The North Dakota Senate Education Committee voted 5-2 Tuesday to recommend that the full Senate not pass legislation intended to preserve the University of North Dakota's embattled Fighting Sioux nickname.
House Bill 1263 states that UND athletic teams shall be known as the Fighting Sioux, and that neither the university nor the state Board of Higher Education can take action to discontinue use of the nickname and logo, according to Inforum.com. In addition, it requires the state attorney general to consider filing an antitrust claim against the NCAA if the association penalizes the university for said use.
It was unknown when the bill would reach the Senate floor for a final vote, but Senate majority leader Bob Stenehjem indicated that it wouldn't be today. UND president Robert Kelley said recently that pro-nickname legislation threatens to damage the university.
