North Dakota Fighting Sioux

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Logo of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Enlarge
Logo of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux

"The North Dakota Fighting Sioux" is the name of the athletic teams of the University of North Dakota (UND) which is located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota, in the United States. The name is often shortened to simply "The Sioux". The current logo is a Native American figure. The logo was designed by a local artist of Ojibwa ethnicity.

Contents

[edit] Athletics

Division I:

Division II:

  • Football - men's
  • Basketball - men's and women's
  • Baseball - men's
  • Cross country - men's and women's
  • Golf - men's and women's
  • Soccer - women's
  • Softball - women's
  • Swimming and diving - men's and women's
  • Track and field - men's and women's
  • Tennis - women's
  • Volleyball - women's

The Fighting Sioux hockey teams (men's and women's) compete at Division I, while the men's football, men's and women's basketball, women's soccer, and women's volleyball teams all currently compete at Division II. The Sioux have a proven track record of being very competitive in both divisions. On June 21, 2006, the school announced that it would be moving its entire athletic program to Division I.

The men's hockey team is easily the most recognized and enshrined of all teams at UND (seven national championships). They play in the $100+ million Ralph Engelstad Arena. The arena has been called one the greatest hockey facilities in the world. The men's football program has been growing in stature and popularity in recent years. All home football games are held in the Alerus Center. The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center is used for basketball and volleyball games.

[edit] Nickname

[edit] Origins

UND's nickname was originally "The Flickertails", but was changed to "The Sioux" officially in 1930 ("Fighting" was added later). Guest editorials that appeared at that time in the Dakota Student (the UND student newspaper) noted that (1)"Sioux are a good exterminating agent for Bison" (the mascot of the nearby North Dakota State University team), (2)"They are warlike, of fine physique and bearing", and (3)"The word Sioux is easily rhymed for yells and songs".[1] The choice of the name was also influenced by the Fighting Irish athletic teams of the University of Notre Dame (another "UND").

[edit] Controversy

Today, critics of the name say that it is a racist stereotype, while supporters say that it is unoffensive and is a source of pride. Over the years, the debate has proven to be a divisive issue at the University. In 1970, the UND Indian Association protested the use of the "Fighting Sioux" name. Since that time, a number of student organizations and faculty committees have called for the nickname to be discontinued. In 1999, the UND Student Senate passed a resolution calling for the end of the nickname, but it was vetoed by the student body president. That same year, a similar bill was introduced in the North Dakota House of Representatives, but died in committee.[2] In 2000, twenty-one separate Native American-related programs, departments, and organizations at UND signed a statement opposing the continued use of the nickname and logo, saying that it did not honor them or their culture.[3] Three tribal entities within the state (the Standing Rock Sioux, Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux, and Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) have issued tribal resolutions denouncing the continued use of the name and logo. On March 6, 2001, the President of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Norine Johnson, wrote to advocate change at UND. It is worth noting that the University does not currently maintain a mascot.

Former Fighting Sioux hockey player and wealthy alumnus Ralph Engelstad donated $100 million dollars for the construction of Ralph Engelstad Arena. This is one of the largest philanthropic donations ever made to a public institution of higher learning. During construction of the arena, Engelstad threatened to abruptly cease work if the nickname was changed. The day after receiving Engelstad's threatening e-mail North Dakota State Board of Higher Education froze discussion on the issue by insisting that the team name remain the same. One of Engelstad's conditions for his donation was that the University keep the Fighting Sioux name indefinitely.[4] Engelstad placed thousands of Fighting Sioux logos in numerous places throughout the arena to make physical removal of the logo very costly if attempted. The arena opened in 2001.

Today, the movement to abandon the name and logo is led by several Native American tribes, various UND faculty members, and Native American student organizations, while the movement to keep the Fighting Sioux name is led by UND administration, alumni, athletic officials, and most fans and participants.

[edit] UND vs. NCAA

Debate was reignited in 2005, following a decision by the NCAA to sanction schools with tribal nicknames, including UND, that the NCAA deemed to be "hostile and abusive." The sanctions would not allow schools like UND to use their names or logos in post-season play and those schools would not be able to host post-season championships. After an unsuccessful appeal to reverse the sanctions, the University turned to their legal options. On June 15, 2006, after consulting with North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, the Board of Higher Education elected 8-0 to authorize Stenehjem to sue the NCAA for penalizing the University over its nickname and Indian head logo.[1] In November of 2006, UND won a preliminary injunction to prevent the NCAA from enforcing the rule, and allowing UND to play playoff games at home.

[edit] Reference

  1. ^ Dale Wetzel, North Dakota to sue NCAA over university's Fighting Sioux nickname, Associated Press, June 15, 2006

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

The University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Academics: School of Aerospace Sciences | School of Law | School of Medicine
Athletics: The Fighting Sioux | Baseball | Basketball | Football | Hockey | Soccer | Volleyball
Facilities: Alerus Center | Betty Engelstad Sioux Center | Chester Fritz Auditorium | Chester Fritz Library | Energy and Environmental Research Center | Memorial Stadium | National Center for Hydrogen Technology | Ralph Engelstad Arena (old) | Ralph Engelstad Arena (new)
Media: Dakota Student | Fighting Sioux Sports Network | KFJM
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../n/o/r/North_Dakota_Fighting_Sioux_4670.html"