UMN-Morris in highly vulnerable place?

Stardate April 8, 2025. Tariffs appear to be setting in. This is the guy we wanted as president. We are now backing protectionism. You haven't heard Michelle Fischbach object to this, have you? 

So we'll see if our preferred candidate for president actually makes our lives better. Truly we are red "Trump" country out here. 

Considerable distress is being caused for our institutions of higher learning. Republicans have never been cheerleaders for the Ivy League schools, "incubators of liberalism," except to the extent they want their own children to get degrees there so to acquire the proper pedigree. What a tangled web we can sometimes weave. 

Our campus in Morris is imperiled. If you disagree with me on this, please get back to me hopefully with civility. Truly, isn't it plain as the nose on your face? We put "DEI" on a shingle and put it out for the world to see. Have we even begun retreating from it? So we're in effect playing Russian roulette now. 

And it's not as if our own local college administration would be nervous about this. It's a given they would be, although a most well-placed source tells me our UMM chancellor actually answers to the head Crookston person. What would Jack Imholte think about that? The silver fox! 

And that reminds me of the fresh news story about the "dire wolf." Brought back from extinction! Will they ever visit our environs? We're surely wild enough out east of town. The odds increase of seeing a bear out there too. Wait'll this weekend: the 70-degree temperature will make the walking trail into rather a magnet. What a joy!  But such weather is overdue. 

The "dire wolf"

The "dire wolf" appears to be a large white animal. Hope it's friendly. Last spring we saw skunks at the north end of the bike trail. The females have their babies in May. I know that right from experience at my own property. Hope my defenses are sufficient now. But overall nature is wonderful. 

A super place to go in May is Niemackl Park near Herman. Wondrous wildlife in a place that seems a departure from the norm of West Central Minnesota. Really it feels like North Central Minnesota. It would be nice if the ground were to dry out a little now. 

What of bringing back extinct species? We have long heard talk about the "woolly mammoth" maybe making its return. But would the novelty wear off? My first concern, really, is that these new animals would disrupt established ecosystems. And what all would the consequences be of that? Fooling Mother Nature? We can't leave things alone. 

We can't leave our wonderful life in America alone. So on comes Donald Trump who is "in our faces" daily with sensational comments and boat-rocking proposals. The "Hands Off" day of protests was interesting but until we get a real groundswell to elect Democrats, it will be in vain. Cute but in vain. 

Now because of the whole Trump/MAGA thing, all hell is breaking loose for any and all educational institutions that have gotten into "DEI." Institutions that have even touched DEI. 

And UMM has this out on a shingle for the world to see. Which should not just cause distress within Behmler Hall (or at Crookston) but considerable eye-popping distress for the "big boys" at the Twin Cities campus, n'est-ce pas? 

How could it not? I mean, because huge sums of money are at stake. 

If a college has even allowed pro-Palestinian protesters, it will be in considerable trouble. Oh, it's anti-Semitic? I thought it was essentially anti-Israel. But what do I know? I'm not as smart as the Orange Man, I guess. 

And the leaders now say DEI is "discriminatory." You'd think there was a parallel with Jim Crow laws. A simpleton can see these things are worlds apart. DEI was developed to accommodate our pluralistic society in America, where segments of our population have had to fight past roadblocks like overt discrimination. DEI lifts up historically oppressed groups. 

But it's not my point here to really pass judgment on DEI. My point entirely is that the U of M administrators are probably wetting their pants over things that are happening now relative to DEI. The arguments aren't based on principle, they are based on money. We had a prime news item come forth about Brown University in the last few days. Before that it was Columbia University. 

Regarding Brown, here's how I shared with my fellow UMM advocate Warrenn Anderson on Monday:

 

Warrenn - I think I told you yesterday that Brown University was losing $300 million over issues connected to DEI. Here's a correction: it is actually over $500 million. Some of this involves alleged "antisemitism" but is it really antisemitism or anti-Israel sentiment?

Here's from a news article this morning:

The Trump administration plans to halt $510 million of federal funding to Brown over alleged antisemitism on campus and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, a White House official told The Herald.

- BW

This has to get our attention here in Morris. The crisis has been sprung on us by the Republican party which is the party of our local elected representatives, Torrey Westrom and Paul Anderson. So can we assume that Westrom and Anderson are in lock step with the top leaders of their party? Wanting to wipe out education institutions that fully subscribe to DEI? Can we assume that? 

We love this place

In theory that would be the logical conclusion. But, "all politics is local." Obviously UMM is an "economic driver" for the Stevens County area. That's nothing to shake a stick at. Maybe Westrom and Anderson would prefer that UMM change its mission. But I'm guessing that they're skeptical about the practicality of that. They would want UMM to stay viable. They'll have to "look the other way" when it comes to DEI. That is, unless politics is so local they can be allowed to form their own opinions. 

So I think that's what is happening. They might not take a phone call from Stephen Miller. 

Why does the UMM chancellor answer to the head of Crookston? Everything has a reason. The arrangement seems to contradict normal sound thinking. You're right, I have a theory. If the time comes for UMM to fall into what would hopefully be temporary closure, the suits at the Twin Cities campus would be spared the unpleasantness of having to announce it, spared getting the enraged feedback from UMM alumni/advocates. 

