Unveiling of new logo overshadowed by moniker controversy
By Matt Erickson and Josh Roiland
Dakota Student Staff Writer

Learn more about the new logo here.

In a move meant to enhance the school's image and marketability, UND unveiled its new athletic logo Monday in the loft of Engelstad Arena, the home of the school's hockey team.

But the unveiling was met with harsh criticisms for first-year president Charles Kupchella and the school's administration for its continued use of the Sioux moniker.

"I say shame on you for mocking my people in this way," said Wambdi Wastewin, a UND alumnus who serves as the assistant director and advisor for Upward Bound. Her finger was pointed squarely at Kupchella and her message was concise -- "Shame on you."

Wastewin then turned from the conference and walked out of the loft. About 10 others followed her in an impromptu protest and in show of support for Wastewin.

The gesture overshadowed the unveiling of the logo, created by Native American artist Bennet Brien. The latest design is a profile image of a Native American man. According to Athletics Director Roger Thomas, the added color of the piece lends something that the current geometric UND athletics logo has been lacking with its polychromatic color scheme.

The geometric logo was adopted in 1993 when then president Kendall Baker decided the logo being used, an animated depiction known as the Blackhawk logo, didn't show the respect to Native Americans that the University wanted to portray.

While some alumni have expressed a desire to revert back to the use of the Blackhawk logo, most notably alumnus and Las Vegas Gaming Executive Ralph Engelstad, Kupchella said that simply was not an option.

And while some said the new logo shared a striking resemblance to the Blackhawk logo, Kupchella defended the new logo saying the two share little in common.

"The Blackhawk logo was cartoonish, silly, like the Cleveland Indians mascot," he said. "I see (the new logo) as completely different."

Voicing objections

But many of the students in attendance Monday disagreed with Kupchella, and let their objections be known.

"They brought back the Blackhawk logo," said Monique Vondall, a junior at UND.

Holly Annis, assistant director of UND's Native Media Center, said there was a strange twist of irony in the introduction of a new logo. "They're bringing this logo in for the same reason they dropped the Blackhawk logo," she said, referring to officials' desire to bring respect to the school and the Fighting Sioux name.

William Harjo Bray, special projects director for UND' s department of social work, said that Native American nations across North Dakota have been trying for years to get the Sioux name changed, and this new logo is not a step sideways, as Kupchella said it was, but rather a slap in the face.

"As native people we're supposed to be about healing," he said. "I don't see this (logo) as a step towards healing, I see it as a step into old pains."

Dr. Greg Gagnon, assistant professor of Indian Studies at UND, said the root of the issue isn't the logo, but rather the Sioux name. He said the the name use is an ethical issue, not a majority one.

"It's a question of right or wrong," Gagnon said. "Why have (the name and logo) if it hurts people?

"Is there a good reason to have the name aside from an affinity to a sports team?"

Gagnon said he felt sorry for Kupchella, who had to bear the brunt of most of the criticism at the press conference, because he felt Kupchella hasn't had the time at UND or in North Dakota to understand the depth of feeling Native American people have concerning the Sioux name and logo. Some of the protestors who walked out of the conference after Wastewin's words criticizing Kupchella said they, too, felt sorry for the position the new president has been placed in.

"It's obvious he was completely uninformed on the issue," Vondall said.

"Or if he was informed, he is only being informed on one side of the issue," added Dana Williams, a senior at UND.

Reaction unexpected

Kupchella said he didn't expect the type of reaction against the new logo. He partly attributed it to the fact that the school was forced to introduce the new logo sooner than they wanted.

"If we would have been able to follow our plans of unveiling, things might have gone smoother," he said. "Rather than springing it on people, we wanted to slowly introduce it."

Thomas said he was prepared for the reaction and tried to prepare Kupchella for what would happen. "I've been around a lot longer than he has," he said. "I tried to tell him what I could and let him take it from there."

When and what the new logo will be used for is still uncertain, Thomas said. He said the new logo will not be a replacement to the current geometric one, but just an addition. He also said the new logo will not be used on UND athletic merchandising right away.

Staff Writer Howie Padilla contributed to this report.