Apr 9th, 2018
This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles: • VCSU President’s Column: Memories of the flood
• Health care lecture to be held Thursday
• Bluegrass jam to be held at museum Saturday
• Share input on livability survey
• Come one, come all, to the annual VCSU Scholarship Auction!
• Students elect officers, approve new structure for Student Senate
• Potts named ‘Staff Member of the Quarter’
• Klingenberg receives public health service award
• Meyers elected president of N.D. chapter of Percussive Arts Society
• Dutton, Da Vinha present at international studies convention
• Viking sports update
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
The VCSU Hotline! online newsletter is published every Monday during the academic year. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. the Friday before publication. VCSU President’s Column: Memories of the flood Margaret Dahlberg, Ph.D., interim president
The last week of March this year, it rained, sleeted, and snowed. Heavy, wet snow. Someone told me it looked like feathers floating down. My first thought, however, was about the river—how high is it? How will this affect it? Maybe that was your first thought, too. The flood of 2009 is almost 10 years ago, yet I still worry about flooding every spring around Easter weekend.
It was Easter weekend in 2009 that President Shirley and Facilities Director Ron Pommerer maintained a 24-hour watch on campus, headquartered in the Facilities Building, and it was Easter Monday when we decided to close the campus for several days. By the end of the week, the city’s sanitary system was overwhelmed, and those of us still on campus started using port-a-potties, along with everyone else in Valley City.
Students who had gone home for Easter break did not return to campus, and all others were sent home, many to help their families in their own flood fight. This was my first month as interim VPAA, and the first big decision I dealt with was to direct faculty to work from home, or wherever they were, and finish the semester online.
This was not as difficult as it might seem, since every VCSU course already had an online presence, and many faculty already used this online area for course materials. But the result of this decision has been significant: summer courses are now almost all online, since faculty have learned to appreciate the flexibility this mode of instruction provides during the summer months.
The campus culture also shifted. Students had spent long hours in March 2009 filling and placing sandbags to protect areas where dikes could not go. They learned the value of community service and the warm relationships that can develop as we help one another. In the years that followed, students themselves placed more emphasis on service and leadership, requiring service projects of all clubs and organizations. In addition, the already strong bonds between the town and campus seemed stronger, with community members testifying on our behalf at legislative sessions, and our campus representatives working with legislators to help fund the flood wall.
The landscape along the river has also changed over the past nine years. So many houses are gone; now even the old mill has been leveled to make way for more permanent flood protection. On our campus, one building still sits on the wrong side of the flood wall, one building that will require additional protection should we have another flood. Someday we will replace that building with a new Communication and Fine Arts building on higher ground—soon, I hope.
Challenges like the 2009 flood bring out the best in many people, as we work together to solve problems and support each other. Cooperation with city and county leadership, the public schools, and the university are very important as we prepare ourselves for a variety of public safety concerns. Together we make Valley City better.
Health care lecture to be held Thursday Patrick Gulbranson, chief executive officer of Family HealthCare, will speak on “Health Care Here and There: How Do We Compare?” on Thursday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in Rhoades Science Center 102. Sponsored by “What in the World Is Going On?,” Gulbranson’s presentation will address health care in the United States compared to other developed countries, along with a look at community health centers.
Gulbranson holds a master’s degree in public, human service and health administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a bachelor’s degree in health care administration and long-term care administration from Concordia College (Moorhead). Family HealthCare is a family-oriented primary care clinic serving the Fargo-Moorhead area.
The event is open to the public free of charge. Bluegrass jam to be held at museum Saturday This month’s Valley City bluegrass jam session is set for Saturday, April 14, from 1–5 p.m. at the Barnes County Museum. The acoustic-only jam is free and open to the public; beginning bluegrass musicians are welcome.
The jam is sponsored by the Bluegrass Association of North Dakota (B.A.N.D.) and the Barnes County Museum. For more information, call John Andrus at 701-762-4891. Share input on livability survey As part of Governor Burgum’s Main Street initiative, a survey is being shared in communities throughout North Dakota to help analyze opportunities and challenges unique to each community. This survey asks questions about livability to better understand why citizens live where they do and help determine changes that can be made to improve quality of life.
The Valley City–Barnes County Development Corporation is asking citizens of Valley City and Barnes County to participate in this process to help shape the future of our community. High numbers of completed surveys will help point our community in a direction that fits the wants and needs of its citizens.
