Turnbull turns from UMM to the high school!

Scott Turnbull

We can announce a new athletic director for Morris Area High. Maybe I should say "MACA." This is certainly big news: the new person comes from the UMM athletic staff. Name is Turnbull, Scott Turnbull. We hope he sets high standards for the MACA Tiger programs. 

He replaces a guy who was not here long. A friend informed me that Blake Karas was "poached" by Minnewaska Area, basically just down the road from us. And the reason? A person who seemed in good position to know answered my query by rubbing a couple of his fingers together. Yes, money! Makes the world go 'round I guess. 

But I wish this Karas fellow had relocated further away. Now he'll be a constant reminder of how $ compensation might be an issue here with the Motown school. 

Someone shared with me the theory that "Republicans on the school board are the problem." That's one person's thoughts. I actually wouldn't presume to know the political affiliation of board members. However I might suspect. I suppose such souls would approve of salary hikes grudgingly. Who knows? We certainly have seen a veritable parade of school staff making aggrieved presentations to the board. 

I'll bet these people were totally satisfied on the day when they were first hired. But things go south pretty fast I guess. 

It is true that inflation hovers ever more as a specter. A restaurant in Morris came out with new menus last week. "New menus" are presented with a wink: "higher prices." And so one of my preferred breakfasts there has gone from $13.04 to $14.58. I used to bring a $20 bill and four pennies there. Then I tipped with $2. But we have to wonder now if $2 is even going to be enough for a tip. If my new norm is going to be $3, do I want to deal with $1 bills so much? Answer quite probably is "no." 

So the solution is: lean on the plastic cards nearly 100 percent. I was getting to that point anyway. These changes happen slowly. I feel uncomfortable now when handling paper money and coins anywhere. As a young person I'd very often tip with mere "coins." Leave them on the table. I remember that getting phased out, was hard to accept at first. And I found that leaving paper money on a table was a problem because the table might have wet spots. 

Every so often we see a commentary about how the whole custom of tipping in America has become questionable. Good points are made. Again, change happens slowly. Inflation pushes forward as the Federal Reserve is under constant pressure to keep interest rates low. Well, to cut interest rates actually, cut interest rates and set the stage for more inflation. How do you feel about that? 

So is this what makes our Morris teaching staff so restless? Inflation? They sure do confront our school board with no inhibitions. I was surprised by the assertiveness of the football coach in doing this. He must have complete job security. However, I wonder about the future of football because of our school adding boys soccer. 

And wouldn't you know, our new athletic director Scott Turnbull comes from soccer! Soccer at UMM! Is this coincidence? Is he going to be our first high school soccer coach? Will the school be real fired-up making soccer a strong sport right away? And if so, whither football? Whither football, that truly dangerous sport? I wonder if adding soccer is a way for attracting new students to our school. 

Turnbull was UMM's head soccer coach. His resignation at UMM is effective May 19. Turnbull actually has a background that includes football. He was placekicker for the Cougars in the '90s. But he grew up playing soccer in his native Manitoba, Canada. 

The UMM website informs us that he began his coaching career with the new UMM women's soccer program in 1998. I remember that well. No one at the Morris paper asked me to collect coverage material on the new program. I made the decision myself. I hope that the old press clippings of my work will be like a valued museum piece. I remember the goalie named Katie Riba. 

I did interviews with the coach, a fellow last name of DeVries. I really did not get good vibes from him on a personal level. But he did the interviews and I was excited to do the work. Was the UMM website even established yet? If it was, it was surely in limited, nascent form. 

The early days of the Internet showed many sites in just potential form. They had to look great because in previous times there was no such thing. Most sites in the web 1.0 days were like fixed billboards. They surely looked nice especially to people like me who grew up without the 'Net. The key for progress was going to be interactivity. Bring on web 2.0! 

I have read that the onset of web 2.0 was the real death knell for newspapers. The UMM website of today is 100 percent impressive. So I do not understand why the Morris newspaper (or what is left of it) has to fill its sports link with UMM news. I think it's almost humorous. MACA barely turns up there and if it does, the coverage is stale/old. 

Obviously the paper is desperate to keep trying to sell us their print version which only comes out once a week: totally unsatisfactory. Totally. 

I wonder if Turnbull is going to take a close look at how the MACA programs are covered in the media. Might he make a push to get MACA included again in the West Central Tribune's coverage territory? We have been out of that for maybe 3-4 years. Jackson Loge could not be a nominee for "All Area." 

Here's an idea: Maybe Turnbull could make a push for more MACA sports material showing up on social media. Somehow. The world wide web can accommodate anything. Surely you'd agree, Mr. Turnbull. 

My goodness, has Turnbull been the head UMM men's soccer coach for 14 seasons? Where does the time go? I left the Morris newspaper 18 years ago. That makes me realize: I left the paper at the time our MAHS graduates of '24 were just getting born! 

These grads include Kaylee Harstad who is my Saturday morning server at DeToy's Restaurant. She is so capable and friendly. She was a Tiger basketball standout but I personally thought she did not realize her full potential here. She's a center/post type of player. I have long thought our girls basketball program under-achieves. It'll have a new coach next year: Justin Daly. Who knows how he will do? The great mystery of sports I guess. "That's why they play the game," the great sportscaster Chris Berman says. 

It'll be fun seeing all the games unfold for MACA starting next fall. I hope football fades as soccer gets its footing. 

I was happy to present a graduation card to Ms. Harstad Saturday at DeToy's! It's fun to still feel a little connection to MACA sports doings. I'll never let go of that. Oh, I included a $20 bill. I guess $20 doesn't go as far as it used to.

Hey, Caitlin Clark had a good game on Saturday! She is the definition of "fresh air" in our U.S. culture of now. Blots out the "hush money trial," or it ought to.

Addendum: It is appropriate for a Williams to have special devotion to "first things" at UMM, such as the then-new women's soccer program. I was a self-starter in covering it for the Morris Sun Tribune. It's appropriate that us Williams family members pay attention to groundbreaking things. My father established music at UMM and was the only music faculty in the institution's first year. Would you believe, no women's athletics then? Basketball was played at a facility like what we saw in the movie "Hoosiers." Heady times. Really satisfying times in their own way. But no organized women's sports!

