This marks my fifth year writing a “Welcome to UND” column. Things in the twin cities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks have changed greatly during that time. Restaurants have come and go, stores have opened and closed, and global warming has yet to hit our winters, much to the dismay of those of us here in January and February. For such a small city, there’s a fair amount of new things to learn about, see and do. As a voice of experience, having been here for the past six years, I’ve experienced almost everything there is to see, hear, and do in these Grand Cities. Here’s your (brief) guide of the places and people you need to hear about in your academic and professional careers.

Grand Forks’ mayor is Mike Brown. He can sometimes be seen  in the community and on campus. Mayor Brown is an OBGYN–Freshmen hopefully won’t need his prenatal services during their sentences here. The President of the University of North Dakota, Robert Kelley can often be found in and around his lair in Twamley Hall. Unlike past presidents of UND, Kelley is a very student-focused administrator that genuinely cares about our concerns as paying customers of the university. If you get the chance, introduce yourself to him or any member of his cabinet (those people with titles like “Vice President” and fancy nametags).  The administration here at UND used to be markedly less friendly toward students, but has seen several changes in personnel that have greatly improved the student experience here.

In Grand Forks proper, there are several places to go and things to see that are out of the ordinary for Grand Forks. Stop by the North Dakota Museum of Art behind Twamley Hall for a dose of culture unlike anywhere else in GFK.  Their current exhibits: Fantastic and No Lo Se are fascinating and very different. Get over your hangover and stop by the Farmer’s Market in downtown on Saturday mornings. Fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs abound. Culinarily “diverse,” in restaurants that have colors in their names, Grand Forks offers a wide array of places that offer fried foods and meat repackaged with different seasonings to meet a very bland North Dakota palate. The dining beat for the Grand Forks Herald is covered by a very grandmotherly-woman affectionately called the Grand Forks Grandma by members of my family. Her Wednesday Eatbeat restaurant reviews have provided many entertaining insights about napkin sizes, Shirley Temple refills, and hummus being “disgusting food dredged up by people with strange tastes.”

The University community continues to grow and develop, and is completely different than the school I came to as a freshman in 2004. There have been some things that remain the same (the Parking Office’s wanton raising of parking fees), but many things have changed. Some have been for the better (the divisive and racist Fighting Sioux nickname retiring) and other things for the worse (have you activated your UND Pride Card, and therefore shared your private information with a third party yet?). Grand Forks as a community is far from the perfect paradise many people here will try to convince you it is. There still aren’t cultural food options, and the community’s attitude toward outsiders of both origination and race/religion/sexual orientation/political belief need improvement. Some of the things I’ve seen and experienced as a Jewish person here are unlike anything I’ve encountered in 38 states and 23 countries. If you do happen to fall into one of those “different” groups, please stay strong. If you are one of the majority, be open to new people, new ideas, and new experiences.

Like it or not, Grand Forks is the place we have chosen to live, study, eat, and play in. Make your experience here for the duration of your degree the best possible—participate, have fun, make mistakes, see the world, and, most importantly, don’t die from hypothermia. Good luck this year!

There are no greater events during the past year that have greater foreboding on the University and the larger Grand Forks community than decisions that were made in March and April of this past year. A board was convened, decisions were voted upon and ultimate statements were made: the editorial board of the Grand Forks Herald decided to publish a restaurant review of McDonalds, written by (previously mentioned in past articles) the Grand Forks Grandma. Whether extolling on the philosophical virtues of the profit margins on soda or remarking how instead of a Mocha Frappe that she should “stick to the plain coffee,” the Grand Forks Grandma continued to place the Grand Forks restaurant scene on the cutting edge of journalism in the city.

While on the topic of journalism and things that make people laugh, the Twamley Shuffle made its published debut on campus. Featuring satirical articles about the people and places at UND, this newspaper is everything the Student Journal (the one-time “competitor” to the Dakota Student) was, but without the serious mission statement and fiscal mismanagement. Sean Lee and his team get mad props from this opinion columnist for the hilarious photo/article combo on the student search for Upson Hall. I, for one, wish them the best of luck next year.

In aviation news, the merger between Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines was finalized in January, thereby giving travelers flying out of Grand Forks (like myself) something new to complain about. This merger has been a mixed blessing for the city and its people: we still haven’t found our unicorn (westbound flights), but can now find ourselves crammed into a sub-human existence onboard one of six (!) Delta Connection Canadair Regional Jet flights to Minneapolis each day. The airport and business community considered this a major victory. They obviously haven’t flown on these airplanes before.

