Students at Austin High School have strong opinions about their new logo — an image of a boy wearing an apron and running.

The logo, created by a 1972 Austin high school graduate, was unveiled by the Austin School Board earlier this month.

Mark Thompson, the logo’s author, won the logo submission contest launched by the district earlier in the school year.

Since the time of its unveiling, the public has reacted with favorable and not so favorable responses. Following the school’s Homecoming coronation Wednesday afternoon, it seemed members of the student body had made up their mind — the logo wasn’t for them.

Meredith Molhussen, a senior at Austin High School, said the mascot looked a little too childish for the high school.
Jordan Lenway doesn’t think there was a need to change the mascot in the first place. “They should have just left it the same,” he said. “I liked the hawk razerback.”

Tori Grev said she just doesn’t like the new logo, as it seems a bit too immature. “It’s just not intimidating,” she said.

Meredith Fritz said the symbol of the boy isn’t something that screams intimidation. “It’s not really a symbol people can respect,” she said.

Grace Berke and Sela Fadness said they also didn’t see a reason the mascot had to change.

Student Jesse Sorenson agreed with most of his classmates that the logo shouldn’t have been changed. “I think they should have just left it the old way,” he said. His friend, Lisa Jacobon agreed. “The little man looks too cute,” she said.

Astasia Wallis said the mascot itself doesn’t fit with in the school logo setting. “I don’t really like it,” she said. “It’s not a mascot.”

Josh Hart said, to him, it doesn’t mean much. “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “It’s not like it’s going to affect anything.”