Unless you are a student (or a prof), you likely relate to the University of Minnesota through their sports teams. It is, perhaps unfortunately, the principal face of the University to the outside world. That said and although there are many problems with Division I college athletics, I too, am an avid follower of U of M teams. It is particularly satisfying to see to see the success of women's' sports.
But the treasure that is the University of Minnesota is not the athletic programs. It is so much more ...
You don't have to be an enrolled student to reap the benefits of one of the country's great land grant universities. The U of M was one of the beneficiaries of the 1862 Morrill Act that established colleges on federally controlled land throughout the country. The intent was to foster "practical education in agriculture, military science and engineering". The U's administration building is named Morrill Hall to commemorate that legacy.
Maybe you have insatiable curiosity. The U of M has a robust continuing education program (ccaps.mn.edu) which offers degree programs but also a myriad of enrichment classes for life-long learners. The Headliners series offers distinguished speakers on a wide variety of topics once a month during the school year. The Learning Life program offers short courses on such a wide range of subjects, you will surely find something that touches you (see Minnesota Daily article).
Maybe there's a topic you'd like to know more about. The main University libraries (Walter Library & Wilson Library + numerous specialty libraries) are available to the general public. Check out the Borchert Map library in the basement of Walter - you'll be amazed. There are almost always interesting exhibits to take in. For example, you have until March 23, 2019 to see Mysterious Beauty: Photographs by Thomas Rose at the Architecture and Landscape Library in Rapson Hall. If you're interested in computers/information technology, check out the Charles Babbage Institute in the Elmer L Andersen Library. You might recognize the name Seymour Cray, a U of M grad, instrumental in making Minnesota the super computer capital of the world.
Maybe you like architecture. Take a stroll through the campus and you will find the modern architecture of Frank Geary's Weisman Art Museum, the (for me) hard to like 'brutalist" architecture - Malcom Moos Towers & Ralph Rapson's Rarig Center. The Architecture Building (Rapson Hall) designed by Steven Holl won the American Architecture prize for innovative design. The interior of Shevlin Hall is stupendous. And don't neglect the classical architecture of the University Mall.
Maybe you like honoring discoverers. Take a stroll down the Scholar's Walk, honoring achievements of U of M professors and alumni.
Maybe you like art. Art is everywhere on the campus, indoors and out, from the Weisman Museum to the amazing stainless steel outdoor art of Julian Voss-Andrea. And that's just a start. There are galleries all over the place.
Maybe you like statuary. They're everywhere. Just keep your head up as you walk around.
Maybe you like film or theater. Northrup Auditorium hosts events that vary from dance, theater, film, authors to wrestling matches (see Takedown Northrup).
Maybe you like plays, dance or opera. The Rarig Center is home for University Theater and Dance.
Maybe you get sick. The University Medical Center is world renowned and a leader in medical research. The cardiac pacemaker was invented by Earl Bakken, a U of M alum.
Maybe your cat gets sick. The University's Veterinary department is world renowned. And the Small Animal Hospital has an emergency room.
Maybe you are starving. Agronomist Norman Borlaug won a Nobel prize for his work in developing hardy wheat plants that dramatically reduced world hunger.
Maybe you like music. Nobel prize winner for Literature in 2017, Bob Dylan attended the U of M.
Maybe you like bookstores. U of M has a good one in Coffman Union.
Maybe you want to do a self assessment. The MMPI - Minnesota Multi-phasic Personality Inventory was developed at the U in 1943.
Maybe you like to walk in the rain. Robert Gore invented Gore-Tex.
Maybe you like rappelling. Try the Armory tower.
Maybe you breakfast on "food shot from guns". Puffed rice was invented by a U of M grad.
Maybe you got to this post through this link. The "Gopher Protocol", which introduced "hyperlinks", was the predecessor to WWW.
Maybe you like ice cream. Can't beat Annie's Parlor in Dinkytown.
Copyright © 2018 Dave Hoplin
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