It is not our preference,
But the price of keeping the nickname is too high.

On June 12, 2012, North Dakota voters will be asked to decide the fate of the Fighting Sioux nickname.

• A YES vote means UND will be allowed to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname.
• A NO vote means that UND will be required by law to continue to use the Fighting Sioux nickname

Unless we retire the nickname, UND will be subjected to severe NCAA sanctions that threaten the very viability of our athletic programs.

• Top regional universities including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota State will no longer compete with UND athletic teams.
• UND’s football, basketball, track and volleyball teams have already lost competitive opportunities, and it will soon impact hockey as well.
• Recruitment will suffer because top athletes and coaches don’t want to be at a university that is barred from competing with top tier schools.
• UND will be prohibited from hosting any championship playoffs.
• UND’s membership in the Big Sky conference is at risk because no conference wants to worry about playoff complications due to NCAA sanctions. Even UND’s participation in NCAA Division 1 is in question.

It is not just athletics that will pay the price of NCAA sanctions.

• Retaining the Fighting Sioux nickname also puts at risk our ability to attract research grants and private investment, including those for energy and aerospace programs.
• The local economy will lose millions of dollars from lost ticket, retail and hospitality sales during major rivalries and championship playoff games.

For the first time in history, all leadership groups at UND, including the UND Student Senate, University Senate, Staff Senate, Administration, Athletics (including all the head coaches), and Alumni Association and Foundation, are in agreement that the nickname must be retired.

The cost of keeping the nickname is just too high. It is time to move on. It is time to let UND respectfully retire the Fighting Sioux nickname. We ask that voters educate themselves on the consequences of those sanctions and we hope that when you enter the voting booth, you’ll put emotion aside and do what is best for student-athletes and the campus: Vote “Yes” on Measure 4.

Want to learn more about the UND Alumni Association & Foundation's stance on Measure 4?
Click here.

Read Letters to the Editor written by those who support a 'Yes' vote.

Catch up on the latest news related to Measure 4

Paid for by the UND Alumni Association, Tim O’Keefe EVP and CEO