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ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) -- Dixie State College will give up its formal name and "Rebel" mascot as a condition of its University of Utah affiliation.
The U. says it doesn't want to be associated with any Old South stereotypes and that Dixie State has to become the "University of Utah at St. George."
That takes care of the school's name -- now it's time to invent a new mascot.
Dixie College President Lee Caldwell set up a task force to do just that.
The name "Dixie" hails from efforts by early Mormon pioneer settlers to grow cotton in the region.
Locals insist it has nothing to do with racism or slavery, but school trustee Chris Roybal concedes nobody outside Utah would get the nuance.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
