BISMARCK (AP) -- The North Dakota Supreme Court on today rejected an appeal that sought to delay a decision over the future of the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname.
In their ruling, the justices said the state Board of Higher Education has the authority to change the nickname before a Nov. 30 deadline set in a settlement agreement with the NCAA.
A group of eight Spirit Lake Sioux tribal members who want the school to keep the nickname were seeking to have the court bar any decision before the November deadline.
Under the settlement with the NCAA, the Higher Education board and UND agreed to begin retiring the nickname if they couldn't obtain permission from the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux tribes by Nov. 30. They have not been able to get the Standing Rock tribe's support.
Richie Smith, the education board's president, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the board will probably need time to read the ruling before taking any action.
