National President's Column
11/5/2008 7:45 AM | | Bruce Mooty PHOTOGRAPH BY SARA JORDE |
Keeping the Beacon Bright
Once every autumn during the 1960s, my turn to go to a Gopher football game with my Grandpa Harry Nelson (D.D.S. ’10) would come around. We would leave early on Saturday morning, park in a ramp on campus, walk across the football practice field, and climb about 50 steps to his seats. We’d watch the pregame warm-ups, listen as the marching band made its way down University Avenue, and unwrap our roast beef sandwiches and pour ourselves a cup of hot cocoa from his thermos.
I loved spending time with Grandpa and taking in the pageantry of the whole college football experience. Grandpa moved slowly and had difficulty standing up after sitting awhile, but he always rose effortlessly when the band began to play “Hail! Minnesota.” I loved the melody, but I couldn’t carry much of a tune and the lyrics—words that were never uttered by me or my grade school buddies—were from a different era. One phrase, however, always caught my attention: “Thy light shall ever be a beacon bright and clear.” I didn’t fully understand their meaning at the time, but the words became indelibly imprinted into my memory.
As the years have passed, that phrase has become more meaningful to me. I am so touched by how these 10 words concisely and beautifully describe the mission of our great university. What a powerful and inspiring metaphor to declare that our alma mater is an institution that guides, illuminates, and inspires. “Light” encourages us to chase away the darkness of ignorance, conduct intensive study, make discoveries, and obtain knowledge. “Bright” compels us to be bold, to lead, to bring intensity and passion to our endeavors, and to expand our horizons and areas of understanding and influence. “Clear” calls us to clarity in our vision and in seeking and speaking the truth.
I love the idealism and inspiring words of “Hail! Minnesota” and have seen them reflected in the leadership of University President Bob Bruininks, who is passionately committed to transforming the University into one of the top three public research universities in the world.
President Bruininks regularly meets with the Alumni Association national board of directors to keep our alumni volunteers informed about the U’s accomplishments and challenges. For example, U faculty brought in $619 in million research awards in 2007, leading to research discoveries and the creation of jobs. More than 7,000 U students (up 50 percent from five years ago) receive scholarships as a result of the Promise of Tomorrow Scholarship Drive launched in 2003. And the U continues to attract and retain some of the top scholars in the world—including heart researcher Doris Taylor and new Law School dean David Wippman, an authority in international law.
The U is tracking and measuring its progress toward becoming a top three university and welcomes being held accountable to the highest standards of excellence. But to achieve our goals and remain a beacon requires U administrators, faculty, students, and alumni to invest their time, talent, energy, and resources in the University. As ambassadors for the U, please don’t underestimate the importance of telling your legislators and friends about the critical role the University plays in your life and in Minnesota’s future.
I’m proud to be part of the choir singing the University’s praises, and I look forward to belting out “Hail! Minnesota” at the new TCF Bank Stadium next fall with you and all of our grandchildren, even if I’m a bit off-key.
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- Hail! Minnesota
Listen to the Minnesota Marching Band play "Hail! Minnesota"
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