Why would Chris DeVries be unpleasant for me to work with? Probably because he heard negative things from Brian Curtis. And why would Curtis speak ill of me? Probably because of negative things he heard from Mike Martin. Yes, I'm the proverbial guy who "knows where all the bodies are buried" in this community.

 

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

Another breeze with a school referendum?

Our heart and soul, right?

Next week is when we send our MAHS seniors beyond their local public school experience. It is such an abrupt transition. After years and years of being beholden to the public school rules and standards, it simply ends. 

How often in your life have you been asked if you have a high school diploma? Or to prove you have one? Do you even have the physical document in a place you'd remember? 

There is another school referendum on the horizon. Shall we assume it will breeze right through? That has been typical in recent decades. So automatic. The whole landscape for such things must be profoundly different from when I was young. I have been in Morris since the start of the '60s, and it was nothing short of agonizing for a long time to get a school referendum passed. There was the notorious proposal that included a pool. 

KCMT TV sent a reporter here to interview some students. I believe they were seated cross-legged in the grass outside. Sad to reflect on the sense of division that arose in our otherwise peaceful community. I remember one of the kids telling the TV person "people just don't know what they are doing when they vote no." 

I experienced "split shifts" here in Motown. That term alien for you? Morrissites of my vintage will readily remember, I presume. The "shifts" scheme was to accommodate a shortage of space and facilities to handle us all. Such were the student numbers, we had the grades 1-3 elementary school in west Morris. It was let go for school purposes long ago. The name "Longfellow" is still on the front. I am reminded on those Sundays when I attend Faith Lutheran which is across the street. 

Imagine a schoolyard there full of kids. I don't even have to close my eyes to remember. I was in Mrs. Peterson's third grade class when word came of JFK's assassination. I remember her being called into the commons area briefly. She returned with the grim demeanor of having learned of tragedy. I don't remember if we were excused immediately. 

I do remember that for the next several days, "TV news" really came at us as a major institution. It found its legs. My father and I were watching live when Oswald was shot. Dad was seated on a hassock very close to the TV, me on the davenport. 

The image of Longfellow with its burgeoning youth population surely fades. We have been through a lot since then. Whereas conflict over school referendums has almost disappeared, this isn't to say there cannot be conflict. In fact my first ten years of being a full-time employee of the newspaper seemed almost a nightmare. That time period concluded with a mess of controversy and conflicts. 

Why the intensity of the conflict? You might say it was a philosophical conflict and these can be nasty by their nature. A well-known local citizen and sports parent informed me of the surrounding small towns having an "unbelievably negative" view of the Morris school. I won't type his name here but he was a respected person. I'm not talking about Morris' periodic mayor of that era, a fine person but who grated on many within the school system. 

The source who I cite said the perception of Morris extracurricular was that it was being managed "like an extension of phy ed class." Nothing terribly disastrous about phy ed class I suppose. But when you sign up to be in extracurricular sports, there is a model you have to accept. Like it or not, the system is set up to reward winners and to leave losers feeling disconsolate. Lose in the post-season and you're done. Win and you get showered with attention and trophies. 

That's pretty graphic. And real. 

At present things look basically fine. Little issues inevitably arise now and then. I think that with all the attention showered on women's basketball now, standards for judging teams will get nudged higher. I feel our girls basketball team has been under-performing but we'll see with the new coach next year. 

I have expressed skepticism about the softball complex as a facility. I feel its accommodations for fans are grossly insufficient. Just an opinion. Maybe the idea is to just watch on YouTube. 

I wonder if our newspaper gets pressure to try to upgrade what it does on its website. I mean for sports updates. I'll eat my hat if they don't get complaints about this. The print version comes out only once a week. Check the website and it's almost devoid of MACA sports updates. Plenty of UMM, that's for sure. If I was still at the paper and had to answer for this, I'm certain I would be dealing with explosive anger. 

A former MAHS administrator was known to vent quite badly over alleged shortcomings. He insisted that a Tuesday game absolutely had to be covered in full in Thursday's paper. It's harder than you think. We were trying to cover a lot of ground. 

How much do people care now? 

Well there's another school referendum upcoming. The magic date is August 13. Hey, right around fair time! That puts everyone in a good mood? A mood for spending? Are y'all getting more concerned about inflation? I realize that virtually any referendum is a slam dunk for passage here these days. 

You must remember that school representatives can always cite a list of reasons for needing more money. They act incredulous if you try to challenge any of this. It won't matter for August 13 because I'm sure this will be another vote that passes routinely. It has been the norm in Morris for a long time. Fewer people are around who remember the '60s. We can theorize that back then, too much money had to be provided locally as opposed to getting boosts from the state. 

Didn't Wendell Anderson's "Minnesota Miracle" do the turnaround on this? Poor Wendell, his political career suddenly crashed and burned when he appointed himself to the Senate. No redemption after that. He became such a total has-been, he had to settle for accepting a spot on the U of M board of regents. A similar scenario happened with long-time high-profile legislator Dean Johnson who got in trouble with the state's supreme court. Who was telling the truth in that matter? I actually think it's a good bet that Johnson was telling the whole truth. But one of the robed people had apparently said something out of school that wasn't meant to go public. So the court had no choice but to "deny." 

The rest is history with Johnson landing on the regents. An "island of misfit toys?" Well that's an exaggeration I guess. 

I personally would like to see the Minnesota legislature do more hands-on supervision of the state's higher education. Instead they delegate to people who can be "glory hounds." Remember Jesse Ventura going back and forth with Yudof when Yudof was U president? There is nothing wrong with playing a little hardball with the education types. 

I once read that your typical resident of an outstate Minnesota community views the local public school as a "money pit." 

So our school at present wants to improve various things. Well of course they do. So we'll vote yes. At the same time, we have an aggrieved faculty. Pay and benefits not good enough, they assert. 

