As westwood phases out its controversial iconography, it is vital that we replace it with a symbol that truly reflects our actual student body. Currently, Native American students make up an incredibly small fraction of our population, meaning our historic imagery has risked cultural appropriation. When an institution uses the imagery of a marginalized group that is virtually absent from its student body, it reduces a living culture to a costume or mascot. Because there is no major native population at the school to guide, correct, or consent to how their culture is being portrayed, the imagery inevitably becomes a caricature rather than a tribute. By contrast, the vast majority of our student demographics are white or Asian. Introducing a 'Wasian' figure as our new school symbol grounds our iconography in the real, lived identities of our students, moving away from insensitive stereotypes and toward authentic representation.

https://westwoodhorizon.com/2022/10/not-enough-examining-the-cultural-implications-of-westwoods-warrior-mascot/​

https://www.change.org/p/westwood-high-school-administration-change-the-westwood-high-school-mascot​

https://www.changethemascot.org/supporters-of-change/