U of M President welcomes students to Spring 2009 Semester

[grunder20]

good luck to all freshmen!

[thegreeensky]

nice words sir...

[azstong]

The dialogue (president) Robert Bruininks has with his students, is vital & at least he listens to their point of view. GOPHER NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pears503]

I love the U of M. And I am paying for a college experience, not just an education.

Collegiate athletics are a huge part of the experience, and a new stadium will provide that .

I could use Walmart as an analogy. They cut overhead costs to provide the customer with the best prices. As a result, the stores are dirty, cluttered and poorly organized.

The U could do the same, but it would lead to poor student moral, lack of funding for future generations, and a general lack of school pride.

[iLUVcheez383]

Here's an idea, Bruiniks: Stop spending money on construction and athletics, and show that you actually give a shit about your students by making an effort to lower tuition!

[lelumina]

Wow, I was surprised to see so many negative comments. Such is the world of anonymity (excluding Prof. William Messing of course).

I think it is great that President Bruininks is utilizing youtube to communicate with the university community. Thanks for the link.

[JoannaO]

I'm glad to see that the access problem was addressed by adding captions.

[pondo4life]

There is a whisper among us, speaking soft gossip into the ears of the community. It is not the fault of the voice, because it only passes on what it heard--but does it only hear what it wants to?

That is misconception.

In order to come together as a University community through these times, it is important that we communicate facts, put aside pettiness, work together towards options. The University is a great resource, we need to be the solution and the support.

[pondo4life]

Also, make no mistake. A strong University collaborates with industry. Through this partnership jobs appear, research is applied, centers are funded and technology is commercialized. It is not evil, but good. It is not a monopoly over the freedom of academia, but an opportunity to join forces towards a better tomorrow-a real avenue to the ROI from education. You go to school to expand your ideas, find yourself, and get a job. Why cant industry help?

Corporate involvement on campus provides

[pondo4life]

The football stadium is a beacon of what our community can do when it pulls together--supported by the people who will enjoy the resource,partake in the history it will bring, and enjoy the memories there-after.

In the grand scheme of things, a student fee that equals the cost of a meal and happy hour, is a great investment on the return that this stadium will bring. For the non-sport fans, a student somewhere is paying for something that they will never use--but you need.Its about community

[pondo4life]

As an employee of the University, I am very excited about the vision of our President--a man who is respected by the community, gracious with his time, and resilient in a time when many would back down.

There are two issues on the table that seem to be placed there by community members with short-sighted views and impeded realities. A football stadium and the support of the corporate community are two very good examples of how the University is working towards its goal of a Top 3 U.

[ginnyc001]

This video was another "light bulb" moment on why I left the U, not wanting to offer one more dollar. I can not support such an establishment, nor will my children, EVER. A suggestion to others: Get off the alumni list!!!! Let the retired athletes offer support, since most money received is not going towards an education anyway.

[Rstegs]

College isn't all about education Ginny, sports brings in a large amount of students (whether they play or not) based entirely on the atmosphere it creates for the students. Teams with more air time on national television entice people to look into that university.

Also, deciding things for your children which should rightfully be their choice is a horrible way to parent. Watch them rebel.

[Chick6517]

this is the type of video that i love it was great and entertaining great for when at the office bored you guys know what i mean.

[Dizlexus]

selling out to corporations is not progress - the UofM looks and functions more corporation and less like an instution of learning every year.This prez is a big part of the problem.

[AmericanPatriot888]

Tuition complaints below are unjust and are indicative of an "entitled" mindset by some of today's students. If parents had worked hard and saved money instead of spending frivolously on things they didnt need, then their children wouldn't need free tuition. Plenty of scholarships exist. Army ROTC provides 4 year scholarships to students with solid G.P.A. Those students get to serve their country and receive many benefits not offered by most corporations. Pursue opportunities, don't complain!

[AmericanPatriot888]

President Bruininks is doing a great job managing the university in a challenging time. We can't stop making improvements just because the economy is in a recession. We need something to build on as we come out of the recession, so things like the stadium will pay off in the end, both financially and in quality of life for students, faculty, alumni, and other Gopher fans. By the way - the stadium was started well before the recession began.

[maxisinthehouse]

First of all: Sit up straight for cryin' out loud. We learn that in kindergarten! Secondly, I am pleasantly surprised to read all the critical comments; I think our students, faculty and staff are running out of patience and good will. We need real teeth in the University's strategic plan, not a shiny stadium on the hill.

[ironkitten82]

I'd really like to know who the hell is getting these $6k scholarships, because I'm certainly not. Or is that figure taking into account the people who get nothing and the people who get full rides?

[lelumina]

Yes, that is how you make an average.

[frien023]

I just finished my undergrad degree at the U and I also work full time there (only because I got free schooling working full time, not because I actually like working here!!!), and I have to say that the U is truly pathetic. Hey Pres., how about giving up some of your grossly large salary so that myself and my co-workers don't get laid off with this new budget crisis. And a $6,000 scholarship will cover HALF of ONE semester. Not a huge help, really. I am truly ashamed of my alma mater.

