UND3  Update….

A judge Monday denied a request from a Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe member and others to block the vote. The group claimed the Sioux have been excluded from the nickname process and the vote.

Previously…

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – A Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe member, a Republican lawmaker and a Native American former National Hockey League player have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a vote to change the school nickname at the University of North Dakota.
 
     The lawsuit asks for the suspension of a vote on a new nickname set for Monday. It also seeks to require that “UND/North Dakota” be included in any vote to change the name.
 
     The lawsuit says the Sioux have been excluded from the nickname process and the vote, which is limited to people with ties to the university.
 
     Bringing the suit are tribal member Lavonne Alberts, Rep. Richard Becker and former hockey player William Le Caine.
 
     The plaintiffs’ attorney wasn’t available for comment. A university spokesman didn’t immediately return a telephone message.