This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As a Utah alum and fan, I was outraged when I read the Trib's "University of Utah weighing changes to 'discriminatory' fight song," April 8. The university is one of the most inclusive and welcoming groups in the state of Utah. It was when I was a student there 20 years ago and is even more so now.
Changing Utah "man" to Utah "fan" is rather naïve. I know of no other university in this country where fans are in a school song. What about those who attended or graduated from Utah?
"Fairest" refers to a skin color? Where is the evidence to prove this statement? I doubt when the song was written that was the authors' intent. "Fairest" means playing sports in an honorable and ethical way and students' school work is at a performance level that involves honor and integrity.
Drop this nonsensical discussion about the fight song, and leave it alone. Cheer and be proud that you go to a great school. Go Utes!
Philip M. Quinones
North Carolina