This week's Hotline! includes the following articles:

• Plains historian Isern to speak at museum Thursday evening
• ‘What in the World…’ to sponsor Measure 1 discussion Thursday night
• Viking sports update
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

The VCSU Hotline! online newsletter is published every Monday. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. the Friday before publication.

Plains historian Isern to speak at museum Thursday evening

Tom Isern, North Dakota State University distinguished professor of history, will present “Pacing North Dakota” at 7 pm. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Barnes County Museum. Open to the public free of charge, Isern's presentation is part of season 20 of the Barnes County Historical Society lecture series.

A specialist in the history of the Great Plains, Isern will draw his lecture from his recent book, also titled “Pacing North Dakota.” Described as a memoir, “The narrative transitions from the close confines of historical archives into the prairie landscapes of the northern plains. It speaks with the mingled voices of scholarly historian, outdoor sportsman, culinary enthusiast, lifelong Lutheran, and prairie farmboy.”

Isern is the author or co-author of six previous books about history and life in the region. He is well known in the region for his weekly feature, “Plains Folk,” on Prairie Public radio.

‘What in the World…’ to sponsor Measure 1 discussion Thursday night

The “What in the World Is Going On?” group will sponsor a discussion on “Initiated Constitutional Measure No. 1: Pertaining to the Transparency of Funding Sources, Lobbyists, Conflicts of Interests, and the Establishment of an Ethics Commission,” which will be on the North Dakota ballot on Nov. 6. The discussion will be held Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. in Rhoades Science Center 102 on the VCSU campus.

Moderated by Luis da Vinha, VCSU associate professor of social science, the event will include a presentation by Ellen Chaffee, VCSU president emerita, and Dina Butcher, chair of the committee which sponsored the petition for the measure. Commenters will include area state legislators and Autumn Johnson, VCSU Student Senate president. Opportunity for audience questions and comments will also be included in the program.

The petition uses the following description to describe the measure: “This initiated measure would add a new article to the North Dakota Constitution establishing a North Dakota ethics commission. The commission, using funds provided by the legislature, would be responsible for adopting rules related to corruption, elections, and lobbying for reporting and investigating alleged violations of those rules and related state laws. The measure would provide for prohibitions for lobbyists related to gift giving and delivery of campaign contributions and prohibitions for public officials against lobbying, use of campaign contributions, and conflicts of interest in certain proceedings. The measure would direct the legislative assembly to enact laws that require electronically accessible public disclosure of the source of funds spent (in any medium and in an amount greater than two hundred dollars) to influence statewide and legislative elections and statewide ballot measures or to lobby or otherwise influence state government action.”

Viking Sports Update

Volleyball
Wednesday: VCSU 3, Dickinson State 1
The Viking volleyball team opened conference play with a 3-1 win over Dickinson State on Wednesday. VCSU is now 7-6 overall and 1-0 in the NSAA. The Vikings host University of Jamestown on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Golf
The VCSU golf teams are competing at the Jamestown Invitational at the Jamestown Country Club. The VCSU men lead by one shot after Sunday’s opening round. Viking senior Jared Lentz tops the individual leaderboard after shooting a 2-under round of 70. The second and final round of the tournament is Monday.

Upcoming Events
Sept. 17: Golf @ Jamestown Invitational, 9:30 a.m. (Jamestown CC)
Sept. 18: Volleyball vs. Jamestown, 7 p.m. (JV at 5 p.m.)
Sept. 19: Baseball @ Jamestown, 6 p.m.
Sept. 20: Golf @ MN-Morris Cougar Invite (Pomme De Terre GC)
Sept. 21: Volleyball vs. Dakota State, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22: Cross Country @ St. Olaf Invitational, 10 a.m. (Northfield, Minn.)
Sept. 22: Volleyball vs. Bellevue University, 11 a.m.
Sept. 22: Football vs. Mayville State University, 2 p.m.

What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City ...

Monday, September 17
Constitution Day–events in VCSU Student Center and Allen Memorial Library

Tuesday, September 18
Yom Kippur begins at sundown
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
5 and 7 p.m. Viking JV volleyball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D.

Wednesday, September 19
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
6 p.m. Viking baseball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D.

Thursday, September 20
Viking golf @ Cougar Invitational, Pomme De Terre Golf Club, Morris, Minn.
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, September 21
7 p.m. Viking Volleyball vs. Dakota State University, Graichen Gymnasium

Saturday, September 22
9 a.m. to noon Viking Visit Day
Viking cross country @ Roy Griak Invitational– 6K Race
11 a.m. Viking volleyball vs. Bellevue University, Graichen Gymnasium
2 p.m. Viking football vs. Mayville State University, Shelley Ellig Field at Lokken Stadium

Sunday, September 23
First day of Autumn
Banned Books Week
noon and 2 p.m. Viking softball @ University of Mary, Bismarck, N.D.

Monday, September 24

Tuesday, September 25
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
1–4 p.m. Career Services Agriculture and Business Career Expo, Fargodome, Fargo, N.D.

Wednesday, September 26
10 a.m.–3 p.m. Career Services Engineering and Technology Expo, Fargodome, Fargo, N.D.
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
6 p.m. Viking baseball vs. Mayville State University, Charlie Brown Field

Thursday, September 27
8:30 a.m. State Board of Higher Education meeting, VCSU
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
11 a.m.–3 p.m. Career Services Business, Liberal Arts, and Aviation Fair, UND Wellness Center
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, September 28
Payday
4 p.m. Viking JV volleyball vs. North Iowa Area CC, @ Waldorf University, Forest City, Iowa
7 p.m. Viking volleyball @ Waldorf University, Forest City, Iowa

Saturday, September 29
8 a.m.–5 p.m. Viking Club Tennis Viking Invitational Tournament, North Tennis Complex
1 p.m. Viking football vs. Presentation College, Shelley Ellig Field at Lokken Stadium
1 p.m. Viking JV volleyball @ Viterbo University, LaCrosse, Wis.
3 p.m. Viking volleyball @ Viterbo University, LaCrosse, Wis.

Sunday, September 30
Viking softball @ North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D.
11 a.m. Viking baseball vs. Viterbo University, Charlie Brown Field (double-header)


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