UND Students Receive Holiday Support from Operation Campus Friends

On November 21, 2003, the University of North Dakota (UND) community mobilized to support its students deployed in Iraq as part of Operation UND Campus Friends. This initiative aims to send holiday greeting cards and 600-minute calling cards to 110 students serving overseas.

The operation, which began in March 2003, focuses on fostering connections between the campus and its deployed members. In a meeting earlier this week, members discussed ways to provide support through holiday greetings and care packages. Each card sent will include a 600-minute calling card, allowing students in Iraq to connect with family and friends back home.

Holiday greeting cards will be available for signing on December 2, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at various locations, including the Memorial Union, Gamble Hall, Wilkerson Hall, and Odegard Hall. Additionally, the cards can be signed during the Lighting of the Green Ceremony, scheduled for 5 p.m. that same day in front of the Memorial Union.

The initiative seeks not only to send warm wishes but also to raise funds for postage and materials. A donation box will be set up at the signing locations and during the UND craft fair on December 5, with all contributions directed toward the holiday cards and calling cards.

Accompanying each greeting card will be a letter from UND President Charles Kupchella and Student Body President Adam Baker, adding a personal touch to the messages sent to the students in Iraq.

Operation UND Campus Friends represents a collaborative effort, including members from various campus organizations such as fraternities, sororities, student government, and student housing. The initiative emphasizes the importance of community support during challenging times.

Looking ahead, the group plans to reconvene in January to discuss sending care packages for Valentine’s Day, continuing their commitment to the well-being of deployed students. As the holiday season approaches, this initiative highlights the enduring connection between the UND community and its members serving overseas.