I'm going to go out on a limb here and be an Internet Board PSYCHIC!
The title of this campaign is more than just a name...I think it's a bridge to the future by the Alumni Association - let me explain...
--This is the largest capital campaign in UND History - undertaken before but also occuring during a major identity shift for UND - the changing of the Sioux nickname.
--By and large, and despite the nickname change, it has been HUGELY successful - so much so there will be MUCH to celebrate during homecoming week - again UND ALUMS are extremely generous!
--"IGNITE THE SPIRIT!" A great name - except UND has always had a great history of alum donations UNLESS there was some new reason to "Ignite" the spirit while a beloved nickname was being retired? It doesn't make sense...UNLESS!
The Alumni Association is trying to head off bad nickname feelings at the pass by sparking a new start with the largest infusion of donor capital in school history....IGNITE (spark) the SPIRIT!
ie...the new nickname that will be promoted out of all this will be...The NORTH DAKOTA SPIRIT!!!
(I said it first! It's like the Miami Heat and I HATE IT but it just seems to me like where this all is going....)
