GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — The University of North Dakota's women's hockey team won't have a standard memento from their first appearance in the NCAA hockey tournament.
The team's photo was left out of the tournament program. That's because when the team picture was taken, the women hockey players were wearing Fighting Sioux jerseys.
The NCAA considers the Fighting Sioux nickname and the university's American Indian head logo to be offensive.
UND lost to Minnesota 5-1 in the tournament's quarterfinal round in Minneapolis on Saturday.
UND athletic director Brian Faison (FAY'-zahn) says the team had to make sure the nickname and logo didn't appear on any uniforms or gear.
Faison tells the Grand Forks Herald (http://bit.ly/wznR9G) it was a "shame" the team photo wasn't in the program.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Comments (26)
Add commentThis is [filtered word] ncaa
This is [filtered word] ncaa should be ashamed of them selfs it offends me that they had to make sure the nickname and logo wasnt on any uniforms. If i were them it wouldnt be comeing off how long have they had this logo and name. This is getting out of hand people grow up please
Right?! I am a swede and i
Right?! I am a swede and i love the vikings. What is the difference?
Ridiculous
I think this political correctness has gone to the point of being ridiculous. I am Danish, should I suit the Minnesota Vikings to get them to change the name of the football team??? There would be no difference in that logic than what is happening here with the UND logo.
Where's your Rez?
For starters, merlyn and barco, you weren't put onto a reservation, your culture disemboweled in the name of "assimilation", then your "vanished breed" image used as an icon of courage for kids who play games.
muskyb, the nickname and logo have been around for less than a century. How many centuries of tradition were wiped out when the "godless savages" were viewed as just sub-human vermin in the way of westward expansion?
A new and longer lasting 'tradition' could have been started by now but the dominant people of the area have been so accustomed to 'telling' natives what they like and 'telling' natives how they should be honored.
Now they just promote those few natives they can pick out who will say they are okay with the nickname and logo. And they dismiss, shout down, or even seek to intimidate those natives who disagree with them. Most have more problems and bigger issues to even give a rats.
Perhaps if some liberal extremists didn't try to shame the logo off of the face of the earth, the debate would have been a lot more simple and the change would have been history by now.
Imagine the merchandise sales that could have occurred by now if the powers that be at UND could "grow up".
no matter what anyone says
no matter what anyone says, having your heritage on anything should be an honor.
They are celebrating the history of a great people. Because our ancestors were thugs and hooligans doest not mean we are today. When I go read on the history of natives, I do not read it as they are native Asians, where they actually came from by the way, I see them in text as native Americans.
PS, the Vikings pummeled, beat, stole and sexually assaulted many people. They need to be removed from the NFL or change the name because the Vikings promote violence.
I think we should change their names to MN Liberals....they are always down and out of luck, always cry foul when things dont go their way (Paul Allen), always make terrible decisions that cost them dearly not only present terms but in the future as well(Hershel Walker trade), always try the same thing and expect different results(Brett Favre and Donovan McNabb) and expect the world to give them everything for free (the new stadium).
Brainerd Warriors and CLC Raiders name change years ago
So tell me how 'scalp the palefaces' in the school song of the Brainerd Warriors and cheerleaders in Native American sacred dress doing cheers on a playing field 'honor' the Native American culture?
In an interview Pete Humphrey during the debate here in Brainerd (noted Native American expert) asked how we would feel if cheerleaders were putting on Catholic priest clothing and doing flips on the playing field?
Shame on you, Faison!
There is no reason this should have happened. The Sioux women have been wearing non-logo jerseys for much of the season, yet Brian Faison, the athletic director and avid supporter for retiring the name, choose to submit a picture depicting the team wearing the logo jerseys. Shame on him! He and the president claim they want to get rid of the logo, because it will be harmful to UND athletics. He was fully aware that the NCAA would have issue with this photo and yet chose to submit it, insteading taking a new photo. That stunt was harmful to UND athletics!
The only shame should be with the NCAA
This whining from the indians has been played out to the point of ad nauseum! Do they think that they were totally innocent in the expansion of the US? Do they think history isn't full of one civilization taking over another? And why aren't the Sioux suing the Ojibwe, who did the exact thing they always whine about with whites?
HA!
