* Kasper sings a different tune as CFO for GEM * CEO turns fluke into futuristic GEM * MSU alum shares $1 million in new brain study * FBI serial killer pro: In the abyss with monsters * Faith in God renews spirit of Megan Kiedrowski * DragonAlums.com * B-ball coach Olson: facing another rebuilding  * Eight faculty retire * Dragon mascot adopted by Californ ai dreamers * Neufelds donate tree farm to MSU * Stevie Ray's Medium-Size Book of Comedy * $4.1 million for expansion top Legislative priority * Doug Hamilton: Dollars and Degrees * Diane Hill: New to the Alumni Foundation crew * Alums win $13 million discrimination suit * Get your Neumaier Hall implosion video * Gift Horse: A Lakota Story by MSU alum S.D. Nelson * Profiles: Top CEOs under 50, Brian Evenson and Barry Halm * Alumnotes * MSU alumn plans spring break wheelchair journey to St. Paul    to draw attention to Gulf War Syndrom illnesses

KASPER SINGS A DIFFERENT
TUNE AS CFO FOR GEM
For eight months, Rick Kasper performed eight shows a week at the Schubert Theatre as a lead singer with the touring company of the Broadway musical "City of Angels" while working a full-time 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. day job as assistant controller for the Los Angeles Daily News.

In between, he’d nap for 20 minutes.

After one of his shows, dancer/actor/director Gene Kelly ("Singin’ in the Rain," "An American in Paris") requested a private audience with Kasper. "Whatever you do," Kelly told him, "make sure comedy is part of your life. It’s a gift you have."

Since then Kasper put his stage career on hold, left his  executive job at the Los Angeles Daily News and returned to Fargo last year as chief financial officer and executive vice president of a startup company called Global Electric Motorcars.

What a comedian.

But Kasper may have the last laugh.

GEM, still in its larval stage, is already the world’s largest manufacturer of neighborhood electric vehicles.

In December  GEM began negotiations to merge with ZAPWORLD.COM, a publicly traded California company that’s the world leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of electric bicycles and scooters.

A few weeks later, Zapworld took over emPower Corp., a Cambridge, Mass.,  company that manufactures bikes and a three-wheel electric scooter called the Transport.

Then it bought Electrical Vehicle Systems of Los Altos Hills, Calif., which manufactures powerskis, a new type of transportation designed to pull in-line or roller skaters.

Feel the electricity?

GEM is hot. Its revenues jumped from $2.3 million in 1998 to $14 million in 1999. The company has already sold more than 2,400 vehicles without much of a marketing or advertising campaign and its Web site (www.gemcar.com) gets over 200 hits a day.

Neighborhood electric vehicles are a new class of low speed cars that have a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. GEM makes four versions—a two and four passenger model, and a long-box and short-box utility vehicle-- and can’t keep up with demand.

"I came back to Fargo because of the potential of this company and a great respect for the ownership, " said the 41-year-old  Kasper, who earned an accounting degree at MSU in 1980. "We’re not just tapping into the future of transportation, but of how people will live."

Now the company, located in the old Knox Lumber store along Interstate 29, will get even busier. The merger with the publicly traded Zapworld will likely infuse GEM with more capital to fuel its growth and expand its dealerships from 55 to over 350. And the addition of electric bikes, scooters and powerskis will diversify its product line.

Not long ago,  Kasper was chief financial officer for the Los Angeles Daily News, a $100 million company  owned by the late sports and media mogul Jack Kent Cooke. It was Cooke—the former door-to-door encyclopedia salesman who became owner of  the Washington Redskins, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chrysler Building—who hired Kasper 12 years ago as a financial troubleshooter for his media empire.

"I can’t say I was close to Mr. Cooke, but we had several long conversations about business and other shared interests," Kasper said. "He believed that if you’re not taking calculated risks, you’re not doing your job. And that’s one reason why I came back to Fargo."

After Cooke died of a heart attack in 1997 at the age of 84, his Los Angeles Daily News was bought out by a Media News Group and Kasper was promoted to financial director of all Southern California newspaper operations, but a position one level from the top.
That’s when his old Shanley High School classmate Steve Campbell, one of the owners of GEM, convinced Kasper to return to Fargo as chief financial officer for the start-up company.

"We knew Rick was heavily involved in acquisitions and mergers with the Los Angeles Daily News company,"  said Campbell. "And we knew about his energy, ability and integrity. It seemed like a perfect fit for us."

As for Kasper, he missed being at the decision making level. "My goal has always been to own a business or be in a position to effect the direction of a company. And GEM is loaded with potential."

His singing career? "That’s on hold," said Kasper, whose brother Tim is one of The Blenders, a nationally recognized a cappella quartet releasing its second album in February 2000.

Since childhood, Kasper  has balanced twin interests in math and music. "My mom and dad always encouraged my four brothers and I to explore all of out potential," he said.

It started at Holy Spirit Grade School when Sister Elizabeth, after listening to the class sing the national anthem, heard something special in Kasper’s voice and asked him to stand up and sing it by himself. That was followed by piano lessons and the choir at Shanley High School.

Then there was Sister Antonine, an accounting teacher at Holy Spirit who cultivated his interest in numbers. By the time he was in high school, Kasper was keeping statistics for the football team and doing books for a variety of local firms.

At MSU, Kasper sang with the vocal jazz ensemble Snowfire and credits retired music professor Andy Smith and former MSU dance teacher Eddie Gasper for igniting his interest in show business.

Yet he majored in accounting, not music.

Notes and numbers. Even when he earned his accounting degree here, he was chosen to sing at his own graduation ceremony.

Kasper interned with Eide Bailly his senior year at MSU and after graduating worked as  the controller for F-M Asphalt. But his evenings were occupied with studio work for advertising agencies, performances with the Red River Dance and Performing Company and jobs emceeing community functions.

In 1985, at the age of 27, Kasper rolled the dice. He loaded his Honda Prelude and  took his baritone voice to Beverly Hills to test his skills in the show biz market.

It went well. He auditioned and earned a spot with the Los Angeles Jazz Choir. They sang frequently in front of 18,000 people at the Hollywood Bowl, sharing the stage with celebrities ranging from Bob Hope and Carol Channing to Andy Williams and Suzanne Summers. Kasper appeared in a Doritos Big Chip television advertisement  (where a group of singers crunched chips in tune with Beethoven’s Fifth) that was shown nationally during the 1995 Academy Awards.

He also had a guest spot on the television series "Almost Grown" and was lead vocalist for an ABC-TV  Christmas special. Then he released an album with Rosemary Clooney called "Rosemary Clooney Sings Rodgers Hart Hammerstein."

"But I wasn’t good at not being busy, waiting for audition call-backs, or the next entertainment job," he said. "I got married and we intended to start a family. That’s when I decided my career was more identified with the financial side of the job market. Needless to say, my wife Janis has been very understanding."

A headhunter landed him a job with Cooke’s Los Angeles Daily News, first as a financial analyst. He eventually worked his way up to chief financial officer for the $100 million company.

Now, living in the more sedate Fargo with his wife and two sons, Kasper is working 12-hour days and crisscrossing the country in an effort to keep GEM on the right track.

"We’re now the market leader in a niche market," Kasper said. "It’s a risky position that requires lots of capital."

Already the big auto makers are producing full-sized electric vehicles such as the GM EV1, Ford Ranger Ev, Honda EV Plus or the Toyota RAV4-EV.

"But in 1999," Kasper said, "we sold more electric vehicles than Ford, General Motors, Honda and Toyota combined.

The pressure to succeed is relentless, Kasper said. "But competition isn’t a bad thing. I used to be a compulsive perfectionist," Kasper said. "But after working on stage eight months with ‘The City of Angels,’ you learn that things happen and you can’t dwell on your mistakes."

And he always remembered the advice he got from local dancer Eddie Gasper (who happened to be one of the original Disney Mouskateers): "Never, ever quit your day job."

Yet  Fargo entrepreneur Mike Hofer didn’t know jack about electric cars.

A farm kid from Hope, N.D., Hofer came to MSU in 1972 after a stint in the Army as an electronics missile technician, earning a degree in radiology from a St. Luke’s Hospital program affiliated with the university.

Drawn to the commercial side of the industry, he combined his technical experience with an enterprising farm background and worked his way up from service and sales to president and owner of Diagnostic Medical Systems of Fargo, a medical technology firm.

At the top of his game at the age of 46, Hofer sold Diagnostic Medical Systems to OtterTail Power in 1993 and stayed on as president for three more years.

Then the itch came to try something different.

"It was really a fluke," said Hofer, now chief executive officer of Global Electric Motorcars of Fargo. "I was looking for an investment when a friend told me about this electric car company in Detroit started by some automotive engineers. I went up and looked at it closely. But the clincher happened when I visited Disney’s Centennial City, a planned community of the future. That’s where I saw kids driving electric cars to school and parents driving them to grocery stores. That convinced me."

Instead of investing in the company (then called Trans-2), he bought the entire enterprise for 10 cents on the dollar. The business was foundering, Hofer concluded, because its managers and engineers were headquartered in Detroit and its production facility was 1,500 miles away in Missouri.

"I  thought if I could consolidate the engineering, the management and the production, this might work," Hofer said. "I’m convinced that pollution and the environment are the issues of the new millennium that business must confront. And electric cars seemed to be right in the heart of the idea."

Hofer formed a limited partnership with 30 other investors and assembled a team of engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs. "The key is finding the right people," he said. "That wasn’t hard in Fargo, not with NDSU with its electrical and mechanical engineering programs and corporations like Melroe and Case."

After acquiring the old Knox Lumber Co. building off Highway I-29, Hofer moved Trans-2 to Fargo and renamed it Global Electric Motorcars.

The fluke turned fantastic. In April of 1997, the first GEM cars rolled off the assembly line. "That first year, we manufactured 400. Last year we topped 2,000. And this year we’re expecting to produce 7,000. We just can’t keep up with demand."

The ovoid-shaped cars are classified as neighborhood electric vehicles, a new class of low speed mini-cars that have a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. GEM makes four versions--a two and four passenger model, and a long-box and short-box utility vehicle.

When billionaire Bill Gates, football coach Mike Ditka and Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson drive GEMs, Hofer knew his investment was better than expected. A GEM car even made a cameo appearance in the quirky hit movie "The Spy Who Shagged Me."

Success breeds interest. So it was no surprise in December when the publicly traded California electric bicycle and scooter company Zapworld.com began discussions to acquired GEM in a merger that will provide enough capitol to keep the Fargo facility on the cutting edge of a new technology.

As a result, GEM will likely move to a bigger production facility in Fargo to accommodate mounting demand. It already employs about 70 people who work 10-hour shifts.

The merger will consummate at the end of March, when Hofer will step down as CEO and join the board of directors. "I’ve taken it as far as I can go. Now we’re moving to the next level."

Zapworld expects this and its subsequent mergers (with Massachusetts electric scooter company emPower and Electrical Vehicle Systems of Los Altos Hills, Calif.) will make the company a superstore for electric vehicles ranging from GEMs and bicycles to scooters and powerskis, a new type of transportation designed to pull in-line or roller skaters.

"I don’t doubt it when Zapworld  president Gary Starr says this could turn into a billion dollar corporation," Hofer said.

The value of Zapworld shares jumped from $5 to nearly $15 after the merger with GEM.

"Pollution and the environment are going to be enormous issues," he said. "Not just for this generation. But for our kid’s kids, and their kids. Especially in developing nations that are just entering the industrial age. Pollution in some of these countries is incredible. Electric cars may not solve all the problems, but they could play a big part."

Already GEM is negotiating with entrepreneurs in India to set up production in that country. "We have a lot of overseas business. And I expect it will grow dramatically."

