The truth shall set you free…

Image via Wikipedia
This little nugget was found on Dustin Monke's blog, the Sports Editor of The Dickinson Press, I asked the question earlier today; “who is paying for this lawsuit?” There is a bigger entity out there than eight former students driving this lawsuit. That is the question people should be asking is, who is driving this lawsuit, and why now?

I highly doubt that these eight students in question have the money to retain a high priced lawyer of Sanford Dumain's stature, and now we find out that they also have a P.R. firm as well, someone else is footing the bill.

Six UND Indian students file federal lawsuit over Fighting Sioux nickname

Image via WikipediaIn reading the newspaper articles I have gleaned that six students from the University of North Dakota of Native American decent that aren't Sioux (Nakota, Lakota, Dakota), have filed a law suit in Federal Court against Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, the state of North Dakota, the North Dakota state Board of Higher Education and the University of North Dakota.

The Students' attorney in question is Sanford Dumain of the New York law firm Milberg LLP. Like Rob Port the first question that I asked myself is; who is paying for this lawsuit? That's the bigger question that people should be asking. I highly doubt that these six students have the money to retain a lawyer of Sanford Dumain's stature, someone is footing the bill.

According the the Bismarck Tribune the Students are claiming that the new law to retain the Fighting Sioux nickname violates their 14th Amendment. Which will probably be hard to prove and it will be interesting to see if the group even has standing to sue. What are they going to claim that they are being deprived of life, liberty and or property?

The complaint alleges the legislation violates the state Constitution, because the Board of Higher Education is supposed to make such decisions rather than the Legislature, and violates a court-ordered settlement directing the name be changed which was reached by the NCAA, the state and the Board of Higher Education. The students also allege the new law violates their 14th Amendment rights in that the name and logo are harmful and disparaging to Native Americans.

Links to the paper work filed (Civil Cover Sheet) and (Complaint and Jury Trial Demand)

Related articles

• Fighting Sioux nickname meeting with NCAA rescheduled for Aug. 12 (mvn.com)
• UPDATE: Shaft: NCAA meeting about Fighting Sioux nickname postponed (mvn.com)
• Fighting Sioux Controversy Continues (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
• University of North Dakota fights to keep Sioux nickname (denverpost.com)
• North Dakota continues fight to keep Sioux nickname (cbssports.com)

Bismarck Tribune - Drop the 'Fighting Sioux'

Image via WikipediaThe Bismarck Tribune editorial board came out with this stance on the Fighting Sioux logo. Can't say that I was shocked by their response, seems to be popular to pile on now.

I want to address one point in this editorial; you don't just pick "a new nickname and logo," the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo has been part of UND's history for 80+ years you can't just go Willy Nilly and pick a new nickname and logo without putting some serious thought into the process.  This is how you end up with a really stupid replacement nickname and logo.

Bismarck Tribune - Robert Kelley, University of North Dakota president, said Monday it's time for the school to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

He is right.

But here's the big question. Does he have the wherewithal to get the job done? We think he does, we support his efforts and we wish him success.

Personal preference to keep or drop those two words and image - Fighting Sioux - pales in comparison with what is best for UND students. The protracted controversy from polarized camps has gone on far too long. Damage has been done. More will follow. But it shouldn't be hard to weigh the options.

Pick a new nickname and logo, deal with some angst for an undetermined period of time and create an atmosphere ultimately conducive to university and student athletic success.

Continue use of the nickname and logo, deal with everlasting angst from the NCAA, and create an atmosphere that severely impacts the university and student athletic success.

Forget about "who" makes the decision. It's time to put egos aside and do the right thing - and UND President Kelley should be the point man.

It's time for Native Americans in support of the name and logo to defer to their brothers and sisters who have been, and are, offended by what they believe to be a hostile environment. Indians can lead by continuing a long tradition of love, understanding and service to one another, by focusing on the greater good.

It's time for arrogant legislators to stop controlling and micro-managing. They are not leading by continuing to ask for meetings with the NCAA to defend their silly and defiant actions, pomp-and-circumstance votes commanding continued use of the nickname and logo.

It's time for those legislators to show leadership by admitting their mistake and committing to lightening the heavy burden they wrongfully placed on UND and its students - and November's special redistricting session isn't soon enough.

It's time for the Board of Higher Education to lead by backing President Kelley, at whatever cost, at restarting the transition process that had begun, making it possible to move past the nickname and logo conflict.

And, it's time for the NCAA, and Big Sky Conference, to acknowledge those efforts by then showing leadership by welcoming and helping UND move forward to university and student athletic success.

Consider what is best for students and it isn't an ongoing controversy over a nickname.

Now is the time for leadership - not showmanship.