SMU athletics chief honored for "breaking barriers"

WINONA, Minn., Jan. 31, 2001 -- The interim athletic director at Saint Mary's University, Linda Anderson, received the Breaking Barriers Award from the Winona Girls and Women's in Sports chapter. During 15 years at Saint Mary's she has coached softball and volleyball. Anderson was conference coach of the year in 1990.

R.I.P.: Herbert L. Prudoehl

RUSHFORD, Minn., Jan. 31, 2001 -- A retired College of St. Teresa janitor, Herbert Prudoehl, died at a nursing home at age 85. He had retired from St. Teresa in 1980.

College presidents: We can't deliver without funding

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 30, 2001 -- The presidents all Minnesota state colleges, including Darrell Krueger of Winona State, issued a statement that they will not unable to meet their responsibilities to the people unless the Legislature fattens Gov. Jesse Ventura's lean budget proposal. They said "a social contract" with the people requires the colleges to provide high quality education, applied research and service. "As presidents, we believe we have upheld our part of the contract," the statement said, but maybe not into the future. "The governor has not recommended appropriating enough money to even cover inflation on our campuses. Once again the assumption is that students and their families can bear the brunt of these expenses with double-digit tuition increases or that we can cut programs and services without harming education," the presidents said. They called for citizens to petition their legislators to fund higher-ed above the governor's recommendations. An excerpt:

"Time and time again in the 1990s, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities were told to tighten our belts and increase productivity. We did our part in those lean years, eliminating many positions and services. We raised tuition more than we wanted to in order to partially make up for the lack of state funding. Now we are looking at the largest surplus in the state's history, but Minnesota historically prided itself on being a leader in education. While we once ranked high in support of education and in the proportion of our young people going on to college, we have slipped badly. Now we are below average among the states in these measures. Yet it was that strong history of education that protected us in harsher economic times and gave us the quality of life for which we are famous. Without that educational edge, Minnesota will become just another state in the Rust Belt."

WSU expects 625 for prospective student event

WINONA, Minn, Jan. 30, 2001 -- About 625 students, mostly high school seniors and their parents, are expected Feb. 1 at Winona State University's Academic Preview Day, chief recruiter Doug Schacke said.

R.I.P. Marjorie A. Buggs

WINONA, Minn., Jan. 31, 2001 -- A Winona Teachers College grad, Marjorie Buggs, died at the hospital at age 82. She taught at La Moille and Owatonna, Minn., before moving to Madison School in Winona in 1964. She retired in 1980.

WSU analyst to discuss NASA O-ring project

WINONA, Minn., Jan. 30, 2001 -- A Winona State prof who does analytical work for the Space Agency, Richard Jarvinen, will review his five years at the Johnson Space Center at a meeting of the Winona County Historical Society. Jarvinen is a consulting research scientist for safety, reliability and quality assurance, primarily involving the Space Shuttle. Jarvinen has received an award for his work on reusable solid rocket motor nozzle-to-case joint gas path incidents. His research was based on an analysis of 70 missions after the 1986 Challenger tragedy in which an O-ring failed. His work led to design improvements. More recently he had worked at improving airline safety by analyzing collisions with bird.