The now long-running battle over the University of North Dakota's nickname is continuing... the NCAA still says 'no-go' on the Fighting Sioux name but backers of a petition to restore the nickname have apparently won a round in this match as it's back- and potentially headed for the North Dakota State Constitution.
First of all, I think we need to point out the fundamental hypocrisy of the NCAA. If there can be the Fighting Illini of Illinois and the Seminoles of Florida State, then why not the Fighting Sioux of North Dakota? If the ban is in place because such mascots are deemed offensive and derogatory towards Native Americans (and it's easy to see how they could be) then, they're all racist and should ALL be banned or none of them should be. Either or. Apparently the NCAA's definition of racism is decided on a case-by-case basis which to me is just plain wrong. If these mascots are offensive and racist then they all are. You can't let FSU and Illinois have their mascots and not let North Dakota have theirs. It just doesn't make sense.
Second of all, I think there might be a couple of creative ways around this. First, drop the logo, but keep the name. (Illinois did this amidst some controversy.) Or you could keep the logo and misspell the name... I mean, the North Dakota Fighting Sue might get you some odd looks but you could always cite the Johnny Cash song... 'A Boy Named Sue' as precedent...
But whatever the outcome, good luck to North Dakota-- I'd imagine you'll get hosed somehow. You're a small school in an even smaller conference which means the NCAA will be in no mood to listen to you. Feel free to sue them to point out the incredible hyopcrisy in exercising this policy on a case by case basis-- either all these mascots are racist or none of them are. The NCAA needs to pick one.
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