Herald Letter: Sundogs is the best nickname for UND

Yippy,Skippy! Another one for the Sundogs nickname.  Again, for those that are unfamiliar with what a Sundog is look to your right. 

In the November 17, 2007, edition of the Grand Forks Herald, I submitted my suggestion of Sundogs as the UND nickname.  Later, I officially submitted the name and I see that nickname is high on the list of remaining considered nicknames. Some folks may not know what a sundog  is and may not understand some ‘lore’ surrounding sundogs. So, I thought I’d clarify why I submitted the name.

Sundogs are a weather condition or phenomenon that can be noticed anywhere in the world.  They look  like rainbows or halos on either side of the sun and can be very, very bright.  When you see them, you can be astonished how their power, beauty and unique strength capture your attention.  There is nothing quite like them, and what a great set of images to be reflected in UND’s new nickname!

The scientific name of a sundog is a solar parhelia, which is really Greek (yup) meaning “beside the sun.” You can often see them on sunny afternoons about an  hour before sunset, and at sunrise around here. They appear when ice crystals form in the upper atmosphere (another reference to UND being in the upper atmospheres of education and athletics). The ice crystals bend the sunlight causing a reflected image of the sun to appear on one or both sides of the sun.  They can occur anywhere in the world (just like UND grads), but mostly appear in the western skies (again just like UND grads).

Some folklore has Native Americans interpreting the glowing light beside the sun to look like a dog, ready to leap through a ring of fire.  Other folklore says that they are a good indication that the observer will have good luck and many rewards with any travels.  More folklore has proven true in that sundogs still are a good indicator that weather conditions will change in the next day to day and a half  (meaning that when the Sundogs arrive for any competitions, things are going to change!)  

I still support the Sundogs nickname very much!  That idea — my idea — has a certain “bite” to it and it would give UND an identity that is entirely unique and powerful, with no strings attached.

Ralph Sollom

Bemidji