Details here, from Fake Tremendous Ken:

http://www.barkingcarnival.com/2012/12/12/3754598/west-virginia-mountaineer-mascot-done-killed-hisself-a-black-bear-holgorsen

Typical PC b.s. from academia. Can't you just imagine the campus conversation behind the scenes over how to spin this?

Knock. Knock.

University Dean: "Come in."

Irate Professor: "Dean Wormer, have you seen this video of our mascot killing a defenseless bear?!?"

Dean: "I have. I think the locals call it 'hunting.'"

Prof: "This is OUTRAGEOUS! This kind of thing was never aloud at Cal-Poly-Tech-Institute-San-Bernardino. Why, we even convinced the administration to stop serving meat, or anything shaped like meat, at all campus eateries. And now I come to this backwoods hillbilly enclave to save these poor students from themselves only to find that some of them actually want to KILL other sentient beings?!?!? What in the name of PETA is going on here?!?"

Dean: "Well, natives will be natives, professor. I'm more concerned with the fact that the mascot used university property to dispatch the poor thing."

Prof: "What do you mean?"

Dean: "You know, the musket used to kill the bear was university-issued to the Mountaineer for display during football games. Surely you've seen it."

Prof: "Don't be absurd, Dean. I would never be caught dead patronizing such a paleo-conservative exhibition of misogynistic, testosterone-laden violence. Plus, on Saturdays I volunteer at the no-kill animal shelter where I provide counseling services to homeless trans-gendered felines. It's very important work."

Dean: "Yes ... well, anyway, we're going to be in a heap of trouble if the AAU hears about this. They'll never accept us as a member if they find out our mascot's prop weapon was used to kill a bear."

Prof: "Exactly. The obvious solution is to abolish the football program. Why, we could be the next University of Chicago!"

Dean: "Uh, no. I mean, that would be wonderful and all, but football is a huge source of revenue whose loss would result in closing down all our women's teams."

Prof: "Well you can't do that. I'd sue you under Title IX."

Dean: "Exactly. Why, I'd sue myself if I had to do it. Next idea?"

Prof: "Why don't we change the mascot to something less ... less ... threatening? You know, maybe a nice Banana Slug, or perhaps some endangered species that we could use to promote veganism."

Dean: "Unfortunately, I think the resulting loss of merchandising revenue could negatively impact faculty salaries and retention."

Prof: "But, but, but ... I'm not tenured yet! OK, let me think ... you say he killed a bear, right? Well then, what if we changed our mascot to the Bears? I think some of the schools in the UC system use ursine mascots, and we could claim the high moral ground, just like all those schools that did away with their Native American--er, American Indian--, um, I'm sorry, what's the proper term for those people now?"

Dean: "I can't recall. Remind me to ask Elizabeth Warren next time I'm in Washington. But yes, changing to the Bears is a possibility. Of course, it's a pretty common mascot, which might dilute the brand value. For instance, another Big XII team already has claimed that mascot. Baylor University."

Prof: "Isn't that the Baptist school?!? Oh my, no no no, we can't risk being associated with any Christianist institution. Hmmmm ... What if we just told the mascot that he could no longer carry a gun? After all, no one else on campus is allowed to carry a firearm, why should he?"

Dean: "Yes, yes, I like it. Makes a clear statement condemning that misguided Supreme Court opinion on the 2nd Amendment while also preserving revenue streams and incrementally turning campus culture even more liberal."

Prof: "Is that possible?"

Dean: "Watch and learn..."