Social Experiment, North Dakota Style

I have been travelling the last few weeks and thought I would try a social experiment to see how people react to what I am wearing in airports and cities around the US. 

Trip one, I wore a University of North Dakota sweatshirt.  The comments I received were geared toward their hockey program and the Fighting Sioux nickname controversy as well as one about the aviation program (from a pilot).  I had 4 comments total, which I thought was a good baseline. 

Trip two, I wore a University of Mary sweatshirt.  While in Marauder Blue and Orange, I received comments about the integrity of the school, how someone’s son went there and it was the most amazing choice for him and that is changed his life, and I also had a few people question where it was and was I instructor there.  I also had someone talk to me about the school’s leadership!  I had 6 comments total, which I found odd for a small Catholic college in ND, but it proves that school is making a name for itself and Monsignor James Shea is a rockstar! 

Trip three, I wore a North Dakota State University sweatshirt.  I was met with passing “horns up” signs in the airport (no words spoken.)  I had people talk about the football team and how they had been to a game in Fargo and how nice the fan base was.  I received comments about the “strength of the herd” and their travelling fan base.  I stopped counting at 9, but if I had to guess, it was probably close to a dozen people who commented on that choice of clothing. 

We have great schools here in the state that people are talking about outside our borders.  We have schools that offer world class programs in aviation, medicine, law, ethics, engineering, technology and agriculture to name a few.  We have a lot of be proud of in this state and it’s not about football or hockey, it’s about offering education options that make a difference.  I intend on wearing Lake Region State College on my next trip because as always, I keep going!