“FIGHTING SIOUX” MASCOT SHOULD BE SENT TO THE PENALTY BOX FOR NCAA “FROZEN FOUR”
Posted on April 1, 2008 - Filed Under Indian Mascots |
The University of North Dakota hockey team defeated
In October of 2007, UND and the NCAA entered into a settlement agreement ending the legal battle over the Fighting Sioux mascot. UND was allowed to retain the Fighting Sioux mascot for three years while the university attempted to negotiate with a North Dakota Sioux tribe for permission to permanently retain the mascot. If UND failed to obtain tribal approval, the mascot would be permanently retired by November 2010. So far, no North Dakota Sioux tribe has approved of the “Fighting Sioux” mascot, and approval does not appear likely within the three year time period.
Also, as part of the settlement, the NCAA withdrew the claim that UND is “hostile and abusive” to American Indians. This was key to UND as NCAA policy bars schools with Indian imagery it deems as “hostile and abusive” from displaying their imagery, or mascots, in postseason play like the “Frozen Four.”
The NCAA should not have withdrawn the “hostile and abusive” claim so quickly. Almost immediately after announcing the settlement, the UND community responded with the following comments:
“…if we don’t have the Sioux nickname, then we need to get rid of the programs offered to the native Americans ….. Why is our school being “picked on” by the native Americans when we kiss their butt in every way possible….”
“I also feel that all special programs that have been developed to appease the native Americans at UND should be dropped… I say the university should turn its back on the native American community.”
“Drop the nickname… then drop ALL Indian studies programs at UND…. Let them search for a free lunch somewhere else if they’re so damned opposed to the nickname.”
“I feel Native American programs should be cut since the reason they exist was a way to show the Native American respect. If they feel so strongly about the name change, they should also realize that program cuts are also coming. AS they should!!!!!”
“Why in the world would UND want anything close to being associated with Native Americans after this fiasco?”
“I think if the logo/name is changed the Indians should go back to their reservations.”
“If it’s not possible to keep the logo then I say that we cut all Native American programs at UND to pay for the removal of the UND Logo.”
“As an alumni, … before I give another dime to support the alumni assoc., there had better be a clean sweep or elimination of ALL the Indian Studies programs. PERIOD!!”
“If the nickname goes, so goes the Native American programs at UND is my vote. Let them do their little pow wow somewhere else every year”
While the ink was still drying on the settlement agreement, the UND chapter of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority sponsored an off campus “Cowboy and Indian” themed party. Those dressed as Indians did not “paint” a pretty or accurate picture of Indians. A discrimination complaint was filed with University officials by members of the UND American Indian Student Services house. The UND American Indian Student Service house is located next to the Gamma Phi Beta sorority house on campus.
The sorority has been placed on probation by its national office and by UND’s dean of students office pending an investigation of the discrimination complaint. To make matters worse, the sorority’s adviser is the wife of the hockey coach and daughter of UND’s alumni director.
The university allowed an atmosphere that is clearly “hostile and abusive” to Indians. The NCAA should not have to step in and take action against UND. UND should do the right thing and implement their own penalty of removing the “Fighting Sioux” logo from the team uniform. This would accomplish a couple of
things:
1. Good faith to the NCAA that they are taking steps to remedy hostile and abusive actions displayed by the UND community; and
2. Prove to the University community that ultimately they can win a championship without the “Fighting Sioux” mascot because you are going to ultimately have to do without the logo in the near future.
Who knows, you may surprise yourselves and actually win this time. We would actually root for you to win. This would prove to other teams with Indian mascots that you can actually win by your skill and not because you have an Indian head on your jersey.
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Great article. So true and what many of us have been saying for years.