Bill Kiefer

Even if you hit the ball out of the park, you still have to touch all the bases!

There have been two Mr. Kiefers in my life, one died in 1957(my grandfather) and the other in 1994(my father), I can very easily be addressed as Bill, but my biggest concern is that you spell a person's last name coreectly. It is Kiefer not Keifer. I may be a character but at least they know my name and I am not operating under some cyberspace alias. As to the legislative comment, if the petition route is followed there is no need for any legislative sponsorship. Also I believe they also said the forward pass will never catch on, they will never fill the second deck of the Ralph, and Seward was a fool for buying Alaska. This effort is gaining support on a slow and steady basis. In order to oppose the idea you have to be negative and that is a tough side to bet on in any debate. Check out our website www.teamnorthdakota.com and monitor our progress.

Why do so many Minnesota students attend both schools? Combine the two, upgrade certain curricula, join the Big Ten and those humbers will increase. When you get out of our cozy area of the world most people don't even know the difference between UND/NDSU, combine into One Super Flagship University and they probably won't ever forget.

We are just average people with an above average desire to make our Great State better. If you have noticed a mistake or poor grammar point it out. We may not be smart enough to figure it out for ourselves..

Team North Dakota is on record opposing the closure of any institution of higher education in our Great State. We do favor the discussion on combining the two schools of UND and NDSU where 70% of expenditures take place.

Why do we have interstate highways, energy pipelines, electric transmission lines, fiber optic cable, inter-community phone lines, mail service among many others joint services if we weren't meant to find common ground for the benefit of our communities. Our idea just takes all of that to a new level, but as I have said before everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I respect your right to be sarcastic and negative I just don't choose to be that way!

Let's concede that there are two flagship universities for purposes of discussion. Then why not be the first state to combine two flagship universities and create a Super Flagship University? Let's celebrate the outstanding past accomplishments of both institutions, but embrace the future of an institution that will become a pacesetter for higher education in the entire country.

I believe you are selling our Great State, our combined alumni bases, and our pioneer ingenuity way to cheaply. In my travels across this Great Country, I have yet to see where we don't measure up and then some!

Without question we do not need two of everything at the administrative level not unlike we don't need two of everything at the D-1 athletic level either. Our rivalries will not only get stronger, but they will multiply in numbers. Not a bad trade for one rivalry that did nothing but divide instead of unite us as a state. Bring us people to match the mountains Bring us people to match the plains People with new ideas as their purpose And unlimited vision in their brains!!!!!!!

Keep talking, you folks have made huge progress already, just by communicating for a short while. That is really, in large measure, how we will get this done. That's how you eat an elephant, just one bite at a time! Rome was not built in one day!! North Dakota feeds the world. North Dakota provides energy to our nation, Why shouldn't we be able to compete academically, research grant wise, and athletically with the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA STATE leading the way.

Actually the Big Ten is on our list of items, that one of our grass roots group sub-committees is dealing with as we speak. We have already received preliminary feedback from the NCAA that combining schools is out of their jurisdiction. None of this will happen overnight or come easy, but that is all part of the challenge. As for Joe Chapman, much was accomplished during his tenure, but alas he to is just a human being like all of us and subject to human error and mistakes. 16, I believe, is a long term magic number for the Big Ten(16). Two eight team divisions,of which collectively (UND/NDSU) could be a part of is our goal and it is a goal shared by others as well.

Excellent feedback, would you like to join the Team North Dakota steering committee?

There is a very strong economic link between eliminating inefficiency and expenditures that promote growth, visionary thinking for the future, and economic development. Before you jump to any conclusions please consider that concept.

Please check it out, it is a work in progress but efforts continue! www.teamnorthdakota.com Thanks for your interest!

Please look up the definition of attrition as it applies to RIF(reduction in force).

Try preaching your idea of closing down schools on a street corner in Dickinson or Wahpeton and see where it gets you, nobody is trying to close anything down just teach efficiency at the highest level.

Our recommendation would clearly state that if efficiencies were obvious that no current employees be affected. Changes would be accomplished through attrition, but more importantly we feel this would not be just about efficiencies but a growth engine of proportions that we have not seen since the beginning of our state 121 years ago. Clearly duplication would be eliminated wherever possible because you don't need two of everything. Our glass would be half full not half empty. You can be negative if you want, but that is not going to do any of us much good.

Oak trees begin with just a little acorn! I am glad we live in a country where all of us have the right to free expression. The forward pass will never catch on in football, they will never fill up the second deck of the Ralph, Devils Lake will never fill up again, Bill Clinton didn't inhale, buying Alaska was a huge mistake and it was referred to as Seward's Folly, the colonies will never win their independence, one can mention countless matters where people doubted, said it was impossible or crazy, but yet amazingly things turned out different than they originally thought. WE SHALL SEE!

I am not quite sure what your point is in your first sentence and as to overruling the Board of Higher Education that is not the point. Only through a vote of the people, simple majority meaning one more than half, can this name change come about. It can get on the ballot in two ways: One a petition process whereby 4 per cent of the 2010 census signs petitions to place it on a ballot of which the earliest it could be is 2012 in June(the primary) or in November, the general election, or Two a simple majority vote of the two branches of our legislature which are the house and the senate will put it on the ballot as well. Where has it been said we are taking money from schools in any area and we will have to wait and see how it is viewed over the long haul. I think many people will be very surprised as support for this develops slowly but consistently over time. There will be more announcements of people on our committee. Also you don;t have to be a 100% BELIEVER TO BE ON OUR COMMITTEE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BE WILLING TO ASK "WHAT IS BEST FOR THE GREAT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA?

Nowhere has it been said that either university would be closed. Two world class campuses, One flagship university, and potential and possibilities unlimited!

Hockey would without question not be duplicated anywhere else in the state at the D-1 level and would assuredly stay in the best facilities in the nation and maybe the world, namely REA in Grand Forks ND!

Our website www.teamnorthdakota.com is very close to being up and running. When completed it will be a natural forum to discuss and disseminate info. In the final analysis nothing though will take the place of public forums, open debate, and total and complete transparency on the part of TEAM NORTH DAKOTA! HAIL THE GREAT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA!!!!!

This idea started with just two people. I will let the final totals speak for themselves in a couple of years when this is on the ballot. Even if it goes down to defeat, what is wrong with letting the people decide the fate of two public institutions?

With discretionary dollars I only help charitable,needy, and legitimate causes. I do not give handouts to people looking for something for nothing!

A 100 % VOTER TURNOUT WOULD BE GREAT FOR DEMOCRACY IRRESPECTIVE OF THE OUTCOME OF THE BALLOT ISSUE!