We hardly knew ye, Blake

We have lost our activities director to rival Minnewaska. Huh? Sharon Martin has resigned. I heard the Hancock band director is leaving for BBE. I hear the C-A band director resigned even though she has tenure. I don't know the entire backstory but the situation seems unsettled. 

We have a rock with our Morris band program, Ms. Dagen. I think she'll want to continue directing here for as long as she can stand on the podium. I'm sorry I missed her ice cream concert on Monday. Sometimes I worry about being present at school activities as an older man (getting older continually) with no known family connection to the school. I'm not a grandparent. Maybe I was just in a bad mood. I'm sure the concert was wonderful. 

I remember photographing Principal Bill Kehoe when he was a C-A Spartan.

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

Sun shining, no protests for graduation

(Instagram image)

We certainly were blessed by nice weather for the UMM graduation. That is always the first hurdle to get past for our august institution. Seems that too often, festivities have been forced inside. So the sun was out and everyone's mood was buoyed on Saturday. 

I could cite another hurdle the institution had to get past. Would there be protests here in connection with the Israel/Gaza thing? Or Israel/Gaza tragedy? Will our USA actually release a ton of money so Israel with its iron-fisted leader can commit genocide? You know what Israel needs? Or let's just say it would help: a woman leader. Well, Indira Gandhi was no shrinking violet. 

I saw no sign of protest on our UMM campus yesterday. Seemed as if there was overriding joy. 

UMM made it to the end of the academic year without the kind of disastrous headlines that came for St. Cloud State recently. And it's not as if this was the first-ever batch of dreary headlines for the school in the dead center of the state. SCSU is in a vital city in the direct center of the state but it is under siege with shrinkage. 

UMM? Is it safe to say we survived the flurry of controversy caused by the Steve Sviggum remarks? You know, Steve Sviggum, an old elder statesman of Minnesota politics who had fallen into a regents' role like some other (washed-up) well-known Minnesota pols? Wendell Anderson? Dean Johnson? And then Mr. Sviggum who said the Morris campus might have "too much diversity?" 

Many of us knew what Sviggum meant or what he was getting at. But holy cow, what a bear with boxing gloves in choosing how to express himself. A few weeks later we got the headlines that he had "resigned." Our media needed some coaching on precision with reporting, n'est-ce pas? Sviggum had only resigned as Regents vice-chair. He did not resign from the body. I was aware of people having been confused by that. 

The Regents' chair at the time was this fellow last name of Powell. Powell at the meeting in question certainly should have prompted Sviggum to "clarify" what he said. Heh heh.

Kristi Noem is being prompted to clarify her recollections about whether she did or did not meet with the North Korean dictator. So pathetic: she just dodges by suggesting that the media is "after her" by asking. It is harder for Noem to clear up the story about her dog.

We can never rule out that the South Dakota governor is still included for consideration as GOP VP pick. Never. And it does not even matter that the presumptive presidential pick has criticized her harshly. That's because logic has nothing to do with what is happening in the GOP today. It's as irrational as you can possibly imagine. So what is America's education system doing for us? When you consider what Trump did his first time around and what he'll do next time? When you consider his basic image as it comes through in the media? 

Our churches will be filled today (Sunday) with people who are blindly loyal to the Orange Man. They will see him as an extension of their faith. This does not apply to three churches in Morris: my church of First Lutheran, Faith Lutheran and Federated. As for the others, I think the situation has been sad. Are the parents asking their children to say a prayer to Donald Trump before they go to bed? I wonder. 

But can I vote for Biden? Would be hard to do especially if he keeps approving measures to support Israel. Times have changed and Biden has missed the boat. I totally admire the Jewish people - the people - while I seek to condemn the Jewish state of Israel. Am I among those who feel Israel does not have the right to exist? Not as a religious state anyway? Yes. We may be headed toward laws in this country that would make this opinion an exception to the First Amendment. I wonder how this would be enforced. 

Many of the Palestinians are Christian. Shouldn't the U.S. evangelicals show greater caring for them? But I guess the hardcores view Israel as the fulfilling of Biblical prophecy. 

 

We've lost the band

UMM graduation is not what it used to be. The musical element has fallen off of course. There is literally no UMM band. We always used to take the band for granted for graduation. 

A choir was present Saturday to sing the Star Spangled Banner. That's a tough song to sing: a too-wide vocal range. I was present and it appeared there was a vocal group doing a number after the degrees were presented. It was a low-key tune and I didn't see the regular UMM choir director. Of course I don't know all the details about what goes on at UMM these days. 

I was pleased with the weather and pleased there was no protest disruption. Even if I agreed with the protest, this would not be the time and place. I sensed a definite atmosphere of joy and celebration - what graduation is all about. 

I began my day at the mid-morning brunch at the dining hall. A very nice buffet-style meal for $12. Thanks. I did not see a single person I knew. I have really fallen out of the Morris social orbits. Whether it's the rich folks or poor folks - "Po' Folk" according to the singer Bill Anderson - I just don't know many people any more. 

My sense of isolation continued into the actual ceremony. The big exception was when the opening processional happened and Sandy Olson-Loy saw me and extended a greeting. Thanks for that. A volunteer offered me a chair to sit on. Thanks for that. 

Frankly I am starting to get tired of the Native American ritual chanting and drumming. Someone told me this was featured at Veterans Day too. I take a risk in opining anything negative about this. Native Americans are a big part of what UMM stands for now. 

I'm not sure the trappings of the old traditional Indian way of life need to be trotted out so much. The Indians were not such a peace-loving people in the days before the "foreigners" came, were they? I listen to the chants with drums and it sounds to me like a "war chant." A blood-curdling war chant. 

I'm sure UMM advocates will say we need sensitivity to all cultures. That's one way of looking at it, but only one way. The alternative way? The alternative way would be with the term "melting pot." We have our ideals and we all learn to blend together in a benevolent contemporary culture with shared values. There was a time when the melting pot attitude almost took over in America. But in academia, the enthusiasm wasn't so great. 

Academia felt the melting pot was too easy a concept to understand. And academic people are not paid to say things are simple. They are paid to suggest that everything is so tough, hence the need for "professors." 

