Media Stories on the Sioux Name

[The Sicatoka]

Nick Coleman = Don Quixote, and he needs to find a new windmill.

[fightonsioux]

"This is why the business that I work at has a daily subscription to the Fargo Forum (including weekends, even when we are closed on weekends) and refuses to get a subscription to the herald."

Apparently you have forgotten that every editorial and column the Forum writes says to change the name - especially McFeeley.

I suppose you didn't see the story in the Herald the other day about the U.S. Mint that will be putting out a new gold coin. It has bison on one side and guess what is on the other side - that's right - and Indian. I wonder if the U.S. Mint realize they are hostile and abusive

[A.B.T.G.]

Nick Coleman can be e-mailed at ncoleman@startribune.com

[yekcoh]

I am offended by both Nick Coleman and Mike McFeely, but my being offended does not stop them from writing. Hmmm.

[ScottM]

The university used to call its teams "Flickertails," but that name never attracted interest from Las Vegas casino owners who collected Nazi memorabilia and brought out cakes with Swastika icing to observe the birthday of Adolf Hitler.

The casino guy was Ralph Engelstad, and it was his tainted $100 million that built UND's hockey rink.

No, idiot boy, the Sioux name/logo were in place well before Ralph attended UND, and later made his fortune. But don't let facts get in the way of a good cry.

By any measure, the Fighting Sioux name is one of the most offensive nicknames in the country.

Ah, another proud graduate of the Myles Brand Institute of Anally Derived Statistics. Apparently, if the decaf latte set is upset, the rest of the world should follow suit.

It is a move that will bring nothing but embarrassment upon UND and is so dubious as a legal strategy that the state attorney general advised that public money not be used.

Wrong again, dummy. Anybody worth their legal stones knows you don't pull a trigger unless you have a good chance of success. Private funds are used to avoid using public funds, which horror of horrors, may be used to fund programs for American Indians.

Instead, the cost will be paid by private donors whose passions have been inflamed by the NCAA's feeble efforts to get UND to grow up.

I wouldn't call defaming a public institution "feeble". Nor do I see any reason for UND to "grow" into a pathetic place like Marquette.

One that is ruining the reputation of a public university. And taking it over a cliff.

Well, it's better than taking it in the a$$, like you seem to want.

[7NationalTitles]

I don't like Nick Coleman and there are many reasons I despise him.

But one thing I found interesting stood out to me in his article. Did anyone else notice that Nick Coleman had a reference to Brokeback Mountain? I'm wondering the symbolism of that but I think we all know why he invoked the movie into his article.....there must be a particular reason, of all the movies ever made, to throw a reference from that one in it.

My wife happened to have on TV the other day and a commercial came on for a movie that I think Nick would have referenced if he had seen the movie..........it was called A Girl Like Me.....a young boy's/man's struggle to live the life of a woman he always wanted. Perhaps that is the type of intervention that Ms. Coleman needs to experience.

Sorry but Nick needs to get off his liberal soapbox and realize that UND will never be as liberal (thank god) as the U of M.

[siouxforeverbaby]

Though you notice that he couldn't even say who played the character from Brokeback Mountain. As a newspaper man you would think that he could research a little and find at least that. I believe that it was Jake Gynheal(spelled wrong but you know who I mean) who said it.

[Siouxmama]

Notice at the end of the article is his email address. We should all send him a note on his pathetic article. It doesnt get any more 1 sided than that. I sent him a message, hope there are more of you out there that will do the same.

[Snake]

I wonder how Bennett Brien likes having the logo called a "caricature."

[WildSioux]

Notice at the end of the article is his email address. We should all send him a note on his pathetic article. It doesnt get any more 1 sided than that. I sent him a message, hope there are more of you out there that will do the same.

Already did that Siouxmama I asked him why he has to be so hardheaded in his ways of flawed logic. Anyone else notice that he failed to mention that Ralph Engelstad was a goalie for UND? How about him failing to mention that FSU was able to keep their name that is much more offensive than the Fighting Sioux? His arguments are flawed and his liberal bias shows. He along with all libs have a double standard

[LB#11]

I don't like Nick Coleman and there are many reasons I despise him.

But one thing I found interesting stood out to me in his article. Did anyone else notice that Nick Coleman had a reference to Brokeback Mountain? I'm wondering the symbolism of that but I think we all know why he invoked the movie into his article.....there must be a particular reason, of all the movies ever made, to throw a reference from that one in it.

