Jasmine E

Mascots

If you attended a university or school and your mascot was a Native American or had a nickname deriving from a tribe, wouldn’t you be proud that that tribe represented your college? I think that conflict over a nickname or mascot is ridiculous. I can’t see names like Warriors, Savages, Red Skins, etc.  as offensive, and I certainly can’t see Arlee’s logo that way either. So long as the mascot and nickname are respectful. Schools should be proud and honored.  There are some students that believe it’s offensive and would like to change it but a majority of the students see it as a positive aspect, and I agree with them. The students attending UND liked the name and the mascot representing them.  Mascots shouldn’t be an issue.

“When the ‘Fighting Sioux’ lawsuit came about, I had never really thought one way or the other about the nickname- it was a nickname just as any other. But once people started making a big deal out of it, I became very defensive over the nickname. I am proud to be a ‘Fighting Sioux’, and I think the majority of the campus would agree with me in that the name should stay”, Gina Anderson, a UND senior. The students didn’t really see the name or logo as offensive. It is a name that should be kept with pride. Warriors are representing Arlee School and the students/athletes don’t see the name offensively. Students and staff haven’t thought twice about the mascot because being considered a Warrior gives the students a sense of pride when it comes to sports.

“If I were a native Sioux, I would be proud to have my tribe being represented as the mascot of a college who gets national attention. It states they are a tribe that is powerful and fights for their beliefs – not that they are vicious and such. I think they should look at it as more of an honor that a great school such as UND would choose to have their name to represent them as an institution. As long as it’s used in a respectful manner, I think the name should be allowed to be kept,” Stephanie Franzen, and NDSU environmental design senior.  The mascots Warriors/Scarlet’s are focusing on bravery, courage, and leadership. It is representing Arlee School positively, the students are happy with it.

“I am outraged that the Sioux tribes do not feel honored to have one of the nation’s best hockey teams, not to mention the one of the best hockey facilities, named in its honor! To see the ‘Fighting Sioux’ name go would be the end of a legacy and would result in the waste of one of the greatest facilities around,” law student, Melissa Leathers. If they were to change the name ‘Fighting Sioux’, then the Ralph Engelstad Arena will no longer be able to be used by the students. Ralph Engelstad, a hockey player from UND donated 100 million to construct the arena. It is known as the “finest facility of its kind in the world”. He made an agreement with UND, that if the name was kept then the arena shall be used by the faculty and students. In the United States there has been controversy whether mascots should be changed, and it financially impacts them. Universities and colleges around the country make a lot of money selling t-shirts, mugs, etc. with their logo and name. If they were to change it they would be losing money.

With a nickname and mascot as a Native American, you should be proud that your tribe is being represented. The nickname and logo should be kept as long as it is respected and not made fun of.

Arwan, Robert. Ninth Edition America Now Short Readings from Recent Periodicals. 9th ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 58-61.