"Each fall semester, there are about 80 to 95 incoming Indian students at UND. Whereas about 75 percent of all incoming freshmen students at UND return the following year, the retention rate of incoming Indian students is much lower, averaging 56 percent over the last 11 years.

A major persistent challenge to UND has been how to retain Indian students during and beyond their first year on campus. Central to addressing this problem is how to help these students successfully adjust to the social, cultural, financial and academic challenges.

As long as the Fighting Sioux name and logo continue to be used by UND, Indian students on the campus will continue to suffer discouragement and hurt from the hostile and abusive experiences engendered by this policy.

In order for the UND campus to realize its commitment to the Indian people, it will have to be a welcoming community. When incoming Indian students arrive on the UND campus, they find that the welcome is limited."

Get the Story:
Bill Sheridan: Nickname hurts retention of Indian students (The Grand Forks Herald 10/23)

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

NCAA Policy on Indian Mascots:
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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