Carnegie Mellon - no mascot?

This article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is talking about Carnegie Mellon University's lack of an official mascot. This reminds me of a very entertaining dialogue exchange between a friend of mine and a USMC Lieutenant Colonel during our Battalion Commander's inspection at OCS, July 1990:

LTCOL: "What school do you go to?"
Friend: "Sir, Carnegie Mellon University, Sir!"
LTCOL: "What's your mascot?"
Friend: "Sir, the candidate does not understand the question."
LTCOL: "What's the name of your football team?"
Friend: "The Tartans, Sir!"
LTCOL: "What the hell is a Tartan?"
Friend: "It's a PLAID, Sir!"

The Lieutenant Colonel (sorry, don't remember his name) walked away shaking his head. What a great military moment...