SIOUX NICKNAME: NDSU to police offensive messages

By Michael Benedict
Herald Staff Writer

Expect no signs or banners hanging from the bleachers in the Bison Sports Arena when UND's basketball teams play North Dakota State University tonight and Saturday.

Security officers working at the games won't permit such signs, said Lynn Dorn, NDSU interim athletic director.

She said that in the past, some signs did contain derogatory comments about the Fighting Sioux, UND's nickname.

The intent of fans who placed the signs wasn't to degrade actual Sioux people, Dorn said, but only to tease their opponents.

Signs containing phrases such as "Sioux Suck" are, however, considered derogatory by Dakota, Lakota and Nakota people, who are more commonly referred to as Sioux. Other Native American people as well as non-Natives also consider such signs offensive.

These people want the UND nickname changed because of the behavior and remarks against the Sioux by opposing fans at athletic events, among other reasons.

"What we can do is recognize this is a very sensitive issue," she said. "That's the responsibility of an institution -- to educate our people."

Speech issue

She said NDSU can control the speech of people who represent university organizations -- athletes, cheerleaders, band members -- but it can't control the speech of fans.

As with past events, fans can wear shirts with derogatory messages printed on them this weekend. People have a constitutionally protected right of free speech, she said.

"We will not ask them to leave, but we certainly hope they will be (discreet) with their T-shirts," she said.

NDSU always increases its security presence when the Bison meet the Sioux in Fargo. But security officers will have an additional duty this weekend, she said.

Security officers and NDSU administrators will monitor the behavior of fans wearing clothing considered offensive.

Awareness

Erik Enno also will monitor the behavior of both NDSU and UND fans this weekend.

Enno is the president of the Grand Forks-based Committee for Cultural Understanding and Respect, which was formed recently to educate people about Native American customs.

The committee promotes cultural awareness and supports UND's use of its Fighting Sioux nickname.

Enno is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa. He's also part Sioux.

"I'm going to attend the games as a fan, and I'm going to pay attention to the behavior going on," he said. "We hope they can see why it's demeaning to Native Americans."

In Grand Forks, Enno's committee has sponsored events at which Native people perform dances and songs as a means of showing portions of their culture to others.

He said these events promote understanding and respect among cultures, and plans include taking the shows to NDSU and other institutions.

Code of conduct

Enno said he met Thursday with UND administrators, who are now researching the legality of prohibiting offensive speech at university athletic events.

"Much like we're trying to do with zero tolerance (at UND), that's something that should be done at NDSU," he said. "We have to come to a point when we establish a code of conduct for our teams."

He said people also need to police themselves and object when others are insensitive.

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