Who is Millie the Dancing Bear?

She’s furry. She’s spirited. She’s… honestly a little bit creepy-looking (to some). That’s right, she’s Millie the Dancing Bear. 

Named after Barnard’s first president, Millicent Carey McIntosh, Millie the Dancing Bear is Barnard’s lovable mascot and ultimate icon. As a quintessential part of Barnard spirit, Millie is always in attendance at some of her favorite Barnard traditions. From taking pictures with students at Midnight Breakfast to cheering people on at the Greek Games, Millie is always excited to see you - even if she can only tell who you are by your voice or the shoes you’re wearing. But it’s more likely than not that you know Millie much better than you think you do! 

At the end of the day, it’s no secret that a real person is actually dancing, gesturing, and sweating profusely inside the Millie costume. Every year, Student Life summons a student (or maybe two…) to their office with a mysterious and ambiguous email, and offers that student the opportunity to don the Millie costume (and spirit) until they graduate. It is only at their graduation rehearsal that their identity is revealed to the rest of the Barnard community - until then, they are sworn to absolute secrecy! 

I received the vague email at the beginning of my junior year, and could not have been more excited. I was, of course, given strict instructions not to tell a single soul within the Barnard and Columbia community for the next two years. Now that I am graduating, Barnard Student Life hosted a virtual reveal for me and the other Millie in the Class of 2020, who actually turned out to be one of my best friends, Tillie! We had been sharing the role for almost two years and we had absolutely no idea until a few weeks ago. I’ve had so many fond memories as Millie - from taking pictures with my friends who had been texting me about my whereabouts (since I’ve never been known to miss out on Midnight Breakfast) to getting all dressed up for the music festival-inspired “Bearchella” event. 

There have, of course, been some mishaps along the way. As I mentioned earlier, Millie’s eyesight is extremely poor, and she has absolutely no peripheral vision. That’s why you’ll often see her holding her manager’s hand, especially if she’s moving locations. When I was at an event as Millie recently, Millie gestured for people to come take photos with her by raising her arms up in the air. Little did she know, President Sian Beilock herself was right behind Millie, and Millie was an inch away from whacking the President of Barnard College right in the face. Millie is so sorry about that, President Beilock! 

I think the magic of Millie really lies in the fact that people really treat her like she is a real, autonomous being. I definitely remember being so excited to see her and grab a photo with her when I was a first-year - she was like a campus celebrity to me! There is something so amusing and heartwarming about people’s connections with Millie, and it’s been a one-in-a-lifetime experience getting to see that from the inside (literally). Even though I’ve been a Millie for so long, I like to refer to her as being separate from me, because her identity really stands for itself. She embodies the Barnard spirit and truly loves dancing with her Barnard friends. 

So the next time you see Millie dancing at an event, be sure to say hi and grab a quick photo. Ask for a hug if you want one - she’s really cuddly! You never know which one of your Barnard peers might be suppressing a giggle from inside the costume… or maybe, you’ll receive a vague email from Student Life summoning you to their offices one day. 

-Chantel Woo