Members of the LSU community are used to watching Mike VI, the University’s live tiger mascot, travel around Tiger Stadium before football games and splash in his habitat’s waterfall.
But for fans wanting a closer peek, the School of Veterinary Medicine is raising money through an auction in which 75 winning bidders get to “Spend An Evening With Mike VI.”
“This is an absolutely awesome opportunity for anyone who is contemplating helping the Vet School,” said Betty Karlsson, executive director for institutional advancement at the Vet School. “They’ll get to be up close and personal with [Mike VI] and see how he is fed and talk with his caregivers. … They will actually go for 30 minutes behind the scenes with Mike.”
The online auction began Sept. 18 and ends Dec. 18. Though Karlsson said she could not reveal the number of bids already placed, she said the response “has been excellent.”
The 75 winning bidders and accompanying guests will attend one of two “special evenings” in January or February, which includes “a special dinner with Vet School Dean Peter Haynes in the Tiger Stadium box venue and a behind-the-scenes guided tour of Mike VI’s habitat and private enclosure.” Winners will also attend a presentation by Mike VI’s personal veterinarian, David Baker, and receive a signed, first-edition copy of his 2003 book “Mike the Tiger, The Roar of LSU,” according to the Vet School’s website.
Minimum bids are $2,000, and Karlsson said she expects some bids to be greater than that amount. Karlsson said all proceeds will benefit the Vet School’s Philanthropic Partners Fund, which serves as a dean’s excellence fund.
The Vet School dean may then give that money to help students with emergency needs, to provide special equipment and resources and to fund special faculty or student organization projects that otherwise would not have funding, Karlsson said.
Karlsson said attendees will learn about Mike VI’s history as well as the stories behind his predecessors, such as the procedures the tigers go through, how they are cared for and what the mascots eat.
Mike’s Twitter account, @MikeTigerVI, invited followers to bid in the auction on Sept. 28.
“Want to check out my place?” the tiger tweeted. “The LSU Vet School is auctioning off an evening with me, Mike VI.”
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Contact Sarah Eddington at [email protected]