Lelandism,
Funny how how you forgot to mention that the name was GIVEN to UND by the tribes... We do not seek out those in favor of the name... they come to us willingly to support this great name that DOES honor the people of the tribes... Let me remind you by the way that those members of the tribes that are in favor of the name is a greater population than those that oppose it... But you are correct, the powers that be @ UND do need to grow up, they never should have listened to people like you in the first place and let it become and issue. Its funny how some native Americans say our tribal rituals need to be honored and thought of as law, yet when it goes against the current members thoughts, its easy to say those rituals shouldn't count, because the name WAS GIVEN to UND in a TRIBAL RITUAL... where the UND President even was given a native American Name... No one is telling anyhow how they should be honored... the Tribes are WISHING to be honored by using the name.
I don't remember "scalp the
I don't remember "scalp the palefaces" being in the school song. Since Brainerd has always been an overwhelmingly white population, wouldn't we then have been promoting scalping ourselves?
I do remember it saying, "Brainerd High, Brainerd High, guardians of the blue and white. We go marching down the field, till our foes are forced to yield. We're behind you Brainerd so fight with all your might and win for Brainerd High, you're the one with your tomahawks gleaming in the sun..." after that, most of us couldn't remember the rest of the words so we just said Watermelon watermelon watermelon. LOL!
As someone said earlier, the image is being "used as an icon of courage." Who would not be proud to have their namesake and image used as an icon of courage? What is offensive about being honored as an icon of courage? We could all be so lucky to be thought of that way.
Funny, ain't it
tank, 10 of 11 Tribal Councils identified as "Sioux" voted in favor of getting rid of the nickname and logo. They were dismissed as being "not the voice of the people".
http://www.und.edu/org/bridges/resolutions.html
Students and faculty voted to get rid of the logo: their input was also dismissed in favor of contributing alumni.
Yes, when someone will be a part of embracing the logo, it makes headlines and a name is given. Some people fall for that. Traditionally, names are earned, not just given for a photo-op. Every eagle feather in a head dress is like a medal of honor. They're not just 'ornaments' on a 'costume'.
tank, do you remember which Band that was and where they were from?
OkeyDokey, google "In Whose Honor"
Sue or Sioux?
pdnet, who is suing who? The Sioux? Are the Sioux suing other Sioux and who would the Ojibwe sue? ... or is it Sioux?
No UND vote.
lelandism- There was NEVER a campus vote on the logo. If there were, there would overwhelming support to keep the logo. The current president and athletic director were hired for the purpose of getting rid of the logo. As a faculty member, you make the choice to support retiring the logo or risk losing your job. There is also a "gag order" on student athletes to not voice their support.5
As a Sioux alum, I find the
As a Sioux alum, I find the fact that the President of UND does not stand up for the proud legacy absolutely pathetic! Until the day comes when the NCAA goes after The Fighting Irish, let the NCAA be damned!
The state board of higher
The state board of higher education in ND thinks they are the 4th branch of government. What's scary is that they are appointed and it difficult to get rid of then. The corruption with that group runs rampant. They are who the president and AD answer to. The SBHE wanted to retire the Sioux name, so they hired themselves the people to get it done. I don't for a minute think that they adequately represented the people of ND in their meetings with the NCAA. Hopefully, the citizens of ND will get to vote on the issue.
Just the facts, please
And the facts are:
1) It was the NCAA who determined that the two (there are only two) sioux bands located within North Dakota must provide an answer on whether they wanted UND to continue to use the nickname, or not.
2) One of those bands--The Spirit Lake Band--held a band vote and APPROVED continued use of the nickname by UND.
3) The other band--the Standing Rock Band--to this date has a council that has refused to allow a band vote.
4) Members of both bands have openly advocated for retaining use of the nickname by UND.
5) Band members have hired legal representation and have sued to KEEP the nickname.
6) UND and SBOHE officials were both working to reach a resolution allowing UND to keep the nickname, until sports leagues they wanted to join in their proposed move to D1 sport told them they had to drop the name if they wanted to play with us. IMMEDIATELY UND and SBOHE education officials changed their tune to one of fighting to keep the nickname and encouraging a standing rock vote to working to drop the nickname.