Not intended to compete with Detroit’s or Japan’s highway gas guzzlers, Hofer said, neighborhood electric vehicles are just that—designed to scoot around planned or retirement communities. They’re also being used by police, the U.S. Post Office, tourist ships, airports, construction sites, rental agencies and golfers (a governor drops the top speed to 15 mph for links use).

Already, Hofer said, up to 70 percent of most driving by Americans is within 5 miles or less of their home. "These cars don’t go far and they don’t go fast. Perfect for the way we believe Americans will live in the future—in planned communities with built-in retail centers. That’s what we’re seeing in the Sunbelt states. Some of these planned communities have populations up to 15,000 people."

But they are also perfect modes of transportation for the rich and retiring baby-boom generation, 78 million independent, fun-loving, educated and self-indulgent consumers. By 2005, boomers become a majority of the 50-74 age population.

GEM cars are 69 inches high—the same height as a typical mini-van. And although they’re all front wheel drive, they are not a practical all-season vehicle for North Dakotans. In the spring, summer and fall—yes. In Arizona and Florida—definitely.

Yet 165 GEM cars were sold in Fargo last year. They are legal to drive on all North Dakota city streets with 35 and under speed limits. And soon most other states will adopt similar legislation.

With price tags ranging from $7,000 to $10,000, they cost about a penny a mile to operate and their six 12-volt batteries can be fully recharged in 8 to 12 hours by plugging them into an ordinary 120-volt household outlet. Fully charged, a GEM vehicle can run about 45 miles before recharging. Safe, clean and efficient.

Arizona allows a $10,000 tax credit, of 50 percent of the car’s cost, plus a Federal tax credit of 10 percent of the purchase price. Rumors are that other states are going in that direction. Meanwhile, by 2003, California will require that up to 10 percent of cars sold in the state be zero-emission vehicles, and today only electrics meet that standard.

Oddly enough, the first functional electric car was built in in 1834, Hofer said. And the first six world land speed records were set by electric cars from 1898-1899. But electric cars--popular with women because they didn’t need to crank a handle to turn the motor over--died out because of the invention of the electric starter by Charles Kettering in 1912. When mass production lowered the cost of gas powered cars, electric cars died out.

Today, Hofer said, electric cars are definitely part of the future. It was foreshadowed by NASA when it landed an electric, not a gas-powered rover on the moon.

In fact, Hofer said, much of the research in electric motors and batteries came out of the space program. Efficiency of electric motors has increased from 50 percent to 96 percent. Electric batteries are now half the size and hold twice the charge they once did.

Zapworld happens to be at the forefront of some of these new developments, using advanced brushless DC motors and charging technology in its Transport scooters.

Hofer hasn’t given up on his radiology background. Today he’s also president of Imaging Solutions, a Fargo company he formed in 1996 that rents radiology equipment.

Meanwhile, like a proud father who invested heart and soul into his child, he’s now going to sit back and watch Global Electric Motorcars grow into what could be a genuine economic and environmental gem.

Harris, a Boston University biology professor, working with Bahaa Saleh, professor and chair of electrical and computer engineering, and Malvin Teich, professor of engineering and physics, will use the grant over the next five years to develop a potentially revolutionary new form of microscopy, called entangled-photon fluorescence microscopy, and apply it to unraveling crucial issues in neuroscience.

Harris has devoted her career to the study of dendritic spines; the tiny protrusions that stud the surface of neurons and that have excitatory synapses on them.

"The new imaging technology that we are developing holds the promise of unraveling the century-old question of how these spines function," she said.  "We know that they are crucial to cognitive processes such as learning and memory, but we know little about how they work, primarily because they are so small that they challenge existing optical imaging techniques needed to visualize living spines."
The new imaging techniques being developed uses a non-classical light source ? a weak beam of photon pairs photon pairs generated by passing laser light through a nonlinear optical crystal.  The entangled-photon pairs are expected  to provide better resolution and a significant reduction in light-induced damage ? allowing scientists to examine functioning living tissue over time without destroying it.
 The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is a private family foundation created on 1964 by David Packard (1914-1996), co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company, and Lucile Salter Packard (1914-1987).  The Interdisciplinary Science Program is intended to support scientists to answer questions or solve problems that require more than one area of natural science or engineering.  The program builds on the conviction that new alignments of discipline are needed to attack many complex problems in research.

Boston University was one of a selected list of 50 universities, colleges, and research institutions that were invited to submit proposals in the first year of the program, and was one of 11 institutions funded in the program’s first round of funding.

Harris graduated summa cum laude from MSU where her parents, Earnie and Nancy Harris, were professors of music.  She lives with her husband, Max Snodderly, and their son, Collin, in Lexington, Mass.

FBI agent Robert Ressler was interviewing Kemper in a small cell just off death row in California’s Vacaville Prison for the criminally insane where this behemoth, labeled the "Co-ed Killer" by the press, is serving seven consecutive life sentences.

"It’s getting late," Ressler said, as he pressed a buzzer to alert the guards that he was ready to leave after nearly four hours of interviewing Kemper.

They continued to talk while Ressler pressed the buzzer twice more. Fifteen minutes elapsed, still no guards.

"Relax," Kemper said. "They’re changing the shift, feeding the guys in the secure area."

Ressler pressed the buzzer again.

"If I went apeshit in here," Kemper announced in a casual voice, "you’d be in a lot of trouble, wouldn’t you? I could screw your head off and place it on the table to greet the guard. What would they do, cut off my TV privileges?"

Ressler again pressed the buzzer and, finally, a guard showed up.

"You know," Kemper said, putting an arm around Ressler’s shoulder as the meeting ended, "I was just kidding. Wanted to know what kind of stuff an FBI agent is made of."

It was one of the most intense moments in his 20-year career with the FBI. Ressler, the nation’s foremost criminologist and expert on violent crime who coined the phrase "serial killer" during the Son of Sam investigation, came to MSU this fall to speak on "Serial Killers, Sexual Violence and the Criminal Mind." More than 600 people paid to listen to his two-hour talk sponsored by the Campus Activities Board.

"Apparently it’s a fascinating topic," Ressler said. "Why? I’m not sure. Just the pure concept of a human monster certainly is alluring. But maybe it goes beyond that."

That’s the frightening part. "When I’ve had the occasion to look into the abyss, the darkest crevasses of human behavior, stare into  the eyes of these monsters,  what I sometimes see is a mirror image of myself staring back," Ressler said. "There’s a thin line between the normal and the monster, a very thin line at times. We all have that potential. Thankfully most of us have families, churches, schools and other social institutions that help guide us in the right direction. Some people never get that support. And they can, trust me, turn into monsters."

Ressler  is the founder and former director of the FBI’s acclaimed Violent Criminal Apprehension Program. He’s investigated and sat face-to-face with more notorious murderers than any man alive, including Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Charles Manson and David Berkowitz. Even the hit television series "The X-Files" was inspired by Ressler’s work at the FBI’s Behavior Science Unit.

Several crime writers have also drawn upon Ressler’s experiences for book and movie themes, including Mary Higgins Clark, Anne Rule and Patricia Cornwell. He is the acknowledged true life hero of the Tom Harris novel "Silence of the Lambs." Ressler has also written two international best-sellers: "Whoever Fights Monsters" and "Justice is Served," along with three other books.

"Serial killers share one thing in common," Ressler said. "They all come from dysfunctional families. Every last one of them."

Not broken or impoverished families.

"That’s a myth," he said. "Our research shows that the homes of most series killers seemed normal from the outside. But inside they were very dysfunctional. Every single one of them were subjected to serious emotional abuse during their childhood. Nearly 70 percent had a family history of alcohol or drug abuse."

He’s convinced that family environment is the seedbed for breeding serial killers, but he also understands how some scientists can believe genetics somehow is involved. "Maybe bad genetics is somehow triggered by a bad family environment. I don’t know. Nobody knows. We haven’t been able to deal with pure evil scientifically."

But what’s known as the "terrible triad"—fire starting, bedwetting and cruelty to animals—seem to be common early traits of many serial killers.

The FBI estimates that there may be as many as 35 of these monsters slithering through America’s population at any given time. "It’s a guess," Ressler said. "How would anyone know? There is no listing in the Uniform Crime Reports for serial killers. The best measure is the media."

Serial killers, Ressler said,  evolve from childhood into what psychiatrists label as sexually dysfunctional adults, unable to sustain a mature, consensual relationship with another adult. And they translate that inability into sexual murders. They kill to make happen in the real world what they have seen over and over again in their minds since childhood and adolescence.

"Sexual maladjustment is at the heart of these fantasies," Ressler said, "and the fantasies emotionally drive the murders. The victims become objects or props on which the killers play out their lethal sexually sadistic and frequently necrophilic fantasies. The ultimate sexual turn-on is the total domination and humiliation of helpless prey."

Although serial killers tend to be white, heterosexual males in their 20s and 30s, not all fit that description. And the United States has no special claim on producing them.

One of history’s deadliest known serial killers, Pedro Alonso Lopez, the Monster of the Andes, is said to have murdered and defiled more than 300 young girls during the 1970s in Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

Gilles de Raise, a 15th century French war hero and ally of Joan of Ark, confessed to killing and sodomizing 140 boys. He was simultaneously burned and hanged in 1440.

Andrei Chikatilo, the Soviet Hannibal Lecter, was executed in 1994 for killing more than 52 children while he lived a quiet married life as a teacher.

And then there’s Arnfinn Nesset, a Norwegian nursing home administrator, who is believed to have slaughtered up to 138 patients over a 20-year nursing career. In 1983 he was convicted of 22 murders, given a 21-year sentence, the maximum allowed by Norwegian law, and is eligible for release in 2004.

Aileen Carol Wuornos, a 34-year-old hitchhiking prostitute, became know as the "Damsel of Death" for robbing and murdering middle-aged men who stopped to giver her a ride. She pleaded guilty to seven murders and was sentenced to die in the electric chair. More an enterprise than serial killer, Ressler said,  she took life for material gain.

"Most women do not appear to experience murderous, sexually sadistic fantasies," Ressler said. "If they do, they don’t act them out in serial killings."

Ressler, now a consultant, has recently been asked by the governments of
China, Japan and South Africa to advise them on a rising tide of serial killers in their midst, a jump that might be spawned by the increasingly alienated and mobile nature of society.

Ressler’s research shows that there seem to be two types of serial killers: organized and disorganized.

The disorganized killer, like "The Vampire of Sacramento" Richard Trenton Chase, suffers from major mental illness. He’s usually below average intelligence, quiet, a loner with a low self-image. He’s also an  underachiever, socially inadequate, lives at home with a relative or by himself. His crimes are spontaneous, not planned, and are wretchedly violent. There’s no attempt to intentionally cover up evidence of the crime. He internalizes his anger, hurt and fears and is unable to let off steam or express his emotions. The killings are done quickly and violently, prompted by their mental illness.

The organized killer, like Ted Bundy, is intelligent, gregarious, has a sense of superiority and lives in society’s mainstream. He stalks his victims, is methodical about his killings and takes care to avoid leaving clues of his identity. He externalizes his anger. The killings are prompted by events in their lives that reinforce their notion that society is stacked against them. They are more likely to take trophies from their victims, and hang around the periphery of the investigation of their crimes.

Jeffrey Dahmer—who drank blood, consumed body parts, and preferred sexual contact with the dead and dismembered bodies of his victims--seems to have had the characteristics of both the organized and disorganized killer. "We may have to make him the prime example of an entirely new category of serial killer," Ressler said.

After spending a day picking Ressler up at Hector Airport and shuttling him between television and radio stations for interviews, here’s a few tidbits of information I picked up about his personal relationships with this country’s most notorious serial killers.

