Don't Fight the Sioux (Unless They're Playing Hockey)

The campaign against American Injun-themed mascots takes a bizarre twist with this notice from the University of Minnesota:

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - A University of Minnesota policy discouraging the school's athletic teams from competing against the University of North Dakota in any sport except hockey will stand.

The school's Advisory Committee on Athletics said in February that it would reconsider the policy, which was prompted by UND's Fighting Sioux nickname.

Committee chairman Douglas Hartmann now says that won't happen.

The decision could hurt UND during the five-year transition to NCAA Division I athletics in all sports that it embarked on last year. UND already plays hockey in Division I, and has a long-standing rivalry with Minnesota in that sport.

So, if you have a long-standing rivalry, it's okay to play a team named after the local Injuns. Doesn't anyone read these things before they go out?

And who would you rather have your team named after - a fierce independent people (UND Fighting Sioux) or a yard-munching rodent vermin (U of M Gophers)?