If you haven’t done so already, please take a few minutes to complete the survey, available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQYJMNW, by Sunday, April 15. Come one, come all, to the annual VCSU Scholarship Auction! Come one, come all, to the annual VCSU Scholarship Auction!
Ladies and gentlemen. Step right up, don’t be shy! Get your tickets now for an unforgettable night of fun and fundraising!
Join us under the Eagles Big Top for a circus extravaganza! Right before your very eyes…see the amazing acrobatic auctioneers, behold bidding beyond human bound, marvel in magnificent music, and feast on our fabulous food and refreshing refreshments!
It’s the greatest show on earth, and it’s here, one night only, April 20, in Valley City!
Tickets are $45 each, which includes admission, two beverage tickets, a full buffet dinner and five chances to win $100 (need not be present to win).
The Scholarship Auction is a collaborative effort of the VCSU Booster Board and V-500 Board. All proceeds from the event are split 50/50 to V-500 and Century Club scholarships. Last year a total of 450 tickets were sold, and auction proceeds exceeded $80,000.
A social hour and silent auction will begin at 5 p.m. During this time participants are encouraged to check out the large variety of gift baskets and other items available and place silent bids. The buffet dinner will be served from 6–7:30 p.m.
The live auction will kick off at 7 p.m. This is your chance to bid on some great deals while contributing to an outstanding cause. All proceeds from the auction go directly to scholarships. Items up for bid include an Apple Watch, Aquaglide Towable Swim Platform, Amazon Echo, Kitchen Aid mixer, iPad, car washes, casino packages, restaurant certificates…and the list goes on. Check our website at vcsualumni.org (click on the “Auction” button) on April 13 for a complete list of auction items.
For more information regarding the VCSU Scholarship Auction, to purchase tickets or to donate an item, call the VCSU Foundation Office at 701-845-7203. Students elect officers, approve new structure for Student Senate On April 4, students elected Autumn Johnson as 2018–19 Student Senate president and Daniel Machado as vice president.
The student body also approved a new governance structure for Student Senate. The changes include reducing the size of Student Senate from 33 members to 25 and replacing all 17 faculty/staff appointed seats with seats elected by students (department chairs and club advisors will no longer appoint students to VCSU’s Student Senate).
“Throughout the years, faculty and staff have appointed deserving students to Student Senate, and we are grateful for the support provided for our organization,” said Niklas Ernst, current Student Senate president. “However, I am convinced that the new governance structure of an entirely student-elected senate will allow us to be more accountable to students and to represent them more accurately, which will ultimately strengthen our voice. We are looking forward to continuing our work with all faculty and staff members at VCSU.” Potts named ‘Staff Member of the Quarter’ Mark Potts, director for sports information, was recently named “Staff Member of the Quarter.”
Margaret Dahlberg, interim president, shared the first nomination which read, in part, “Mark Potts works tirelessly in not only supporting our athletics with his information and audio-visual services. Mark does this with a very positive attitude and the utmost respect for the students, faculty and other staff.”
His second nomination read, “Mark does an outstanding job of promoting VCSU athletics. His work involves many nights and weekends, and he carries a heavy workload with a can-do attitude. His work is always of high quality, and he never stops thinking about what he can do next to support Viking athletic programs and VCSU in general.”
Congratulations, Mark! Klingenberg receives public health service award Erin Klingenberg, VCSU director for counseling services and assistant professor, received the 2017 Public Health Outstanding Service Award from the City-County Health District (CCHD) on Thursday, April 5.
The award was given at a town hall discussion on “The Opioid Epidemic: Seeking Solutions in North Dakota” held at the Hi-Liner Activity Center in Valley City. The presentation to Klingenberg and the discussion were part of local recognition of National Public Health Week, April 2–8.
