Dartmouth AD apologizes for inviting Fighting Sioux

In today's PC Idiocy file, we've got a letter to the editor of The Dartmouth, the student-run newspaper, from Dartmouth College's athletic director, Josie Harper. Seems that, two years ago, the school invited the University of North Dakota to participate in a hockey tournament this December. Ms. Harper apologizes for that "mistake" in her letter:

To the Editor:

I am writing to strongly denounce the historical and recent affronts to the Native American community at Dartmouth and to offer the support of the athletics department in playing a leading role to combat racial, ethnic and sexist ignorance and intolerance on our campus.

At the same time, I must offer a sincere apology to the Native American community, and the Dartmouth community as a whole, for an event that will understandably offend and hurt people within our community. In late December, we will host a men's ice hockey tournament that includes the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. UND is one of 14 colleges or universities that continue to maintain a Native American name and image to represent their athletic teams. [see logo, top right]

Let me state clearly that UND's position is offensive and wrong. When we scheduled UND nearly two years ago to participate in our tournament, we did so without considering their team's nickname and symbol. Perhaps we should have, but I deeply regret that we didn't.

On Friday, as I was traveling on College business, a member of my staff met with the Native American Council to discuss our hockey tournament and to offer our apology for the pain that it will cause. In the days and weeks ahead, I will develop a specific and continuing plan to address issues of respect and tolerance within the athletic department as well as considering a policy for scheduling athletic contests against institutions that support offensive nicknames and symbols.

Ms. Harper's letter contains all the usual Political Correctness buzzwords. As background, UND is currently involved in a court case with the NCAA, which has stated that UND cannot have its logo or mascot present at any post-season tournaments. UND has an injunction which allows it to use its logo and mascot until a higher court can rule on the case.

My question for Ms. Harper is this: if she truly regrets inviting UND, why doesn't she dis-invite them? The most likely answer is that they have a contract with UND. But why doesn't the AD put her money where her mouth is and risk getting sued by UND for breach of contract, if it is really against her principles to have the Fighting Sioux participate? Why? Because not having one of the premier hockey programs at this tournament would mean lost revenue in ticket and concession sales.

If you read subsequent letters to The Dartmouth, you'll find outraged reactions from Alumni--but they're outraged at her, not at UND. Maybe if the Athletic Director would worry more about the school's athletics, Dartmouth's football team would have a better record than 2-8 this season.