John Wane Gacy—"A grandfatherly guy with a good sense of humor. I grew up four blocks from him in Chicago and didn’t know it. He delivered groceries to my house. He never admitted to any of his crimes.( "Charge me with running a cemetery without a license. But I didn’t kill those people," he once said.) He claims he’s innocent. But there’s no doubt in my mind that he killed more than the 33 bodies found buried in a crawlspace under his house and in a nearby river." Gacy killed, raped, sodomized, tortured and strangled to death 33 young men. He was voted the local Jaycee’s outstanding member for 1976 and created the character Pogo the Clown for the Jolly Jokers Club, a costume he used traveling to hospitals to cheer up sick children. As director of the Polish Constitution Day Parade in 1978, he was photographed with First Lady Rosalynn Carter. "A clown can get away with murder," he once said. Gacy was executed by lethal injection on May 10, 1994.

Ted Bundy—"He was a brutal, sadistic, perverted man. His last victim was a 12-year-old girl he suffocated by shoving her face in the mud during his sexual assault. But he was a real charmer who went out of his way to be solicitous. He tried to get in my head and ask me questions." Articulate, handsome and with a psychology degree from the University of Washington, this former law student was convicted of 35 crimes, but he could have killed twice as many. He murdered college-age women with long brown hair parted in the middle, similar in appearance to an upper class fiancée who broke an engagement with him. He bit various body parts, sometimes biting off a victim’s nipple or leaving bite marks on her buttocks. After strangling his victims, he mutilated and decapitated their bodies. He would leave the bodies in secluded spots and return to them after several days to commit necrophilic acts. In prison, he married Carol Boone, who eventually  bore him a child. He was electrocuted by the state of Florida in 1989 in a process that cost up to $8 million. For his last meal he ordered steak, eggs, hash browns and coffee.

David Berkowitz—"A non-threatening polite guy. I never bought that story about a demon dog telling him to kill. He eventually admitted that his real reason for shooting women was out of resentment toward his own mother, and because of his inability to establish good relationships with women. He became sexually aroused in the stalking and shooting of women and would masturbate after it was over." Before committing "The Son of Sam" murders , he set more than 1,488 fires in New York City and kept a diary of each one. As a youngster, he poured ammonia in his adoptive mother’s fish tank and poisoned her pet bird with rat poison. This former postal worker killed six and wounded seven between in 1976 and 1977, sending letters to Jimmy Breslin of the New York Daily News exulting his exploits. His throat was slit in prison (56 stitches), but he survived, and is now serving out his six consecutive life sentences.

Charlie Manson—"A real stitch. A funny guy. A con artist who turned normal kids into killers. He’s not crazy. But he is crazy like a fox." By the time he was 32, Manson, the son of a 16-year-old prostitute,  had been in prison or juvenile institutions 20 years. But on two consecutive nights in August of 1969, Manson orchestrated the killings of seven innocent adults and one unborn child that involved more than 100 stab wounds. Manson was not present at the Sharon Tate murders, but he did tie up Rosemary and Leona La Bianca and gave three others instructions to kill them. After a nine-month trial that cost $1 million with  a transcript of more than 31,000 pages, Manson and three of his female followers were sentenced to death. But in 1972 California abolished the death penalty. His motive: Helter Skelter, Manson’s misinterpretation of a Beatles’ song that fueled his belief that he could start a race war and personally gain from it.

Richard Trenton Chase—"This guy blended blood and organs of his victims in a food processor. It looked like V-8 juice. A paranoid schizophrenic, he was charged with six counts of murder and when police entered his apartment, they found three food processors with blood in them, several dishes in the refrigerator with blood on them and a container with human brain tissue. His eyes really got to me. I’ll never forget them. No pupils, just black spots. These were evil eyes that stayed with me long after the interview." He was called the "Vampire Killer of Sacramento" after a four-day blood binge in January of 1978 when he killed and mutilated six people. He believed his blood was turning into powder and drank blood to refresh his system. He died of an overdose of antidepressants in his Vacaville Prison cell in 1980.

Jeffrey Dahmer—"He said he never had a heterosexual thought in his life. A chain smoker, he was polite, but the most insidious of the bunch. He drilled holes in the heads of his victims and injected muriatic acid into their brains, performing crude lobotomies in an attempt to make them his sex slaves." When police entered Dahmer’s one-bedroom apartment, they found a severed head in the refrigerator and three more in his freezer. In the back of his bedroom closet was a stockpot containing decomposed hands and a penis. On the shelf above the kettle were two skulls. It was the culmination of a 13-year killing spree in which he murdered 17 people. His modus operandi was set: he’d lure his victims to his apartment by offering them money, drugs or alcohol. Then he’d drug their drinks, strangle them, masturbate on the body or have sex with the corpse before dismembering the body and disposing of it. He was killed in prison by a convicted killer on anti-psychotic medication while mopping the bathroom floor in maximum security.

"I can do everything through Him who strengthens me."—Philippians 4:13

Megan Kiedrowski doesn’t remember that moment when the .44-caliber bullet pierced her throat, severing her spinal chord and ripping a hole through her trachea and esophagus.

She doesn’t remember the doctors frantically trying to save her life as she fell into respiratory arrest, or the drug-induced coma that shrouded her 16-year-old body for a month and a half.

But she does remember the anger and despair that consumed her during recovery, and the early prognosis that suggested she’d never talk, breath or eat on her own.

"I was angry at myself, at my life, at God," she said.

What she remembers most, however, is her father’s inspiration.

"As I was laying in the hospital bed recovering, he kept saying, ‘You can do it, you can do it, Megan,’" she recalled. "Then he recited that passage from Philippians. ‘I can do everything through Him who strengthens me.’ I was pretty depressed at the time. But the message somehow stuck. It has become a constant theme for me ever since."

Kiedrowski, now 23, is one of 360 students who received degrees during Moorhead State University’s winter commencement in December.

A health services administration major, Kiedrowski some day would like to run a specialty rehabilitation center or a Christian nursing home facility.

"First I’m going to St. Cloud to live with my dad for awhile," she said. "I plan to  test my skills on the job market or in graduate school. Then we’ll see what happens. God has plans for me. I don’t know what they are. But I can feel it."

Her life today is no longer shadowed by that Nov. 6, 1992 accident, when her then 13-year-old brother accidentally discharged their father’s pistol at home.

"I promised my parents, who were both out of town that night, that I’d be going to the movies," she said. "Instead, I invited a small group of friends to the house. And we were drinking. I shouldn’t have done it. I should have gone to the movies. That’s why I’ve spent some time during the past few years talking to local high school groups about the importance of making correct choices."

At the time she was a junior at Fargo North High School, a hockey cheerleader and an athlete who was both a competitive swimmer and a discus and javelin thrower.

Just happening to be walking by, Megan crossed a deadly path with the wayward bullet. The gun wasn’t supposed to be loaded.

Treated first in Fargo, she was eventually flown to the Mayo Clinic, then back again to Fargo, and finally to a specialist at the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital who managed the delicate process of repairing the holes in her trachea and esophagus.

"I was told before the operation that I’d probably never be able to eat or breath on my own, or to speak anything beyond whispers," Megan said.

After the surgery, she was alive, but so weak she couldn’t lift a pencil.

"That’s when I began to learn how to breath and swallow again," she said. "I had no movement on the right side of my body at first. So I learned to write with my left hand. Now I’m ambidextrous. I write with my right hand, eat with my left."

By  the graces of God, effort and physical therapy, Megan said she slowly learned to breath and eat on her own, and then talk.

Unlike other patients in rehabilitation who were relearning basic skills like tying their shoes and walking, Megan was learning basic life support.

After nearly nine months in hospitals—including four more operations while in rehabilitation to remove scar tissue--Megan finally came home.

"My mom, who quit her job as a nurse, took total care of me and drove me to school," she said. "I did graduate from high school, but I really wasn’t prepared to deal with my injuries. It was a difficult time. My parents were getting divorced and I was angry that I couldn’t walk."

In 1994 she enrolled at MSU and moved into the residence halls. "I just had to get out of the house," she said.

Her goal: to become a doctor and get rich. And, always, to walk again.

"Instead," she said, "I developed a relationship with God and learned to deal with life positively."

It was more persistence than destiny that seemed to drive her in that direction. Crista Holder, Megan’s step-sister who was also living in MSU’s Dahl Hall, knocked on her door and asked Megan to join her at a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting.

"I turned her down a few times," Megan said. "But just to make her happy, I went to a meeting with her. It changed my life."

She slowly discovered that walking, earning money and becoming a doctor weren’t nearly as important as developing a relationship with God.

"I felt empty inside," she said. "All my goals seemed shallow. Something was missing. It was at a Campus Crusade for Christ retreat during my freshman year when God taught me to deal with life. It made me whole again."

Since then Megan’s become an active member of Campus Crusade for Christ, teaching Bible studies, attending retreats and joining the monthly meetings of The River, a Christian worship service and concert that attracts more than 1,500 people.

"The accident renewed her strength," said her father, an emergency room doctor in St. Cloud. "Her disability is no longer a disability. She never complains. She’s thankful for what she has. She’s been a stabilizing force in our family."

Megan switched majors from pre-med to health services administration two years ago because "I’m a people person. It fits more with my personality. I’ve had enough contact with doctors to know that career isn’t for me."

Today Megan drives a car with hand-operated controls; exercises four days a week by wheeling her chair two miles around a track; reads the Bible daily; and lifts weights when she can.

A recent bright spot is the acquisition of an Isocentric Reciprocating Gait Orthosis, an orthopedic brace used to support the paralyzed lower part of her body in a way that makes taking steps possible. It allows her to stand upright with a walker or crutches, shifting her weight from side to side so her legs can move in a reciprocal (walking) fashion.

"It’s really great for me," she said. "If I don’t use my legs and put weight on them, they’ll atrophy. I want to keep my legs in shape so if one day doctors discover how to reconstruct the nerve that sends signals from my brain to my legs, I’ll be ready."

Spinal chord research is advancing in leaps and bounds, Megan said, primarily because of the fund-raising efforts of (paralyzed actor) Christopher Reeves. "He’s an amazing force behind spinal chord injury research."

More than 450,000 people in the United States suffer from spinal chord injuries, with 8,000 new cases added to that number each year.

 "Spiritually, I’m without pain now," Megan said. "Some day I want to get married and have children, which doctors say is possible despite my injuries. I know God wants that for me. I feel blessed."

At Dragonalums.com, you will be able to….

* Take an electronic survey to help us get to know you better.
* Find a copy of the most recent electronic newsletter.  Four e-newsletters will be sent throughout the course of the year beginning in February of this year.  They will be sent via the Twin Cities listserv, but all archive copies can be found at this web site.  If you haven’t joined the listserv yet, don’t worry.  You can do that too at dragonalums.com.
* Check out upcoming alumni events. Not only will you be able to find out about events in the Twin Cities, but there will also be a full posting of all alumni events throughout the state of Minnesota.
* Stay posted on the development of a mentoring program between high school students and MSU alumni.
* Tell us what you want.  This website is for you so please take time to share your thoughts and ideas by completing the feedback form.

Although the idea for this site came from the Alumni Foundation Office, Dragonalums.com is entirely created and maintained by an MSU alumnus.  This is a wonderful opportunity for your alma mater to serve you on a rapidly changing basis.  Please help us make this a useful tool for all of our alumni!

A Mr. Fixit of sorts in basketball shorts, Mike Olson was quick to answer the coaching distress signal  from  Moorhead State University  last spring, and while he fully understands a sizeable renovation project awaits,  he’s been down the slippery slope of restoring broken down programs before and welcomes the challenge. Just  don’t expect any five-year plans.

