University Of North Dakota “Fighting Sioux” Nickname The Result Of Journalist Sleight-Of-Hand
Fargo Forum reporter Teri Finneman has an interesting article about the origin of UND’s “Fighting Sioux” nickname. Prior to the 1930’s, UND teams were known as either the Flickertails or the Nodaks. Then, in 1930 the editor of UND’s student newspaper (one Alvin E. Austin) decided to take a team name/mascot change into his own hands. He wrote two anonymous letters-to-the-editor calling for a name change to the Sioux and “sent” them to his own publication, and then published editorials as the editor of that publication praising the anonymous letters.
Then, as chairman of the university’s homecoming committee, he incorporated the nickname and mascot into the homecoming events. Thus the nickname was born, though it didn’t begin to appear on university jerseys until the 1950’s.
Later, Austin went on to serve as chairman of UND’s journalism department. One can only hope that he didn’t teach any classes about journalistic ethics.
On a more serious note, this passage from Finneman’s article illustrates the difficulty UND faces in trying to secure a tribal endorsement for the nickname.
In 1969, a band of Standing Rock Sioux (Uncpapa Sioux) formally gave UND teams the right to use the name “Fighting Sioux” for its athletic teams, according to a 1969 Grand Forks Herald article.
See, UND already has a tribal endorsement for the Fighting Sioux nickname, but the tribal leaders who gave that endorsement are long gone so now, per the settlement with the NCAA, UND must secure another one. But if the university does, what happens if the tribal leaders giving that endorsement also fade from power? Is UND, which has millions tied up in the branding of its nationally-known sports team, to be held hostage on this issue to the whims of largely disorganized and revolving carousel of tribal leadership?
That hardly seems fair.
Rob
Neiman
goon
Chief RZ
Hairy Polemic
docdave
HG
Bat One
MikeAdamson
