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"The North Dakota Fighting Sioux" is the name of the athletic teams of the University Of North Dakota (UND) which is located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota . The name is often shortened to simply "'''The Sioux'''". The current logo is a Native American figure. The logo was designed by a local artist of Ojibwa ethnicity. ATHLETICS Division I:
Division II:
The Fighting Sioux Hockey teams (men's and women's) compete at Division I, while the men's Football , men's and women's Basketball , women's Soccer , and women's Volleyball teams all compete at Division II. The Sioux have a proven track record of being very competitive in both divisions. The men's hockey team is easily the most recognized and enshrined of all teams at UND (seven national championships). They play in the $100+ million Ralph Engelstad Arena . The arena has been called one the greatest hockey facilities in the world. The men's football program has been growing in stature and popularity in recent years. All home football games are held in the Alerus Center . The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center is used for basketball and volleyball games. CONTROVERSY Over the years, controversy has arisen over the name and logo used by the teams. UND's nickname was originally "The Flickertails", but was changed to The Fighting Sioux officially in 1930. Guest editorials that appeared at that time in the '' Dakota Student '' (the UND student newspaper) noted that (1)"''Sioux are a good exterminating agent for Bison''" (the mascot of the nearby North Dakota State University team), (2)"''They are warlike, of fine physique and bearing''", and (3)"''The word Sioux is easily rhymed for yells and songs''". The choice of the name was also influenced by the Fighting Irish athletic teams of the University Of Notre Dame (another "UND"). Today, critics of the name say that it is a racist stereotype, while supporters say that it is unoffensive and is a source of pride. Over the years, the debate has proven to be a divisive issue at the University. In 2000, twenty-one separate Native American-related programs, departments, and organizations at UND signed a statement opposing the continued use of the nickname and logo, saying that it did not honor them or their culture. It is worth noting that the University does not maintain a mascot. Former Fighting Sioux hockey player and wealthy alumnus Ralph Engelstad donated $100 million dollars for the construction of Ralph Engelstad Arena . This is one of the largest philanthropic donations ever made to a public institution of higher learning. During construction of the arena, Engelstad threatened to abruptly cease work if the nickname was changed. The North Dakota State Board Of Higher Education froze discussion on the issue by insisting that the team name remain the same. One of Engelstad's conditions for his donation was that the university keep the Fighting Sioux name indefinitely. Engelstad placed thousands of Fighting Sioux logos in numerous places throughout the arena to make physical removal of the logo very costly if attempted. Debate was reignited in 2005 following a decision by the NCAA to sanction schools with tribal nicknames. UND President Charles Kupchella has sought an appeal to reverse the sanctions, as Florida State University has successfully done. Kupchella has kept the possibility of a lawsuit against the NCAA afloat and gained the support of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education to do so, in the event that the appeals to the NCAA do not succeed. Today, the movement to abandon the name and logo is led by several Native American tribes, various UND faculty members, and Native American student organizations, while the movement to keep the Fighting Sioux name is led by UND administration, athletic officials, and most fans and participants. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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