Let the Crookston person, a woman, face the brickbats. 

If you think I am blowing things out of proportion, or am fearmongering, please get in touch. I strive only to be a realist. 

I have spent my whole life being defensive as I try to prove I can be on the same turf as UMM profs with my intelligence. I grew up hearing every day about how superior our local school was, how it was populated by such superior kids. I can never rid myself of that distraction. Or maybe it's a delusion. "Ski-U-Mah!" Well, whatever.

 

Addendum: Is it possible the "dire wolf" is just a gray wolf with genetic modifications?

 

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

"The boy who cried wolf" with markets

Maybe everyone would be in a better mood to handle the stock market uncertainty (plunge) if we had just gotten a blast of warm temperatures first. Have you ever been this impatient about getting a sense of warmth in the air? 

March was absolutely good for nothing. No redeeming value, just gloom. Illness made the rounds too. I still have a somewhat scratchy throat. A temperature of around 70 would be a godsend, restore my normal vigor and ability to feel upbeat about things. 

Oh my goodness we are being challenged to feel upbeat in a general sense. As of 9 a.m. the situation with U.S. stocks looked terrible yet again. The tariffs and trade war do appear to be looming for all of us. Republicans are saying that any pain will be temporary. 

The problem with a stock plunge is that it can be like the boy who cried wolf. I asserted this in a comment to a Yahoo! News article early this morning. For so many years we have experienced a pretty quick turnaround anytime things look bad on Wall Street. So many big-name economists have seen their standing tumble by trying to predict a "crash" or something close. 

So what happens? If you follow the financial news, you know that a quick turnaround to the up side happens when someone close to "the Fed" even hints there will be an interest rate cut at the next meeting! But hey, how many times can we go to the well with this? In my young years, hardly anyone paid attention to the Federal Reserve. It was about the most boring topic you could imagine. Did the Fed even hold press conferences back then? 

Today the world awaits as if God is about to speak, when the Fed chair begins a formal statement or takes questions from the media. I have to laugh at the scramble by so many people to "translate" what the Fed chair says. Everything rests on interest rates, it seems. A magical elixir, sort of. So my question is, can this continue indefinitely? 

We have a big new factor in the equation now: the tariffs and trade war. Trump wants his followers to follow along, obviously. Just watch our congressperson Michelle Fischbach. Do you think Ms. Fischbach would ever deviate from anything that DJT says or wants? So I expect she'd tell everyone to be patient and have confidence that we'll all come out winners in the end. 

Maybe you remember when we heard about "bargain hunters" coming into the market so often after a dip. Watch CNBC much? This was in their script for a long time. Has it sort of disappeared now? Maybe because of sounding cliche-ish, cheap? The bargain hunters would move into the market after a down day to turn things around. Well, you cannot resist a "bargain," right? 

But my God, the market has gone upward so easily for so long. My late parents grew up in the Great Depression. All this must have seemed like the Twilight Zone to them. My late friend Howard Moser talked about how the Depression-era people "never threw anything away." And then the digital age comes along where we have to buy new generations of the tech stuff all the time. Discard the old stuff, buy new. How would you even describe this to the Depression-era people? 

We now sail along feeling quite sure that no matter how far the stock market indexes dip at any time, well surely the situation will right itself and it will probably happen within a day or two. 

But what if it doesn't? What if one of these days a true long-term calamity sets in? DJT has a long reputation of destroying everything that he touches. Going bankrupt with a casino? But he sold himself as this great businessperson. He surely got a head start within his family. Everyone disregards that. 

Now with Easter approaching, all the Stevens County hardcore Christians will have their faith in DJT re-affirmed because that is what it's all about for them now. I'll be happy to step aside for Easter. I'll skip the images of Jesus Christ all bloody and suffering. You can have that. 

I can accept the concept of Christ "dying for our sins." As a kid that's how it was presented to me. The most violent it got was to see the image of Christ up on the cross and certainly that was no picnic. But today? Are you all sadists or what? 

Yes, Christ "died for our sins. So that we may have eternal life." 

I embrace that. But I doubt today that Jesus Christ would approve of Donald Trump.

 

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

Jazz Fest shines as UMM imperiled

Positivity about UMM: Yes the Jazz Fest was wonderful. I had the pleasure of attending Thursday night. The UMM music department can still do wonderful things. Yes there have been cutbacks. The ensembles cannot stand on their own, as they now need augmentation from non-students to survive. And yes I was greatly disturbed, disconsolate when first hearing about that. 

I extended "feelers" to the Twin Cities campus about having my family fund for music transferred to benefit the Twin Cities campus which presumably can continue holding its own. 

The reputation of Minneapolis and St. Paul has greatly diminished. So maybe our pride should be elevated out here in the sparsely-populated parts. There are country singers that will sing all day about that. Now we have the guy walking off the set of "Saturday Night Live" right in that spirit. A country singer wearing the "costume" of such folks - you know the trappings, complete with jeans with holes. Such impoverished souls. 

And you might actually believe that, if you still support Donald Trump. I have friends who will detach from my writing immediately if I even mention Trump. They'll scoff at my skeptical attitude. You cannot succeed in making any points with these people. No helpful interaction. They'll just go back to voting Trump. They'll return to their church pews populated by all their MAGA brethren. Easter will be a time for them to celebrate their Savior Donald Trump. 

