Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Opinion
Opinion: UND ignores opponents of 'Sioux'


"UND's administration has consumed much time and energy refuting the "hostile and abusive" label applied to its sports nickname and logo. But it is unwilling to address the specific concerns long raised by tribal governments and organizations, civil rights groups and more specifically, American Indian educators and educational organizations.

In fact, UND President Charles Kupchella says, in his appeal to the NCAA, "We reject the NCAA argument that Indian nicknames and logos stereotype American Indians." Does this mean he also "rejects" the findings of the American Psychological Association? The National Congress of American Indians? The National Indian Education Association?

To date, no less than 12 independent empirical studies (five from UND alone) have demonstrated that American Indian athletic team nicknames and logos have an adverse impact on Indian students. These data also suggest Indians in these settings do oppose their use and do not feel "honored."

Proponents of Indian nicknames and logos can produce no studies that have demonstrated the opposite outcome and refer instead to unscientific, self-serving "polls" in Sports Illustrated for support."

Get the Story:
J. Doug McDonald, Nadine Tepper and Lucy Ganje: UND ignores groups, rulings, studies that oppose nickname (The Grand Forks Herald 2/12)

NCAA Staff 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

Related Stories:
UND President: 'Fighting Sioux' backed by tribe (2/10)
UND president says tribe won't oppose 'Sioux' name (02/03)
UND president meeting with tribes on campus (01/13)
Final decision on 'Fighting Sioux' name delayed (1/10)
NCAA decision on 'Fighting Sioux' in 2006 (11/22)
Resolution supports UND's fight for 'Sioux' name (11/18)
Resolution urges talks with tribes on 'Sioux' name (11/11)
UND files another appeal over 'Fighting Sioux' (11/7)
Opinion: How does 'Sioux' honor Native people? (10/26)
Opinion: Indian students hurt by UND nickname (10/24)
Opinion: UND fans made mockery of Natives (10/17)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' name unfair to tribes (10/13)
Experts say UND will lose 'Fighting Sioux' fight (10/10)
Opinion: Not everyone at UND supports 'Sioux' name (10/10)
Yellow Bird: All tribes have stake in 'Sioux' fight (10/6)
Letters: Backtalk proves 'Sioux' is hostile, abusive (10/6)
Dorgan, Conrad oppose 'Fighting Sioux' decision (10/4)
Backtalk: Reader comments on 'Fighting Sioux' case (9/30)
UND loses 'Fighting Sioux' appeal before NCAA (9/29)
Spirit Lake Nation's stance an issue in 'Sioux' fight (9/28)
Letter: UND president wants to trick tribes on 'Sioux' (9/27)
Spirit Lake Nation said to cancel UND meeting (9/27)
UND president to meet with Spirit Lake Nation (9/26)
Opinion: Why would Indians attend 'abusive' school? (9/26)
NCAA asks for tribal views on 'Fighting Sioux' (9/22)
Yellow Bird: Clearing the air on the 'Sioux' name (9/14)
Poll: 63 Indians want 'Fighting Sioux' nick changed (9/9)
UND president meets with Spirit Lake Nation on nickname (9/9)
Tribal panel discusses future of 'Fighting Sioux' name (9/8)
Spirit Lake Nation tables vote on 'Fighting Sioux' (9/6)
Turtle Mountain chair won't oppose 'Fighting Sioux' (9/2)
Column: UND should get rid of 'Fighting Sioux' nick (9/2)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' hurts Native students (9/1)
Spirit Lake Nation members oppose 'Fighting Sioux' (8/31)
Tribes set to oppose 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (8/29)
UND president wavers on tribal support for 'Sioux' (08/26)
Editorial: Tribes have final say in mascot decisions (8/25)
Other universities encouraged by NCAA decision (8/24)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' nickname hurts Natives (8/18)
Column: Nazi-loving Ralph keeps Indian logo alive (8/17)
Schools appeal NCAA policy on Indian mascots (8/15)
North Dakota governor criticizes NCAA policy (8/11)
Even more reaction to NCAA policy on mascots (8/10)
Editorial: Good riddance to 'demeaning' mascots (8/10)
Jeb Bush calls mascot policy 'offensive' to tribe (8/10)
NCAA announces revised Indian mascot policy (8/8)
Mixed reaction to change in use of mascots (8/8)
Opinion: Everyone, 'Fighting Sioux' is here to stay (05/16)
Editorial: UND's 'Fighting Sioux' report not truthful (5/6)
Group protests university's 'Fighting Sioux' name (03/28)
UND asked to study 'Fighting Sioux' name again (02/17)
School holding off on Indian mascot policy (01/17)
Campaign targets 'Fighting Sioux' items (01/08)
Defender of 'Fighting Sioux' name dies (11/27)
Activist sees growing anti-mascot push (11/26)
UND students holding mascot forum (11/21)
N.D. student group to host mascot forum (10/29)
NCAA panel wants Indian mascot review (10/16)
'Honkies' exhibit draws attention at school (10/8)
Opinion: Change 'Fighting Sioux' nick (10/4)
Editorial: UND gets off easy on 'Sioux' name (9/23)
Harassment festered over 'Fighting Sioux' (9/17)
Yellow Bird: 'Fighting Sioux' debate (4/22)
UND law school opposes 'Fighting Sioux' (4/4)
Opinion: 'Fighting Sioux' not fight (3/26)
Minn. schools oppose mascots (2/22)
'Fighting Sioux' matchup to go on (10/23)
School: 'Fighting Sioux' is hate speech (10/22)
'Fighting Sioux' arena opens (10/9)
'Fighting Sioux' opponents rally (10/5)
'Fighting Sioux' statue wanted removed (10/4)
UND president finds LaDuke 'interesting' (10/4)
Letters: 'Fighting Sioux' controversy (10/4)
UND mascot conference opens today (10/3)
UND arena to have 'Sioux' statue (10/2)
'Fighting Sioux' arena to open (10/1)
Street for 'Fighting Sioux' friend sought (9/27)
'Fighting Sioux' school sets goals (9/26)
LaDuke to speak at mascot conference (9/11)
'Fighting Sioux' arena cost is $100M (8/16)
'Fighting Sioux' logo removed at school (8/3)
Letters: 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (8/2)
Head of UND Indian Studies quits (5/30)
Means may protest 'Fighting Sioux' school (5/9)
'Fighting Sioux' School: Place For Indians? (3/29)
'Fighting Sioux' still debated (3/26)
Schools condemn Indian mascots (3/22)
'Sioux' school being investigated (3/15)
Tribe protests 'Fighting Sioux' charges (2/28)
'Fighting Sioux' protest held (2/26)
'Fighting Sioux' protest planned (2/22)
'Fighting Sioux' debate rages on (2/19)
'Sioux' controversy focus of talk, article (2/16)
AG won't investigate 'Sioux' decision (2/14)
Civil rights complaint against school (2/13)
Bill seeks to help 'Fighting Sioux' school (2/8)
Dispute over 'Fighting Sioux' continues (1/30)
'Fighting Sioux' supporter tied to school funds (1/29)
Board won't reconsider 'Sioux' vote (1/26)
'Fighting Sioux' discussion set (1/25)
Tribe blasts 'Fighting Sioux' decision (1/18)
School board votes to keep Sioux name (12/22)