Congressional delegation weighs in on NCAA appeal matter

Showing solidarity with UND, North Dakota’s three members of Congress have expressed their unhappiness with the Fighting Sioux’s treatment by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, all Democrats, disagree with an NCAA review committee’s decision Sept. 27 to keep UND on a list of schools deserving postseason sanctions for use of “hostile and abusive” nicknames. The committee rejected UND’s appeal.

“NCAA is wrong on this matter,” Dorgan told the Herald on Monday.

Conrad said NCAA has “gone too far,” while Pomeroy expressed hoped the issue could be resolved in a way that is acceptable to all.

Pomeroy, Dorgan and Conrad were unanimous in saying the Fighting Sioux logo was a matter of pride and respect to an American Indian community and not otherwise.

“I believe the Fighting Sioux logo is in no way derogatory or insulting,” Conrad said in a statement. “It presents a proud image.”

However, he felt state leaders might have provided more help to UND in the matter. “It’s unfortunate,” Conrad said, “the state has not managed to resolve this with the NCAA as other states have done.”

Shrinking list

So far, the NCAA has dropped Florida State University, Central Michigan University and the University of Utah from the original list of 18 schools barred in August from using Indian mascots, logos and nicknames in postseason tournaments. All three schools had appealed the decision.

The governors of those states criticized the NCAA’s decision publicly. Gov. Jeb Bush said Florida legislation to protect Florida State’s use of Seminole imagery would be all but certain if the NCAA didn’t reverse its decision.

Shortly after the August announcement, North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, a Republican, told the Herald editorial board – in comments printed in the paper – the NCAA’s actions were “a big-time overreach.” Hoeven said he would not be surprised to see the matter end up in the courts.

Dedicated programs

Pomeroy, a UND alumnus, said UND is a leader nationally in creating dedicated programs “for higher education achievement for Native Americans.”

“During my years on campus and since, I have always thought both the Sioux nickname and logo have been treated respectfully by the university,” said Pomeroy, a UND alumnus.

Dorgan supported UND President Charles Kupchella, saying he and the university have tried to put together a good case defending the nickname and logo use, he said.

Referring also to the various UND programs provided specifically to American Indian students, Dorgan said the school had never shown any disrespect to them.