Petitioners seek BYU apology for racist incident

WINDOW ROCK, Aug. 7, 2008

University of Utah graduate Debra Yazzie and the Coalition to Protect American Indian Rights are seeking an apology for racist behavior on Nov. 9, 2007, at a volleyball game in Provo, Utah.

Photos taken at a West Mountain Conference volleyball game between the University of Utah and the Brigham Young University show an unidentified fan holding up a dry eraser board with the words "Trail of Tears Part II" and "Back to the reservation for U."

The photos were published in the student paper The Daily Utah Chronicle on Nov. 12, 2007.

"I was able to obtain copies of the photographs from the photographer, Tyler Cobbs," Yazzie said. "To my delight he was very cooperative in providing me with the color photos which I use today in my displays to inform others and receive support as we voice our concerns."

The Cherokees along with other Eastern tribes were forcibly removed from their homelands east of the Mississippi River to Indian Territory, now known as the state of Oklahoma. The Cherokees call this walk "The Trail Where They Cried" because of the horrifying experience endured on the walk.

"The signs are also particularly poignant for the various Ute tribes and bands that were forcibly relocated to various reservations in the state of Utah and Colorado," Yazzie said.

The effects of these events have left an enduring and painful mark on American Indian communities, said Yazzie, who resides in Salt Lake City.

As of Feb. 1, 2005 the National Collegiate Athletic Association banned the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams. Nicknames or mascots deemed "hostile or abusive" are also not allowed on team uniforms.

"Although the University of Utah no longer endorses the 'Ute' name as a mascot but rather as a nickname for its athletic teams, unfortunately with the continued use of the Ute name, many fans of rival university's take up the name an use it in a racist, hostile, and abusive contexts," said Yazzie.

"Native people are always being stereotyped and the more schools use Native people or images as a mascot it opens doors for bigotry and racial discrimination," she said.

The coalition says because the volleyball game was an NCAA-sanctioned event and the school has not intervened and dissuaded the fan from displaying these messages or dismissing her from the game, BYU could be considered in violation of the NCAA policy.

In a letter to the University of Utah, American Indian students and other petitioners requested to meet with the president of Brigham Young University, Cecil O. Samuelson, and Tom Holmoe, the school's athletic director.

"I was very surprised he treated our request with such blankness," Yazzie said. "I am still waiting for a phone call or letter regarding our request to meet with President Samuelson or Tom Holmoe."

Holmoe responded, "The comments of this single fan certainly do not represent the views of the BYU athletic department, nor of the university. I apologize for the distress that her remarks, displayed however briefly, have caused you and any others. We will continue to encourage our fans to demonstrate good sportsmanship and respect for all people."

"I would have been happy to explain our response to this incident and our feelings about it if you had contacted me before you launched your petition drive," said Holmoe.

Asked his thoughts about the issue and petition, Holmoe said, "I immediately mailed an apology to the people who contacted me regarding this issue. I had not heard of the incident until I received the letter."

Michael Smart, BYU's media relations manager, said, " Tom Holmoe forwarded me your inquiry, your questions are answered in the response that Tom sent the petitioners on July 16, after the first time he heard from them."

The University of Utah was removed from the NCAA banned mascot list after leaders of the Ute Nation helped the school in a seven-page appeal.

"We wholeheartedly agree with you and your petitioners that these particular remarks were inappropriate and offensive - that is why our staff intervened as soon as they saw them and told the fan they must be erased," Holmoe said.

"After she wrote another offensive phrase, our staff informed her she could not display the dry erase board at all and enforced this requirement for the rest of the match," he said.

The petition is requesting that the unidentified BYU student or fan and BYU acknowledge the discriminatory, hostile, and abusive act.

Right now the focus is on obtaining plenty of signatures for the petition. A total of 653 signatures have been collected and 550 of those signatures are from the Northern Ute nation in Fort Duchesne, Utah.

"I saw that the students were more angered when they saw the photos. Over 150 Navajo students signed the petition during their lunch hour," said Yazzie.

Yazzie said 1964 Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills, Oglala Lakota, gave an inspiring speech and related to Native students how he experienced racism as a college athlete. He, too, signed the petition.

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