Education | Law

Judge dismisses Indian students' lawsuit over 'Fighting Sioux'





A federal judge dismissed a "Fighting Sioux" lawsuit filed by Indian students at the University of North Dakota.

The students filed the lawsuit in August 2011. They said a new law that required the school to keep using the controversial nickname and logo violated a settlement with the NCAA and the state's constitution.

But now that the "Fighting Sioux" has been officially retired, Judge Ralph Erickson said the lawsuit was moot. “While some last gasps of further political action are still echoing across the state, it appears that as a political issue, the ‘Fighting Sioux’ nickname and logo dispute has been resolved and the losing position consigned to the dust heap of history," he wrote in the decision, The Grand Forks Herald reported.

Erickson previously dismissed a lawsuit filed by members of the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation filed in hopes of keeping the nickname and logo. The plaintiffs are taking the case to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals

Get the Story:
Judge declares ‘Fighting Sioux’ fight over, dismisses lawsuit against state (The Grand Forks Herald 8/8)

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