This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Over the New Year's break at the University of Utah, it was out with the old and in with the ... old.
Published reports on Dec. 30 (like this one on KSL.com) said it was a done deal that the University of Utah would retire its "drum and feather" logo after the Utes football team played in the Hyundai Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.
The KSL.com story didn't have official confirmation, but said "sources tell KSL." The story went on to say that the simple "block U" would become the predominant logo for U. of U. teams.
On Tuesday, after a slew of complaints from old-line Utes fans, the university issued a statement saying the old "drum and feather" (or "circle and feather," as U. officials put it) was sticking around.
The school said it "periodically review[s] the use of the circle and feather logo out of sensitivity for native tribes across the country as well as Utah fans."
The "drum and feather" has been around since 1975, and was created with the approval of the Ute Tribal Council. (Before 1972, the Utes were often referred to as "Redskins," until the university cracked down on the offensive term.)
As with all questions of ethnic sensitivity, it's usually best to defer to the ethnic group that's being offended. If the Ute tribe gives its blessing to the name "Utes" and the "drum and feather" logo, it's all fine. It would be even nicer if the university gave the Ute tribe a cut of the merchandising profits.