UMAA

Gateway Heritage Gallery

Telling the ongoing story of the University's greatness Amid the interactive displays, video walls, prototypes of famous medical devices, and portraits of historical figures, visitors to the privately financed University of Minnesota Gateway Heritage Gallery might be surprised to find a humble olive-drab lunch box--with the lunch still in it.

The box is a complete set of World War II-era K rations, one of the least glamorous but most important inventions to come out of the University of Minnesota. It was tracked down and purchased by Major Steve Fixler of the University's Department of Military Science, part of the Army ROTC program.

Fixler's efforts to find and preserve a piece of the University's history is typical of what Mark Hammons is finding in his efforts to gather objects for the Heritage Gallery. Hammons is working with Vincent Ciulla Design, the New York firm designing the Heritage Gallery and determining, with a 30-member advisory committee, its content. He says the daunting footwork of finding the artifacts to tell the ongoing story of the University of Minnesota's greatness comes down to one simple element: the fact that University alumni and friends have preserved pieces of the place that has meant so much to their lives. "The greatest thing about tracking down the objects has been seeing the love alumni and employees have for this place," he says. "It's more than just a place, an institution, a job. It's a place that matters to them."

Hammons found that since there is not one central place where the University preserves its historical objects, much of his work has involved tracking down items saved by individuals. "They are deeply, passionately part of the continuum we are trying to express in the gallery," he adds. "They are the ones who have taken the initiative to save and preserve the things they find significant. They are a positive part of this heritage."

He adds that those items are not just the many historic firsts of the University, but everyday items that are significant for how they evoke history. T-shirts, buttons, signs from old buildings, and antique agricultural equipment are just some of the examples. "Virtually all of those things exist in private collections," Hammons says. "Often they are items someone has found later and saved or bought for their own personal reasons." Those genuine items are a vital part of telling the University's story, says Vincent Ciulla. In designing the gallery, he says, a mix of interactive, high-tech displays and real objects creates the best experience. "Things, like an old letter sweater, convey a certain kind of experience in a very tangible way," he says. "If we combine the power of things and the power of information, the mix is really dynamic."

Major Fixler's K rations, purchased a few months ago at a gun show in Grayslake, Illinois, are just such a real item. The can of cheese with bacon, crackers, dextrose tablets, and gum and cigarettes might not seem like a nutritionally balanced meal, but the light-weight items provided the kind of calories and energy soldiers in combat needed to keep them going until they could find a better meal.

Visitors to the Heritage Gallery will not only see items, but learn the stories behind them. K rations were developed during World War II by Ancel Keyes, University food science and nutrition professor. Even before the U.S. formally joined the war, Keyes was asked to develop a light-weight, nutritionally dense meal for troops in combat.

The K ration was among the first accomplishments for Keyes, who later discovered the low-fat, low-cholesterol Mediterranean Diet. During his illustrious academic career, he also did major studies on the effects of starvation, is credited with being the first scientist to demonstrate a link between heart disease and diet, and developed objective measures--including mathematical regressions and prediction equations--to observe body structure and function, their changes over time with aging, and their responses to extreme conditions.

Keyes founded the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene--a landmark institution for research and training in the new field that combined physiology, nutrition, epidemiology, and prevention researchs--in 1940 it was located under Memorial Stadium, Gate 27.

In 1941 he was commissioned by the government to study human performance during nutritional deficiency states. The first efforts in developing an emergency ration for troops in combat were said to resemble a typical bag lunch and were tested by soldiers at Fort Snelling. "We bought the stuff down at Witt's, the best market in the Twin Cities in those days," Keyes told an interviewer several years ago. "Six months later, I went down to Fort Benning, Georgia, to run more elaborate trials. Then General (Leslie) McNair, the chief of infantry at the time, said that this was going to be the combat ration because it was easy to hand out. The logistics were simple, that's all. But I was surprised when I saw the packages start to roll in with 'K' on them."

