Shaft Hopes Fighting Sioux Nickname, Logo Debate Over

The pro-nickname group Committee for Understanding and Respect plans to continue to collect signatures on petitions for another initiated measure that would put the Fighting Sioux nickname in the state constitution.

 

 

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The pro-nickname Committee for Understanding and Respect plans to continue to collect signatures on petitions for another initiated measure that would put the Fighting Sioux nickname in the state constitution.

Grant Shaft, the outgoing president of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education, says it's his hope the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo debate is over.

"We respect the initiated measure process, it’s unique and it’s a great thing in North Dakota," said Shaft. "In this instance, I hope that they choose not to go forward. I think that Tuesday's vote was pretty definitive in that respect. Even when you break it down to the counties that encompass the tribal communities, the vote was pretty definitive. I don't know if there's much to gain from the initiated measure, but there certainly is a lot to lose for the University of North Dakota."

Voters on Tuesday overwhelming decided to scrap the requirement that UND use the nickname and logo. On Thursday, the Board of Higher Education told UND to resume retirement of the name and moniker that the NCAA deemed hostile and abusive.

Pro-nickname supporters say they are undecided whether to file signatures this August to get it on the November ballot or delay filing for a 2014 vote.

(KFGO file photo)

 

Don Haney

   

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