The NCAA will ask a Grand Forks Circuit Court judge today to shield documents from public view in its court case against UND over the Fighting Sioux nickname.
The hearing will take place at 3:30 p.m. in the Grand Forks County Courthouse.
Most of the documents the NCAA would like to shield from the public are documented discussions within the NCAA Executive Committee while it was drafting its 2006 policy on American Indian nicknames and imagery, according to North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem.
UND is suing the NCAA over that policy, which bans the school from displaying its nickname or logo in postseason play. Stenehjem's office is representing UND in the case. UND won a temporary injunction in the case, allowing it to retain the nickname until December, when the case is slated to go to trial.
Stenehjem said that first the NCAA contacted him asking to enter into a broad confidentiality agreement. Under it, both sides would be able to pick documents they want kept from public view during the case.
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After Stenehjem told the NCAA that he did not believe the record legally could be kept from the public, the NCAA filed a motion asking the judge to close the records, Stenehjem said.
Stenehjem said he would have no problem with the NCAA concealing sensitive financial information or other documents that would put the association at a competitive disadvantage.
