As August is coming to a bitter end, and we will soon be moving into September, it is time for one of North Dakota’s oldest traditions. The 57th Annual Potato Bowl will start the week following Labor Day September 5th – 9th 2023, and we can expect fun potato-themed activities all week long leading up to the football game on September 9th at 3 pm where the Fighting Hawks will take on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. Although Potato Bowl can be considered September’s biggest event for the University of North Dakota community, Spetember will also mark the first full month of classes. That being said, there are some exciting oppurtunities that to take advantage of in the upcoming month.
Potato Bowl was first established on September 24th 1966 according to Potato Bowl USA’s website. The reasoning behind the festivities being titled Potato Bowl was due to the fact that the football game was “between two of the largest potato growing regions in the United States.” During the week, there are a lot of games, activities, and events happening that will get you into the potato spirit. On Wednesday September 6th, Hugo’s Marketplace will have their Golf Scramble at the Valley Golf Course in East Grand Forks. On Thursday the 7th at 4 pm, there will be the “Worlds Largest French Fry Feed” where volunteers will be giving away free french fries in University Park. There will also be inflatables for kids, music, a french fry eating contest, and a chance to meet the UND football players. Before the football game on Saturday, the KEM Shrine Potato Bowl Parade will be hitting the streets of Grand Forks. The parade begins at 10 am in downtown Grand Forks and will work it’s way to East Grand Forks. Finally before the 3 pm football game at the Alerus, tailgating will be in the Alerus parking lot prior to kick off.
The University of North Dakota will also be holding their own events for Potato Bowl. On Wednesday September 6th from 11 am – 1 pm in the Memorial Union, there will be a tator tot bar to celebrate Potato Day. On the same day, Wilkerson Dining will have a potato bowl theme meal that evening.
The University has also created the 18:83 Speaker Series where students can sit on the social stairs in the Memorial Union and listen to community members speak about “leadership and personal/professional development.” The next speaker will be Dr. Art Malloy, the Vice President of Student Affairs, who will be followed in the series by Colonel Tim Curry on September 13th. Speaking of speakers, the college of Arts and Sciences will welcome Tawakkol Karman for her “Eye of the Hawk Lecture” on Thursday September 7th in Ballroom 214. Karman is a political activitst, journalist, and a Novel Piece Prize Laurette.
An event some of us actively avoid but should pay attention to is the Career Expo. Career Services puts on an expo each semester to highlight employment oppurtunities for UND students. Notable events the career center are putting on is the Accounting, Business, and Public Administration Fair on September 13th from 10 am – 2 pm. This will be held in the Nistler and will be an oppurtunity for student in these fields to talk with employers. The bi-annual career expos will be on September 18th and 19th from 12 – 4 pm in the Memorial Union Ballroom. On the 18th employers from the STEM industries will be represented, and the other industries will be here on the 19th. To be successful, make sure to go over your resume with a career consultant, and check out our career services website for more information.
Finally, the thing all of us college students live for, the free things we can get in the month of September. Starting off, we will recieve a Town Square Farmer’s Market voucher on September 11th and September 21st in the Memorial Union, student involvement will be giving out throw back snacks. On September 28th, there will also be a giveaway of free Real Good Cookies while supplies last.
This list should give you some dates to put in the planner you will most likely use for the first month before giving it up. This is only surface level events that are happening this month. To keep up to date with the happenings on campus, make sure to sign up for text notifications from student involvement, and check your student life weekly email.
Claire Arneson is a Dakota Student Section Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
