WHS reflects on potential new mascot

LILY CAMPBELL-LEHTINEN staff writer

McWoo, and Archie.

for tuition offset, we don’t believe a class that small is pedagogically a sound option for the students. This program has been around since 2006 with TCIA representatives, myself included, visiting area schools to forge relationships and share information each of those years.

It’s disappointing that despite our efforts over these seventeen years that more area interest and support hasn’t developed,” Birk said.

Audrey Miller, a senior in the IB program, reflected that due to low application numbers, she was not surprised by the cancellation of the program, but notes that the IB program allowed her to form connections with teachers and classmates and has helped her prepare for the rigorous workload of college.

“I do think that having the opportunity to take IB classes at Wooster was really unique and especially beneficial for advanced students at the county schools who have less access to difficult classes. Especially with fewer AP classes being offered at Wooster next year, I don’t think the removal of the entire program was a wise choice,” Miller said.

Birk remarked that she will miss the students and the close family feel that the program has . While a new class of juniors is not being enrolled, the current juniors enrolled in the program will be supported through their senior year.

In the concluding of the school year, the College of Wooster has announced that they will be replacing their mascot, the Scottish highlander, with the Scottie dog. According to the College of Wooster website, the change needed to happen because, “No human mascot can represent the diverse identities of our campus community, and many human mascots raise serious concerns about racism, xenophobia, and are otherwise problematic.”

COW also stated that the name of the new mascot would be Archie as students were allowed to vote between the top three choices: Mac,

At WHS, a similar question is being raised in relation to the Wooster General mascot. This question addresses whether the General is representative of the students of WHS.

Scott Musser, principal of WHS stated: “The origin of the General is very unique. It was developed by a student who went to Norwayne in the mid 30s. However, it might not be very representative of the student body.”

Musser also stated that it would be a long process to change the mascot since community members, school board members, and of course, students at WHS would need to be involved in making this decision.

In relation to this, Musser noted:

“It would be a question of how to still incorporate the name General into an animal mascot. For example, the College of Wooster was still able to be known as the Scots since they transitioned from the Scottish Highlander to the Scottie dog.” Musser also mentioned that if the mascot were no longer human, it could be changed to an animal or symbol with the name General. One option that could be considered is a horse or mustang. However, Musser stated that the decision would be made by the student body, likely through getting a small group together to debate what the mascot should be, if students believed the change to be necessary.