So many words in modern society are used as a double entendre, derogatory insult or a generally offensive term.
What happens when we as a society find ourselves catching ourselves before we speak, and the public becomes up in arms about the words an individual says?

A recent case of this double entendre controversy took place in the town of Draper, Utah.

Corner Canyon High School was in the process of choosing a new mascot. Students were given the option to vote for the Corner Canyon Cougars, Falcons, Raptors or Diamondbacks.

The results showed students voted to be the Cougars. A school used a democratic vote and selected the cougar: a large, endangered cat found in North and South America. Simple enough, right?

Wrong. Parents decided that this was inappropriate because obviously when choosing their mascot, many students were thinking about the older women that have relations with younger men.

I understand the overall concept of avoiding certain words because they are offending, but I think that common sense needs to be used.

Now, as strongly as I feel about my opinion, I have to say that there are in fact, two different Supreme Court cases that potentially disregard my opinion. The first one, the 1969 decision of Tinker v. Des Moines, upheld the right for students to express themselves when their words are non-disruptive and could not be seen as connected with the school.

That being said, the second falls under the decision of Bethel School District v. Fraser (1983), in which a student gave a speech that was composed entirely of sexual innuendos and double entendres. The school made the decision to suspend the student, and after the student sued, the circuit court ruled in his favor. However, the Supreme Court ruled, in a 7-2 vote, in favor of the school district.

I do realize that these Supreme Court cases aren’t necessarily fully related to the case of the cougar mascot; however, it just goes to show that double entendres should be used with caution.

Even so, in the case of Corner Canyon High School, I feel as though the school district acted immaturely by refraining from using a cougar as its mascot.