Chuck Kupcello - President of the University of North Dakota

My official duties as 10th president of The University of North Dakota began July 1, 1999.
I spent one summer in my early years working in the coal mines, I got my B.S. Ed. in biology with certification to teach in secondary schools from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1964 and my Ph.D. in physiology and microbiology from St. Bonaventure University in 1968.

I started my career in 1968 at Bellarmine College in Louisville, Ky. From 1973 to 1979 I was a professor of Oncology at the University of Louisville and was Associate Director of its Cancer Research Center. In 1979 I joined the faculty of Murray State University as Chair of the Department of Biology. I served there until 1985, when I went to Western Kentucky College as Professor Biology and Dean of its Ogden College. From 1993 to 1999, I served as Provost and Professor of Biology at Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau. I also was at the forefront of helping the University reach into communities from Kennett to St. Louis, and was instrumental in establishing program-to-program articulation agreements and specific cooperative programs with community colleges.

In my research, I studied blood-coagulation adaptation in hibernating animals. I has also studied the effect of aspirin on the gastrointestinal tract and the properties of the extracellular matrix associated with the spread of cancer. I have published widely in his field of expertise, Biology. I have written three books: Sights and Sounds: The Very Special Senses (Bobbs-Merrill Publishing Co., 1976); Environmental Science: Living Within the System of Nature (third edition, Prentice-Hall, 1993, with Peggy Hyland); and Dimensions of Cancer (Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1987). I also have authored or co-authored more than 50 articles in Cancer, Cancer Research, American Journal of Medicine, Comparative Physiology and Biophysics, Journal of Environmental Education, Archives of Internal Medicine, Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Journal of Cancer Education, and other journals. I have also presented at more than 100 statewide, national and international meetings.
Since 1999, Chuck has served as a member of North Dakota's Higher Education Roundtable-- a group of legislators, business leaders, and representatives of higher education in forging a forward-looking description of the expectations of higher education, the legislature and the private sector in partnerships to foster economic development in North Dakota.

My wife, Adele, and I both grew up in western Pennsylvania coal-mining towns. I am one of six children, all of whom earned college degrees (including three brothers with Ph.D. degrees, I am one of them). I met Adele (Kiel), one of ten children in her family, in college while I was playing in a band. We married in 1963. We have three children: Rick (Minneapolis), Michele Adams (Springfield, Va.) and Jason (Bowling Green, Ky.),and four grandchildren. As an avid outdoorsman, I enjoy fishing and black-powder hunting. I also dabble in art, enjoy singing folk songs, and I have even recorded a song.
(http://www.und.edu/president/html/bio.html)


In my eyes, It is up to the elders of the souix tribe to determine whether the use of their name as a mascot is acceptable or not. I made a commitment to this school to make sure it serves Native American as both students and citizens of this region.

Winona Yepa (Jury Member #6)

My name is Winona Yepa. I am 55 years old. I am a Wahpeton- sioux. I am part of the Dakota Plains Wahpeton First Nation in Manitoba Canada. I have been known as a leader for my tribe. I am reveried as a wise women to many of my people. I worked as a High school teacher and principal at the local high school. I have 5 children all over the age of 16. I have been a spokes women for my tribe on many occasions. This business about UND's use of the "fighting Sioux" mascot troubles me. Part of me feels that it could be a way to honor our people by having our name represent them and serve as a icon to them. What troubles me is, i feel like it could be mocking my people also. Being a mother and a teacher i have had much experience with children and teens and i feel that however the intentions of the name could be starting off innocent i think that many of the schools students, will not have enough respect for what the mascot truely represents.

