U. North Dakota Illustration Is Not Representative Of Fans

To the editors:



Re “A Name to Fight Against,” op-ed, Oct. 17:

I am a senior at the University of North Dakota (UND), and for the past 16 years of my life I have attended UND athletic events at home and away. I understand that there are a lot of different opinions regarding this issue, but what troubles me the most is that you included an illustration of what the artist assumes to be the atmosphere at one of our university’s athletic contests. I work at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, and I have never seen anyone attending any UND game resemble the person in her picture. Anyone dressed like that who is creating a disturbance around him would be asked to remove the articles that would be considered offensive, or else he would be asked to leave. Nor have I ever seen our crowd do the “tomahawk chop,” as the article claimed.

The article, as well as the accompanying picture, paint a false picture of what this university truly is. This university has produced 20 percent of all the Native American doctors in this country. It also has over 25 programs designed specifically for Native Americans. The logo, which is at the center of this controversy along with the name itself, was designed by a respected Native American in the region.

I am not saying that there aren’t racist people at this university, because I am sure there are, but you should not judge a group by the actions of a few of its members.



ZACK LUDTKE

Grand Forks, N.D.

October 17, 2005