NoiseInsideMyHead

I agree..."Get over it" is the most mature sentiment I have seen expressed on this topic. It just happens to be my own.

Au contraire, have you reached out to his boss? Have you reached out to the district attorney? They are your servants. You have as much influence as Rob Port or anybody else. The question is, how much do you really care?

Boo hoo. It's my money, too. Do you think only private sector employees travel for work? The taxpayer argument sounds pretty weak...where is the outrage about all the other waste, excess, and failures to realize savings that permeate state and local government?

One was retired. Probably not working much.

But that's exactly the point...every employee stays at a $300 hotel when a $79 hotel would do, and every employee eats a $40 meal when a $7 meal would do. Multiply that by all of the rank and file employees traveling on the company dime, and then you've got something to talk about (I guarantee it's more than $7k). If you're not willing to call out the entire system for what it is, then your crusade is reduced to a petty witch hunt. The biggest problem here, perhaps, is that people only get up in arms when the controversy du jour is served up to them on a platter by the likes of Rob Port in the furtherance of some agenda.

On a proportional basis, maybe not. I can eat for $10, or I can eat for $150.

Obviously.

Care to make a point, or is the adult conversation too scary?

I'm calling BS on all the holier-than-thou, hypocritical bitching. Who hasn't treated themselves better while traveling for work? Do you stay at the same level of hotel as you would traveling leisurely? I doubt it -- I sure as hell wouldn't be paying $300 a night for a room at a deluxe conference hotel while on vacation with the family. I'm willing to bet their were budget accommodations within walking distance of that last meeting you attended at the Grand Hyatt Regency, too. How about meals? Do you spend your entire per diem, or pocket the difference? Ever given any of it back to your employer? Are you eating fast food, or hitting up the hotel cafe and fancy steakhouses with colleagues? How often do you take the wife and kids to Ruth's Chris? Business travel drives an entire segment of the service industry, and the economy at large. The reason is simple...human beings tend to act differently while spending other people's money. If you think otherwise, you're either a saint, or delusional. So Bresciani flew business class half way around the world. BFD. It's the overreaction that's truly embarrassing. Fire him, prosecute him, or STFU.

Cite? Maybe they didn't ask, or didn't even know it was a possibility. And I think one of his traveling companions was actually a former employee (retired VP), if I remember the original Forum article correctly.

Sell REA naming rights. (Ka-ching!)

Maybe they can start another petition. No white jerseys on the road.

This. Classy and savvy. I wouldn't have predicted it or even thought to do it if I was in their shoes. Now I'm wondering how the other two finalists can top it (or even match it). #signemup

I know that Super Bowls mean super hype, but a news story blaming current Bay Area traffic woes on the game that kicks off in nine days? Come on. https://www.yahoo.com/news/video/rain-super-bowl-50-create-034049224.html

Not buying the 'intentional misrepresentation.' The notion that he lied is even suspect based on what I've seen, notwithstanding the semantics and the SAB spin and that of others with an axe to grind. Like most in his position, I suspect that El Presidente is both smart and careful with his words and tailored the various messages as he deemed appropriate. And the suggestion by UND1983 that "forcing" and "asking" are even remotely synonymous defies explanation. There surely could have been donors who willingly came forward (i.e., volunteered) after whatever call went out from the Foundation. Does anyone actually believe that some Bison-loving schmuck was strong-armed to give? Frankly, given the ridiculous media circus of the past week, I'm sure several had their checkbooks out and would have stepped up with or without a plea from the mothership.

Can we please move on? I have yet to see any conclusive proof of what fares were available at the time the infamous ticket was purchased. Only speculation based on after the fact internet searches. Anybody who has ever bought a plane ticket knows damn well that the "lowest available" fare depends on a lot of variables, including connection times, arrival times (important for executives), layovers, advance purchase, and length of stay. Not to mention whether you want a REFUNDABLE ticket which is usually desirable for business travel, as opposed to the bargain-hunting leisure crowd. I guarantee you that you can search fares right now and find the differential from coach to first class will vary wildly. I've seen it as little as $200 round-trip on an $800 ticket (25% for the math challenged). Whether other university presidents fly coach is wholly irrelevant unless we are provided information about frequency and destinations. Hub-and-spoke flights to MSP, Denver, and Chicago are a far cry from intercontinental travel. I am continually amazed at how willing people are to take up pitchforks when a salacious story like this makes "news." I suspect it has more to do with class envy or even class warfare; most average Joes are going to have a predictable and negative, visceral reaction to the very notion of someone flying "first class." Yet, it would appear so few are willing to lift a finger to investigate whether there are any other systemic and institutionalized wastes, excesses, opportunities for savings in government that would make $7k look like absolute chump change. And maybe even without the collective embarrassment and drag on morale. How can you justify a costly search for an executive, fork over a $300k+ salary, put him up in a $1M home, and then pinch pennies on something as stupid as this? What's next -- basic cable and generic TP? North Dakotans fancy themselves as frugal and austere, but all too often come across as short-minded and petty. I hope the UND candidates are all watching this nonsense unfold.

Welcome to Grand Forks! Try the pizza and cheesy bread at Rhombus Guys. http://rhombuspizza.com

Maybe for the better. Some weeks, you could hear the thumbs twiddling. When all they get are half-baked, bad questions separated by awkwardly long pauses, it makes for a dreadful experience.

Someone beat me to it? Damn! I guess I'll have to go donate $7k to Planned Parenthood in Rob Port's name instead.

Dontcha' mean hundy's? http://ahundyp.com

That's more like it! "Fighting Sioux"? "UND National Championship"?? Defunct language has got to be the second most common form of communication on this site, somewhere between broken English and gfhockey. Can't blame a guy for just trying to fit in.

Nothing is "made" timeless; things become timeless, over time, hence the root word. Appreciate this difference, and I think you'll find this entire process a bit more palatable.

That's not what your mom said, while wearing combat boots.

Judging a bobble head by its arms is kind of like judging a naked supermodel by her toenail polish. Just sayin'.

I'm down with this IF, and only if, he hires this guy as the new aerospace dean: