This week's Hotline! includes the following articles:

• Skroch to speak on ‘Otzi the Iceman’
• 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.

Skroch to speak on ‘Otzi the Iceman’

Diana Skroch, Ph.D., professor emeritus of music, will speak on “Otzi the Iceman” at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at the Barnes County Museum. Skroch’s presentation, open to the public free of charge, is part of season 19 of the Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series.

On Sept. 19, 1991, two Germans, Helmut and Erika Simon, were hiking in the Oetzal Alps. It had been an unusually warm summer, much of the snow at the high altitudes had disappeared, and the trail was treacherous and difficult to follow. Slowly making their way down the mountain, they stumbled onto one of the greatest discoveries of the modern age. The body that they found preserved in the ice, revealed by the melting glacier, was eventually determined to be 5,300 years old—older than the pyramids, older than Stonehenge. Analysis of the body and the accompanying artifacts moved back the dates of the Copper Age and provided a wealth of new information about Neolithic man.

In 2017, Skroch and Joe Stickler spent two months exploring Italy. A passionate traveler, Skroch will share photos and experiences from their visit to Italy’s northernmost province, South Tyrol-Alto Adige, and the Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, now the Iceman’s permanent home.

Skroch holds a doctorate in music education and piano pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in piano performance from the University of North Dakota, and a bachelor’s degree in music, art and Spanish from VCSU.

Viking sports update

Track & Field
The VCSU track and field team won five individual conference titles and had 22 All-Conference performances during the North Star Athletic Association Outdoor Track & Field Championships held last week. Megan Johnson (long jump, triple jump), Bryeann Robertson (shot put), Allyssa Weitkum (800 meters) and Kyle Odegard (javelin) all won titles during the two-day meet in Madison, S.D. VCSU’s men’s and women’s team both placed third out of six teams, scoring the most team points since the program was reinstated in 2010. The men’s recap can be found at www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3042, while the women’s recap is available at www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3043.

Upcoming Events
May 24–26: Track & Field @ NAIA Championships (Gulf Shores, Ala.)

What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

Monday, May 14

Tuesday, May 15
Ramadan begins at sundown
Payday
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, May 16
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, May 17
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Syttende Mai Buffet Luncheon, Valley City Eagles Club
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
7 p.m. “Otzi the Iceman,” Diana Skroch, Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series, Barnes County Museum

Friday, May 18

Saturday, May 19

Sunday, May 20

Monday, May 21

Tuesday, May 22
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, May 23
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, May 24
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room

Friday, May 25

Saturday, May 26

Sunday, May 27

Monday, May 28
Memorial Day
VCSU offices closed

Go to www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.