And then there were three: The final choices for UND's nickname

North Dakota's hockey team faces Boston
North Dakota's hockey team faces Boston
Maddie Meyer | Getty Images


"Fighting Hawks," "NoDaks," and "Rough Riders" are the final options for the new University of North Dakota nickname.

Maybe.

Those associated with the university can vote online, starting today, for their favorite.

"But they have said that there will not be a new nickname until it gets 50 percent of the vote," said MPR News' Laura McCallum, who is a UND alumna herself.

McCallum joined MPR News' Tom Weber to talk about the latest step in finding the school a nickname. The school's previous nickname, Fighting Sioux, was retired several years ago after it was deemed offensive to Native Americans.

"Fighting Hawks" was the favorite in last month's preliminary vote, but only earned approximately 30 percent of the vote. Current UND students, faculty and staff, school alumni and retirees, donors, and athletic event season ticket holders are all eligible to vote.