Dartblog

An article at the website of the CBS television affiliate in Bismarck, North Dakota decries Dartmouth Athletic Director Josie Harper’s nigh-infamous letter-to-the-editor, which apologizes to Dartmouth students for Dartmouth’s upcoming game with the University of North Dakota’s hockey team. Why? Because our opponents’ name is the Fighting Sioux.

An excerpt:

I was surprised by Josie Harper’s letter apologizing for the “pain” caused by hosting the UND Fighting Sioux at their hockey tournament. I had no idea that Native Americans were present in such great numbers at Dartmouth and were so easily offended by our state’s tribute to the brave spirit of the Sioux warriors.

Right now North Dakota is under attack by a select few out-of-state advocates of political correctness. They claim our logo, drawn by a Native American artist, is “hostile and abusive.” I invite them to actually visit us sometime. Our highway signs and Highway Patrol cars have Native American figures on them. The hospital near my house has an area devoted to burning sage and other traditional Native American healing practices. UND itself hosts dozens of programs for Native Americans including the INMED program, which trains one fifth of the nation’s Indian physicians, as well as cultural programs, eight publications, and seven student organizations.