David Gipp, the president of United Tribes Technical College, is urging the state Board of Higher Education not to file a lawsuit in support of the University of North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo.

Gipp, an alumnus of UND, wrote a letter to the board. He said a lawsuit will only waste valuable resources that could be used to create Indian programs and promote diversity.

"If that is the case, there is no good reason to keep the present logo and nickname, and no good reason to pursue a lawsuit against the NCAA, regardless of the 'tradition' of the nickname and the logo," Gipp said, the Associated Press reported.

The board is meeting today and is consulting an attorney about the lawsuit. One of the board's newest members is Charles Murphy, the former chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

Get the Story:
Board Urged To Forgo Lawsuit Over UND Nickname (AP 6/14)

NCAA Update:
Status of Indian Mascot Policy (April 28, 2006)

NCAA Executive Committee Decision:
Native American Mascot Appeals Decisions (April 28, 2006)

NCAA Staff Decision on Fighting Sioux:
Statement by NCAA Senior Vice-President for Governance and Membership Bernard Franklin on University of North Dakota Review(September 28, 2005)

NCAA Policy on Indian Mascots:
NCAA Executive Committee Issues Guidelines for Use of Native American Mascots at Championship Events (August 5, 2005)

Relevant Links:
University of North Dakota - http://www.und.edu
The Ralph - http://www.theralph.com
Fighting Sioux - http://www.fightingsioux.com
North Dakota Board of Higher Education - http://www.ndus.nodak.edu/sbhe
NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee - http://www1.ncaa.org/eprise/main/
membership/governance/assoc-wide/moic/index.html
National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media - http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm

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