[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 154 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN HONOR OF MSUSA'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, on November 7, 1997, the 
Minnesota State University Student Association [MSUSA] will celebrate 
its 30th Anniversary of representing Minnesota State University 
students.
  MSUSA is an advocate organization which was formed in 1967 as an 
informal coalition of student leaders. Today, it represents more than 
60,000 students at Minnesota's state universities in Bemidji, Mankato, 
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Moorhead, St. Cloud, Marshall, and Winona.
  MSUSA is an independent, nonprofit corporation funded and operated by 
students. In order to fulfill its main objectives--affordable, quality 
and accessible State university education--students have taken an 
activist approach to establish affordable tuition and child care 
facilities, increase student work study wages, simplify transfer 
between institutions, improve cultural diversity, and advocate fair 
State and Federal financial aid programs including those in the Higher 
Education Reauthorization Act.
  In assisting State university students achieve their goals and voice 
their concerns, MSUSA provides liaisons to the Governor's office, the 
legislature, the board of trustees of MnSCU, the Minnesota Higher 
Education Services Council, the inter faculty organization, Congress, 
the administration, and the U.S. Department of Education.
  One of MSUSA's most outstanding activities is the Penny Fellowship 
Program, which encourages students to take a leadership role in serving 
their communities by performing internships in public and community 
service. Other noteworthy programs include the MSUSA newspaper, the 
Monitor, which has the largest circulation of any State system student 
organization, and the MSUSA Cultural Diversity Project, which fosters 
understanding and cooperation of students from all cultural 
backgrounds.
  Finally, Mr. President, I would like to recognize and congratulate 
the current officers of MSUSA, who are: Francis Klinkner, State chair 
from Mankato State University; Garret Melby Aanerud, vice chair from 
Moorhead State University; and Frank X. Viggiano, executive director. 
Their hard work on behalf of Minnesota students has led them to many 
successes, and I'm sure their continuing effort will mean a better-
educated and a more productive Minnesota. 

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