"We expect to win next year, and we’ll do everything we can to turn this thing around as quickly as possible, " said Olson, midway through his first season as basketball boss of the Dragons.

" I’ll be very disappointed if we’re not competitive next year," said Olson. "I really felt we could put our program and  philosophy in place this season, and have a great recruiting year.  By our third year we want to be a consistently good basketball team. I’ve had one losing season in twenty years. I did not come here to lose, and I did not come here to be mediocre."

Olson is convinced he and his staff possess the proper blueprint for building a quality program to last.

"Our program will be one of substance more than style, and  if  that’s old-fashioned  I don’t care, I think it’s the right way to go. I believe in a simple, respectful style of basketball.  I think young people need to be passionate in what they do. I don’t respond well to lukewarm kids. I respond to kids that are very committed and loyal, and that’s what I will give them in return."

Olson will trust his own yardstick for measuring recruits.

 "It’s critical to have speed and quickness," Olson explained. " We want players who can run the floor, kids who can shoot the ball,  and we want smart players who understand the game. I call it a  high basketball IQ. We will also seek character, and we will not compromise about  character. We want kids committed to success, unselfish team players.

A  native of Tomahawk, WI, Olson spent  nine seasons (1990-99)  at Black Hills State University. He posted a 179-90 record and guided the Yellow Jackets to three straight appearances at the NAIA Division II National Tournament.

Following a stop at Mount Senario (WI) College, Olson produced winning records in his last eight campaigns at  BHSU, including a 26-7 finish in 1998-99. He exited as the  winningest coach in Yellow Jacket history, and  was decorated with SDIC Coach of the Year honors three times.

  "We had success building Mount Senario from nothing to consecutive 20-win seasons, and we had eight winning seasons in a row at Black Hills State. We were well respected across the state, and  really built that program from scratch," said Olson. "

"We were able to build something special, from A to Z, to be successful on the floor and  equally gratifying, to be successful off the floor. From my last senior class all  have degrees. We were five for five, which put us at 32 of 34 seniors at Black Hills that have
their degrees."

Black Hills State was a comfortable fit for Olson, but the opportunity at MSU was too appealing to ignore.

"I don’t apologize for wanting to climb the ladder, to move up to Division II and accept a new challenge," Olson admitted. " It was hard to leave, but  I was still relatively young from a coaching standpoint and we have goals."

 "What first attracted me to the job was the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. I’m an upper Midwest guy, and there’s only 21 (Division II) jobs in the five-state area. Right there was an opportunity. I also thought the Fargo-Moorhead community would be very marketable from a recruiting standpoint. I felt that players would be attracted  to a city of this size, with so many opportunities."

Olson inherited a once proud program tarnished by three straight 8-19 finishes, but he saw an upside that intrigued him. "I know this sounds funny, but the fact that the program was down had a certain appeal. We were  able to start from scratch."

Olson collected his 275th career collegiate victory in January, a 64-63 road win at UM Crookston. While victories are important,  Olson insists there are other rewards as well.

"I don’t know if there’s a greater  feeling than preparing a team and having them go out and play to their potential and earn a big victory. To see your kids become tough, unselfish, smart players, and become a team in a true sense--that to me is very rewarding. Playing  for championships is great, too."

 Olson subscribes to a formula that separates the coaching gurus from the wannabes.

"As you climb the coaching ladder, you find that most coaches can teach the game, most coaches can organize, and many coaches, but not all,  can communicate with young people. If you can do all three of those things you can be successful, but that’s not enough. The difference is you better be a good recruiter."

The price to pay for coaching can be substantial.

"You have to have balance in our profession. You will have downtimes, frustrating losses, and tough times you’ll have to endure. We’re going to get to a point where we’ll have the character that we will come through the difficult time. . . character will endure."

"I’m intense, but I’m learning to control my emotions. Having children that play basketball has helped me. As I’ve watched how they’re dealt with by  their coaches I seen that open, honest communication is one hundred percent more effective than anger. I believe young players must enjoy coming to the gym. It’s such a long season that you have to look forward to practice. . . if your team enjoys each other’s company you’re going to get a much greater effort from them."

Olson developed his passion for the game early, but his playing career at St. Norbert College didn’t have that feel-good ending.

"I respected the game and I loved the game, and it was a significant part of my life,"  remembered Olson. " I was pretty sound and unselfish (as a player) and I could score,  but I couldn’t guard anyone. Ultimately that ended my career."

Not unlike other soulmates in the basketball coaching fraternity, the game of basketball began to treat Olson much better once he stopped trying to play it.

Coaching wasn’t atop his career wish list during his undergraduate stay at St. Norbert, but the calling suddenly became too much to ignore.

"During my senior year at St. Norbert College, the head coach called me in and asked if I was interested in a (coaching) vacancy at a local high school. Right there I knew my playing career was coming to an end. I coached as a senior at Bayport High School."

After schoolboy coaching stops at Northwestern Military Academy in Lake Geneva, WI and Bay Port High School in Green Bay, WI, Olson launched his collegiate coaching career at Mount Senario College (WI) in 1985.

"That was really my first break," said Olson. " I took a job nobody else wanted. . . I was 26 when I got into (college) coaching. I enjoyed it, and my career took off ."

He led the Fighting Saints to four straight winning seasons, and captured  Upper Midwest Collegiate Conference titles in his last two seasons with 20 and 23-win harvests.

Olson also served as head coach at Gustavus Adolphus for one season before accepting the post as head coach at Black Hills State in 1990.

Olson admits there’s life after coaching, but he’s not sure what lies ahead. "I don’t think I’ll coach real long," Olson confessed. "It’s hard on me, I take it so seriously.  I have trouble with mediocrity.  I fret over bad basketball, recruiting wars,  and what we’re going through right now, but through it all you build up more resolve."

 "I think what I’ll  end up doing is running my own program. I think I have a grasp on managing people, public relations, fund-raising, the whole thing.  I think I’ll probably try to  run my own program as an athletic director at some point. Maybe I’ll  just start a hotdog stand, but if I do we’ll have quality hotdogs."

It’s surely  a job Olson could handle. And relish.

Not the Lakers, the Dodgers or the Bruins. But the Dragons.

"The Dragons rule," says the 34-year-old Nelson, who attended MSU from 1983-1985 and eventually earned an elementary education degree at Bemidji State. "We chose the Dragons because it’s an interesting mascot, and because my dad could help us get some MSU paraphernalia to support our efforts."

His dad is David Nelson, who was dean of business and industry at MSU for nearly 20 years and after retiring in 1993 is still a fervent Dragon sports fan.

Adopting a  college mascot is a tradition at Kucera Middle School, an attempt to encourage inner-city kids to begin thinking of higher education as a possibility. "A lot of the students here are minorities and come from broken homes," Nelson said. "More than 30 percent of them won’t graduate from high school."

The goal, he said, is to foster a sense of excitement about college and expose the students to the opportunities.

"I have one student who insists he wants to quarterback the Dragon football team when he grows up," said Nelson, who’s part of a four-teacher team for two sets of 34 students who call themselves Dragons.

One of his students, Amanda, wrote this about what it means to be a Dragon: "It means to be drug free and to have fun and to do all your work in school and stay in school and to do all the things they ask you to do for you can be a leader not a follower for the Dragons."

Another student, Derrick, wrote this: "What it means to be a Dragon to me is looking up to all the adults that go to Moorhead State University. And for them to be good role models for us young adults here at Kucera Middle School. I think it would be cool if any of us got a scholarship there."

Peterson, in his fourth year at Kucera Middle School,  rewards exceptional achievement by giving students a few items he’s gotten from campus—athletic schedules, pennants, hats. Any Dragon fans interested in helping his efforts can write Nelson at: 3966 Camellia Drive, San Bernardino, Calif., 92404.

The 40-acre plot of land, located six miles south of Lake Park, Minn, is covered with roughly 20,000 trees that have been planted over the years by the Neufelds.  The wide variety of trees that cover the property including spruce, oak, birch, willow and black walnut.  The property is also partially covered by wetlands.

To complement their recent gift, the Neufelds are making a bequest in their wills of an additional five acres of land, which includes their house and additional buildings.  The five acres, which border Bergeson Lake and sit adjacent to the tree farm, will provide additional educational and research opportunities for students and faculty.  In addition to serving as an educational facility, the Neufeld’s home will be used as an MSU retreat center.

Neufeld, raised in Manitoba, Canada, came to MSU in 1967 and retired in 1995 as an education professor. Along with colleagues Joe DiCola and Wilva Hanson, he was one of the original founders of MSU’s Professional Fourth Year Program for teachers, which combined classroom studies with applied teaching.

While working with PFY students, Neufeld first used his property for educational purposes. "The students would come out to our property in the morning and stay until night," he said. "They’d have a variety of experiences during the day and in the evening we’d visit around a big bonfire."

A lay preacher since the age of 18, he’s now a pastor at the Hewitt United Methodist Church near Wadena, Minn.

His wife Lorraine, also a Canadian native, taught at the MSU Preschool in Weld Hall for part of her career.  She is now the secretary of the United Methodist Church in Detroit Lakes.

"Our family has enjoyed and received much pleasure from the property over the years, and we wanted to share it with others, so they could have similar experiences in the future," Neufeld said.  "Moorhead State has been very good to us, and this is one way that we can show our appreciation and give something back to the university."

Although the Neufelds hope to see students using the property soon, by making their gift through a retained life estate, they retain the full use of and any income from the property during their lifetimes.

In the future, the Alumni Foundation will be able to harvest trees from the farm with the proceeds being used to maintain and make improvements to the property.  Additional income from the tree farm will establish the Neufeld Family Endowment for student scholarships.

The Neufelds’ three children attended the MSU Campus School and Moorhead State University.  Jon, who earned a biology degree at MSU, is an emergency medical doctor in Upper Michigan.  Joanne, who graduated with a chemistry degree, is practicing family medicine at Grand Forks, ND, and is a faculty member at the University of North Dakota.  Tom, who studied biology at MSU and later transferred to the University of Minnesota, is directing research there in cell biology.

That’s the first paragraph in "Stevie Ray’s Medium-Sized Book of Comedy" released this year by Punchline Publications. Written by MSU alum Stephen Rentfrow (who works professionally under the name Stevie Ray), its available through Barnes & Noble, Borders Bookstores or via the net at www.StevieRays.org. Rentfrow, who earned an individualized degree in theory and performance of comedy here in 1982, has developed a career around humor and improvisation. His company, Stevie Ray’s Productions, has a school of improv, a professional performance troupe and a nationwide corporate training program with over 500 clients.

The book explains the levels of comedy, the nature of humor and how laughter affects us individually and as a culture.

Rentfrow, who happens to hold three black belts in the martial arts, was once a bodyguard for Pee Wee Herman. He’s also an accomplished blues musician, nominated Best Blues Harmonica Player in the 1988 Minnesota Blues Music Awards

But  MnSCU ranks it 22nd out of 24 items on its priority list of bonding projects.

And it isn’t part of Governor Ventura’s $462 million capital bonding bill, the smallest state-government borrowing package since 1992 (only half of the $1  billion for capital expenditures approved by the 1998 Legislature).

All together, Minnesota stage agencies, higher education systems and local governments requested $1.5 billion for capital improvements this year.

MSU’s  $4.1 million request is needed to demolish the 26 buildings that remain on the five-block expansion property and to develop the area for parking.

The hope is that the Senate and the House will override the governor and push through a bonding bill in the $600 million range, which would include the expansion project. But Ventura could respond by not issuing the bonds.

Last year Governor Ventura body slammed MSU’s bonding request when he vetoed $54 million from the Legislature’s $141 million bonding bill.

