GRAND FORKS, N.D., Nov. 18 (UPI) — The “Fighting Sioux” are officially no more.
University of North Dakota President Robert Kelley announced Wednesday that the school, which dropped the nickname in 2012 after complaints that it was offensive to American Indians, will now be known as the Fighting Hawks.
“I think this name underscores the tremendous competitive spirit of our athletic teams, our student-athletes and the entirety of the University of North Dakota, expressing our state spirit and the fact that UND continues to ascend to newer heights on a daily basis,” Kelley told the Star-Tribune.
The Fighting Hawks will also soon have a new logo design, according to the Star-Tribune.
Old Fighting Sioux logos in the school’s hockey arena will remain in place.
Online election results totaled 27,378 votes, with the Fighting Hawks nickname earning 57.24 percent of the total. The “Roughriders” nickname finished in second place with 42.76 percent of the vote.
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