School district considers changing ‘Redmen’ mascot

CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) - A review is underway to determine if a potentially offensive mascot at a Utah high school should remain.

The Spectrum reports Iron County school officials are considering changing Cedar High School’s Redmen mascot.

The Iron County School District said in a statement that the Redmen moniker was intended it to be an honor when it was chosen in 1943. The district says it was selected as a way of “representing the many Native Americans that lived and continue to live in this area.”

However, the term widely has become known as a racial slur.

The district says the local Native American tribe, the Cedar Paiute Tribe of Utah, has not requested a name change but is supportive of the district’s review.

Two meetings - Dec. 4 and Dec. 18 - will be held at the school to gather public input.

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Information from: The Spectrum, http://www.thespectrum.com