Lightning strikes Walnut Street house

WINONA, Minn., March 30, 2005 -- Lightning struck a vacant house on the proposed Winona State University eastward expansion strip, damaging the attic. No one was injured. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, helped by torrential rain in a storm front that blackened the afternoon sky. The lightning struck the north side of the house at 3:45. The owner of the house, David Hammann, who lives at St. Anne’s nursing home, was picked him up by neighbor to inspect the damage. The house was struck on the North side of the house. Damage appeared mostly from smoke and water. MORE The house is in a five-block strip on Belleview Street that Winona State has identified as a high priority for acquisition. The strip would be a link between the East Lake dorm on Franklin and the main campus. Plans include a student-oriented retail arcade and additional campus parking.

PHOTOGRAPHER HEATHER ANDERSON 607 WALNUT ST. Fire out, but firefighters' hose still on lawn

UPCOMING EVENTS
ST. MARY'S	SOUTHEAST TECH	WINONA STATE

TO EARLIER ITEMS TO TOP TO HOME TO NEWS ARCHIVE

Power outage hits WSU neighborhood

WSU singer back to Letterman show

WINONA, Minn., March 30, 2005 -- Winona State University junior Christine Tollison will sing "Let's Hear It for the Boy" again on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on Thursday night. Tollison is one of three performers selected for Letterman's show-and-tell segment Thursday. It's an encore. She sang on Letterman from Iraq back at Chistmas. MORE Deployed to Iraq in January 2004, Tollison worked at a military post office and performed musically at several base events for felow troopers. She's now home for what she estimates will be at least a year and a half before deployment back to Iraq. "I'm enlisted until 2010, so I have an obligation to go back, " said Tollison. At Winona State she is a graphic design major with music and mass communication minors. MORE About Iraq, she said: "At times I was happy and other times it was stressful to be there" On Christmas Eve 2004, however, she said she had a great experience when Letterman's show was broadcast from her base. Tollison said the producers and Paul Shaffer, Letterman's musical director, were looking for someone to sing either "God Bless America" or the National Anthem. Tollison, known for performing at base events, was recommended to Schaffer. "I suggested a few songs he didn't like, but I thought of 'Let's Hear It for the Boy' from the movie 'Footloose,' and Schaffer said it would work, " said Tollison. MORE

CHRISTINE TOLLISSON. At The Late Show microphone, shieled by camouflage netting, she enertained the troops. On Thursay night she's back with Letterman and "Let's Hear It for theBoy."

Flynn: Student treatment atrocious

WINONA, Minn., March 30, 2005 -- Students have been ignored and generally treated shabbily in the New University planning process, said Ryan Flynn, a candidate for student president at Winona State University. In a news conference Flynn reiterated his opposition to the New University package of programmatic upgrades. Flynn gave three reasons: COST: "Affordability was never properly looked at," he said, noting that the New University pricetag for students is a $1,000 tuition surcharge. ACCOUNTABILITY: Administrators have failed to connect proposed New University tuition surcharges with specific projects and benefits, he said. EXCLUSION: Student opinions were ignored during New University planning, he said: "The treatment of students has been atrocious." MORE Something went wrong in the New University planning process, Flynn said. The public relations came before the plan was defined. "There's no real substance," Flynn said. Even so, Flynn said he sees possibilities for a compromise with incoming university President Judith Ramaley. Cost, he said, will be the main obstacle. Flynn noted that Student Senate relations with Darrell Krueger have gone from bad to worse as the past year has progressed, especially after the overwhelming student rejection of the New University in a referendum. Flynn, who had been active in early New University discussions, became a poster child for Senate-Krueger acrimony in a testy exchange with Krueger at an early March showdown on the issue with student leaders: Flynn: "I am well educated on the issues of the New U Plan. I have participated in visionary conferences, a steering committee and other groups, and I don't think it's worth the cost to us or the future students." Krueger: "I do and I think I know more about it than you." MORE In the wide-ranging campaign news conference, Flynn was blunt in stating that is a stronger candidate for student president than Tim Donahue, the only other declared candidate. He called Donahue a "nice man" but bluntly said he was the better candidate. Flynn pointed to his own experience as a club president and said that he is good at coordinating. Asked whether his club presidency, of the Campus Democrats, was a liability, Flynn said the Senate is nonpartisan and that many Republicans as well as Democrats support his candidacy. He said he would not be active in the Democrats next year, leaving the leadership to a new generation of members. MORE As president, Flynn said, he would establish structures for getting student opinion, relying largely on improving Senate relations with clubs. That was a slap at Donahue, whose responsibilities as the Senate's current vice president include running the Alliance of Student Organizations. "We need to diversify voices on Student Senate," Flynn said, noting that clubs represent many, many groups of students. Flynn vowed to break down the "invisible wall between Student Senate and clubs." MORE Flynn called himself the candidate who can get things done. He pointed to a pilot dorm recycling program he put together with the Senate and the Inter-Hall Residence Council. The project should be ready to go campuswide in the fall, Flynn said. He noted that there had been years of failed attempts at dorm recycling and that the Senate and the dorm council had never before had a strong working relationship.