Surely there will be fewer professors at St. Cloud State now. It's impossible not to think that the SCSU nightmare as it were could come here. 

Jeff Ettinger

I wonder what all this Ettinger fellow has stored in the back of his mind - his knowledge about what likely is down the road for the U. Ettinger gave a good enough speech Saturday. He's the interim president of the U. Noise from a flagpole was a problem as the wind came up. 

 

Cinema scene

I remember the movie "Taps" in which the head of the military school announced the school's impending closure at graduation. Remember George C. Scott? I had a wild fantasy for a moment that Ettinger would do the same on Saturday. "It is with a heavy heart" etc. 

Well it certainly did not happen. The possibility has to be entertained when one considers what is happening in St. Cloud. You'd think the State of Minnesota would have a system that would obscure the drastic nature of cuts sometimes. Deflect attention, whatever. Instead the headlines seemed to scream "all hell is breaking loose." 

But it hasn't happened in Morris, yet. We haven't seen the "smoke signals" yet - an apt way of putting it, based on our Native American flavor. 

The Native American Honor Song could be a tribute to UMM's present, whereas the "UMM Hymn" could be performed as a tribute to UMM's inception. I was present on the mall just like yesterday when UMM had its historic first graduation in 1964.

 

 Addendum: My favorite Indians were the ones in "F-Troop."

 

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

Re. stretch of highway on the north end

Perhaps we can make it official: yesterday (Wednesday) was the first day of the pleasant weather season. You can just tell. We have looked for hints previous to that but that's all they are: hints. Of course we are going to get some unseasonable weather - we always do, and in any season. 

And it's ironic that so many of us might be giddy now as pleasant weather truly becomes the norm. It's ironic because we should still be so thankful about our snowless winter. It was literally snowless until toward the end when we got a nice blanket that wasn't going to last long. 

A few years back I walked downtown because of an April snowfall that was heavy enough to block my driveway. Instead of dealing with that, I just left it alone knowing that the snow would be gone in short order. Hey, I can still walk and ride bike just fine. I may have had my 50th class reunion but I'm doing fine. As in, "fine, knock on wood." 

So in that April I just alluded to, I grab a late afternoon meal and then embark for home, on foot. You might say I made a "mistake" of walking on the shoulder of the highway on the north end of town. It's the highway in front of Homestead and Pizza Hut of course. 

I'm facing traffic as per proper procedure. 

We still had the pesky "Morris Police" back then. That entity has been abolished. It was often little more than a nuisance in this community. A cop car passed me, then did a U-turn to park along the shoulder facing me. Because he was in the way, I skipped over to the opposite shoulder. To be honest I wasn't sure his position there was to check me out. Not sure if that even crossed my mind. 

So I continue walking and the guy shouts "Where are you going?" Just like what would happen in an old communist bloc country. I am aware of the commonly-heard advice of "don't talk to the police." There is a lot of merit behind this axiom. 

Maybe I could have sent a message to the guy by raising my arms and saying "don't shoot." But I fear that that kind of behavior could just increase the odds that he would shoot. 

I walked across the highway looking left and right first, then told the guy I was walking "home. " I gestured up toward Northridge Drive. He claimed he was just concerned about my welfare. Wanting to appease him, I told him that if I was in the same situation the next morning, I'd walk into town using the city streets like East 7th. 

While we're on the subject of the highway on the north end of town, let me say that there's an issue along there. The posted speed limit is lower than for a standard open highway. But here's the problem: motorists coming from the east, from the direction of Cyrus, can seem stunned and not willing make make the adjustment. 

Back when I took driver's ed under Mr. Hesse, he told me about the sensation of feeling like you're "crawling" when you are forced to slow down from highway speed. When I was young the speed limits were higher. 

Frankly, people need to treat the highway out there on north end like it's somewhat of an "in-town" road. There are entry and exit points along the stretch of highway. Cars entering and exiting will be adjusting speed, at times driving slow. They need a few seconds to accelerate. And even then, these motorists might not be inclined to go at full highway speed. 

I have personally decided to no longer enter the highway from Iowa Avenue which is what I use when I head to town from Northridge Drive. Now I go straight over onto East 7th Street, the street next to the old school property with all the apartment developments. The old school property! With time you will seem dated if you refer to it that way. My goodness, maybe seems dated now? 

What a big playground we had there once. It's hard to imagine the big old school buildings now. What an "erector set" type of school design that turned out to be. The community just had to keep plowing money into it. In the end it was futile because of having to meet "codes." My, elevator added! No elevator when I was in school there. The grand main entry required you to go up a long flight of steps. 

The superintendent was Oscar Miller. He left Morris under some discomfort. Years later I had it explained to me that Mr. Miller who was real strong with PR and personality, had a fault of getting too cozy with the Morris bankers! Life has its minefields I guess. Heaven knows I have dealt with that. I got the explanation from the late Harold Luthi who was on the school board for a considerable time. 

The gym at the old school doubled as "auditorium" and it was substandard for basketball. The time came when Morris would absolutely have to let go of it. So the new digs opened in 1968. The new digs seemed such a tremendous step forward. 

Once again I'll use the word "ironic." It was ironic when the community decided we needed another new varsity basketball gym. That's the one we use now.

Looking back it seems strange that the '68 gym was built not quite big enough or wide enough. Just a few feet wider would have helped so much. Was there some engineering reason why that was not practical? Do you remember how fans were not allowed to go into the hallways and use the restrooms until halftime or after the game? People got turned away. 

I remember Truman Carlson as being sort of in charge. I think it was uncomfortable for him to turn away adults. Kids? Oh they could be pushed around quite readily. Today I hear that school personnel are walking on eggshells trying to discipline kids. Or as one of my friends puts it: "The kids walk all over the teachers now." I would not have minded growing up under that system. 

Teachers should not have been allowed to "give homework." Oh to live those years over again and just challenge teachers sometimes. But those were different times: teachers had a lot more leeway to be hostile with kids with discipline. I'd love to just tell some of them off anyway. "Look, what's it to you if I don't want to do your assignment on subject matter that is never going to matter to me? What's it to you?" 

