"North Dakota lawmakers’ proposals to force UND to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname are fatally flawed.
The Legislature should make short work of the proposals and get on with its much more urgent work, such as trying to avert a catastrophic overflow of Devils Lake that could drown Valley City and other communities in a 500-year flood.
The proposals are fatally flawed for several reasons, including:
** The North Dakota Constitution is clear: “A board of higher education, to be officially known as the state board of higher education, is hereby created for the control and administration of the following state educational institutions,” and the list includes UND.
Furthermore, the board “shall have full authority over the institutions under its control.”
In other words: Lawmakers, stay out. The document’s plain language means it would be unconstitutional for the Legislature to usurp the board’s authority over the UND nickname, suggests Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota attorney general. "
Get the Story:
OUR OPINION -- Laws to save nickname would hurt, not help
(The Grand Forks Herald 1/12)
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Another Opinion:
Editorial: Nickname legislation unrealistic (The Minot Daily News 1/12)
Related Stories:
North Dakota Republicans aim to keep 'Fighting
Sioux' nickname (1/11)
'Fighting Sioux' supporters
launch last minute nickname appeal (11/30)
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