Here is the left leaning New York Times had to say on the dispute between the NCAA and the University of North Dakota. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth a read.
Emma G. Fitzsimmons; New York Times --- For many North Dakotans, the future of the logo — a profile of an Indian with feathers in his hair — is personal. Grant Shaft, the president of the state’s Board of Higher Education, went to law school there and said five generations of his family attended the university. But Mr. Shaft says it is time for the university to move past the matter and comply with N.C.A.A. guidelines.
“My roots with the Fighting Sioux nickname go as deep as anybody,” he said. “The reality of the situation is that the Aug. 15 date is looming, and we’re starting to realize the consequences are really untenable for the athletics department.”
The University of North Dakota is the last college still wrangling over how to get rid of its nickname and logo since the N.C.A.A. issued a policy in 2005 that banned American Indian mascots because they were seen as hostile and abusive. More than a dozen universities have already dropped such names.
The university tried over the last three years to receive an exemption by getting approval from both Sioux tribes in the state, Spirit Lake and Standing Rock. Although some members of the Spirit Lake tribe said they considered the nickname an honor and sued to preserve it, ultimately both tribes could not agree on the issue.
The N.C.A.A. agreed to attend the meeting with state officials this month, but reiterated that it would not change its policy. Bob Williams, the association’s vice president of communications, said: “We need to have a discussion about how they are going to comply with the policy or how they are going to be subject to the provisions of the policy. That’s it.”
Still, Al Carlson, the Republican leader in the State House, and other legislative leaders plan to make their case for keeping the name. Mr. Carlson, who did not return calls, told reporters earlier this year: “The alumni, the people that attend there, overwhelmingly want to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname.”
A spokesman for Mr. Dalrymple, a Republican, said: “The governor is going to Indianapolis because he wants to listen firsthand to the discussion between Al Carlson and the N.C.A.A. He’s trying to understand all points of view.”
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