My only goal would be to be "set free" at age 18. 

The "Pylin" of Morris!

When my family first came to Morris, East 7th Street was the main entry to the town from the east. High-traffic businesses like the neighborhood grocery store, "Pylin" drive-in and Dairy Queen were located along there. You might want to visit Lesmeister Motors to buy "Army surplus" stuff! Today, I think some motorists want to go a little too fast along East 7th. Why is everyone in so much of a hurry? 

Frankly, the day might not be far off when I just elect to use public transportation. 

We're in the pleasant weather season now. Hooray! UMM graduation on Saturday. High school graduation can't be far off. I was able to cover one MAHS graduation at the new gym. Cover it for the Morris newspaper of course. Just one. 

I remember when the 1991 gym opened and it was considered a big deal for maybe two weeks. Then it drifted into obscurity. The school people campaign for new funding all the time, but sometimes I wonder. And the teachers are complaining about their lot in life with their pay and benefits so bad, seems rather like a tragedy. 

Oh, and the school wants more money at the present time. Like crime, death and taxes. You have to follow the bouncing ball and sing along. 

Very strange: when I was a kid it seemed nearly impossible to get a school referendum passed here. It is legend. No make that reality. One proposal went down that had the famous "pool." 

Today? Seems like a slam-dunk for virtually any school referendum to pass. Strange. They don't even need my vote.

 

Addendum: Jim Morrison at the paper once wrote "are we trying to be the gymnasium capital of Western Minnesota?"

  

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

Will St. Cloud State cuts bleed to here?

Whistling past the graveyard? Is that what we're supposed to do here in Motown now? The big annual graduation is coming up this weekend at our beloved U of M-Morris, the "jewel in the crown." 

Jewel it may be, but just how sustainable is it? We might hope as we're whistling that the (assumed) mighty U of M has the influence to keep our campus viable and valuable. And, most importantly, to have the state money keep flowing here! Really it's that last part that deserves accent. 

Looks like our graduation speaker will be sort of a heavyweight. The guy has been president of the U but only on an interim basis. I was informed that he could not be considered for the permanent position. Has the new president actually taken over yet? I could look it up I'm sure. But one wonders how "permanent" these people can be. 

We had the president here for what seemed like a pretty short tenure, then it was off to Pittsburgh for her. Never again will I go out of my way to pay attention to a new U president. She came here from South Carolina, a school with the sports nickname "Gamecocks." Give them credit, their women's basketball team won the NCAA tournament. They beat the fabled Iowa women. 

As is my wont I digress. 

We maybe ought to be whistling past the graveyard here in Morris because of what is happening to another state-supported institution. You have to shake your head over this, and that's because every so often we get these sensational headlines about cuts and shrinkage at St. Cloud State University. 

So, I'm about to leave for Caribou Coffee this morning, not thinking about what if anything I'll write online today, and here's a news bulletin over the radio. I like listening to KFGO in the morning. So our Fargo friends told us that all hell is breaking loose at St. Cloud State again. 

A couple years ago it was a banner headline across the top of Page 1 in our flagship newspaper. Headline with a dreary and disastrous tone for the community located right in middle of state. "Dead center," according to a prof's suggested terminology, offered tongue in cheek. "Dead Center University" he called the hypothetical place which of course was not hypothetical. I had the class at Stewart Hall.

St. Cloud makes sense as a location for a publicly supported institution based on such location, wouldn't you say? I spent time there in my 20s, was fortunate they let me get a degree in 1978. I was a different person then and those were different times. I won't get into how I landed there or what I hoped to accomplish. But take a look at what is now happening once again at dear, beloved "Dead Center University." 

Holy cow. The school that couldn't even keep its football program, this after having a fancy new facility built there in 2004, is facing the proverbial scythe. Again. With what long-term outcome? 

We all know that our campus in Morris deals with many of the same issues creating headwinds. I have heard this from well-placed people but we could easily surmise it anyway. So what might be the upshot for UMM? We will certainly hear no hints of doomsaying from this Ettinger fellow who will speak here Saturday. 

Jeff Ettinger

At the P.E. Center or outside? One is almost inclined to bet on the indoor location. We have fallen into that situation on numerous occasions like last year. So last year I arrived at the P.E. place and inquired about getting a souvenir program. Such a routine assumption that there would be a program. So I'm made to feel like an inadequate human being by being told I'd have to use my "smartphone." I'm not into that. I'm hopeless. 

I then failed to notice any band music as a dramatic backdrop for the festivities. Well, no band either, not even at this four-year school that has a music major. I later hear excuses about this. I'm supposed to just understand, just like someday we'll be made to "understand" that UMM is experiencing indefinite closure. Yes we'd be in league with the Appleton prison. 

I smile: remember the strong rumors that were afoot when the Appleton prison was going to serve as this major treatment center for covid? Rumors so strong we might have been inclined to accept it as fact? Well, people were panicking. My mind raced to wonder if a south wind might blow the virus here. Yes, I was assured that would not happen. 

I had to go home from a UMM Homecoming concert because - guess what? - I "forgot my mask." Ah, the days of forgetting one's mask. Eventually places like libraries and medical clinics had masks available at the entry at all times. UMM did not do that on the day of the Homecoming concert. I'm prepared to write it off as small potatoes. 

 

Confirmation

I got home from Caribou Coffee this morning and did a news check follow-up on the St. Cloud State news. Sure enough, blaring headlines (again). It really seems like all hell is breaking loose (again). We might be tempted to chuckle some at the redundancy. 

For many years, many of us were inclined to chuckle at mention of St. Cloud State for a different reason. It was a party school right up near the top of the list. Homecoming got so out of control with alcohol-drenched behavior, it eventually had to be cancelled. I remember a newspaper columnist being incredulous about this. Problems, maybe, but to outright cancel Homecoming? It just isn't done. 

St. Cloud State Homecoming got so out of hand that the state's media began seeking police blotter info right after the event each year. What a reputation to have cultivated for your school. Some people described the raucous observance as "riots," I mean with stuff like lighting dumpsters on fire. 

