BISMARCK - The NCAA soon will rule in favor of the University of North Dakota using its Fighting Sioux nickname and logo despite resolutions of opposition from tribes in North and South Dakota, an outspoken advocate for changing them said Wednesday.
Leigh Jeanotte, the Director of American Indian Student Services, told a crowd of about 60 at the North Dakota Tribal Leaders and Tribal Councils Summit that the decision would only be a matter of time.
Seven Sioux tribes from the two states have resolutions opposing UND's use of the nickname and logo.
The NCAA recently granted Florida State University, Central Michigan University and the University of Utah the right to keep their American Indian nicknames after the schools received support from local tribes.
However, Jeanotte said UND's appeal to the NCAA is "full of half truths."
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"The report praises the (American Indian) programs," he said. "But it doesn't say that the majority of the programs reject the use of the logo."
According to Jeanotte, 21 of UND's 30 American Indian programs are in favor of a name change.
Peter Johnson, media relations coordinator at UND, said the university has asked the NCAA to respond quickly to their appeal.
"We are hopeful, based on what happened with Florida State, Utah and Central Michigan," he said. "The issue here has a lot to do with how the NCAA characterized the use of hostile and abusive logos.
"We do not believe it is abusive and hostile."
Angie LaRocque, a 2004 graduate of UND, disagrees.
LaRocque conducted a study during her senior year to research UND student's feelings on the nickname and logo.
Her subjects, 33 American Indian students and 33 non-American Indian students, looked at slides featuring neutral images and controversial American Indian images. Many of the controversial images were things that could be seen around the UND campus.
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The results were disheartening, LaRocque said.
"Participants left my study depressed and angry, with no self esteem and no positive attitude," she said. "We shouldn't have to go to a place of higher education and face these issues."
LaRocque said she will send the results to the NCAA, UND President Charles Kupchella and the state Board of Higher Education.
United Tribes Technical College President David Gipp sent a letter Monday to NCAA President Miles Brand opposing UND's nickname and logo.
The letter says "because of the nickname issue, Native American students at UND who work and who participate in these programs often have to run a gauntlet of racial stereotyping and tension while studying and working there."
Gipp's letter continues, "I strongly urge the NCAA to keep its ban of the use of the "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo in NCAA sanctioned tournaments."
"It's not anti-UND," said Jesse Taken Alive, a tribal council member of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. "We must defend ourselves, we must defend our character."
Taken Alive said Kupchella was invited to join Wednesday's discussion but declined.
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Kupchella is scheduled to speak at the summit about the higher education needs of tribal nations today.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562
