Although the student handbook says Don Lugo’s school colors are brown and gold, when I look around that’s not evident to me.

When the school opened in 1976, the colors were distinctly dark brown and gold, with the use of black and white as accents, that is what the community has always been told. But over the years, especially now, black is becoming more prominent in the color scheme. According to our principal, Dr. Cabrera, and her source, Don Lugo’s colors are brown, gold, white, and black, with no specifics about what the primaries may be.

In 1976, students came together to choose the brown and gold color combination and the community has stood by Don Lugo all these years, supporting the odd choice of school colors, but on campus it’s a whole different story. Sports teams, our administration staff, the Quest News, the hip hop team, and spirit apparel have all been spotted with black to represent Lugo. This is creating a confusing image for the school as a whole.

It is no secret that our surrounding schools and their families judge us for our colors, which can really put a damper on one’s spirit and school pride. Contrary to what students prefer, until a decision is made about the direction of the school’s colors, we need to be united. If we are brown and gold, then everyone needs to suck it up and be brown and gold.

If Don Lugo officially brings black to stay, how will the Lugo community react? In a statement, Mrs.. Rigo-Witt, the activities director, responds with, “I don’t know how it would go if we actually changed the colors. There’s a lot of history and people have their opinion about what our school colors should be and people are really passionate about it.”.
Alumni and the community around our school love Don Lugo and want to see the tradition kept alive. But, on the other hand, current students do not feel confident and prideful of their colors and school enough to wear clothing that represents where they’re from. Over 90% of the students who were asked about changing the primary color to black over brown, supported it and wanted to see a change be made.

Year after year, the Lugo family hears how ugly our colors are and how people don’t understand why anyone would want to join a school where they are brown and gold. It’s true, black would make us look a little sharper and could surely enhance our attitude as a school,putting us on the map. The only problem is, there are 4 decades of history that the community might not be ready to let that go of.

When I addressed Dr. Cabrera about the issue, she seemed to be on the same page. She doesn’t want to push tradition aside just for the sake of the school, but she also wants to take the students opinions and feelings to heart over the matter. “I want people to be out there saying our name and showing our spirit and pride, and if colors can help that, then they are something to look into.” explains Cabrera.

Until the students decide to approach the idea of changing the colors, I do not believe black should be used to represent the school. If we are going to say we are brown and gold, then we need to be brown and gold.