'Cougar' as a school mascot? Uh, no, says Utah school district
January 20, 2012 | 3:20 pm
-- Rene Lynch
What does the word "cougar" mean to you? To some people, it means "a large, tawny cat, Felis concolor, of North and South America." To others, apparently including a Utah school board, it means "an older woman who seeks sexual relationships with younger men."
Both definitions (the above wording is from dictionary.com) are in current use, and one Utah school district was taking no chances on snickers or outright mockery from the community -- or athletic opponents. It overruled a student vote to adopt the Cougar as the school's new mascot because the word can be considered a derogatory term.
Instead, the mascot for the new high school opening in Draper, Utah, will be the Charger.
Students headed for the new Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah, were asked to fill out mail-in ballots to choose a mascot and colors for the new school, slated to open in 2013. "Cougars" was the top vote getter, followed by Diamondbacks, Raptors and Falcons. Students were initially slated to choose from those four possibilities for a winner.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2012/01/utah-school-nixes-cougar-mascot-for-being-offensive-to-women.html
And those who henceforth come to the Utah Group shall find this article in place forever forth!