“Fighting Sioux” settlement agreed to by both parties

The settlement agreement is signed.

Here are the highlights:

• UND has until November 30, 2010, to obtain namesake approval for its nickname and imagery
• Approval is only of the form of affirmative support from both the Standing Rock Tribe and Spirit Lake Tribe
• The NCAA pledges not to contact any Sioux tribes with any attempts to influence them to provide or not to provide support for UND
• The Spirit Lake Tribe’s 2000 resolution is recognized and will count, but only if an individual authorized to speak on behalf of the tribe affirmatively supports UND’s current use of the nickname and imagery
• The Standing Rock Tribe’s support must come in the form of a written resolution of approval adopted by any means authorized by Standing Rock’s Constitution
• Absent namesake approval, UND will announce a a transition to a new nickname within 30 days
• Such a transition must be accomplished by Aug. 15, 2011
• If the name is changed, imagery must be removed from any venue used to host an NCAA championship except: historical images, images embedded in architecture, items which will ultimately be replaced because of wear and tear.
• The NCAA will issue a statement to its members that application of its nickname policy to UND has been suspended, and that no institution should use it as a factor in regular season scheduling against UND
• If UND is removed from the list of institutions subject to the policy, it will be allowed to play regular season contests at venues it does not own that have not complied with the policy (venues it owns must comply with the policy, and championships will not be hosted at non-owned venues which do not comply)
• The NCAA will issue a statement that it recognizes UND is a leading institution in educating Native Americans and that it did not make any specific findings about a hostile or abusive environment on UND’s campus.