Fri 6 Oct 2006
News reports today give some happy news: North Dakota state officials have filed a lawsuit Friday against the NCAA to challenge its restrictions on the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname.
[Attorney General Wayne] Stenehjem said the lawsuit seeks to allow the University of North Dakota to use the nickname throughout the school year without being sanctioned in possible postseason play, along with unspecified money damages.
The NCAA has banned the use of some American Indian nicknames and logo in postseason tournaments, saying they are hostile and abusive.
Stenehjem said the NCAA overstepped its bounds.
Way to go! As someone who also believes that it’s none of the NCAA’s business whether or not the University of Illinois chooses Chief Illiniwek as its mascot, I’m glad to see someone who pushes back on the NCAA.

One Response to “I Knew I Liked North Dakota”
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December 21st, 2006 at 10:54 am
[…] I previously saluted North Dakota’s stand taking on the NCAA over their dubious enforcement of a ban on American Indian mascots. As an alumnus of the University of Illinois, I would rather keep the Chief over the NCAA! […]