RYAN FLYNN Student presdient candidate

Berens stresses her Senate experience

WINONA, Minn., March 30, 2005 -- Nursing student Sen. Laura Berens, who is seeking re-election to the Winona State University Student Senate, cited her experience in encouraging nursing students to vote return her to the Senate in the fall. So far she is unopposed. Berens said in the interview that she can perfrom a valuable service for many nursing majors who are too busy to be involved in the Senate but who wants their views expressed. Berens said she often consults other nursing and health majors to understand the concerns. MORE Besides running for nursing senator, Berens also will be on the ballot for the $2,100-a-year Senate treasurer position. If elected to both, Bens said, she would leave her nursing seat, which is uncompensated, and become treasurer. MORE Saying she is well aware of student issues, Berens declared that the New University package of programmatic reforms is a major issue. She is opposed. Berens said she sees no need for the New University, masking a point that there would be minimal advanatges for the nursing program and its students. MORE Berens said she favors the proposed campus ID card that could double as a way to put charges on student tuition bills on and off campus. MORE Berens is currently treasurer of campus Democrats club. She is involved in Senate public relations committee. About her campaign Berens said she plans to spend no more then $100 in making posters, business cards and buttons.

LAURA BERENS Senate nursing candidate

More details set for student funeral

WINNEBAGO, Minn., March 30, 2005 -- The Winona State University student killed Sunday in a traffic accident, Amy Jo Green, 21, will be buried at Riverside Cemetery in Winnebago, her hometown, the family announced. Vsitation will be 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, in Winnebago at the Spencer-Owen Funeral Home. The funeral will be ay 10:30 a.m., Thursday, at the United Methodist Church. Green the daughter of Thomas and Debra (Day) Green of Winnebago. Survivors include three sisters -- Sarah Green, Rachel Green and Elizabeth Mahlstedt ofWinnebago. While attending Winona State, Amy Jo Green worked part-time for Target. She also held a campus job.

AMY JO GREEN 1984-2005

Green family still planning funeral

Marijuana Rx plans gathers backers

CANDIDATE STATEMENT ERIN FEGER My name is Erin Feger and I am running for the office of vice president of the student senate. There are many improvements that can be implemented to make the Student Senate a more efficient and productive organization for the students on campus. It is important that there is open, two-way communication between the Senate and the student body. Therefore, the senate should utilize the numerous media outlets around campus to inform students what actions the body is taking. MORE It is important that Senators be held accountable for their actions and the need of their constituencies. I would ensure that timely action be taken against those who are derelict in their duties. MORE One duty of the vice presidency is the Alliance of Student Organizations. I would also work to create a newsletter to promote active communication between the student organizations and to create an e-mail for each club for easier student contact with clubs. I would also ensure that there was improved maintenance of club documents, including constitutions throughout the year. MORE As Vice President, I promise to work with the administrations to represent the best interests of the students and to fight for affordable and quality education for every student attending this university. MORE I have a diverse background and have served on four committees in the two years that I have been involved in the Student Senate. MORE Because of this experience and the ideas that I have to improve the senate, I am the best candidate for Vice President.

ERIN FEGER Vice president candidate CANDI- DATE FORUM A series of invited candidate statements presented unedited

