BISMARCK - Members of the state Board of Higher Education in a meeting this morning did not speed up the timetable for resolving the nickname issue at the University of North Dakota.
Chancellor Bill Goetz told board members he expects a committee that's working on a resolution could meet as soon as February.
Several members have accepted positions on the committee representing UND constituencies, but Goetz has yet to secure tribal representation on the committee.
Goetz said he has had discussions Ron His Horse is Thunder, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, who has previously spoken strongly against the nickname.
"We had an open discussion, but really no change in terms of his views in representing the tribal council at Standing Rock," Goetz said.
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He still plans to speak with Myra Pearson, chairwoman of the Spirit Lake Sioux Nation.
Goetz wants to have two representatives from each of the Sioux tribes.
The board has about a year from now to work out a resolution. If no progress has been made by next January, UND must begin a transition to a new nickname, said Board President Richie Smith.
Committee members who have accepted positions are:
- Bob Boyd, UND vice president for student and outreach services.
- Steve Burian, a Grand Forks engineer who will represent the UND Alumni Association.
- UND law student Jeremy Lunde.
- Jody Hodgson, general manager of the Ralph Engelstad Arena. Goetz said he will serve on the committee at the direction of the Engelstad Family Foundation.
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- Higher education board member Grant Shaft of Grand Forks.
For more on this story, read Friday's Forum.
