The+Fighting+Sioux-+Nickname+and+logo+change

** Origin of “The Fighting Sioux” **  The University of North Dakota (UND) Fighting Sioux- is one of several universities and athletic establishments to carry a nickname and logo which depicts and Indian or Native American warrior. UND’s original nickname was the “Flickertails” until 1930 when the university decided to adopt “The Sioux” as their chosen mascot, later becoming “The Fighting Sioux” represented by a stereotypical Indian Warrior. The reason for the new name was noted that, “Sioux are a good exterminating agent for Bison,” which is the mascot of North Dakota State University team, and also the name fit well with many chants and songs. 

** The Controversy **  As with numerous other Athletic teams, both college level and professional sports, UND has been criticized for using a name that, as the NCAA has labeled it, “hostile and abusive.” Critics maintain the position that these names are racist and offensive, along with other Native American tribes, student organizations, and many of the faculty members at the university. These views clash with the position of the supporters of the name being UND alumni, most of the student body, athletic teams, officials, and the current university administration. After realization from the NCAA that this issue was preventing the University from moving forward, and that it caused tension between the two sides of the student body and faculty, it was decided that the only action to put an end to the controversy was to change the name and logo.

** Legal Actions Taken **  The controversy began in 1999 when a bill was presented to the North Dakota House of Representatives. This first of many bills to make UND change its name and logo was later lost in committee. However, the very next year, more than 21 Native American programs and departments at the university signed a petition to change the name, saying that “it did not honor them or their culture.”  One of the main concerns for the UND Board of Higher Education stems from the 2001 opening of the Ralph Englestad Hockey Arena. This arena was looked at as one of the most state of the art facilities, topping many professional arenas in the country, and falling in as the largest single donation made by an alumnus. After hearing about the possibility of a name change, Ralph Englestad, the projects sole contributor decided to build the arena with hopes of preserving the name and logo by strategically placing over 2000 logos all around the arena, including a large engraving in the entrance floor and on every row of seats. He also told the university that if the name and logo was to be changed, he would pull all the funding from the construction process and UND would have to finish the arena using its own funding sources.  After about 4 years with the issue set on the backburner, the NCAA decided to sanction all schools carrying a Native American name/logo in 2005. The sanctions would ultimately not allow these schools to participate in or host any post-season athletic events. The UND in turn requested that North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem sue the NCAA for penalizing them on terms of their name use. However, in October 2007 a settlement was reached preventing the case from going to trial. The terms of the settlement gave UND three years to gain support from the neighboring Sioux Tribes for the continued use of “The Fighting Sioux” name and logo. Through the three years of voting from the Spirit Lake tribe and the Standing Rock tribe, it was decided that the university must retire the current nickname and logo of it athletic team and in 2009 a motion by the Board of Higher Education was made and required UND to retire the name no later than August 15, 2011.

 The name change will require the university to drop “The Fighting Sioux” name and logo along with removing most of the logos around its educational buildings and athletic facilities. Because of the duration on this controversy, the University of North Dakota has stated they are ready to move forward and hopefully embrace the change and look at the issue as a chance to grow as an established university with hopes this will put an end to the controversy as a whole.

** Annotated Bibliography **  1) Banks, Serenity J. ""Fighting Sioux" Name Sees New Advocate in Protest." //The University of North Dakota//. Lakota Journal. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. .  The article is straight from the University website and gives in depth accounts of the opposition side and the sport’s teams side of the issue. It appears the teams don’t fully understand the issue and are completely reluctant to the name change.

 2) Brownstein, Andrew. "A Battle Over a Name in the Land of the Sioux." //Academic Search Elite//. EBSCO, 23 Feb. 2001. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. . <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> This article describes the more underlying facts not seen in the news of why the University needs to go through with it's name change. High levels of racist comments have been heard throughout the campus pertaining to the largest minority group on campus. It also gives an in depth story of the main contributor to the new hockey arena, Ralph Englestad, and his plans for the construcion of the world-class facility.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 3) "The Buffalo Post » Fighting Sioux." //The Buffalo Post//. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://buffalopost.net/?tag=fighting-sioux>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> This post contains several shorter articles that involve not only the fighting Sioux, but also other college teams that have nicknames and mascots that hold Native American references. The post is a good source of base knowledge to the issues at hand.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 4) Clarke, Liz. "In North Dakota, Controversy Has a Name - Washingtonpost.com." //The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - Washingtonpost.com//. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/05/AR2005110501337.html>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> The article at hand take a little different approach on the issue. The Washington Post takes a look at the amount of money and TIME it would take to change the ice arena’s logos to something different. The main alumnus contributor to build the arena ensured the logo was placed in as many places as possible to prevent this sort of action to happen