A morning without Internet at WSU

CANDIDATE STATEMENT RYAN FLYNN As President of the Student Senate I will seek a balance between affordability and quality. I have proven my leadership ability as an effective Senate Student Services Committee Chair for two years, as well as being the President of a student club. My experience as such has given me a unique perspective of the inner workings of the Student Senate and the university itself. I will utilize my experience and my abilities to make sure that the student voice is not only heard but is listened to. As President, I will not wait for the administration to ask our opinion on university matters, but will constantly advocate for fiscal responsibility and the enhancement of the student’s experience at our university. After witnessing the Student Senate from both the inside and the outside, I understand that there are many areas in which the Senate must continue to improve. I strongly believe that the Student Senate must strive for progress for the student body. MORE We as students cannot allow ourselves to become content with the status quo. As President I will improve the standing of the student body while continuing my dedication to affordability. I will push for committee accountability; project completion will be an expectation. I will be able to utilize my experience as Student Services chair to relate to the committee chairs better and offer them guidance and advice. I will encourage each senator to excel, raising the standard for all senators, while simultaneously seeking improvement in the Alliance of Student Organizations. The status quo will not be acceptable. MORE As president, I will effectively lead the Student Senate and represent the student body as a whole. I will embrace the new activism that is forming in the Student Senate, not an activism of ignorance and blind protest, but an activism of involvement and influence. I will improve the consultation process with the administration by characterizing the dialogue with incoming President Ramaley with optimism and an understanding of compromise, in addition to adopting hard line positions on tuition and consultations. By doing this, we will improve the standing for the student body and its voice. Thank you for your time and your support.

RYAN FLYNN President candidate CANDI- DATE FORUM A series of invited candidate statements presented unedited

Poynter taps WSU j-student

WINONA, Minn., March 28, 2005 -- A Winona State University journalism senior, Anne Jungen, was accepted into a six-week, post-graduation program at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla. Of 2,000 applicants, 10 were selected. The Poynter program includes workshops with leading U.S. newspaper editors. Jungen has been co-news editor of the Winonan student newspaper. She holds the 2004 Winonan Slug Award for her scoops on Winona State gymnastics team problems that forced the resignation of coach Rob Murray last spring.

ANNE JUNGEN Journalism senior

Plan: Hike some WSU parking fees

Four WSU profs retiring

Witness: Fatal accident a T-crash

Stene emphasizes affordable education

WINONA, Minn., March 28, 2005 -- Freshman Jared Stene, running for a sophomore spot on the Winona State University Student Senate, said he plans to fight for the affordability of higher education. In an interview, Stene accused the Winona State administrators of ignoring student concerns on the tuition increase to fund the New University. "Higher education should be protected and affordable for all students to enjoy," said Stene. Stene said that the recent student referendum on the proposed New U plan reflected the threat that students perceive from higher tuition. Just as students must live within their budgets, so do suniversity administrators, he said. MORE Stene called for the Student Senate to interact directly with students. To do this, Stene wants to start holding townhall-style meetings. For his campaign Stene plans person-to-person interaction with students. "I can turn the entire campus into one big flyer, but if I want people to know what my platform is, then I am going to have to go out and meet them," he said. MORE Stene is an associate Senate member on the Student Services Committee and participated with the newly created New U Ad Hoc Committee. In addition, Stene is also active in the College of Democrats and participated in the 2005 Rally Day on the steps of the State Capitaol. Stene was graduated from Tartan, Minn., high school in 2004. In high school he served as vice president of the DECA marketing club chapter. He was on the student council and particpated in the National Honor Society as well as a variety of sports.

JARED STENE Seeks sophomore Senate post

Flags lowered for Red Lake tragedy

Grand jury goes into second week

WINONA, Minn., March 28, 2005 -- A grand jury considered County Attorney Chuck MacLean's evidence in the triple murders at Sugar Loaf Apartments begam its second week of its closed-door investigation on Monday. If grand juries confine themselves to a single issue and if the prosecutor's evidence is compelling, indictments normally are forthcoming quickly. The grand jury was convened under Minnesota law to consider MacLean's case against Paul Allen Gordon, who is accused of strangling Winona State University student Stacy Smith and her 10-year-daughter to death in December, as well as Smith's unborn child. MORE Grand juries have wide latitude and can conduct their own investigation through site visits, subpoenaing witnesses and other means. These all could be explanations for what's taking this grand jury this many days.

PAUL ALLEN GORDON Accused in Winona strangulation murders

WSU sophomore dies in car wreck

Tau rotunda to have new centerpiece

WINONA, Minn., March 28, 2005 -- A sculpture, "Wind Song" by New Mexico artist Doug Scott has been donated to Winona State University by a patron of the sculptor, who asked not to be named; by sociology prof Ervin Bublitz; and the artist. MORE "Wind Song" is a six-foot, eight-inch tall sculpture carved out of New Mexico rainbow marble, bronze and wood. Scott operates a gallery in Taos, N.M.. He has completed more than 500 pieces of art. The unveiling and reception is open to the public: Date: Tuesday, March 29 Time: 7 p.m. Place: Tau Center rotunda Cost: Free

