Grand Forks Herald, N.D., Higher Education Notebook

Aug. 28–Despite an opinion by the NCAA’s Executive Committee that UND and 17 other schools have “hostile or abusive” nicknames, you can still buy a replica Fighting Sioux hockey jersey with Indian-head logo emblazoned across the front on the organization’s merchandising Web site, www.shopncaasports.com

This fact already has been noted this week by The (Baltimore) Sun and the USA Today newspapers, which have called the NCAA on its apparent hypocrisy.

Bob Williams, a spokesman for the NCAA said that the Fighting Sioux jerseys and merchandise from all other schools that fall on the NCAA’s “hostile or abusive” list will be available for online purchase until Feb. 1, when new NCAA restrictions kick in.

“One of the reasons we built a six-month time frame into restricting the imagery is so that all the issues related to this could be vetted,” Williams told the newspapers. “This (online offerings) was one of the issues we knew about, but we felt there would be appeals. … Do you take everything off now and then perhaps reinstate it, or do you wait and make the change when the policy becomes effective?

“We felt the best decision was to wait until there was a resolution.”

After Feb. 1, schools, such as UND that use the controversial American Indian monikers, will be restricted from hosting NCAA tournaments and from wearing Indian symbols, names or imagery in postseason competition.

UND will host a previously awarded NCAA regional hockey tournament in March, but it must cover up or remove any references to the Fighting Sioux nickname and Indian-head logo. It’s been estimated that more than 4,000 Indian-head logos are spread throughout Ralph Engelstad Arena, where the tournament will be played.

Florida State University, with its Seminoles nickname and “Chief Osceola” mascot, appealed the NCAA restrictions, and Tuesday, the NCAA removed that school from the list, citing its unique relationship with the tribe. UND is planning its own appeal.

A new degree-offering at Minnesota State University Moorhead as proven popular with students before it’s even started — no advertising, no marketing — just word of mouth, officials say.

With room for only 38 in the inaugural class, more than 120 students applied for admission to the school’s new eight-semester baccalaureate degree in nursing program this summer.

“I wasn’t surprised by the response,” says Barbara Vellenga, project manager for the program, designed to prepare students to become registered nurses and earn a bachelor’s degree at the same time. “The demand for nurses is incredible, and it’s going to continue to increase way beyond the next decade.”

The program lets students complete the degree in three years (two summer semesters are required). And instead of waiting through two years of liberal arts requirements, they start hands-on labs and clinical experiences the first semester, giving students an immediate feel for the career.

A Longtime Grand Forks clergyman will help launch a new Honors Institute at Mayville (N.D.) State University Tuesday.

The Rev. Bill Sherman, a professor emeritus of sociology at North Dakota State University in Fargo who spent more than 25 years with St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Grand Forks, will lecture on early North Dakota religious traditions as part of the unveiling of the school’s Honors Institute.

His lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the MSU Old Main Theatre. The public is encouraged to attend. A reception will follow the lecture. It will be hosted by Honors Institute students.

The Honors Institute is designed to help recruit and retain academically talented and motivated students for Mayville State University.

The University of Minnesota-Crookston has been ranked one of the best public colleges in the Midwest for an eighth consecutive year, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2006 list.

UMC again was ranked among the top three colleges in the category “Top Public Midwest Comprehensive Colleges — Bachelor’s.”

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