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 5) "College Sports From the National Post: Prairie Niggers UND and Indians." //Univrsity of North Dakota Swastikas, Indian Discrimination and Others//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <http://www.undnews.com/prairie.htm>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> This article focuses on the how the new stadium and the character of its main contributor has pushed the controversy further.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 6) Costello, Erik Rungeerik.runge@foxtv.comMary. "The 'Fighting Sioux' Fight Is Over." //Minnesota News and Weather | FOX 9 News | KMSP-TV Minneapolis-St. Paul//. 10 Apr. 2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/sports/the--'fighting-sioux'-fight-is-over>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> The article explains the perspective of the UND student boards and says that the change is final and will be welcomed by the University. If the University didn’t make the change, the controversy would only continue, hindering students perspective on the University as a whole.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 7) "North Dakota Fighting Sioux." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota_Fighting_Sioux>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> This article gives a brief overview of the controversy that the University of North Dakota has been involved in with the retirement of their current nickname and logo, the "Fighting Sioux." The page seems fairly credible with sources from various newspaper articles for the New York Times, espn.com and letters addressed to the NCAA and the president of UND.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 8) Phillips, Amy. "The 'Fighting Sioux' Conflict: Lessons on Social Justice for Higher Education." //Academic Search Elite//. EBSCO, 15 Nov. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.iastate.edu:2048/ehost/detail?vid=12&hid=18&sid=75fb4c4f-5126-4f07-87ac-4938f5d592a4%40sessionmgr4&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=afh&AN=55204868>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> This text is a reliable source with a high amount of information pertaining to the controversy in its entirety. Most of the issues are examined and explained.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 9) Press, Associated. "Fighting Sioux Foes Say Keeping Name Will Hurt UND - Devils Lake, ND - Devils Lake Journal." //Homepage - Devils Lake, ND - Devils Lake Journal//. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.devilslakejournal.com/news/x1512125563/Fighting-Sioux-foes-say-keeping-name-will-hurt-UND>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> UND is preparing to retire the nickname and a logo depicting an American Indian warrior in August under the terms of a settlement with the NCAA, which considers such mascots hostile and abusive. This simply seems to be the consensus of most articles.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 10) Ruibal, Sal. "NCAA Upholds Fighting Sioux as Abusive Nickname." //Academic Search Elite//. EBSCO, 29 Sept. 2009. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.iastate.edu:2048/ehost/detail?vid=14&hid=18&sid=75fb4c4f-5126-4f07-87ac-4938f5d592a4%40sessionmgr4&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=afh&AN=J0E060893945205>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Explains the conditions put on the University, specifically the hockey arena. They must cover up all 2000 logos and will not be granted any further championships to be held there.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 11) Ruibal, Sal. "USATODAY.com - N. Dakota at Center of 'hostile' Debate." //News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com//. 28 Sept. 2005. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/other/2005-09-27-sioux-arena_x.htm>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> USA Today reports on the article as a movement forward for the University. If this issue was not to be resolved, it would only continue and prove to be detrimental to the student body.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 12) "Senate Votes to Keep Fighting Sioux Nickname, Dalrymple Says He'll Sign." //BismarckTribune.com :: Bismarck, North Dakota News//. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/2011_session/article_2b9e5d20-4c17-11e0-817c-001cc4c03286.html>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> This article descirbes the position of politicians views on the controversy, completely opposite of that of the American Indian officials.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 13) Seymour, Add. "Under Pressure." //Academic Search Elite//. EBSCO, 27 Nov. 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.iastate.edu:2048/ehost/detail?sid=75fb4c4f-5126-4f07-87ac-4938f5d592a4%40sessionmgr4&vid=4&hid=25>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> This article explores the issues related to the approval process conducted by UND to keep the nickname and logo.

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> 14) Tovares, Raul. "Mascot Matters: Race, History, and the University of North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" Logo." //Academic Search Elite//. EBSCO, Jan. 2002. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. <http://http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.iastate.edu:2048/ehost/detail?sid=75fb4c4f-5126-4f07-87ac-4938f5d592a4%40sessionmgr4&vid=8&hid=25&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=afh&AN=6590076>.// <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// This article examines an official document put together by the university. The author writes about each section of the document. //

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// 15) "UND's Fighting Sioux Nickname Going Away | Minnesota Public Radio News." //Minnesota Public Radio//. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/05/14/fightingsioux_vote/>.// <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// This article reflects the possible motives of the UND Board of Higher Education’s motive to change the nickname and logo, yet another possible take on the issue. //

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// 16) "University of North Dakota Dropping 'Fighting Sioux' Nickname, Logo - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com." //FoxNews.com - Breaking News | Latest News | Current News//. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520248,00.html>.// <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// This article offers an interesting perspective on the motives of UND’s Board of Higher Education which suggests that the move to change the name, the “Fighting Sioux,” is to be accepted into a different division. Credible but may be biased as many major news corporations are. //

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// 17) "University of North Dakota “Fighting Sioux” Nickname Retired – At Long Last." //Racialicious - the Intersection of Race and Pop Culture//. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.racialicious.com/2010/04/09/university-of-north-dakota-fighting-sioux-nickname-retired-at-long-last/>.// <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// This article seems to take a much more personal account on the issue explaining moral discrepancies with having such a nickname and logo. The article is very biased, given the title of its domain and may not be too credible but offers another position on the issue nonetheless. //

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// 18) Wetzal, Dale. "Sioux Fight in ND House Ove UND Nickname." //Native American Times//. Associated Press, 31 Jan. 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.nativetimes.com/index.php?option=com>.// <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// This article goes more in depth on the positions the neighboring Sioux tribes have taken. The article also contains quotes from leaders of both tribes, representatives from UND's board of higher education and several South Dakota congressmen. Being a published article in the Native American Times the article is a good source of information but has a large element of bias towards the Sioux tribe's position. //

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// 19) Wetzel, Dale. "North Dakota Decisions End Fighting Sioux Nickname - USATODAY.com." //News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com//. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2010-04-08-north-dakota-fighting-sioux-nickname-end_N.htm>.// <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// USA Today reports on the article as a movement forward for the University. If this issue was not to be resolved, it would only continue and prove to be detrimental to the student body. //

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">// 20) Williams, Dana M. "Patriarchy and the ‘Fighting Sioux’: a Gendered Look at Racial College Sports Nicknames." //Academic Search Elite//. EBSCO, Dec. 2006. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. <http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.iastate.edu:2048/ehost/detail?vid=14&hid=18&sid=75fb4c4f-5126-4f07-87ac-4938f5d592a4%40sessionmgr4&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=afh&AN=22909477>. <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> This article uses UND as somewhat of a test case to explain the concept of patriarchy on US colleges and universities.