Report: Western Washington University considering mascot change

Some students and a professor at Western Washington University are discussing changing the school’s Viking mascot because some see it as too aggressive, according to a report.

“I think this mascot also reflects a sort of hyper masculine, hyper violent sort of image which is doubly problematic,” communications studies professor Michael Karlberg told The Western Front, the university’s main student newspaper. “I think we really ought to reconsider.”

The Front reports the Associated Students Vice President for Diversity brought up the mascot change at AS Board meeting earlier this month in part because the Viking mascot doesn’t portray students of color

Karlberg told the Front all racialized mascots are problematic, regardless of the race.

A survey about keeping the Viking mascot, one that was selected from student-suggested names in the 1920s, is expected to eventually go to students.

Read additional details about the Western Washington University mascot here from Front reporter Stephanie Cheng.

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