http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/12796092.htm

Posted on Sun, Oct. 02, 2005

COLLEGE NICKNAMES: A lack of support

UND fails to receive nickname endorsement by tribes, while many other
colleges succeed

By Ryan Bakken

Herald Staff Writer

At Florida State University, a white student, wearing war paint and dressed
as a Seminole Indian, rides a horse onto the football field and throws a
flaming spear into the ground.

UND officials shudder at the thought of allowing something similar. But, at
Florida State, the tradition of Chief Osceola is seen by the tribe as a
tribute, not a sign of disrespect.

"The school has checked with us, over and over again," said Jim Shore,
legal counsel for the Seminole Tribe of Florida. "And we have no objections
to how he's portrayed. It's always respectful."

The tribe has supported FSU's use of the Seminoles nickname since 1947. The
NCAA cited that "special relationship" between FSU and the Seminoles as its
reason for removing the school from its list of schools to be punished for
having American Indian nicknames.

The Utah Utes and Central Michigan Chippewas are the other universities
removed because of the approvals of tribal governments. UND has not
received a similar endorsement in 2005, prompting the NCAA on Wednesday to
reject its appeal.

So, why hasn't UND been able to cultivate a similar understanding with
American Indians, most notably Sioux tribes? What have these three
universities done to gain acceptance that UND has not?

A look at the other three universities shows that UND has reached to
American Indians, doing even more in at least one case. But its failing
seems to be a lack of the ongoing, scheduled dialogue with tribal leaders
that the other universities have.

CMU: Communication

Rich Morrison, vice-president for university relations at Central Michigan,
said he meets with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan leaders
quarterly. And he talks with the tribe's public relations spokesman at
least weekly.

It's important to keep that regular contact because tribal council members
are elected every two years.

"There can be significant turnover," he said. "It takes a while to build a
relationship and mutual trust. When a transfer of power happens, sometimes
you have to start from scratch.

"I've been here only four years, but I'm told the relationship is stronger
in the last decade than it's ever been."

Making that communication easier is that the reservation and college are
separated by only three miles.

The athletic department's coaches and players work with American Indian
youth on their sports skills, with their main message being to stay in
school. Athletes also are required to attend lectures or tour the
reservation's new cultural center to learn about the tribe's heritage. The
university accepts credits from the tribal college and its health
professionals work with the tribe's wellness center. It's also a sponsor
for the annual Michigan Story Festival, a popular and high-visibility event
that "puts a positive light on the tribe," Morrison said.

All American Indians in Michigan receive free tuition at the state's 15
public universities, creating more goodwill.

Central Michigan responded to some complaints by not having an Indian logo
or mascot. Utah also has neither, as its mascot is a red-tailed hawk and
its logo is a drum and a feather. Like UND, FSU has an Indian head logo but
no mascot. Chief Osceola is not considered its mascot.

But, despite changes made over the years, Morrison thinks the key to the
endorsement is continuous conversation.

"I don't know if the nickname was ever in peril here, but the relationship
was somewhat dormant before our new president (Mike Rao) energized things,"
Morrison said.

"There has to be something in it for both sides. It has to be win-win."

Utah: Many programs

It helps that the state also is named after the Utes, said Fred Esplin,
vice-president for university relations. But a steady stream of changes,
all done in consultation with the tribe, is the key to being able to keep
the nickname.

"If we didn't have their endorsement, we wouldn't use it," he said.

Once a year, Esplin and the college president meets with the tribe at the
reservation. More often than that, tribal officials come to the campus for
meetings. And he has regular visits with the tribe's director of education.

"You want to feel good about your relationship and you want to get ideas on
ways to make things better," Esplin said. "We genuinely have tried to
generate a level of trust to make sure they feel we're honoring the name
they've entrusted with us."

The university built the American West Center, an academic center that
works with the tribes and Indian students on a variety of levels. A special
emphasis has been placed on preserving the language and preserving oral
histories. It's also working with the tribe to create its own archive.

Law professors have helped the reservation with treaties and water rights
issues and professors have written five history textbooks that are used in
reservation schools. The streets in a research park have the names of
famous Utes.

Also available are a American Indian curriculum and research projects
involving the school of medicine. For academic offerings and services for
Natives, Utah and UND are similar in many ways. But Utah's 182 Indian
students are less than half of UND's 400-plus.

FSU: Tradition

When the Tribal Council of the Seminole Tribe of Florida unanimously passed
a resolution in support of the Seminole name, it said that it "has not
opposed and, in fact, supports its continued use."

"The relationship is probably the best it has ever been," said Browning
Brooks, director of media relations. "We've always had a good dialogue with
the tribe They have made us aware of what they approve of and we listened
and changed those things."

However, Florida State hasn't been asked to make as dramatic changes as
most institutions with Indian nicknames, such as Utah dropping the "Running
Redskins."

One reason may be because Seminole means "unconquered," and the tribe takes
great pride in being the only tribe not to enter into a treaty agreement
with the United States government. "So they feel the name is something to
admire and respect," Browning said.

In contrast, "Sioux" translates to "snake."

The acceptance is not because, as is widely rumored, FSU gives the tribe
money. "There is no contract and no money," Brooks said. "Absolutely not
one dime."

The tribe allows FSU to use its images in more ways than Chief Osceola. A
Seminole princess crowns the homecoming chief and princess, using
headdresses and other regalia designed by the tribe. Chief Osceola's
costume also is made with tribe approval.

FSU pays 80 percent of the tuition for all Seminole students. But only 14
Seminoles have ever attended FSU, seven of them currently.

FSU said it has plans to build a museum and recreational area in honor of
the Seminoles. But it doesn't have a fraction of the academic offerings and
services for American Indians available at Utah, Central Michigan or UND.

What it does have, though, is probably the strongest tribal support.

"We're stronger than ever because we've been working on it and they have
been, too," Browning said.

Attempts to reach tribal leaders in connection with all three universities
were unsuccessful.
Bakken reports on local news and writes a column. Reach him at 780-1125,
(800) 477-6572, ext. 125; or rbakken@....