Go ahead, go to your right wing churches on Good Friday and hear all about the literal torture of Jesus Christ. Shall we call it a celebration of gratuitous violence? I want no part of it. Even if it's historically accurate I want no part of it. Experts have said that no human being could survive the torture inflicted on Christ in the Mel Gibson movie. 

Hey you rubes it's Hollywood! 

Don't be led along by the likes of Elon Musk and the whole gang that gets in the news every day as they holler about the left wing and its spokesmen who become sheer dartboards for their insulting language. Who would want to get into the political arena under these circumstances? Who would want to even try to lead progressivism now? 

But I ask you all to pay heed here in Morris MN. With all that is going on now including the drastic tariffs, take a look at the aggressive anti-DEI push and how this could literally force our UMN-Morris out of existence. Truly it could. 

Maybe the Morris economy is not as dependent on UMM as it once was. Numbers are down at UMM. And could UMM even survive an attempt at a re-start? 

We rejected Kamala Harris who was not perfect because no one is perfect. But she would project love and tolerance. She would surely support entitlement programs that are so helpful for our seniors and retirees. Many such folks live out here where we can hear coyotes howl. 

So, why my renewed concern about what the anti-DEI thing could do to UMM and to the whole of Morris? Here's a fresh headline this morning from the AP: "K-12 schools must sign certification against DEI to receive Federal money, administration says." 

So to accept Federal money, people and institutions must increasingly be required to show support for certain political ideas. 

The administration would say DEI is discriminatory. Everyone knows DEI was designed to lift up historically oppressed groups. So the intention was benevolent. Maybe some of it could be reined in. 

But I hate to see a total merciless "meritocracy." 

David Brooks

David Brooks of the New York Times in fact got lots of attention a few months back by commenting on the "meritocracy" that grew in higher education: this merciless judging of kids with "grades" as if that's all that matters. If you're my age you remember public schools when grading was "tougher." It promoted anxiety. It will trample on self-esteem. 

There was a time when UMM classes were in fact known as "tough, rigorous" etc. My father told a story of a visitor to the campus once who noticed some grades from an assignment posted outside a classroom. The grades were low. So the visitor said "this must not be a very good teacher." That was the "meritocracy." 

If DEI has caused a lightening up with that, then my thoughts about DEI would be generous. Go ahead UMM and have a multi-ethnic building. That building incidentally was where my father Ralph first worked when UMM started. It was the home of the music department. "HFA" not even built yet. 

I think my father's basic philosophy about college music was that it was more extracurricular than serious academics. The groups did perform challenging material though. And I think my father was well liked on the faculty because he ran competent programs while not coming up with grandiose ideas for spending more money all the time. He was happy with the pie slice that he got. 

He was happy with the basics because he had gotten through the Great Depression and then WWII. He was the youngest of five boys and he graduated high school in 1934. 

My dad had the credentials to present jazz. He had played in such groups himself as a young man in the Twin Cities. But the college culture was not ready for an earthy thing like "jazz" in the 1960s. We take for granted the UMM Jazz Festival in its glorious form today. No one questions the appropriateness of jazz. 

We take for granted women's athletics which did not exist when UMM opened. What sea changes. But ironically we must now contemplate the cancellation of UMM as we've known it, due to the anti-DEI push from the top of our Federal government. I have been advising friends that the Feds really mean business on that, right from Donald Trump. 

I have sent an email to Torrey Westrom and he did not answer. I have in the past found him to be friendly. He's blind, isn't he? So does he have emails read to him? I don't know. 

All hell could break loose with the government coming down on UMM for its DEI purpose. I'm just trying to warn y'all. I could warn you on tariffs too. Unfortunately it is a fool's errand trying to discuss such matters with MAGA people who will be filling the pews of our "conservative" churches on Good Friday, to take in the images of Jesus Christ being tortured to death. 

I'll skip it. I'll celebrate Easter with a chocolate bunny from Willie's.

 

Addendum: You know the real reason behind the big anti-DEI push, don't you? It is not what it appears to be. This is an effort to put painful pressure on all publicly-funded schools and really everything that is publicly funded. It will make life miserable for the people who try to run these systems because they will have to fear an end-of-career sanction.

 

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

Now it's "pissing match" on social media

My picture of the library

Oh my, oh my, oh my, I was not going to write about the Morris library matter again, at least not for a while. I'm still in a bit of a funk from having gotten worn out writing about "March Madness." It's a blessing but it can also lure you in and command your attention so thoroughly. 

I wrote about the Alexandria teams that have strong Morris connections. If I ever write about Bev Kieffer's grandchildren again, I will not use the name "Lucken" anywhere. I think she's mad at me about that. My sensitivity is probably lacking. I have never been married or even had an opposite-sex relationship. I think it is fraught with danger and risks. 

Who can forget Rick Lucken? Uh-oh, there I did it again. Well, sorry, I really would like all of my writing to pass muster. 

Yes I was exhausted after our March Madness spell. I was even busy with Minnewaska Area girls basketball, and at the end, West Central Area. Regarding the latter, my main point was about how Morris allowed our hometown girl Becca Holland to "get away" to there, instead of getting a position here in Motown. 

