Shaw: Properly fund ND’s small state colleges; Dockter and Mitchell should resign

There is a real problem on the campuses of North Dakota’s small state colleges and universities. Many non-academic buildings are falling apart. Buildings such as dorms and student unions.

The problem is the state will not fund non-academic buildings. The philosophy is that the small schools must raise the funds themselves. That’s not possible. The donor base is too small, and there aren’t enough students to pay for these costs with increased fees.

Funding dorms and student unions should be the state’s responsibility. These buildings are vital to all students on campus. Other facilities, such as college football practice complexes, should be paid for with private funding, because they don’t benefit all the students. In nearby states, the states that North Dakota is competing with for college students, dorms and non-academic buildings are paid for with public money.

Currently, there are college dorms across the state that need to be renovated. Other dorms are in such poor shape that they need to be replaced with new dorms. However, nothing is happening on those fronts because the colleges don’t have the money. North Dakota has the money. It’s time for the Legislature to step up and support the state’s smaller colleges and universities.

North Dakota Rep. Jason Dockter, R-Bismarck, should resign. Dockter was found guilty in a Bismarck court of a conflict of interest, for voting on legislation that he financially benefited from. Those were budgets for the North Dakota Attorney General’s Office. Even without the criminal conviction, Dockter should resign for making the sweetheart deal with former Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. That sleazy deal for a building project sent millions of dollars to Dockter’s companies.

Likewise, Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell, D-Woodbury, should resign

. Mitchell was charged with first-degree burglary after being found in her stepmother’s house in Detroit Lakes. I realize you are considered innocent until proven guilty, but the evidence against Mitchell is overwhelming. According to police, Mitchell entered the house through a window and was found in the basement at 4:45 a.m. wearing all-black clothing and a black hat.

Donald Trump’s whining about his gag order is getting old. That order was well-deserved because of Trump’s public comments blasting those connected to his trial. Trump’s complaints that he can’t defend himself are untrue. He can testify if he wants to. He likely won’t do it because he knows he authorized the hush-money payments.

Just wondering if Minnesota Rep. Michelle Fischbach will ever stop ducking the media and actually talk to them. It’s her job. As a member of Congress, Fischbach needs to answer questions from the news media and appear on talk shows that aren’t MAGA echo chambers. Say what you will about North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer and North Dakota Rep. Kelly Armstrong, but they rightfully make themselves accessible to the media.

InForum columnist Jim Shaw is a former WDAY TV reporter and former KVRR TV news director.