Tim Pagano of Grand Forks, ND, wrote a letter to the Grand Forks Herald editorial page that says that it's time to move on.
Is UND an integral part of this community? Absolutely. Should a robust discourse take place regarding its identity? Of course. This was well accomplished over the past decade.
We as a community and university must look in the mirror. Isn't the fact that there are children starving and living in homes where abuse and neglect are common a more worthwhile cause to fill up facebook comments and newspapers?
Isn't the fact that one in 10 children is born into poverty in North Dakota an issue more worthy of our time? Should we not spend more of our efforts addressing the sex trafficking that is so prominent in our state in lieu of spending so much time on a nickname?
I'm writing simply to state that UND's identity is important, and a strong discussion was needed. However, let's not for one moment think that it was worthy of priority over so many other issues where our neighbors' lives were and continue to be at stake. We are better than that.
Another interesting story that hit the paper today;
the UND Alumni Center is now asking unhappy donors that don't like the new nickname to continue to donate money to UND.
Alumni association spokesman Milo Smith said the appeal was written and posted to the group's Facebook page last week after a significant number of people used social media to say they weren't going to donate.
"To those who say they will never again give to UND because of the nickname change, we would ask that you consider who will be hurt most by that protest," the post says. "By stopping your gifts to the University of North Dakota, you are limiting opportunities for the future business leaders, doctors, scientists, authors, pilots, teachers, engineers and other professionals who are educated at our beloved university."
Thoughts on both articles? Is it time to move on?
