Story

Through the glass, in an office of the Central Administration of Univalle, the gazes of two inhabitants of the campus meet: a clerk and a very curious squirrel that lives in the tree whose branches almost touch the window. After that first meeting and far from being scared, the squirrel arrives every day and gets closer and closer to the excited woman, who always receives her with affection when noticing her presence. For a long time, they have spent days giving each other silent company in a relationship of empathy, admiration and respect, representing the possibility of building with the other even in difference, distance, greatness or smallness. This way, the idea of ​​giving life to our mascot Uvardilla was born as a contribution to the characterization of the “Univalluna” identity through the imaginary that integrates nature and humanity in dynamic balance, while claiming values ​​and principles included in the ethos of the Universidad del Valle: Freedom, recognition of other’s dignity, equity, equal rights and opportunities, tolerance, defense of nature, solidarity, respect and promotion of human rights.

About its creation

The idea of ​​having a pet at Univalle began in 2016, at the initiative of the academic vicechancellor, Dr. Liliana Arias Castillo. With her enthusiastic leadership she managed to make it a reality a year later, a period in which the squirrel made several testing appearances. As a result of its acceptance, an open consultation was carried out to assign it a name. With the lively participation of the university community, students, professors, employees, workers, teachers and managers, it was decided in ad-hoc committee chaired by the Principal, Dr. Edgar Varela Barrios, the name of UVardilla.

The squirrel shows the ability to survive in hostile environments, offers a great contribution to ecological balance as a pollinator and seed disperser, performs biological control, coexists and adapts to new environments. From the human perspective, the squirrel connotes tenderness, autonomy, affirmation of identity in plural coexistence, curiosity, vocation for study and research, elements that characterize, in general, the spirit of Univalle community.

In July 2019, the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce, through resolution No. 35027, signed by the director of distinctive signs, granted the registration of a mixed three-dimensional trademark, which allows the exclusive creation of commercial strategy development, dissemination of material for promotion events, knowledge and reaffirmation of the institutional image of our university.

Currently, there is a 2.20 meter UVardilla representation that shows up in most of the official events of the University. Likewise, its 30 cm plush replicas are given to the best graduates of each degree ceremony, as well as other souvenirs with their image, pens, key rings, notebooks, bags, bookmarks, delivered at institutional events.