The Ute Tribe Business Committee last week sent a letter to Univ. of Utah officials "requesting a Nov. 22 meeting to discuss the future use of the Ute name and the drum and feather logo," according to Geoff Liesik of the DESERET NEWS. The group is the "executive and legislative governing body for the nearly 3,200-member tribe" based in Fort Duchesne, Utah. Attached to the letter was a copy of an April 22 Business Committee resolution which states that the "prior memorandum of understanding between the tribe and the school 'does not go far enough to promote tribal human resources.'" The resolution gives "two specific terms the tribe will seek before inking a new agreement." The first is the "creation of an Office of the Special Adviser to the President on American Indian Affairs, which will be headed by a member of the Ute Tribe." The second is a "switch from scholarships to tuition waivers for all Ute tribal members who attend the university." School officials "clearly understand that the Nov. 22 meeting will be an important one, if the school wants to continue using the Ute name and the drum and feather logo, something the NCAA allows only because of the tribe's ongoing support and consent" (DESERET NEWS, 11/12).