And if anything gets me in trouble in our beloved community, it's observations on sports programs, their coaches and their direction. I assure you I will always find a passion with writing about area high school sports. You can easily ignore me if you wish. 

So soon after the high school basketball mania, we had this hot potato subject of the Morris library land in our laps. Anyone with journalistic instincts and whose formative years go back to Watergate would be instantly mesmerized, wanting answers. (That's me.) 

I am a long-form journalist so you'd probably categorize me as a "dinosaur." People prefer communicating in short bursts in the digital age. Speaking of the digital age having taken over, why do we even need a public library? In fact, what about the redundancy of a city public library, a public school library and a library at UMM? Redundant as all hell, I would say. 

I suppose we collectively shake our heads and say "that's just the way it has to be." Just like re-electing Trump. Happy tariff week. That is, if the tariffs actually start, if it's more than mere talk or posturing. Now, why would I suggest it might be largely talk/posturing? Trump wouldn't mislead us, would he? He wouldn't be "playing" us, would he? He has never done that before, has he? 

 

Not my bag

I hate to acknowledge much about Facebook. I have chosen not to be a Facebook person, or Twitter or any of that jazz. Such scattershot conversations. Impulsive thoughts typically with a tinge of emotion. I stick with "long-form journalism" utilizing two blog sites and you'd probably say "nobody pays any attention to what you write." 

Obviously you're entitled to your opinion. 

Today is Tuesday so the Morris newspaper comes out. The library: what a ripe subject for the print media to put someone to work, Woodward/Bernstein style. Oh but the city council has had these lengthy "closed meetings!" A topic of such gravity obviously. 

Our librarian at the vortex

The library is supported by tax dollars. When a serious matter is being bandied about regarding the library, I think at some point some spokesman for the city has got to come forward with us and share on the most pertinent facts. Otherwise, well you know full well about what will happen: I saw it this morning as I "surfed" a little online. Heavens to Betsy, we have a full-scale "pissing match" having broken out. Surely you'll agree with me that this is the veritable "pissing match" for a small community. 

Is this the only course for the city to take? I have been forced to develop a theory or two on my own, because this is the only available route now. 

A newspaper writer could search around for "background" by talking to "knowledgeable sources" and the like, maybe even a council person himself who would be anxious to get his/her "take" out there. People "use" the press to try to get an advantage. Consider the term "leaks." 

What was "Deep Throat's" motivation?  Absolutely nothing mysterious there. The guy was Mark Felt. He was mad at being passed over for promotion in the FBI. A motive as old as the hills. 

What might we dig up now on the library matter or "mess?" Holy cow it's a mess: three deputies to ensure people's safety at these meetings. Over the library? The friggin' public library? A wholesome place. You almost have to apologize if you are going to criticize the library. 

"Children's story hour" each week. Let's all just step aside and let the library and the - ahem - Viking Library System consume more of our resources. Wait a minute, we do not blindly want to do that! Let's allow for the possibility that this "Viking" thing could be one of those feel-good agencies that may not really deliver services commensurate with what they claim to do. 

I hear even our county board gives money to Viking Library System. And I'm sure the commissioners are always nervous about the money they are having to spend. 

Mr. Anfinson of the SCT always talks about how we need newspapers as "watchdogs." Well here's your perfect opportunity Reed. You might run into some bumps in the road. So what?

Last night at the community supper I tossed out this thought to a friend: "Maybe Anne was given the opportunity to resign quietly and when she didn't, well the city said "Here we go." My, the wheels certainly began turning. With each passing day, I'm sure more of us are perplexed. 

The people who just love Anne no matter what will stick to their guns. I am age 70 and I've seen the "personality cult" thing at the small town level before. It's so distracting. What in heck is going on here? 

 

Below their dignity

I am disappointed that such an esteemed retired lawyer as Bob Dalager would go all-in on the "pissing match" we now see on this thing called social media. I see where Blaine Hill chimed in with a short comment. Below their dignity for these guys to be doing this. 

My approach is to put out a thorough post that I think asks the right questions. 

Maybe I deserve a pie in the face, I don't know. 

I don't see how Anne can continue as librarian now to be frank. I think she's a little "tainted." And if she's "exonerated" that would embarrass the council and city manager who dragged us through this morass of confusion and tension. 

Maybe what I needed was for March Madness to go on a little longer. It's an elixer. Right now I look out the window and the weather is crappy! Oh to be out on the biking/walking trail and petting people's dogs!

  

Addendum: A community controversy like this can lead to boycotts of businesses. Right now I am of a mind to not even go in the library for a while. Speaking of businesses, I am disappointed that Stone's Throw Restaurant closed. Another restaurant - DeToy's - was bustling with business on Sunday afternoon. Which leads us to conclude what? That the Morris economy is in good shape? That inflation is not scaring people here? Or, that maybe Morris could use another middle class type of restaurant.

 

Addendum No. 2: Oh to have Melissa Yauk back at the library with her steady hand. I appreciate more now the steadiness in her work. She's out in Idaho.

 

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

Three deputies to prevent what? Riot?

