Campus

North Dakota Governor Signs Law Dropping UND ‘Fighting Sioux’ Nickname

UND Drops Fighting Sioux Nickname

(The Blaze/AP) North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple has signed a law allowing the state’s flagship university to shed its 81-year-old Fighting Sioux nickname.

The measure signed Wednesday will let the University of North Dakota satisfy an NCAA request that it drop the name or risk sanctions. Lawmakers had passed a law in March requiring the school to keep the name.

The NCAA in 2005 listed the university among a group of schools with objectionable American Indian nicknames, logos and mascots. UND was the only school still fighting the NCAA over the issue. The $100 million Ralph Engelstad Arena, a privately owned building where UND plays hockey, has thousands of Indian-head logos, including a 10-foot sketch of an Indian head embedded in the granite floor and brass medallions on the outside chairs of most rows.

The new law says UND cannot adopt a new nickname or logo until January 2015. Its supporters say that gives time for the debate to cool off.

Comments (35)

  • mamagriz79
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 8:31pm

    I am A Proud North Dakotan and live in Grand Forks where UND has been the Fighting Sioux for over 80 years we where actually given the name by the Sioux tribe as a gift. The NCAA has tarnished the good name of the Sioux by saying that in someway it is offensive. Maybe to the biggoted libs on the left it is, but to us we are proud and honored to have this gift. I am sickened by the whole ordeal.

    Report Post »  
  • Git-R-Done
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 2:04am

    When is this political correctness going to stop? I‘m part Irish and I’m not offended by the term “Fighting Irish” that Notre Dame uses as its mascot.

    Report Post »  
  • ToTheRightoftheLeft
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:00pm

    This liberal crap is getting ridiculas!…After Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida in ‘92, some people (care to guess from which political party?) were screaming for the University of Miami to change it’s nickname because the Hurricanes was “insensitive” to the people who suffered losses….So, in that line of thinking, should Blackberry get rid of the “Storm” smart phone? Florida A&M should change their nickname because many hunters here in Florida get bit by “Rattlers”….

    There is a high school in WV, the Bramwell(?) Millionaires….I’m not sure of the town name, but I know the nickname is Millionaires….In light of the OWS crowd & their anger towards the 1%…I DEMAND the school change it’s name immediately because it is offensive to low-life, welfare sucking progressives!

    Report Post » ToTheRightoftheLeft  
  • skippy6
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 4:57pm

    So you don’t want the name fighting Sioux!!! Okay, how about Surrender Sioux… What I got out of that name is that you fought for your land….Here is the government once again going against the majority of the people…It’s so a$$ backwards!!!! Or is it soooo progressive and forward thinking…..What a joke….

    Report Post » skippy6  
  • srevie
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 1:57pm

    I am part Norwegian and Swede. (Sarcasm on) I object to the name Viking being used by sports teams. The mascots are disrespectful as no “true” Viking would ever wear horns like the mascots wear. I demand that all Viking teams change their name to some inoffensive name. (Sarcasm off)

    Report Post » srevie  
  • SCARY313568
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:47pm

    More proof that liberalism is a mental disorder.

    Report Post »  
  • MDICEMAN
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:00pm

    I am of Irish decent and find Notre Dame’s “Fighting Irish” mascot to be offensive. When will the NCAA ask ND to drop their nickname, logo and mascot?

    Report Post »  
  • woodyb
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:56am

    They will now and forevermore be known as the “Dalrymple WIMPS”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • JJFernandez
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:47am

    By the way, the originin of UND’s mascot is due to North Dakota State being the Bison. UND wanted to send a message to NDSU, so they made their mascot the Fighting Sioux, the number one “killer” of Bison. I think its a clever choice of mascot, and in no way, should offend the Sioux.

    Report Post » JJFernandez  
    • JJFernandez
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:48am

      *origin NOT originin :)

      Report Post » JJFernandez  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:15pm

      @JJFernandez

      LOL..I’d better explain myself….we all knew it was a typo.

