Threat Of An Open-Door Meeting Reason For NCAA Cancellation, SBHE Member Says.

Here is the latest relevation in regards to the Fighting Sioux nickname fight. Apparently the NCAA didn't want to come to North Dakota because of the open meeting. I also think such a meeting would have fallen under the North Dakota's open records and open meetings laws... Something to think about as the NCAA and the UND delegation goes to the NCAA headquarters in Indiana to discuss the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname with the NCAA officials.

GRAND FORKS, ND – Top NCAA executives did not want to participate in a meeting that would have been open to the public; that’s “plain and simple,” according to State Board of Higher Education member Grant Shaft.

Appearing on the Scott Hennen Show yesterday, Shaft was disappointed that the NCAA cancelled its scheduled April 22nd meeting with state and school officials, but was hopeful that another conference could still be arranged.

“I don’t think they were looking for a situation where the meeting would be either covered by the press – or there would be any kind of testimony, or anything like that – and for that reason, they pretty clearly indicated that they weren’t going to come. I’m still hopeful we’ll have the opportunity to speak with the NCAA on this – I haven’t lost hope -it’s just that particular meeting on the 22nd fell through” Shaft said.

Although an open-door forum has been widely favored by the public (and some North Dakota legislators, including Governor Dalrymple) Shaft understood the uncomfortable position this would have presented the NCAA. In his experience, negotiations are best played out under the discretion of a “closed private setting”:

UND Hockey Coach pleads to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname

This article was in the Plains Daily and I actually got this email from a friend of mine as well. You have got to love coach Hakstol, I love his commitment to the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname. Flood the senators email address and let them know how you feel. I would also like to remind your senators if they vote against this bill that they are out of touch with the majority of North Dakotan's. If my Senator Ray Holmberg votes against this bill he will no longer get my vote very again.

PlainsDaily has obtained an email sent out to a broad list of individuals on behalf of UND Hockey Coach Dave Hakstol. In it, Hakstol makes an impassioned plea for citizens to call or email their state senators and urge them to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname.

The email states:
The North Dakota Senate is expected to vote on the Fighting Sioux name and logo in the next week to 10 days. It is very important that we have as many people as possible contact the senators and let them know they support the name and logo. The senators are all keeping a running tally of how many emails they’re getting in support, and opposition, to the bill. Please voice your opinion.

Feel free to forward this email to as many folks as you want to. We need a good grassroots effort from the silent majority out there to make sure the senators know this is an important issue they need to support.

The email includes specifics regarding the bill number and how to email senate senators. Hakstol also thanks the many people who support the fight to keep the “Fighting Sioux.”

Hakstol has been an unwavering supporter of the nickname ever since his tenure as a former player and in more recent years as a coach. Some faculty have stated that UND administration has made calculated efforts to stifle any faculty or staff voicing support for the nickname, but none have actually issued formal complaints.

Coach Hakstol has earned the title “the 3rd most winningest” coach in UND’s impressive hockey history, ending last season with an overall record of 25-13-5. He has led the Sioux Hockey team into eight straight years of postseason play, one of the longest streaks in the nation. Hakstol coached the Fighting Sioux to an overall postseason record of 30-14, more wins than any other WCHA team over that period of time. The Sioux’s WCHA playoff games boast an impressive 21-8 record, and an NCAA playoff record of 9-6.

North Dakota Senate Email List
Simply cut and paste the entire group of email addresses below into a new email:


rmarcellais@nd.gov; ddever@nd.gov; rkilzer@nd.gov ; msitte@nd.gov; bstenehjem@nd.gov; bbowman@nd.gov; galee@nd.gov; jandrist@nd.gov; doehlke@nd.gov; glnodland@nd.gov; rwardner@nd.gov; colafson@nd.gov; lluick@nd.gov; sdberry@nd.gov ; tfischer@nd.gov; tflakoll@nd.gov; tgrindberg@nd.gov; jlee@nd.gov; tmathern@nd.gov; cnelson@nd.gov;
rsorvaag@nd.gov; jklein@nd.gov; rholmberg@nd.gov; llaffen@nd.gov; macschneider@nd.gov; ctriplett@nd.gov; rchristmann@nd.gov; dnething@nd.gov; tmwanzek@nd.gov; doconnell@nd.gov; rerbele@nd.gov; dcook@nd.gov; raburckhard@nd.gov; dhogue@nd.gov; kkrebsbach@nd.gov; olarsen@nd.gov; dgschaible@nd.gov; jheckaman@nd.gov; guglem@nd.gov; joetmiller@nd.gov; pmmurphy@nd.gov; jwarner@nd.gov; rtaylor@nd.gov; lfreborg@nd.gov; lrobinson@nd.gov; slyson@nd.gov; jdotzenrod@nd.gov