Hotline // October 12, 2022

Flu shot clinic set for Oct. 20

VCSU and City County Health District (CCHD) invites students, employees and family members to get your flu shot and/or updated COVID-19 booster shot on Thursday, Oct. 20. The clinic will be held in the Student Center Skoal Room from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome and no appointment is needed.

The deadline to reserve an updated COVID-19 booster is Oct. 13. Please notify VCSU Health Services by 3 p.m.

Remember, if you have not been vaccinated, it is not too late to start your primary COVID-19 vaccine series! Make an appointment with CCHD to get started or contact Betty Tykwinski at betty.j.tykwinski@vcsu.edu or 701-845-7305 with any questions you may have.

VCSU Art Gallery presents Kiowa Six

The VCSU Art Gallery in collaboration with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion presents art prints created by the Kiowa Six, a portion of VCSU’s permanent collection. The show is on display now through Nov. 4.

These Indigenous artworks were a part of a project initiated in 1928 by Oscar Brousse Jacobson, director of the art school, University of Oklahoma. Each work created by the Kiowa Six represents costumes, symbols and legends from the Indigenous culture of the 30 prints displayed in the art gallery.

In collaboration with the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Ashlea Espinal will give a talk about the Kiowa Six and contemporary Indigenous art on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Performance Hall.

The VCSU Art Gallery is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The talk is free and open to the public. It will also be recorded and posted online at a later date.

Galt receives ‘Difference Maker’ award

Nick Galt, Ph.D., associate professor of science, recently received the “Difference Maker” award.

He was nominated by Student Academic Services and his nomination read, “Nick goes out of his way to provide additional support to students who need it. He is a champion of the testing center and the tutoring program in our area. He is always interested in ways to adapt his teaching to ensure student success. He frequently talks through what other accommodations he could provide to students with disabilities and how he could expand accommodations. We appreciate that he stops by in person to visit, bring test materials and make connections with students and staff. Nick teaches with heart and is always willing to put in the extra time it takes to ensure student understanding.”

Congratulations, Nick!

Office for Diversity and Inclusion presents at ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education and Beyond’ conference

Kelly LaFramboise, Ph.D., director for diversity and inclusion, was recently selected to present at the “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education and Beyond” conference at the University of North Dakota (UND) with students Dahlia Diegel, Nevaeh Davis and Kay Yturralde, as well as one recent VCSU graduate Charismha Tsosie.

The group presented “Better Late Than Never: Launching an Office for Diversity and Inclusion in 2020 and Beyond.”

The presentation description stated, “Valley City State University launched its Office for Diversity and Inclusion in August 2020 with just one staff member — a director-level administrator. This presentation will describe the process of growing a DEI program from-scratch at a small, rural, predominantly white university following George Floyd’s traumatic death at the hands of a police officer, and other recent events of 2020 immersed in racial and social injustices while also navigating a global pandemic.”

The group described some of the challenges that they encountered, milestones they accomplished, support they received, and goals they still strive for.

LaFramboise said, “The process of starting our Office for Diversity and Inclusion ranged from its introduction to the campus community, to strategic planning efforts, programming challenges on a limited annual operating budget, and interactions with non-campus community members and leaders. Our presentation explained, step-by-step, how we grew into the successful, yet still sometimes challenged group we are today and what our plans are for the future.”

Dahlia, Charismha, Nevaeh and Kay spoke about their role in developing equity and belonging at VCSU, as well as some of their personal stories of why an Office for Diversity and Inclusion is crucial to campuses like ours (small, rural, and mostly heteronormative white). They talked about the clubs they have started and events they have organized to inform campus of the importance of equity and belonging for our institute of higher learning.

LaFramboise talked about the challenges of building rapport with students, faculty and administration, as well as with the tight-knit community outside of campus. She also presented the three main initiatives launched in the first two years of this office’s existence:

1.         The Center for Equity and Belonging: a safe, cozy and welcoming lounge space in a common area of campus stocked with resources free and accessible to all students

2.         Professional Development Workshops and Lecture Series on issues of diversity and belonging for faculty members and student support staff

3.         Land Acknowledgement for the university and stewardship of the ancestral burial mounds on VCSU property

During the welcome session, Dr. Andrew Armacost, President of UND, gave the group a special shoutout and mentioned all the great things the office is doing for equity and belonging at VCSU. The group received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from attendees after presenting. A few schools asked if they would travel to their campuses to give the presentation and lead a workshop on how to launch a similar program.

Ephrim attends conferences for graphic design

Ekow Ephrim, MFA, assistant professor for art, attended the 2022 Brand New Conference, a two-day corporate and brand identity event with some of today’s most active and influential practitioners worldwide, held Oct. 3 & 4.

Aside from gaining insight into current corporate and brand identity trends, Ephrim took advantage of the virtual webcast option to bring the conference home to VCSU art and digital design students. Students had the opportunity to participate in at least one conference session. His goal is to broaden the scope of student research into corporate and brand identity development and constantly expose them to the ever-changing design field. As graphic design moves from creating static pieces to developing dynamic, interactive frameworks, designers must seek to understand their rapidly shifting profession.

Last summer, Ephrim also presented at the Instructions for the Future (IFTF) Workshop. A three-day workshop organized by the Graphic Design Department at the University of Education Winneba, Ghana, West Africa, from May 19 – 21. He spoke on “Design for the 21st Century” and led a roundtable discussion, emphasizing critical skills for the 21st-century designer and methods for designing and measuring success. Ephrim also facilitated a printmaking project and conducted a portfolio review.

Viking Sports Update

Volleyball
Oct. 5: Mayville State 3, VCSU 2
Oct. 8: Presentation College 3, VCSU 2
Oct. 11: Dickinson State 3, VCSU 2
The Viking volleyball team is now 8-12 overall and 3-5 in conference play. VCSU is back in action Wednesday night at the University of Jamestown. 

Football
Oct. 8: Dakota State 31, VCSU 17
Viking Football dropped its conference opener to Dakota State and is now 1-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play. VCSU hosts Iowa Wesleyan on Saturday, Oct. 15.

 Cross Country
The VCSU cross country teams raced at the Jimmie Invite on Friday afternoon near Jamestown. Jasmine Barnes was the top Viking finisher, placing 50th out of 79 runners in the women’s 5K race. Read more: https://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/4510

Upcoming Events
Oct. 12: Volleyball at Jamestown, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15: Football vs. Iowa Wesleyan, 1 p.m.

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

Find out what’s happening in the community on the Valley City Community Calendar: https://www.valleycitycalendar.com/

This Week

October 13
4 p.m. Kiowa Six artist talk, VCSU Center for the Arts Performance Hall

Next Week

October 17
4 – 6 p.m. VCSU Greenhouse presents Farmer’s Market Plant Sale, Farmer’s Market (250 West Main St)
Over 150 succulents, cacti and leafy plants available, grown right here in Valley City! Plants range from $4 – $10. For more information, contact Liberty Cleveland.

7:30 p.m. An Evening with Looney Tunes: Music of Raymond Scott and Other Madcap Classics, VCSU Center for the Arts
Tickets: $10 adult, $5 for children under 18 and $5 for students

October 20
4 – 6 p.m. VCSU Greenhouse presents Farmer’s Market Plant Sale, Farmer’s Market (250 West Main St)
Over 150 succulents, cacti and leafy plants available, grown right here in Valley City! Plants range from $4 – $10. For more information, contact Liberty Cleveland.

Save the Date

October 28
6 p.m. – midnight Global Exploration Club presents “The Haunted Library”, Allen Memorial Library
Join us for games, fun and food for all ages. Donations will be accepted.

October 29
6 p.m. – midnight Global Exploration Club presents “The Haunted Library”, Allen Memorial Library
Join us for games, fun and food for all ages. Donations will be accepted.

October 30
6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Global Exploration Club presents “The Haunted Library”, Allen Memorial Library
Join us for games, fun and food for all ages. Donations will be accepted.

Community Club meetings

• Valley City Community Band – every Thursday, VCSU Center for the Arts Room 171 (Find out more about the community band: https://www.newsdakota.com/2022/09/08/area-music-teacher-rekindles-valley-city-community-band/)
• Kiwanis – Wednesdays at noon, Valley City Town & Country Club
• Optimist Club – Thursdays at 7:00 a.m., Vicky’s Viking Room
• Rotary Club – Tuesdays at noon, VCSU
• Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals – 2nd Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., Our Saviors Lutheran Church
• Barnes County Wildlife Federation – 2nd Wednesday of the month
• Grief Journeys for Adults Support Group – meet virtually, call Hospice at 701-845-1781 to take part

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