My wife happened to have on TV the other day and a commercial came on for a movie that I think Nick would have referenced if he had seen the movie..........it was called A Girl Like Me.....a young boy's/man's struggle to live the life of a woman he always wanted. Perhaps that is the type of intervention that Ms. Coleman needs to experience.

Sorry but Nick needs to get off his liberal soapbox and realize that UND will never be as liberal (thank god) as the U of M.

Earlier today I posted on this thread, I probably went a little overboard & the administrator took the post off. Thank you 7NationalTitles for getting my message across. By the way, I don't agree with taking my post off, but I do understand your(administrator) position. It's too bad a dork like Nick Coleman has a forum like the Star Tribune to write his complete bias BS.

[Sioux-cia]

I wish that fellow members would quit with the 'liberal' finger pointing. I'm a bleeding heart liberal and so are many other SS.com members. As many of you know, there may be others who feel as strongly as I do about the name/logo and hostile/abusive issue but there aren't many who feel stronger. That goes for the other 'liberal' SS.com members.

This idiot journalist whiny, 'I need attention' staff person on the StarTrib, obviously knows enough about the NC$$'s edict to write a bunch of partially correct, mostly wrong, hate driven trash but not enough to address any facts. If he had written an article based on facts rather than character assassination, I would have respected his right to express them. Instead he writes drivel that isn't worth what it collects lining the bottom of a bird cage.

[cfm567b27]

Nick Coleman = Pickle Poker

[7NationalTitles]

I wrote Nick Coleman earlier today and he actually replied. But the funny thing of his reply was the hypocrisy in it when compared to what he said in his article today.....the Nazi references and imflammatory accusations leveled against UND and those associated with the pro-name cause. Funny, he did the exact opposite today in his article to what he now said.

Here it is for your amusement:

Nick Coleman to me

More options 12:02 pm (3

[The Sicatoka]

I invited Mr. Coleman to read Dr. Kupchella's most recent open letter. I hope he does it.

[sprig]

sounds like Mr. coleman has already shaved his butt and learned to walk backwards.

[sioux7>5]

I to just sent Mr. Idiot a email. I did pose one question to him. What happens when PETA digs into the NCAA and the Gophers have to change their name. Is he going to support that, since it is the right thing to do. This kind of babble just completely pisses me off.

That story have more holes then his head apparently.

I also told mr. coleman that he should visit The Ralph and see what a great facility it is before making a snap judgement.

[dagies]

I not only wrote to Coleman, but also the the Strib's Reader's Representative. Click on the "Reader's Representative" link just above the column for an email address:

http://www.startribune.com/161/story/284029.html

Edit: I received this rather quick response from the Reader's Representative. My letter first:

Mr. Coleman's column infuriated me in several ways.

1. This quote from his column is a blatant false misrepresentation. "Unfortunately, the "Fighting Sioux" name is popular with wealthy benefactors, some of whom would wear chicken feather headdresses and whoop it up at cocktail parties if they still could." I believe it is at the very least irresponsible and possibly more harmful than that. This sort of thing just doesn't happen. If Nick Coleman actually attended a Fighting Sioux event, sporting or otherwise, he would know this. Yet from his column apparently he can manufacture and throw out any sort of false accusation in an attempt to create any sort of false impression in the reader that he wants. The Star Tribune should take a very dim view of this tactic.

2. Coleman's misreprestation of the situation is clear if you read this letter by UND's President Charles Kupchella:

http://www.universityrelations.UND.edu/log...er_6-07-06.html

I believe Nick Coleman should read this letter.

3. Ralph Engelstad was a collector of WWII memorabellia, including Nazi memorabelia. He had an automobile collection that included one of Stalin's cars, as well as having had acquired General Patton's personal papers (he donated them to UND). These are two examples but he collected more than just that. This doesn't make Engelstad a Nazi, though Coleman tries to leave that impression with the reader. The FBI investigated Engelstad and found no evidence that he was a Nazi. But Coleman can make up whatever he wants, apparently. Again, I believe this is irresponsible at the very least, if not much worse.

I believe Nick Coleman should apologize for this column. And that apology should be in the very same space on the front page as this column was.

Thank you for you consideration.

