"Transcending Borders" from Internet to international "Transcending Borders" is the theme for the School of Communication third annual Communicators Days. This event will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20, at the Best Western Townhouse, Grand Forks. Representatives from the government, media, academe, and alumni will be on hand to discuss varied views about border issues (loosely defined). President Charles Kupchella will host the reception at 6 p.m. Friday, which will be followed immediately by "Border Crossings" with international panel participants at 7:30 p.m. Confirmed participants in the discussion include Dave Thompson, news director, Prairie Public; Jack Zaleski, opinion page editor, The Forum; Al Friesen, program director, Golden West Radio in Winnipeg; Mary Jo Hotzler, deputy editor, The Forum; Mike Jacobs, publisher and editor, Grand Forks Herald; Ken Johnston, managing editor, Rainy River Record; and Phyllis Mensing, AP. Friday's discussion is free and open to the public. There is a $30 registration fee for Saturday's events, which include a continental breakfast, lunch, panel discussions and a chance to network. Registration is from 7 to 8 a.m. Students who pre-register will have the opportunity to assist with the event and attend the sessions free of charge. Four panels will mark Saturday's conference, starting with the 8 a.m. panel, "Internet Crime: To Catch a Stalker," featuring Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota Attorney General, along with a special agent and a computer forensic agent from the North Dakota BCI. "Everything I Ever Wanted to Know I Learned from a Public Information Officer" at 9:15 a.m. will be moderated by Peter Johnson, associate director and media relations coordinator, UND Office of University Relations, with panelists MSGT Rob Keller, PIO ND Army National Guard; Don Larson, reelection campaign manager and former PIO for Gov. John Hoeven; Susan Mickelson, managing partner, SimmonsFlint; and Tricia Traynor, manager, Devils Lake Airport, former PIO, USAF. At 10:30 a.m., moderator Jack McDonald, NDBA and NDNA legal counsel, will lead panelists David Crothers, executive vice president and general manager, North Dakota Association of Telecommunications; and Linda Johnson Wurtz, associate state director for Advocacy for AARP, in discussing "Advocacy/Lobbying: Making Sure That Every Voice Is Heard." Recent UND School of Communication alumni include: Lindsay Corbo, season ticket sales representative, Minnesota Timberwolves; Chris Gessele, editor, Hazen Star; Dave Griswold, sales manager, Turtle Mountain Star; Tessa Sandstrom, communications director, John Hoeven reelection campaign; Alyssa Shirek, copy editor, Grand Forks Herald; and Emily Wright, civic engagement coordinator, Grand Forks Housing; will be led by Jill Denning Gackle, general manager, BHG, Inc.; and Cassie Walder, news director, WDAZ; in discussing "Matchmaking: Finding the Perfect Person for the Perfect Job". Jacquelyn Lowman, coordinator of Communicators Days and faculty member of the School of Communication, mentions that the event is meant to begin ongoing conversations among various publics on the state of the media in North Dakota and across the country. "The media will only be one segment of voices in these panel discussions. We want other voices, particularly those of the public and students, to be heard as well," Lowman said. Major sponsors, North Dakota Broadcast Association and the North Dakota Newspapers Association, will have table displays, as will communication student clubs. For information, please contact Jacqui Lowman at 777-2581, jacquelyn.lowman@und.nodak.edu. To register, please contact Jacqui Lowman or Anita Herold, anita.herold@und.edu.