A recent field trip for students in North Dakota's Midway Public School District has become the subject of concern after allegations surfaced regarding inappropriate chaperone behavior and exposure to nude artwork. The school district, however, states it has not received any formal complaints from students, parents, or staff regarding the event.
Key Takeaways
- Students from Midway Public School District attended the Fargo-Moorhead Visual Arts Studio Crawl on October 4, 2025.
- An anonymous source claimed chaperones identified as "furries" and that students saw nude art, causing discomfort.
- Midway School District Superintendent Austin Salyer confirmed the trip occurred but said no complaints have been filed.
- The superintendent stated the art club advisor knew about a nude exhibit and intentionally kept students away from that specific section.
Details of the Field Trip and Allegations
The event in question was the Fargo-Moorhead Visual Arts Studio Crawl, which took place on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Students from the 6th through 12th grades who are members of the Midway Public School District's Art Club participated in the trip. The purpose of the trip was to visit various art studios in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
Concerns were brought to public attention by an anonymous source who reported having direct knowledge of the events. According to this source, the experience was unsettling for at least two middle school students. The source made two specific claims that have raised questions about the trip's appropriateness.
Chaperone Behavior Allegations
The first major concern involved the conduct of two chaperones. The source alleged that these two individuals identified themselves to the students as “furries.” The source claimed one chaperone identified as a “cat/fox” and the other as a “bug.”
Furthermore, the source described behavior that reportedly made students uncomfortable. “They would make animal sounds at the kids and swing their butt around to make their tail move,” the source stated. This alleged behavior has become a central point of the controversy surrounding the school-sanctioned trip.
Understanding the 'Furry' Subculture
The term "furry" refers to a subculture interested in anthropomorphic animal characters with human personalities and characteristics. Participants often create their own animal persona, or "fursona," and some wear elaborate costumes, known as fursuits. The community connects through conventions, online forums, and art. While the subculture is a form of creative expression for many, it has also been associated with adult themes in some contexts, which can be a point of public misunderstanding or concern.
Exposure to Nude Artwork
The second allegation concerns the content of the art viewed by the students. The studio crawl involved visiting the homes of participating artists to see their work. The source reported that these homes featured artwork that included “nudes of both men and women.”
The presence of nude art on a field trip for students as young as middle school age was described as a significant issue by the source, who questioned the vetting process for the event. “How the field trip ever got the OK is beyond me,” the source commented.
School District Responds to Concerns
In response to inquiries about the allegations, the Midway School District provided a statement from Superintendent Austin Salyer. The district's official position contrasts sharply with the anonymous source's report.
Salyer confirmed that the Art Club did attend the showcase on October 4th, visiting ten different studios. However, he stated that the district has received no negative feedback about the trip.
“I’ve spoken with both our Elementary School and Middle School Principals, and there have been no complaints from students, parents, or staff related to this field trip,” Superintendent Salyer wrote.
This statement indicates a significant disconnect between the experience described by the source and the official feedback received by school administrators in the days following the event.
District's Position on Nude Art Exhibit
While Superintendent Salyer's statement did not directly address the allegations about the chaperones identifying as “furries,” it did provide a specific response to the claims about nude artwork.
According to Salyer, the Art Club advisor in charge of the trip was proactive in planning the visits. He explained that the advisor was aware of the content at the galleries ahead of time.
Pre-Planned Itinerary: The superintendent stated the art advisor “was aware that the gallery contained a nude exhibit and made the decision not to bring students into that section, having reviewed and planned the visit in advance.”
This suggests that the school took precautionary measures to prevent students from viewing potentially inappropriate material. The district's account implies that if students saw nude art, it was not part of the planned tour supervised by the advisor.
Unanswered Questions and School Policy
The conflicting reports leave several questions unresolved. The most prominent is the lack of an official comment from the district on the alleged behavior of the chaperones. The original report did not specify whether the chaperones were school staff, parent volunteers, or organizers from the event itself, which is a critical detail in determining oversight and responsibility.
The incident highlights the inherent challenges of organizing off-campus educational experiences, particularly events like studio crawls that are open to the public and take place in private residences. School districts typically have policies for vetting field trip locations and volunteers, but the dynamic nature of a multi-location public event can present unique difficulties.
Superintendent Salyer concluded his statement by reinforcing the district's commitment to its standards.
“At Midway, we hold high expectations for all staff and students, and we appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure that all events uphold those standards.”
As of now, the district maintains that no official complaints have been lodged. The discrepancy remains between the anonymous report of student discomfort and the school's official record, which shows no registered concerns from any participants or their families.
