"Earlier this week, the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe made a very smart move. It turned its “Save the Nickname” energy away from UND and the Big Sky Conference and toward the NCAA, whose nickname rule is the conflict’s heart.

Of course, UND and North Dakota already have tried persuading the NCAA to relax that rule. The state and university are strongly on record as wanting to keep the Fighting Sioux name.

But there’s a chance the tribe’s new lawsuit may succeed where the state’s efforts have failed.

That’s because the tribe has standing in a way that the state and university do not. Does the NCAA really want to lecture an American Indian tribe on the proper use of American Indian nicknames? Do NCAA officials really want to argue in court — and on national TV — that they’re wiser on the Sioux name than a Sioux tribal council and Sioux tribal members themselves?"

Get the Story:
OUR OPINION: ‘A strong Division I program for UND sports’ (The Grand Forks Herald 11/4)

Also Today:
Fighting Sioux nickname hearing set for Monday (The Grand Forks Herald 11/4)

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Spirit Lake group sues NCAA over 'Fighting Sioux' nickname (11/2)
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Spirit Lake group warns of consequences over 'Fighting Sioux' (10/14)
Letter: UND's athletic teams marginalized by 'Fighting Sioux' (10/11)
Editorial: Get the message -- it's time for 'Fighting Sioux' to go (9/29)
Spirit Lake group sends letter in support of 'Fighting Sioux' name (9/28)
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