Marie Little Soldier

my name is Marie and i am a Hunkpapa Sioux Indian. i live on Fort Berthold reservation with my family and was hired as a housekeeper for the Hayden family. they are good people and i am fond of their little boy David. i am his baby sitter, though he would never admit it. i am 20 and i love to laugh and tell stories. i do exaggerate the truth a bit, but i never let people go on believing a lie. i like to think that i am easygoing. i work very hard and i absolutely HATE waste. everything can be used again. i have a boyfriend who is also Native American like i am; Ronnie Tall Bear. he is very strong and athletic (not to mention cute). he holds many school records and was in the American Legion Baseball team!
he is an amazing athlete, but because he is Native America, he is not allowed to go to college. i hate that. he is so talented, but because of his heritage, its all going to go to waste, and i hate waste. these are some thoughts that when through my head when i heard about the debate on the name of the fighting Sioux. i am not against the name of the team; in fact, i believe that is shows the strength and will of my people. though it is a name white people gave us, i do not believe that they meant it to be offensive. but why does a white man have the right to play football and go to college when Ronnie cant? Ronnie is Sioux, yet he cannot bare the colors of the "Fighting Sioux" as well as a white man can? it does not make sense to me at all. why should a white man be allowed to call himself a Sioux when a real Sioux cannot? it is silly.

David Hayden

Hello, I'm David Hayden and I am twelve years old. My father is Wesley Hayden and he is the sheriff of Mercer County. He isn't the typical western sheriff that comes to mind, he didn't wear boots, carry a gun, or even wear his badge. My mother Gale, wanted him to be an attorney, which is what he went to law school for, but he got stuck with the job of sheriff. My grandfather was the sheriff before him and wanted the prestige of the title to still run in the family. My mother hates Montana, but I on the other hand love the country. My grandfather owns a ranch were I have my own horse called "Nutty", who I go out exploring with. Also I like to swim, fish, and hunt. Montana is the perfect place to do those things.

I don't really have an opinion on the team names "Fighting Sioux" and "Redskins". It doesn't really affect me, but my babysitter Marie is Native American and I guess if as long as it doesn't portray their beliefs in the wrong way, then it will be OK.

Dan Snidyr

I am the owner of the Washington Redskins football team. I was born in 1965, Im married to my lovely wife Tonya and have three beautiful children.Besides that the issue that is very heated right now is if we should change the logo of the redskins. I believe that we should not change it. The name the "Redskins" is not meant to affend anyone of any race. "It means wonderful things. It means success, it means pride, it means integrity, honor and winning tradition. All of those great things, plus many more, are what the Redskins are all about for Washington and all of the Washington Redkin fans throughout the nation." http://web.syr.edu/~ajhill/dan.html I apologize for any inconvienence that has been caused but I dont think that we should change the name.

Doris Looks Away

Hello All i hope you are all having a fine week and staying healthy in every which way. My name is Doris Looks Away and i was born on April 17, 1916. Don't let my name fool you because i have my eyes focused on the right path to a healthy and successful life. I have a family of 22 with each child starting their name with the letter J. I have never got a single child's name mixed up with another even though they all look almost identical. I am Indian Woman part of the Sioux tribe. When it comes to the UND fighting Sioux, I am an extreme advocate for their determination and their outright domination in the NCAA hockey league, because if they are going to represent our tribes great name, they got some pressure to do well for themselves. I am a great fan of hokcey having every single child of mine playing, starting at the age of 7 months. Their first steps are actually on ice. All in all im a sweet woman who is always looking to help in anyway, and if the UND hockey team is willing to represent such a great name i am all for it. I do not find it discriminating in anyway but honorable and i appreciate the recognition they bring to our family.

Gunther Foy: Editor of The Dakota Student

Hello friends. My name is Gunther Foy. I was born on May 31st, 1973. I am a 34 year old man, pleasantly fulfilled with my life. In 2002, I proposed to a Felicia Foy; a booty-licious Sophomore at the University of North Dakota. We've been married for about 4 years and we have a lovely little girl named Gertrude. I graduated from Stanford University with a major in English. I currently work as an editor for The Dakota Student, which is an online organization presenting relevant and current stories concerning today's hottest news. I try as much as possible not to be biased when I edit the stories given to me by my staff. I post the best of the best for the common well being of the people. I love being able to keep the world up to date on current issues. Overall, I love the work I get to do and the satisfaction I get knowing that I am helping people get informed.