Soon, Lewis & Clark College will no longer be the home of the “Pioneers.”
Citing a survey of students, staff, faculty, and alumni that highlighted current student’s low support of the existing mascot, the school has decided its time for a change. They will retire the “Pioneer” mascot after more than 80 years and adopt a new mascot.
“Citing in particular remarkably low support for the mascot among current students, the report recommends that we begin the process of adopting and embracing a new mascot,” school President Robin H. Holmes-Sullivan said in a letter to the Lewis & Clark community. “This is not a decision I take lightly.”
Lewis & Clark College can name their mascot whatever they want of course. But to drop 80 years of history and tradition because some people are supposedly offended by the name “pioneer” is ludicrous.