Official: Nickname lawsuit won't change plans

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GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – Board of Higher Education President Grant Shaft says a lawsuit filed by Spirit Lake tribal members who support the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname is not likely to change plans to retire it.

Shaft says he doesn't expect the board to alter the course it set in August when it directed UND to begin preparing to retire the nickname. State lawmakers during a special legislative session next week are expected to repeal a bill passed earlier this year requiring UND to keep the nickname.

The NCAA has refused to back away from promised sanctions on UND if it keeps the nickname. The Spirit Lake supporters say the threatened sanctions violate religious and constitutional rights of Sioux tribes. Their attorney says the case won't be heard until 2013.