i love morris: How can we not worry about UMM?

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

How can we not worry about UMM?

UMM winter scene (B.W. photo)

The dominoes are falling. The new presidential administration is applying the wrecking ball. It is going far beyond talk. Nobody who is interested in job security for themselves is going to want to promote "DEI" now. Seems to me our UMM in Morris stands for nothing if not for DEI. I posted the following comment to a Yahoo! News article a few days ago:

Oh my goodness, I live in a small town with a branch of the state's University and we are absolutely defined by DEI. We stand for nothing if not for DEI. The institution is important to the welfare of the town. Should we panic now?

"MAP" responded:

"Yes."

I think we have always felt a little isolated and secure here in Morris. Like maybe we don't think the macro problems of the world would ever really affect us. And who would want to touch our "jewel in the crown" UMM? We're Morris. We're blessed.

That may stay true up to a point. Up to when a line finally gets crossed. And of course UMM spokespeople would vent fury at the thoughts I am sharing here. I am not commenting directly on the merits of DEI. Although I might suggest it's a shaky foundation for counting on the institution's future.

UMM had no problem with allowing the distribution of the far-right publication "Northstar" over an extended period of time. I definitely objected to that. I thought the publication was an abomination simply on the basis of journalism. And I would have found a responsible libertarian campus publication most interesting - a positive injection into the discourse.

Thanks to "Northstar" we got to see a photo of the dead Trayvon Martin. What was the point? We got to see a full-page photo on Page 1 of a well-known feminist with a caption that poked fun at her appearance. How is this kind of commentary consistent in any way, shape or form with UMM's mission? And display stands were provided for this material on campus.

The issue with the picture of the feminist was current at the time of a UMM graduation. I noticed the display stands for Northstar were empty, so I wonder if administration realized they just could not allow all the visitors on campus to see such a crass front page.

Right now in winter of 2025, all the scary stuff from the political right wing has extended way beyond talk. Look at the headlines every day. Here's one this morning: "PBS caves to Trump, ousts staffers: 'We have closed our DEI office.' "

People "cave" because they have to. ABC News did it. CBS is apparently doing it now. On advice from lawyers, people capitulate for the most disturbing outcomes. People caved to Hitler during his rise in Germany. And is our UMN-Morris isolated, sort of immune from the bigger picture? Up until this year I would have been inclined to say yes.

"That's just the way it is" and "life will go on just fine."

However, I don't think the situation was "just fine" for UMM in the first place. It's hard to get enrollment information that you can really count on. Are we relying on PSEO kids for a lot of it? High school students? Is this system being "milked."

As Jim McRoberts once taught me, "figures lie and liars figure." OK that's a little hyperbolic because I don't wish to accuse anyone of lying. Our public school teachers union may make such public accusations about our school board - right there in the public print - but I'm hesitant to do so. Well it's crass.

I'll just say we have to understand human nature, how it's human to pull all strings to advocate for an institution that you rely upon.

We might wince when hearing the word "woke" again, but UMM is most certainly woke.

Am I "woke?" Not sure that's the issue. The issue that I am seeking to present here is that the most extreme, intense right wing forces have totally won in America. We now see their wrecking ball on full display. Do you dispute me on this?

So instead of being upset with what the Steve Sviggums of the world have to say about UMM, we must deal with reality. Reality is the only currency that matters now. The outside world is not willing to hear UMM's lecture about tolerance of so much any more. The outside world has decided that the Republican Party owns our congressional district now, this after years of having Collin Peterson as our representative.

For whatever reason, things have changed. They have changed so much, my Lutheran church is in a synod that is under siege. It is under siege from at the top of America's power structure. The news articles of the past few days show that the newly-emboldened people mean business.

I'd like to say some of it is bluster - blowing off steam or whatever. It clearly is not. Michael Flynn is going to work on the Lutheran church. Our congressperson Michelle Fischbach does not hesitate one speck associating herself completely with the Republican power brokers. Yes she is "all-in."

And we used to vote Democratic here to a certain extent? Chuck Brown was our representative. Jay McNamar was the last gasp for the Democrats before the Republicans really arrived with their bulldozer, Jeff Backer. Wow! He didn't even choose to get a covid vaccination shot. Well that's what he told Marshall Hoffman of the radio station back when the station had a reliable news department.

I'm sitting here feeling again like the only sane person in an episode of "The Twilight Zone" where everyone around me has gone mad.

Has this whole devolved situation come about because of gay rights? Was that the catalyst? Don't let that issue destroy our whole quality of life. Gays can have their place in the world while at the same time being told to knock if off with so much gay activism. UMM was at fault with that, coming off as rather a flag-waver for gay activism.

I thought UMM's purpose was to guide young people to their future through rigorous studies. Whither UMM in this "brave new world" defined by Donald Trump and the anti-DEI forces.

Steve Sviggum

Look, I don't dislike Steve Sviggum. The late Merlin Beyer would probably say of the guy he was like "a bear with boxing gloves."

UMM has absolutely waved the flag for "diversity." Me? I am much more inclined toward the "melting pot" philosophy for America. There is a schism there. Academic people once decided they didn't like the melting pot because it was dull for them. It merely suggests we should all blend together. How do you teach classes on that?

"Diversity" is complicated, probably calls for programs like affirmative action. This is what the "Northstar" publication hated so much. These kids practically lost their minds. Campus decorum was shattered. I was disappointed that Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson even talked about the First Amendment.

In the long run UMM will have to take care of its own interests, just like ABC News, CBS News and PBS. The people who challenged Hitler ended up being shot.

Further reading!

My Feb. 5 post on my "Morris of Course" blog site includes a photo of my late father directing a rehearsal of the UMM orchestra in the 1960-61 school year. Yes that was UMM's very first year. I invite you to read further reflections and observations by yours truly. Here's the link, oh and God bless.

https://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2025/02/as-pk-i-look-back-on-u-of-m-morris.html