Not funny? We wouldn't think so today. But you must remember, there was a time when social drinking was quite approved. Minnesota lowered the drinking age at the exact time I left high school. Why? The best suggested answer was that if boys could serve in the military and face the prospect of death in places like Vietnam, we'd better allow kids down to the age of 18 full adult rights and privileges. 

My reaction would be "why did the U.S. get involved in Vietnam?" I wanted to ask that question when I was in fifth grade. It's tough to fight John Wayne and Merle Haggard. Actually Haggard's song "Okie From Muskogee" was originally written as satire. It was taken seriously! There was a theme of looking down on all the young protesters. Ah, irresponsible kids who don't appreciate the need to "fight for other people's freedom." Well, I wasn't about to sign up to support the ridiculously corrupt government of "South Vietnam." 

We lost the war. The main reason we had to get out was that we were killing our own colonels. Charlton Heston was full of sheep-dip. 

The football-less St. Cloud State is facing major budget cuts now to programs and faculty to address a budget deficit. New verse to the quite-old song. The school's administrators recommended discontinuing 46 of the university's 136 degree programs! Criminal justice? I remember that being a popular major back in the day. 

Economics? That's on the list too. 

"Sociology?" Well hooray for that cut. It's about time. Did you ever take "Sociology 101?" I made a comment about that course one day at McDonald's, whereupon someone who I did not know came over and complimented me on it. Our society can move forward without the "sociology major." It really can. 

SCSU also proposes cutting 50 of 85 minor degrees. "American Indian studies" is on cut list. I'm surprised they use the term "Indian." The Native American emphasis is quite ensconced at our UMM - free tuition for the Native kids. But I'm not sure for how much longer that would be practicable. I would think the Supreme Court's ruling against affirmative action could have repercussions for the UMM policy. 

Unless the policy is based on a treaty agreed to over a peace pipe - just kidding - I would think the policy has an uncertain footing. The late State Senator Charlie Berg of these parts once joked about Natives sending "smoke signals" about something. 

SCSU is looking at 57 faculty positions being cut. 

I wonder how the UMM faculty is holding up under what I presume to be similar headwinds. Can the legacy strength of the U of M bail us out, keep us viable? Can we start to outpace "Dead Center University?" We'll see. 

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to the morning brunch at the dining hall at UMM on Saturday. I'll see about staying for the graduation. Would be nice to hear the "UMM Hymn" from the days when the institution was young and celebrating its role of serving the youth of West Central Minnesota. Somehow the priorities got altered.

 

Addendum: From an email I sent to a friend this morning:

 

I read a comment online recently that the state should close Bemidji State, St. Cloud State and U of M-Morris!! The campus could be closed like the Appleton prison which of course was going to be the big covid treatment center. And I was worried if a south wind might bring the virus here!!!!

Let me add: these old buildings on our campus like the two barn structures are supposed to have nostalgic value in connection to the WCSA. Let me just opine that I don't think the WCSA nostalgia counts for anything any more. That small barn with the "barn quilts" is such a small building, probably just used for storage. They could have a nice new steel building instead.

- BW

 

Addendum #2: Quote in the news this morning: "Let's get together again, honey bunch." Who said it?

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

A reprieve this morning from pro-MAGA

We continue to be blood-red out here with our political complexion. I can't fully explain it but I just adjust to it. I won't give up trying to understand it. 

Was relieved this morning not to hear any of the usual Democrat-bashing talk at DeToy's Restaurant. This emanates from the middle section. The restaurant will probably never be open in evenings again. Businesses cut back when people had to adjust their behavior dramatically due to covid. Lately, though, there has been an encouraging resurgence in our normal lifestyle. We appear to be quite uninhibited making our normal (old) rounds. 

And so this sense got reinforced for me as I attended the spring band concert at MAHS. It was the concert of grades 5-8. The audience size was impressive, in line I felt with the pre-covid norms. Man is a social organism. We like getting together with others. Covid forced a drastic adjustment for many of us. Some people thought that some of the changes could become permanent. "Worship where you are" for example. And it's a nice choice to have. 

Really, though, I think most people gravitate to the real thing, not to experience it from the screen of your Internet device. Everyone knows what "Zoom" is now. It was once just a word indicating rapid acceleration. 

The concert hall at MAHS was indeed alive and hopping on Thursday evening. Band has become my personal priority for supporting at the school. I keep an eye on sports, so it was significant to see recently the addition of boys soccer to the school's offerings. I am assuming it will be a fall sport. To maybe draw some boys away from football? Maybe so. Hopefully so. 

Wouldn't it be a sea change to see football challenged for its very existence? But wouldn't it make total sense? 

Think of the money and effort that went into having Big Cat Stadium constructed.  Yes it was a big deal. Could the field there be converted to soccer? Enriching as the sport is, could it ever draw as many fans? There are already soccer fields established on the UMM campus. Those are UMM facilities, not combined with the public school. 

Am I drastic in suggesting that football might fade away? It's not drastic to consider IMHO. When it comes to parents caring for the welfare of their sons, the commitment is pretty robust. Basic health? Cognitive health? Just thought I'd mention it, and I've never even been a father. Having never been a father means I have never been through yearning for my son to get his "male creds" by playing football and being on a "winning team." 

As if anyone would remember several years later how that team did. One thing you would remember: if your son got drafted and sent to Vietnam. Was football made big as a sport as sort of a model or laboratory to bring young men along to learn the proper military discipline? To take risks for feeling pain? Sometimes intense pain? 

Football has continued over the last 15 years in spite of all the news coming out about the price paid for playing it. Eventually the fathers will learn to prioritize this consideration over the "fulfillment" they might have gotten seeing their sons in uniform with helmet. A game that requires a helmet is just too much. Or let me put it this way once again: any game that is too rough for girls to play is too rough for everyone. 

