PCM Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 UND has filed its appeal to the NCAA on the American Indian mascot, logo and imagery policy. Read it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 Contact: Peter Johnson, UND Media Relations, (701) 777-4317 Don Kojich, Executive Associate Vice President for University Relations, (701) 777-4426 The University's appeal and attachments can be found at www.universityrelations.UND.edu/logoappeal. UND Sends Appeal To NCAA The University of North Dakota today [Tuesday, Aug. 30] sent its appeal to the NCAA Executive Committee, which lumped UND into a group of 18 universities and colleges that would no longer be allowed to use its team name and logo in post-season tournament play. President Charles Kupchella said the appeal is framed around three basic arguments * The nickname and logo are used with the utmost respect and class and are in no way inherently hostile or abusive. * UND has many substantive positive relationships with American Indians and the University has had -- and continues to have -- the support, including the formal support, of many Indian people. * The University believes it is "totally unreasonable for the NCAA to ask us to change the terms of a contract in place whereby we would host the regional Division I men's hockey tournament in the spring." Kupchella said he expects a "quick and positive" decision from the NCAA. "We have articulated a strong case for an appeal that will entirely refute any sense that we somehow use our nickname and logo in an abusive and-or hostile manner. In fact, just the opposite is true. We use the nickname and logo with consummate respect. Our logo is a classical image of an 18th and 19th century American Indian, and it was designed by a well-respected American Indian artist, Bennett Brien. Based on the subcommittee's action in overturning the decision for Florida State University, I expect that we'll have a favorable decision," Kupchella said. The University's relationship with the American Indian people is far more substantive and fundamental than the use of a nickname, Kupchella said. He said UND enrolls more than 400 American Indian students and has more than 25 programs - "probably proportionately more than any institution of higher education in the United States" - designed to support American Indian students. Over the years, UND has had dozens of cooperative programs in the fields of education, health care, economic development, etc. with the tribes throughout our region, he added. Kupchella said the contract between UND and the NCAA where UND will host a hockey tournament in March is another issue in the University's appeal. Requiring UND to significantly change of the venue would be a violation of the contract, said Kupchella. In the appeal, Kupchella wrote: "We certainly have no intention, in any case, of covering images at the site of the regional ice hockey tournament. To do so would imply that we are somehow ashamed of an 80-year history of one of the nation's most successful athletic programs and of our link to the proud heritage of this region." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 It will be interesting to see how this plays out and exactly how long it will take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 It will be interesting to see how this plays out and exactly how long it will take. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> To my knowledge, no other schools have formally filed appeals. I don't see why UND shouldn't get a quick decision. Then again, this is the NCAA, so who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoHawks! Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I wonder what will happen. That appeal really hits all of the issues. I don't know how the NCAA could not take UND off the list after reading it. I hope they announce their decision soon and we can get back to not worrying about this issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoteauRinkRat Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 To my knowledge, no other schools have formally filed appeals. I don't see why UND shouldn't get a quick decision. Then again, this is the NCAA, so who knows? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I agree, but like you said this is the NCAA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UND83 Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 What's your take on the hockey tournament part of the appeal. I hope not too much emphasis was placed on the March 2006 Tournament. I could see the NCAA say "ok, we had a contract with you, we will honor that" but your appeal to keep the name past that time is denied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigGreyAnt41 Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 It seems to touch all the points that are necessary, like somebody else said. My only complaint would be that the word "probably" is used in places where it shouldn't. When discussing discrimination due to race, he says "but also probably illegal." And when he mentioned there are 400 American Indian students, he says "probably proportionately more than any institution of higher education in the United States." These things should have been further researched. Get a lawyer to find out if it truly is illegal and find out if it is the highest proportion or maybe just "nearly" the highest, proportionately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottM Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I tend to like the appeal. It builds a strong case, addresses some of the current discussions/disagreements regarding the use of Indian names/logos and puts the NC$$ into a nice, neat box over the use of the FSU mascot. I'm especially pleased that, unlike FSU, UND did not hang its hat on the support of any tribe or band. I also like the fact that they pushed the point that "Indian names" prevade the nation in various ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightonsioux Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I also like that they didn't mention support from tribes, but instead Indian people. I understand the Spirit Lake tribe will be drafting a resolution tonight saying they no longer support the nickname. I guess they can only take so much bullying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottM Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I understand the Spirit Lake tribe will be drafting a resolution tonight saying they no longer support the nickname. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Similar to the element of the appeal that addressed the whims and fancies of various administrations, and how the name should not rest of their "approval". