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Views: The 'Fighting Sioux' nickname and logo
Monday, November 26, 2007
Filed Under: Opinion

Everyone's still talking about the University of North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo. The school has agreed to give up the name if it can't get the support of Sioux tribes within three years. Here's what newspapers, columnists and readers are saying.

The Fargo Forum says there is "little chance" that tribes will endorse the name. "There will be a new logo in three years, if not sooner," the paper says. "While there is tacit support among significant numbers of tribal members to keep the logo, their support does not translate into taking up the fight against those, on and off the reservations, who are adamantly and actively opposed to it," the paper adds.

Michael Eshkibok argues the name should go regardless of the settlement. "Sioux logo supporters studiously avoid discussing the long history of exploitation and racism when they defend symbols such as the Sioux logo. The issue reminds too many American Indians of their long history of exploitation and victimization by whites," the Ojibwe doctoral student at UND says.

James McKenzie says the settlement gives three years for UND to "harass" Sioux tribes. "It's time now to find some decency. Stop badgering the legal representatives of peoples whose origins in the Dakotas go back millennia before the European presence. They have spoken, and spoken, and spoken on the subject," the former UND professor writes.

The Dickinson Press is sad to see the nick and logo go. "The truth about the NCAA finding the UND nickname and logo to be “hostile and abusive” is political correctness gone flying off a buffalo jump," the paper says.

Meanwhile, one reader of The Grand Forks Herald thinks UND was "slandered" by the controversy. "After the labeling, UND's enrollment numbers declined while NDSU's numbers rose at an accelerated rate. Was it a coincidence? That's hard to believe," says Scott Kuntz.

Another reader is ready for a change. "UND should select a sports name and image that everyone can rally behind and share in the fun that should be college athletics," writes Judith Rieke.

Finally, someone in New Hampshire thinks it's acceptable to keep the logo. "I don't condone or accept racial insensitivity but sometimes I think we go too far," says Paul Briand, a "big fan of college athletics."

Get the Story:
‘Fighting Sioux’ logo is history (The Fargo Forum 11/25)
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Michael Eshkibok: Nickname fails to pass 4-way test (The Grand Forks Herald 11/25)
Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianz
IN THE MAIL: ‘Hostile and abusive' label costs UND (The Grand Forks Herald 11/25)
James McKenzie: UND should show decency in the name debate (The Bismarck Tribune 11/24)
Editorial: Time sadly comes for a logo shift (The Dickinson Press 11/24)
Paul Briand: When good mascots go bad (The Seacoast Online 11/23)

Relevant Links:
University of North Dakota - http://www.und.edu
The Ralph - http://www.theralph.com
Fighting Sioux - http://www.fightingsioux.com

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NCAA issues statement on 'Sioux' settlement (11/20)
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UTTC president urges against 'Fighting Sioux' lawsuit (6/15)
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Tribal member named to North Dakota higher ed board (5/26)
Opinion: UND's divide and conquer on 'Sioux' (05/19)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe won't back 'Sioux' name (5/5)
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