UND students and representatives from the American Indian Movement group in Minneapolis plan to protest UND's continued use of the Fighting Sioux nickname during UND Homecoming events Saturday.
The student group BRIDGES, Building Roads Into Diverse Groups Empowering Students, plans to protest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday outside the Alerus Center before UND's football game against Augustana College, according to a news release.
Protesters hope to draw attention to the poor treatment of American Indians on campus connected with the Fighting Sioux nickname, said Emmy Scott, the group's president and a UND junior.
Some students who have protested the Fighting Sioux nickname during UND games at St. Cloud State University also will join the protesters Saturday, Scott said.
The group feels this protest is particularly important because the court date for UND's lawsuit against the NCAA to retain the nickname is approaching in December, Scott said.
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UND is suing the NCAA over a 2005 policy banning the school's use of its nickname and logo in postseason play and effectively barring the school from hosting playoff games.
"We really want to show our support for the NCAA because we're part of the reason they're here and fighting," Scott said.
The students hope to expose their cause to the maximum number of students, families and alumni by protesting at the homecoming game, Scott said.
"We have support from a lot of alumni," she said, "and some are even now realizing that it's time for a change. It's time for us to say let's have a logo that we can all stand behind proudly."
Marks reports on higher education. Reach him at (701) 780-1105, (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or jmarks@gfherald.com .
