Fighting Sioux nickname to be gone by year's end

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's Board of Higher Education has voted to retire the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname by the end of the year.

Monday's decision follows a meeting last week with NCAA President Mark Emmert. North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple and legislative leaders weren't able to persuade Emmert to let UND keep the nickname without any penalty.

A state law says UND has to keep the nickname, but the Legislature is expected to repeal the law during a special session this November.

The higher education board voted unanimously on Monday to retire the nickname by Dec. 31. Its motion says the process must be “substantially complete” by year's end.

UND had wanted to retire the nickname before Monday, but the approval of the state law blocked those plans.

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