WIND SONG Sculpture by Doug Scott

CANDIDATE STATEMENT TIM DONAHUE As future Student Senate President, I will stand out as one of the strongest student leaders. This position requires experience and leadership; I would be honored to use my abilities to help students. My three terms of Senate experience (Senator, Chair, and Vice President) have shown me how I can help the senate to connect to the student body and improve the university; through proactive leadership I have actively sought out student issues and how to solve them. As President, I will be the strongest voice advocating for you. MORE I will work my hardest to ensure students are part of the decision making process on campus, not to be fair or have power, but because students as customers know what students are looking for from the university. Student consultation helps the university make better decisions for the future. MORE With my leadership, I will not have to rely on a policy to ensure student consultation but build upon it using communication and trust. That means communicating your issues, concerns, ideas, and stances on projects; trust that I will be best advocate for you, helping the university to make good decisions for the future. MORE Trust and communication doesn't mean agreement. Many people know that even if students disagree with university plans, as President I will always be at the table, and always open for communication.As a strong leader in the WSU Student Senate for three years, I have the leadership necessary to be the next President. Thank you for taking the time to vote; your opinion is important to me.

TIM DONAHUE President candidate CANDI- DATE FORUM A series of invited candidate statements presented unedited

Donahue, Flynn set to square off

WINONA, Minn., March 28, 2005 -- Student presidential candidates Tim Donahue and Ryan Flynn at the Winona State University agreed to a debate on Monday next week. The debate is scheduled at 5 p.m.

TIM DONAHUE

RYAN FLYNN

Cocaine all around but not at WSU

WINONA, Minn., March 28, 2005 -- Despite cocaine's rise to become Winona's drug of choice, Winona State University's counselors have are seeing mostly students with alcohol and marijuana problems, campus health educator Ruth Schroeder said. Schroeder, who teaches healthy lifestyles, said most students aren't successful with strong drugs like cocaine because they remain expensive. Also, she said, many students are lerry of health risks with illegal substances. Strong drugs affect the mind and brain, and they make it difficult for the user to do regular activities, said Schroeder: "People get caught up in a very abusive pattern with the harder drugs." MORE To be sure, there are students who frequently use strong drugs, but Schroeder said they usually drop out of college because their addiction becomes the most important aspect of their lives. She said these students spend all their money on drugs and their academic life loses its insignificance. Users of hard drugs also experience withdrawal, which starts them on the downward spiral of missing classes, she said. Some users feel so depressed during withdrawal that they don't even want to get high again, said Schroeder. MORE Among campus people, marijuana is more favored because it has relatively minimal negative effects on the body, Schroeder said. Also, legal repercussions for marijuana are less severe, she said. MORE Schroeder said the no-tolerance dorm policy against drugs also encourages students to refrain. Most dorm tenants caught with drugs are evicted, she said. MORE About a dozen Winona State students have sought assistance for addictions this year, about typical. According to a drug survey last spring, 2 percent of students reported using marijuana daily. The survey also found that 4 percent of students reported using the drug within one week of the survey, and 4 percent in the previous month. Schroeder said Winona State has fewer student drug users than most other college campuses. MORE Even though Winona State is below the norm, marijuana use is always a problem, Schroder said. University standards are high and frequent users may find themselves struggling with challenging classes, Schroeder said. She said a bigger problem at the university is alcohol, which is more used than marijuana. There are so many alcohol abusers, in fact, that Winona State runs an alcohol education class every Thursday. The course is for dorm tenants who have been caught. Six to 12 students attend per week, said Schroeder. She said individual students also seek help from counselors for alcohol problems. MORE Schroeder encourages people to remind abusers of the consequences. Students shouldn't be afraid to confront their friends, she said. Schroeder said students also can attend counseling with their friends, help them set up goals and spend more time with them doing healthy activities. The university also conducts programs to help students with drug problems, she said. MORE Three weeks ago, ahead of Spring Break, campus health staff members did their annual Safe Spring Break presentation. They told students how to behave responsibly while traveling. Schroeder said the program also taught students about the dangers of ecstacy and date-rape drugs like Rohypnol. The sessions were successful because they were organized by students, Schroeder said. Students feel more comfortable learning about drug abuse from their peers, she said.