Rows and rows of books

So March is going out like a lamb? Weather prognostication is indeed unreliable. Today is Sunday which means church which means church coffee hour. I sat at a table where the chances appeared good that I might be updated on the whole public library scandal or kerfuffle or whatever. I must stress here that I did not bring up the subject with my treasured church brethren. 

Church is not the suggested place for trading gossip. You probably know I'm an old journalist so I'll clarify here and say we have a euphemism for gossip: "background." So like I said, church isn't the best place for such repartee, n'est-ce pas? We ought not repeat gossip. "So we'd better listen good the first time," heh heh. 

I have an update on the library matter posted on my companion blog of "Morris of Course." I posted this on Saturday. If you're considerate enough to visit and read, you'll be treated to a small picture of the late Fred Willard at the top. Fred Willard as "Jerry Hubbard" which probably means nothing to you. It's a heads-up to a 1970s TV comedy show, "Fernwood 2nite." Why make mention of Fred Willard today? In connection to the library? You can click on link below to check it out. Oh, and God bless. You see, I really am still a journalist.

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2025/03/i-hear-anne-will-continue-as-library.html 

 

FLC plugs away

My church of First Lutheran had the local Methodist pastor as guest today. We of course do not have a regular, guaranteed-not-to-tarnish pastor of our own. Well, neither does Faith Lutheran, our fellow ELCA church in town. 

Is everyone just ready to clam up about gay rights now?  So that maybe the ELCA churches will no longer be so, well, staggered? Man, we've been nearly down for the count. Sustained a real haymaker. So can everyone just cool it now, and realize we can have totally reasonable accommodations for gays without having a fit? Our ministers do not have to devote sermons on this matter any more. 

It is easy to argue that the purpose of church has little or nothing to do with "sexual preference." Back when this matter was fresh, ELCA pastors tried guiding us along. And I smile as I remember how we had an interim, "Pastor Art," who did this in a cryptic and charming way. He referred to the time long ago when Swedes were prodded to accept Norwegians. Or was it the other way around? 

The over-arching theme was the need to embrace humanity including those whose lifestyle might trouble us. Thank you, Pastor Art. 

We had another interim who I remember took on the subject straight-on. This interim in another sermon came right out and recalled the ways in which he sought to avoid service in the Vietnam war. And it's fascinating because in an earlier time - I'm thinking the 1960s - such a sermon would get you drummed out of the corps. Our regular minister in the 1960s would have had a heart attack. 

With time we all came to see what was obvious about the Vietnam war. I shouldn't have to elaborate here. If you don't know, I wouldn't be able to reach you. 

 

Librarian Anne Barber

Distress in Morris

Fast-forward to the present: Was I able to glean anything new about our public library issue this a.m.? Taking a seat at church coffee hour should bring some insights or revelations, n'est-ce pas? Again I emphasize that I did not bring up the subject. But once it was brought up, I was all ears. 

The City of Morris is sort of "teasing" us by not elucidating at all, this at a time when their meetings have to be "closed." And I learned this morning that not only was the first meeting closed, my Lord there were not one but three sheriff's deputies there! 

I might use the word "gendarmes" in a light spirit but this brings back memories from when I was at the Morris paper. I did the same thing once with LE terminology in a simple little photo caption. Spirit of levity of course. But I had acquired adversaries in this town. Many of these people I gathered were big shots with their professional standing. So Jim Morrison gets a formal typed letter pointing out that "gendarme" is a term for European policemen. 

Well of course it is. Now go and sit under a cow. I mean the letter writer, not Jim. 

The letter failed to get me dislodged from my position at the newspaper. I absolutely refused to capitulate to certain special interests, to have certain attitudes dictated to me, especially pertaining to the school and in particular its co-curricular. Those matters should have been handled routinely and professionally. The activities director was allowed to turn a sports banquet/program into a travesty, even though everyone in school leadership knew he was going to do it. 

So I was an outlier with my view on things. 

And now? The flare-up of the huge controversy centered in (of all things) the public library? Holy mackerel, how do these things happen? Maybe anything is possible in Morris. 

Even after church coffee hour my grasp of the situation is not much improved. But I am bothered by a growing sense that there is something far more serious beneath the surface, beyond the "hints" that we have been allowed to know up until now. 

Three sheriff's deputies? Three? In case a riot breaks out in support of the chief librarian? Would this be called for at all? Someone must have been in fear of violence. Is something sinister being concealed at this time? 

The public library ought to be a pretty benign institution. A place to check out books, right? How complicated can that be? At present it appears to be a truly grave matter. 

We are left with theories, rather groping. So as a result of being at church coffee, I'm wondering: Is there a major clash of what I would call "entities?" You have the City of Morris with its manager who I have never met. This individual is being portrayed as the wicked witch of the west by the librarian's friends. 

Could we all just back off from such talk? My instinct is to give Ms. Schrupp a little deference because her laser focus job is to look out for the city's interests. How does the "library board" work into the picture? Wouldn't they be the entity expected to resolve things? Oh my, then there's the Viking Library System. Word is, the city manager is not a fan of the Viking Library System and there may be something to her argument. 

