Column: Time for UND to let 'Fighting Sioux' go

Monday, August 27, 2007  

"As they first declared in Babylon, “the handwriting is on the wall.” And when it comes to UND'S “Fighting Sioux” logo, the writing on the wall is so clear that there can be little doubt that circumstances dictate a transition to a new nickname.

There are several reasons for changing the logo at this time, but one of them is not that the slogan is “hostile and abusive” as alleged by the NCAA. Never in my 30 years on the UND campus did I ever hear or see denigration of the “Fighting Sioux” nickname or Sioux Indians. The NCAA accusation is without foundation.

Nevertheless, an allegation repeated often enough and persistently enough eventually takes on a certain degree of believability among those who want to believe it. Fiction has become reality, even though the controversy over the “Fighting Sioux” has more to do with history than with UND athletic teams.

Shedding the logo now would be timely as a search committee starts its quest for a new UND president. The committee claims that the issue is irrelevant because the State Board of Higher Education controls the logo, but potential candidates are well aware that the issue has consumed a good deal of UND President Charles Kupchella's time and may avoid an institution embroiled in such a controversy.

The ongoing lawsuit over the logo with the NCAA is harming the image of the university in national academic circles. Even if the university wins the lawsuit, the controversy will have been magnified, and the stigma will remain for years. The NCAA will have the resources, opportunities and motive to dish out reprisals down the road. "

Get the Story:
LLOYD OMDAHL : Time for UND to let ‘Fighting Sioux' logo go (The Grand Forks Herald 8/27)
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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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