Brian Mckenty

Please vote in the nickname runoff and do so according to the original rules so that Nodaks is not selected. It’s lame, and while my favorite was outvoted, there are two way better names still in the running. We lost a cool, unique nickname for good reasons. Please don’t let a redundant, unoriginal abbreviation be the new nickname of UND sports teams.

Kyle Torvik

Let’s Start Fresh

I have been a student at UND for five years now and have seen many changes. One of the changes that I have noticed this year more than any year prior, is the absolute lack of school spirit.

When I came to UND in the fall of 2011, we were still the Fighting Sioux, and one could not get enough merchandise with the famed Indian head on it. But these days, there are fewer and fewer people representing the school — whether that be with Fighting Sioux merchandise or just plain UND merchandise.

If I would have worn a Gophers jersey on campus back in those days, God knows what would have happened to me. But that is just what is happening now. This year, I personally have seen Gopher apparel, Minnesota Duluth apparel, St. Cloud apparel, Ohio State apparel and many others nearly as often as I have seen UND apparel, or even clothing sporting Kelly green.

This lack of pride in where we go to school is terrifying, but it can be changed and now is a better time than ever. With all the change happening at UND, why don’t we make a change in pride — one of the things we focus on? From the new nickname to a new president, UND’s entire identity will change in the next six months. I just hope that it is for the better, and that we can once again be proud of who we are as a school.

Nodaks! We will be choosing a new nickname this month and are aware of the groundswell of wanting to continue to be “North Dakota.” Of the remaining choices , which one keeps UND as close to being just “North Dakota?” Nodaks. One of the criteria for picking a new nickname was the nickname has to be unique/original.

Brandon Dettlaff

Which of the five nickname options is unique/original? Nodaks.

How many teams do you know of that play as Nodaks? With NoDaks, nothing changes. No new logo is needed. We can continue to use the interlocking ND and also the UND logo. There should be a significant savings of resources (time and financially) in not needing to develop a new logo or character. New uniforms for sports teams will not be needed and can stay the same. Essentially nothing changes with the name Nodaks. Everything stays as if we were just to stay as “North Dakota.”

UND is the flagship university and represents the state of North Dakota and we are “Nodaks”. Look no further than the official student-athletic booster organization at UND and what do they call themselves? “Nodak Nation”.

Steve Molvig

Why do we need a mascot or character to describe who we are or what our identity is? We know who we are. We are North Dakota. We are “Nodaks.” We are  “Nodak Nation.”

Ahhhhh, the nicknames. One of the finalists, Roughriders, I can see it now. In this day and age of sexual overtones everywhere in advertising, there are plenty of folks who will read/write it backwards, have T-shirts made, etc….. “Ride-r-rough.” They may go as far to include photographic references from the book “Kama Sutra.” Anyone remember “Buck the Fison.”