Looks like proponents of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo at the University of North Dakota still aren't going away.
The Grand Forks Herald reported last week that the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe and Archie Fool Bear recently filed a federal lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which had ruled several years ago that North Dakota had to retire its Fighting Sioux logo and nickname if it wanted the ability to host any NCAA championships.
The primary governing body of intercollegiate sports believed the nickname was abusive and hostile and had to go because it only got the formal approval of one of the two main tribes in the area (Standing Rock and Spirit Lake). The North Dakota Legislature has even got into the act, and previously ruled the traditional nickname had to stay after the NCAA had rejected it.
Many people want the name and logo, which is prominent in thousands of incarnations in UND's Ralph Engelstad Arena, right down to the chairs, to stay. Others want it gone for good. The logo is actually a terrific one, and was actually designed by a Native American, although I can also see how others could be offended by the nickname. It's definitely a delicate situation.
UND has a small Native American student population among its 13,000 undergraduates, and has also offered academic majors in American Indian/Native American Studies. If a sizable number of people are hurt by the nickname and feel it slanders them, it could be better to change it. Other schools like St. John's, Miami (Ohio) and Montclair State have done it already.
The NCAA, though, looks hypocritical in chastising UND for its nickname and logo, when Florida State University employs a white actor adorned in American Indian regalia and even war paint, who rides a horse into Doak Campbell Stadium before Seminole football home games and then hurls a flaming spear into the turf in Tallahassee, Fla.
North Dakota has no such mascot.
The Seminole crowd has even done “The Chop” that was popularized by the Atlanta Braves faithful during their 14-year run of consecutive National League Eastern Division Championships.
Haven't seen that done at Sioux games broadcast on cable.
The NCAA would counter that FSU (and the Central Michigan Chippewas, and the Utah Utes) had the approval of its local tribe to use the name and likeness; but then again, a football stadium seats a lot more people (and makes a lot more money) than a hockey arena does.
According to the NCAA, the Fighting Sioux nickname is supposed to be retired in 2012.
Then again, maybe not. The fight for the Fighting Sioux continues for now.
