University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well Profile Campus News, Newsletters, and Events Winter 1998 Profile: When the RFC pledges come marching in University Relations Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/profile Recommended Citation University Relations, "Profile: When the RFC pledges come marching in" (1998). Profile. 8. https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/profile/8 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Campus News, Newsletters, and Events at University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well. It has been accepted for inclusion in Profile yb an authorized administrator of University of Minnesota Morris Digital Well. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Profile-------- News l\ilagazine for Alumni, Parents, and Friends of the University of Minnesota, Morris University of Minnesota, Morris Volume II, Edition 2, Winter 1998 •RFC Referendum passes - ----------- - ------- --- •Putting Money Where the Vote Is Page One: ------------- ---------- •Morris Science Project U date Both Univer­ sity of Minne­ sota President Mark Yudof Referendum passes by 2: 1 margin and Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson Morris School District vote pledged their support of the shows ringing endorsement Morris Science Project. UMM for Regional Fitness Center Chancellor David Johnson is pictured with Governor Carlson. (story JUDY RILEY University Relations page 4) By a decisive two to one mar­ hard work to make this happen." and Community Education, regional more than a 2: I margin a bond issue gin, voters in the Morris The proposed Re- families, students and senior citizens, that will help fund the Regional Fitness School District passed a gional Fitness Center, a the Stevens Community Medical Cen­ Center." referendum on Novem­ cooperative effort be­ ter, and the UMM campus community "We should not lose sight of· ber 4 in support of a tween the UMM and will cooperatively use the Center. The the fact that this referendum was a Regional Fitness Cen­ Morris area communi­ proposed building will be attached to Morris Public School referendum and ter (RFC). Paired with ties, will be a public fit­ the current Physical Education Center would not have been possible without the RFC referendum ness center available to on the UMM campus in an effort to the support of the School Board," said was a referendum to the entire region for its maximize the use of both facilities. Lowell Rasmussen, UMM vice chan­ decide the fate of the fitness, recreation and "On behalf of the Morris Area cellor for physical plant and member of district's operating fund wellness. Building plans High School and Elementary School, I the RFC task force. "It speaks well of levy authority, which forthe Center call for an would like to express our gratitude for the community that they supported both also passed. indoor recreation zero the recent bond election," said Michael the levy and the RFC referendum by "The decisive vote from the depth entry pool with water slide, a new Martin, principal of Morris Area High such decisive margins." community to support the Regional Fit­ two-court gymnasium with an all-pur­ School. "Not only did district residents In the $5 million RFC funding ness Center is good news indeed," said pose floor, an indoor walking track, a overwhelmingly support an excess op­ plan, $2.5 million would come from UMM Chancellor David Johnson. cardiovascular area, and an aerobic area. erating referendum for daily operations, UMM, $ I million from the Morris "Thanks to many, many people for their It is expected that Morris area schools but on the same ballot they approved by Area School District, and $ 1.5 million REFERENDUM continued on page 8 You want to be in that number When the RFC pledges come marching in JUDY RILEY University Relations Putting their money where the owned by Morris natives, kicked off the "Because the Regional Fitness which I care so deeply," said Granger. vote is, several local Morris businesses, fundraising drive by pledging $125,000 Center will make such an important and Those who make pledges of individuals and organizations have al­ each over a five-year period. enduring contribution to the quality of $100,000 or more have an opportunity ready pledged nearly $400,000 toward In June, trustees of the Otto life of both the University and the City to name an area within the facility. A the construction of the Regional Fitness Bremer Foundation approved a $20,000 of Morris, making a substantial gift to pledge of $500,000 will allow the do- Center. grant to be used toward establishing the the project is a splendid investment in Kleespie Tank and Petroleum Center. the future of the two communities about PLEDGES continued on page 4 and Riley Bros, both Morris businesses Matching the $20,000 pledge of their parent company, the Bremer Move over "Pinnochio" • In these pages • Foundation, First American Bank of Morris has announced a pledge of $20,000. 