2020 posed many challenges for North Dakota State University that impacted campus with consequences that are still evident today.

Last year, NDSU and other universities across the nation faced hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to cope with the pandemic, NDSU created the HyFlex system. This NDSU system tried to balance a motivating learning environment while still enacting policies and regulations for safety.

HyFlex resulted in many students staying home as they continued to attend classes online. Although they were still able to participate in classes, this did not provide a college experience worth remembering for students. Many students were looking forward to this fall as in-person classes return. 

Last winter and spring protests took place on the NDSU campus. After news was released about hate speech among NDSU students by the Instagram account @blmndsu, others responded by protesting on the streets around campus.

Protesters pushed administration to take higher action against the racial injustice happening on campus. “You can create all of the groups, clubs and boards that you want. But unless we discipline the racism at NDSU it’s going to continue,” YellowBird Howell said last winter.   

Last spring students protested against Anti-Asian bias responding to the hate crime that occurred in Atlanta on March 16. They were again pressuring NDSU administration to look closer at the racial injustice and discrimination occurring on campus. Students and staff gathered and marched around the campus promoting inclusion and diversity at NDSU. 

President Bresciani announced his resignation from NDSU earlier this year in June. The resignation was announced after Bresciani did not receive a two-year contract from the higher education leaders. According to the Grand Forks Herald, “The board approved a contract to keep Bresciani on until Dec. 2022, while other presidents who qualified for two-year contracts were approved through June 2023.” Bresciani has been President of NDSU since 2010 and plans to resign in the year 2022.