04/25/24
August 14, 2011
North Dakota Ready to Drop Fighting Sioux: Because of looming NCAA sanctions, North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple will introduce legislation Nov. 7 that will give University of North Dakota officials the authority to change the school's Fighting Sioux nickname. Dalrymple said he expects that bill to pass and the school to change the name. A 2007 court settlement required the school to change its mascot unless both of the state's Sioux tribes could be persuaded to support it. The only holdouts keeping their names with a tribe's approval are the Florida State Seminoles, Utah Utes, Central Michigan Chippewas and the Catawba Indians.
This is the right decision. The compromise that mascots could be retained if the relevant tribes approve is eminently fair. One of the Sioux tribes has not changed its mind, so the Fighting Sioux name goes bye bye.
Nobody should put a cherished sports tradition over their right not to be trivialized as a mascot.
posted by rcade at 01:09 PM on August 14, 2011
What's the status with the Illini?
posted by LionIndex at 01:43 PM on August 14, 2011
Not before time. Caricaturing groups of human beings is dumb and childish.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:31 PM on August 14, 2011
So is Florida State above the fray in this by virtue of being a higher profile, wealthier school? Maybe I'm speaking from a position of ignorance, but I'm having a hard time reconciling the two schools' relative positions.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:20 PM on August 15, 2011
Florida State got the Seminoles on board, in spite of the fact that only three actual Seminoles had graduated from the university as of 2005.
Personally I think all these mascots are degrading, but if the local tribe gives the OK it's hard to argue against it.
The Seminoles honor their heritage today by running the saddest casino I've ever been in. You could drop dead at one of their thousands of slot machines and might not be noticed for a week.
posted by rcade at 01:24 PM on August 15, 2011
The Seminoles honor their heritage today by running the saddest casino I've ever been in.
Have you visited Circus Circus recently?
*shudder*
posted by grum@work at 04:23 PM on August 15, 2011
Miami of Ohio dropped their Redskins mascot and name in 1997, I'm surprised it has taken North Dakota so long. Now if only the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians would get with the program.