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.

SME Branding to visit UND campus March 1-3

Tonight, there’s a meeting downtown at the Empire Arts Center. Below is the letter from UND’s Peter Johnson.

SME Branding, the design firm retained by the University of North Dakota to design a graphic identity package for the new Fighting Hawks nickname, will visit the UND campus March 1-3.   During the visit, SME will gather perspectives and input on the desired attributes of the graphic identity.

SME will conduct two public meetings during the campus visit.  The first will be Tuesday, March 1, 6-8 p.m. at the Empire Arts Center in downtown Grand Forks.  The second public meeting will be held on the UND campus, Thursday, March 3, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Memorial Union.  While this second meeting is scheduled primarily for faculty, staff and students, members of the public are also invited.

At the meetings, SME Branding will conduct a collaborative session to better understand what the public and the campus community want in the UND Fighting Hawks graphic identity.  The meetings will not examine or discuss logo designs; rather, SME will discuss the design process and will invite ideas and thoughts about the Fighting Hawks graphic identity, how the nickname both relates to and reflects North Dakota, and the attributes the graphic identity should possess.

Said UND President Ed Schafer, “We are very pleased to have arrived at this point in UND’s nickname and logo development process.  Throughout this journey, we have invited and benefitted from public input, and these upcoming meetings provide an additional opportunity for interested UND stakeholders to participate in the discussion and share their thoughts and ideas.”

 

Peter B. Johnson
Executive Associate Vice President
Media Relations Coordinator/Community Relations Officer
Public Relations Group

 

GRAND FORKS HERALD: Public input sought for Fighting Hawks logo development

Looks like UND is going to do the right thing moving forward in designing the Fighting Hawks logo. I think this is good news.

Anna Burleson, Grand Forks Herald -- The design firm working to create UND's Fighting Hawks logo is holding open forums in Grand Forks.

The public is invited to attend a meetings at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Empire Arts Center and at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the Memorial Union Ballroom. The second meeting is primarily for UND students, faculty and staff, but members of the public are also invited.

Conor O'Flaherty, director of brand strategy and development at SME Inc., which was chosen to design the Fighting Hawks logo, said being inclusive and getting feedback from the community is a very important part of his company's plan.

DU 4, UND 1 (video)

Not a good night for the boys in green and white. Again, UND failed to cash in on their opportunities and was sloppy in the neutral zone. UND lost most of the 50/50 battles all weekend long.

I think the UND coaching staff will address the areas of concern and come out flying on Friday night against the UMD Bulldogs.

This is the first time that UND has been swept on the road since November 4-5, 2011, when UND lost to the Minnesota Gophers (0-2 L, 2-3 L). For those keeping track at home, the last time UND was swept was on November 1-2, 2013 against the St. Cloud State Huskies (2-3 L, 1-3L).