Here is the latest from the
Fighting Sioux nickname story – the Spirit Lake Tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect has appealed their
lawsuit that was thrown out of by
U.S. District Court Judge Raph Erickson to
8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- Three days after their effort to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname at UND was roundly rebuffed by state voters, nickname supporters at Spirit Lake filed documents outlining issues they want to address at the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect has appealed last month’s decision by U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson to dismiss its lawsuit against the NCAA, in which the tribe argued that Sioux people were inappropriately denied “a seat at the table” in negotiations over use of the name, among other issues.
Erickson ordered the lawsuit dismissed on May 1, saying that none of the several counts brought by the pro-nickname committee stated a sufficient legal claim under federal law.
The Spirit Lake committee filed its notice of appeal on June 1 and then turned its attention to the statewide referendum it had placed on the primary election ballot through a petition drive. Last Tuesday, North Dakota voters overwhelmingly rejected that effort and voted to allow UND to retire the nickname.
So is this a losing cause or does the Spirit Lake tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect have a chance to have their appeal heard? Personally, I think this lawsuit will be thrown out of court. I would love nothing more than to have the NCAA lose a lawsuit in court but I don’t think this lawsuit has a chance of moving forward.
