As September reaches its end and new students find their way around campus, signs of Mt. SAC’s old mascot still linger.
The now abandoned Mountie café and the entryway of the library still display the school’s old mascot even though the college has decided to move on from it. The facilities department recently removed “Joe Mountie” from the food truck and there are plans to remove the sign from the Mountie Café even though no date has been disclosed.
The mural next to the library, known as “Little Joe,” was dedicated by the sophomore class of 1964-1965. Unlike the Mountie Cafe, no plans have been mentioned for its removal.
In an interview before the fall 2024 semester, Primavera Reza Nakonechny, Director of First People’s Native Center located in the Equity Center, told SACMedia she as well as alumni, prospective students and parents were all aware of the remaining symbols on campus and have addressed the leadership about them.
When asked if the remaining symbols were offensive, Nakonechny said, “I know there’s something on leadership’s radar and I think they’ll get to it when they’re able to […] so at least I’m OK with that.”
Previously, SACMedia covered the task force’s decision to remove its old mascot “Joe Mountie” due to grievances and controversy of its racial association and treatment of indigenous peoples. The new mascot, a grizzly bear, was chosen based on a student survey led by the Mascot Development Task Force, a group formed by the President’s Advisory Council.
“Rizzly the Grizzly” as he is known, represents the school’s vision to move forward to a new future after celebrating the school’s 75th anniversary back in 2022. As stated on the school’s website, the new mascot symbolizes strength, intelligence and resilience, values that the task force believes the campus embodies.
As for the new mascot, Mt. SAC students gave their thoughts on replacing “Joe Mountie” ranging from approval to disagreement.
An anonymous, 19 year-old nursing major, believes the school is headed in the right direction as it brings to light issues concerning racism and that other schools should do the same that haven’t already.
However, Dulce Sanchez, an 18 year-old nursing major disagrees.
“Honestly […] no,” she said. “I know people are going to have different opinions, but it’s disrupting the history of this school.”
“Colonization was everywhere and I think it’s wrong to take pride and history away from a school,” Sanchez added. “You’re coming into a new place where you have to learn to love a different community, and if people think it’s racist [then] … at the end of the day, they chose this school.”
When asked about other schools across the nation that removed mascots deemed to be offensive, Sanchez said, “I never liked the fact that some schools switch their logos because I feel it takes away from school pride.
