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The University of North Dakota
introduces the Fighting Hawks as
their new nickname. Photo: Richard Larson |UND. |
The University of North Dakota
has officially adopted a new nickname, the “Fighting Hawks.” This came after several
rounds of voting an a number of legal hurdles. The school used to be known
as the “Fighting Sioux” but was forced to change their name.
In 2005, the NCAA adopted a new
policy, which banned names and images deemed offensive by Native American
groups, something that the NFL is still having difficulty reconciling. The
university struggled with this as well, and only agreed to change their name
and logo in 2007 after facing sanctions from the NCAA, such as not being
allowed to host athletic competitions.
They agreed to retire the name
if they could not get two tribes to approve of it, which they failed to do. One
tribe did approve of the name, but the other never voted on it, and so the name
had to go. However, in a truly spiteful and insensitive abuse of power, the
state legislature approved a law in 2011, which required the school to keep the
name and logo. Which, of course, would have invoked the wrath of the NCAA and
hurt the school, perhaps irreparably.
However, that ridiculous law
was repealed in a special session, which makes sense because it doesn’t even
sound legal or constitutional in the first place. The name and logo were
officially retired in 2012, and it apparently took all this time to come up
with the “Fighting Hawks.”
In the last round of voting,
27,378 votes were cast by basically everyone who would care: current and past
students, faculty, and staff, as well as donors and season ticket holders. In
the meantime, the school didn’t have a nickname.
All in all, it’s good that they
settled on a name and logo that aren’t steeped in racism and genocide, that’s a
step in the right direction, and one that likely a number of schools are
choosing, or being forced to make. If only the NFL could do the same.
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