The North Dakota Legislature will be facing three bills aimed at letting the University of North Dakota keep the Fighting Sioux nickname.

Rep. David Monson, R-Osnabrock, said he’s introducing a bill that will restore the Fighting Sioux logo if North Dakota’s two Sioux tribes give the State Board of Higher Education their blessing. A similar bill is being sponsored by Rep. Duane DeKrey, R-Pettibone.

Another bill by House Majority Leader Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, would just ban the board from taking any action to discontinue use of the nickname or logo.

“The Spirit Lake votes were not heard, and they’ve been disenfranchised,” Monson said, referring to the vote totals that were not considered by the Board of Higher Education because the Standing Rock Sioux tribe never scheduled a vote on the matter.

The former speaker of the house said he told the Spirit Lake tribal members that if they wanted a bill to keep the Fighting Sioux name, he’d be willing to introduce it.

“I’ve got people from Spirit Lake that are excited. I’ve got former alums, including myself that are excited,” at the prospect of getting the name back, Monson said.