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Please Write: National President's Column
11/15/2002

By Deb Hopp (B.A. '75)

When asked on certain occasions, my father used to say he was "busier than a one-armed paper hanger." And for most of us that’s true nearly every day. But would you spare just a half hour of your time if you knew you could affect the future of the University of Minnesota?

Believe it. You can have that impact.

That message came through loud and clear from retiring state representative Peggy Leppik at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association’s annual volunteer training forum in September. Historically one of our most potent advocates at the legislature, Leppik offered our alumni volunteers validation of the effectiveness of grassroots efforts and the inspiration to really make a difference for the University with this new class of elected officials.

Her advice was simple. Take a few minutes to write a letter. Make it brief, but tell a story about the University and the impact it has had on your life, how important the University is to the overall heath of the state, and the value you place on its support. Make copies and address them to our new governor, your state senator, and your state representatives.

Two weeks ago, Minnesota voters elected as governor Tim Pawlenty (B.A. ’83, J.D. ’86), who has far greater appreciation for higher education than outgoing Governor Jesse Ventura. But 35 percent of our legislature is new, too—and new to the many complex issues facing them. Now is the time to get the University’s message in front of them, in the personal, heartfelt words of the people they now represent.

As Leppik pointed out, a letter or e-mail, on any issue, sent to a legislator is carefully noted, but a torrent of letters and e-mails causes immediate attention and a flurry of activity in legislative offices. We can create that activity. As our governor and state legislators get their feet wet, let’s show a deluge of support for the U by filling their mailboxes with important messages.

Tell your elected officials a story about a career molded, an academic pursuit inspired, a defining relationship created, research that changed your life or that of someone you love, or a company you work for that was born out of the University’s work. Talk about how the Unive

rsity shaped the lives of your parents, your children, your sister, yourself.

We have much to celebrate and many successes to share along with these individual stories. Mention in your letter that the University was recently ranked third among public research universities for the second consecutive year in the annual survey by the University of Florida and seventh for sports among college and universities in the country—number one in the Big Ten—by Sports Illustrated magazine. Explain that the U attracted more than $500 million in outside research funding. And point out, as Interim President Bob Bruininks did in his State of the University speech October 3, that over 50 percent of all University graduates stay right here in Minnesota, contributing their talents to business, industry, health care, the arts, education, and more.

Your 30 minutes will be added to those of thousands of others contributing to this effort, making a huge impact on our friends at the state Capitol. During the election campaigns, the University’s Legislative Network engaged U supporters to help them educate candidates about University issues. The next phase is to educate our newly elected officials about the needs and contributions of the University and to demonstrate the power and depth of the University constituency.

The half hour you contribute by sharing your story with those officials can turn that power into action. Knowing that you can directly affect the future of the University, why wouldn’t you take the time to write a letter urging your elected officials to back the U?

For more information on the University’s Legislative Network, visit www.alumni.umn.edu/legnetwork or call 612-624-2323 or 800-862-5867. I also encourage alumni living outside Minnesota to write to the legislators in their state, explaining why higher education needs their support.

Miscellany: Congratulations and Ski-U-Mah to our esteemed executive director, Margaret Carlson. In September she received the M Club’s Distinguished Service Award, the very first woman to be given such an honor.

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