The "Fighting Sioux" logo of the University of North Dakota. ™ UND.

Ed. Note: The Backtalk section with the negative comments was published on September 30.

"The Sept. 30 'Backtalk' page was peppered with anonymous and angry comments regarding the NCAA's ruling on teams using American Indian names/logos/mascots.

The page was titled 'Sad Day.' Indeed, it was.

The gist of the racial argument in many of those comments seemed to be: 'WE (white people) are honoring them THEM (Indian people), and if they don't like it, they should shut up.'

Sadly as well, another version of 'Us vs. Them' rhetoric has appeared in the official UND responses to the NCAA rulings.

In every public statement issued by UND administration thus far, the 'we' of UND refers only to logo supporters and to UND as a 'proud-logo-using' campus. There has been no visible attempt in public commentary from the UND administration to include the many American Indian students, faculty or programs staff who strongly oppose the logo."

Get the Story:
Sharon Carson: UND community includes nickname foes, too (The Grand Forks Herald 10/9)

NCAA Decision:
Statement by NCAA Senior Vice-President for Governance and Membership Bernard Franklin on University of North Dakota Review(September 28, 2005)

NCAA Policy:
NCAA Executive Committee Issues Guidelines for Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events (August 5, 2005)

Relevant Links:
University of North Dakota - http://www.und.edu
The Ralph - http://www.theralph.com
Fighting Sioux - http://www.fightingsioux.com
NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee - http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/
membership/governance/assoc-wide/moic/index.html
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media - http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm

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