      Report Post »  
  • JJFernandez
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:45am

    The Central Michigan University Chippewas got acceptance from the local Chippewa tribe. In this one case, the tribe and university are happy and live in unity and pride. Florida State is another university that has complete support of the local Seminole Tribe. It can be done, it just sounds like the local Sioux Tribe needs to take the initative to fight back!

    Report Post » JJFernandez  
  • Viet Vet
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:40am

    Well, half of my posts from yesterday survived the BLAZE wrecking crew this time.

    Report Post »  
  • hoopsgulch
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:40am

    Them injins will burn your wagon, kill yer family…eat yer dog.

    Report Post »  
  • undsiouxma13
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:17am

    As a recent alumni from UND, I can speak first hand on this issue.. 99.9% of people love and want to keep the name… now it’s about 75% because the NCAA has brainwashed the entire university with sanctions if we keep the name… The senate voted to make it a state law this spring, only to recently reverse it because the NCAA threatened post season sanctions.. which you might be able to get by with, they then told other teams/rivals (Minnesota, Wisconsin…etc)… not to play us in the event we don’t change our name.. There are two Sioux tribes in ND… one voted 2 to 1 to keep the name.. the other, and it’s council, will not let the people of the tribe vote… That tribe is also mostly located in South Dakota.. I could go on for another 5 pages about the BS they have put us through, and the emotional ups and downs.. If you think all of this is wrong, check out the tribe that voted in favor of the name, last week they filed a 12 count lawsuit… against the NCAA… So the NCAA policy, that calls the nickname “hostile and abusive”, now will have to stand up the the actual tribe they are saying the nickname offends.. because they won’t listen to the tribe or include them in any of the whole process, when they want to keep the name!… If you find this interesting or are sick of all the PC BS going on, check out the website the tribe has created just to be informed, this article tells very little of the entire story! … http://www.savethefightingsioux.com

    Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:43am

      I posted a comment similar to yours lastnight, but it’s not there today. Thank you BLAZE.

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:08pm

      One thing in the post that disappeared, that isn’t in your post, is that I pointed out that the UND Logo depicted above is the work of a native American. He wrote an article expressing his dismay at the “controversy” and describing the native American symbolism he built into the Logo.

      Report Post »  
  • SMiTTY_CO
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:12am

    Yeah, I don’t get it. I certainly don‘t find anything offensive about the ’Fighting Sioux’.
    Sounds like some ******* complained and people caved.

    Report Post » SMiTTY_CO  
  • Volsense
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 8:27am

    Let the voters decide. Letting brainwashed libs decide a facet of your life is a step to oblivion. Anyone who would vote for this action is totally unfit to lead adults.

    Report Post »  
  • jorja
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 5:01am

    The Sioux didn’t fight, whitey marched right in and started well you know.

    Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 6:26am

      … has anyone asked the Sioux Nation what their opinion might be on this issue?

      Report Post »  
  • marion
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:56am

    A school mascot name is picked to indicate how tough and great the school is, and I seem to remember the Sioux being a pretty venerable tribe. I would be very offended not by the fact I have a college team named after my tribe, but the fact that I used to have a college named after me and it had to be changed. That‘s the PC telling me I can’t have any recognition in public.

    The Progressives and PC folks are so great at making good bad and bad good. Peaceful TEA Party bad, violent OWS a good thing. People and businesses saving money during bad times bad, going bankrupt and getting bonuses good. Vampires sparkling in the light instead of the sun burning them into oblivion, sexual deviants considered normal, and the list of reversals continues.

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 1:49am

    Wimp!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:48am

    All these names are intended to glorify the American Indians and if they don’t want the attention then screwwwww them. Change the name, and the minimal bit that we see and hear from the American Indians in our culture will be gone forever.

    Good riddance then if that’s how they feel. Give em all another casino, they don’t seem to mind that stereotype too much do they of the drunken gambling Injuns? No they don’t, money eases their pain strangely. lol

    Sometimes these people whining for this and that don’t think out the unintended consequences of this idiocy. They’ll NEVER get me to be PC in this lifetime without putting a bullet through my head.

