By Brendan Johnson

Wheat Ridge senior Shayla Bezjak has recently jump-started a contest to create a new school mascot.

The difference from previous mascots? This one will be a female, something Wheat Ridge High School has never had in its 130 years as a school.

When questioned about the reasoning for trying to create a new mascot Bezjak replied, “There are five mascots already on the gym wall and they’re all white men, and I just figured 50% of the school’s population needed to be represented.”

She went on to explain, “It makes sense at this point.  It’s long overdue, and as a society we are progressing and we (women) should already have much more representation than we are credited for already. I don’t think I’m trying to make a statement that we’re all feminists and we should take down the patriarchy, I’m just trying to get something equal. This should act as a complement to our current mascot, not a replacement.”

Assistant Principal and athletic director Nick DeSimones commented as well, saying,“There are 22 sports at this school, and half of them are male, half are female. The women work just as hard. I think this is great.”

Bezjak stressed the point that we are not replacing our current mascot, she just felt the need for all Farmers to have choices. For example, athletic spirit packs she feels as if people should have a choice of the gender of mascot.

Bezjak has had this idea since she was a freshman; however this is the first time she has fully pursued the creation of the mascot, accepting submissions in the peer counseling office. The administration has supported the contest, but it is unknown how widely the mascot will be used/available if a submission is chosen. All submissions are due in the peer counseling office by Friday, Oct. 2.