Eventually millions of the packages were produced and distributed as a staple for troops in World War II and Korea. As there were more pressing matters at hand, no one much cared about their origin or what the K stood for. Even on the University of Minnesota campus, Keyes' invention is a well-kept secret. "I didn't even know it had a University connection until Hammons came over and talked to us," Fixler says. "But I had always wondered why rations went A, B, C, D, and K."

For Fixler, who has a small collection of World War II memorabilia, finding the rations wasn't hard. "I called a friend in Virginia and he told me to call this guy in Illinois," he recalls. "I called him and he said, 'Sure, I have a set.' So I drove down to the show and picked it up. It was pretty simple if you know who to call." His willingness to drive the 600-mile round trip to Illinois to get a set of K rations is typical of ROTC members' efforts to preserve their history. "I was impressed by the sense of historicity and honor they have preserved in the Armory (the ROTC's campus home)," Hammons says. "There are some departments out there that have taken it upon themselves to preserve and display their own history, like the agricultural implements in Borlaug Hall. I'm really impressed by the good citizenship of those efforts."

The Heritage Gallery has been a focal point of the University Gateway since its inception. Recently, the Gateway Corporation, the nonprofit group developing the building, committed to putting all the resources necessary into the gallery to make it worthy of its mission. "It's going to be a unique spot on campus for persons to understand the history of the University and to project its values into the future," says Larry Laukka, '58, CEO of the Gateway Corporation, of the gallery, whose entrance will be the reconstructed Memorial Stadium Arch. "It's a pretty important 3,000 square feet out of a 230,000-square-foot building."

The University of Minnesota Gateway will be owned by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, the University of Minnesota Foundation, and the Minnesota Medical Foundation. Those organizations, along with many University departments like the Board of Regents, will be housed in the Gateway. It is on schedule for a fall 1999 opening. The grand opening, with the unveiling of the Heritage Gallery, is tentatively set for late fall 1999 or early winter 2000.

For more background on the Gateway and to view live construction photos, visit the UMAA website at http://www.umaa.umn.edu.

Legislative opportunities

Volunteers are key to funding success

One of the final steps to preparing the University for a new century comes in this year's legislative request. With the governor supportive of higher education increases but with pressure to hold down state spending overall, volunteer voices may make the difference in the outcome.

For the past two years there has been no more influential group of volunteers than the University of Minnesota Alumni Association (UMAA) Legislative Network. According to Regent William Peterson, the Legislative Network was the crucial difference in the University's bonding success in 1998. "You made the difference that the University of Minnesota was able to obtain that ($208 million) bonding bill," he told Legislative Network members in January. "I had legislators come up to me and say, 'We know you're a regent. Is there any way you can call the dogs off?' This year I want to hear every legislator say, 'Call the alumni association off.'"

In 1997, the legislative conference committee awarded the University a higher budget amount than either body had originally passed, a result some called almost unprecedented. Much of the credit was laid to a last-minute telephone and e-mail campaign by UMAA volunteers.

The unprecedented results of this fall's elections will make volunteer voices uniquely important this session. Since Governor Jesse Ventura set the legislative tone with his recent budget proposal and now holds veto power, reminding him of the importance of the University to the state is vital. "Volunteers deliver a key part of that message," Heen explains. "They can speak like no one else about how the University has touched their lives and continues to make a difference. That will make a difference when it comes time to make the hard decisions on spending."

With the Republican party returning to the majority in the Minnesota House of Representatives and the DFL party holding power in the Minnesota Senate, a unique situation has been created. "With a split legislature and a Reform party governor, no party holds a majority," Heen says. "The voices of volunteers will be absolutely critical to the success of most measures, especially in light of the need to balance spending priorities with the stated goal of cutting taxes."

Even alumni living outside Minnesota can have an impact by contacting legislators they know or in whose districts they have business ties, relatives, or summer homes.

