Starting in early 1994, I worked for my first-ever newspaper, The Northern Student, the student newspaper at Bemidji State University, where I attended and received my bachelor's degree in mass communication. Over three years, I would be a staff writer, news editor, managing editor and editor. I wrote everything from news stories to feature stories to sports stories to opinion pieces. It was the greatest training ground a journalist could ever have, and I am grateful to the many talented people I worked alongside in my years at The NS.
By Devlyn Brooks
News Editor
Jeff Aakhus isn't your average BSU undergraduate student. Not only is he a local small business owner, but he first started attending college at BSU in 1972.
However, what distinguishes him from his fellow students is that he is running for State Representative for District 4A, which includes Bemidji.
In various ways, Aakhus has been involved with BSU for 31 years. While he was growing up in Bemidji, his mother worked for BSU, and the campus was practically right out his front door. He lived on Bixby Avenue, which is only a few feet away.
He attended BSU for a short time in 1972 before entering the military, where he served until 1986. After retiring from the military, he immediately entered the workforce with Apple Computers in California.
Before moving back to Bemidji, he also worked in the defense industry as a software systems engineer. He has been attending classes at BSU, once again, since spring quarter of 1994.
Aakhus first got involved in local politics to help out a friend running for county commissioner. He said when he saw unendorsed candidates who ran for office in the area, he wondered what was wrong with local politics.
"I believe in the system we currently have," he said. "I just wanted to somehow help get other people involved in the (democratic) process."
Aakhus is a busy student. Along with a full 16 credits, he works in the Veterans' Services office on campus and campaigns during the evenings. He is married, has three sons and operates his own computer consulting business.
He also belongs to several area clubs and organizations. "Sometimes I don't know whether I'm coming or going," he said.
If elected to office, he said, "I might have to reduce my course load or even not attend school for a quarter. I'll have to see."
In the future, Aakhus would like to stay at BSU until he earns his master's degree in either computer science or mathematics.
"I would like to teach, eventually, at the college level, maybe even at BSU," he said. He taught computer science classes in the military.
Aakhus faces incumbent Bob Johnson in the general election Nov. 8.
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