Starting in early 1994, I worked for my first-ever newspaper, The Northern Student, the student newspaper at Bemidji State University, where I attended and received my bachelor's degree in mass communication. Over three years, I would be a staff writer, news editor, managing editor and editor. I wrote everything from news stories to feature stories to sports stories to opinion pieces. It was the greatest training ground a journalist could ever have, and I am grateful to the many talented people I worked alongside in my years at The NS.
Oct. 26, 1994
By Devlyn Brooks
News Editor
Representatives of faculty, administration and students met Tuesday, Oct. 25, to review and discuss BSU's current mission statement and vision.
According to information distributed at the seminar, a mission statement is an attempt to define the purpose and goals of a university. It is also used to guide an institution in its future direction.
President Jim Bensen said, "Mission statements (generally) aren't inspiring. When people read our mission statement, they say, 'I have read that in every college catalog.' It's kind of flat. We are trying to revitalize the mission statement."
University leaders, such as deans, department chairs, faculty and administrative officials, met Sept. 16 to take an "audit of our operations," review strengths and weaknesses, and reconsider BSU's mission statement, said Benson.
Tuesday's meeting was led by Bensen, Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Linda Baer and Dr. Fulton Gallagher. Baer recapped the information discussed at the Sept. 16 meeting to show common themes that were reached. Gallagher led a session in which people brainstormed words and phrases that should appear in the new mission statement.
A team of writers, yet to be decided, will now be assigned the task of incorporating the feelings of the seminar into the new statement. The new statement will then be presented to the campus as a whole for ratification. After approval by the campus, the Minnesota State University Board must also give their consent.
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