It doesn't matter if you've never taken a class from Frank White. It doesn't matter if you've never sat in on one of his high energy interactive lectures.
You know who he is. So says Jill Nelson, one of his former students. White is a sociology professor who has won a string of awards, and Jill says his popularity as a professor has never dwindled.
She remembers his lectures as the kind that leave your hand cramped from writing so fast and your eyes crossed from watching him pace back and forth across the room.
Jill wants the world to know her favorite professor is establishing a student scholarship fund for incoming UND freshmen in the field of arts and sciences. The professor himself has donated money from outside speaking engagements to the new scholarship fund.
But how do you get attention for your cause?
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White is now following the suggestion of former students and has had a bobblehead doll created that looks just like him. He will be selling the dolls for $20, plus $7 for those shipped out of town. In between lectures, White will be looking for orders at frank.white@und.edu .
American Girls
Along with bobblehead dolls, there are American Girl dolls in the limelight this weekend. And there will be an American Girl event at Calvary Lutheran Church on Sunday afternoon featuring Jane Kurtz, author of "Lanie: Girl of Year 2010." She is a former resident who is appearing at various events this weekend to promote a project called Ethiopia Reads. Through it, books are provided to children who otherwise have none.
Kurtz will be at the UND Writing for Children and Young Adults Conference on Saturday morning on campus. She will appear at her former church, First Presbyterian, on Sunday evening. She will visit area schools, including Lewis and Clark in Grand Forks. There she will talk about the way books change lives. Her visit here is coordinated by Ann Porter who heads up the local Ethiopia Reads efforts.
Hockey and crafts
The first weekend in October arrives with a Red River Women's Studies Conference off an running today at UND. ... Sioux fans will cluster at the Alerus Center for lunch and lowdown on weekend sports including UND women's hockey here with tough Boston University team Saturday afternoon and men's exhibition game Sunday. ... Jake Landry and the Sioux football team have gone south to play the University of South Dakota with hopes of upsetting their applecart during homecoming Saturday. ... Grand Forks Women's Show will light up Alerus Center on Saturday. ... Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra is set for its season premiere Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at Empire Arts Center.
The East Grand Forks Arts and Crafts Fair is Saturday and Sunday in the Civic Center and VFW Arena. ... The State Library Conference winds up Saturday at the Alerus Center. ... The "Odd Couple" is in its second of three weekend showings at downtown Fire Hall Theatre. ... Look for a Zombie Music Fest on Saturday afternoon and evening in Town Square. ... And the Oak Ridge Boys will be at Chester Fritz on Sunday evening.
Ask Marilyn
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Q. Have you heard from Queen Elizabeth lately?
A. No. She never writes, she never calls. But I have a feeling she worries about the heating costs for her drafty old palaces.
I read in a newspaper that she was turned down by the government six years ago when she requested a break in costs. The report was attributed to the Independent News that got the scoop by way of a Freedom of Information request.
Q. What vanity license plates have been spotted lately?
A. I saw HAVN FN on a white convertible and BAAA on a little black car. Also sighted: BADSEED, KRUZING, MOMMY 21. BZYB runs around Bismarck. Andy Anderson saw NO NUMBR in Bozeman, Mont., And I also saw SHERIFF right here on the home front.
Doris and Elizabeth
Cheerful people of the week: Doris Gust, Elizabeth York.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or by telephone at (701) 772-1055.
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