One of the definitions of stupidity is making the same mistake over and over again. That characterization fits a shrinking, but noisy, cabal of North Dakotans who won't accept the reality that the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux logo is history. Aided and abetted by a few obtuse bloggers, opportunistic politicians and less-than-thoughtful radio talk-show hosts, logo supporters seem not to care about the damage they are visiting on the university and the state.
The latest wrinkle is a Johnny-come-lately letter from an ad hoc group on the Spirit Lake Reservation near Devils Lake to the commissioner of the Big Sky Conference. The letter purports to represent the sentiments of the Sioux tribe in favor of keeping the logo. There is no convincing evidence, however, that the self-styled group is representative of anything but itself.
Nonetheless, the letter was an opportunity for conference commissioner Doug Fullerton to restate the conference position regarding retirement of the logo. Without addressing merits of the in-state logo argument, Fullerton said the ongoing dispute threatens UND's status with the conference and the NCAA. The NCAA said a few weeks ago that its decision the logo must go has not changed and will not change. The conference, responding to the NCAA and to several schools that said they won't play UND teams if the logo is retained, said the Grand Forks school will become "of less use to the Big Sky Conference" if UND becomes "marginalized" by the logo issue.
Does it get any clearer? Can anyone with a measure of common sense not see the damage the logo has already caused for the university? What does it take for logo supporters to understand the potential for more damage if they continue their quixotic campaign?
It's quite simple. If UND wants to be a serious Division I sports school, it must play by the established rules of the NCAA and athletic conferences. The rules regarding the use of American Indian mascots and logos are nothing new in collegiate sports. Thinking people have known for a long time that UND would have to conform. If not, UND can go it alone. And alone it would be because few (if any) universities would schedule UND teams.
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Let's cut out the nonsense. Instead of risking marginalizing the university, let's marginalize the panderers who are more interested in their own agendas than in the future of a great university.
