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Stanford tree mascot suspended after opening ‘Stanford hates fun’ banner at game

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The Stanford Cardinal mascot

The Stanford Tree was hung after holding a “Stanford Hates Fun” banner at a football game. (Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Stanford Tree has been suspended indefinitely.

The student who works as the Cardinals’ mascot, the Stanford Tree, was suspended from his position after pulling out a banner that read “Stanford Hates Fun” during a game earlier this month.

It is unclear how long the suspension will last, but a former Stanford tree will step in – so Stanford will continue to have a mascot at future events.

“To our knowledge, the band’s student leaders decided to exclude this year’s tree from band activities for the remainder of fall quarter, applying the principles set forth in their internal rules and participation standards,” the university said in a statement to Yahoo Sports. “The student leaders then communicated their decision to the university.”

The Stanford Tree displayed the banner during halftime of the Cardinals’ 15-14 win over Arizona State on Oct. 22. According to the Stanford Daily, the message is part of a long-running protest by students against what they see as the university’s restrictions on participation in social events and parties.

This isn’t the first time a Stanford Tree has been suspended, either. According to ESPN, two mascots were suspended during basketball season in 2006, one for dancing in a non-designated area during the NCAA tournament and the other for drinking before a game. Another mascot was suspended in 2016 after allegations of bullying, among other things.

Stanford, currently 3-5 and in last place in the Pac 12, hosts Washington State on Saturday.

While it is easy to see why the mascot was suspended, the decision seems to reinforce the original message more than anything else.

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