The president of United Tribes Technical College applauds a recent vote in Fort Yates against the Fighting Sioux nickname.

David Gipp said Thursday that the move should be a clear signal to the University of North Dakota that it's time to give up the nickname and move on.

Last Friday, the tribal council on the Standing Rock Reservation approved a resolution that reaffirmed its opposition to UND's nickname and logo. The vote was 8-1.

"As an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and alumnus of the University of North Dakota, I commend the Standing Rock Tribal Council for its action Nov. 9, reaffirming the tribe's long-standing opposition to the use of the 'Fighting Sioux' nickname and logo by UND," Gipp said in a prepared statement. "This 'definitive' statement from the tribe is a clear signal to the NCAA and the North Dakota Attorney General that these outmoded symbols should be put to rest."

In 2005, the NCAA banned the use of the Fighting Sioux nickname in postseason play, saying it was hostile and abusive. The school appealed the decision twice, to no satisfaction, before challenging the ruling in a lawsuit against the association last year.

A settlement between UND and the NCAA on Oct. 26 gave the school three years to lobby for support among the state's Sioux Indian community - namely, the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake tribes. The resolution approved in Fort Yates last week said the tribe "rejects the notion that the Tribal Council will change the Tribe's position concerning the use of UND 'Fighting Sioux' nickname and logo in the next three years and rejects the possibility that UND can 'win the support' of the SRST on this issue."

Should the tribes demand a change by the end of the grace period, UND would have to remove most of the Indian imagery from its Grand Forks campus. It could keep historical items and items embedded in the architecture.

On Wednesday, UNDspokesman Peter Johnson said the school is looking forward to having conversations with the tribes.

Gipp said that would be a good thing - if they could talk about something else.

"If state officials truly seek dialogue and interaction with tribes and tribal leaders, there are plenty of other topics and issues on which to base productive relationships that would benefit all North Dakota citizens,"Gipp said.

To read the resolution, go to http://www.bismarcktribune.com/photos/pdfs/UNDresolution.pdf.