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
    • JohnofOregon
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:57am

      Here where i went to highschool some idiot casino indians wanted the school to drop its mascot “warriors”. The community told them to pack sand go back to selling whisky at the casino. I am part indian and my wife is a lot. We always mark white.
      I was at a game at another high schools gym where they have the mascots of each school in the league on the wall. After the indians and others had been removed. The league is now Bruins, Royal Scots, Vikings, Spartans, Raiders, Rebels, Saxons, Celtics, Olymians, Titans a couple of animal names and warriors. (see the new name pattern)
      These names are chosen to represent a competitive fighting nature. These stupid PC indian groups are stripping their own history and honor. How come white people chose indian type names as mascots? Well, I can tell you it wasn’t to make fun of them. It is because Indians were considered fierce honorable warriors. I would like to see schools add maybe ninja or girca? maybe eskimos?

      These PC idiots won’t be happy until indians are completely seperate but equal.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 7:35am

      I’m part Blackfoot, part Osage and part Cherokee, and I find it a compliment to have “Native American” names on sports teams. It means they revered them, it’s an honor. Everyone is proud of their school’s team. If they weren’t they would name them the skunks or something like that.

      Report Post »  
  • TXChoctaw
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:41am

    Doesn‘t bother me in the least and I’m Native American.

    Report Post » TXChoctaw  
    • One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:58am

      Sadly TXChoctaw, that’s usually how it is, very few are actually insulted in these so called offended ‘groups’ and the loudest whiners get their wheels greased nine times out of ten just to shut em up as they claim to speak for everyone else and usually DON’T.

      Good for you seeing that these names are actually a hat tip to the American Indians because that’s all they are, a nice tribute to the American Indian which many just simply misconstrue. Here in Illinois and the U of I they used to have an Authentic Indian perform at the Illini sporting events and games, he was a beloved mascot and they ran Chief Illiniwek right off the proverbial reservation TOO!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Illiniwek

      Most people have jobs and lives and don’t have the time to worry about such goofy minutia. I mean the greatest athlete in the world was Jim Thorpe, an American Indian who singularly did a lot of the grunt work getting the Indians what they had coming to them.

      I‘m an American of Italian descent and the mafia stereotype and Guido gold chain caricature doesn’t bother me one stinking bit, and you know why? Because it‘s TRUE and I think it’s funny!! I love Mafia movies and the Sopranos and the likes, and I can’t see people getting so worked up over words. :(

      Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:53am

      @One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew

      One of the cities in ND with an indian name is: Wahpeton (***-a-ton) and when they started having athletic teams in the early days, they took the nickname Wops. It’s not an Italian community, they most likely, especially given the geographical area, picked it because it flows with the city’s name, and not meant to imply any particular meaning. But when the PC lefties got going 15 or so years ago, that was judged to be injurious to Italians, and it had to go….and it did. There is way too much knuckling under to these left-wing PC thugs now days. Too many people standing around looking and waiting to be insulted.

      There were two Italians from Philly in my platoon in the service and they insisted on being called Wops or Dagos. If I remember correctly, they felt those names indicated working class.

      Report Post »  
  • aChristianPatriot
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:28am

    What a bunch of brainless children!!!

    Report Post »  
  • frodis
    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:11am

    Oh please. Then Redskins, Seminoles and others must go too? Cleveland Indians?

    Report Post » frodis  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:18am

      Vikings must go too, they were savages.

      Report Post »  
    • War_Vet
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 5:19am

      Yeah they are next. Every few years in Cleveland, 3 or 4 protestors manage to get themselves on TV with another attempt to force the Indians to change their name. Ironically, these protestors dont appear to be or represent actual native americans concerns. Likely, they are just OWS people doing side work in their off season.

      Report Post » War_Vet  
    • Corsair
      Posted on November 10, 2011 at 8:00am

      If I remember correctly, FSU thought about dropping the Seminole name. The Seminole tribe was outraged! By agreement, they get a piece of every Seminole memorabilia sold. Check http://www.seminoles.com/

      Report Post » Corsair  

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In