Legalectric

UPDATED UPDATE: Sviggum voids apology with additional comments:

University of Minnesota regent resists calls to resign

It’s “Alpha News” of course, but here’s part of what he’s saying:

“If the far left doesn’t ruin it, identity politics will. The woke community, the liberal community, if I may be so bold as to say, has taken [my question] and jumped on it. They say it’s racist and sexist. That’s the community that says, ‘If you don’t think like me and you’re not part of the group, you don’t belong. You’re a bad guy, and we will destroy you,’” he said.

… and…

“The extremes are so straightened in their position that they won’t listen to anybody else. If you challenge me or if you question me, you are a bad person. Even further, they are not willing to even consider cooperation or coming together. There’s extremes on both ends. I’m not going to say it’s just on the Democratic side because we have a few extremes on the Republican side, too. But I think it’s indicative of that polarization that exists in this country,” he continued.

UPDATE: Sviggum “apologizes.” The “apology” and full STrib article below.

Steve Sviggum, now “representing” District 2 on University of Minnesota Board of Regents, shows his true colors:

This clip doesn’t even need a caption. “Has UMN Morris become too diverse for a student to attend?” How is this an actual question being asked during a Board of Regents meeting??? @BSU_UMN @USGumn @mndailynews @StarTribune @Ilhan @kare11 @AlphaNewsMN @KSTP @FOX9 @RWPUSA #UMNProud pic.twitter.com/Tiz5ZCdLuS

— Watch Dog UMN (@WatchDogUMN) October 14, 2022

He was claiming to have received 2 contacts from “friends” whose children wouldn’t go to Morris because it’s “too diverse, that they wouldn’t feel comfortable there.” Earth to Sviggum, this is the opportunity, particularly as a face of the University of Minnesota, and supposedly representing the 2nd District, to suggest to your friends that maybe, just maybe, this is exactly the experience and environment that your “friends’ children” need in the 21st century! Maybe it’s the perfect opportunity to suggest to your “friends” that they too need to get out into the world and out of their white bubble. And maybe it’s time for YOU to get out of your bubble. For sure it’s time for you to be off the University Board of Regents.

What’s really interesting is the composition of the student body now. Per the STrib (University of Minnesota Regents Vice Chair Steve Sviggum asks if Morris campus is ‘too diverse’):

“32% Native American – and is that what’s so objectionable? Or is it those likely more visible 3% black students? 4% Hispanic, which should be higher given the increasing Hispanic population in the area? Or is it that someone just saw those oh-so-scary numbers and ran back to their bubble?

Click HERE for the “Contact” page for the University’s Board of Regents. You know what to do.

Here’s a response from U of M Morris’ Student Association President:

And this from Chair of Regents:

FYI, Regents are elected by the Legislature — see this from House Research:

Election of Regents

And it gets interesting, because his term does end in 2023, and he’s “representing” CD2, and much of CD2 (my part, in Red Wing too) is becoming CD1, not exactly something I’m excited about. Anyway, I’d think that CD2 residents would be particularly upset about his comments.

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UPDATE: The “apology” here:

Last week, during University of Minnesota Morris Interim Chancellor Erickson’s presentation on MPact 2025 enrollment goals at Morris, I posed a question regarding the diversity of the student body and whether that diversity was—in any way—linked to the recent enrollment challenges.

Let me unequivocally apologize for my questions, and especially for the unintended hurt my questions may have caused. They were not intended to cause harm, but my intent does not matter. For those whom I have harmed or offended, and for all of those associated with our great university, I am truly sorry. I have only respect and admiration for any individual who seeks to better themselves through higher education, whether at Morris or at any of our wonderful campuses. Minnesota benefits from our many amazing students from all walks of life who make incredible contributions to our community, and their work strengthens the great state of Minnesota. I hope that all of our graduates elect to stay in Minnesota after graduation and work, every day, for the betterment of our state.

My intent – recognizing that my words matter – was to foster discussion around the consistently declining enrollment at Morris, which is not a one-year trend or even a concern that has emerged out of the COVID pandemic. Rather, student enrollment has been declining for years (down 50% from its peak) and the future of this great campus depends on finding solutions to reverse that trend.

