Editing University of York (section)

===Long Boi===
{{Main|Long Boi}}
[[Long Boi]] was a 70-cm tall [[Indian Runner]]-[[Mallard]] Duck cross that lived by Derwent College, and became an unofficial mascot to the university.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-56993465 |title=Long Boi: York university duck becomes social media star |work=BBC News |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209133838/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-56993465 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022 students campaigned to erect a life-sized statue of Long Boi due to his 'cultural significance' and 'contribution to student life'. In response, the union president said that he would explore possible options to construct a statue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Erect a statue of Longboi on campus |url=https://yusu.org/suggestions/view/120 |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=University of York Student's Union |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509144251/https://yusu.org/suggestions/view/120 |url-status=live }}</ref> In spring 2023, after several months without a confirmed sighting, the university announced that Long Boi was presumed to be dead.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Constable |first1=Oli |last2=Wright |first2=Oliver |date=11 May 2023 |title=Long Boi: Missing University of York duck presumed dead |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65555546 |url-status=live |access-date=23 May 2023 |website=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=11 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511102827/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-65555546 }}</ref>

A fundraising campaign raised enough money to commission a life-size bronze statue of Long Boi by sculptor Neil Mason.<ref>{{cite web |last=Davies |first=Brooke |date=18 May 2023 |title=Long Boi fans trying to raise £10,000 for duck's memorial statue |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/05/18/long-boi-fans-trying-to-raise-10000-for-ducks-memorial-statue-18801020/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 May 2023 |website=Metro |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523185239/https://metro.co.uk/2023/05/18/long-boi-fans-trying-to-raise-10000-for-ducks-memorial-statue-18801020/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1eje12n0yxo|title=Long Boi: Uni of York duck sculpture designs revealed|date=17 May 2024|work=BBC News}}</ref> The statue was formally unveiled by BBC Radio Presenter Greg James in [[Central Hall, University of York|The University of York's Central Hall]] on 26 September 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gouldsbrough |first1=Patrick |date=26 September 2024 |title=Memorial event takes place for viral duck 'Longboi' as BBC's Greg James pays tribute |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/24611514.memorial-event-longboi-university-york/ |access-date=26 September 2024 |work=The Northern Echo |publisher=Newsquest Media Group }}</ref> However, on the night of 14 November 2024, the statue was vandalised and sustained damage to its left leg. It was later removed indefinitely,<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516205728/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvglz43vgq5o |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvglz43vgq5o |last=Riley |last2=Russell |first=Amelia |first2=Rachel |archive-date=16 May 2025 |date=20 November 2024 |title=Statue of campus duck Long Boi is damaged |website=BBC News}}</ref> and a subsequent investigation failed identify the responsible party.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkvision.co.uk/news/exclusive-university-fails-to-identify-perpetrators-of-long-boi-statue-damage/06/03/2025 |last=Lilley |first=Alice |title=University Fails to Identify Perpetrators of Long Boi Statue Damage |website=York Vision |date=6 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516210548/https://www.yorkvision.co.uk/news/exclusive-university-fails-to-identify-perpetrators-of-long-boi-statue-damage/06/03/2025 |archive-date=16 May 2025}}</ref>