The five-block expansion area has become both a political and public relations liability for the university, MSU Pres. Roland Barden said.  Yet it has never become a top priority with the MnSCU facilities bureaucracy.

If bonding isn’t approved, the university will continue chipping away at the project with available parking revenue funds.

$61.6 million needed for
facilities maintenance
MSU also has a backlog of deferred facilities maintenance projects that, according to MnSCU consultants, adds up to $61.6 million. The projects fall under Higher Education Asset Preservation and Renewal (HEAPR) funding. They adress safety issues like fire doors, alarms and sprinkler systems, along with roof replacements, emergency lighting, exterior ramps and auditorium safety.

MnSCU has asked the Legislature for $100 million in HEAPR funding this year, of which MSU would get about $9 million if passed. But the governor suggests a total of only $30 million in repair funding for MnSCU (and another $34.3 million for improvements at Twin Cities’ community and technical colleges).

MSU’s facility repair request is so high because most of the buildings on campus are due for overhauls. Most were constructed either in the 1930s (those have been updated once already) and in the Sixties and Seventies when enrollment skyrocketed. Now they’re all in need of overhauls.

Consultants, however, say that MSU has an immediate need for $45 million in facilities maintenance within the next two years.

The university will also need more than $680,000 to get its bleachers in compliance with modern code.

New Science Teaching Lab Building
Over the next four years, MSU will ask for $24 million in bonding money to construct a three-story, 71,000-square-foot Science Teaching Lab building addition to Hagen Hall for teaching biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy and geology. It includes $12.4 million for renovation and renewal of Hagen Hall.

Other projects for the future: A privately funded new building in the five-block expansion area to house Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Nursing and Early Childhood education with teaching clinics and lab school. That project will also involve future money for renovating the spaces vacated by those departments.

In 1998, MSU received $12.25 million from the state’s HEAPR fund to replace roofs and refurbish several campus landmarks, including Nemzek Fieldhouse, The Center for the Arts and Livingston Lord Library. Most of that work has been completed, except for a new outdoor track, $775,000 improvements to the Nemzek Hall swimming pool and a new security card reader. Bids are expected on those projects soon and should be completed this year.

Public universities exist to provide access to higher education and the rewards it can bring.  Minnesota has a wonderful reputation and a tradition of supporting public education.  Our students enjoy a subsidy of $1.87 for each dollar of tuition they pay.  It is a good deal, especially when you take into account the quality of the education.  Perhaps you read this in a much-reprinted December 1999 article from the Washington Post:  "It is a surprising answer to a question that, until recently, no one had bothered to ask: Do kids from well-to-do families tend to go to private colleges or public universities?  Answer: Public universities… As the gap between tuition rates at private and public colleges has grown, more affluent families have shopped around for the best value…"

It’s good to know that value plays a role in this important decision. That bodes well for us; our alumni are proof of the value of a diploma from Moorhead State.  However, the cost of college can still be discouraging to prospective students and their families.  A new graduate may leave with a four-year degree and $40,000 in debt!  Most of our students work.  Some of them put too many hours into their jobs at the expense of their education.  It’s a sign of the times.

That’s why your Alumni Foundation raises money.  That’s why each year you receive letters and phone calls asking for your help.  You’ve "been there."  You’ve paid the bills, built careers and created families.  You know the value of a degree.  You know that access to education is the most important debt our generation will pay for the next.  The walls of our university have tomorrow inside.

Laurie Vasichek, a 1982 MSU political science graduate from Michigan ,N.D., and Barbara Henderson, a 1989 MSU political science graduate from Wapheton, N.D., have been working on the case for the past year.

The U.S. District Court in Madison, Wis., also recommended the pizza chain pay the former janitor, Donald Perkl, about $70,000 for emotional distress.

The $13 million settlement, however, will never be collected. Federal law sets the maximum collection for punitive damages at $300,000.

Nevertheless, Henderson said, this was a good case to convince Congress that damage limits serve no one, but rather let large corporations get by with discrimination very cheaply.

If the verdict is upheld, Perkle will receive back pay of about $10,000 and the $300,000, which Henderson said will be put into a trust fund.

Perkl was fired by a visiting district manager who allegedly said, ‘We don’t want those kind of people working at Chuck E. Cheese’s."

The company, which has 338 restaurants nationwide, said it would appeal if the judge upholds the verdict.

The $13 million  in compensatory and punitive damages is the largest verdict ever awarded in an American with Disabilities Act lawsuit. The trial lasted one week.

"We believe this sends a message to employers that the rights of their employees with disabilities are important and have to be paid attention to," said Vasichek.

EEOC  attorneys Vasichek and Henderson said that the first day Perkl began working at a restaurant in Madison in March of 1997, visiting regional manager Donald Creasy saw him and ordered a supervisor to fire him. The restaurant supervisor refused, and when Creasy returned and saw Perkl still sweeping floors, he fired him. The restaurant manager, a general manager and two other workers resigned in protest.

Before Perkl was officially fired, workers in the Madison Chuck E. Cheese’s circulated a petition supporting him. And even before he was fired, his supervisor had warned corporate officials about her boss’s bigoted comments.

"Can someone please help me with this situation so we can at least give this guy a chance?" assistant manager Brea Wittwer asked in a fax to the company’s Dallas headquarters. "We are an equal opportunity employer, are we not?"

The communication was met with silence and inaction.

That’s when the EEOC stepped in, claiming Chuck E. Cheese’s discriminated against Perkl by firing him, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Perkl, 52, is unable to talk. He communicates with pictures, signs and a hand-held computer device. Paid $21 a day, he was hired at Chuck E. Cheese’s to work with the assistance of a full-time job coach paid for by a disabilities advocacy group.

"One reason the jury decided to punish the company so severely," Henderson, "is they tried to argue that Perkl couldn’t suffer emotional distress from the firing because he was too retarded to feel pain."

When the verdict was read, Perkl pointed to a happy face in a book.

Title I of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in the private sector and in state and local governments. The law, enacted in 1991 requires employers to make "reasonable accommodations" for such employees.

Vasichek, a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota law school,  works in the EEOC’s Minneapolis office. After law school, she was a law clerk for the Honorable Myron Bright of Fargo, a judge on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. She worked for Dorsey & Whitney law firm in Minneapolis before joining the EEOC. She was named one of Minnesota’s 1999 Superlawers in a poll conducted by Minnesota Law and Politics, Twin Cities Business Monthly and MPLS.ST. PAUL magazine.

Henderson, a magna cum laude graduate of Marquette University law school, works in the EEOC’s  Milwaukee office. After law school, she worked in the litigation department for the Milwaukee law firm of Riordan, Crivello, Carlson, Mentkowski & Steeves and in 1994 joined the EEOC as senior attorney for the Milwaukee District Office.

The federal agency gets actively involved in comparatively few cases: Of the more than 75,000 discrimination complaints the commission receives annually, it intervenes in court in only about 500 nationally.

GIFT HORSE: A LAKOTA STORY
The book, "Gift Horse," mirrors author S.D. (Steve) Nelson’s own personal journey of spiritual growth. And while this is not an autobiographical account for the first-time author and accomplished illustrator, the journey to manhood reflects Nelson’s own Vision Quest.

"Gift Horse" is an action-packed coming of age story about a Lakota boy whose father gives him a horse in preparation for making the transition from boyhood into manhood. (32 pages of illustrations in full color, 9 x 10 _, US $14.95, November 1999)

Alan Jim—a friend, mentor, Lakota medicine man and sundancer—"taught me the Lakota Way in the sweat lodge," Nelson said.

Nelson says that the sweat lodge is used for spiritual purification. "To participate in a sweat lodge was sacred—a time when prayers were said and answered. A Vision Quest was an individual’s journey into the spirit world. Through fasting and meditation a person—isolated from the rest of the tribe—might receive insights. Some individuals received a vision for an entire lifetime. Alan Jim took me on my vision quest."

Nelson’s many years of hiking into the remote regions of the Southwest to observe wildlife laid the foundation for his spiritual journey.  "It was in the forgotten canyons of Arizona and Utah that I ‘discovered’ the rock art of the ancient ones, my ancestors" Nelson said. "These images spoke to me across the ages in a clear voice that made my heart cry. I could not deny what I felt. I could no longer remain the illustrator I had become. My work needed to be more than a wildlife scene. It needs to speak from the heart. Today my work has a spiritual direction and purpose."

* *
The son of a career Army officer father, who was of Norwegian descent, and a Lakota Indian mother, Nelson had lived in 15 different homes by the time he was 12 years old. He felt little purpose growing up. Childhood friendships were short-lived because of the family’s constant moving.

"It was a mixed blessing moving around," he said. "The upside was that I saw the world as a big, fascinating place—living in Germany and traveling to Spain and France. I was exposed to renaissance art, gothic art and the great world treasures. The downside was that I was a loner. In that isolation I read and found that I enjoyed drawing and painting."

The family settled in Fargo long enough for Nelson to graduate from North High School and to attend Moorhead State University.

"I wanted a small college with a good art program. I didn’t want to get lost in the shuffle of a large university." MSU art professors embraced the young Nelson. He fondly recalls their influence.

"Jack Youngquist had a personal enthusiasm for drawing and working on a flat, two-dimensional surface and an in-depth expertise that radiated throughout all of the lessons he taught. Arnold Favela was truly an inspiration. He taught me to see in a new way offering so many insights into what could be done with shape and color. Lyle Laske exposed me to all kinds of new materials. Roy Boe opened up the world of art history. They, and many others, changed my life," Nelson said. "I arrived as a boy and left fortified for the adult world. It was the perfect place for me to be."

Besides a passion for art, Nelson discovered a passion for the learning process. Armed with an art education degree (1972), he moved to Flagstaff, Ariz., to teach art at Mount Elden Middle School (grades 7-8), where he still teaches today. Arizona is Nelson’s idea of perfection.

"This place (the Southwest) is an inspiration to me," Nelson said. "One can observe wildlife firsthand every season of the year in comfort. I fell in love with the landscape and wildlife and drew and painted it extensively."

That was important for Nelson who spent the 1980s specializing in wildlife paintings and drawings. It was a matter of survival.

"Frankly, I needed to make some kind of income from this pastime of mine, so I exhibited in galleries and sold some things. But Flagstaff is a small town, and large paintings, my preferred format, didn’t sell very well. That’s when I realized there was a commercial art market for the kind of wildlife illustrations I was creating," he said. He kept busy, amassing an impressive portfolio of illustrations for magazines, greeting cards, CD covers, and book jackets.

A trip to South America led to a cover design for "Andean Journeys" by K.V. Powers, CDs like "White Buffalo", and his favorite, the Black Lodge Singers’ "Kids Pow-wow Songs." He’s done illustrations for authors Colin Taylor, Suzanne Ellison and Jill Max. In 1995 he placed first in the 76th print competition of Gallup’s Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Association, and he’s received numerous state art awards.

"I’ve been at it real hard for about 10 years and am now seeing the fruits of my labor. I’m happy about that," Nelson says. "When I retire from teaching, I hope to have a full-time career as artist and illustrator."

That’s where "Gift Horse" comes in—the first children’s book written and illustrated by Nelson. It has received exceptional reviews, most notably for the beautiful artwork, which is a personal expression of his Native American heritage.

* *
Nelson’s mother was bilingual and was raised to be ashamed of her heritage. However, "she couldn’t help but share her Indianness with me," Nelson said. The family spent summers at his mother’s home on the Lakota Reservation of Standing Rock, which lies on the North and South Dakota border. "Being Lakota was an evolving element in my life. I was the Anglicized towhead.

