From Braves to what? Time to weigh in on new Canandaigua school nickname
CANANDAIGUA, NY – The first of three surveys aimed at whittling down suggestions for a new nickname for the Canandaigua school district is out now and needs to be completed by 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 10.
This first survey, which was released to the school community and public at 3 p.m. Friday, includes 11 possible nicknames. A stakeholder committee narrowed it down from 40 or so commonly heard names, but names have not been decided, according to Canandaigua Superintendent Jamie Farr.
“I’ve been getting a lot of suggestions from the community for months,” Farr said. “We want this to be a community decision that decides where we go next, and we want to be thoughtful about that process.”
Not having a nickname at all was among the suggestions to vote on, and there is an opportunity for survey takers to make their own suggestions. Others include: Bears, Big Red, Bison, Cardinals, Cherry & Gray, Courage, Hilltoppers, Lakers, Pride, and Wave (s). You can vote for more than one suggestion.
The survey includes ideas and concepts of logos for nicknames.
The New York State Board of Regents last month voted unanimously to prohibit the use of Native American names, mascots and logos for school districts and their sports teams. Further, the ruling stated that school districts cannot use what a vestige of what the name used to be, such as dropping the "s" from Braves to become Brave.
Canandaigua and other districts have known this was a possibility since November, with district officials here trying to make the case to retain the Braves nickname since that point, to no avail.
Changing from the Braves, as well as changing Canandaigua’s logo, is “incredibly hard and emotional work that we need to do as a community,” Farr said.
"I understand there's allegiance and tradition and history that people believe so strongly in with this name," Farr said.
Proposed names will be narrowed down again after results are tabulated. Those names will be included in a second survey, which will be disseminated June 2 and responses will be due June 7. After again narrowing down the suggestions, a third survey – to be sent out June 16 and due June 21 --will ask for the top choice.
The hope is a new school nickname will be announced in early July, Farr said, adding that potential copyright and trademark issues have to be addressed as part of a decision.
People are asked to complete each of the three surveys.
“Each time you want your voice to be heard,” Farr said.
When a nickname is selected, a committee will be formed that will "really dive into" the mascot and logo and help design them, Farr said.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Canandaigua NY school district releases survey for new nickname options
