Dartblog

Journalist Susanne Nadeau for The Grand Forks Herald reports on Dartmouth’s nose-in-the-air slap—provoked by the Native Americans at Dartmouth club and their savvy media strategy—at the University of North Dakota for its longstanding ‘Fighting Sioux’ mascot.

Ms. Nadeau writes in part:

Harper says UND’s position on the name and logo “is offensive and wrong,” and apologizes about a month in advance for the “pain” the tournament will cause. In addition to the apology, Harper writes that “a specific and continuing plan to address issues of respect and tolerance within the athletic department” will continue to be developed and that a “policy for scheduling athletic contests against institutions that support offensive nicknames and logos” is being considered at the university.

Harper’s letter was published the same day as an article in The Dartmouth about recent racially insensitive incidents at the college, including the college crew team’s “Cowboys and Indians-themed” formal.

The letter at first “denounces” any “affronts to the Native American community at Dartmouth” and then offers the support of the athletic department “in playing a leading role to combat racial, ethnic and sexist ignorance and intolerance” at Dartmouth.