Kupchella sets a new name plan

UND president stands by pledge to Sioux tribes

By Michael Benedict
Herald Staff Writer

UND President Charles Kupchella is asking for help in a process that could lead to a lasting decision on the future of the university's Fighting Sioux nickname.

Kupchella spoke to the University Senate on Thursdsay after it overwhelmingly voted to ask the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education to retract its recent "unjust" decision to keep the name.

His plan would set a time period, possibly one year, to gain approval to use the name from the three tribal governments considered Sioux in North Dakota.

"I said in this room a year ago, 'You can't take the name of a people and use it without their permission,'" Kupchella told the Senate, a governing body made up of UND faculty, administrators and students.

"You can't do that," he said. "I still stand by it."

The board's Dec. 21 action preempted Kupchella, who was set to make a decision on the future of the name in early January. The Senate members feel the board was unjust because it interfered "with a pending deliberative campus process."

In light of the board's decision, Kupchella said people can now roll into a "fetal" position and do nothing, or try to accomplish something "positive."

At least, two members of the higher education board also believe some entity, or UND president will have to change the name eventually, he said.

Kupchella said he will make a "commitment," with the support of the Senate, to drop the use of the Sioux name if after the set time period, tribal leaders still object to the use of the name.

He's uncertain if all three -- Standing Rock, Sisseton-Wahpeton and Spirit Lake -- would have to object. He may decide to keep it if two give their approval.

It's also uncertain if the board would let Kupchella make a lasting decision to keep or change it.

The president asked the Senate to help give him the standing to make the decision.

Board member Richard Kunkel is a former superintendent of schools.

"I know if I made a decision like that, the board always had the authority to override my decision," he said. "I'm not certain. I'm only one member."

Programs

Kupchella asked for help in implementing new American Indian education programs also discussed in recent meetings.

These programs would make UND the leading Indian education university in the country and require major commitments of time and money.

It could lead to the construction of a large American Indian Center, which could house the programs and museum-type material.

UND already is a leading institution in Native American education, but, Kupchella said, it needs to do more. This would include trying to eliminate negative behavior shown to Native American students on campus over the last 30 years.

Cultural awareness and history classes, may help to eliminate negative behavior and simple "bad manners," Kupchella and others have said.

During the Senate meeting, Kupchella spoke about the Spirit Lake Tribal Council, which asked him to delay any decision for six months to enact such programs.

"I think what they're saying is you can do something about the bad manners," Kupchella said.

The tribal governments don't always know the good things that happen at UND, he said. Kupchella said it's time to show them.

"Give us an opportunity to work to create some kind of awareness dealing with some of the impacts this name has had," he said. "If in the end, the tribal councils say we're not satisfied, we would do it (drop the name.)"

Senate action

The Senate's resolution wasn't included in its official agenda, which is similar to the board's sudden decision to keep the name.

"We just did precisely what the board did without providing notice to the public," said Randy Lee, chairman of the Senate. "I'm certain we will hear something from a certain aspect in the city of Grand Forks."

The meeting was attended by 55 of the Senate's 74 members. The members were asked if they supported the resolution. One said no. A handful abstained and the remainder said yes.

An official tally wasn't available after the meeting.