"When I was at Moorhead, Russell Means and Dennis Banks spoke. It was the time of the American Indian movement, a time of revolution, a time of reclaiming their heritage," Nelson said. "I feel that, in my own way, I have made a similar journey. I made a conscious decision 10 years ago to pursue my own personal vision," Nelson said. "I pushed the edge of the envelope and experimented with all kinds of things, and what you see is the result."

He went from being an American illustrator to a Native American artist. "There is a difference between the Anglo-European culture that has sought to have dominion over the environment. The Native American culture lives with and walks with all creatures. I came to embrace that philosophy," he said.
 

Nelson’s artwork derives from his Vision Quest and is modeled after the ledger book drawings (1865-1935) of the Plains Indian artists. (Ledger book drawings are images on lined paper in accounting books. They were made by captive Indians who had been sent back East to be "civilized.") The images then were simple and bold. So are the images in "Gift Horse"—simple, bold, abstract and shapely, with rich, symbolic color.

Accolades for the first-time author are abundant. "A starry-eyed but exhilarating story…An impressive debut."—Kirkus Reviews; "This is as elegant an artistic presentation, coupled with a culturally-educational context, as one might find."—Arizona Daily Sun; "Each drawing jumps off the page…They will capture the imagination and attention of even the most antsy young reader."—The Forum (Fargo, N.D.) And quite frankly, my children loved it.

They especially enjoyed the author’s note at the end of the book, which explains more about who the Lakota are and their rituals and traditions. He tells readers that his great-great grandfather’s name was Flying Cloud, and that he, too, is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas. "Many times I have wondered what it was like for Flying Cloud, as a boy, growing up," Nelson writes. "That is how I came to write this tale. When I was a child, my mother, Christine-Elk Tooth Woman, often told me about the Old Ones who came before her, including Flying Cloud."

The move to combine illustrating with writing was natural for Nelson. "My years of working with kids, writing and drawing all came together in this children’s book. It’s been quite a blessing."

He recently completed illustrations for a book titled "Crazy Horse’s Vision," which will be released in April. It, too, embraces the symbolism and images of ledger book art. "Ledger book art was a starting point for my own personal reflection," Nelson said. "I certainly hope my art will continue to evolve. I have no idea where it will take me, but that’s a part of the magic of the whole creative process." Screenplays? Films? Additional books? "Maybe," he says. "But hopefully it will be related to art and to children in some way."

Most importantly to Nelson, he spreads paint and color so that we all might share in his vision. He writes: "My paintings are a rediscovery of who I am and a partial answer to the fundamental questions and doubts that puzzle each of us. In them, I connect with the Great Mystery—Wakan Tanka. For I have an artist’s vision of Father Sky and Mother Earth, of the winged creatures, of our four-legged brothers, of the little crawling creatures, and of the human beings. I have a vision of the mountains and the forests, all singing the song of life, all dancing in a circle, in a good way."

Nelson has two daughters and lives in Flagstaff, Ariz., with his wife Karen Powers.

Photo cutlines:

Nelson’s illustrations are done with acrylic paint on wood panel. He builds up layers of paint using brushes, sponges, atomizers and splattering.

"In my paintings I connect with Wakan-Tanka, the Great Spirit. I spread paint and color so that you might share my vision."

"Gift Horse" is available from most bookstores and is published by Harry N. Abrams, New York. Nelson is currently working on a follow-up to "Gift Horse."

Brian Evenson
B.S. Accounting, 1986
President, McKechnie Plastic Components

One of the youngest CEOs: Ranked fourth in Corporate Reports "78 CEOs under 50, " Evenson, 36, says "I knew I had the motivation and desire to lead a company someday, but never in my dreams did I expect to be doing so at this age." Call it serendipitous, hard work or just good luck, Evenson has embraced every opportunity presented to him. "Unlike many others, I avoid setting yearly goals specifically defining where I expect to be or want to be," Evenson says. "My philosophy is one that, if I work hard, do a great job and seek opportunities, the company should be in a position to reward me." And they have.

Good training for the top post: "Many organizations see financial people as necessary evils, but I believe the accounting trade can truly add to the profitability of an organization," Evenson said. That’s one of the strengths he brings to his current post. "If you understand the costs in an organization—where costs can be contained or where they can be maximized—then you’re adding value to the organization." Evenson was hired as a controller for a company called Datamyte, a division of Allen-Bradley, which is a company of the fortune 100 Rockwell. "It was a perfect opportunity for me to simultaneously work for three different sized organizations," Evenson said. "I came to understand what small companies value in business and what Rockwell thought was a good way to manage its business." Perfect training for McKechnie.

Stepping in early: Evenson joined McKechnie Plastic Components as vice president and controller in 1994. The billion-dollar company is headquartered in England, and Evenson’s shop, located in St. Louis Park, Minn., is one of about 50 divisions. It’s a $25 million business which is at the forefront of technological and business trends for contract injection molding. They offer world-class expertise with numerous types of plastics within the markets of medical, automotive and defense. "A sampling of the parts we manufacture here include connector tops for Ppacemakers and defibrillators, components for the Hellfire missile on Apache helicopters and critical parts contained within automotive fuel tanks. Our parts generally require very close tolerances and critical characteristics."

When Evenson’s boss was promoted to a facility in South Carolina, Evenson initially hesitated in accepting the top post. As a general manager for another company just prior to joining McKechnie, Evenson said that "I was looking forward to having a mentor relationship for a bit longer before this opportunity presented itself." However, with the support of the management team he accepted the position in 1996.

A leader for today: Despite not having a long-term mentor, Evenson’s leadership style is well suited for his 24 hours a day, five days a week work force. "What motivates me is trying to ensure that our 180 employees are successful and challenged. I’m committed to making sure we provide a good, positive, stable work environment." A percentage of McKechnie employees are minorities with below average English skills. That, combined with a round-the-clock operation, creates challenges in simply communicating.

"I find myself coming in at 2 a.m., 5 a.m. or 7 p.m. to ensure that I’m touching base with every employee," Evenson said. "Clearly articulating the strategy to every employee is important toward their understanding of where we are heading and why. There’s nothing magical about letting people understand your decision-making process." Respecting people and their ideas, common sense, and the ability to maximize the effectiveness of those people that work with you are essential traits of today’s leader, Evenson said.  "One thing that has helped in my success is being able to adjust my style, while still being consistent, to so many different personalities." When asked whether leaders are born or made, Evenson responded "I think good leaders are born. You can develop numerous skills, but I’m not sure you can teach certain aspects of personality."

Trends in plastics business:  "The biggest change I’m seeing is how we conduct business with our clients," Evenson said. "It’s unfortunate, but certain aspects of e-commerce are taking value away from the relationship. I sincerely hope that this tool will not take the brains out of the equation and only drive the purchasing transaction to lowest price." Another trend is the large number of acquisitions and mergers. "Small companies are having a hard time surviving. As a large organization, we need to be aggressive in acquiring organizations that fit or expand our strategy. It does help to have a billion-dollar parent supporting those efforts," he said. Evenson says he looks for employees "who have added value to their jobs and have the desire to succeed as much as you want them to succeed. I also look for people who take a great deal of pride in their work and the company they work for."

Goals for the 21st century:  "Our company goals are to double in size every five years and to exceed our corporate objectives for profitability," Evenson said. "I also want to provide our current employees with an opportunity to be promoted if they desire and to become a better provider to our clients." You can read more about McKechnie at www.mckechnie.com

Evenson said, "My personal goals (no timeframe, please) are to oversee a multi-site location and become part of a Board of Directors for an organization that interests me. Also, I want to be a good mentor to those around me and the rest will fall into place."

Evenson lives with his wife nee Mary Fink (’86 accounting) in Chaska, Minn.

A career set in motion: Barry Halm grew up in Mandan, N.D., where he says his family "was probably considered economically poor." He spent his summers making butter for Cloverdale. "It was hard and tedious work, and as a result, I was motivated to get an education and to make sure I did not have a tedious and repetitive job in my life," Halm said. "Health care seemed to be a dynamic and challenging field." So he headed to Moorhead State University where the business and finance programs were nationally recognized. Halm carries fond memories of his MSU days, particularly the "camaraderie and the joy of learning that was so prevalent at school," he said. "Learning was just plain fun." After completing degrees here, he attended the University of Minnesota to receive advanced studies in hospital administration.

The picture-perfect career ladder: Halm’s professional experience began as the health facilities and emergency medical services coordinator for Nodak South Central Health Planning Council. He quickly moved around to tackle more challenging positions, from managing a 40-bed hospital to overseeing the Benedictine Health System, a Catholic health care delivery system headquartered in Duluth, Minn. The system operates 70 facilities in 54 communities within 7 states with an annual operating budget of $200 million and more than 4,500 employees. "I guess if size and complexity have anything to do with success, moving from entry-level positions to more complex positions, then I guess I’m somewhat successful," Halm modestly admits. He says it goes back to the founding principles of what he learned in college. "Those founding principles provided to me at MSU were to study hard, to work hard and to do the best you can. It has helped me tremendously. The finance skills I retained at Moorhead have given me the edge to be successful in business," he said. "Even yesterday, a board member said to me that of all the CEOs he knows, I’m the most attuned to knowing and understanding the numbers. That’s the advantage that I bring to our system."

A leader for today: Halm’s research on leadership development convinces him that leadership is both an inherent skill and a learned skill. "It’s truly a balance of both, and one needs to practice those skills and refine them over time." His leadership philosophy coincides with the Benedictine philosophy of servant leadership. "A leader is here to make others successful," Halm said. "You need to be trustful and giving of yourself to others." A multi-faceted leader, Halm doesn’t believe there’s one good leadership style. "You use the skills and the gifts that God has given you and you use them differently in different situations. A good leader knows at that time what to do. And that only comes with experience," he said. "I’m a better person and leader today than I was five years ago. And I hope I’m a better person and leader five years from now."

An influential influence: Halm says that all of the people he’s interacted with during the past 27 years, both positively and negatively, have influenced his leadership style. But one particular mentor still influences him today. "He used to send out hand-written cards to people and tell them he appreciated what they’ve done. I still do that today," Halm said. "I’ll send out maybe two or three cards a day to people who have an upcoming birthday, a difficulty in the family, or who are doing an outstanding job. It’s an example of learning from others around you."

The dynamic field of health care: Halm’s desire to be in a dynamic and challenging career has kept him involved in the health care field. He says major challenges are facing the industry, primarily the 45 million people who are uninsured or underinsured and going without appropriate and timely health care. He also considers health care reimbursement, changing technology, increasing demand for services, and labor shortages as major factors affecting health care. These issues will challenge all of tomorrow’s leaders. "The diversity of the workforce will be a major challenge too," he said. "A variety of ethnic backgrounds and cultures will require a different leadership style. Managers will want to treat everyone appropriately and that will take a special effort."

Halm also notices that younger people may be less committed to the organizations they work for. Halm’s three college-aged children say they don’t want to work as hard as he has. "They expect their lives to be different than mine," Halm said. "They want to be happy and enjoy life. They know they’ll work for a number of organizations, but their personal lives will be more in balance than mine has been."

Today’s employee: Halm recognizes that the work culture is changing, but he says the Midwest work ethic is alive and well. So how can you get a job with this CEO? "We need people who live out our Benedictine beliefs and values," Halm said. "We also look for people who possess the basic tenets of business management—someone who can communicate, analyze and think through problems, and who can learn from the organization." Finally, he says they need to have the energy level, drive and enthusiasm for the position.