 

Even county is involved

Everything costs money. This in an age where libraries are less important than they once were due to the Internet. And hey let's bring the county commissioners into this because the county provides $ for the Viking System! Wow! And I'm sure these entities all feel "squeezed" all the time. 

It's like when the city was approached to give $ for the softball complex and the city said "yes" but in the wake of that, guess what? Well, the softball people came back asking for more! And so the city said "no" and was forced into a defensive stance, when in fact the softball people should have been grateful for the first infusion. But that's how it goes these days: if you give money to something, they just "want more." 

And so, can we justify continuing to financially support this thing called "the library" when there are so many other needs out there? Frankly I will take the city manager's side on this. 

I don't care that the librarian wants to reach out and be an advocate of UMM. That is an entirely separate sphere of activity. And I'm not sure UMM has the influence locally that it once had. Its very existence now appears threatened unless it can get rid of DEI. But UMM would have to completely re-invent itself, and I'm not sure it can. 

Federal $ is being cut off everywhere due to Elon Musk. Federal money reaches into our lives more than we realize. We'll probably end up regretting a lot of these cutbacks. Put your DJT pom-poms aside, all you MAGA people like those who fill the pews at Good Shepherd Lutheran.

Contentiousness centers here right at the present. Nothing to feel happy about.

 

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

Controversy never really a good thing

Friday so our spirits are up, right? No routine time in Morris. I was informed just now at Caribou that the city council is indeed following through on a new closed meeting today to handle something quite untidy. I had the thought that, based on the tempest that arose when this matter first broke, i.e. the "fan club" for the library director - bearing signs in fact - maybe our elected people would want to dispose the matter quietly. 

Well, "quiet" is pretty important in a  small community, right? But no, the meeting this morning is going to happen and I wonder if we'll get the full story. If the whole thing was much ado about nothing, then we need to hold certain people's feet to the fire. We shouldn't have been dragged through this. I mean, "allegations of misconduct." Those are such strong, sharp words. 

So are they just "allegations?" Isn't there a basis of fact established by now? The "fan club" aspect of this has bothered me. The individual who appears to be in the hot seat has so many zealous admirers. Should we just get out of their way and let the library director get back in the groove? 

There is one side in this matter who would have us think that the city manager is some sort of evil or vindictive person, i.e. shallow. And I am not prepared to believe that at all. 

Will all the facts come out? Even if it embarrasses the city? If this is a case of oversell by the city manager, wouldn't the elected council people have come to that conclusion by now? Well, the deliberations are about to happen. 

When the library director got the job, wasn't this a typical example of a subordinate getting promoted, maybe not based on the most solid criteria? Promoted mainly because of such a strong following of friends? I don't know, I just know that it's possible. I have certainly seen cliques throw their weight around in Morris before, sometimes to the detriment of the best community interests or even school interests. And "school" involves our young people. 

I do not think our teachers should have the power of union. Really I feel that way about all public employees. And I'm not even a Republican. 

The way things are going now, maybe all Republicans should wear a sack over their heads. A panic over things like Social Security and Medicare? The Speaker of the House now proposing that we completely eliminate the Federal court system? If the USA collapses with all this neglect, are you really prepared to live with the new reality? 

Can't you ask some hard questions of our congressperson? Good luck in even getting her to answer. Is she holding town halls? But this is what most  of you wanted: the MAGA reality. You voted for it out here in western Minnesota. 

 

Piling-on

Back on the library matter, a well-known Morris attorney has started waving his flag on a particular side. He talks about a "personality conflict." Oh, so that's all it is, a "personality conflict." And given the very well-known stripes of both he and his spouse, we can deduce immediately that he thinks it's the city manager with a "personality problem." 

I hate this piling-on that we have been seeing. Added to the crowds and the signs in support of the individual under scrutiny, we now learn of an apparently prestigious "award" for this person. It's an award connected to our august U of M-Morris, i.e. the DEI capital in our higher education system. And don't think the top honchos in the U of M system - yes the denizens in the Twin Cities - aren't agonizing over how our Morris campus sticks its neck out about DEI. 

I could be indifferent about DEI - I really could - if it weren't for the very heavy-handed movement coming down on it from the top of MAGA. Even including an executive order that a Federal judge had to strike down. Remember that top Republicans are now talking about abolishing the whole Federal court system. This has got to be fantasy-level, right? Not so fast: MAGA keeps acquiring momentum because no one ever stops it. 

The church pews are filled out here by older people who would vote Trump even if they have to sacrifice their own government benefits like Social Security. When Republicans talk about eliminating so much "waste, fraud and abuse," what it really means is that they'll look for an excuse to challenge people's benefits, to allege fraud where there is most likely none. 

All this will pave the way for DJT to pursue his top priority which is bigger tax cuts for billionaires. I don't know why I point this out because I won't persuade anyone. All you churchgoers will stay hypnotized for your man and his people. And I'm not talking about Jesus Christ. "Your man" is DJT. 

My Morris attorney acquaintance is trying to write off the whole library matter as one of an administrator with a grudge. He and his spouse cannot deny that this is an accurate representation or translation. And I think this is disrespectful to the city manager who has the pressure-filled job of making sure the city gets maximum bang for the buck of city spending. 