The University is seeking an increase of $198 million over its last biennial appropriation. For details, see President Mark Yudof's letter in this issue.

Easy as 1-2-3
Being part of the Legislative Network and making a difference for the University is as easy as 1-2-3.

1) Determine how you want to reach your legislator. A face-to-face meeting is best. A phone call is nearly as effective. Ask to speak to legislators directly. If they're not in, state why you called and request a call back. Letters from constituents also get attention. Be sure to indicate if you live in the legislator's district.

2) Get to the point. A short letter works better than a long one. Say who you are, state your support for the U of M, and ask for a response. For extra impact, tell how the U affects you personally. If questioned, don't panic. You do not have to know everything about the University to be effective. If a legislator disagrees with you, don't argue; politely restate your position.

3) Remember to tell them "thank you." Legislators are people and nothing is more gratifying than a "thank you" or "well done."

To join the UMAA Legislative Network, call Les Heen at 612-626-0913 or send him an e-mail at heenx002@tc.umn.edu.

Alumni Connections

Doris Kearns Goodwin
coming June 2

Best-selling presidential biographer and political commentator Doris Kearns Goodwin will make history come alive at the 1999 UMAA Annual Meeting and Celebration on Wednesday, June 2, in Northrop Auditorium. "I think what the audience likes to hear are some of the stories that reveal the character and human traits of some of [the presidents] who might otherwise seem distant to them," she says. "The great thing is that as you accumulate more and more subjects, there are more and more great stories to share [and] all of the stories have some echo in the present day . . . Plus I like to talk about growing up in the 1950s. Life in that era is really meaningful to a lot of people, much more so than I even expected when I started to write my memoir."

Goodwin is author of four best-selling books, including No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Homefront in World War II, which won the 1995 Pulitzer Prize in history. Her most recent book is Wait Till Next Year, a memoir of growing up in the 1950s and her love for the Brooklyn Dodgers. She holds a Ph.D. in government from Harvard and taught there for 10 years. She also was an adviser to President Lyndon Johnson and helped him in preparing his memoirs. She is a frequent political commentator on PBS and NBC news programs.

Excerpts of an interview with Doris Kearns Goodwin will appear in Minnesota, the UMAA's members-only magazine. Tickets for the dinner and presentation will be available beginning in March. Details will be announced in the March-April issue of Minnesota and on the UMAA Website at http://www.umaa.umn.edu. Invitations will be mailed in March to previous ticket buyers and many others.

To receive an invitation for the 1999 UMAA Annual Meeting, call the alumni association at 612-624-2323 or 1-800-UM-ALUMS or send an e-mail to umalumni@tc.umn.edu.

Career assessment at a discount
Career path a little uncertain? The professionals at the University of Minnesota can help you. And if you are a member of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, they can help you at a discount.

The Career Assessment Package (CAP) is a service of the Career Development Center of University Counseling and Consulting Services. CAP is a five-phase package that creates a strategic career plan capitalizing on strengths and identifying areas for development. CAP uses numerous career, interest, values, and personality inventories and includes four individual counseling sessions. Ordinarily $350, the Career Assessment Package is available to UMAA members for $299.

For more information on the CAP and UMAA membership, call 612-624-2323 or 1-800-UM-ALUMS or send an e-mail to umalumni@tc.umn.edu.

Alumni connect through special interests
At a major urban university like Minnesota, finding where you fit in and feel comfortable is the greatest key to social success in a life-changing time. For many, those places and organizations become the ones they want to remain connected with and support once they graduate. That is why many alums are joining the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's Special Interest Groups.

Although there are only three such groups so far, they are growing fast. The Coffman Memorial Union (CMU) Alumni Group, for example, has gone from 27 members to more than 135 in 12 months, making it the association's fastest growing alumni group of any kind. "I really enjoyed being part of all the activities that went on at Coffman," says Terri Mische, '78, who was a night manager in the building. "Coffman crossed all disciplines. In [my college], you didn't necessarily get to know a lot of people, even in your major, so Coffman became a kind of home away from home."

