The SUNY Plattsburgh Student Association provisionally approved a new furry club, Plattsfur, in an 11-1 vote. Furry fandom centers on creating anthropomorphic "fursonas" and is popular among younger adults; research indicates over 75% of furries are under 25 and nearly 60% are college students. Plattsfur, with about 17 members, has hosted small social and creative events. Similar student groups have appeared at numerous U.S. universities, and the movement has occasionally drawn political attention.
SUNY Plattsburgh Recognizes 'Plattsfur' As Campus Furry Club As Trend Grows Nationwide
Furries pose at Anthrocon, one of the world's largest anthropomorphic conventions celebrating the furry subculture, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 1, 2023.
The Student Association at the State University of New York (SUNY) Plattsburgh voted 11-1 on Nov. 16 to provisionally recognize a new student group called Plattsfur, joining a growing wave of furry clubs forming on college campuses across the United States.
Furry fandom is a subculture of people who create, portray or identify with anthropomorphic animal characters — often called "fursonas" — and express themselves through art, writing, role-play, costuming and online communities.
A New York state university student government approved a campus club for Furries, in a growing trend at college campuses across the nation, according to a new report.
Who Belongs To The Community?
Research from the International Anthropomorphic Research Project describes furries as "fans, artists, writers, gamers and role-players" who frequently develop an anthropomorphized animal identity. The project reports that more than 75% of furries are under age 25 and that nearly 60% say they are enrolled in college, suggesting a strong presence among students.
Plattsfur: A Safe Space For Creativity And Connection
According to the campus newspaper Cardinal Points, Plattsfur was presented as a "safe space for furries to socialize and create content around a joint interest." The group had about 17 members at the time of reporting and has hosted small events such as a coloring-page meet-and-greet and a campfire-style meetup, as shown on its Instagram page.
Furry groups are growing at college campuses nationwide, a new report says.
“We aim to not only have social dialogues, but also incorporate certain elements of crafts as well as arts ... and invite people to explore stuff that they may not have before,” junior anthropology major Styx Williams told Cardinal Points.
Campus Trend And Broader Context
Over the past two academic years, a number of U.S. colleges have approved or launched furry clubs, including the Maverick Furry Club at Minnesota State University, Mankato; a Furry Club at California Polytechnic State University; MataFurs at California State University, Northridge; and UTK Furries at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Members of Triton Tails, the UC San Diego chapter of the Anthromorphic Animal Appreciation Association (a global university network), report that there are more than 100 university chapters of furry clubs worldwide. The movement has attracted attention beyond campuses: for example, a Texas lawmaker introduced a bill aimed at banning what the proposal describes as "non-human behavior" in schools, drawing political scrutiny.
SUNY Plattsburgh did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