I think the library is something where overspending can easily happen. It's so easy for the do-gooders to argue for library spending because the library on the surface represents such virtuous things. However, in the digital age we have so many other resources. Pre-digital, the need for public libraries didn't even need an argument. It was self-evident. 

 

Way back when

I smile as I remember the days of our old Carnegie library with the pillar Ms. Grove in charge, Margaret Grove, who would "shush" you if you spoke aloud. Well, libraries were definitely a necessity then. 

Mom would walk me to the old Carnegie libary often. We rented a house in west Morris for a time - I recall it was called the "Gustafson house." The Eystads were next door. Mom would assist me selecting books and when I was real young she read them to me, an example being the biography of Jim Bridger the "mountain man." 

Mom insisted that I develop literacy from a very young age. The lessons she imposed on me were difficult at times. So I guess this is how I became a writer. My friend Brent Waddell says I should wear a white suit coat to church because Mark Twain was known to wear white.  Good idea, Brent.

The Internet has helped me keep going with my writing. I was exhausted at the end of March Madness because I got so involved writing. And as soon as the dust cleared there, my, we had this whole kerfuffle arise with the library and its director! Again, if this whole flap is over very minor alleged bad judgment, the city should feel regret that it arose. Controversy is always a last resort in a small community. Mobs of people bearing signs is never a good thing. 

Is the city manager really the "wicked witch of the west?" Right now I am inclined to say "no." These matters can get oversimplified. I'm still upset that Stone's Throw Restaurant had to close. And I'll bet the city is upset about that too because the city lost some tax base. 

I'm sure the city is getting feedback on abandoning the downtown with the liquor store, to go out to the trendy and contemporary "highway strip." But whither downtown Morris? Whither our "entertainment district?" And what if UMM continues to shrink? What if the heavy hand of the Federal government comes down on the U of M because of our embrace of DEI? 

Columbia University out east has already felt the wrath of this. Can Morris sustain having UMM fall into really hard times? We may already be there.

  

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

Springtime and the folks are restless

The spring of our discontent in Morris? A time where people have to use their precious time to go door-to-door to get sigs on a petition of protest? My, a chorus of voices has certainly been raised. It's raised against this "NextGen" group which certainly had its heart in the right place. 

I did not sign the petition. Nor would I stick my neck out in the other direction. I do feel that constructive proposals for park systems always run into objections for one reason or another. NextGen obviously felt a need existed for what they were laying out. Do you disagree on that? There really is no need? East Side Park as it is, then, is an optimal asset for this community? 

Have you noticed the years just roll by with the "Killoran stage" just "sitting there?" It was nigh impossible to make an argument for that place even when the old Prairie Pioneer Days was in existence. And how in heck does an event like that essentially disappear? I assure you that in its prime, it was thoroughly thriving and joyous. Remember the "Baby Olympics" of the Morris Women of Today? Jack Fuchs giving carriage rides? "Hot Shot" basketball? 

Things change or things disappear. I can't really explain it. 

So now we have NextGen sensing a void and trying to be dynamic. And a petition drive rises up to oppose it. Don't worry, I got word last night (Tuesday) that NextGen has called off its whole project. Will the whole idea just lie dormant now? Will East Side Park just continue being this peaceful open space with a huge structure - the Killoran thing - that just sits there? Oh, that doesn't mean that it doesn't cost anything to maintain. I know The City of Morris spends $ on it. And the thing was "donated?" 

Decades have rolled by. 

As I get older I can increasingly share recollections of when things were different in many ways. I am 70. The Morris High School class of 1973 had its 50-year reunion two years ago. You'll see more of us with walkers pretty soon. "Boomers" using walkers? Well of course. But we no longer have the Morris Senior Citizens Center as an asset. 

My, the senior center was born with a real sense of satisfaction. I believe Senator Dave Durenberger had something to do with all these "senior centers." That's what the late Glen Helberg told me. I miss Glen. He carried out groceries at Coborn's, remember? And why did Coborn's have to disappear? Its disappearance left Willie's in basically a monopoly position. We can be thankful that Donald Trump got elected because he said his biggest priority from Day 1 would be to lower grocery prices. 

But this morning there's a headline about how DJT's priority is to get "reparations" for the pardoned Jan. 6 rioters. 

 

That's the word

Most people in Morris concluded that Coborn's left here because it couldn't get the liquor license it was seeking. And now the municipal liquor store is going to be relocating? Out to the "highway strip" or whatever you want to call it? Leaving the old "downtown" to erode more? The liquor store's current location is too "dead?" Is that it? 

So the city feels it can get a lot more people to acquire liquor - what an asset in life - if the store's location is in the "trendy" place on edge of town with newer buildings. Sorry, I do not purchase liquor. 

So, the park idea is disposed. East Side Park will continue being a sleepy place. But now the City of Morris has a new matter on its plate. Hold on, it's the library! And my, what a kerfuffle we have. 

Our Morris library

It is so easy to be hit over the head with "one side" in this matter. Makes me wonder why on earth the city manager and council would even want to consider, in the slightest, any lapses or mistakes made by the library director who comes off as a candidate for sainthood. 

Well, I certainly like Anne Barber. But I don't have all the details of what goes on behind the scenes. My first sense, to be honest, is that Ms. Barber has engendered so much good will because she is an individual that stands for serving the public and young families. I said to Kevin Wohlers in an email the other day that "criticizing the library is like criticizing mom and apple pie." 

