Deadline Looms for University of North Dakota

The time has come for UND to receive permission or dop their nickname of Fighting Sioux.  The October 1 deadline is a week away and the prospects for UND keeping the name are not good.

From today's Saint Paul Pioneer Press:

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Members of the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe who oppose the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname say they will seek reversal of a Tribal Council resolution supporting the moniker.


Erich Longie says opponents plan to meet with the Council members on Monday and ask them where they get the authority to give UND "perpetual" permission to use the nickname.

The state Board of Higher Education has voted to abolish UND's nickname and Indian head logo unless it gets a 30-year agreement from the state's two Sioux tribes by Oct. 1. The Standing Rock Tribal Council has refused to approve a reservation vote on it, but an April vote on the Spirit Lake reservation found a majority in support. The Council last week then passed a resolution confirming the result.

Longie says Spirit Lake opponents do not believe the Council can give perpetual permission. He says future councils should be able to issue new resolutions opposing the nickname.

It will be interesting to see what UND will do.  No nick name this year?  A blank jersey?  Flickertails again?  One more week and we should know.