RUTH SCHROEDER Cocaine? Not much, but booze, marijuana, that's another matter

Tuition freeze progress reported

Evicted WSU student pleads guilty

Evictions upheld for Evans party house

Berens vows to faclitate club funding

WINONA, Minn., March 28, 3005 -- Nursing Sen. Laura Berens, running for the treasurer of the Winona State University Student Senate, said she wants the Senate to continue to be fiscally responsible. Berens noted in an interview that the Senate spent less money this year. Berens, a sophomore, currently is a senator representing nursing students. In addition to being a senator, Berens is also the treasurer of the College Democrats. She said she has no plans to remain active in the Democrats club if elected to the Senate. So far, Berens is the only candidate for Student Senate treasurer. Besides running for treasurer, which is salaried at $2,100, she also is seeking re-election as nursing senator. Senator positions are unsalaried. She said she will choose the treasurer position if elected to both. MORE Berens said as treasurer she would help student clubs make special requests from Senate-controlled funds for their activities. As the Dems' treasurer, Berens said that she knows how hard it is for club leaders to understand what they have to do for the request to be approved. MORE Berens said that she opposes the $1,000 tuition surcharge that university President Darrell Krueger wants to assess to support the New University program, Yes, she said, the university needs to examine how it's run and how to make itself better, but she sees the New University program as too costly and not the answer. Berens looks forward to working with new university president Judith Ramaley next year. She hopes for "a good relationship" with "high student involvement." MORE Currently Berens is on the Senate public relations committee and is working on constitution and bylaws issues. Berens graduated from La Crescent, Wis., high school in 2003. In high school she was involved in band, ballet, track and prom planning.

LAURA BERENS Treasurer candidate

Powers won't be on ballot

WINONA, Minn., March 28, 3005 -- Sophomore Sen. Caitlin Powers has decided against running for any positions in the April Winona State University Student Senate elections. Powers had been expected to run for an executive position, probably treasurer. Powers said she based her decision in part on the fact that Senate executives do not have a vote. In an interview, Powers said that being a Senate executive would hobble her activity on behalf of students. Powers said she would like to be active in student governance next year, possibly in committe work committees or on the state level with the Minnesota State Universities Student Association. MORE Although her decision renders her a lame-duck on the Senate, Powers said she will remain active with the Student Elections Committee. The election committee's job is to run the elections and encourage turnout. On the committee too are outgoing Senate President Dusty Finke, who will be the chair, outgoing Treasurer Cassie Daubner, MSUSA campus rep Travis Reese and business Sen. Megan Butcher. Powers said the committee will do this with debate, posters and e-mails. The goal of the committee is to break the record of 14.8 percent of students voting that was set in the February elections.

CAITLIN POWERS Sophomore senator

CANDIDATE STATEMENT KARI WINTER I feel that I would be able to successfully complete the duties of Vice President as well as set high expectations for future WSU Student Senates. This position should be held by someone who can relate to the students and because I am involved with several clubs, I understand a wide variety of campus issues. I want to ensure that the strong student voice on campus is heard and understood. Every student on campus should have the opportunity to know the issues that are facing our university. MORE As a student senator, I have been drawn in by many of the issues that the Student Senate has faced and I enjoy working with students; for example, I’ve lobbied at the capitol for lower tuition with students from around the state, I’ve represented students on New University committees, and have helped with things such as Mr. WSU and the on-campus blood drives. After working with several committees I have a good understanding of how the Student Senate works and, in my opinion, there have been some set backs that can be fixed with teamwork and responsible leadership. MORE It's a top priority of mine to make sure that the Student Senate be available, held accountable, and continue to work hard in improving our campus. Next year is going to be a very important year, and I will be committed to making sure that WSU’s number one priority remains to be students today and for future generations.

KARI WINTER Vice president candidate CANDI- DATE FORUM A series of invited candidate statements presented unedited

Indee invites WSU candidate statements

WINONA, Minn., March 28, 2004 -- Candidates in Winona State University student election have been invited to submit 250-word statements on their candidacies for verbatim publication on the CyberIndee. The news site will post the statements promptly. Background: Candidate filings

Statements should be addressed to: CyberIndee A campaign photo as a .jpeg attachment is invited.

