Assessing UMN-Morris for its 2025 graduation

("Morris MN Tourism" image)

It's always good news for the UMM graduation to be held outside on the mall. Can't help but feel cheered if you were there. It was nice to see a return of some instrumental music. For so much of UMM's history we simply took that for granted. 

I took for granted that there would always be a printed graduation program. I was even saving these as souvenirs. My family kept a copy of the first-ever graduation program from 1964. I am Internet literate but I do not have a "smartphone." I was told three or four years ago we needed such a device to follow the program. I found that disheartening. 

And while it was nice to hear the little brass group play for the 2025 event, there's still no substitute IMHO for the real "symphonic winds" composed of current UMM students. You can't dispute me about how it's always best to showcase the current students. Oh, some people in this town will dispute me anyway. 

I wasn't exactly captivated when the chancellor early-on in her remarks gave us profiles of the retiring faculty members. I slipped into boredom and wandered back to the parking lot. 

Overall I came away with the sense that UMM graduation has lost some of its old scale and luster. It was once assumed to be a huge deal in the community. You could sense it downtown. Not sure that sense exists at all now. We used to have the understanding too that the atmosphere of Morris had a slowdown after graduation. Do you sense any difference today (Monday)? We want UMM to stimulate the community as much as possible. 

Everyone assumes that the school's enrollment has shown erosion. Significant erosion? Some would say yes. I think it's hard interpreting the numbers for various reasons. How can we not feel fearful about what the anti-DEI stance among out nation's leaders might do to UMM? We have to be whistling past the graveyard some. 

How does the State of Minnesota assess our role? Obviously so much comes down to money. Doesn't everything come down to that? Whither the institution's policy of free tuition for Native Americans? And this prompts the question: How do you identify a Native American? One-fourth good enough? And can this always be clearly documented? 

And tell me this: Is UMM policy on this based on a real literal "treaty?" Or not? I have always told people that if it's a treaty, it is "insulated." Insulated from what? Well, from the Supreme Court's clear ruling that bans affirmative action. If you ask a UMMer if a real treaty is involved, I'll guess they won't say yes or no. They'll launch into a non-direct answer about how the policy is based on some measure taken long ago to remedy past injustices done to Natives. 

Which is all fine and dandy, of course. Policies have their reasons behind them. But the thumbs-down on affirmative action seems pretty transparent. Given the ideological stances of top people in government now, I don't think much slack is going to be given. Quite the opposite in fact. 

The late Mike Miller (the Native American) who I had the pleasure of knowing pretty well, told me long ago that there was serious talk among UMM leaders about whether the policy should be encouraged for continuing. And wouldn't you know there's a good reason: "Free tuition" means the revenue flow is limited. Money is honey as they say. We'll see how UMM stacks up in the fall. 

 

Staying attuned

I try to go out of my way to be positive, like this past spring in putting a couple of music faculty recitals on my calendar. Unfortunately I'm surprised on the downside. One of these recitals showcased the incredible talent of Robert Skoglund on percussion. We're so fortunate in Morris having people of this caliber come out here to spend part of their career. I am guessing that Skoglund was perplexed by the negligible turnout of people for the recital. I had the chance to congratulate him afterward, and I added: "too bad there weren't more people here." 

I wondered with a friend a couple days later: "Isn't there a music class where the students could be required to attend an event like this?" Well if UMM is showing erosion to the extent that it cannot produce a band for graduation, maybe there isn't much that can be done. 

And then I had this thought: Does UMM really want to "require" a whole lot from its students now? I mean, to "push" them? 

I am a boomer and when I was in college, the institutions had the embarrassment of riches of so many kids all over campus all the time. Kids are more rare now. And so, the institutions pull out all stops to keep them, i.e. to keep getting the money for them being there. But can the institutions claim to be providing a "rigorous" education any more? And without the "rigors," wouldn't the experience lack value? 

 

Is this what it is?

Cutting to the chase: Is college just an "experience" now? And can government keep underwriting it to the extent that it does? I think a lot of the old faculty who got "bought out" were going to be incapable of adjusting to the transformative change. They literally wouldn't be able to do it. So, on comes the new and very well-intentioned faculty that stresses the "experiential" side. Nurturing kids in our multi-cultural environment. 

And yes this most certainly involves DEI. I don't care if it gets wiped out or not. But if it does, UMM had better have a plan B. 

 

Has to be disheartening

Oh, back on the subject of faculty music recitals: about a week after the Skoglund event, I visited campus again and found a sign in front of the recital hall: "postponed until next Tuesday." Another dispiriting experience for yours truly. I did not attend for the rescheduled date. 

Man, think of the days when we had the "University choir" directed by Melissa Hanson. This was the non-auditioned choir but it was very sharp. Admission for their concerts was free and I took my late mother to some. Lots of students packed into the venue and they were a little, well, raucous and that was nice! 

And what about the late Jim Carlson's jazz program? Wasn't that a unique institution unto itself in this community? 

 

Instagram image captures the festive air

People = support

An institution that wants financial support should strive to keep such things going. We need events on campus where the campus can almost seem "overrun." It's all about people and excitement. If you just hold your breath and hope the state keeps the money coming, you might encounter hardship. Or maybe even closure? I don't think UMM supporters have ever been able to rule that out. 

The head of St. Cloud State University says there will never be a return to the old days. Looks like about half that campus is being torn down. We all know the U of M is special. We might simply have to bank on that.

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com