University of North Dakota Retires Fighting Sioux Mascot and Logo

[MadBadger]

Kinda surprised by this news



MAYVILLE, N.D. -- The State Board of Higher Education decided today to retire the UND Fighting Sioux logo and nickname and directed Chancellor Bill Goetz to so advise UND President Robert Kelley and urge him to begin the transition.

The board's president, Richie Smith, brought up the logo issue at the end of an all-day meeting, noting that as the board convened this morning the N.D. Supreme Court affirmed a district court ruling that struck down an injunction that had been sought by several members of the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe.

Smith noted that the board had voted in May 2009 to retire the name. Lifting the injunction put that action back into effect, he said, and unless he heard a motion to reconsider "the name is dropped."

Board member Claus Lembke of Bismarck offered a motion to reconsider, but it died for a lack of a second. At that point, Smith turned to Goetz and directed him to send a letter to Kelley recommending the transition begin.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/157079/

[Brickbat]

1. I was just coming to post this. I was glad to see the decision.

I'll still hate the hockey team, though.

[xchrom]

2. Now that is what I call civilized behavior. Nt

[CatholicEdHead]

3. This is good news and a long time coming

Though it will still be around at Ralph Engelstad Arena where it is literaly in the granite in the building and not easily removable on purpose.

[BlooInBloo]

4. Good for them.

[NeoGreen]

5. North Dakotans are very civil, and as an anecdote ...

while serving in the US Air Force in the 80s, I spent 6 months in TX for training and then 2 1/2 years in ND immediately afterwards. Ever since, I have always stated that I would rather do another 2 1/2 years in ND verses only another 6 months in TX, because the people in ND were so very kind and civil.

[Hansel]

6. Good decision. nt

[fishwax]

7. excellent n/t

[paulsby]

8. what %ae of sioux wanted the mascot removed vs. supported it?

that is the important question for me.

i'd say if most sioux supported the mascot, or even better a supermajority, then it was the wrong decision

if most opposed it, then it was the right decision

[JonLP24]

10. .

Three tribes in state, the Standing Rock Sioux, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux, and Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation issued tribal resolutions denouncing the name use 10 years and many other tribes in state joined them soon after.

[paulsby]

11. thanks

sounds like they were rather uniformly against it, which is enough for me

the reason i made the distinction is that, unlike SOME mascots (a la cleveland indians) this doesn't appear to be an offensive depiction at all, quite the contrary

[JonLP24]

9. Finally

Local tribe has been complaining about this for a little while so made the right decision.