Ryan Holeywell is a staff writer at GOVERNING.
E-mail: rholeywell@governing.comTwitter: @ryanholeywell
The battle over a controversial nickname for the University of North Dakota could make it to the state's Supreme Court, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reports.
The newspaper reports that the state's higher education board requested that Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem ask the state supreme court to rule on the constitutionality of a law passed last year requiring the university to use the 'Fighting Sioux' nickname.
College athletics' governing body, the NCAA, prohibits the use of American Indian images, and the school could face sanctions if it keeps the name. Yet many citizens have come out as ardent supporters of the 'Fighting Sioux.'
Last spring, Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed legislation forbidding a name change from 'Fighting Sioux', By the end of 2011, he signed legislation to require a name change.
But the demand for UND's original nickname still exists; nickname proponents are currently seeking a referendum on the second law.
Ryan Holeywell is a staff writer at GOVERNING.
E-mail: rholeywell@governing.com
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