I have been blessed throughout my life as a farmer to work with a diversity of people across our state and our nation from all backgrounds. As a layperson in my church, I have shared the joys and heartbreaks of so many of my fellow parishioners. And as a proud Regent, I have been given the incredible opportunity to help our institution, our president, and our students, staff, and faculty who set a very high bar for the rest of us.

Again, I offer my sincerest apologies. I clearly have more to learn to better understand the strength that diversity brings to our institution, and I look forward to taking those who have reached out to me up on their offers to meet and to hear their perspectives and learn from them. I am willing to learn and I must do better—and I will.”

STrib article:

Sviggum ‘unequivocally’ apologizes for asking whether Morris campus is ‘too diverse’

The former Minnesota House Speaker issued a written statement amid calls for his resignation. 

By Rochelle Olson Star Tribune October 19, 2022 — 9:14am

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune fileUniversity of Minnesota Regents Vice Chair Steve Sviggum said he is “truly sorry” to those whom he harmed or offended.

The vice chairman of the board that oversees the University of Minnesota system apologized “unequivocally” for asking whether enrollment at the Morris campus was “too diverse.”

In a five-paragraph statement issued through the public relations office on the Twin Cities campus late Tuesday, Steve Sviggum said he’s willing to learn and must do better.

Sviggum wrote that his intent was to encourage discussion about the ongoing decline in enrollment at the Morris campus, which is down 50% from its peak. “The future of this great campus depends on finding solutions to reverse that trend,” he wrote.

At a regents meeting last week, Sviggum asked acting Morris Chancellor Janet Schrunk Ericksen whether diversity was linked to declining enrollment.

“I’ve received a couple letters, two actually, from friends whose children are not going to go to Morris because it is too diverse,” Sviggum said at the meeting. “They just didn’t feel comfortable there.”

Ericksen responded that minority students on the campus often feel isolated and that from their perspective, no, the campus would not be too diverse. The question sparked backlash and calls for his resignation from the volunteer position. A Native American student leader at the Morris campus invited Sviggum for a meal and circulated a petition that received 200 signatures.

Regents Chair Ken Powell released a statement calling diversity a “strength.” The Teamsters Local 320, which represents 1,500 workers across five campuses, called his comments racist and part of a pattern.

Former regent Michael Hsu, who said Monday that Sviggum’s time had passed and he need to resign, was dismissive of the attempted apology. “He should be gone already,” Hsu said.

In his statement, Sviggum said he is “truly sorry” to those whom he harmed or offended. “Let me unequivocally apologize for my questions, and especially for the unintended hurt my questions may have caused,” he wrote. “They were not intended to cause harm, but my intent does not matter.”

He said he respects and admires everyone who seeks to better themselves through higher education. “Minnesota benefits from our many amazing students from all walks of life who make incredible contributions to our community, and their work strengthens the great state of Minnesota,” he wrote.

The former GOP House speaker and state administrator from Kenyon said he’s been “blessed” to work as a farmer with a diversity of people. He talked about sharing joy and heartbreak with parishioners as a layperson at his church.

“I clearly have more to learn to better understand the strength that diversity brings to our institution, and I look forward to taking those who have reached out to me up on their offers to meet and to hear their perspectives and learn from them,” he wrote.

In numerous media interviews after his comment became public, Sviggum initially was unapologetic. He said he was posing a question, not making a statement.

Currently, Morris has 1,068 students. Of those, 54% are white and 32% are Native American. Overall, 41% are Black, Indigenous and people of color.

The goal for the Morris campus is 1,700 students, a target set in 2019 before the pandemic. The campus hasn’t had that many students in at least five years, and colleges across the country are struggling with declining enrollment.

In an interview Monday, Sviggum noted that overall enrollment at Morris had decreased by 40% as the enrollment of Black, Indigenous and people of color had increased to nearly 45%. “It’s fair to ask the question: Is there a relationship?” Sviggum said.

Dylan Young, president of the Morris Campus Student Association and a Native American student from Parmelee, S.D., has publicly commented in interviews and on social media. He said he received 200 signatures on a a letter to Sviggum on social media.

Sviggum’s tenure on the board will end in 2023 when the Legislature selects new regents.

From 1979 to 2007, Sviggum served in the state House as a Republican from Kenyon. He became the speaker after the 1998 election when Republicans took control of the House; he lost the top job after the 2006 election.