Comments about ‘'Ute' is more of a white man's issue’

There you go. Now, leave it be!

I think the U's use of the Ute label honors, not dishonors, the great Native American tribe.

Like the lady said, it's more of a white mans issue. So much for political correctness!

Thanks for this article - it's great to hear an insider's perspective.

This ia a Pac-12 issue.

a non-issue. But I wonder what the tribal leaders think.

Good. Now we can let this one rest and move on to schools using dogs as mascots; i.e. Washington, Connecticut, Georgia, etc. Surely there's got to be somebody who has issues about schools using a dog as a mascot. Aren't dogs real people too? Just ask anyone in Park City.

I also believe the Ute name honors the Utes and keeps their memory, tradition and history alive for all of us. I like that my kids ask me "what's a Ute?" And I can explain a little bit about this indian tribe.

I can see how a name like the Redskins could be offensive, since it's a reference to skin color. But I see names like Utes, Seminoles, and Chippewas as a positive statement for the tribes they honor.

If we ban the name Utes, where does this end? Do we get rid of Braves and Indians? Do we get rid of 49ers, since that could be offensive to some gold prospectors and the violence that took place during this time period? Maybe we should get rid of the Jazz name, since that could be offensive to musicians? And what about the New Orleans Saints. Is that offensive to Saints to be equated to a football team?

It's one thing to be sensitive and quite another to be paranoid. It's just a mascot. Embrace the mascots and learn what they represent and quite living in paranoia.

Once again Lee Benson is the Voice of Reason!

OK, usually he isn't, but in this case he is actually making some sense. I could never figure out why all those folks that are so concerned we are offending the Utes never bother to ask THEM. I think that shows more disrespect than any mascot or logo I've ever seen.

Nice article! Now can we just drop it?

Thank you.... and..

Go Utes!

Mr. Benson did something that nobody else in this media market took the time to do before spouting off; He asked the members of the tribe and reported on their point of view. Great job Lee!

Thank you Lee, for a nice little sanity check.

One might ask themselves why a school takes on a name and mascot. Usually it is becuase they percieve the name and mascot as representing a quality that they would like others to think they have this same quality. That sounds like an indirect compliment to me.

A beautiful blow against Political Correctness. I love it. It's a "White mans issue". Let's get rid of the rest of the PC garbage while we are at it.

The politically correct tree huggers of the PAC 12 couldn't care less what the Ute tribe thinks of being turned into a mascot; as soon as the PC crowd decides to make it an issue, the PAC 12 will cave and force Utah to stop using the Utes as their mascot.

Just to answer a question asked above, the Ute Tribal Council "many moons" ago issued their formal approval for the University to use the name Ute and the Drum-and-Feathers logo. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the mascot for the University is the Red-Tailed Hawk (native to this area) and not a Ute Indian dressed in full regalia, as it is the case at for Florida State.

Also, I fully agree with Ute tribal member Tracy Christensen when she stated, "I think it's more of a white people's issue."

From a byu fan, leave the loge alone.

Funny,

not word about using 'celtic' or 'viking or 'vandal', or many other euro-centric group names,

but makes a politically correct stand for use of certain names.

what if someone used the name 'zulu', or 'mongol' or 'aztec' (whoops! therw is already a school using that name) or 'tuareg' (whoops again! there is already a suv with that name)?

This shows how silly this is.

I can understand why people might be opposed to the term redskin as it references skin color, or the term Indian, as it is inaccurate, but I don't see why anything else would be an issue. It certainly doesn't seem to be with this Ute anyway.

If that is the case, why not get rid of the red tailed hawk and get a the Ute Mascot back. The UofU could even put an actual Ute on scholarship to be the mascot. I bet that would keep the Utes happy and avoid offending anyone. Just think how awesome would it be if at half time at Rice-Eccles, the Mascot came riding in on a horse and threw a spear through the target on the haystack like the good ol' days. Win win in my opinion.

The only ones offended are those who are offended by everything.

@Z | 12:24 p.m. Jan. 17, 2012
South Jordan, UT

I couldn't agree more. Why stick with the Utes? Apparently The chairman of the Canyons School District is offended by "cougars", as he denied students' choice for the mascot of the new high school. He claimed it was offensive because of the sexually related slang term. Using his logic, BYU should have to change its mascot too.