[MyLifeIsOfficeSpace]

I just graduated from the U of M and I also work full time there (because it paid my tuition), and I have to say that the U of M is truly pathetic. Hey Pres., how about giving up some of your grossly huge salary so me and my co-workers don't get "laid off?" And, $6,000 in scholarships? That is HALF of ONE semester. Not a huge help when it takes most students between 8 and 12 semesters to graduate with their undergrad degree. Buddy, you're not fooling anyone.

[pears503]

To all the people complaining about the stadium:

The Student fee is covering $10.5 million of the total $288 Million cost of the stadium. The fee is $25 per year.

The stadium is generating $2.5 million annually from private donations to support student scholarships. At 51,140 students (The current student population) This amounts to $48.89 per student, and a net profit of 23.89 per student.

Think about it.

[pdcanser]

this is truly terrible. if the last two minutes of the video were meant to "humanize" him, they failed. however, i'm really excited for all the new projects currently underway.

[williammessing]

Dear Mr. President,

You disgrace the University of Minnesota, each and every time you open your mouth. If you dime's worth of integrity you would promptly resign.

Yours truly,

William Messing

Professor, School of Mathematics

University of Minnesota

[sojithesoulja]

You're a professor? Shouldn't you know proper grammar?

[williammessing]

I do know proper grammar. I am a poor typist and I did not write "If you had a dime's worth of integrity ...". Thank you for noting my typographical error.

Yours truly,

William Messing

[sirmacbain]

You asked "Shouldn't you know proper grammar?" whereas I think you meant to ask "Shouldn't you use correct grammar?"

Proper has a different meaning than what you are trying to imply. Improper grammar would be using a conjunction is speech (i.e. improper grammar is correct but contextually off). Also, there is a difference between knowing grammar rules and employing them.

To sum up my point, don't be an ass.

[Rstegs]

Way to go Prof!

[ashkoh]

That created more questions for me! Why am I being charged a huge "stadium fee" if it's being privately funded? Why is there a job and salary freeze while President Bruininks gets paid more than the president of MIT and Tim Brewster gets more money than THAT? And why was the last third of this movie dedicated to HIS experiences? I don't care about his memories. I care about my paycheck, my tuition, and my financial aid.

[donkeylose5]

Agreed. I Will submit that the 'Stadium Fee' is relatively small, $25. In this video, Bruniniks says, "No University resources, other than athletics revenue, will go to actually fund the stadium." How is the stadium fee accounted for after I pay my tuition bill? Is it, perhaps, classified as athletics revenue?

[markymarc1212]

It's great to hear that the U is able to build a zillion dollar football staduim but will probably have to lay off hundreds of employees and hike tuition costs in an effort to absorb the estimated $27 million dollar budget cut. Being both a U employee and student I will make sure to buy season tickets once I am laid off and can no longer afford a higher education!!!! Go Gophers?

[meisterluv]

$6k in scholarships??? When and where has this been happening??

[trevajoh]

smoke some weed!

[ntertainer333]

Great video! It's always good to be reminded that the people that make the tough decisions were in our position at some point. Can't wait to have TCF Bank Stadium and the new Student Services building finished. They're going to look awesome. Rah!

[mtf10]

Dear Robert,

Please help graduate assistants get out of poverty.

All the best,

A starving graduate assistant

[bellzer2007]

wow.

[humboldt2000]

GO GOPHERS!

[pfhyper]

President Bruininks: What if I'm deaf? How do I access this information? Pretty sure ADA & Section 508 requires this to be accessible. Is it going to take a law suit to get the U of MN to understand making content accessible?

[ntertainer333]

Use the closed caption button found at the far right of the toolbar on the bottom of the video. And chill out, no need to threaten with law suits before you get a simple question answered. That'll make you look silly.

[pfhyper]

Thanks! I didn't know YouTube had that feature available. I assume the poster has to add their own text?

[pfhyper]

And yes, I suppose I do look silly now. Oh well, won't be the first time.

[jware09]

To answer your question ...yes, the poster does need to enter their own text.

[azstong]

Some interesting questions & points raised.

I don`t agree with the girl who said that the building of TCF BANK STADIUM is insignificant, it will benefit the university & the state greatly & produce a lot of money for the local economy(i think?)

GOPHER NATION!!!!!!!!!

[Rstegs]

President Robert Bruininks, we never got a chance to ask you specific questions (or if so, I never heard of anything)... lets not BS the public to present yourself in a better light.

[gopher07alum]

I saw the camera crew set up in Coffman last semester asking people if they wanted to ask the pres a question. You must have missed it. You shouldn't take a swing if you don't know what you are talking about.

[Rstegs]

This is coming from someone who made their user account name "GOPHER07alum". This makes any argument you may have had invalid. Best regards, Rstegs.

[gopher07alum]

How does my username make my point invalid? Because I am proud to be an alum? I was a student, simply pointing out that the University made a good faith effort.

I might not agree with a lot of what the U does, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be proud of our school.