"Officials from North Dakota and representatives of the National Collegiate Athletic Association are scheduled to discuss the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo issue at a closed-door meeting on Good Friday in Bismarck. The public will only be told "what it needs to know" after the meeting. Frankly, that's unacceptable.

For nearly three years, people on either side of the nickname issue have been engaged in a largely public discussion - a heated public discussion - with no common resolution.

To now go behind closed doors to hash out some new deal with the NCAA mocks the sound judgment and good sense of the people of this state. The meeting, if closed, has the potential to spawn a political charade by legislators who have proven to be ambitious to a fault - reflected during the Legislative session by repeated efforts to dominate and control public initiated measures and the constitutionally established Board of Higher Education and superintendent of public instruction.

Given the lawmakers' record, the public needs seats at the table, or at least an unfiltered view of the proceedings."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Trust in short supply on Fighting Sioux issue (The Bismarck Tribune 4/6)

Also Today:
Fighting Sioux meeting: Open or closed? (The Grand Forks Herald 4/6)

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