BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Supporters of the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname say they have enough petition signatures to force the university to start using the name again.
Secretary of State Al Jaeger (JAY’-gur) still has to count the names Tuesday night before the nickname is restored.
Nickname backers turned in petitions to Jaeger’s office Tuesday night. They say they have 17,213 signatures, well above the 13,542 they needed to put the issue on North Dakota’s ballot in June.
Jaeger will count the names Tuesday night. If there are more signatures than the minimum needed, the Fighting Sioux nickname will be restored.
Jaeger will do a more thorough checking of the names over the next month and determine if the issue goes on the ballot.