Could we just wait a little and learn more about just what allegations are being levied? I have to believe the city manager has the support of at least two council people for at least looking into this. But widespread rage has erupted. It's along the lines of the petition vs. the NextGen thing. So many people so riled up. 

In the library's case I can't help but think that personalities get overly involved, and heavens to Betsy I have seen this before in Morris. Social networks which I sometimes call "good old boys." And we need people in official positions sometimes who are not cowed by this. 

I remember the burning issue/controversy involving the Morris school in the late 1980s. The controversy was so unnecessary of course. Good old boys and social ties got involved. Businesses got hurt. 

Now, between the park kerfuffle and the library matter, we have to be careful there are no scars left over. Well, I'll warn y'all. But the impulses of younger people can disregard what I have to say. 

Really truly, we have to look at libraries in a different light, so deep into the transformative digital age. And I have to bite my cheeks when hearing the cliche-ish line "the need for libraries has never been greater." Just like the Star-Tribune editorial that once began "the need for higher education has never been greater." Sheesh, the need for "higher education" has never been LESS. 

I'd like to say "I rest my case" but Jim Morrison would laugh at me. 

There are always do-gooders around who are ready with the cliches. These are left-of-center people politically. And the left at this moment is being crushed, obliterated. There is one primary question we ought to ask Michelle Fischbach now: "Is there anything that Donald Trump could do or say that you would disagree with?" 

 

Is UMM doomed?

And what about UMM?

We vote Republican even though it could mean the literal end of the University of Minnesota-Morris. I mean, with the total clamp-down on DEI which, if the U does not acquiesce, could have catastrophic consequences like it has for Columbia Unviversity. You think the top U administrators want to risk that for a second? 

I recently shared some ideas on current local topics with Kevin Wohlers. I'm a long-time Wohlers family friend. Remember Mel? I shall quote parts of my email in the remainder of this post.

 

Has the city considered land out along Prairie Lane as possibility for new park? This is on my daily walking route so I'm quite aware of everything going on out there. This was how I developed strong views on the softball complex. So I'm talking the road that goes past the softball complex and water treatment plant, and gee I believe I had some opinions on water treatment plant also. 

 

The land out along Prairie Lane is already under some management like for mowing but it's still basically vacant. Far enough from town that a park and concert stage could work there and not ruffle feathers. It's amazing how the Killoran stage has sat there for years and years with negligible use. And I'm sure it costs the city money to manage as with the public washrooms (with video surveillance). I think permanent washrooms can become a major issue for lots of entities. Were "porta-potties" really so terrible in the old days? Not pleasant to use but how often do we need them? 

Look at Wells Park. Look how much space is devoted to "ball diamonds" at Wells. I have read that many parks in big cities have eliminated their ball diamonds because these sports are no longer as popular for kids. Kids get almost no exercise in little league baseball. The Wells Park diamonds were perfect for MACA softball.

Did the city get any permanent resentment by saying "no" on the final request for $ for the softball complex? I still think the lack of fan seating there is terrible. As for the bleachers right behind home plate at Holmberg field, you have to sit right in the middle to get a view of the whole playing field. Everyone really has to bring their own chairs and many sit out by the outfield fence. Is that really by preference?

OK, the library. It's easy to get an earful of "one side" in this. There are many reasons to feel affection for Anne Barber. I'm not presuming here in this email that either side is correct, but it's reasonable for a person in Anne's position to get a fair review that is not automatically fawning. You listen to certain people and you think that the city manager is some sort of wicked witch of the west! I'm not exaggerating.

So, what are my feelings? For a long time now, whenever I think of the library I think of a place that seems anachronistic. A big building full of books and "stuff" that has to be costly to maintain, but this in the age of the Internet, which. . . Well I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I get all the info, entertainment and communication I need for my whole life in the laptop I'm typing on right now! I'm sure the library has rows of books about WWII. But I can use the search bar on YouTube to research any fine detail of WWII, in fact get multiple sources.

This is dicey because criticizing the library is like criticizing mom and apple pie. A place that has a weekly "children's story hour." Sheesh.

 

I have to believe that at least two council people are sympathetic with what the city manager is doing to keep close watch on library expenses. Otherwise she'd be ill-advised to do it. This is another case of where we have to put personalities aside. It's like when {name withheld} finally left the school system. It was past due but then personalities and cliques got involved. 

The city has this major real estate in the middle of town - the library and the former senior center - and we really have to wonder how essential all this is. I close my eyes and imagine the library just disappearing sometime and would we really miss it? Just plain gone. And, how could the need for a "senior center" just totally vanish into thin air?

 

Oh and how is UMM going to be affected by this major crackdown on DEI? UMM "bleeds" DEI, advertises it. Are we going to end up like Columbia University? I'm sure the top U administrators in the Twin Cities are on edge. I'll be interested to observe UMM graduation just to get a sense of how the place is doing. We hear rumors. I never thought day would come when there would be no band for graduation.

 

Well Kevin I'm done writing about March Madness so I thought I'd write this email to you today. Good luck in these challenging times.

 

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