Student body voters prefer “Go Woo”
Over the course of three days this fall, WHS students had the opportunity to vote as to whether “Giddy up, Generals” should be the 2015-2016 WHS motto.
This controversial phrase suffered nearly a 70 percent loss in the vote.
Having answered the question of whether or not “Giddy up” was representative of the student body’s desires, the dilemma of choosing a new motto arose.
In a period of looking toward the future while remembering the past, “Go Woo” is appropriate for the 2015-2016 school year.
While the same may be true of other phrases, “Go Woo” reflects initiatives of the student body as a whole, supporting democratic values.
Furthermore, we posit that a culture of ownership should be a priority of school leaders; this atmosphere can be achieved through the motto change.
Arguments that this motto should have left with former WHS Principal Anita Jorney-Gifford lack substance, as this catchphrase existed long before her time as principal.
Many students grew up with “Go Woo.”
Not only did the district use this phrase for years, but “Go Woo” was adopted by community organizations, clubs and sports leagues.
It may become a tradition that the motto changes every year.
In fact, we advocate for an annual evaluation of the motto, contingent on the decisions of next year’s student government to further promote democratic values.
Nielson and Zhu are the student body president and vice president at Wooster High School.
