J. William Fulbright Statue Tweets From Dallas

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Fulbright statue is building a new base through Twitter

After months of exile in a storage facility, the statue of J. William Fulbright appears to have thrown off his shackles and taken to the road, tweeting from venues in and around Dallas, Texas, as the Razorbacks prepare for Friday’s AT&T Cotton Bowl. The statue normally graces the west side of Old Main but was moved last spring to protect him from nearby construction projects.

After riding to Texas with the Razorback Marching Band, the statue of the former senator and University of Arkansas president has attended pep rallies, band rehearsals, a service project, and other events — at least, according to his tweets he has — all to help those unable to attend the Cotton Bowl to feel closer to the action.

“We were more than happy to provide transportation,” said Chris Knighten, director of the Razorback Marching Band, who didn’t actually see the statue on the bus due to an earlier arrival for pre-event meetings. “As part of Fulbright College, we’re just glad we get to help folks back home feel like they’re here with us.”

A member of the University of Arkansas football team from 1921 to 1924, Fulbright was no stranger to the pressures of big games and the excitement surrounding them.

“Senator Fulbright loved students and he loved the university,” said Robin Roberts, dean of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. “His virtual involvement though social media is a great way to honor his legacy.”

The statue’s followers have grown from 13 on Wednesday, the day that the statue started tweeting, to close to 100 as of Thursday afternoon. The dispatches will continue from various events, culminating with the Cotton Bowl on Friday, and wherever else he decides to go before returning to campus. If you have a Twitter account, you can follow the J. William Fulbright statue at @UAFulbright or see the Tweets as they are posted to the Fulbright College home page.