The silver-and-purple clad cougars of Christopher High School
will become crosstown rivals for GHS
Gilroy – The Gilroy High School Mustangs might have a new predator in town as the current recommendation for Christopher High School’s mascot is a purple, silver and white cougar
The color selection – resembling that of the Sacramento Kings basketball team – would influence aspects of the gymnasium, such as the duct work and bleachers, said Paul Bunton, president of BCA Architects, the firm hired to design the new high school.
The colors were chosen primarily through a process of attrition, he explained at Thursday’s Gilroy Unified School District board of trustees meeting.
The architectural firm selected purple because it was a color not commonly used by schools in the athletic league in which Christopher High School will compete or by schools that could become part of that league in later years.
The addition of silver and white were chosen purely on aesthetic appeal, said Bunton.
“It’s a very elegant palate,” he said.
With the high school not scheduled to open until 2009 and construction not slated to start until this fall, the mascot and color selection are not set in stone.
“We’re not locked into any particular direction,” Bunton said. “We just felt we needed to start the process. We wanted to get (the selection) out there early and see if anybody has some strong objections to it.”
First reactions from the board suggest there will not be strong resistance from trustees.
“It’s very pleasing to the eye,” said Trustee Francisco Dominguez.
At its meeting, the board did not voice any concerns over the choice of colors or mascot.
While the firm does not need board approval, the architects will bring the mascot and colors to the board for a vote after working in revisions with the new school’s steering committee.
This top-down process – with the architects proposing colors rather than having a community forum to determine them – was designed to speed things up, said Bunton.
“I think it might not be in the best interest if we form a committee on colors,” he said. “Colors are very subjective. I’m not sure you’d ever get consensus.”
Trustees are also supportive of the process and the involvement of the steering committee.
“I appreciate their participation and their suggestions,” said Dominguez. “I would be looking for their guidance and directions.”
