"It was with mixed emotions that we received the news last week that the University of North Dakota is dropping its “Fighting Sioux” nickname and logo.

We agree with the general premise that racially inspired team nicknames and logos should be re-evaluated nationwide, and that all care should be taken when considering the use of nicknames and logos that may be deemed offensive to the race of people who inspired them.

We are troubled, though, by the inconsistency with which that effort is being applied across the nation.

The most obvious example we can think of is the logo of Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians. The team’s “Chief Wahoo” logo — the name itself is ridiculous — is a tomato-red-colored Indian face contorted into a garish grin. There have been protests against it, but none that have produced a sustained, popular effort to banish it.

We’re not Indian, so we’re probably not qualified to judge Indian-inspired nicknames and logos. But if UND’s “Fighting Sioux” nickname and accompanying logo — featuring a rugged, steely jawed Indian gazing into the distance — can be considered offensive, we have to wonder why there isn’t a similarly persistent effort to get other, seemingly more offensive nicknames and logos consigned to history."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Outrage at nicknames, logos not consistent (The Mitchell Daily Republic 4/16)
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Also Today:
Spirit Lake group urges Hoeven to step in on Sioux nickname issue (The Grand Forks Herald 4/16)
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North Dakota Supreme Court Decision:
Davidson v. North Dakota (April 8, 2010)

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