"When I got out of college I wanted to make some connections," says Dor Koch, '96, of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Alumni Group. Koch came to Minnesota to earn his M.S. in chemistry. "I found it was kind of tough. There was some hostility, and I needed to have a place to touch base with GLBT people in my field."

The third interest group is called the Finnish Connection. It supports the University's academic and cultural ties to Finland.

"There are alumni out there who really want to support the University and share their unique experiences," says Bob Burgett, UMAA director of outreach. "By making membership in those groups free with a UMAA membership, we help that many more people connect with the U."

For more on forming an interest group or joining the UMAA and one of the existing groups, call 612-624-2323 or 1-800-UM-ALUMS (862-5867), send an e-mail to umalumni@tc.umn.edu, or visit the Web site at http://www.umaa.umn.edu.

40,000 and growing
The UMAA reached 40,000 dues-paying members this fall for the first time in its 95-year history. The landmark is just one step towards the association's goal of 50,000 members by the year 2000.

A large and active membership means the alumni association can launch and support important initiatives--mentor programs, awards and scholarships, advocacy efforts, spirit-raising events--to support today's students and help keep the University strong. A larger membership means the UMAA's voice has more clout in expressing alumni concerns in areas like regent selection and state funding priorities. A stable membership base also helps the UMAA fund its obligations to things like the University Gateway alumni-visitors center and provide more support to alumni events and programs on campus and around the world. Membership also is a solid indication of the spirit growing on campus and that alumni and friends support the direction in which the University is moving.

For information on UMAA membership, call 612-624-2323 or 1-800-UM-ALUMS or send an e-mail to umalumni@tc.umn.edu.

BranchOut online through UMAA
Looking for a way to connect with college-educated people in your field, living in your city, or sharing common interests? A program called BranchOut, now available to University of Minnesota alumni through the Alumni Association, uses the size and interactivity of the Internet to make that happen.

BranchOut is an online professional and social network. It has several features--from strictly social networks to classified ads to job openings--that bring together college graduates from across the world in self-defined networks.

Graduates can identify themselves by several variables, including academic information, careers, and hobbies and interests like off-line sports participation and volunteer work. BranchOut automatically notifies registering alumni of any common bonds they share with contacts they find. Mutual friends, hometowns, work experiences, and more help break the ice.

With more than two years experience online, BranchOut is one of the oldest and biggest networks around. It ensures members privacy by assigning its members aliases and routing all e-mail through a central server before forwarding it to members. Personal information is not sold to marketers.

BranchOut can be accessed directly at BranchOut.com or off the UMAA Web site http://www.umaa.umn.edu. The service is provided free by the UMAA.

A flood of support
Bills, junk mail, another credit card offer--most days, opening the mailbox seems pretty mundane. But after the University announced a $10 million gift from U of M alumnus Richard "Pinky" McNamara, his mail got a little more fun. In fact, the outpouring of support through personal letters and cards overwhelmed him. "I was deeply impressed by the fact that so many people actually sat down and took the time to write," says McNamara, a 1956 CLA graduate and starting halfback on the Gopher football team. "The letters came from every direction--people I'd gone to school with, people from my hometown of Hastings, business giants and legislators, University faculty and staff."

McNamara's gift will be used to improve the undergraduate student experience in liberal arts, for intercollegiate athletics, and to honor the achievements of alumni at the University Gateway, a new alumni and visitor center on the Twin Cities campus. Most of the letters, almost one hundred total, expressed gratitude for Pinky's willingness to share his success with others and his ongoing personal involvement with the U. "There was an overall tone of sincerity and enthusiasm in these notes. I'm glad to see that this gift is helping to motivate others to think about giving to the University." Pinky is responding to each of the letters with a short written note.