Students at the University of North Dakota organized a "walk for change" on campus today.
A couple hundred students and staff were in attendance for the walk, which followed a route between the American Indian Student Services Center and Twamley Hall. Tom DiLorenzo is Provost and Vice President for Student and Academic Affairs at UND. He says it is hoped that the atmosphere on campus can become more embracing of native culture, and that hope is shared by students and faculty alike.
"The bottom line is that we want to help this move forward. We really want to help the University to move in a positive direction."
The walk was organized after an incident at Springfest last weekend, where students were photographed wearing T-shirts depicting American Indian heads drinking from a beer bong, and the caption "Siouxper Drunk." Reaction to the T-shirts has been negative. Lori Reesor is Vice President for Student Affairs and says more students on campus are unwilling to accept that type of behavior.
"I appreciate the leadership the students have demonstrated by creating this walk today. It is a symbol that what some individuals chose to do is unacceptable, and we're not going to tolerate it or accept it. We are going to demonstrate through our walk that we want people to be treated with dignity and respect."
UND President Robert Kelley was also in attendance for the walk across campus.
