BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Board of Higher Education will file a lawsuit challenging a state law requiring the University of North Dakota’s athletics teams to be called the Fighting Sioux.
The board voted to file a lawsuit Monday after a meeting by telephone with the state attorney general.
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem says he’s confident the law violates the state constitution and he believes the board will win in court.
The university has been seeking to drop the nickname because it fears penalties from the NCAA, which considers it offensive to Native Americans.
But the nickname has strong support among state residents who filed referendum petitions last week to put the question to voters. If state officials determine enough signatures are valid, the issue could appear on the June 12 primary ballot.
