ND Vote Lets School Scrap Fighting Sioux Nickname
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota voters decided Tuesday to let the state's flagship university dump a controversial Fighting Sioux nickname that sparked threats of NCAA sanctions, ending — at least temporarily — a dispute simmering for decades that divided sports fans, alumni and even tribes.
The matter boiled over seven years ago when the University of North Dakota was placed on a list of schools with American Indian nicknames that the NCAA deemed hostile and abusive. Those colleges were told to dump the names or risk penalties against their athletic teams.
Voters in Tuesday's North Dakota primary were being asked whether to uphold or reject the Legislature's repeal of a state law requiring the school to use the nickname and American Indian head logo.
The vote sends the matter back to the state's Board of Higher Education, which is expected to retire the moniker and American Indian head logo.
"This is a political matter with no celebration," said Tim O'Keefe, executive vice president and CEO of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation. "We've said all along that this is not an issue about preference. Clearly if that were the case, the name would be staying. The price of keeping the name is simply too high."
The group that collected petitions for the ballot measure has said it will pursue another vote in the fall to make Fighting Sioux part of the state constitution.
Sean Johnson, spokesman for the nickname group, said the results were disappointing but said they plan to continue gathering petitions for a constitutional amendment.
"We don't have the option of forfeiting," he said. "There are more things at stake than some unfounded concerns about the athletic program."
Advocates for retiring the nickname say the issue is hurting the athletic department in recruiting and scheduling. Supporters of the name say coaches and administrators are exaggerating the harmful effects and don't believe the NCAA sanctions are a big deal.
Voter Mark Kolstad, of Fargo, said he feels that the state has no choice but to let UND dump the Fighting Sioux moniker.
"I think it's kind of dead issue," he said. "If you keep the name and you keep the logo, who do you play?"
The law forcing the school to use the name and logo was approved in March 2011 but was repealed in a special session after NCAA representatives told state officials that it would not budge on sanctions. Johnson's group then collected the necessary signatures for the ballot measure.
Johnson said his group was outspent 25-to-1 and took a potshot at the agency that helped the UND alumni association with its push to retire the name.
O'Keefe said the alumni association spent about $250,000 on the campaign to retire the nickname, all through donations. His group is prepared to launch a similar effort against a possible constitutional amendment, but O'Keefe is calling on the nickname backers to stand down.
"All it does is hold the University of North Dakota hostage and create more division," he said.
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