GRAND FORKS, N.D., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The University of North Dakota has agreed to change the school's controversial "Fighting Sioux" nickname.
The state's Board of Higher Education Friday signed a settlement to end a yearlong legal battle with the NCAA.
"Without this lawsuit, we would have been immediately subjected to the NCAA restrictions with no other options," Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said at a news conference. "This provides us with over three years to have a dialogue with tribal representatives to determine if this is something we can perhaps use in a respectful way that's beneficial to them and to all of us."
The Grand Forks Herald reported the settlement requires the school to win tribal sanction for both the nickname and logo or retire them by Nov. 30, 2010.
The newspaper added the NCAA will withdraw its claim that UND is "hostile and abusive" to American Indians, and outlines some American Indian imagery that may be retained by the school's vaunted hockey programs.
