|  |  | In Brief
7/9/2003by Pauline Oo
For the first time, the University of Minnesota will be able to discipline its students who take part in off-campus celebratory riots, under a new anti-riot policy approved by the University's Board of Regents June 13. The policy prohibits students from inciting or participating in a riot "on campus, in areas proximate to campus, or in any location when the riot occurs in connection with or in response to a University-sponsored event." Students violating the policy will face sanctions, including expulsion, under the University's Student Conduct Code that previously applied only to on-campus behavior. "This policy sends a clear message to students that they will be held accountable for their actions," says University President Bob Bruininks.
At least eight people were charged in connection with riots following the April 12 Gopher men's hockey team's national win (and the U has charged 12 students with disciplinary violations under the Student Conduct Code for on-campus behavior). The riots resulted in about $150,000 worth of damage on the Twin Cities campus and thousands of dollars in damage to private property in nearby neighborhoods. To learn about other steps the University is taking to prevent violence related to athletic or other University-sponsored events, visit
The Legislature passed a capital bonding bill that includes all of the University projects vetoed by Governor Ventura last year. Funding covers $24.7 million for the Translational Research Facility, $3 million for design planning of the Teaching and Technology Center, $2.5 million for Research and Outreach centers, $8 million for reconstruction of Jones Hall, $1.5 million for renovation of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in St. Paul, $8.6 million for reconstruction of the Social Science Building and dormitory fire sprinklers on the Morris campus, and $400,000 for predesign of a joint genomics research facility at Mayo Clinic. "I'm absolutely thrilled with the outcome of the bonding bill," said Bruininks. "It will allow us to start on some critically important projects."
Velmer Burton, Jr., is the new chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC). "This as a unique opportunity to play a role in the continued development of [UMC] in serving northwest Minnesota and the entire state," Burton said. Burton, 40, was previously dean of the Graduate School and a professor of sociology at North Dakota State University in Fargo. Former Chancellor Don Sargeant will return to teaching after 18 years as Crookston's chancellor.
The University of Minnesota Extension Service will close its statewide county offices in favor of regional centers. "These changes will ensure that we continue to offer effective, relevant programs to all counties at a level that the state, the counties, the University, and the people of Minnesota can afford," said Charles Casey, U of M Extension Service dean and director. Extension currently has offices in all 87 counties of the state, with specialized educators in several counties who lead programs in 4-H youth development, agriculture production education, Master Gardeners, nutrition education, leadership development training, and other initiatives. Regional centers are expected to open in January 2004.
The University has submitted a $275 million proposal to the National Science Foundation to establish the National Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory in Soudan, Minnesota. The facility, which would include labs at depths of 4,760 feet and 8,200 feet, would complement the U's Soudan underground physics lab. The new facility would give geologists and other earth scientists "unprecedented access to a huge amount of rock, enabling many new studies of our own planet," said physics professor Marvin Marshak. The NSF is expected to choose between Soudan and two other sites this summer.
The University is moving up the national fund-raising rankings. According to an annual survey by the Council for Aid to Education, the University jumped from sixth in 2001 to fourth in 2002 among public universities, and moved from 16th to 14th among all higher education institutions. The rankings are based on gifts received between July 2001 and June 2002.
The charity and community work of the University's residence hall students have earned them the National School of the Year award from the National Association of College and University Residence Halls. In the past year, University students raised more than $19,500 for non-University organizations, volunteered more than 750 hours, and donated more than 1,800 pounds of food to various food shelves. The award was also based on governing structures and cleanliness of the residence halls.
In early May, University of Minnesota Bookstores collected thousands of books for schools in Africa through the Book and a Buck campaign. The two-week program, organized by Books for Africa (a St. Paul nonprofit organization), encouraged University students to donate a book—and a dollar to send it and two other books—to Africa. "It's wonderful to see college students devoting their time and energy to such a wonderful cause," said state senator Sandy Pappas, honorary cochair of the campaign. "Education plays a fundamental role in promoting prosperity and peace worldwide."
Pauline Oo is a writer in the Office of University Relations.
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