The University of Minnesota's Advisory Committee on Athletics will meet April 5, but university representatives said they do not know whether the committee will discuss its policy against playing nonconference teams with American Indian nicknames.
The committee decided to revisit that policy at a closed door meeting in February, re-opening the possibility of contests against UND's Fighting Sioux teams after the school begins its scheduled move to NCAA Division I athletics next year.
Chairperson Melissa Avery would not say after the February meeting what process the committee will follow in reviewing the policy and what other groupswill be involved in the decision.
Calls to Avery about the April meeting were forwarded to David Ruth with the school's Office of University Relations. Ruth said he knows the date of the meeting, but not what will be discussed. Other committee members said they haven't received anagenda for the meeting.
The U of M's current policy allows hockey games between the two schools because they are in the same league, but does not allow competition in other sports. That policy was adopted in 2003, but not strictly enforced until last November when thecommittee reaffirmed its support.
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Regular games between the neighboring schools could bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars for both schools.
UND is suing the NCAA over a mandate barring the school from displaying its logo in postseason play or hosting playoff games. The school won a temporary injunction allowing it to retain its nickname until the case goes to trial Dec. 10. Nickname opponents have cited the Minnesota policy as another argument for dropping the lawsuit and complying with the NCAA policy.
