"The coming year will be the final one for the Fighting Sioux nickname for the University of North Dakota.

In the end, it was the right thing to do in a process that has dragged on too long.

UND was the last school among 19 cited by the NCAA in 2005 and 2006 for Native American mascots and images it considered offensive.

North Dakota, which has a vocal alumni base, resisted the change, delaying action as long as possible despite the prospect of having some colleges refuse to play against its teams and the Summit League rejecting its prospective membership.

However, the Board of Higher Education decided to retire the name by Nov. 30 unless the school received permission from local tribes, and last week the North Dakota Supreme Court supported the board's decision - partly because the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, which straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border, decided not to take its own position at the moment."

Get the Story:
Editorial: UND nickname change right thing to do (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 4/14)

Other Opinions:
Grant Shaft and Duaine Espegard column: Board led ‘exhaustive’ efforts to win approval (The Grand Forks Herald 4/14)
Dave Whitesock: Process of changing mascot was acerbic (The Volante 4/14)

Also Today:
What went into State Board of Higher Education's decision to drop nickname? (The Grand Forks Herald 4/14)
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UND nickname: Sioux fans down south get their say (The Fargo Forum 4/14)
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North Dakota Supreme Court Decision:
Davidson v. North Dakota (April 8, 2010)

Related Stories:
Opinion: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe fails on Fighting Sioux (4/13)
North Dakota board kills 'Fighting Sioux' nickname and logo (4/9)
Editorial: Keep 'Fighting Sioux' nickname for North Dakota (4/8)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe puts off vote on 'Fighting Sioux' (4/7)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe considers 'Fighting Sioux' petition (4/6)
Column: Debate over 'Fighting Sioux' all about the money (3/25)
North Dakota court hears case on 'Fighting Sioux' name (3/24)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe pushed on 'Fighting Sioux' vote (3/23)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to get 'Fighting Sioux' petition (3/12)
Standing Rock petition calls for vote on 'Fighting Sioux' (3/3)
Column: It's past time to get rid of 'Fighting Sioux' nick (2/26)
Letter: 'Fighting Sioux' not honoring Indian people (2/22)
Board takes no action on status of 'Fighting Sioux' (2/18)
Letter: Give tribes time to think over 'Fighting Sioux' (2/17)
Erich Longie: Divide and conquer for 'Fighting Sioux' (2/15)
'Fighting Sioux' supporters want Standing Rock vote (2/10)
Column: Long saga over 'Fighting Sioux' continues (12/21)
Judge to issue 'Fighting Sioux' decision this month (12/10)
Judge to hear tribal member suit for 'Fighting Sioux' (12/9)
Michael Eshkibok: Colonization and 'Fighting Sioux' (12/7)
Tom Iron: A tribal backer of 'Fighting Sioux' name (11/23)
Police probe potential threats over 'Fighting Sioux' (11/20)
Standing Rock chairman not pushing 'Sioux' vote (11/19)
Editorial: Give tribe more time on 'Fighting Sioux' (11/16)
Editorial: A bizarre delay for 'Fighting Sioux' nick (11/12)
Judge orders delay on 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (11/10)