And there we stand today. There is some reason to think that indians opposed to continued use of the nickname are a rabble-rousing minority that the majority of indians do not agree with--but plans are moving forward to drop the name--because of SPORTS reasons, not racism!
The whole thing is a disgrace. Band members are being disgraced no matter which side they fall on. UND and SBOHE official actions have been a disgrace--they are painting a racism issue that was never resolved as behind the change when in fact their motivation is soley due to fears that their sports teams won't be allowed to join Division 1 leagues or have home games in the playoffs.
And meanwhile....
Teams like Florida State, with their nickname Seminoles and especially the pageantry they use along with it (the tomahawk chop, the innacurate costumes and spear throwing, and more) are allowed to continue by the NCAA. Despite a clear majority of indians there having strong concerns with the racist, bigoted use by Florida State. The difference? The florida seminole tribe leaders accepted a payment from Florida State in exchange for their approval to use the name--no matter how bigoted or racist that use is!
Most teams with nicknames have some historic use or pageantry associated with the nickname that was clearly offensive to the majority of indians.
UND does too, but a number of years ago worked with the bands to eliminate that. They even worked with an indian artist to design their logo, widely acknowledged as one of the most proud appearing and outstanding logo's in existence.
ProudRINO- great post and you
ProudRINO- great post and you are absolutely right!
Predominant
scaryphailin, a lion is an animal, Minnesota has a predominant population of people of Scandinavian ancestry, Notre Dame has a history of being a predominantly Irish college. Saints and Padres? Was there ever a church service to sanctify the names?
What are the demographics at the University of North Dakota? There was opposition to the name and logo from the start but that opposition was easily silenced.
How many of you knew it was illegal for native people to practice their own religion in the US until the Freedom of Religion act of 1978?
Personally, I don't care about sports that much and I'm not Sioux.
I do get a kick out of the tantrums people throw on this subject. It's like a power struggle for a teenager. Tell them "no" and they'll fight for the right to do any inane thing they are told not to.
LOL Have fun kids! I have work to do.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame has a history of being predominantly Irish?
I did not know that. Hmm, you learn something every day.
irony
Funny how the professional football team in our nation's capital is called the "Redskins". That's just down right derogatory.
In the 1990's, the late Sioux
In the 1990's, the late Sioux alum (and goalie), Ralph Engelstad, donated $100M to UND to build the most magnificant hockey arena in the country.
Having insight to the absurdity of future political correctness, Mr. Engelstad in his will stipulated that if UND ever change its name from the Sioux, then the arena bearing his name must be torn down.
No mention of that ever gets posted by anyone. Yet it is in the will!
In the meantime, UND's president wants to keep the arena and simply remove all those "offensive" Sioux logos. Talk about disrespect. Goes to show how much UND appreciates the contributions of Alumni as well as honoring their will. Funny that UND offers a class in ethics, yet arrogantly violate the principles they teach!
Not that I would want to see Englestad Arena torn down, but the irony of seeing the wrecking ball demolish the building to satisfy the "pc" wimps would be hilarious.
Can't have it both ways
So if UND accepted the financial gift for the hockey stadium with certain conditions, then would those conditions be legally binding if UND changes its name ???
This sheds a whole new light on things and this could get really coslty for UND.
Yes it would be VERY
Yes it would be VERY expensive! Does someone have the right to come into the home that you paid for and remove things they don't like- I think not! The REA was a gift from the Engelstad family and nobody has the right to go against the wishes of the family and change a thing!!
Ralph is dead and gone....
And his surviving family have a more moderate take on the nickname issue. Logistically, some of the logo's are literally imbedded into the floor or other places in that building and will not be easy to pull out. But the agreement with the NCAA does not seem to require that they are--so it's a moot point. If the nickname and the uni's change all is good...
Except of course the conflict has yet to be resolved, and if that continues fans will be shouting "Sioux" or "Fighting Sioux" at the end of every national anthem; jersey's with the proud Sioux emblem will be worn for decades; and more.
Hard feelings will linger for a lifetime for some if the issue is not resolved satisfactorily--i.e., either Standing Rock allows a vote or someone makes a decision on how much of a minority can influence a decision foisted on the majority--and explain how that is right!
UND enrollment and more will also suffer, I believe.
The whole mess could have been handled with a great deal more tact, class, and success than it has.