Redmen Rematch: Community To Decide Cedar High School Mascot

First it was the realization that we were indeed going to have to endure a Trump-Bidden re-match, now the citizens of Cedar City and Iron County will be re-visiting another rematch, and that one is to consider if the Cedar High mascot name will return to the Redmen.

The Board of Education of Iron County School District recently made a significant decision at a public meeting held on Tuesday, March 26th. They voted to allow the public to weigh in on the potential reinstatement of the Cedar High School Redmen name through a public vote. With six members voting in favor and one against, the motion passed, marking a pivotal moment in a longstanding debate.

This discussion was prompted by the request of Board of Education members Lauren Lewis, Dave Staheli, and Jeff Corry, indicating the significance of the issue within the community. Following hours of public comments and deliberation, a motion to reinstate the name failed.

However, Board Member Megen Ralphs proposed an alternative: letting the public decide the matter by placing it on a ballot as soon as legally possible.

As to when that vote will be, no official word has been given at this point. There will be a primary election on June 25^th, but it is not certain of the measure can be ready to on the ballot by then.

Whenever it happens, you can be sure there will be no lack of posturing and positioning by the differing sides of the issue.

The dispute surrounding the Redmen name has persisted for years. In 2019, a committee comprising students, staff, alumni, community members, and tribal representatives recommended changing the school name and mascot, a decision later ratified by the Board of Education. Since then, calls for reinstatement have emerged, with some board members even campaigning on the issue.

Despite these efforts, district administrators recently received a formal request from the local Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah to refrain from reinstating the Redmen name, citing potential harm it may cause.

Superintendent Dr. Lance Hatch acknowledged the complexities of the situation, emphasizing the need to respect both sides of the debate while prioritizing the education of current students.

So if you already had enough angst about the presidential rematch, time to tighten up another notch on your seatbelt. This could be a bumpy ride.