Her response:

I've reviewed your concerns about the Coleman column. They strike me more as issues of opinion and commentary than of fact. He makes it clear in the first item that he's opining that the benefactors would wear chicken feathers "if they still could." To the second point, the UND president's letter gives his view of the situation, just as Coleman's column gives his. On the third point, Coleman doesn't say Ralph Engelstad is a Nazi. He writes that Engestad collects Nazi memorabilia * something you also noted. And, he says Englestad celebrated Hitler's birthday by serving cakes decorated with Swastikas. That description is based on reporting of that incident. Based on that, I don't plan to recommend a correction.

Kate Parry

Reader's Representative

[southpaw]

I wish that fellow members would quit with the 'liberal' finger pointing. I'm a bleeding heart liberal and so are many other SS.com members. As many of you know, there may be others who feel as strongly as I do about the name/logo and hostile/abusive issue but there aren't many who feel stronger. That goes for the other 'liberal' SS.com members.

i dont think any ss members are trying to throw all liberals in the same boat. obviously, there are big differences between those championing the "change the name" cause and a majority of liberals. however, the general notion of the right to not be offended is becoming more and more mainstream in the democratic party. many of the reasons people want the name dropped are used in other situations by liberals, so it is easy to see this as a democrat/republican issue (somewhat).

when UND alumni are standing on the fence because they don't want to lose votes, to me it becomes a political issue. i used to see it as a common sense vs radical debate, but that's not the case so much as elected officials are taking sides based on the opinions of who they were voted in by. obviously, pomeroy and others feel that there are enough democrats who support dropping the name or they would have taken a harder stance. i'd imagine they thought the number of votes they would gain by being pro-sioux is way less than the number of votes they might lose by being pro-sioux.

so if pomeroy and others see it as a political issue, try to not be offended if others see it the same way. (in any case, i'll try to refrain from attacks on bleeding heart liberals).

[Sioux-cia]

(in any case, i'll try to refrain from attacks on bleeding heart liberals).

Ok, thanks. I can take my kevlar vest off now.

[Sioux-cia]

Ecellent articles written by our own journalist in residence!!

http://www.uscho.com/news/id,12631/Charles...ameWarrior.html

http://www.uscho.com/news/id,12630/Intervi...meSolution.html

[dagies]

Great work, PCM.

[The Sicatoka]

Now, the interview with Kupchella, was that a transcription or a recap?

[MafiaMan]

Nick Coleman sure cares an awful lot about an issue in another state that's about a 4 hour drive from his home here in the Twin Cities. In turn, I wonder how he feels about the University of Iowa 'pink' visitor dressing room...or Barry Alvarez stepping down at Wisconsin...or whether Michigan should be expanding The Big House...or any other issue that's none of his business!!! What a complete moron.

[PCM]

Great work, PCM.

Thanks. And thanks to Sioux-cia for providing the links. But I am somewhat surprised that some of the comments made by Kupchella in the articles didn't trigger more discussion here. For example:

• It was Kupchella who initiated the Fighting Sioux logo in use today. Most people probably think Earl Strinden or Roger Thomas or Ralph Engelstad had more to do with it. But Kupchella said he was the one who took the initiative to have an updated design created, which explains why he was so taken aback by the reaction when the logo was unveiled. It might also be why he continues to defend the name and logo.
  
  
• Kupchella didn't think the name issue was a big deal in 1999 and, seven years later, he still doesn't think it should be a big deal. In fact, he said that he doesn't spend as much time on it as most people think. My impression was that he views it as an intellectual exercise that provides a good learning experience for students and faculty alike.
  
  
• The story peddled by the media the past five years about Kupchella wanting to do the right thing and change the name, only to be thwarted by the bullying Engelstad and the State Board of Higher Education, isn't accurate. Kupchella had no problem with the SBoHE decision to keep UND's nickname. He just wishes the board would have made the decision sooner. And although he and Ralph didn't always see eye-to-eye on everything, he says they got along fine.
  
  
• Discussions with the tribes regarding the name and logo are ongoing. Kupchella said the first objective is to continue to use the name and logo in a manner that's acceptable to everyone. If that doesn't work, they'll explore whether there's a way to modify the name and logo to make them acceptable to everyone. He also said: "We're not adamant about keeping this name for all eternity." He said that changing the architecture of the REA is not an option.
  
  
• Kupchella believes that most residents of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation support UND's use of the nickname and logo, even if the tribal council doesn't. He also said the Spirit Lake tribal council has refused to change or rescind its 2000 resolution giving UND conditional approval to use the Sioux name, despite heavy lobbying by the NCAA and others.
  

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