GRAND FORKS (AP) - A spokesman for the University of North Dakota says the university is not involved with the planned display of tribal flags in Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Peter Johnson says the arena on the UND campus is operated by an independent organization.

The arena is planning to display tribal flags today during pregame ceremonies for a UND men's hockey exhibition game, to honor the people and veterans of the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock reservations. It's offering transportation for tribal elders and veterans.

Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Ron His Horse Is Thunder, who opposes UND's "Fighting Sioux" nickname, has said the flag display is not an honor.

A settlement with the NCAA requires UND to gain approval from the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock tribal councils by the end of November 2010 to continue using its nickname without penalties.

A longtime Grand Forks attorney wants the state Board of Higher Education to set aside that settlement and take the case to trial.

Gordon Caldis contends that UND owns the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo and therefore should not be subject to NCAA jurisdiction.

The board is expected to discuss a response to Caldis' argument at its meeting Wednesday in Bismarck, President Richie Smith said.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who represented UND in the nickname case, said ownership of the nickname or logo wasn't at issue. Stenehjem said the issue was the NCAA's authority to enact its 2005 ban on the display of American Indian imagery during postseason play.

"While I respect Gordon for his strong and honest beliefs, we have accomplished through litigation all that we could," Stenehjem said.