A brief explanation of "HOME OF THE VOLES"
The inspiration for this cartoon was a question from a visiting professor at the University of Tennessee, who not being as familiar with the local school spirit, called the UT mascot a "vole." To clarify for anyone else unfamiliar with the term "VOL," the word is a diminutive form of the word "Volunteers," which IS the University of Tennessee mascot. As you can see, "Home of the Voles" is a play on words, but it was grounded at least in a real experience. (I had no idea that voles even existed until that professor mentioned them.)
So this is the story: a VOLE happens to settle on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, TN. Enamored with the setting, he adopts a student lifestyle, becomes a "Vol fan," finds an appropriately sized UT T-shirt from a Smokey stuffed animal, and digs a burrow for himself in a park at the center of campus. He's frustrated of course, because no one realizes he's anything more than a pest. His professors don't recognize him in class, and he often must be watchful, so as not to get trampled by student pedestrians. In his second semester at UT, Vole meets his intellectual superior and romantic interest, LADY VOLE (a play on words from the term "Lady Vols"). The main difference between them: she wears a darker UT T-shirt, and has eyelashes (of course) with which to bat and drive Vole nuts. Over time, Vole's fur grew darker as my artwork and shading technique improved, or perhaps it was simply to better distinguish him and his white shirt from Lady Vole and her shirt. The other main difference between them: she actually studies. The vole graduated in the spring of 2008, though it's unknown what degree he earned, or whether he actually earned it. At this point, Lady Vole was still attending classes. It's possible that Vole may return to his studies, if he decides on a Master's program that would interest him. |
(Earlier version, without as much shading)
LADY VOLE trying to reason with VOLE:
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