“Bigfoot” appears on UMN campus to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention.

University of Minnesota fraternity Alpha Tau Omega have patrolled campus with a man in a Bigfoot costume this past week, for a series of fundraisers and mental health awareness activities in a promotion called “Unseen Week.”

Alpha Tau Omega fraternity members Braden Bronaugh (left) and Robert Golda (right) escort a person in a bigfoot costume around the Mall on the University of Minnesota Campus, Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025. Bronaugh said the fraternity will not disclose the identity of whoever occupies the Bigfoot costume. Zach Lebowitz / Hubbard school of journalism and mass communications

A person in a Bigfoot costume escorted by students dressed as security guards in three-piece suits patrolled the University of Minnesota campus last week.

Fraternity Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) arranged the mascot’s appearance to garner attention for a series of mental health awareness activities and fundraisers for the suicide prevention non-profit Shout Out Loud Minnesota in an event called “Unseen Week”.

Braden Bronaugh, a fraternity member who escorted the mascot, said ATO began the project due to what they consider a lackluster response by the University installing a rent-a-fence around the Washington Avenue Bridge without taking further community action—and to raise awareness for mental health struggles in general.

“It’s just not a good solution to the problem,” Bronaugh said.

The fraternity clarified the purpose of the mascot in a public setting when Noah Shultz, ATO philanthropy chair, spoke on mental health awareness on Northrop Plaza Wednesday.

ATO held events such as a bingo night, sessions with therapy animals, art activities and invited guest speakers Crisco, Dez & Wes from KS95 94.5 on Northrop Plaza to discuss their personal experiences with mental health, Shultz said. 

Shultz initially devised the project by himself eight months ago before getting his fraternity on board to work with other student organizations like NAMI on campus and Net Impact to help organize events and activities.

Further events included a collaboration with the Ramsey County Mental Health Mobile Unit to offer mental health support resources on the Saint Paul campus Thursday, and they hosted more fundraising activities before the Gopher's Big Ten Home Opener football game against Rutgers Saturday, according to the fraternity’s Instagram.

Shultz said many of the fundraising activities frame donations as optional, recognizing the impact of financial struggles on student mental health. 

“We certainly don’t want to add on to that struggle with anyone else and say ‘give me all your money so we can support someone else’s mental health’,” Shultz said.

Shultz said the branding of Bigfoot intends to communicate how mental health struggles, like a mysterious cryptid, are unrecognized by the larger public, an issue he has experienced first hand.