A Closer Look at One of the University of Utah's "Traditions"

In the early 90's the University of Utah officially changed it's mascot from a caricature of Ute to Swoop, the red-tailed hawk, but insisted on continuing to use "Utes" as a nickname for the institution.

More than 10 years later, on August 4, 2005, the National College Athletics Association announced a ban on all schools that utilized American Indian images, nicknames and mascots. 18 offending schools would be barred from continuing to use the offensive imagery or nicknames and banned hosting post-season NCAA sanctioned tournaments. The University of Utah appealed the NCAA Decision shortly thereafter and in September ESPN reported that the University of Utah was removed from the list
following "two letters in support of the university's position, one from Maxine Natchees, chairwoman of the Uintah and Ouray Tribal Business Committee, and one from Craig Thompson, commissioner of the Mountain West Conference."

Since then, the University of Utah has purportedly worked to honor the Ute tribe, yet despite official statements that say the University has stayed away from offensive imagery, official public documents, such as the History section of the official University of Utah Trademarks and Licensing website displays a University of Utah fan dressed in warpaint and a headdress:



The depicted university student is surrounded by members of the Mighty Utah Students Section, a student organization created in 2002 that, according to it's Official "spirit guide" of student conduct asks students "not to disrespect the Ute tribe or other Native Americans" and lists a set of "don't" behaviors which are:
"No war paint.
No drum and feather headdresses.
No tomahawk chops, war dances or other imitations of Native American traditional activities."

Though this organization was created nearly a decade after the University of Utah "Utes" mascot was changed, the caricature of war paint and headdresses continues due to the use of the "Utes" nickname. While the University makes public statements about respecting the Ute tribe and removing the harmful imagery, official "Traditions" images speak louder than these words of "honor."