The Elasticity of Community
How an unlikely meeting across continents led to connection, collaboration, and conversation at UND Law
Community has been the University of North Dakota’s theme this year, and a recent visiting scholar event at the School of Law offered a reminder of how elastic that word can be.
Professor Gregory Gordon recently visited UND to present on his book, Nuremberg’s Citizen Prosecutor: Benjamin Ferencz and the Birth of International Justice. The connection that led to his visit began in an unlikely place. Two years ago, although both had lived in Hong Kong—a city of millions—Professor Gordon and UND Law Professor Kimberly Dasse had never crossed paths.
Instead, LinkedIn brought them together after Professor Dasse searched the platform for professional contacts while planning a return trip to Hong Kong shortly after beginning her work at the University of North Dakota School of Law.
The two agreed to meet for soup dumplings at the well-known Din Tai Fung. Over several aromatic dishes, they quickly recognized the improbability of the moment: two scholars with ties to both Hong Kong and North Dakota meeting in one of the busiest cities in the world. At the time, Professor Gordon was working on his book, and his enthusiasm for the project and commitment to the subject left a strong impression on Dasse.
What began as a conversation soon developed into a connection—and eventually a collaboration.
Bringing Professor Gordon to UND was more than simply hosting a guest speaker. Nearly fifty people attended the event held in February, including students, faculty from multiple departments, and members of the broader community. The presentation was also livestreamed and recorded, extending its reach beyond the room. During the process of organizing the event, Professor Dasse also connected with several of Professor Gordon’s colleagues, and new professional relationships have already begun to form.
Hong Kong and North Dakota could hardly be farther apart geographically, yet for an afternoon at UND Law they felt closely connected. The experience highlighted how community can expand in unexpected ways when people reach across cities, institutions, and differences.