Goals for the 21st century: "The goals for our system are clear," Halm says. They are: 1) to perpetuate the Benedictine values and mission; 2) to grow and   expand the organization to meet the needs of the communities we serve; 3) to collaborate with other organizations and communities to bring about a greater good for the communities we serve; and 4) to make a difference in the quality of life in the communities that we serve. (To read more about Benedictine Health System, visit their web sit at www.bhshealth.org)

Like all good leaders, Halm has his personal goals, too. He will continue to lead BHS to ensure its vibrancy and to continue its mission. He also hopes to find more balance in his life. And finally, as a servant leader, he hopes to continue mentoring and teaching others. "So many people have shared so much with me, I want to share a little part of myself with others."

Halm and his wife live in Duluth, Minn., with their three children.

60s

Thomas Matchie ’66 (MS, Eng) was recently named the 1999 Outstanding Educator by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at North Dakota State University.  Matchie holds a doctorate in English and has been on the faculty at NDSU since 1971.

Gerald Erickson ’68 (math) is living in Minnetonka, MN.  He works as a project manager with Spanlink Communications, Brooklyn Park, MN.

Jerome Degerness ’69 (math/physics) is an actuary and vice president at E.W. Blanch, a major reinsurance broker.  He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, a member of their board of directors, and serves as chairman of the long range planning committee.  Jerome lives in Woodbury, MN with his wife, Kathleen, two daughters and a son.  He reports that their oldest daughter is spending fall semester in Argentina and that most of their spare time is spent supporting their children’s extracurricular activities.

70s

Robert Schnitler ’71 (bio) has been living on a mountain top in Haymarket, VA with his wife, Susan, and commuting to his computer job in Alexandria, VA.  Being on top of a mountain allows Robert to enjoy his hobby of viewing the night sky through his homemade telescope.

Kristan Harris ’76 (bio) a professor of biology at Boston University, recently received a grant of nearly one million dollars.  Working with several other researchers, Kristen will apply advanced theories in quantum physics to observe what occurs at brain synapses ? the sites of communication between neurons.  The ability to make these observations could ultimately lead to a better understanding of how the brain functions.  Kristan lives with her husband, Max Snodderly, and their son, Collin, in Lexington, Mass.
 

Gayle Cossette Highness ’76 (mass comm) is in her second year of a four year Master’s of Divinity program at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.  She is a candidate for ordained ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Arlan Bolstad ’79 (speech) received his law degree from Drake University in 1982 and was recently named associate general counsel for the State Corporation Commission in Richmond, VA where he makes his home with his wife, Beth, and daughter, Joanna.  He spent the last ten years with the state legislature’s Division of Legislative Services.

80s

Clay Hage ’80 (speech) reports that he is alive and well in Southern California.  He became a grandfather for the first time in August of ’98 and had a second grandson in this past fall.  Clay is the Southern California public affairs representative for the Western Manufactured Communities Association, the largest trade association of manufactured housing communities and mobile home parks in the nation. Clay was student senate president at MSU in 79-80.

Jo Lynn Leindecker Morman ’80 (bio) got a Master’s Degree in Botany from NDSU after leaving Moorhead State, and then worked for nine years as a reclamation specialist for BNI Coal near Bismarck, ND.  She moved to Alaska in 1993.  She and her husband, Dale, and son, Brett, currently reside in Anchorage.  Jo Lynn invites any old MSU friends to call if they are ever in the area.

Becky Omdahl ’80 (speech, psych) was recently named an associate professor in Metropolitan State University’s College of Arts and Sciences in the Twin Cities.  She teaches courses in interpersonal and intercultural communication, conflict mediation or negotiation, and family communication.  Becky holds a Ph.D. in communication arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Robert "Bert" Winkler ’80 (bus admin) got married in ‘98 and he and his wife, Season, had a baby in August.   They live in San Diego, CA. Robert owns File-Fax Inc., a company that specializes in high-density filing and storage systems.  He employs eleven people and has sales exceeding two million dollars annually.  Robert says, "I still participate in search and rescue and caving, but to a lesser extent."

Rick Jacobson ‘81 (phy ed/bus ed) and Deb Mondry Jacobson ’81 (el ed) and their children, Trevor and Randi, make their home in Wyndmere, ND.  Rick is superintendent of schools in Wyndmere and Deb teaches third grade.

Danette Wahowske Potochick ’81 (mktg) and her husband, Jim, are living in Linwood, MI after having spent the last two years in England.  Danette is a sales and marketing manager at Technical Training, Inc. in Rochester Hills, MI.  Her email address is danette@tm.net

Joyce Schmidtbauer ’81 (mass comm) recently produced a TV campaign for the Seattle Sonics that won 33 national and international advertising awards, including a Golden Lion at Cannes Best of Show at the London International Advertising Awards.  She also won many other awards, including the $50,000 Grandy Award and National ADDY.  Joyce splits her time between Los Angeles and Seattle.

Steven Porter ’82 (soc wk) and his wife, Mary, live with their children, Christopher and Jeremy, in Coon Rapids, MN.  Steven says that they enjoy activities with family and friends and are active in the local YMCA.  Mary is a special education teacher and Steven is a paralegal for Northern States Power.  He reports that after graduation he spent a total of two years in China studying Mandarin Chinese at various universities.

Ann Sather Trosper ’82 (el ed) recently went to Tokyo, Japan as a participant in the Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program.  Ann, who has also won several other teaching awards, was selected from a pool of over 2,500 applicants by a panel of educators for this honor.  This program allows distinguished primary and secondary school teachers in the U.S. to travel to Japan in an effort to promote greater intercultural understanding between the two nations.  Ann is currently teaching third grade in Evanston, WY and resides there with her husband, Richard, and daughters, Alex and Arianna.  Ann would like to thank the Department of Education at MSU for the tools and skills that gave her such a strong foundation for teaching.  She says, "The ability to help others has been a great gift, thanks MSU!"

Jean Schneider ’83 (mrkt/mgmt) is working is sales and living in Littleton, CO.

Ann Willeson Sorteberg ’84 (ind illus) is a lecturer in education at Mayville State University.  She teaches elementary classroom art and children’s literature.  She is also coordinator of the Teacher Learning Center at Mayville and works with thirteen area schools setting up workshops and providing resource materials to teachers.

Tim Wollenzein ’84 (music) completed a Ph.D. in Music Education at the University of Minnesota this past summer.  He lives in Brooklyn Park with his wife, Laurie Jetvig, and their daughters, Margaret and Hannah.  Tim is currently the director of bands at Coon Rapids High School, and also enjoys playing baritone in the Lake Wobegone Brass Band.

Cordell Schott ’85 (mass comm) has been named a district sales manager for existing accounts at Great Plains Software.  He will oversee sales operations in the Southeast Region of North America.  Cordell lives in Fargo with his wife, Pamela Harty Schott ’84 (acctg) and their three children.

Heidi Edison ’87 (soc wk) graduated this past summer from the Post-Masters Clinical Social Wok Education Program at the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry & Mental Health Sciences in Topeka, KS.  Menninger is a world-renowned psychiatric institution established in 1925 for the treatment, prevention, education and research of mental illness.  Heide received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1994.

Chad Gruhl ’87 (bus mgmt) spent the last fifteen years working at such hotels as the Walforf-Astoria in New York City and Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, NJ.  He recently finished his master’s degree and is now working on his doctorate at the University of Delaware.  In addition to taking coursework, Chad is lead professor for the hospitality management program at Rosement College and teaches business courses at the Restaurant School in Philadelphia.  Chad resides with his partner of four years, Jim, in Wilmington, DE.

Mary Pitsenbarger Zurn ’87 (inter bus/German) lives in Benson, MN with her husband, Andrew, and has a busy family life with children Louis, Issac, and Marta.

Tim VanZee ’87 (fin) and his wife, Susan, live with their children, Alyssa and Emily, in Denver, CO.  Tim works in insurance sales for Allstate Insurance Company.

Marilyn Johnson ’88 (acct/bus ed) taught for ten years in South Texas and reports that after getting married in 1997 she moved to Rochester, NY where she is a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) to a little girl born in July, 1999.  She would love to hear from other MSU alumni. Her email address is msbubbles@cheerful.com.

Craig Oftedahl ’88 (el ed) and Randi Marvin Oftedahl ’93 (el ed) are both teaching in the Warroad School District in Warroad, MN.  Randi teaches fourth grade, and Craig teaches middle school science and is also head boy’s basketball coach and assistant football coach.  They have two daughters, Elle and Teresa.

Jeff Stowman ’88 (bio) submits the following.  "I spent four winters teaching skiing for the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park, CO and summers teaching water skiing at a camp in Maine.  Then I met my beautiful wife, Shelly, moved to Kansas, got married, and went to law school.  I am currently associated with the law firm of Spradley & Riesmeyer, P.C., in Kansas City, MO.  Shelly and I had the cutest baby girl in the universe on April 28, 1999 because we got bored with our two dogs.  I miss snow in winter."

90s

Greg Landmark ’90 (math) and his wife, Darla, live with their two children, Hannah and Ryan, in Eagan, MN.  Greg is a retirement plans manager with The St. Paul Companies.

Eric Berg ’91 (pol sci) ’96 (phil) received his Master of Arts Degree in Theology and Doctrine from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.  His home congregation is Zion Lutheran Church in Amor, MN.  Eric is married to Christy Delaney of Fargo.

Brendon Macaraeg ’91 (mass comm) recently quit his job with an internet firm in Silicon Valley and is now the art director for a small web company called myCaddy which will provide golfers with services over the net.  "There is not much else to report except that I made a wonderful trip to Ireland in August to visit my relatives on my mom’s side.  A most life-affirming trip." Brendon describes his "home base" as San Francisco and invites anyone who remembers him to email him at brendonm@sirius.com

Rich Miller, ’91 (Eng.) has received two graduate degrees since leaving MSU, including a MA from New Mexico State University, and a Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University.  He is currently an assistant professor of English and director of the Writing Center at Texas A&M University ? Kingsville.  "Despite teaching a 3/3 load, Rich has had time to read extensively in Aelfric and Joyce per Dr. Tandy’s and Dr. Pearce’s influence, respectively."  Contact Rich at ramiller@tamuk.edu

Karna Baseman Stark ’91 (soc st) received her Master’s of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary this past May.  Karna and her husband, Durk ’91 (lib arts), have one child, Karolina.

Laurie Thirsk Supplee ’91 (mass comm) is enjoying being in the Twin Cities near family and friends.  Laurie is working part-time as a sales representative and spending lots of time with her three-year-old daughter, Sara.

Michael Bennett ’92 (bio) graduated from the UND School of Medicine and is in the middle of a one year transitional residency program at the affiliated hospitals of the UND School of Medicine in Fargo.  In July of 2000 he will began radiology residency at Creighton University in Omaha, NE.

Christopher Nalty ’92 (graph comm) and his wife, Geri, would like to announce the upcoming birth of their first child.  The due date is February 29, so the baby will be a leap year child.  Chris is relieved that their firstborn can be told she is only four years old when it comes time to have a discussion about getting a driver’s license.  Chris and Geri have just started construction on a new home in Becker Township near Monticello, MN so are presently homeless.  The best way to reach them is at Chris’s parent’s home in St. Paul or at chris@topflightmarketing.com
 

Wade Schmidt ’92 (bio) graduated from the UND School of Medicine and plans to pursue residency training in internal medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin.  Wade also received the Lloyd S. Ralston, M.D. Memorial Endowment Award, which is given to the student who best displays Dr. Ralston’s dedication to excellence, respect for the intrinsic dignity of each patient and the ability to apply basic science thoughtfully and critically to clinical practice.

Kimberly Malusla ‘93 (econ) recently moved from Washington, D.C. to Richmond, VA to work as a senior fiscal analyst for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

Barry Ness  ’93 (mktg) has recently made some changes.  This past May he resigned from his job with Williams Steel and Hardware and moved home to Alexandria, MN.  He will be working as a sales representative for Boyd Nelson, Inc., a local beverage wholesaler.