Speaking of things that get up and fly away, this year was yet another banner year of travel for me, much of which, unfortunately, was on Delta Airlines. Bushwhackers on St. John, USVI; Guinness in Dublin; Pilsner Urquell in Prague—I made sure to leave just a small part of my liver in each location around the world. Thanks in large part to the experiences I’ve had and people I’ve met on these journeys, I will continue to lobby readers of the Dakota Student to get the hell out of this sometimes cold, often windy part of the country.

Far and away, the biggest news of the year from the campus of the University of North Dakota was the recently announced retirement of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo. Nothing has stirred the emotions and opinions of the community in the past several years like this decision. Feelings continue to run high, both on-campus and on Facebook groups devoted to the logo. One of the biggest things gleaned out of the entire situation was that, should I be asked to return to Grand Forks and UND for a ceremony in my “honor,” I should expect nothing less than people asking me to “kiss [their] white ass[es]” and claiming that I should return the tuition waivers and scholarships I received as an Honors student and Graduate Service Assistant. In the ensuing onslaught of comments online, the true nature of fans both pro-and-anti logo was revealed. Quotes from Ralph Engelstad and Thomas Jefferson were thrown out for debate (“To Adolf, From Ralph” was conspicuously absent from the discussion). Some hold onto a fleeting hope that their “beloved” Sioux might return. Frankly, I hope it doesn’t. UND has a grand opportunity at its doorstep: a new beginning. One in which everyone can move forward, standing proud behind a logo that doesn’t ostracize, stereotype, offend or marginalize. A logo that, according to President Kelley, will not be the Flickertails.

For that, we can all be thankful.

Have a great summer! Be safe, have fun, and congratulations to this year’s graduates!

You can download it here.

If you’d like more information, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me.

“I can’t see it the way they do because I’m not Native American. I’m not. I’m Caucasian. Umm…so I can’t really see their perspective and how they feel about it [the nickname issue].”

In three sentences, this nameless UND student interviewed at last week’s rally at the Ralph Engelstad Arena demonstrates why the University of North Dakota, and, as an extension, the city of Grand Forks and the surrounding area, does not deserve the Fighting Sioux moniker/mascot/logo. As a result of our community’s ignorance, racism and lack of perception, we have done nothing to reach out and truly honor our Native brothers and sisters, contrary to what so many people claim. Over the past week, I’ve scanned newspaper articles, message boards, and Facebook with a great interest to see if President Kelley’s prediction about a mature and just community able to handle the change in an adult manner would hold true.

What I found were comments that range from the outlandish (“ther isnt one true native american alive in the usa there blood line has waterd down with other races tradition doesnt make you native american”) to the just plain stupid (”Board of Higher Education” and the others that didnt like our nickname can all kiss my white ass!”) and the outright racist (“Not to sound racist but the new team name should be the North Dakota Fighting Prarie Negro’s just to piss the sioux off even more hahahah”). Much as I would have wished it possible, I did not make these up. Actual people, on actual Facebook groups said these things. What does that say about a community that “honors” the now-retired nickname and logo? It’s obvious that President Kelley’s statement was nothing more than wishful thinking.

The internet often empowers people to say and do things that they wouldn’t normally do in real life. I really wanted to give President Kelley’s assertion a chance. With that in mind, I headed out with a personal recording device in-hand to the two “demonstrations” that were held outside of Twamley and the Ralph Engelstad Arena. I use the term “demonstration” lightly here, because I don’t consider a group of 40 people singing “In Heaven There is No Beer” or 300 people posing for a picture to be quite the level of attempted-message delivery and civil disobedience associated with most demonstrations. What I overheard and talked with people about during that two hours was, although a bit toned down, still pretty intolerant and ignorant.

There were several people clamoring for the removal of non-existent “free rides” for American Indian students. How many times does it have to be stated that Native American students graduate with just as much, if not more, debt than your average Joe Halvorson or Christina Aasen from Grand Forks or Tioga? Would those clamoring for “equal treatment” also advocate for the removal of full-ride scholarships and special treatment for athletes that play for the all-too-beloved sports teams on campus?

On the periphery of the 300+ person demonstraphoto were media people from various organizations (like myself), Shriners from the circus held at the Ralph, one enterprising clown from the same event, and several other outsiders. Among the latter, there were several Native Americans. I soon found myself sitting with two UND students, both of whom were quite visibly frustrated by what was going on. In the emotional discussion that soon followed, I realized what a comparable situation these students were facing was to my own life: that of watching a demonstration of neo-Nazis chant and yell anti-Semetic comments at no one in particular, yet those comments still finding their way toward my heart, my beliefs, and my people.

