Rewriting Tradition: A North Dakota High School’s New Identity

One North Dakota High School will move forward with a new nickname and logo after this school year.

Dickinson High School's athletic teams have had the "Midgets" nickname for nearly a century. Now, that tradition is about to go away.

A friend of mine who has a son who attends Dickinson High School told me that the parents recently received a letter outlining the school district's decision.

He also told me that the opinions are very mixed between the students and parents about dropping the sometimes controversial nickname.

According to WDAY TV, Dickinson school district officials say student concerns, legal risks, and evolving values led to the decision.

The school district will be accepting ideas for a new mascot and nickname through a community process, with a cost-conscious approach.

Rebranding the nickname and logo can be a costly endeavor but the Dickinson school district says thanks to careful planning, they will be able to make the transition more cost-effective.

What is the story behind the origins of the "Midget" nickname for Dickinson High School?

According to the article, nobody can say definitively. Stories of a broadcaster coining the name when the Dickinson High School basketball team beat another team with much taller players is one possibility. Also, the name of a World War I airplane nicknamed the "Mighty Midget", and a couple of other local lore stories are out there.

Dickinson High School will join a couple of other North Dakota high schools that have changed nicknames over the last few decades.

Grand Forks Central dropped the controversial nickname "Redskins" in 1992. Devils Lake High School dropped the nickname "Satans" in 2002.