LETTER: UND nickname committee should show courage by letting public vote on 'North Dakota'

I understand. It can be tough to admit that you've wasted your time.

I imagine that's the feeling the UND Nickname Committee is struggling with right now. I can't think of any other real reason why they would take away "North Dakota" (or effectively, "None of the Above") as a choice for the public to vote on.

Think of it from the committee members' point of view. They've worked hard to pare down an extensive list of nicknames and come up with five choices they think should be put forward for a vote. But they also know that every one of those choices would lose if "North Dakota" or "None of the Above" were on the ballot as well.

That would mean that all their work would have been for nothing.

And to be honest, it should be viewed as such. The final names put forward all have problems. Roughriders and North Stars are associated with other teams. Nodaks is the most unimaginative and redundant name possible; imagine rooting for the Boston Bostonians or New York New Yorkers.

Think about having to constantly explain what a Sundog is.

Fighting Hawks is the least worst choice, but we're trafficking in the most generic of team nicknames, not to mention drawing associations with the Fargo Red Hawks.

I'm an alumnus who made peace with losing the Fighting Sioux name a long time ago, and I'd be just fine with no name at all. But when the most popular option during the open submission period isn't even put on the ballot, the committee is ignoring the public's first choice.

"It's time for some courage," committee member Lowell Schweigert said. I agree. It's time the committee showed some courage and put their five nicknames up against the option of none at all.

If they truly believe they've picked the five best options out there, they should have nothing to worry about. But I think they all know that they'd lose.

And as I said above, admitting that you've wasted your time is a hard-but necessary-thing to do.

Michael Stromenger

Fargo

Read more of today's letters about cutting the no-nickname option:

• LETTER:  Remaining choices amount to lesser of five evils
• LETTER:  If committee isn't interested in me, I'm not interested in UND
• LETTER:  Nickname committee should reverse its decision
• LETTER:  Consider scrapping the choices, starting over
• LETTER:  Committee ignores stakeholders' actual wishes