Girls can handle the basic skills of all sports 100 percent fine. Isn't that being demonstrated as we speak with women's basketball? Girls were totally deprived when I was growing up. We have progressed to where today, I'd assert that girls have it better than boys. They do not play football. I see where they have filtered into wrestling. In the past I have written that girls were fortunate not to be in wrestling. That's because of the temptation of unreasonable weight loss. The sport is trying to address that. 

I noticed this past winter that Tiger wrestling does now include girls. I sure hope they aren't forced into the same position as the boys over time immemorial: losing weight to a fault. 

We're early in the spring sports season as I write this. Winter along with early spring have seemed mild and mostly this is true, but conditions have been so cool, gray and wet lately. Spring winds can be a downer. 

In the past I have lobbied for an "inflatable cover" for Big Cat Field. They have this exact thing at St. Cloud State and it seems like an incredible resource there. Is the Morris campus just deprived by comparison? Don't see why that should be the case. We're part of the mighty U of M. That's why the MIAC never wanted to let us in "in the old days." We always had the potential resources to dominate. 

This spring of 2024 has been marked by the very dark background in the behavior of our U.S. president from 2016 to 2020. The headlines come at us daily. Whereas, we should be focusing on the normal legitimate political issues, six months before an election. And this is what we'd be doing if it was Biden vs. Haley. 

But instead the MAGA movement looms as large and as ominous as ever. We really truly could fall into an autocratic form of government. If it happens, so-called rural America will be largely responsible. That's us out here in West Central Minnesota. 

An amazing transformation has happened. People out here were content for a long time living with a true two-party system. You could be on one side and keep your friends on the other side. I find now that if you're not clearly MAGA, you risk putdowns of a totally personal and insulting nature. 

And it's not as if those pointing fingers have really researched issues. It's not as if they can discuss the particulars of anything. As soon as they see something that seems "liberal," they pile on with anger. They make ad hominem attacks. They are not interested in a detailed discussion of anything. They just engage in flag-waving for "their guy." Then they attack the "Dems" or the "libs" with fun-poking comments. 

If you try to confront them, they might just smile. 

Collin Peterson was a "Dem" and he tried avoiding the "lib" tag. The red staters in the end would not be convinced about that. Peterson seemed even to want to escape the Democratic Party at the end. This was profoundly disappointing for yours truly to see. If he really felt that way he should have formally severed himself from the Democratic Party. 

So it's a one-party thing out here in the windswept hinterlands now. And in the spring of 2024, we have gotten lots of windy days. 

And we have a new political face coming at us, last name of Boyd. He makes clear that he believes "life begins at conception." So you know where he's headed with that. Has he made a statement on the concept of the "nationwide abortion ban?" 

Do y'all realize that any miscarriage is a spontaneous abortion? So, do you realize how complicated these matters get? Well no, many of you don't. Maybe there's hope in the sense that you really can object to a puppy-killer being a leader of your party. Maybe. But I still would not rule out Noem being Trump's VP selection. 

Trump is all about cruelty. It has been said that "everything Trump touches dies." So whither the United States of America? You don't think this is important? 

This Boyd fellow is challenging incumbent Republican Congressperson Michelle Fischbach from the right. Amazing. Fischbach has been so sympathetic to MAGA, she voted against certifying the 2020 election results. Even though, the certification process was set up from the get-go as a formality. 

Do Republicans really want the presidential election to be Federalized? For truly "big government" to take over? I thought they were against that. 

Trump should be trying to win in the marketplace of ideas. That is the last thing he could consider doing. All these recent headlines about tawdry, scandalous behavior, brought about by what? By Trump getting a hard-on when looking at photos of Daniels and McDougal, then wanting to use his power, wealth and celebrity to get in the sack with them. And it's because of that we are being dragged through the current endless news updates. Updates from a courtroom in New York City? And MAGA is fighting our very legal process? 

Trump tries to de-legitimize our very legal system? Simply because New York State "leans blue" in its orientation? So does Minnesota on the whole. If red vs. blue ever breaks out in a true civil war, we had better hope blue wins. But we out here in rural West Central Minnesota are blood-red, just fanatically pro-MAGA with a good chance of giving a majority to Steve "Life Begins at Conception" Boyd. 

Steve Boyd

As of this morning, I heard no fanatical pro-Trump talk or insulting talk vs. Democrats at DeToy's. The notorious "middle section" between the hours of about 8 and 10. One might almost shudder sometimes. 

I mentioned to a friend there one morning - a "counter" friend - that the MAGA types there likely receive a fair amount of government support even though they are so fond of attacking "big government.." 

My friend's response: "They take more than anyone."

  

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

UMM forges ahead with 2024 graduation

There is a UMM musical performance at the public library tonight (Wednesday, May 1). I see where the concert choir will perform at graduation. A commencement program is available to be read online. I would guess that paper programs will not be distributed on graduation day. Last year's graduation was paperless this way. We were told we had to access the program with our smartphones. 

Some of us have a hard time keeping up with all this. 

I didn't stick around last year because I was shocked to hear "Pomp and Circumstance" played as a mere recording. For seemingly time immemorial the UMM band handled this. Unfortunately many of us took this for granted. We might assess the band and choir on their performance. But we took their presence for granted. Looks like the choir will adorn this year's graduation. 

Memory tells me that UMM has a poor track record with weather for graduation day. With periodic exceptions, weather has been an issue. So we have seen graduations indoors like last year. I was present long enough to make that observation. I have since called the graduation the "low-budget graduation." 

I have heard the excuse that it's tough trying to require the musicians to show up for graduation. Well it wasn't in the past.

 

A previous chapter

I personally played French horn in the UMM band for a few months in the late 1960s. I remember being in the band for a nice outdoor graduation ceremony. I was only asked to play because of a shortage of French horn players. I seem to recall there was just one. I remember the guy but don't remember his name. 

Rich Meiss and Bonnie Dunnum (later Drinkwitz) were in band at the time. Bonnie was a student director. My experience there coincided with the peak of campus unrest over the Vietnam war. My, how those memories might come back, now that we look at the headlines about the campus protests. 

Nostalgia? That's an improper word because it suggests fond thoughts. Oh, we might be fond of the sense of moral commitment that so many young people on college campuses had in the '60s. 

