originated as the agricultural campus of the University of California):
Bossy Cow-Cow!
Honey Bee-Bee!
Olee! Margarine!
Olee! Butterine!
Alfalfa! Hay!
The Oski Yell is currently almost never heard, its function overtaken by spirit songs such as "Big 'C'," "Fight for California," and "Sons of California."
External links
- California Traditions and Symbols (http://www.csua.berkeley.edu/~yoda/cal/traditions.html#oskiyell)
- "Cal's original Oski recalls mascot's glory days…" (http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/99legacy/11-10-1999a.html)
- UC Rally Committee (http://ucrc.berkeley.edu/)