Tribe stops school from dropping nickname

updated 9:25 p.m. ET Nov. 10, 2009

BISMARCK, N.D. - A judge has temporarily blocked higher education officials from changing the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname.

The president of North Dakota’s Board of Higher Education, Richie Smith, said Tuesday that the order could delay the university’s efforts to join the Summit League and re-establish its football rivalry with North Dakota State University.

Smith says he’ll talk with the state attorney general about challenging the order, which was issued Monday.

The dispute has its origins in the NCAA’s August 2005 declaration that the Fighting Sioux nickname and Indian head logo should be abolished.

The judge’s ruling came after a lawsuit was filed by eight Spirit Lake Sioux tribal members who support the nickname.

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