UND Fighting Sioux Logo Designer Talks With Fans

The retirement of the current UND Fighting Sioux logo next year will be bittersweet for the designer.

Artist Bennett Brien designed a logo that means a lot to him and is a little sad to see it go.

Creating the logo for the Fighting Sioux has meant a lot to Bennett Brien.

"Something honorable, you know, something that has good symbolism, honor." Brien said.

Being a graduate from the University, Brien designed the logo which has been used since 1999. His inspiration started quite a while ago.

"You know anything native looking when we were young we really got on with it you know because it was something positive for us to see when we were in the boarding schools." Brien said.

Brien loved logos like the Chicago Blackhawks as a youngster and wanted to inspire others with his own design.

"Green for the earth, which is UND color, white you know purity, sun yellow, red for the blood all our ancestors shed to get us to where we are today." Brien said.

A logo that's bringing fans together at the Knights Of Columbus in Grand Forks.

The event tonight has people supporting the artist and honoring the tradition of the logo he designed.

"It means a lot you know, so I watched him design it and told him right away they're gonna love this and sure enough it's been a big hit with a lot of people." Brien's cousin Brian Gourneau said.

Although there may be mixed feelings on the retirement of the logo, Brien and his family stay positive.

"There's so many people that like it but what can you do ya know. I got a soaring eagle sculpture on campus, How about the soaring eagles or something." Brien said.

"I wish they'd keep it, but it brings a lot of controversy, you know so it goes both ways." Gourneau said.

The Fighting Sioux nickname and logo will be retired on August 15th of 2011.

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