School Board Declares Mascot Name “Cougars” Offensive to Women

Corner Canyon High School in Utah was faced with the decision of picking a new school mascot, so the students were given the opportunity to nominate and vote for options. This really isn't out of the ordinary - many schools involve students in mascot choices.  The top pick in the voting ended up being "Cougars", which didn't surprise many due to the popularity of nearby Brigham Young University having the same mascot.

After voting concluded, the decision was passed off to the school board for approval - and this is where the otherwise inconsequential story takes a sharp turn into the realm of "what the hell?"

The Canyons School Board rejected the mascot on the grounds that it could be found to be offensive to middle-aged women. It was pointed out that "cougar" in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary has a secondary definition as a slang term for  "a middle-aged woman seeking a romantic relationship with a younger man" - not that you didn't already know that.

The school board furthered their case to veto the students' decision by saying the Cougar is also a mascot for three other Utah schools, plus Brigham Young University. Using this case, the decision was made to select "Chargers", which was another name nominated by the students.

Discontent community members and parents have been asking the school board to reconsider the decision, making phone calls and sending emails; however the board president continues to stand by the decision.

Sources: Yahoo Sports | FOX 13 News