It's Time to Move on from "Fighting Sioux"

By Zach Hawkins -- For roughly 80 years, the University of North Dakota embraced the nickname of "Fighting Sioux" for their athletics program as a tribute and an honor to all of the Sioux tribes as the university saw them as great warriors and strong willed people.

Four years ago, the NCAA made serious threats to the university stating that if the nickname of Fighting Sioux was not retired, or honored by all three Sioux tribes in North and South Dakota, then severe consequences would be taken against the athletics department which would ultimately diminish the competitive nature of it.

With the University making the transition then to become full division one President Robert Kelley and Athletic Director Brian Faison had no choice but be the "bad guys" and retire the Sioux name as of January 1st, 2012. However, at the same time, the North Dakota legislature was in the process of making a state law where the university could not drop the nickname and logo. So with being just the University of North Dakota for three weeks at the start of 2012, the Fighting Sioux name was back, or so all of us thought.

With the NCAA implying many sanctions against the university's athletics program if they did not change the name, it simply needed to be done. If the Fighting Sioux name was to continue to be recognized, the university would not be able to grant any athletic scholarships to any athlete playing for, or coming into the university. Along with that, this year's NCAA men's hockey regional in Fargo would never be able to happen. The NCAA would not allow UND to participate in any NCAA sanction tournaments or host any NCAA sanctioned events like this year's regional in Fargo.

It wasn't until the NCAA tournament that year where losing the name became a reality. New hockey jerseys were unveiled, which are the team's current jerseys right now. From that point on, it was simply the University of North Dakota. It was an ear sore for everyone at first, but as I look around the Ralph and many other places I see UND fans, they have accepted this and realize that the

university is still the university and they are still the same athletic teams on the ice, field, and court. It is still the Kelly Green and White we are all used to seeing every weekend, every game, every season. Just because there isn't a name or a logo anymore, doesn't mean the history and tradition of it is dead.
You can hear that during the end of the National Anthem at every home hockey game.

Fans for many generations will be upset about everything that happened with the name and logo, but these fans should be happy that they had the greatest name and logo in college sports and that they are fortunate enough to watch these great teams play, or for the athletes, play for these great teams.

As for now, it is in the best interest of the university to move on from the nickname and logo, but do not jump to find a new one just because the sanctions have finally been lifted. Simply being the University of North Dakota is probably the only thing that will ever be accepted and I think it is time for the university to realize that.

Fighting Sioux Nickname disputes make the Daily Caller…

The Fighting Sioux nickname debate has made the national stage at the Daily Caller web page. I am not sure that it's a good thing though.

First off the article kind of glosses over a few of the facts here, “Archie Fool Bear, doesn’t have the full support of his tribe.” The members of the Standing Rock Tribe tried to have a referendum on UND’s use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and the “Tribal Council” failed to let their members have a vote, that's a lot different than saying Fool Bear doesn't have the full support of his tribe.

The Spirit Lake Members held a referendum and approved UND’s use of the Fighting Sioux nickname by a 67% margin. The Lawsuit against the NCAA is filed by member of both the Spirit Lake Tribe and the Standing Rock Tribe.

Bob Dorigo Jones, Daily Caller --- As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving and perhaps even consider how far our nation has come since the days when the Pilgrims relied on help from a Native American named Squanto to survive, a new lawsuit over whether a university should use an Indian nickname may have some people wondering just how far America has really advanced after all this time.

This is not, however, a story about a Native American tribe suing to stop a sports team from using its name. Surprisingly, it’s a story about a tribe that wants a local college to keep its Indian nickname, the Fighting Sioux.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that one of the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the college, Archie Fool Bear, doesn’t have the full support of his tribe. Some members of the tribe can’t bear the lawsuit and think it’s foolish to sue the university. They would rather spend the money now being spent on lawyers on more productive things that would improve the quality of life for the tribe.

Now, that’s an idea worth fighting for.

After finding out about this unfortunate situation, my first thought was, where is Squanto when we really need him? There are better ways to resolve this conflict than by litigating it.

Look, like I have said in the past, I love the Fighting Sioux nickname and I understand why it has to go. That being said, if a major publication is going to write an article about the Fighting Sioux nickname at least do some fact checking before you publish your article.   

Delay Proposed To Replace Fighting Sioux Nickname

I have been out of the loop for about five days and I am beginning to wade through mounds of newspaper articles about the Fighting Sioux nickname repeal law and I think this is the best option that I have read so far. There is no logical reason to rush Willy Nilly to get a new nickname in place. Also, I like the option of just being “North Dakota” and hope that option gains some traction, forever. I always liked the slogan, 'We are One. We are North Dakota.' 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota lawmakers say the University of North Dakota should wait three years before replacing its Fighting Sioux athletics nickname.

The North Dakota House and Senate education committees have endorsed allowing UND to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and American Indian head logo.

The full House and Senate still have to approve the bill before it becomes law.

Grand Forks Rep. Stacey Dahl says the measure prevents UND from adopting a new nickname and logo until January 2015. She calls it a "cooling-off" period.

Board of Higher Education president Grant Shaft says the board supports the idea.

The committees voted Tuesday to endorse the proposal. Now it goes to the Senate for its first vote. The vote hasn't been scheduled.

Mark Levin talks about the Fighting Sioux nickname.

Check it out, Mark Levin a top conservative talk show host on XM Radio 125 the Patriot talked about the Fighting Sioux nickname during his show yesterday. s/t to Rob Port at SayAnythingBlog.com...

Related articles

• Spirit Lake Tribe To Make Announcement About Fighting Sioux Logo (cao2.wordpress.com)
• Fighting Sioux Nickname One Step Closer To Being Retired (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
• University of North Dakota Plans to Retire Fighting Sioux Nickname (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
• New York Daily News covers Sioux nickname issue (mvn.com)
• NCAA won't budge (mvn.com)
• The NCAA a bunch of hypocrites? (mvn.com)

Nickname retirement may cost $750,000

Here is the latest on the Fighting Sioux nickname, $750,000.00 that's a lot of money and that isn't including "the costs" of removing the logos from the REA. My next question is, who is going to pay for this?

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- UND officials have estimated the cost of retiring the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo at nearly $750,000, not counting the cost of changes that may occur at the privately-held Ralph Engelstad Arena.

University President Robert Kelley sent the estimates last week to a budget analyst and auditor with the North Dakota Legislative Council, in response to a request made by Rep. Mike Schatz, R-New England.

Schatz, who has declared that he will not support an attempt in next month’s special legislative session to clear the way for retirement of the name and logo, said he asked for the cost information so he could attach a fiscal note to any bill contemplating that action.

“I wanted all the legislators to know the figures that the president estimated it would cost,” Schatz said Tuesday. “I think that’s been left out of the conversation so far.”

New York Times; North Dakota and N.C.A.A. Are at Odds Again Over University’s Sioux Mascot

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.”