The town of Lenox, Massachusetts used to be home to many Americans of wealth and privilege. These wealthy residents were responsible for building a school, and even bought uniforms for local children. Their money and generosity were crucial to the town’s economy, especially in times of war, one local resident recalled, according to the Berkshire Eagle.
In honor of these ‘Millionaires,’ Lenox Memorial High School decided to name their mascot after them.
But after many years, a new generation of students has evolved that believes the name is offensive and divisive, arguing they’re even being bullied over the mascot by out of town teams and visitors.
Some students, such as 9th-grader Julie Monteleone, weren’t afraid to voice their opinion.
“While the name beautifully memorializes the millionaires who supported our school and town during a difficult time, the majority of our student body feels no longer represented by the name,” Monteleone argued, saying she believes the problem is more than just bullying.
"In today's polarizing political climate, the term `millionaires' has become associated with the top 1 percent of our country, which excludes and burdens a very large majority of the population and currently plays a large role in the division of the United States." she added, according to a local report.
According to a recent 27-question survey sent out by the school, 67 percent of students said they were were in favor of dropping the ‘Millionaire’ name, while only 33 percent were against it. The council members also reported a 2-1 majority in favor of abandoning the mascot.
But the decision to rename Lenox Memorial's icon may not be left entirely up to the students.
School committee member Francie Sorrentino stated, “This is a community wide decision and should go to a vote, it should be on the town ballot.
For better or worse, it seems pretty evident that the school wants a change, and it looks like the students of Lenox Memorial may not be “Millionaires” for much longer.