| Summary: | wh o wh a t wh e n wh e r e wh y Orientation Week ends with theme dance By Alexandra Lundahl Cowgirls roamed about with fairies; a team of Wonder Women chatted on the grass; and rabbits danced alongside giant bugs and silverware last Friday at the CEC theme dance held in the East Complex park-ing lot. Orientation week ended with one last bonding experience at the theme dance, where resi-dence hall floors dressed in cos-tumes, hoping to win one of the prizes for best costume. The women on Hoyum’s fifth floor made a heroic grab at the prize, coming dressed as Wonder Women, wearing span-dex, capes and underwear on the outside of their clothes. The women said the dance was fun after a stressful first week of school. Kim Aalbers, a first-year stu-dent on fifth floor Hoyum, said she was excited to dress up. “It’s kind of our coming out to college,” she said. First-year student Tiffany Bellamy from third floor Hoyum came as a giant bottle of mus-tard. “We wanted to win,” she said. “We aren’t afraid of people judging us.” Three floors won recognition for their costumes. Livedalen’s third floor won the “Most Outrageous” title for their pro-wrestling theme; Park Region’s fourth floor won the “Most Creative” title for representing the Orientation book “Rabbit Proof Fence”; and Hoyum’s third floor won “Most Effort” for dressing as Barbecue Babes. Though part of the fun was winning, as sophomore Christina Runyan’s floor did for the “Rabbit Proof Fence” theme, she said it was also a great way to wrap up Orientation week. “It goes out with a bang—it’s fun. It’s a good bonding experi-ence,” she said. Fairy Godmother couldn’t stop wind, ‘Shrek 2’ still a winner By Kevin Armbrust Last Thursday marked Concordia’s second annual drive-in movie, but the showing of “Shrek 2” felt more like a slumber party. Due to high winds, of which the Moorhead area is all too familiar, the movie was moved from Olin Hill to the Olson Forum. In spite of the move, students still showed up in droves to the Campus Entertainment Commission event. Of course, moving the show to the Olson Forum was a bit risky as far as student enjoy-ment is concerned. Despite modest complaints that the floor was hard, the air was thick, and the evening stars could not be seen, when the lights dimmed and the movie began, those minor distractions seemed to go away. Paige Quirk is one of three CEC commissioners who act as managers in putting events together. “My favorite thing is working hard on an event and seeing it turn out,” she said. Understandably, she was a little nervous about moving the pic-ture indoors. “I wasn’t sure what moving (the movie) would do,” she said. “But as you can see, it all went well.” Illustrating the committee’s dedication to providing quality entertainment, Quirk further commented that they chose “Shrek 2,” a summer block-buster, to ensure satisfaction for a wide range of viewers. CEC hopes the drive-in movie, which had more than 1,000 attendants, is an indicator for the success of future events. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THE CONCORDIAN - CONCORDIA COLLEGE - MOORHEAD, MINNESOTA Volume XCVI, Issue 01 - Friday, September 10, 2004 8 09 10 By Mitchell Marr Wednesday, Sept. 8 marked the 10-year anniversary of the High Plains Reader, one of the oldest and most highly circulated free-distribu-tion newspapers in the region. The alternative paper kicked off a three-day birthday party last night at the Plains Art Museum with live music and a full bar for the guests. Tonight the party continues from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Fargo Theater with another free concert featuring U Again, Blue Fairy Godmothers, Nic Garcia and June Panic. The night ends with a DJ grudge match between Stupid Birthday and Dexterous. The last hurrah happens at 10 p.m.-2 a.m., Saturday night at Ralph’s Corner Bar in downtown Moorhead. Little Heroes, Burn the 8-Track and Blue Fairy Godmothers will open for recent Warped Tour survivors, the Soviettes. Over the past decade the High Plains Reader has become a popular option for everything from art reviews to social and political com-mentary. Articles on concerts or the-ater run in nearly every issue, contro-versial issues are never in short sup-ply and Film Editor Greg Carlson, a Concordia faculty member, writes weekly movie reviews. The staff thinks they’ve come a long way in terms of both content and influence. Design Editor and Co-owner Raul Gomez recalls when one of their cartoons got the paper banned from Pizza Hut. At the time, the incident made them cautious about what they printed. Now, he explains, they print what they want without worrying about being bullied by advertisers. Editor/Publisher and Co-owner John Strand is quick to agree that reputation goes a long way. “We know very well how conser-vative the area can be,” he says. “But we’ve finally learned, after 10 years, that we need to stand up and not be shy. We need to be what we need to be—a gutsy voice, a willing voice, and a platform for those without a voice.” Providing a liberal voice in a rela-tively small and conservative com-munity presents constant challenges, but they remain optimistic. “Our first 10 years were tough on us at times,” Gomez says. “And we both had moments when we asked, ‘will we be here tomorrow?’ or ‘can we finish this tonight?’ But we pulled through.” Indeed, looking back, the worst might be over for the Reader. Strand and Gomez bought the Grand Forks-based paper in 1996 and soon faced a series of discouraging events. When the blizzard of 1997 hit the Grand Forks area, it knocked out the area’s power and left them with no way of putting out the paper. Therefore, they packed the comput-ers in the trunk of a car, drove to Fargo and published that week’s paper. Then during the same year the flood nearly forced them to shut down again. Their advertisers were gone, businesses destroyed in the flood. Their writers, flooded out of homes, slept on the office floor. Meanwhile, Strand and Gomez stayed at the home of friend and local artist Jon Offutt. “Essentially,” Gomez says, ”we bought a paper and were left with nothing but a name.” One reason they survived during the early years was due to Karen Burgum, who offered financial and emotional support whenever she could because she thought the Reader was an important asset to the com-munity. Strand calls her “an angel.” Burgum is also the owner and opera-tor of the Hotel Donaldson in Downtown Fargo. Fitting, then, that the High Plains Reader celebrates is 10th anniversary just as Fargo enjoys new life in its downtown arts community, a resur-gence spearheaded by businesses like the Hotel Donaldson. “I think we’ve been a part of it, a catalyst,” Strand says. “I’m not taking credit, but we’ve been a part. We helped fuel the fire and provided a voice that says there is reason to have hope and optimism in the downtown community.” Gomez agrees and says down-town Fargo-Moorhead is like a home to them. Every week, after they put the paper to bed, the staff members head over to Ralph’s Corner Bar for a drink and to see their friends—the same people, he says, that helped make the Reader what it is today. It’s that sense of community that helps the Reader develop a sense of ownership among its readers. Gomez explains that, in a lot of ways, it’s really a community paper. “We try to give people a chance to do what they want to do,” he says. “We don’t exclude anyone. It’s com-munity of like-minded people and voices that makes the Reader.” Strand insists the three-day birth-day celebration is more for the Reader’s supporters than it is for any of the staff. All promotional efforts were called-in favors or shows of good will, the locations were volun-teered and all the musicians are friends of the High Plains Reader. “We’re all family,” Strand says. It’s not just a party, but also a great show of unity from the paper and the community as a whole. Editor’s note: Mitchell Marr is a contributing writer for the High Plains Reader. Bjork - “Medulla” (Elektra/Asylum) Her first full-length in three years features absolute-ly no instruments. The sounds are made entirely of layered and processed vocals. Nevertheless, it’s not a departure from her sound, merely a bizarre twist. Guests include an Inuit throat singer, an Icelandic choir, some of the world’s best beat boxers and Mike Patton of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle. Art Spiegelman – “In the Shadow of No Towers” (Pantheon) The Pulitzer Prize-win-ning author of “Maus” returns with an account at the events and aftermath of 9-11. A longtime Manhattan resident, the graphic novelist delivers a moving, witting, artistic and insightful look at the event and its often dark and hidden effects on national security, American democracy and life in this country. Don Pepe blends salsa, reggae, ska, swing, jazz and Caribbean rhythms in an out-door concert. The Latin band will perform 9-10 p.m., Sept. 10 on Olin Hill. Presented by CEC. Acoustic Buzz opens the year with Zane Williams. Student performers will open for the singer/song-writer starting at 10 p.m., Sept. 16 in the Normandy. Presented by CEC. The Concordia College Faculty Exhibition features recent works by Barbara Thill Anderson, David Boggs, Heidi Goldberg, Ross Hilgers and Duane Mickelson. The exhibit runs in the Cyrus M. Running Gallery from Sept. 2- Oct. 1. Internationally renowned abstract painter, Xuhong Shang, will exhibit his work at MSUM’s Roland Dille Center for the Arts Gallery from Sept. 13-19. An artist’s reception will be held this Tuesday from 4-6 p.m. in the gallery. All is free and open to public. Campus Entertainment events are a hit HIGH PLAINS READER TURNS 10 AND HOW Concordia College students gathered outside East Complex. Photo by Larry Largent. THE CONCORDIAN is looking for thoughtful and informed men and women (not necessarily dedicated to the Christian life) to write for us. Contact concord@cord.edu with column and story ideas. things to do to pass the time in fargo-moorhead and beyond
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