Eric Thompson ’93 (bio) recently graduated from the UND School of Medicine.  His residency plans were pending at the time this information was received.

Monte Helm ’94 (chem) is in graduate school at the University of Colorado ? Boulder.  He lives with his wife, Christine, in Boulder.

Jodi Schons ’94 (el ed) has spent the last six years teaching 4th/5th grade at St. Michael’s, a small Catholic School in Mahnomen, MN.  Jodi stays busy with church and friends and plans to attend graduate school in the fall of 2000.

Richard Stinson ’94 (soc st) lives in Fargo and works as a national training manager for Fireman’s Fund Agribusiness.

David Beck ’95 (bio) recently graduated from the UND School of Medicine.  He is in surgery residency training at Akron General Hospital in Akron, OH.

Benjamin Coler ’95 (bio) of Richfield, MN recently started law school at the University of Minnesota.

Peter Fritch-Gallatin ’95 (mass comm) received his m
Master of Arts Degree with an emphasis in youth and family ministry from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN this past spring.  He is director of youth and family ministry at Elim Lutheran in Robbinsdale, MN.  Peter’s wife, Jillene Fritch-Gallatin, is completing her studies at Luther.

Sheila Hansen Johnson ’95 (acct) lives with her husband, Joel, in Plymouth, MN.  Sheila is a compensation analyst with Fingerhut.

John Machacek  ’95 (h-m-r mgt) has been with Concordia College in Moorhead since August 1998.  He is their cash operations manager.  John and his wife, Jeanine, live in Fargo.

Jennifer Swenson Martinson ’95 (soc wk) lives with her husband, Travis, and daughter, Mariah, in Fergus Fall, MN.  Jennifer works for Ottertail County Social Services as a social worker.

Wade Swenson ’95 (chem) recently graduated from the UND School of Medicine and will take residency training in internal medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, IA.  While at UND, Wade received the North Dakota Academy of Family Physicians’ Research Award, given to the student who has demonstrated potential in the area of research.  He was also honored with the Drs. O.W. and C.G. Johnson Award, given by the Johnson Clinic of Rugby to a native North Dakotan demonstrating outstanding research in rural family medicine.  The Voices for North Dakota Children Award, given by the American Academy of Pediatrics, North Dakota Chapter, in support of child advocacy was also presented to Wade.

Vanessa Colon-Ortiz ’96 (Span) reports that her website, Modamag, was chosen as iSyndicates.com’s Express Affiliate of the month.  Modamag is a fashion and health e-zine.  Vanessa was also chosen as the eLatina Moves Model of the year 2000.  Her responsibilities will include a promotional tip to Washington, D.C. and writing articles related to modeling and fashion.  She will also model clothes from Latina Moves’ clothing line and is a finalist for Miss Cyberspace 2000.  In addition to her work in the online fashion industry, Vanessa is hoping to develop a line of children’s books using eco-friendly materials and printing processes.

Jennifer Diekman Guzik ’96 (el ed) found a job after graduation teaching fifth grade in her hometown of Watertown, SD.  She is married to Vincent Guzik, a software engineer and Mankato State University graduate. They have some interesting conversations as to who graduated from the best MSU.  Vince works for Great Plains Software, which is headquartered in Fargo, ND.  Jennifer says that they plan on pursuing their master’s degrees and starting a family within the next five years.

Jeff Hudson ’96 (bio) is in his fourth and final year of medical school at the Indiana School of Medicine.  He plans on pursuing a career in ophthalmology and is enjoying life in Indianapolis.

Karen Meier Urbach ’96 (sp/lng/hrg) and her husband, Ryan, are living in Shoreview, MN.  Karen graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1998 and works for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics in outpatient services.  Ryan is a network engineer for Siemens Building Technologies.

Sara Wagner-Budeau ’96 (mass comm) is a marketing specialist for the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and was instrumental in the development of the department’s Pride of Dakota web site.

Lindsay Husband Brown ’97 (Eng/indiv major) and her husband, Jeff ’97 (theatre) will soon be making their home in Fargo.  Jeff has been hired by MSU to work in the Theatre Department as their technical director.

Kim Rauser DeRosier ’97 (bio) has begun her first year as a graduate student in public health nutrition at the University of Minnesota.  Kim married Matthew DeRosier one week after graduation from Moorhead State.  They make their home in Edina, MN.

Tracy Marback ’97 (phy ed) will receive a master’s degree this spring from North Dakota State University.  While at NDSU, Tracy has served as assistant softball coach and is a lecturer in the Physical Education and Exercise Science Department.

Mark Moitsheim ’97 (psych) has recently been promoted to operations manager of the Sears Fashion Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Michael Peterson ’97 (acctg) recently joined Eide Bailly, a national full service accounting firm, as an associate in their farm accounting and tax department.

Thad Stafford ’97 (crim jus) is a police officer with the city of Moorhead.  He and his wife, Bonnie, and their new baby boy live across the street from the Union and report that life "couldn’t be better."

Beth Steffan ’97 (pol sci) worked as an intern for North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad in the Senate Legislative Counsel immediately following graduation.  She now makes her home in Chicago and is about to begin law school at Northwestern University.

Stephanie Binger ’98 (fin) is a graduate student in finance at the University of Tennessee.  She is the student portfolio manager for a $300,000 equity fund at the university.  This past summer she completed an internship with Plasti-Line, Inc., the largest manufacturer and marketer of exterior illuminated signage in the United States.

In Memoriam

Joseph W. Miller, Professor Emeritus, died December 21, at the age of 80.  Professor Miller taught English at Moorhead State University from 1959 until his retirement in 1985.

’31 Blanche King Quaife died August 9, at Meritcare Hospital in Fargo, ND.  After graduation from Moorhead State she taught in several rural Minnesota schools.  In 1933 she married Floyd Quaife and they moved to Hunter, ND where they farmed and worked. Floyd died in 1971 and Blanche has been a resident of the Arthur Nursing Home for the past four years.  A son, Robert, and two daughters, Marilyn and Lois survive her.

’35 Alice Tweeton Meyer, 85, Dent, MN died September 26, 1999 at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls, MN. She graduated from high school in Pelican Rapids, MN, attended Moorhead State University, and later taught school in the Dent area. She was married to Glenn Meyer.  Two sons, a daughter and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive her.

’36 Ruth Clementson Martin, Newfolden, MN died July 1998.  After graduating from MSU she taught in the Gully and Winger, MN schools until her marriage in 1936.  Later she taught in Viking, Karlstad and Stephen, MN schools until her retirement in 1975.

’38 Loretta Morrison Bergan, 83, Grand Forks, formerly Mayville, ND died December 1, 1999 in Grand Forks.  She taught art and elementary classes in Sharon, ND, Boyne City, MI, and in Mayville, ND, where she retired after twenty years as a teacher.  A son, Greg, and two daughters, Gail and Peggy survive her.  Her husband, Blair, preceded her in death.

’43 Rachel Strand Fixen, rural Galchutt died August 14, 1999 at St. Catherine’ Living Center, Whapeton, ND.  After graduating from MSU she taught school at several regional schools before enrolling at Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis.  Following her graduation she continued her teaching in the field of Christian Education.  In 1959 she married Glenn Fixen and they lived and farmed South of Galchutt.  Her husband and son, David, survive her.

’44 Eleanor Swiers Olson died July 26, 1999 in Mesa AZ. After receiving a teaching certificate from MSU she taught in Roseau and Wheaton, MN. She married Arling "Cobb" Olson in 1948 and they operated a café in Ottertail, MN, did home decorating in the Twin Cities, and finally moved to Mesa where they owned and operated Sagebrush Realty.  Daughters Lynette, Leah, and Diane and sons Devin and Darin survive her.  Her husband preceded her in death.

’50 Alma Anderson Odland Nodin died July 18, 1999 in a Granville, ND adult foster care center.  She attended Minot State University and Moorhead State University and taught for many years near Minot, ND and Frazee, MN.  Her first husband, Martin Odland, died in 1965 and in 1975 she married Clarence Nordin.  She lived in Detroit Lakes, MN for many years and spent her winters in Mesa, AZ.  Her husband, Clarence, died in 1988.  She was a member of the Retired Educators Association of Minnesota, First Lutheran Church of Detroit Lakes and was active in many church and community organizations.

’61 Charles Femling, 63, died at Deaconess Medical Center in Billings, MT following a heart attack.  A native of Dent, MN and a Pelican Rapids, MN high school graduate, he spent his career as a teacher and in the news industry.  He met his wife, Mary Pokonoski, while at MSU and they were married in 1960 in Lidgerwood, ND.  His wife, Mary, a daughter, Marcey, and three sons, Joseph, Norman, and Michael survive him.

’64 Judith Lindell Amundson died Friday, October 29 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.  She taught in the Mahnomen Public School System for 34 years before retiring in 1998. Judy loved teaching, and family and church were always her first priorities.  Her husband, Brent, son Matthew, and daughter Kristeen survive her.

’66 Beverly "Patsy" Lillestol Janssen died November 27, 1999 at St. Francis Medical Center in Breckenridge, MN.  A life-long teacher, Patsy retired in 1988 after 51 years of teaching.  Her husband and best friend, Russell, survives her.

’66 Leo Zick, 66, Rapid City, SD died August 18, 1999.  He worked at various jobs in the Fargo-Moorhead area after graduation from MSU before moving to Minneapolis, MN where he worked for the Wausau Insurance Company.  After retiring he moved to Rapid City.  Surviving are a son, Jonathan, and a daughter, Charlene.

’67 Helen Beck Robertson, 90, died November 27, 1999 in Dixon, IL.  She taught school for many years in North Dakota, Indiana, and Illinois.  She married James Robertson in 1939.  He died in 1970.  After her retirement from teaching she lived for a time in Fargo, but returned to Illinois in 1992.

’69 Lois Quick, Detroit Lakes, MN died December 8, 1999 at her home.  She married Darrel Quick in 1951.  They owned and operated Brown Lithographing in Valley City until 1966.  Lois then moved to Waconia, MN where she was a librarian from 1969 to 1975.  She then retired and moved to Detroit Lakes.  Four daughters, Veronica, Connie, Tara, and Wendy survive her.
 

’70 Gladys Gullickson Blume died July 25, 1999 in St. Louis Park, MN.  After receiving a teaching certificate in the 1930s, Gladys taught elementary school in Metcalf and Prairie Rose Country Schools near Cando, ND. She returned to MSU and completed her bachelor’s degree and taught until her retirement in 1978.  Gladys was a highly respected first grade teacher who gave hundred of students a solid foundation in reading.  Gladys’ husband, Russell, died in 1979.  Four children survive her: daughters Muriel and Helen and sons Ronald and David.

’75 Douglas Belgum died July 17, 1999 in the mouth of the Temperance River on Lake Superior while saving his daughter from drowning.  He taught elementary school in the Crosby-Ironton Schools since 1975.  He was a beloved father, husband and teacher who will be deeply missed by all who know him. His wife, Colleen, and daughters Heidi and Holly survive him.

’82 Nancy Hanson Fazendin, Wayzata, MN died November 12, 1999 from injuries sustained in a car accident in February, 1998.  She worked for the Twin Cities Reader and Minnesota Monthly Publications in the Twin Cities.  Her husband, Jeff, two children, Abigail and Charlie, and two stepsons, Christopher and Eric survive her.

Kevin Shores seems too frail to make a 220-mile journey to St. Paul in his motorized wheelchair.

That’s because the health of this 32-year-old Moorhead State University senior and an enrolled member of the White Earth Indian Reservation is failing.

It’s palpable—in his sall