As a student attending West High School, I am deeply perturbed by the looming change to our historic mascot. Our mascot is a cherished symbol that represents our shared history, community spirit, and collective identity. It's not just a figure; it's a part of who we are, integral to our school's character, tradition, and cultural heritage.

In an unforeseen development, there is an ongoing push to replace our historic mascot with a corporate one. This is not just a change in school identity, but a patent commodification of our educational institution, putting corporate interests before the school's heritage and student sentiments.

Although this shift may promise short-term financial gains, it threatens to erode our shared history and community bond—which is priceless. A study done by the University of Rochester found that students' emotional attachment to their school and its symbols significantly impacts their school pride and achievement (University of Rochester, 2016).

Therefore, we are calling upon the district school board to reconsider this decision. Our plea is simple: preserve our historic mascot, stand against corporate interference, and uphold the very essence of West High School.

Please sign our petition, show your solidarity, and help us safeguard the identity of West High School. Your signature can make a difference.

The proposed corporate logos can be seen below: