News

Daily Flood Update From the Campus PIO

 

April 3, 2009 4:48 p.m.

 

This is the final Daily Flood Update.

 

Monday, April 6th, a daily electronic newsletter will replace dragonews.  Dragon Digest will provide a place for news, information and announcements for the campus.

 

News Director Glenn Tornell will serve as the editor for Dragon Digest.  If you have a submission, send it to Glenn by 11:00 a.m. to make that day's edition.  The Digest will be distributed via Official each weekday afternoon.  If a proposed announcement or information item concerns something that takes place in the morning, please send your copy by the deadline the day before.

 

Dragonews was discontinued because the frequent postings cluttered in-boxes, resulting in many people opting out.  We feel that a more structured daily publication will serve us better.

 

Earlier today the National Weather Service issued a new prediction for the second crest of the Red River.  The forecast indicates a 75% chance that the river will rise to 41-feet, which would be a few inches higher than last Saturday’s flood of record.  It also indicates a 25% chance that the river will crest significantly higher, 42.8 feet.  Our campus is on higher ground and was dry during last week’s crest.

 

FLOOD-RELATED ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Spring Work Study runs through May 17; summer Work Study begins May 18.  To fully utilize their Work Study award, students are able to work up to 29 hours per week, if their class schedule permits and the supervisor has work to be completed.  If a student has hours available to work but their supervisor can't fill the hours, students should check Dragonjobs for an additional assignment for the balance of Work Study eligibility.  There are still jobs to be filled, especially as our maintenance department attempts to clean and put the campus back in order.  Additional student employment is needed!

 

Students affected by the flood (such as additional expenses for housing, loss of family income or home) should schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor.  Assistance may be available through an appeal process if the student documents the circumstances.  Time for action is limited; please contact the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid at the earliest opportunity.

 

MSUM students who lived off campus and were displaced by floodwater will be able to arrange for campus housing starting Sunday at noon.  Students with an immediate need for shelter can call 477-4000 for help.

 

On Monday a help desk will be setup in the CMU to assist students who have questions about their classes and course work.  There will also be a help window at the Owens Hall Business Office to help students with financial issues, including emergency loans.

 

MSUM’s Human Resources Office has found some Internet resources for people seeking information:

 

 

Yesterday surplus non-perishable food donated for volunteers dispatched from our campus was trucked to the Dorothy Day Pantry in Moorhead.  From Sonja Ellner, the Director of the Dorothy Day House and Pantry:  “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all the extra food for our food pantry!”

 

The campus community is invited for ice cream Monday afternoon.  Moorhead Mayor Mark Voxland and President Edna will be on hand to thank people for their hard work during the flood emergency.  Ice cream will be served from 3 pm until 5 pm in the CMU Ballroom.  Mayor Voxland will speak at 3:30.

 

Technology Professor Mike Ruth has created a large photo blog of the flood.  Check it out at: http://www.mnstate.edu/ruthm/flood_2009.html

 

The American Red Cross also has a flood blog at:  http://en.wordpress.com/tag/north-central-flooding-mar-2009/

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Dragon Wellness Center will be open at 6:00 a.m. Monday.

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead will host the West Central Regional History Day Tuesday, April 7 beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Hawley High School gymnasium. The date and location were changed due to recent flooding. It’s free and open to the public.  For more information on National History Day, visit www.nationalhistoryday.org

 

If you have a story to share about your experience with the Flood of 2009, please send it to floodstories@mnstate.edu.  We’re making history and we want to keep a record.

 

Graduating seniors, please visit the Bookstore on April 7th and 8th to take care of all of your graduation needs.  You’ll find discounts and you can register for prizes.

 

The MSUM Music Industry Summit scheduled for April 7-8 has been cancelled.

 

A piano recital featuring Simon Rowe, coordinator of MSUM’s Music Industry program, will be held Friday, April 10 at 8:30 p.m. at Studio 222 (located at 222 Broadway in Fargo). The concert will be “A Tribute to Chick Corea” featuring MSUM faculty members Allen Carter, Alex Pershounin, Tom Strait, Russ Peterson, Matt Patnode and Nat Dickey. Cost is $10 cover, $5 students.

 

Helen Schuette, 86 years old, Cliff Schuette's mother (Director of Counseling and Career Services) passed away on Wednesday, April 1.  Her memorial service will be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church (Corpus Christi, TX) at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7.  Porter Loring Mortuary is handling funeral arrangements.  Memorials can be sent to the St. Mark's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 4620 South Alameda, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412, or to a charity of the donor's choice.

 

For a detailed list of announcements visit-- http://www.mnstate.edu/news/flood/

  

  April 2, 2009 5:40 p.m.

 

 

MSUM students who lived off campus and were displaced by floodwater will be able to arrange for campus housing starting Sunday at noon. Students with an immediate need for shelter can call 477-4000 for help.

 

On Monday a help desk will be setup in the CMU to assist students who have questions about their classes and course work. There will also be a help window at the Owens Hall Business Office to help students with financial issues, including emergency loans.

 

Our campus delivered heavily loaded pallets of food to the Dorothy Day Pantry today. The non-perishable packaged food was left over from the volunteer flood effort. For the month of April, donations like ours will be matched pound-for-pound or dollar-for-dollar by Minnesota Food Shares and the Allen Foundation. For example, if you give a dollar, the matches
provide two additional dollars to the pantry.

 

The campus community is invited for ice cream Monday afternoon. Moorhead Mayor Mark Voxland and President Edna will be on hand to thank people for their hard work during the flood emergency. Ice cream will be served from 3 pm until 5 pm in the CMU Ballroom. Mayor Voxland will speak at 3:30.

 

A bigger celebration will take place at the end of the month. More information soon…

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Coming soon: Dragon Digest. It will be a daily communication that will include announcements, news, and information. It will replace Dragonews. Watch for information about deadlines and content guidelines.

 

For a detailed list of announcements visit-- http://www.mnstate.edu/news/flood/

 

United Way of Cass-Clay's newly established 2009 Long-Term Flood Recovery Fund is now accepting donations. You can help re-establish stability, safety and security for individuals and families throughout the Cass and Clay county area by visiting www.uwcc.net

 

The Fargo Theatre offers free admission for Doubt and Milk tonight only.

 

On Saturday afternoon the Fargo will serve as the venue for an ecumenical prayer service.

 

The Film Studies Film Series has canceled the screening scheduled for today (Thursday, April 2). Watch for an update next week.

 

Ron Odden, Licensed Psychologist with Lakeland Mental Health Center and in conjunction with the State Employee Assistance Program, will be presenting an in - service talk to MSUM supervisors on “Dealing with staff who are feeling stressed,” on Thursday, April 9th, 10:30 am – 11:30 am, in CMU 101. To register, please go to https://secure.mnsu.edu/mnscupd/login/default.asp?campusid=0072

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead will host the West Central Regional History Day Tuesday, April 7 beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the Hawley High School gymnasium. The date and location were changed due to recent flooding. It’s free and open to the public. For more information on National History Day, visit www.nationalhistoryday.org

 

For security reasons this week, buildings will be kept locked for card access. The key and card access office in Owens will be open when the University is open.

 

The Admissions office has canceled all campus tours and visits until Monday, April 6th. Please go to the Admissions website at www.go.mnstate.edu to reschedule a campus visit or call the Admissions Office at 218-477-2161 or
1-800-593-7246.

 

Cars parked in University lots will not be ticketed this week.

 

If you have a story to share about your experience with the Flood of 2009, please send it to floodstories@mnstate.edu. We’re making history and we want to keep a record.

April 1, 2009 5:40 p.m.

 

 

Classes will resume Monday, April 6, and residence halls will open Sunday at noon.  Please visit the mnstate.edu homepage for links to other information.  For example, under “Announcements/News” you will find a link to the revised semester schedule.

 

The campus is transitioning from its support role with the city and county in the flood fight to the completion of the semester.  The Red River was at 37 feet on Wednesday, April 1, it is forecast to drop to about 32 feet by Monday.

 

Some in our campus community suffered losses to floodwater and we must keep them in our thoughts and offer help as we can.  Many of our students, professors, and staff members spent hours on the front lines of the flood battle pitching sandbags, answering emergency phones, or volunteering in myriad other ways.  The cities of Fargo and Moorhead owe their survival to the people who answered the call.  We will find time to celebrate this historic community effort.

 

We can also thank our system, Minnesota State Colleges & Universities, for support.  Chancellor McCormick made two trips to the campus (he drove) during the flood emergency.  He brought along senior staff members who were generous in offering help. Skilled staff members from MSU Mankato, Bemidji State University, Lake Superior College, Minnesota West Community & Technical College, and Rochester Community & Technical College arrived at our request.

 

Two weeks ago when the flood forecast started looking ominous, security director Michael Parks and Physical Plant Manager Jeff Goebel met with city officials and briefed University leadership.  As a result, while the water was rising, there were daily meetings of the Emergency Management Team and the Policy Action Committee that were established to identify problems and find solutions.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

For a detailed list of announcements visit-- http://www.mnstate.edu/news/flood/

 

For security reasons this week, buildings will be kept locked for card access.  The key and card access office in Owens will be open when the University is open.

 

The Admissions office has canceled all campus tours and visits until Monday, April 6th.
Please go to the Admissions website at www.go.mnstate.edu to reschedule a campus visit or call the Admissions Office at 218-477-2161 or 1-800-593-7246.

 

MSUM students who live off campus and who have been displaced by the flood emergency can rent vacant residence hall rooms for $20 per day.  Meal service will be optional.

 

Cars parked in University lots will not be ticketed this week.

 

If you have a story—especially a positive one-- to share about your experience with the Flood of 2009, please send it to floodstories@mnstate.edu.  We’re making history and we need to keep a record.

 

March 31, 2009 4:50 PM

Due to the weather, University offices will open at noon on Wednesday, April 1. All weather-essential employees are asked to report to work. The campus call centers remain open.

 

We understand that there is some confusion about the changes in the academic calendar. First, please know that the semester will still end with Commencement on May 15. Second, we have recovered the additional instructional days in order to assure that students can complete the prerequisite course content for subsequent courses in their curricula. If students must be away during one or more of these days, they should talk with their professors in advance.

 

MSUM students who need a place to stay can call 477-4000 for information and help. Residence halls will not open until noon on Sunday. Here’s how it works:

MSUM CREATES EMERGENCY CENTER FOR MSUM STUDENTS

Emergency shelter for registered MSUM students will be provided by MSUM in Nemzek Hall.
Registration is between 4 pm and midnight daily through Sunday, April 5th.in the main hallway of the Alex Nemzek building.

ITEMS TO BRING

  • VALID Photo Identification is required
    • MSUM ID is Preferred
    • Valid Drivers License
    • Government issued ID Card
  • 5-7 days supply of clothing
  • 5-7 day supply of all medication

ITEMS PROVIDED

  • Sleeping Area
  • Cot
  • Blanket/Sheets
  • Pillow
  • Towel
  • Sleeping Area
  • Shower/bathroom facility
  • Light Snack Food

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • This service is available only for registered MSUM students
  • Meal Service is available in Kise Commons
  • Moorhead High School is an evacuation site for non-MSUM Students
  • Pets will not be accepted

KUDOS

The following message was shared by Moorhead Public Service head Bill Schwandt after he was briefed Monday night about MSU Moorhead's assistance to the city and county:

"Thank you Minnesota State University-Moorhead! After the 1800 hour EOC meeting (this evening at 6:00 pm ), I asked Jeff Goebel about the different missions that MSUM has played during this Moorhead-Fargo flood event. They have been very busy! 'I'll do anything they tell me to, I'm just a guy that gets things done,' Jeff said after he explained their five different missions briefly in order of occurrence:

  1. Volunteer Center: A place where the thousands of volunteers could park, get registered, and get bussed out to areas where people needed them. Thanks again and again to all the young people who worked so hard (my eyes well up as I type, I can’t help it.) On their peak day they processed 7500 people!
  2. Housing Law Enforcement from all over the region: MSUM used there resident halls to house volunteer police, fire, and other volunteers.
  3. Sandbagging: Believe it or not, MSUM on 11th Street to 20th Street needed some sandbagging, so they set up their own sandbagging operation and got it done.
  4. Call Center: When the evacuations took place a few days ago, MSUM pulled together 54 phone lines to take calls, gather information like who was staying and who was leaving, cell numbers, and give vital
    instructions like "please turn off the water when you evacuate", MPS thanks you.
  5. Call Center-Damage Information: Now MSUM starts its next mission, to take damage information from people who are returning to their zones (I mean homes) (See attachment "Press Release City Lifts Evac").
  6. Next Mission? Thank you MSUM for being willing to do anything that is thrown at you."

ANNOUNCEMENTS


If you have a story—especially a positive one-- to share about your experience with the Flood of 2009, please send it to floodstories@mnstate.edu. We’re making history and we need to keep a record.

Dragonews has been deactivated. If you have important information to share with the campus, send it via email to Doug at hamiltnd@mnstate.edu, so the information can be consolidated in one list.