One of the two students with whom I observed the crowd with brought up an even more damning and sad observation to the nickname saga: there were more people and UND students in attendance at the demonstraphoto than there were at the last Wacipi. There is no clearer evidence to show that the “honor” shown by the majority of Fighting Sioux fans was skin deep and superficial at best.

Tonight, nickname supporters will once again meet and walk together in a demonstration of solidarity. Danielle Sime, a community member who planned the walk said in a recent Grand Forks Herald article: “this is a peaceful walk to bring everyone together to show our support for Native Americans and to show how much we do honor the Sioux name and logo.” The timing of Sime’s walk of “honor” places the event during the opening ceremony of the Wacipi. The irony of the decision to ignore an important cultural event is not lost on this Dakota Student columnist.

Instead of segregating, it should be the goal of everyone on campus and in our community to show true honor and respect by attending the Time Out Week events and Wacipi, celebrating the rich cultural heritage Native Americans.

The old saying goes: “Never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his mocassins.” We haven’t taken more than a few steps in the past 80 years. Let’s go forth together with a great stride. I’ll be at the Wacipi Grand Entry at 7PM tonight. Will you?

“First Conan, now this. “
It’s an incredibly vague pop-culture reference! Personally, I prefer this post to the “THE NICKNAME CHANGE IS OBAMA’S FAULT” posts, but still…come on people!

“We could always call them the Fighting Blackjack Dealers”

“I ♥ Souix!”
This girl honors tolerates really doesn’t have a clue “honors” the American Indian people enough to spell the name correctly!

I must give props to where they are due for the next poster, who accurately portrays the entire idiocy surrounding the situation:
“I think you are relying too much on a mascot name and not enough about the actual education provided by the school. If you want to show support, put some effort into finding a replacement for the mascot and put more emphasis on the educational opportunities of this school.’

TODAY’S WINNING POST:

“Who cares where it started, the whole ‘controversy’ was started and sustained by a bunch of whining liberal bedwetters from our backyard all the way to the NCAA.”

This post is ignorant to all of the whining conservative bedwetters that were against the logo.

“THERE ALL A BUNCH OF WINNES AND THE PRES. OF UND IS A SPIANELESS LITTLE GIRL I HOPE THE ALUM. THAT ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS SEND THERE MONEY TO OTHER COLLAGES IN ND”

Alum. that are not happy should send there money to the collage I just made out of magazine clippings. All benefits go toward the Martin Rottler Foundation.”

“Cancel all “Freebies” that are given out.”
“no more free education, a few shouldnt be to ruin it for everyone”
“if this is going to go through they need to get rid of the statue in the front….. and enough of the free college Crap”
“What happened with the deal they made with the original sioux tribal members when UND became the Sioux? Obviously that doesn’t matter thats why certain people go to UND and don’t have to pay for it…. Hopefully since this contract was broken these certain people don’t continue to get their education paid for anymore!”
“well if theres no more” fighting sioux”, then there should be no more FREE school.”
“so if I find it Offensive that native americans get to go to UND for free and have a Native American studies program and Native American education week….will they “retire” that too?”
“i think since we can’t keep the name that the indains can fuck themselves… they shouldn’t get to go to school for free anymore”

I can’t believe people are still bringing this “argument” up! AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS DO NOT GO TO SCHOOL FOR FREE! It’s been mentioned time and time again.

Leave the Fighting Sioux name alone let the tribe to there name to YAHOO FLICKERTAILS.
Yeah, this isn’t insensitive at all.

“no matter what they will always remain the fighting Soiux”
“We will always be the UND Fighting Souix! It will take the fraternities and sororities to help keep our legend alive. Let us never forget! Fighting Souix Forever!!!”
“soui lives forever and will always be remeber by who care!!!!!!!! whos with me ??”
“Always the Fightting Siuux !!!”

This is a unique class of Facebook nickname supporters: those that care SO MUCH, they don’t care to spell correctly. At least give people that much respect…

Winner of the Day Runner-Up

THE WINNER OF THE DAY:

“Not to sound racist but the new team name should be the North Dakota Fighting Prarie Negro’s just to piss the sioux off even more hahahah”

Filed under: grand forks, The Nodak Experience, University of North Dakota Tagged: fighting sioux, grand forks, nickname, north dakota, University of North Dakota ]]>