Theresa Will, CCHD administrator, and Sharon Buhr, chair of the CCHD Health Board, made the award presentation to Klingenberg. Will cited Klingenberg’s involvement in local public health initiatives: “This community member has been very active in our local Behavioral Health Coalition, providing thoughtful input and assistance in filling the gaps for behavioral health services, also serving on the core group who does the leg work between our quarterly behavioral health coalition meetings. She is serving on the advisory group for the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis grant, helping to dig deeper into the issues of substance use and determine local solutions. She has volunteered much of her time to instruct numerous Mental Health First Aid classes in our community.…She is known as a ‘Difference Maker’ at VCSU and we know that she has been and will continue to be a ‘Difference Maker’ for our public’s health. Please help me in recognizing Erin Klingenberg as the Public Health Outstanding Service recipient.” Meyers elected president of N.D. chapter of Percussive Arts Society Nicholaus Meyers, D.M.A., assistant professor of music and director of bands, was recently elected president of the North Dakota chapter of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS).
As president, Meyers will oversee the annual Day of Percussion and other percussion-related activities throughout the year in North Dakota. Meyers is also the chair of the PAS Composition Committee. This in an international committee which contributes original compositions to Rhythm! Scene, presents panel discussions at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Conference) and promotes the creation of new works and education for percussion composition. Dutton, Da Vinha present at international studies convention Anthony Dutton, Ph.D., and Luis da Vinha, Ph.D., of the VCSU Social Science Department each presented at the International Studies Association (ISA) 2018 Annual Convention held in San Francisco, Calif., April 3–7. The conference brought together 4,000 academics to explore the theme “Rules of Power, Power of Rules.”
Dutton, associate professor and department chair , presented “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Changing Politics of Mongolia’s Mineral Wealth,” which examines the debate over regulation of the mining sector in light of political and economic change in contemporary Mongolia. This paper marks a continuation of Dutton’s research on modern Mongolia, growing out of his recent National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Workshop fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania and last year’s American Center for Mongolian Studies language studies fellowship in Ulaanbaatar.
Da Vinha, assistant professor, chaired the panel on Early Assessments of the Trump Foreign Policy and presented a paper titled “The Art of Muddling Through: An Early Assessment of Foreign Policy-Making in the Trump Administration.” The paper used a structured-focus comparison method to analyze how Trump’s advisory system functioned in decisions to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, decertify the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Viking sports update Softball
Thursday: VCSU 2, Bellevue 1; VCSU 11, Bellevue 1
The Viking softball team swept a double-header Thursday at Bellevue University in its only action of the week. Friday’s games were canceled due to weather. The Vikings are now 27-8 overall and 10-3 in the NSAA.
Baseball
Thursday: Bellevue 7, VCSU 0; VCSU 5, Bellevue 4; Bellevue 16, VCSU 0
Valley City State’s baseball team went 1-2 on Thursday during a triple-header at Bellevue University. The Vikings won the second game by a score of 5-4. VCSU is now 9-19 overall this season and 3-7 in the North Star Athletic Association.
Upcoming Events
April 13–14: Track & Field @ Sioux City Relays (Sioux City, Iowa)
April 14–15: Softball vs. Dakota State University - Location TBD
April 14–15: Baseball vs. Dakota State University - Location TBD
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City… Monday, April 9
Spring blast week
National Library Week: Match the volume with the Viking competition (all week), VCSU Allen Memorial Library
5:30–7 p.m. Barnes County United Way Spaghetti Feed
Tuesday, April 10
9–4 p.m. National Library Week: Meet new librarian, Emily Dafoe (special prize while supplies last), VCSU Allen Memorial Library
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
Wednesday, April 11
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
2–5 p.m. National Library Week: Cookies, coffee and lemonade, VCSU Allen Memorial Library
Thursday, April 12
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
9 a.m.–9 p.m. National Library Week: Classic Comedy movies, VCSU Allen Memorial Library
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room
Friday, April 13
Payday
National Library Week: Sonnet Mad Libs, VCSU Allen Memorial Library
7:30 p.m. Kobayashi/Grey Duo guest artists, Vangstad auditorium
Saturday, April 14
8 a.m.–5 p.m. Junk in the Valley, ND Winter Show Event Center
Sunday, April 15
Viking golf at Concordia Invite, Maple River Golf Course, Mapleton, N.D.
Monday, April 16
Viking golf at Concordia Invite, Maple River Golf Course, Mapleton, N.D.
Tuesday, April 17
11 a.m. General student recital, Froemke auditorium
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
Wednesday, April 18
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
Thursday, April 19
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room
Friday, April 20
5 p.m. VCSU Scholarship Auction, Valley City Eagles Club
Saturday, April 21
Sunday, April 22
Earth Day
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