North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
|
North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
|
Click PayPal link for direct credit card contribution or PayPal payment options. (No PayPal account necessary!)
Interested in Receiving NDHRC Email Newsletter? |
Letter to the Editor, Forum (Fargo), Regarding UND Sioux NicknameThe FORUM Op-Ed PageNovember 22, 2002
Dear Mr. Zaleski:
The Forum should correct a misconception in the Forum editorial dated November 20, 2002 regarding the possible discontinuance by North Dakota State University of the use of the University of North Dakota Sioux nickname. The Forum stated in its editorial that “UND decided months ago to keep its nickname and logo.” This is not correct. As documented in Forum news articles in late 2000 and early 2001, UND did not decide to keep its nickname and logo. The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education dictated the continued use of the nickname and logo after a threat in December, 2000 by Ralph Engelstad to withdraw his $100 million donation for the Engelstad arena at UND. The State Board of Higher Education over-rode the process that UND was using to address the question of the continued use of the nickname and logo by making the decision itself that the nickname and logo would continue to be used, in a meeting at which the State Board of Higher Education did not reveal Engelstad’s threat to withdraw the $100 million donation. While Terry Devine’s editorial on November 20, 2002 considers the question of the continued use of the nickname and logo “political correctness run amok”, he recognized in an opinion article on January 21, 2001 that Engelstad’s threat meant that “money talks.” Terry Devine stated that Engelstad was UND’s “sugar daddy” and that “… it would be nice if someone would simply stand up and admit that UND cannot turn down the kind of money that Engelstad is offering.” Likewise, contrary to the letter to the editor on November 20, 2002, there was no consensus developed at UND to keep the nickname and logo.
This is a human rights issue. Human rights are those basic standards without which people cannot live in dignity. This includes the right of Native Americans to attend UND sporting events without being subject to derogatory T-shirts and chants which are a direct result of the continued use of the UND nickname and logo. And, quite frankly, it also includes those of us who are not Native American and who deserve to attend sporting events without squirming in our seats while hearing the derogatory chants and observing the T-shirts.
The Forum editorial on November 20, 2002 states that the “Sioux suck” chant is offensive because of “suck”, not because of “Sioux” (however, the Forum printed an editorial cartoon beside that editorial which uses “suck” in the cartoon). I beg to differ with the editorial interpretation of the offensiveness of the chant. The chant is offensive to Native Americans (and to the rest of us) because of the combination of words; while “suck” is offensive, the juxtaposition of “suck” with “Sioux” makes it doubly offensive.
There is a long, intense rivalry between UND and NDSU. Trying to remove the chant by removing the offenders, the proposal of the Forum editorial, is not the solution. The solution, for NDSU at least, is to discontinue the use of the nickname and provide the respect to the Native American nation that it deserves, and honor the dignity of those who count themselves as members of that nation. This is not a new idea. Six other regional universities have done so, including the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. NDSU should do so, also. Contrary to the Forum editorial, NDSU is not injecting itself into the UND logo debate; it is simply recognizing how its use of the nickname is perpetuating the violation of the human rights of its students and sporting event attendees.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Bergian Director NDHRC |
North Dakota Human Rights Coalition P.O. Box 1961 Fargo, North Dakota 58107-1961 Phone: (701) 239-9323 Fax: (701) 478-4452 Email: humanrights@ndhrc.org
|
