NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING SIOUX

The 'North Dakota Fighting Sioux' is the name of the athletic teams of the University of North Dakota (UND) which is located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota, in the United States. The name is often shortened to simply 'The Sioux'. The current logo is a Native American figure. The logo was designed by Bennett Brien, a local artist and UND graduate of Ojibwa ethnicity.

Contents

Athletics

Teams

Nickname

Origins

Controversy

Formal action

Litigation

Notes

See also

External links

Athletics

UND is unique in the fact that its athletic programs are in two different divisions. The hockey teams (men's and women's) compete at Division I, while the men's football team, men's and women's basketball teams, women's soccer team, and women's volleyball team all currently compete at Division II. On June 21, 2006, the school announced that it would be moving its entire athletic program to Division I. The Sioux have a proven track record of being very competitive in both divisions.
Having won seven national championships, the men's hockey team is easily the most recognized and enshrined of all teams at UND. They play in the $100+ million Ralph Engelstad Arena. The arena has been called one the greatest hockey facilities in the world.^[1] The men's football program has also been growing in stature and popularity in recent years. All home football games are held in the Alerus Center. The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center is used for basketball and volleyball games.

Teams

'Division I:'

★ Ice hockey - men's and women's
'Division II:'

★ Football - men's

★ Basketball - men's and women's

★ Baseball - men's

★ Cross country - men's and women's

★ Golf - men's and women's

★ Soccer - women's

★ Softball - women's

★ Swimming and diving - men's and women's

★ Track and field - men's and women's

★ Tennis - women's

★ Volleyball - women's

Nickname

Origins

UND's nickname was originally "The Flickertails", but was changed to "The Sioux" officially in 1930 ("Fighting" was added later). Guest editorials that appeared at that time in the ''Dakota Student'' (the UND student newspaper) noted that (1)"''Sioux are a good exterminating agent for Bison''" (the mascot of the nearby North Dakota State University team), (2)"''They are warlike, of fine physique and bearing''", and (3)"''The word Sioux is easily rhymed for yells and songs''".^[2] The choice of the name was also influenced by the Fighting Irish athletic teams of the University of Notre Dame (another "UND").

Controversy

Today, critics of the name say that it is a racist stereotype, while supporters maintain it is inoffensive and a source of pride. Over the years, the debate has proven to be a divisive issue at the University.
The movement to keep the nickname and logo is led by UND alumni, sports fans, and athletic players and officials, as well as the present university administration. The campaign to change the nickname and logo is led by several Native American tribes and student organizations, as well as many UND faculty members. The most powerful ally of those seeking change has become the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
In 2005, ''The Fargo Forum'' conducted a survey of Native and non-Native people from throughout North Dakota.^[3] The survey asked respondents if they supported the nickname and logo and if they were offended by them. Overall, 81% of respondents said they agreed with the use of the nickname and logo and 95% said they were not offended by them. Limiting the poll results to only Native American respondents, 47% of those polled said they disagreed with the use of the nickname and logo, but at the same time, 61% of Native American respondents said that they were not offended by the nickname and logo.

Formal action

In 1970, the UND Indian Association protested the use of the Fighting Sioux name. Since that time, a number of student organizations and faculty committees have called for the nickname to be discontinued. In the intervening years, the university dropped the use of a mascot and replaced older logos with a new logo designed by UND graduate and Ojibwa artist Bennett Brien.
In 1999, the UND Student Senate passed a resolution calling for the end of the nickname, but it was vetoed by the student body president. That same year, a similar bill was introduced in the North Dakota House of Representatives, but died in committee.^[4] In 2000, twenty-one separate Native American-related programs, departments, and organizations at UND signed a statement opposing the continued use of the nickname and logo, saying that it did not honor them or their culture.^[5] Three tribal entities within the state (the Standing Rock Sioux, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux, and Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) have issued tribal resolutions denouncing the continued use of the name and logo.^[6] On March 6, 2001, the President of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Norine Johnson, wrote to advocate change at UND.
Former Fighting Sioux hockey player and wealthy alumnus Ralph Engelstad donated $100 million dollars for the construction of Ralph Engelstad Arena. This is one of the largest philanthropic donations ever made to a public institution of higher learning. During construction of the arena, Engelstad threatened to abruptly cease work if the nickname was changed. The day after receiving Engelstad's threatening e-mail North Dakota State Board of Higher Education froze discussion on the issue by insisting that the team name remain the same. One of Engelstad's conditions for his donation was that the University keep the Fighting Sioux name indefinitely.^[7] Engelstad placed thousands of Fighting Sioux logos in numerous places throughout the arena to make physical removal of the logo very costly if attempted. The arena opened in 2001.

Litigation

The debate reignited in 2005, following a decision by the NCAA to sanction schools with tribal logos and/or nicknames, including UND, that the NCAA deemed to be "hostile and abusive." The sanctions would not allow schools like UND to use their names or logos in post-season play and those schools would not be able to host post-season championships. After an unsuccessful appeal to reverse the sanctions, the University started to pursue their legal options.^[8] On June 15, 2006, after consulting with North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, the Board of Higher Education elected 8-0 to authorize Stenehjem to sue the NCAA for penalizing the University over its nickname and Indian head logo.^[9] In November of 2006, UND was granted a preliminary injunction to prevent the NCAA from enforcing the rule, which allowed UND to play playoff games at home.

Notes

1. Wayne Gretzky's comments about Ralph Engelstad Areana
2. Holly Anis, ''Thirty years of telling us to be honored'', ''High Plains Reader'', March 4, 1999
3. 2005 ''Fargo Forum'' survey
4. Brief history of nickname - "B.R.I.D.G.E.S." group
5. Statement to UND President Kupchella from 21 Native American-related programs at UND - "B.R.I.D.G.E.S." group
6. List of North Dakota tribal resolutions opposing the UND nickname - "B.R.I.D.G.E.S." group
7. Ralph Engelstad's letter to UND President Kupchella - "B.R.I.D.G.E.S." group
8. UND President Kupchella's open letter to the NCAA - June 7, 2006
9. Dale Wetzel, ''North Dakota to sue NCAA over university's Fighting Sioux nickname'', Associated Press, June 15, 2006

See also

★ Fighting Sioux Sports Network

★ List of sports team names and mascots derived from Indigenous peoples

External links

★ UND athletics official website

★ UND Sports Zone website - (''Grand Forks Herald'')

★ SiouxSports.com - unofficial forum for UND athletics

★ Legal filings on the UND vs. NCAA lawsuit

★ "Building Roads Into Diverse Groups Empowering Students" (B.R.I.D.G.E.S.) website