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Opinion: UND ignores opponents of 'Sioux'
Monday, February 13, 2006

"UND's administration has consumed much time and energy refuting the "hostile and abusive" label applied to its sports nickname and logo. But it is unwilling to address the specific concerns long raised by tribal governments and organizations, civil rights groups and more specifically, American Indian educators and educational organizations.

In fact, UND President Charles Kupchella says, in his appeal to the NCAA, "We reject the NCAA argument that Indian nicknames and logos stereotype American Indians." Does this mean he also "rejects" the findings of the American Psychological Association? The National Congress of American Indians? The National Indian Education Association?

To date, no less than 12 independent empirical studies (five from UND alone) have demonstrated that American Indian athletic team nicknames and logos have an adverse impact on Indian students. These data also suggest Indians in these settings do oppose their use and do not feel "honored."

Proponents of Indian nicknames and logos can produce no studies that have demonstrated the opposite outcome and refer instead to unscientific, self-serving "polls" in Sports Illustrated for support."

Get the Story:
J. Doug McDonald, Nadine Tepper and Lucy Ganje: UND ignores groups, rulings, studies that oppose nickname (The Grand Forks Herald 2/12)

NCAA Staff Decision on Fighting Sioux:
Statement by NCAA Senior Vice-President for Governance and Membership Bernard Franklin on University of North Dakota Review(September 28, 2005)

NCAA Policy on Indian Mascots:
NCAA Executive Committee Issues Guidelines for Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events (August 5, 2005)

Relevant Links:
University of North Dakota - http://www.und.edu
The Ralph - http://www.theralph.com
Fighting Sioux - http://www.fightingsioux.com
NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee - http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/
membership/governance/assoc-wide/moic/index.html
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media - http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm

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