KENYON, Minn. – Former Minnesota House Speaker Steve Sviggum resigned as vice chair of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents amid growing criticism that suggested, to some, a streak of racism. At a regents meeting 2-1/2 weeks ago, Sviggum, who is white, said that enrollment declines at UM-Morris might be explained by the campus becoming “too diverse from a marketing standpoint.” He noted two friends , presumably white, whose children would not be enrolling at UM-Morris because they didn’t feel comfortable. Sviggum’s words triggered calls for his resignation. He responded that he merely had asked a question and was not making a comment. Later he apologized “unequivocally.” Although resigning as vice chair of the regents, Sviggum said he would serve out his term as a regent. The vacancy, effective in January, would be filled by an appointee of Governor Tim Walz.
Sviggum. Likes calling himself a “citizen farmer.” Ag e 71. From Kenyon in Goodhue County in southeast Minnesota.
Former Minnesota House speaker
A prominent Republican. Served 28 years in state House of Representatives. Became House speaker in 2006. Currently both a UM regent and communications director for the Republican caucus in the state Senate. Those roles have been considered a conflict of interest, although deemed acceptable by the Board of Regents.
UM-Morris profile
UM-Morris’ roots go to1899, when it was founded as an industrial school for Indians. In 1910 the University of Minnesota established a high school on the campus — the West Central School of Agriculture. The school was phased out in the late 1950s because of declining enrollment. Under local pressure to maintain its presence in Morris, the University of Minnesota created a four-year curriculum in 1960. Critics have never seen the Morris campus as good fit for UM. The 1,400 Morris students are a mere blip in the university’s landscape. The other UM campuses are in Minneapolis-St. Paul with 36,000 students and Duluth with 11,000 students.
Demographics
UM-Morris has 1,400 students of whom 3.3% are black. The city of Morris 160 miles west of Minneapolis, has 5.200 people of whom 1.2% are black. About 120 stunts are Native American, who receive tuition waivers in the tradition of the school being an Indian boarding school in the 1890s and early 1900s.
Sviggum profile
Sviggum farms near Kenyon. The town’s population is 1,900, of whom 0.12% are black. Sviggum himself is white of Norwegian descent. He likes lutefisk and passes around his mother’s recipe for lefsa made with whipping cream. He holds a teaching degree from St. Olaf. He once was commencement speaker at Winona State in 2003.