N.D. Vote Lets School Scrap Fighting Sioux Nickname : NPR: North Dakota voters decided Tuesday to let the state's flagship university dump a controversial Fighting Sioux nickname that sparked threats of NCAA sanctions, ending at least temporarily a dispute simmering for decades that divided sports fans, alumni and even tribes.
The matter boiled over seven years ago when the University of North Dakota was placed on a list of schools with American Indian nicknames that the NCAA deemed hostile and abusive. Those colleges were told to dump the names or risk penalties against their athletic teams.
Voters in Tuesday's North Dakota primary were being asked whether to uphold or reject the Legislature's repeal of a state law requiring the school to use the nickname and American Indian head logo.
The vote sends the matter back to the state's Board of Higher Education, which is expected to retire the moniker and American Indian head logo.
