Gipp says decision encouraging

By Tribune staff

David M. Gipp, the president of United Tribes Technical College, has been outspoken regarding his desire for the University of North Dakota to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname.

Gipp, in a statement released Thursday afternoon, said he was encouraged by the state Board of Higher Education's decision.

"I am optimistic that this will ultimately result in discontinuing use of American Indian imagery in the nickname and logo at UND, my alma mater," he wrote.

However, Gipp expressed concerns that the nickname change was more about athletics and UND's attempts to join the Summit League than anything else.

"I am not aware if the board is acting out of concern for human dignity and the institutional and educational values associated with higher learning," he wrote.

Gipp commended the board in his statement for finding "the courage to break free of the influence exerted by the nickname money interests. It is unethical and immoral that tribal people have been manipulated, divided and turned against each other in this process."

Letting go of the Fighting Sioux nickname will improve the higher education system in North Dakota, Gipp wrote, saying the system will be "one that all of the state's citizens can begin to take part in with pride."

Smooth transition

Randy McCabe was a student at Dickinson State University when the college's nickname changed from "Savages" to "Blue Hawks."

"That was handled well by the college,"he said. "Nobody ever even thinks about that now."

McCabe, now the store manager at ProImage, was not immediately sure what impact a similar switch for the University of North Dakota would do to his store's sales.

"I'm sure it will have some sort of impact," he said. "I'm sure it's going to affect some of our buying."

During the store's less than two years in Kirkwood Mall, Pro Image has sold more UND Fighting Sioux apparel and products than North Dakota State University Bison gear, McCabe said.

He anticipates Pro Image's UND apparel sales - both of outgoing Sioux products and products containing whatever new nickname gets chosen - will depend on how people react to the news.

"A lot of it is going to depend on what that new nickname is going to be," he said.

And, no matter what, not everyone is going to be happy.

"I know there are hardcore Sioux fans out there … just like there were hardcore Savage fans out there then," he said. "Some people are open minded about this and some people aren't going to be."

Alumni react

"I'm glad a decision was made - one way or the other," said Steve Neu, Bismarck Parks and Recreation director. "It's time to move on."

Neu earned his undergraduate degree in park and recreation administration at the school.

He said the need for the school's progress outweighs tradition. "UND is still a great institution and will remain a great institution."

"I'm disappointed to see that come out of it," said Jeff Ball, Bismarck, an UND alumni. "I thought there were avenues in the works that would allow them to keep the Sioux nickname."

He said from what he has read, however, this decision will help UND reach the Summit League. "This will allow them to move on if that's ultimately what they want," said Ball.

Disappointed

Scott Hobbs of Pick City attended UND from 1988 to 1992.

Besides being an alum, one would have to go a long to way to find a more fervent UNDhockey fan.

Hobbs said he believes the controversy with the logo and nickname is overblown and the product of the vocal minority.

He said the recent vote by the Spirit Lake Tribe to leave things as they are should be a signal to the state Board of Higher Education.

"I think it's coming from a few activists who are leading the cause," he said.

Hobbs said he believes the NCAA has already made its decision and is pressuring UND officials to go along.

At the very least, he said residents of the Standing Rock Tribe should be allowed to vote to see if a consensus could be reached among the tribes.

Pride in school

Mark Schmitt coaches high school hockey in Hazen and Beulah.

Personally, he said he likes the logo. As a coach, he said there's a great deal of pride among not only his players, but with community members with their sports team regardless of the sport, the hometown or the mascot.

"There is a lot of tradition, loyalty and pride that goes with the Hazen-Beulah North Stars," he said.

"Kids that play hockey around here all want to go on to play for UND."

A logo or a nickname won't change that, he said.

"There's a lot of community pride and that's what you know them as."

School tops logo

UND should keep the logo, according to some Bismarck High School students. A change would be caving in to political correctness, senior Ashley Grenz said.

"It's a name," senior Coty Hintz added. "It's not racist."

If the UND nickname needs to be changed, the students question whether other sports teams and schools need to make a change.

"With Notre Dame, you don't see Irish people getting upset," senior Matt Eriksen said about the Fighting Irish. He also pointed to the Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins.

The nickname is strong, and should be an honor, the students said.

"I've seen Native American people wearing shirts that say 'Fighting Sioux,'" senior Katherine Gloria said. "If you're against it, why wear the shirt?"

While the students think the logo should stay, it's not the determining factor in choosing a school.

"No I don't," consider the logo, junior Laura Jespersen said. "It's whatever they provide me."

(Compiled by reporters Jenny Michael, LeAnn Eckroth, Sara Kincaid and Brian Gehring.)