The many loyal University of North Dakota alumni, students and supporters would not have predicted the situation for the Fighting Sioux logo.

UND was established in 1883 with pride in affordable education and established strong traditions. Until 1930, UND was referred to as the Flickertails. Our name has been Sioux for 76 years. This name was chosen with careful deliberation. It was meant to honor our North Dakota heritage and the proud Sioux Indians. The present logo was designed by an American Indian from Belcourt.

American Indian tribal chairmen and college faculty come and go. The actions of Ron His Horse Is Thunder, David Gipp and some UND faculty members have been detrimental. Do they really represent the Sioux nation? Yet, the damage has been done.

Perhaps a fair solution is to remove the American Indian programs and faculty from UND. They could easily be transferred to United Tribes Technical College or Sitting Bull College or Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas.

UND will survive, a reminder of the undefeatable Sioux Indian spirit. There will be a backlash from the silent majority. A watchful eye will be kept on additional funding for tribal colleges.

We are UND alums. Ralph Engelstad was our stepbrother. He was a private and generous man. He did not pander to the current trend of political correctness.