ND higher ed board opposing Fighting Sioux bill

North Dakota's Board of Higher Education has decided to oppose a bill that requires the University of North Dakota to keep its Fighting Sioux nickname.

The board meets Tuesday at Bismarck State College. Until now, the board has stayed neutral on the Legislature's debate on the Fighting Sioux nickname dispute.

North Dakota's House has approved legislation that requires UND to keep the nickname. It says the attorney general should sue the NCAA if any penalties result from keeping the name.

Board president Jon Backes says the measure could put UND and the state in a lawsuit they're not likely to win.

Board member Mike Haugen says if the bill is approved in the Legislature, it means lawmakers are ready to "throw a million bucks at a frivolous lawsuit."

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