BISMARCK, N.D. — A group of American Indians who want the University of North Dakota to keep its Fighting Sioux nickname hope to put the issue to voters, their lawyer said Thursday.
Members of the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe who back the nickname said they plan to gather signatures to try to amend the state’s constitution to require that the school use the moniker. Their lawyer, Reed Soderstrom, said he hoped such a move would end arguments about the nickname “once and for all.”
The school wants to shed its 81-year-old nickname after a drawn-out dispute with the NCAA, which says the name and the school’s American Indian logo are offensive to Native Americans. North Dakota lawmakers voted this month to allow UND to get rid of the moniker, overturning a last-ditch attempt in March by the state legislature. That maneuvering had caused scheduling headaches for UND teams and threatened its bid to join the Big Sky Conference as it transitions from Division II to Division I sports.
“Once it’s in the constitution, if the people want it, it will be an issue no more,” Soderstrom said. “It will be not quite etched in stone, but almost.”
Bruins’ Chara not charged for hit on Pacioretty
QUEBEC — Quebec’s prosecutor said Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara won’t face criminal charges for his hit on Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty last spring.
Pacioretty broke a vertebra and was out for the season after being shoved into a stanchion by Boston’s 6-foot-9 defenseman in March.
• Philadelphia Flyers forward Jaromir Jagr is out indefinitely after suffering an undisclosed lower body injury against the Phoenix Coyotes.
• New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov is day to day because of an injured groin.
• Montreal Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill has been hospitalized because of an undisclosed virus.
• The Dallas Stars activated forward Steve Ott to replace forward Adam Burish, who is expected to be out at least four weeks with a broken left hand.
Venus to return next week
MILAN — • Venus Williams will make her comeback in an exhibition match against her sister Serena in Colombia on Wednesday, two months after pulling out of the U.S. Open because of an immune system disease.
Venus said she has changed her diet to increase vegetables after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, which can cause fatigue and joint pain.
Footnotes.
Brad Keselowski was fined a reported $25,000 by NASCAR for criticizing electronic fuel injection, part of the circuit’s green initiative.
• The United States secured a berth at next year’s London Olympics by defeating Italy 25-23, 25-15, 22-25, 25-21 at the women’s volleyball World Cup in Tokyo.
The Associated Press
