In my opinion Robert Kelly is the wrong person to lead this university forward, I find him uninspiring. When I read this article it makes my head want to explode of course Robert Kelly is committed to lead the transition, he has no commitment, no attachment and no understanding of what the Fighting Sioux stands for, not a clue what so ever. Robert Kelly is an alumnus Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX Kelly could give a “flying eff” about the Fighting Sioux name and its storied history. Kelly is an academic who probably has never held a real job outside of the University setting and probably looks at the Fighting Sioux Nickname as a impediment to UND and his vision of what UND should be.
I still to this day believe that UND should be run by a person that is from UND and more specifically a UND grad. You can’t tell me we don’t have someone from UND and North Dakota that isn’t qualified to run this University. I can't be the only one that feels this way? Here is the video of the this uninspiring speech. [Click to watch]
GRAND FORKS – UND President Robert Kelley told members of the University Senate on Thursday that he is “fully committed to the implementation” of marching orders he received last month from state higher education authorities concerning transition from the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.
Two “task groups” have been established, one to “plan and implement the process of honoring the history and traditions of the Sioux name and logo” and another to “reach out to students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends – all our constituencies.”
A third group has not yet been activated, he said, identifying it as a “new-directions task group,” which – when and if activated – “will help us think through the process of selecting a new name and logo for the university.”
Kelley, who will report to the state Board of Higher Education in Bismarck Monday on the transition, said that “for the immediate future,” he will recommend “that UND simply use its name – the University of North Dakota – and that our athletic and academic teams use the term ‘North Dakota’ or the interlocked ND as an outward identity for activities that require such designation.”
Due to licensing and contractual considerations, including the fact jerseys and other items already have been ordered, “we will use the Fighting Sioux name and logo through the coming year,” he said. “We’re certainly not going to cover up (that part of) any team item that has been ordered.”
However, “as we get through that cycle (the 2010-2011 school year), we would expect to see no Fighting Sioux logo” in use by UND teams, he said.
Kelley said he has had “cordial, businesslike talks” with representatives of the NCAA and with managers at Ralph Engelstad Arena concerning terms of the lawsuit settlement negotiated in 2007 by Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. The NCAA stipulated that many of the Sioux logos and other features at the arena would have to be removed.
The only reason Kelley is there is to oversee the transition to Division I.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it, the pursuit of money has led to this debacle.
The president of UND is uninspiring and not impressive in my opinion. I miss Cupcake.
ReplyDeleteNot being from ND or a UND grad is not uncommon. The 7th president, George Starcher, graduated from Ohio State. However, the 8th and most distinguished President, Thomas Clifford, was a ND native, graduate of UND, and one of the two (#6, John West, 1933-1954; MN native; UND graduate)who served the longest terms of presidency. He would definitely have not lost the name under his watch. Kelly is a bureaucrat and a spinster. He's not going to let some insignificant tribe hold his business interest at bay like that little minnow in the famous dam project, or let the tail wag the dog. If SR doesn't want to cooperate, then his prerogative is to make the necessary decisions. Talk about dishonoring the Tribe! But the SR Council dishonors the UND but keeping its head the sand. Recently, 69 names on a petition of the Chippewa Tribe (out of a population of 9,400) was adequate for their council to meet and make a decision within days. As much disdain that I have for Mr. Kelly for his lack of conviction and commitment, the vast majority of the blame, in my opinion, remains firmly on the back of the SR Council. For the Council not to address the matter at their May council meeting just completed is a travesty in the diplomatic effort that should have been exercised.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that the Standing Rock tribe has been the largest impediment to keeping the Fighting Sioux nickname. After all...how can some members ask the governor to step in and then shortly after that, the tribal council tables the issue? Those probably aren't the same groups of people, but it is clear there is no urgency on the part of the tribal council to listen to their own people. But Kelley and Faison share an equal amount of the blame here too. Both are eager to dump the fine, long-standing tradition that has meant so much to past and current UND athletes and their fans.
ReplyDeleteThe President and the AD are willing to dump it because they have ZERO expectations that the Standing Rock tribe will do anything now or before Nov 30. (It was the Spirit Lake tribe who has approved) Plus, they are also concerned that even though they might contract for 30 years, who knows when this issue will really go away, given the turn over on the Council staff and continually in the court of public opinion. We will see what happens with the Seminoles. I have no doubt that if some of the tribal government matters of higher priority were resolved with financial help from the U, then the SR council would be very much in favor of it! There should be a diplomatic resolution to this....come to the negotiating table....and work it out. But no, the Tribal Council states that they won't consider it because they haven't been "told" that the decision (retirement) by the SBHE was made. But I do blame the President for not acting presidential and diplomatically to meet with the SR Chairman to try to work this out. This in itself reveals that he did not care about fighting for the principle. He's as much an ostrich as the SR Council. Frankly, I sent him an email stating this same concern but of course in different words.
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