Editorial: Indian voice needed on UND committee

Monday, June 25, 2007  

"David Gipp, president of United Tribes Technical College, has been critical of the State Board of Higher Education’s presidential selection committee. The 16-member panel screening UND applicants is made up of faculty members, alumni, state officials and members of the Grand Forks community.

Gipp’s upset because there are no American Indians on the committee.

He’s right to be unhappy.

One American Indian couldn’t represent all the different tribes in the state. But someone holding a membership in one of the tribes while having widespread contacts within the broader native community of the state could have brought a needed perspective to the deliberations.

The search committee met for the first time Thursday. Its membership of 16 will remain at that number, said John Q. Paulsen, president of the State Board of Higher Education. So a way will need to be found to ensure that Indian concerns are heard during the process.

UND considers itself a leader in higher education for Indians.

But there’s the issue of the Fighting Sioux logo. Part of the fallout from the UND-NCAA legal battle over the logo has been accusations that the university is out of touch with Indians."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Indians' input vital in hunt for UND head (The Bismarck Tribune 6/25)

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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