MSUM’s final headcount was 7,436, up just 18 students from Fall 2000; our final full time equivalent number was up 1.5% from Fall 2000.

Our brightest area in the enrollment picture, he said, was the total of new entering freshmen, which, at 1,256, was up 4.5%.  New entering transfers also showed improvement and closed at 690 (+1.6%).

Tandberg had anticipated a total headcount of 7,500-7,550 students and that full time equivalent numbers would be up 3%.

“We would have made those projections handily,” he said, “except for the unanticipated declines in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program for high school students population (because local school districts need to keep as many of their high school students on their own payroll as possible) and the loss in undergraduate special students (the effect of Northwest Tech delivering some of their own general education classes). But the growth in new entering freshmen and transfers will serve us well in coming years.”

Nobody’s saluted it yet. But he’s hoping.

“I take a great interest in beauty,” said Stratton, who retired from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1985 after 30-year career teaching art on campus. “Flags are, and have been for centuries, rallying poles around which soldiers and people have gathered.”

And that’s been even more evident since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on America.

Unhappy with Minnesota’s current state flag, Stratton developed his own design, which has been evolving since the early 1990s. “I like flags and felt compelled to search for something simpler, more significant and clearly recognizable,” he said. “Most of all, I wanted a design that would have wide appeal and meaning for many people.”

Stratton submitted his design last year to the “It’s a Grand New Flag” contest sponsored by the Utne Reader, a nationally circulated alternative magazine headquartered in the Twin Cities. The contest was a spin-off of an article in the magazine last summer that focused on the blandness of most state flags.

Stratton’s design for a new Minnesota flag took first place the Utne Reader contest, announced earlier this month.

It wasn’t his first foray into the new flag design.

Two years ago Stratton sent his design to Senator Edward C. Oliver , R , Deephaven, Dist. 43, who that year introduced a bill calling for a study to look into changing the state flag. The senator began the inquiry because he wanted to know why more Minnesotans didn’t fly the state flag at their homes.

So far, no action has been taken on the bill, and it hasn’t yet been introduced in this session.

“The senator seemed to like my design and we’ve kept in touch,” Stratton said. “He hasn’t committed to my plan in so many words, and he is aware that there is at least one other pretty good design around the state.”

The other design, created by two Rochester, Minn., men, is similar to Stratton’s, although both parties came up with their designs separately.

It’s not the first time the state’s flag design has come under scrutiny. In 1989, a citizens’ coalition began a campaign for a new flag in preparation for the centennial of the first state flag . Two hearings were held in the House, but nothing happened despite endorsements for the change from international flag experts. Endorsements also came from both the Minneapolis and St. Paul daily newspapers.

So what’s all the flap over the current Minnesota flag?

“As a banner to promote the great state of Minnesota,” Stratton said, “the details are too small to be easily seen from any distance. It’s difficult to describe or draw. All the letters and numerals appear in reverse on the backside. And most critical of all, the old flag is barely distinguishable from at least 20 other state flags. It’s not memorable to our own citizens, let alone those visiting from afar.”

The current flag uses a version of the state seal against a blue background. Three dates are woven into the fabric: 1819, the date Fort Snelling was established; 1858, the date of statehood; and 1893, the year the official flag was adopted.

It’s emblazoned with 19 stars, symbolizing the fact that Minnesota was the 19th state to join the union. The state’s motto, “L’Etoile du Nord” (The Star of the North), also appears on a banner over an illustration of a farmer plowing a field and an Indian riding into the sunset. A wreath of the state flower, the lady slipper, surrounds the seal.

Stratton isn’t alone in his dislike of the current flag. The North American Vexillogical (the study of flags) Association ranks it 67th out of 72 state, provincial and territorial flags.

According to the Vexillogical Association, these are the five basic principles of good flag design:

* A flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory.
* A flag should use symbolism that is meaningful.
* A flag should only use two to three basic colors that contrast well and come from the standard color set..
* A flag should never use lettering or state seals because they appear reversed on one side of the flag.
* A flag should be distinctive but can use similarities to show connections to our history.

Stratton’s design is blue on top (symbolizing the sky), green on bottom (symbolizing summer), and split in half with a wavy white band (for winter). Centered in the top blue field is a large white star, representing the North Star.

“I designed it simply to make it quick and easy to recognize,” he said. “And I wanted a symbol of nature and the landscape dominated by a large North Star.

Stratton is now part of a campaign ( www.runestone.net/~ebachert ) to take the issue in front of the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives this spring, once the budget quarrel ends.

“We could easily see the whole thing end in the idea of change and the design being submitted to the citizens of the state to finally decide,” he said. “That’s what politicians do.”

Meanwhile, Stratton intends to continue flying his version of the Minnesota flag at his home, where it will flap in the sky over Rollag waiting for a verdict.

Ryan Sylvester, one of the area directors for MSUM’s Residential Life Department, said the decision was made last month after surveying students twice during the past two years and meeting with Hall Councils, Residence Hall Association and the Housing and Residential Life staff.

Currently 23 of the 50 floors in MSUM’s eight residence halls are dedicated to non-smoking students. This summer, smoking will be banned in all residential buildings and in individual rooms.

So far, Sylvester said, the Housing & Residential Life office hasn’t received any negative feedback concerning the decision. He said the decision should not only improve the health and visual environment in the residence halls, it will reduce conflicts among roommates and other students over smoking issues.

MSUM currently can accommodate 1,689 students in the residential halls. This number will increase as MSUM's newest apartment building, "Neumaier II," comes on-line fall semester 2002.

Reed, who has won every major Minnesota music award, including Artist of the Year and Folksinger of the Year, offers original music on a variety of themes. She is most noted for her philosophy regarding women’s issues.

Reed has performed at world renown folk festivals, including Bumbershoot and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. She has also received recognition from Billboard magazine and the National Association of Independent Recording Distributors, as well as from several non-profit groups, most recently the Girl Scouts.

The concert is part of the Women Alive! Series sponsored by the MSUM Women’s Center. Co-sponsors of the event include the MSUM Alumni Foundation and the Red River Women’s Network.

For more information on Ann Reed, visit her website at: http://www.annreed.com