The clock is ticking on how much longer North Dakota fans and alumni can celebrate the school’s Fighting Sioux nickname.
In settling its lawsuit against the NCAA on Oct. 26, the state’s Board of Higher Education was given three years to gain approval from the two major Sioux tribes in the region to use the nickname.
One of the tribes has traditionally supported UND’s use of the Native American reference for its nickname, mascot and logo. Some leaders of the other tribe are officially opposed. The dialogue is ongoing.
“It’s an emotional issue,” said Josh Morton, a former UND quarterback who heads the school’s alumni association. “For many people around the country, they think of our hockey team as the Fighting Sioux, rather than the name of the university.”
On Aug. 5, 2005, the NCAA ruled that mascots and nicknames of racial, ethnic or national origin deemed “hostile or abusive” would not be allowed on uniforms or other clothing at NCAA tournaments, playoffs or championships after Feb. 1, 2006. Institutions retaining banned mascots would be prohibited from hosting NCAA postseason events, according to the ruling.
An appeal by UND was denied by the NCAA on April 28, 2006. The lawsuit followed.
A 2005 survey of North Dakotans conducted by the Fargo Forum newspaper, found that 81 percent of the respondents supported the Fighting Sioux nickname. Of the Native Americans who responded, 47 percent disagreed with UND’s use of the nickname.
In letters to the NCAA, UND president Charles E. Kupchella stated the university has more than 25 programs that support American Indian students.
