Do owls and oranges really make a good pair?

Citrus College has been recognized as the home of the Fighting Owls for quite a while, but it’s time for a change.

The school is named “Citrus,” and having a mascot that is anything other than an orange frankly just seems like an opportunity wasted.

The California Community Colleges website shows that by changing their mascot, Citrus would become the only community college in the state to have a fruit represent their school. Although the thought of becoming the first school to alter their mascot into a fruit can be intimidating, the risk would give the school a strong sense of identity and a unique representation alongside the other schools in California.

The abundance of confusion that comes with why the school would choose an owl to defend them is absurd. When it comes to the Fighting Oranges there is no question.

When first beginning the registration process, finding out Citrus’ mascot was an owl seemed like such a random choice. While owls are perfectly fine in a general sense, usually associated with wisdom and guidance, the decision to make it the school’s mascot seems like such an odd selection.

Choosing the owl is just nonsensical. Owls are hardly, if ever, on campus. When asked if she’s ever seen an owl on campus, undeclared major Kalena Marshall states “A live owl, no. I have seen the owl statue in the middle of campus though.”

Meanwhile, oranges have played a key role in Glendora’s history. The City of Glendora website emphasizes the influence of citrus trees has had on their city claiming, “In 1896, Glendora built its first packing house, and for a while the largest citrus packing house in the world was located here.” Less than 20 years later in 1915, Citrus College was founded.

Some may question the decision to choose an orange as the citrus fruit to represent the school and not lemons. Recognizing that the citrus trees planted along the parking lot on Foothill are actually orange trees, arguing to become the Fighting Lemons is a bit ridiculous.

While making the mascot an orange obviously seems like a much more suitable option, some may continue to argue that choice is too cliche or tacky.

The truth of the matter is there just isn’t anything intimidating about an owl. The mascot seems to lean on the “fighting” precursor as if the owl knows they’re dependent on that term as a way to bring on some sense of aggression. At least the owl is self-aware.

If the school isn’t intending on having an intimidating mascot, it could at least go the comedic route.

By changing to the Fighting Oranges, it not only shows that the school is one with a strong identity that can lean into the joke, but also complements the school’s branding.

The school has held onto this misleading mascot for too long, and it’s long past the time for revision.

Citrus College, take advantage of this opportunity to do right by your staff, your students, and give them the legacy they rightfully deserve.