Nebraska Mayor Says No to Proposed ‘Tim Walz Day’ (Updated)

Nebraska Mayor Says No to Proposed ‘Tim Walz Day’ (Updated)

Thank goodness the mayor had common sense on this.

Campus Reform reports:

Nebraska mayor rejects Chadron State University’s ‘Tim Walz Day,’ says city ‘needs to stay out of politics’

The president of Chadron State College (CSC) recently announced its intent to create “Tim Walz Day” as part of an effort to improve the school’s name recognition based on Walz’s status as an alumnus of the Nebraska school. Mere hours after learning about the move, however, the mayor of Chadron reportedly shut down the initiative.

In comments made to The Chronicle of Higher Education, Chadron Mayor George Klein stated that his opposition to the occasion stemmed from his beliefs that the town’s major institutions should avoid conveying political biases.

“The city of Chadron needs to stay out of politics,” Klein said. “Chadron is a conservative town.”

After Walz was selected as Kamala Harris’ running mate in August, Chadron State President George Patterson stated his selection emphasized the importance of small colleges such as CSC in American society.

“Gov. Walz is an inspiring individual who demonstrates to all former, current, and future Chadron State College graduates that you can make a difference in the world,” Patterson said. “Even if you start at a small college in the corner of northwest Nebraska.”

Charles Welch, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, voiced similar sentiments, expressing a positive outlook on the move and stressing his view that Walz’s influence reflected positively on the value of small schools.

“Our institutions are producing individuals that could have the opportunity to be among the most powerful people in the world,” Welch said, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. “And I think that that really speaks volumes for what can be.”

Campus Reform has reported previously on a number of policies Walz supported as governor of Minnesota, including a law that gives illegal immigrants access to free college tuition across Minnesota’s two largest public university systems, provided that the immigrant’s family makes less than $80,000 per year.

UPDATE (by admin): We received the following email from Chadron State College:

I recently read a section of a story you wrote for the Legal Insurrection, “Nebraska Mayor Says No to Chadron State University’s Proposed ‘Tim Walz Day’,” (https://legalinsurrection.com/2024/09/nebraska-mayor-says-no-to-chadron-state-universitys-proposed-tim-walz-day/) that mentions Chadron State College and President Ron K. Patterson. The information included in that section detailing Chadron State College and President Patterson is incorrect, however.

It is important to know that “Tim Walz Day” was not an initiative or idea created by Chadron State College or President Patterson. The idea originated with individuals on the Chadron City Council. When asked about the idea, President Patterson was providing his support – something he would do for any alum of CSC if they were receiving such an honor. This interaction is described later in the article published by the Chronicle of Higher Education, which is cited in Campus Reform’s online story: https://www.campusreform.org/article/nebraska-mayor-rejects-chadron-state-universitys-tim-walz-day-says-city-needs-stay-politics/26349. The incorrect Campus Reform story was cited in your story, as well. Alex contacted the author of the Campus Reform article on Friday, and he said he would make the necessary corrections once they were approved by his editor.

* * *

Sincerely,

Mr. Alex Helmbrecht (he/him/his)
Director | College Relations

NOTE: The headline has been changed in light of the statement from the College. Campus Reform has not yet (9/19/2024 1:30 p.m. Eastern) updated or retracted its story.

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