Foo-foo Dust

The Rochester Higher Education Development
Committee recommends the establishment of a world class institution that leverages the University of Minnesota's research capability, in
partnership with IBM, Mayo Clinic, and other industry leaders to build signature academic and research programs that complement southeast Minnesota's existing leadership roles in health sciences, biosciences, engineering, and technology. Educational programs will provide application to economic activities via innovation, translational research and clinical experiences. This institution will have a distinct identity and one governing entity. This institution will be the University of Minnesota Rochester.

-- Rochester Higher Education Development committee vision statement.

"These are all buzz words. This is foo-foo dust. It really looks good when you throw it up in the air, and it glistens as it comes down to the ground. Then you get a broom and sweep it up and throw it away."

-- State Representative Gene Pelowski (DFL - Winona) reacting to the release of Rochester Higher Education Development Committee report to Governor Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota legislature, as reported in the Rochester Post-Bulletin.



Rep. Pelowski should read the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee Report to Governor Tim Pawlenty and the Minnesota Legislature. I have. It IS a great document. Here are some highlights.

"Rochester's confluence of world-class medicine, advanced technology and bioscience industry makes it uniquely poised to be a major player in the 21st century bio-economy. This potential cannot be fully realized without further investments, most notably in the area of human capital generated through a research university and associated academic programs. Partnerships between the University of Minnesota, IBM, Mayo Clinic, and related businesses position the State of Minnesota to become one of the fastest growing and dynamic biomedical economics in the world." (p. 5)

"Currently, 40 states specifically target the biosciences for development and all 50 states have economic development initiatives available to assist bioscience companies. Other states are investing aggressively in a comprehensive range of bioscience programs to promote research and commercialization. Many are pursuing bioscience development strategies including strengthening research, increasing university-industry collaborations, and enhancing their business development support." (p. 7)

" Rochester has key private-sector research and develompent engines, but national studies prove that the presence of a major research university is also required to really power the knowledge economy and to provide the skilled human capital required to populate and grow innovation-driven enterprises." (p. 14)

Hardly the "foo-foo dust" Winona (State) DFL Rep. Pelowski claims it to be. His attitude is typical of the DFL whenever Rochester advances the four-year university proposal. It is time for bold investments in the economic and educational future of southeastern Minnesota.

Rochester's detractors have opposed the growth of educational and business opportunities in our region as outlined the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee (RHEDC) in one form or another for at least 30 years. The reasons are myriad.

The "foo-foo dusters" fear their slice of the funding pie will be reduced if the U of M - Rochester project is advanced. They argue that Rochester doesn't really need a four-year university since WSU is only about an hour away and the city is "overcrowded" with institutions that offer baccalaureate and masters' degrees - even doctorates, if you look hard enough .

The U of M - Rochester concept is unique, however. It will offer signature courses available at no other institution in the state. Biomedical Informatics, Computational Biology, Nanotechnology and Pharmacogenics are only a few of the distinct course offerings listed in the RHEDC report (pp. 18-23).

In addition, the U of M - Rochester curriculum will incorporate business education concepts such as entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership with a view to economic development. As stated in the RHEDC report, "These skills are essential to the transfer of technology to the marketplace leading to significant economic development for the area, state, and nation." (p. 24).

Also, they turn a blind eye to the fact that Rochester is Minnesota's third largest city. It is the home of the Mayo Clinic, arguably one of the top two medical research institutions in the world. IBM Rochester has developed the world's fastest supercomputer, BlueGene. Biomedical and technological advances run on parallel tracks in southeastern Minnesota. Powerful partnerships have taken place, but in order to bring the two fields together in the most comprehensive and economically profitable manner, we need a research institution of the highest caliber. Hence the U of M - Rochester concept.

Saying that Rochester has to support the whole system if it wants consideration for the project, as DFL State Senator Sandy Pappas suggests, is a mix of blackmail and the repackaging of the same old excuses to keep our educational and economic aspirations down.

If "our" area legislators have questions or reservations about the committee report, they are just a cover. Reps. Andy Welti and Tina Liebling in particular have proven to be puppets of the Twin Cities DFL. They will do or not do and say or not say what Matt Entenza, or whoever their next caucus leader is, tells them.

Assuming that all legislators are decent people who will do the right thing in an election year is a naïve approach to a pivotal issue. Senator Sheila Kiscaden's sincerity on the U of M - Rochester concept is in doubt. Her party switches over the years have been dictated by political convenience rather than moral conviction. Her ability to promote the idea of a U of M - Rochester within the DFL caucus is D.O.A. unless, she can convince Winona State University Rep. Gene "Foo-foo Dust" Pelowski and others to drop their petty parochial antipathy toward Rochester's educational and economic progress. Kiscaden talks a good game while in the district. Always has but so far hasn't delivered.

There is a difference between "being known" as the champion for a Rochester university and getting in the rink to fight for it. Governor Tim Pawlenty is the true Rochester university champion. And as someone who has followed the issue for the last decade, I think that State senator Dave Senjem and retiring Rep. Fran Bradley have done more in a practical way to advance the idea than our own chameleon senator.

Southeastern Minnesota voters need to understand that the U of M - Rochester project is not even on the DFL's radar screen. Kiscaden will dance the dance and say a lot about it without saying much.

DFL Reps. Andy Welti and Tina Liebling will either equivocate or remain mum on the U of M - Rochester project because they know where the Twin Cities/Iron Range DFL leadership stands on the issue. They know their place and will not dare stand up for the community they should represent above all other interests, whether they are personal or their party's.

They are welcome to prove me wrong.