A Couple of Things that Should Concern You

In reading Anna Burleson's article in today's Grand Forks Herald, I see a couple of things that concern me and should concern other UND fans and alumni. First, Hawks are birds and they have feathers. When I read comments like the one below, this only makes me think that his is how we're going to end up with a very bad logo that none of us can get behind.

But former UND legal counsel Julie Evans, who attended the forum, suggested caution in using Native American imagery, like feathers, from the old logo, given the NCAA's agreement with the school.

I am also concerned when I read the paragraph below. This is how we end up with a chicken hawk logo with an uff da  taco in his talons.

Ideas varied widely during discussion, with some people wanting to avoid using pink — one of the school's official colors — while others support embracing it. Other ideas included depicting the state's Norwegian heritage, reflecting North Dakota's winter weather and adding the state's geography.

"We have a lot we can work with and this is the first part of this process," O'Flaherty said.

Moving on, I also love how these anti-fighting Sioux people lecture the pro-nickname people. You better not do that. Don't do that. Oh, that's a violation.

Anyone that thought there was going to be a quick transition to the new nickname is unrealistic. It's going to take time. You don't undo an 80-year tradition in three-four months.

Designing a logo that all of us can get behind is going to be very important if the administration wants the pro-fighting Sioux crowd to move on. Blow the logo design, and the fans will still be yelling Sioux 30 years from now.

I have gotten and I've seen hundreds of comments on social media. Rough estimate, I would say that 50-75 percent, maybe even higher despise/hate the Fighting Hawks nickname. If SME and the UND administration fumble or boggle the creation of the new logo, that number will grow.