"In the past few days, discussions around the Grand Forks community have led me to believe that the State Board of Higher Education, at its meeting Thursday in Dickinson, will among other business matters vote to drop the use of the Fighting Sioux logo by UND.

If there is any truth to this attempt to do an end run around the process that’s now in progress, it must be stopped. For one thing, the board’s timing would be very suspicious, given the fact that UND is completing its spring semester this week, so students are heading home and are not available to protest the board’s ill-advised action.

More important is the fact that by a two-thirds majority, the people of the Spirit Lake Nation recently ratified their continued support for UND’s use of the Sioux name and logo. The board’s action would seem to be in direct contempt of tribal members’ wishes.

What a slap in the face this would be to those brave souls who dared to speak out against the muck of political correctness that is so evident in our society. It also would come at a time when it appears that the grass-roots elements of the Standing Rock Nation will succeed in getting a nickname referendum on an upcoming ballot there, too."

Get the Story:
Rich Becker: Let nickname settlement process play out (The Grand Forks Herald 5/13)
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Also Today:
State may take action on nickname (The Grand Forks Herald 5/13)

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