University of North President Robert Kelley announces the "Fighting Hawks" nickname for the school on November 18, 2015. Photo by Richard Larson / UND
It's official -- the University of North Dakota has a new nickname and logo. The "Fighting Hawks" name was chosen through an online poll of students, alumni, employees and other interested parties. It beat out "Roughriders" in a run-off that was decided on Thursday. "Now, the voters have spoken, and they have told us that Fighting Hawks should be that new nickname," UND President Robert Kelley said in a press release. "This is an appropriate choice, as Fighting Hawks symbolizes the competitive spirit of our athletes, the perseverance of the North Dakota spirit, and the continual ascendancy of the university and the state.”
A wealthy alumnus and benefactor paid for a statue of an Indian "warrior" to be installed at the University of North Dakota arena that bears his name. Photo by Elcajonfarms / Wikipedia
The school used the "Fighting Sioux" nickname and an "Indian head' logo for decades but that era to an end after the NCAA adopted a policy that bars the use of "hostile and abusive" mascots. Students, alumni and state officials fought the change for years but they were unable to secure approval from both the Spirit Lake Nation and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to continue using the symbols. The Spirit Lake Nation at one point supported the name but the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe remained opposed throughout the debate. Get the Story:
After decades of debate, UND selects Fighting Hawks as nickname replacement (The Grand Forks Herald 11/19)
Changes will be gradual with new nickname (The Grand Forks Herald 11/19)
Nickname expert: UND picked 'kind of a timid choice' (The Grand Forks Herald 11/19)
Fighting Hawks picked as University of North Dakota nickname (AP 11/18)
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Editorial: Time to move on from mascot fight in North Dakota (05/04)
UTTC president named to panel to choose new UND nickname (03/04)
Native Sun News: Native students fighting for funds at UND (12/16)
Editorial: Let's look forward to a future without 'Fighting Sioux' (06/03)
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