Another long running nickname about to be retired

[valpo04]

Struggle for UND's Fighting Sioux nickname nears end, lawmakers likely to back its retirement

BISMARCK, N.D. — Six years after the NCAA deemed it hostile to American Indians, the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname has hardly gone quietly through the courts or the state Legislature.

But the end of its life was in sight Wednesday, as the North Dakota House voted to give final approval to legislation that would allow the school to drop the nickname and its logo, which shows the profile of an American Indian warrior.

The NCAA in 2005 listed the university among a group of schools with objectionable American Indian nicknames, logos and mascots. UND is the only school still fighting the NCAA over the issue.

Some schools were allowed to keep their nicknames, provided they received tribal support. In UND's case, the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe endorsed using the nickname and logo but The Standing Rock Sioux's tribal council declined to support it.

Brian Faison, the university's athletics director, has said the nickname's continued use has made it difficult to schedule some rival schools, including Minnesota and Wisconsin, and has cast doubt on whether UND will be allowed to join the Big Sky Conference in July.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/struggle-for-unds-fighting-sioux-nickname-nears-end-lawmakers-likely-to-back-its-retirement/2011/11/09/gIQAaBSP4M_story.html