Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) -- Southern Utah's Dixie State College is looking for a new mascot. But the search may be re-opening wounds over the school's Rebel nickname and how it embraces symbols of the segregated South.
Five years ago the school got rid of its Confederate Rebel mascot and its successor soon after. It's gone without a mascot since. But now The Colonels Club, the school boosters, want a mascot to fire up crowds.
A committee is looking at some type of animal mascot now.
But this work also started the discussion whether the school should retain its Rebels' nickname or keep a statue of two obviously Confederate soldiers on campus with a Confederate flag.
History professor Chip McLeod says that is a "symbol of a regime that commodified human beings and meant to perpetuate that civilization."
A spokesman today says the school is NOT thinking about changing its name or getting rid of its Rebels nickname.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
