A song echoes throughout the halls of Dickinson College, but it’s not the sound of the Alma Mater. It rings out through every classroom, every dorm, the Denny Bells and every D-Sig party. Dickinson College is defined by one song and that song is the iconic “Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet” from Disney’s hit musical comedy The Muppets (2011).

When asked to comment on the musical masterpiece that is the new Dickinson College fight song, President Johmny Elizabeth Johns III said “The indecision between man and muppet for Dickinson students has been a constant since I was a student here in 1932. This song, although not as historic as our institution, has made waves in the music industry and in our hearts.” He closely followed this comment by exclaiming that “We need a song that represents the Dickinson community as a whole, and this is it!”

Jonny B. Jones then announced the news that “Drayer Hall is being renamed in honor of Jason Segel and Walter, who wrote the song. The Selter Hall renaming ceremony will happen next spring.”

With this musical development, several changes are being made to Dickinson’s image, mainly that the Dickinson Devil will have a new look — a new muppet-themed look. When asked about this update, Connie McNamara, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, said “We felt that the Devil’s look was out of touch, it didn’t reflect our students or our school.”

“Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet” has won several awards for its ingenious lyrics and overall applicability to life, these awards include the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 84th Academy Awards, the Sierra Award for Best Song, and the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Ben Warren ’25 commented on the song choice, saying “When I found out, I cried. I’ve never felt so seen by anyone, let alone my college.” When shown what the updated Devil would look like, he held back tears once more. “I’m so proud to be attending this school,” he said. Another student, Zoe Jacks ’23, commented that the subject of the ballad is “a question that is at the core of our campus community.”

Cathrine McDonald Davenport ’87, Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions, said “We expect the class of 2027 to be larger than any other before in history.” When asked why she believes this, she said “I honestly think it’s the new Dickinson fight song; students feel as if they can be themselves here. They are really open to that.”