Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Laurel — A laurel goes to Montana State University-Northern for its effort to rehabilitate its lovely old Hagener Science Center building and especially for rehabilitating it to improve facilities for its worthwhile nursing program, which is vital for the Hi-Line. And a laurel goes to Montana State University President Waded Cruzado for her role in the effort. We hope the university system agrees to Northern's plan.

Dart — State Sen. Art Wittich, R-Bozeman, blasted MSU President Waded Cruzado because she spoke out against some Gallatin County lawmakers who voted against programs for the university. She stepped over the line, he alleged. Sorry, we think the president was just right. Montana has a great university system, and we hope the people who run it will do everything they can to see that it stays great. Fortunately, Hi-Line lawmakers of both parties have supported Montana State University-Northern sometimes to the point of being pests to those in power. Unfortunately, Bozeman has not been so lucky. That’s what the president was doing Wittich objected to the fact Cruzado pointed out they dissenting lawmakers were all Republican. Duh. Guess why she said that?

We’re not quite sure who is responsible yet, but 18 bison were killed on the Fort Belknap reservation July. They died of salt toxicity, state officials have ruled after what seems to have been an excessively long investigation. That means they may have been given saltwater, which is unlikely, or they were not given enough water. Without offering any reason behind their comment, tribal officials said they are not sure the state is right. A lot of people, on and off the reservation, worked hard to get the purebred bison back on the reservation. The state took the case to the Montana Supreme court, tribal officials worked hard and folks on the reservation were delighted when the bison finally returned. Everybody, especially the people of Fort Belknap, deserve an explanation. We hope the tribal government digs deeper into this and finds out who is to blame.

Dart — Fourteen years ago today an event happened that we all promised we would never forget. Terrorists drove planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in south central Pennsylvania. Have we forgotten? We tried to find out if any events will be held on the Hi-Line commemorating the events. We had little luck.

Laurel — Montana State University-Northern held a service today that remembers the tragedy and honors those who have volunteered to make the world a better place since that awful day. We hope more people follow Northern's lead next year.