Gift causes confusion in logo debate
Painting purchased by Alumni Association not necessarily new logo
By Howie Padilla
Dakota Student Staff Writer

The idea that a new logo may be looming on the horizon for the University of North Dakota has made a painting which now sits in the president's office the most popular depiction seen by few people.

The painting, which is said to be a likeness of a Native American wearing symbolic colored face paints and feathers, was created by Ben Brien. According to Earl Strinden, executive vice president of UND's Alumni Association, Brien was commissioned by the association for the painting. Strinden said it was a result of conversations with a former tribal leader who had expressed concern that UND's current logo, a geometricized Indian head, didn't depict the characteristics of North Dakota's Sioux Nation.

"Some folks don't like the logo we have now," Strinden said. "I asked Ben Brien to come up with a painting that would give a meaning of pride, heritage, tradition and the strength of character deserving of the Native Americans."

Strinden also said that people should remember the issue of changing a logo is an entirely different issue than changing a team moniker. In other words, even if a logo change was made, UND's athletic teams would still be known as the Fighting Sioux.

Strinden said he commissioned Brien on his own, without the school's knowledge. He said the idea behind Brien's creation wasn't to have him develop a new logo for the Fighting Sioux.

He said Brien had worked on several sculptures the Alumni Association had given as gifts and continues to develop ideas for UND, one of which is a concept for a metal sculpture to be displayed in the lobby of the new Engelstad Arena hockey complex. Strinden said the painting was simply another in a history of Brien's creations for the Alumni Association.

"He was commissioned to make the painting and we gifted it to the University," Strinden said.

He said that what the University chooses to do with it is up to the administration, namely President Charles Kupchella and the athletic department. But because the painting had already been paid for by the Alumni Association and gifted to the University, UND owned the image and officials could do what they wanted with it, even if it meant making it the official logo of the University. "That is up to the University," he said. "I would like to see this as a logo, so would some of the tribal leaders. But that's not my decision to make. That would come from the University."

Strinden pointed to a letter Brien had included with the painting explaining aspects of his design.

The feathers, Strinden explained, were a symbol of the rewards students receive as a result of their accomplishments at UND. The color green, which is said to be displayed on the face of the image, is meant to stand for the development of young people at the University.

Strinden said that if University officials decided to change its logo to any image, they wouldn't need to seek approval from students, alumni or letterwinners in athletics.

"When President (Kendall) Baker changed from the Blackhawk logo he didn't need to seek the approval of anyone," he said. "He just basically called up the athletic department and said, 'We're going to do this.'"

He said a change in logo for UND would be no different than the change North Dakota State University's logo recently undertook.

Still, Chris Semrau, student body president, said he spent much of his day Wednesday fielding telephone calls and questions about the new image students and others had perceived to be UND's "new logo."

"There's a negative feeling among students," Semrau said. "They feel like they were blind-sided. But they weren't blind-sided by anything. The painting is a gift, not a logo.

"It's a gift to the University, not a logo on a jersey," he continued. "It's a picture. That's it."

Semrau said that he hoped if a decision to change logos were made, that the students' input would be sought and while it was important to get both sides of the issue, "There aren't any sides to get. There's no issue."