WILL ALBERT- SEN SARAH HOVEY JESSICA LARSON LAUREN ELI- ZONDO JENNY BUTLER CARRIE GULER TOMORROW'S GREATEST BYLINES TODAY

Poet tells about exiled Norwegian uncle

As portrayed in Winona State University promotional materials

WINONA CAMPUS LIFE

Winona college bar licensees

Easter show collects canned food

WINONA, Minn, Marc 28, 2005 -- The service organization Food Not Bombs collected more than 50 cans of food at a benefit concert for the Winona County Food Shelf on Sunday at Rascals bar downtown. Alex Stevens, a Food Not Bombs member, said that they wanted to throw the concert because March is National Food Shelf Awareness month and the event fit well with the Easter holiday. Performers included Winona rapper Ron Simmons, a.k.a Random Thoughts; the Rochester-based jam band Right Away; solo acoustic artists; and headliner Moon Dawg. MORE Food Not Bombs provided free soups, scalloped potatoes, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Rascals charged a $5 admission charge -- or $3 with three canned food items. People were in and out during the shows, attendance varying from five and 50. "It's busier tonight than a normal Sunday night," Stevens said.

RASCALS 151 E. Third St.

December 2004 commencement address

A TRIBUTE TO DARRELL KRUEGER This is a wonderful day of celebration, a day some of you -- especially those of you who have paid the bills -- may have thought would never come. But arrive it has and with it all the tremendous honors and privileges that go with a Winona State degree. MORE I heard a commencement speaker here not long ago challenge the parents in the audience to remember who delivered the address at their commencements. And did they remember the message? he asked. The blank looks said it al He followed by saying he doubted anyone 20 years hence would remember his message, either. I thought about that a lot as prepared for this moment -- a more than intimidating assignment, let me assure you, made no easier by the fact that memorability was going to likely be impossible to achieve. MORE There were things that made it harder for me, even, than that previous speaker. You see, I have no academic credentials to qualify me for this honor. And there are no major accomplishments in my history that I can use to inspire you. Oh, I've had three very disparate careers and some, maybe many, might call them successful, but I know that I have extracted from those careers much more than I contributed. MORE So as I thought about this day -- these remarks, thought about how long they might be remembered, I remembered that newspaper veterans are-- devoid of the trappings and officiousness -- storytellers, nothing more. And so for the next few minutes, I want to tell you a story, and I'm hoping, graduates, that you will listen keenly because, in reality, this story all about you and about how much has gone into bringing you to this day, and what it means. MORE That will be the crux of the story, and let me begin by telling you that remembering my words 20 years from now will be unimportant. Remembering all that Winona State has done for you, however, will be of utmost importance. MORE DARRELL KRUEGER WSU predsident, 1989-2005 GARY EVANS Comemencement speaker This story begins in 1989, a bitterly cold April 3, one of those days when the north winds cut through you, no matter how warmly you are dressed, making you long for a glowing fire and a hot beverage. MORE A man younger than he is today but -- we would discover later -- wise beyond his years, Darrell Krueger, the academic vice president at Northeast Missouri State University, walked for the first time onto the Winona State campus, spent a day and departed, thinking I'm certain that it might be his only visit. You see, it wasn't a visit that will be remembered for its success…in fact I doubt that many people in the audience today -- although some were here then -- have thought about it at all. MORE Eighteen days later, he returned, this time having the day before been named by the Minnesota State University Board as Winona State’s 13th president. The decision wasn’t widely applauded across this campus. In fact, skeptics were voca, critics numerous. MORE He wasn't, you see, particularly ebullient. He was instead soft spoken, contemplative, even a bit shy, sometimes given to long periods of silence. He did passably well speaking to groups, but it was apparent his most successful venue was one-on-one. But even those sessions at first were met by quizzical looks…and often silence. He had sharp and discerning eyes that, if you bothered to notice, seemed to miss nothing, but when he talked about what he’d seen it was in short sentences mostly free of emotion. And as this new president walked about the campus asking people to articulate their hopes and dreams, truth was few could -- or at least would -- do it. But he had hope and dreams and ambitions, not for himself but for you. And there was a passion for achieving everything he believed in, that we would soon find out. MORE Those early meetings, both formal and informal, produced worries that he envisioned a Winona State that could not be -- a Winona State much too pretentious for the people who toiled here, a Winona State too grandiose for the people it served. MORE He said Winona State must be a quality university -- among the top universities in the country -- and that the people who worked here, the people who studied here, must be self-regarding. He brought a spark to the faculty with an early remark that a quality university must have a quality library, but he angered some people when he rearranged the campus’ construction priority list, replacing a football stadium with a library as the No. 1 need, and not just any library but a very expensive state-of-the art library. MORE There were then alumni on the verge of rebellion because of what they thought was little support for athletics. And when he first lobbied the campus and then the State University System Board for the right to purchase Lourdes Hall on the campus of the College of Saint Teresa, there were but a handful of people here who knew what a residential college was. And those who knew seemed to wonder just why there should be one at Winona State…and how that very large residence hall could be filled.