From the President

Dear M readers,

I am seeking your help in securing the future of this great University of Minnesota. You have told me how important the University is to you. You have said we must preserve our beautiful historic buildings. And you understand that Minnesota's future is tied to the future of its University for the future of the state is tied to knowledge and creativity.

I am passionate about many things but two specific things rise to the top--finding the perfect pancake and making the University one of the top five public research institutions in the nation. We need to act strategically, entering the new millennium with world-class programs, faculty, and campuses. We also need to continue to provide first-class educational opportunities to all the sons and daughters of Minnesotans. I am asking for your support in reaching that goal.

Over the next four years, we can make an ambitious investment in the University's--and the state's--future. The investment starts with the University's 1998 requests to the Minnesota Legislature--a $249 million capital request and a $41.5 million supplemental request--to preserve our past and nurture our future.

The governor and many other political, business, and labor leaders have endorsed these requests. The timing is propitious, and another such opportunity for institutional progress may not present itself again for many years. I ask you to support an investment today in tomorrow's Minnesota.

Mark Yudof
University of Minnesota president

How can you help?

CALL OR WRITE YOUR LEGISLATORS. To find out who your legislators are and how to reach them, call House Information at 612-296-2146 and Senate Information at 612-296-0504 or go to http://www.leg.state.mn.us. For more information on the University's request, call State Relations at 612-626-9234 or go to http://www.umn.edu/urelate/request.