Bill requires UND to keep Fighting Sioux nickname

[pmp6nl]

Bill requires UND to keep Fighting Sioux nickname
BISMARCK (AP) — North Dakota's House Republican majority leader is introducing legislation that would require the University of North Dakota to keep its Fighting Sioux nickname.
By: Associated Press, INFORUM

BISMARCK (AP) — North Dakota's House Republican majority leader is introducing legislation that would require the University of North Dakota to keep its Fighting Sioux nickname.

Fargo Rep. Al Carlson's bill says UND and the Board of Higher Education have to stop plans to drop the nickname. It says if the NCAA penalizes UND for refusing to drop the nickname, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has to consider filing an antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA.

Carlson says he is introducing the bill Monday. Mandan Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch and Tioga Rep. Bob Skarphol have signed on as co-sponsors. No hearing date has been set.

Carlson says he didn't consult UND President Robert Kelley or the Board of Higher Education before he drafted the bill. He predicts it will be popular with legislators and the public.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/304507/

Wow, I thought this issue was dead... guess not.

[Sal Atticum]

Looks like this guy wants to get his name out in the public.  Who invited him in, and why should the state legislature be involved anyway?

Title should probably read "Bill would require UND to keep Fighting Sioux nickname" since the bill hasn't been passed yet.
#corrections

[pmp6nl]

This is ridiculous.  Since when can the state legislature take power like this away from the university?  Sounds like someone is a little power hungry.

The actual bill can be seen here

[Sal Atticum]

Unfortunately, Kupchella gave up the power of UND to make the decision on its own when he invited the State Board of Higher Education to deal with it.  It would have been much easier to deal with (in my opinion) had he been ballsy enough to make a decision based on the NCAA's requirements.

[pmp6nl]

Clever: http://www.suhaki.com/

[Sal Atticum]

LOLocopter.

[Sal Atticum]

So stupid...

N.D. House votes to keep Fighting Sioux nickname, logo
On a 65-28 vote, the House approved House Bill 1263, which states University of North Dakota athletic teams shall be known as the Fighting Sioux. Neither UND nor the state Board of Higher Education may take action to discontinue the use of the nickname or logo.

By: Teri Finneman, Forum Communications
 

BISMARCK – The North Dakota House has voted to keep the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.


On a 65-28 vote, the House approved House Bill 1263, which states University of North Dakota athletic teams shall be known as the Fighting Sioux. Neither UND nor the state Board of Higher Education may take action to discontinue the use of the nickname or logo.


It requires the attorney general to consider filing a federal antitrust claim against the NCAA if the association takes any action to penalize UND for using the nickname and logo.


The bill will now move on to the Senate for further discussion.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/194295/

[pmp6nl]

Wow, they cant be serious.  How is it the business of the house to stick their noses in where it doesnt belong?  I wonder what the political party breakdown was for this?  I hope it dies in the senate, its time to move on.

I havent read the actual bill, but does this comment I found online apply?

I hate to put a damper on everyone’s parade, but you are overlooking one very important fact: after the legislature tried to run the university system into the ground during the 1970s and 1980s, authority and responsibility for North Dakota colleges and universities were moved to the State Board. The legislature has no power to mandate any changes. They can defund the university system, but they cannot force any changes. So, unless there is a move to ammend the state constitution, it is a moot point. Face it, the vote was purely symbolic.

That said, it will be interesting to see how things pan out: will the Senate choose to take up the bill or let it die a neglected death? If passed, will the Governor sign or veto it?

Unfortunately, whatever happens will take time and resources, commodities which could be better utilized elsewhere.

[Sal Atticum]

This is a closer examination of how this bill shouldn't make it:  http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/195037/group/Opinion/

There is reason to predict that a sufficient number of senators will violate their oaths to pass this measure. A steamroller is moving through the Legislature. But passage in the Senate will not be the end of the story. There are a number of options after the Senate vote.

** To protect the state from a runaway assembly, the state constitution gives the governor the authority to veto legislation he believes inappropriate. Since the governor took the same oath to support the Constitution of North Dakota, he may not be willing to violate his oath so casually.

** The Board of Higher Education could disregard the law. The pro-logo legislators would be hard-pressed to get a mandatory injunction from a court to enforce an unconstitutional law.

** The National Collegiate Athletic Association still is the elephant in the room and may decide that enough is enough, regardless of threats of legal action being made in the legislation.

This raises the question of whether state money can be used for legal action to defend an unconstitutional act of the Legislature.

** But there’s still another option. Anticipating the day when both the Legislature and the governor demonstrate questionable judgment, the people of North Dakota placed the referendum in the constitution, a process designed to give the people an opportunity to override the Legislature and the governor.

You can bet that there are enough logo opponents to refer the measure to the people for a statewide vote.

[pmp6nl]

Thats interesting.  I have no idea why they are even getting involved, I thought this was up to the school and state board.  A state-wide vote would be interesting.

Additionally, they better not waste my tax dollars on this.

[Sal Atticum]

Someone needs to go back and write a book about the whole thing.  It might be hopeless to get an impartial picture though, so maybe two books could come out of it.

Even better?  A Master's thesis for someone in the history department.  Something to pull it all together once it's all over (if it ever is).  Because I think the whole issue is supremely interesting, and I've been thinking about it ever since I've been here.

[pmp6nl]

Someone needs to go back and write a book about the whole thing.  It might be hopeless to get an impartial picture though, so maybe two books could come out of it.

Even better?  A Master's thesis for someone in the history department.  Something to pull it all together once it's all over (if it ever is).  Because I think the whole issue is supremely interesting, and I've been thinking about it ever since I've been here.

It would be cool to chronicle the whole thing.  Maybe we have a new degree program and thesis for you Sal?