Don The Dean

Don The Dean, surrounded and tormented by the Frat

Don The Dean is one of the main characters in College Buddies. He is a cyclops with one eye and straight hair, and sometimes wears a business-casual tie.

## Background and Development

Don the Dean was inspired in part by such characters as Dean Wormer in the 1978 American comedy film Animal House, where he is portrayed by Canadian actor John Vernon. However, in keeping with the theme of College Buddies, Don the Dean is made to be a sympathetic character who does what's right, while the College Buddies, being irresponsible rascals, wreak irreparable damage across campus.

Don The Dean has been suggested by many to represent surveillance, even going so far as to compare him to Big Brother in George Orwell's novel 1984, but Nicolas dismisses this because he considers 1984 a "load of shit" and considers George Orwell "the stupidest author the world has ever seen". Rather, Don The Dean has virtually no negative attributes, apart from a few minor neuroses and bitterness toward the College Buddies.

Nicolas Sequeira has provided a reasonable explanation, stating:

*"In high school I had this dean who was a complete asshole and got on me for drawing, writing, expressing myself. I hated him. He was a real piece of shit, and I remember thinking: doesn't he have anything better to do with his time? So I came up with the idea of this decent figure of authority who doesn't abuse his power and knows what's right."*

This is generally considered the canonical explanation for Don the Dean's origins, although the parallels to such figures as Dean Wormer are striking. While 80s Frat Comedies are seen from the perspective of the youth, however, College Buddies can be said to be considered the anti-Frat comedy in that Don the Dean is the only sane and rational figure to keep the Frat under check.

## Notable Roles In College Buddies

College Buddies first appears in College Buddies, where he has the power of flight and apparent teleportation, as he can be seen poking around corners and panel lines to check u[p on what the Buds are doing, and in one panel can be seen levitating above the Buds as they flip him off.

These powers are seemingly absent in College Buddies 3 and by College Buddies 4 are not to be found. Don the Dean serves as a narrator of sorts in College Buddies 4, solving the mystery of the Christmas Killer and breaking the fourth wall.

While Don is hostile at first towards the College Buddies, even going so far as to expel them in College Buddies 3, he looks after their well-being, such as when he saves them from burning up in the Earth's atmosphere in College Buddies 2, or when he protects the Soror in College Buddies 4 when the police won't. He also seems to forgive the College Buddies at the end of College Buddies 5, believing that they've seen the error of their ways.

Don The Dean is virtually the main character of College Buddies 5, tracing his lineage all the way back to the Cyclops of old and citing several hitherto-unmentioned encounters with the College Buddies. College Buddies 5 also sees him reconnect with his mysterious father, John.

Don the Dean is canonically a cyclops.

## Trivia

* Don The Dean is known for the recurring gag, "How does he eat?"