FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota residents are getting a chance to help decide whether a university’s divisive Fighting Sioux nickname should be saved or scrapped.
Those in favor of dumping the moniker hope it’s the final chapter in the years-old debate over the University of North Dakota’s name. The group that led the petition drive for the ballot measure insists it’s only the first of two phases.
Voters will decide whether to uphold or reject the Legislature’s repeal of a state law requiring UND to continue using the nickname and American Indian head logo. A yes vote would seemingly retire nickname.
However, nickname supporters are already promoting a second initiative for the fall election that would change the North Dakota Constitution to say that UND will be forever known as Fighting Sioux.
