changing mascots.
While the potential renaming of Columbus Park has so far garnered the most attention, several other efforts are also being discussed. Mayor Hancock has formed a committee to look at parks and buildings across the city who may be named after individuals who are now viewed negatively.
Rowena Alegria, Chief Storyteller for the City and Council of Denver, said they are working with the State Historian’s Council to conduct research. “Community will be engaged both in the recommendation of properties up for renaming and in the renaming of those that warrant it, which will require yet another round of research before new names are granted,” said Alegria.
That committee is headed up by Derek Okubo, Director of the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships who said the committee is “Diverse and representative of the community.” Okubo said there is no end date planned for the committee and that it will be an ongoing process.
At the same time, Denver Public Schools is looking at a number of school names and mascots. North High School Principal Scott Wolf said his school is looking into changing mascots.
“Vikings have a violent history and we are at a time in our current history where we need to step back and look critically at everything,” said Wolf. “I have begun talking with the North Alumni Association president, Isaac Solano, about our current mascot. As we return to school in the fall, it is definitely something that the North community will need to discuss and collectively work to determine if Vikings are the best representation of who we are as a school community. I look forward to hearing feedback from the community as we work together to continue to have an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone deeply knows that they belong at North.”
DPS Board of Education Director At-Large Tay Anderson and District 5 Director Brad Laurvick both said they are looking to school leadership and want to have a community conversation about the name. Anderson said he has thus far been focused on schools named after Jefferson and Washington due to their history of enslaving people, the South High School Rebels mascot, and a few others.
Governor Jared Polis has also formed a committee to look at names of natural landmarks, buildings, roads, etc statewide.
Correction on my post dated November 25th. The correct name of the school I was referring to is the Montbello Warriors..
If DPS, Tay Anderson, is working to abolish the North High Mascot, then he should be willing to abolish the mascot of the Montpellier Warriors, the West High Cowboys, the Lincoln Lancers! Research the history of the Vikings! Not only were they conquerors, they were scholars, architects, scientists and poets! Just like many other civilizations! How do you think the world evolved if civilizations did not conquer one another!! LEAVE OUR MASCOT ALONE!!
Absolutely not a good idea! North High Vikings is a mascot that has been in existence for over 50 years! Why destroy a symbolic mascot that has provided school spirit to generations of students in the northside community?
Absolutely not a good idea! The North High Vikings is a mascot that has been in existence for over 50 years! Historically, The North High Vikings has been the pride to the northside community and to thousands of students who have attended North High School., so why destroy a symbolic mascot that has provided school spirit to so many generations of families that have proudly been Vikings!
Absolutely not a hood ifea to change
Absolutely not a good idea to change the mascot.! The North High Vikings has been the mascot for North High for over 50 years! It has been the pride for thousands of students and has inspired school spirit for so many generations of families who have been loyal to the North High community! The mascot should not be changed!
Absolutely not a good idea to change the mascot that has been the pride to thousands of students that have attended North High! Generations of northside families have been loyal to the spirit of the North High Vikings!
This is totally CRAZINESS!! What is wrong with people today??!!? Names of teams, mascots were not picked with violence in mind!!! Leave things alone! Find hobbies, get jobs to keep yourselves out of the lives that are none of your business. Quit intruding on our rights as American Citizens!!!!