The Confederate flag and Rodney Rebel have been symbols of Dixie College as long as anyone on campus can recall, but an abolition movement is under way.
The college's Student Executive Council voted this summer to abolish the flag, which they say is a racist symbol and throwback to the days of slavery.A campus pipe bombing Oct. 2 - believed to be racially motivated - has prompted a council of Dixie College administrators to consider banning the Stars and Bars early next month.
Meantime, school mascot Rodney Rebel has stopped waving the flag at football games.
Brigham Young, an early Mormon Church president who led Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, sent settlers to southern Utah in the 1850s to found the Cotton Mission. Those pioneers thought of themselves as settlers of "Utah's Dixie."
The tradition spawned the college name and its symbols.
But students say the symbols are not worth keeping if they offend people or mar the college's image and academic mission.
Student Body President Victor Iverson said most students support the change.
"Some are kind of sad to see it go, but they understand that we don't want to turn people off when they see it on a campus visit," he said.
Some alumni are more reluctant to abandon tradition.
Alumni Association president Scott Lovell said an overwhelming majority of the association board favor keeping the flag.
"Personally, I am in favor of keeping the flag," he said. "It doesn't denote anything negative in Dixie. It's part of Rodney, a fun-loving character."
Dixie College President Robert Huddleston, a newcomer to the area, said it will be up to college leaders, residents and the Board of Trustees to decide the fate of the symbol.