3 The New The City of Morris pledged Presidents Club $200,000. The Morris Area School Dis­ Read about the trict contributed $1 million through the changes coming to the passing of the bond referendum by vot­ University of ers (see story above). Minnesota More recently, West Central Presidents Club Environmental Consultants of Morris has pledged $5,000. James Van Alstine, 6 Catching Up ... vice president of the company, said, "We are a company that is staffed pri­ See what the class of marily with young people and families. '73 is up to now! I see this as an opportunity to provide something more for those members of 10 On the Right our community." Track .. Arden Granger of Morris has PUPPET CONSTRUCTION Morris area youngsters -- and their parents, day UM M and the local recently joined the Presidents Club at care providers and adult chaperones -- transformed ordinary items like buttons, high school the University of Minnesota, Morris. beads , scraps of fabric, egg cartons and styrofoam into magical puppet person­ collaborate to benefit Her pledge to the RFC comprises the alities when the Wood and Strings Puppet Theatre came to town on November 7. track students major part of her $ I 0,000 Presidents Tess Cotter, Alyson Berget and Melanie Thorstad display their creations. Club commitment. Another photo on page 9. (Judy Riley photo) clippings public opening of the exhibit. CAC Garners Honors Chancellor Search Update The Campus Activities Council received The Chancellor Search Committee be­ "The Adventure Continues" award for gan reviewing applications for the po­ the 1996-97 Convocations series, and sition on November 17. Thegoalofthe third place in logo design for the Valu­ committee is to establish a pool of fi­ ing Differences logo which appears on nalists by late December 1997 and to the UMM Finding Common Ground have on-campus interviews with about pledge T-shirts. These awards were pre­ four orfive candidates in late January/ sentel at the National Association for early February l 998. ltis expected that Campus Activities - Upper Midwest a successor to Chancellor David Conference held in October. Johnson, who will retire in June 1998, will be named in April 1998. The posi­ ,MSP Director Sear.ch Underway tion will remain open'until it isftlled. A search committee foe the position of Committee members include represen­ director of the Minority Student Pro­ tqtives from the University of Mtnne­ gram, to succeed retiring director, Wil­ ~o!a; UMMstudent ~.~e;'XJ faC!f(~ and UMM ALUMNI Alana Christensen, '91, White Bear Lake, and Christina li<1~ ...Stewar:t ,,,.bas been selected. Com­ .std.ff; UMM; alumni;- and the Morris Muedeking, '92, Tracy, both of whom work in Congressman David Minge's mittee members are Tli.omas McRoberts community. (DFL, 2nd District) office, accompanied Minge during his November visit to (~hair), Solo'mon Cashaw (faculty-soci­ UMM. Christensen is the executive assistant for Minge; Muedeking works as a oL~~y ), Ro.n~orris(student), Bec~Stolt P~anksters lflnite! legislative counsel. Pausing for a photo with Christensen and Muedeking (front (s!uaent), Miriam Rea (student)/ Erika re you among thos,e UMM irank­ 1-r) are Muedeking's sister and current UMM student, Julia Muedeking (back, Rosch (faculty-French), Michael Miller sters who sodded Provost Rodney right), and Shawn Pritchett (back, left), Pipestone, who will serve as a student ( Minority Student Program staff), Engin Briggs' office in t~e,§ps? (do ven intern in Minge's office during UMM's academic winter quarter. While at UMM, Syrzgur(faculry,,-pathein(Jticslstatistics), !.!J! such a ;tunt now7''chancel ex- Minge and his staff were the guests at a roundtable discussion on the topics of The Jennifer Redlin (student), Rodney Oto ecutive secretary Rebecca Wefib is a Center for Small Towns and the cleanup of the Minnesota River basin. The day's (directory, Admissions and Financial "sodbuster''.from wayback!) Not to be agenda also included an open coffee gathering with members of the UMM and Aid), and Tonya Free,n:zan ( alumna). outdone byithe prari~irers of ytster­ Morris area communities, and a visit to Greg Thorson's (assistant professor) Application deadline i.s February 6, year, a person or persons unknown political science class. (Judy Riley photo) 1998. The finalist interviews will likely greeted University ofMinnesotaPresi­ be conducted in early spring quarter, dent Mark Yudof whenl!e visitedf}MM MEAfMFrtVisits cqri.imon religious traUitions to those 19i},8, with expectations that a new di­ in October by painting "YUDOF" on wlio may be curious about them, or rector will be in place by July 1, 1998. the roofof the Student Center. Physical Approximately 350 prospective UMM wish to know more about various be­ Plant employees, who had the unfortu­ students and their families toured the /'ief1~and traditions.