I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.
Sept. 2, 1999
By Devlyn Brooks
Leech Lake Tribal College President Larry Aitken was relieved of his duties by the college's board of trustees, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe announced Wednesday.
Aitken -- who has served as the college's only president since it opened in 1990 -- will be replaced by Interim President John Morrow, the school's former dean of students.
Leech Lake Tribal Council Chairman Eli Hunt said Wednesday the council -- which also serves as the school's board -- encountered "major philosophical differences regarding the direction of the college."
He said the main concern was the college's lack of accreditation with the North Central program, which has led to problems concerning transferability of credits and funding for students.
"(Aitken) is to be commended for his years of service and commitment to our tribal college. He was instrumental in the establishment of the college," Hunt said. "We believe that Larry has done what he can for our college and that it is time to bring in someone new, a president with a vision and an educational philosophy that furthers the mission of the college and enhances the vision and philosophy of the trustees."
Hunt said Morrow took control of the college Wednesday and will form a search committee to find a permanent replacement for Aitken.
He added that Morrow, although a "very skilled administrator," will probably not be the permanent replacement because the board wants someone with a doctorate.
Pioneer attempts Wednesday to reach Aitken and Morrow were unsuccessful.
Hunt said in recognition of Aitken's work he was offered a position as an instructor at the college.
"Larry has a wealth of knowledge to share with students, and he is an excellent teacher," Hunt said. "We hope he accepts our offer."
Hunt said during Aitken's presidency, the college was accredited at the vocational school level, but it is the board's goal to reach accreditation at the higher education level.
"We're not satisfied that sufficient efforts were made to achieve accreditation," he said.
Leech Lake Tribal College, which opened in 1990 in the former Cass Lake-Bena High School in Cass Lake, has an enrollment of about 155 students -- with students still registering -- for the semester beginning Wednesday, according to a school official.
A normal semester's attendance is about 250 students, the spokeswoman said.
The college offers degrees in programs such as law enforcement, business, language and culture, casino operations and elementary education.
"The board wants to maintain a curriculum that is grounded in the spirituality, history and culture of our people," Hunt said, "while ensuring that our curriculum meets or exceeds the higher education standards of non-tribal colleges."
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