My name is Jack Nephew; I attended Westford academy from 2011-2015. I am very proud of this school and this town, and I have been proud to represent WA as an athlete during my time there.

It is this very pride that gives me pause when I consider WA's mascot, the Grey Ghost.

As you may know, in 1959 the mascot was changed from the Black Knights to the Grey Ghost, seemingly due to the popularity of the television show of the same name.

While, on the face of it, a mascot named after a popular program is innocent enough, that program celebrated Confederate major John Mosby, who led a unit of partisan cavalry against the union during the US civil war.

It gives me grief, both as a member of the community and as a WA alumnus, that our mascot is named for a man who fought, against these United States, for the right of the Confederate States to own and trade slaves.

I would ask that the school board and athletic leaders at WA look into the possibility of changing this mascot. As it was originally chosen apparently by a student vote, perhaps that same medium can be used to choose a mascot going forward that better exemplifies WA's commitment to education, growth, and equality.