AHS’ ‘A’ No Longer Allowed in Use

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YVONNE LEE
Editor in Chief
For the last couple years, a popular block-style ‘A’ was emblazoned on many of AHS’ sports jerseys and other apparel. This ‘A’ is no longer affiliated with Alhambra High School. Earlier this year, the University of Arizona filed a claim for the rights of this design. While the legal councils of Alhambra Unified School District and the University of Arizona have worked this issue out amongst themselves, the administration has begun to phase out the usage of this font.
According to Assistant Principal of Business and Activities Jeremy Infranca, AHS has not had to pay any monetary compensation to the university; however, the school has agreed to phase out the design within the next three years.
As a result, the Mighty Moor Marching Band is no longer able to wear their T-shirts with the old ‘A’ logo. The band members found out towards the end of the ‘10-’11 school year and were forced to retire the shirt design that had been in use for many years.
“It was sad that everyone [had] to order this new design but it doesn’t matter what we wear because in the end, we are still the same band,” senior band member Nicole Ujita said.
This incident is not a unique one, as there have been many cases of high schools and their sports teams utilizing similar logo designs.
“A lot of high schools use Division One college teams’ logos; it’s quite a common occurrence,” Assistant Principal of Business and Activities Jeremy Infranca said. “We’re not an isolated case by any means.”
Recently, Florida State University (FSU) filed formal complaints against Salem High School in Conyers, Georgia for the use of their Seminoles logo.
The Rockdale County Board of Education, which overlooks Salem High School, reached a license agreement and a settlement with FSU to avoid a federal lawsuit which could have cost the district about $250,000, reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Currently, the administration has been working with designers to create a new AHS logo.
“We’ve been trying to create a [new design], one that is not copyrighted,” Infranca said.