The University is celebrating Founders’ Week starting Monday with a variety of events on campus.
The celebration marks the University’s 151st birthday on Feb. 25, a day after a performance by the University Concert Choir at the St. Paul Cathedral will draw the events to a close.
“Last year, we celebrated sesquicentennial Founders’ Week and it was a huge success,” said Robert Jones, vice president for campus life and vice provost for faculty and academic personnel, in a statement released Thursday.
“This year, building on that success, we’ll start a tradition of celebrating the University’s history and achievements with a variety of events that everyone can enjoy. We’re excited about starting a new tradition,” Jones said.
Students can pick up free chili Monday on Northrop Mall for the event’s kickoff and ice cream Wednesday and Friday at the St. Paul Student Center.
Ira Glass of Minnesota Public Radio will interview comic artist and author Chris Ware on Monday night at 7:30 in Ted Mann Concert Hall.
On Tuesday night, College of Architecture and Landscpae Architecture Dean Thomas Fisher and Steven Holl, Time magazine’s 2001 architect of the year, will lecture on contemporary design at Ted Mann Concert Hall. Tickets are $20 and $25.
For $195, students can go dog sledding in Cloquet, Minn., on Friday.
Betsy Seaman, a junior retail merchandising student, said she doesn’t plan on attending any Founders’ Week events because she’s busy, they are costly and she doesn’t like chili.
“I remember reading about (the sled dogs) last year. It just seems like it’d be fun because then you could say ‘mush.’ But I can’t go now because it’s too expensive,” Seaman said.
On a Wednesday afternoon forcasted to be unseasonably warm, students will have an opportunity to build their own snowshoes at the St. Paul Student Center. Participants must register in advance, and tickets are $70 for students and $90 for general audience members.
Jagged Ease is performing a free concert at the St. Paul Student Center on Thursday from noon to 1 p.m.
Free maroon and gold snow cones are available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Friday at the St. Paul Student Center.
Travis Reed welcomes comments at [email protected]