The "real" RFK, RFK Sr.

Today we have what's called emotional distance from the really bad stuff of the '60s. We can watch the biopic about MLK and maybe get a little misty, being reminded of it all. Or the movie "Bobby" about RFK. That's the "real" RFK and not to be confused with what his son is doing now. RFK Jr. presents a puzzle as he has the pedigree and a lawyer's intelligence. And maybe on some or many issues, his positions are to be commended. But he certainly spells trouble in certain areas. 

I remember driving to Alexandria to see the movie "Bobby." I think it came and went, did not make a big splash. The movie did underscore the late RFK's stance on Vietnam. I remember being personally present at UMM for a couple of the "moratoriums" set up to confront the war. All opinions could be voiced but one could gather that the sessions were a vehicle for opposing the war. 

Was there a contrary position? If so, was it truly a "pro-war" position or just a more measured position? Maybe as in, "let's not do anything drastic." But of course many of us felt something drastic was needed. David Brinkley confronted LBJ on this. Vietnam was fundamentally LBJ's war. Did you notice that when his widow "Lady Bird" died, the media paid little more than token attention to the news? For a former First Lady? Well, my boomer generation had reached its prime of influence and we did not appreciate any reminders of the Vietnam war. 

Amazing: LBJ could have gone down as a hero based on his civil rights bulldozing. Did he push the war as a way of watching his own back? I mean, to signal to America's always-powerful conservative element that he wasn't a "softie," certainly not on "communism?" The boogeyman "communism" of the time. 

The memory of LBJ is certainly not revered today although it could be. It's not far off to make the same assertion about Richard Nixon. Why on Earth was Nixon worried about the 1972 election? The political center and left had more reach back then than today. Nixon wanted to position himself appropriately. Shrewd enough to campaign as a conservative, Nixon was not at all the raging conservative once he took office. He actually pushed for the creation of the EPA among other things. 

So the lesson is: "Nixon was more interested in power than in ideology." That lesson has not been learned by our USA president from 2016 to 2020. Amazing how that individual thought the whole nation really was receptive to banning abortion. Pro-life has been a rallying cry, yes. A call to arms for people who position themselves as far right and supremely "Christian." 

But of course the issue becomes hopelessly complicated, a black hole, sort of, once the over-arching protection of Roe vs. Wade is erased. The dog that caught the car? Quite. Other people beat me to that expression. 

There are many reasons to be scared of Donald Trump. I have become focused on just one. It is not abortion. Surely other people are going to handle that issue for me. Chris Matthews has said "liberalism always wins in the end." It sticks in my mind. Eventually women's rights which somehow coincides with "liberalism" are going to win out. Question is how much time it will take. Then life can go on as normal.

Life was reinstated to normal after Vietnam, as I was flabbergasted that our involvement there actually ended after all my growing-up years of being subjected to the news. Hey, we actually could leave Vietnam. Really! "Amnesty" came along in due time for those who had gone to lengths to avoid it. 

 

Keep eye on the ball

Well, my one prime issue that I implore with people at the present time is this: the specter of Donald Trump taking over the Federal Reserve. Surely you know his penchant for wanting to take over everything. He says what he means. If you don't believe that, maybe this blog post isn't for you. Maybe you should read the funnies. "Dagwood" still in there? 

Trump dictating what interest rates should be? Weighing what criteria? Maybe you aren't aware but the Fed has historically been depended on to make decisions that are sometimes bad in the short term but good (thank goodness) in the long term. Maybe we can use the expression "deferral of gratification." This is famously considered a trait of successful, wealthy people versus the "poor." 

Deferral of gratification. 

You think Trump understands that principle? Do you suppose he'd make decisions on interest rates based on what would work best for himself or his heirs staying in power? If you don't know how he is wired, well go read the funnies. "Li'l Abner" still in there? 

Low interest rates! Zero percent! Maybe negative! What a turn-on for Donald Trump. But with what consequences for the masses of ordinary Americans? Low interest of course pushes up inflation. I think we've had enough of inflation for a while. 

What if the economy collapses because of Trump's inflation? This would mean the very shattering of America. The country would no longer exist as it has. And so we're left to speculate about what would rise up in its place. Maybe give it back to the Indians!

 

Flashpoint of Israel

The focal point for the current campus disruptions is the Israel/Palestine thing. Some people would want me to say "Israel/Hamas." Well I think it's Israel/Palestine. Like many in my generation I am sick of hearing about strife involving Israel. I am totally on the same page as the late great reporter Helen Thomas. She said the Jews of Israel should just "go home. Go back to Europe." 

I 100 percent admire the Jews as a people, am awed by their intelligence and motivation. I am 100 percent against the nation/state of Israel. 

Hey, any talk of unrest on our UMM campus? I have not heard of any. Any possibility of graduation being disrupted? Have heard no talk. Then again, there is a very low level of activity on our campus. 

Let me explain how I came to attend the UMM moratoriums in the late '60s. I was only in about the eighth grade. It wasn't necessarily because I was such a committed citizen, although I was paying attention. It was because I reported to campus for band practice only to find it was cancelled due to the moratorium. I stuck around to take it in. Truly history. 

I do remember one UMM professor who seemed to be there as a contrarian relative to the students. I won't type his name in case I were to have trouble reconstructing his comments. Many of those at Edson Hall were not pleased with the man. But the forum was open. There were always certain people ready to counter the students. 

Today there are those willing to fight for "pro-life" even though this cause must surely have an expiration date. "Liberalism always wins in the end." Poor Chris Matthews, he lost his show on MSNBC because of behavior that amounted to "flirting." Al Franken got in trouble for allegedly similar urges. 

I think the high-water mark in all of UMM history was when Al Franken as U.S. senator came here to speak for graduation. What a grand day that was. Today? Seems UMM is just trying to hold on. 

But I will be attending the musical performance at our public library tonight (Wednesday), 6:30 p.m. It will be a joy. 

Graduation is on May 11. One aspect that can't miss: the buffet brunch.

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