An effort in the Utah Legislature to retire Native American mascots in Utah’s K-12 schools failed to pass. House Concurrent Resolution 3 is sponsored by Representative Elizabeth Weight and lists Senator Ron Winterton as the Floor Sponsor. The general description of HCR 3 states that “this resolution recognizes the harm done by using Native American mascots, encourages schools in the public education system to consider retiring those mascots, and encourages the State Board of Education and local education agencies to provide instruction in Native American culture and history.” The highlighted provision claims that Native American mascots contribute “to high rates of school drop out and death by suicide among Native American youth.” Those against the Resolution argued on the House floor that Native American mascots can be done with approval from the Native American tribes. University of Utah and Uintah High School working with the Ute Tribe is an example of that. With a vote of 45 to 27 the resolution failed.
