An Arkansas school board has voted to move forward in changing the long-time mascots of two junior high schools, the Cowboys and the Indians. Unanimously, the board voted to have a committee review and make recommendations towards the mascots which represent Woodland and Ramay junior high in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The mascots have represented the junior high schools for over 50 years. The board president Justin Eichmann cited the district’s mission statement to maintain an “inclusive and safe environment” for students, as reported by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Superintendent John Colbert added that the district is working to ensure students don’t feel “threatened or embarrassed” by certain aspects of their school’s mascot. The committee will be chosen by Superintendent John Colbert, but no one has been selected yet.
This follows a petition started earlier in the year by a Ramay Junior High student to change the mascot.
