Mysterious "Green Letter" Has Been Distributed

 Students and Faculty Left To Wonder Who the Author Is

By Cheyenne Horien and Alexandria Leister

            With the many changes occurring on campus here at Bemidji State University come many arguments, some in more peculiar forms than others. Under their doors, faculty members have been receiving the mysterious "Green Letters," written by a person/group calling themselves A. Nona Moose. The content of these letters - two so far - include the writer's dislike for President Hanson, calling him names like "Captain Hatchet-Man Hanson."

            Both of the letters negatively emphasize the President's goals aimed for the year 2020. The writer of the letters focus on current students, however, asking the question "What about the students of 2011?" In an interview with President Hanson, he pointed out that he values Liberal Arts education for all students in order to be well-rounded. He added that he himself was involved with arts at both the high school and college level, including a lead part in a theater play and the study of three languages.

            When asked about the current financial issues happening on campus, President Hanson compared BSU to the story of the Phoenix, rising from the ashes and starting anew. "Post grieving, we'll be okay," he said. He pointed out that we are one of the schools in the MNSCU system to recalibrate, not the only school. "Our goal is still to provide the best possible education to students," he added.

            While protests against the cuts are mainly focused negatively at President Hanson, he says he still approves of them because "It is their First Amendment right." He continued on to comment that protests are positive in order to bring awareness and conversation amongst students and faculty. 

            These letters, "The Green Letter," are one such example of protest. While President Hanson encourages well educated and well informed protests, these specific letters are poorly written with grammatical and spelling errors, along with being inadequately researched. According to "The Green Letter," "President Richard Hanson eviscerates BSU by taking the hatchet to 22 liberal arts programs." When asked about this specific statement from the letter, President Hanson said, "We don't have 22 Liberal Arts programs. What does that even mean?"

            Along with the letters, playing cards featuring a doctored photo of President Hanson breathing fire were distributed. The cards mimic the style of "Pokémon" cards. In the upper right hand corner, President Hanson has 150 HP (Hit Points) simulating a form of power. The photo features the caption "Pink Slip - Flip a coin. If heads or tails, fire two professors, and hire one new administrator of any type." Also included below the picture is "Recalibration - This attack does 20 damage times the number of faculty members fired to student's academic futures."

            There is also a card representing a BSU student, with only 30 HP. The student card reads "Flash Mob - When 'BSU Student' joins with others of its kind, their opinions and voices are amplified to a deafening howl. Also, their Hit Points are increased exponentially." The caption goes on to read "Boycott Registration - When 'BSU Student' does not register for fall classes immediately, and waits until August, 'President Hanson' will be paralyzed."

            No one knows how many of "The Green Letter" there will be sent out or how often. "Email us at 'savebsu@gmail.com. (We will respond)," the letter states.

            After numerous attempts to get an interview on the story from “A. Nona Moose,” at press time we had still received no comment.

Bemidji State University - Where "The Green Letter" is being distributed.
Photo by Alexandria Leister

The "playing cards," featuring a doctored photo of President Hanson.
Photo by Alexandria Leister 

Word count: 588

President Hanson: rhanson@bemidjistate.edu