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goon Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I also like that they didn't mention support from tribes, but instead Indian people. I understand the Spirit Lake tribe will be drafting a resolution tonight saying they no longer support the nickname. I guess they can only take so much bullying. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Is this true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 Is this true? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've been told that the news coming from the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribal Council won't be good for UND. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sicatoka Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Reading UND's appeal they've sent some not-so-subtle messages of what would come after this. Since the policy includes references to Indians but not to Vikings or Irish, it discriminates on the basis of race, which is not only wrong but also probably illegal.Who is empowered to grant or deny the use of words in the public domain? Who controls the use of Irish, Scandinavians (Vikings), Mountaineers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diggler Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 What happened that caused the support to be lost? Simple as new leaders being elected? Even if the news is bad from Spirit Lake, UND will still be granted an exemption. Their appeal pokes all sorts of holes in the NCAA ruling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCM Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 What happened that caused the support to be lost? Simple as new leaders being elected?<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Political pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HockeyMom Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I've been told that the news coming from the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribal Council won't be good for UND. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's too bad, they definately have more important things to be concerned about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airmail Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 The possible Spirit lake Tribe reversal is not good, but I haven't really let this bother me too much. After all, the NCAA CANNOT make UND change the name. They can only have us cover up logos, wear different jerseys and the like. It stinks, but I can put up with it... maybe even donate an extra c-note for playoff jerseys. No matter what, UND will remain the home of the Fighting Sioux, end of story. If the NCAA doesn't grant an exemption, I can't wait for UND to sue their a$$es. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diggler Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 It would really stink if the football/basketball team wasn't allowed to host playoff games though. Would UND be allowed to host the NCC tournament/WCHA first round if they don't get an exemption? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mksioux Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I understand the Spirit Lake tribe will be drafting a resolution tonight saying they no longer support the nickname. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I personally don't think nationalities or ethnicities should be able to exclusively control their images, words, etc. However, what I think is undoubtedly much different than what the NCAA decionmakers think, who have said that tribe approval is going to be the primary factor in the appeal. The support of at least one tribe could have, at least, given the NCAA something to hang it's hat on if it were inclined to take UND off the list for other reasons. If there are no tribes left supporting the name, then I just can't envision the NCAA granting the appeal. I think many of you are giving the NCAA too much credit. Just because their decision looks foolish to most people and just because we see all sorts of holes in it, does not mean the NCAA executive committee sees it the same way. I have little doubt that most of the people on the committee have waived bye-bye to reality and common sense a long time ago. In their insulated world on college campuses amongst university administrators and professors, their decision did not go far enough. As I've continued to say, the NCAA will have no problem with the readily apparent hypocricy of giving FSU, Utah, and Central Michigan a pass, while denying UND's appeal. While defending attacks from both sides, they will simply pass responsibility to the namesake tribes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mksioux Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 It would really stink if the football/basketball team wasn't allowed to host playoff games though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diggler Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I agree. I'd certainly rather UND drop the name then have the football/basketball/etc. teams have to suffer because of this silly ruling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdahl Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 It would really stink if the football/basketball team wasn't allowed to host playoff games though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willistonsioux Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I think the ncaa really screwed up on this they make this huge thing about logo's and you know every big div 1a collage will get by but these smaller collages they sit there and drag it on for weeks or years when they dident evan do good job saying why they dont want the logo's and how the fighting irash dident get in the list they dident evan ask any native american people im guessing if there offended i know i spelt my name wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mksioux Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 IF UND doesn't win a reversal and subsequently loses a few football road playoff games that would have been at home, I'd expect to sentiment around keeping the name start to change. I would certainly question whether the potential was worth it well before the scenario came about. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This is exactly what the NCAA intended. I hope the sentiment doesn't change unless and untill all remedies are completely exhausted, including administrative, legal, and political. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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