2008 Woodie Awards
Governor Visit Mandates Role for Mines
By Mike Stone
3/28/07 - News
The Colorado School of Mines band played the school fight song and a breeze blew across the crowd of nearly 200 spectators.
Governor Bill Ritter finished his tour of the Colorado School of Mines and gave a speech to the students, parents, and community members.
The address focused around Colorado's Energy Budget and the nation's need to expand more quickly into renewable energies.
Gov. Ritter started by offering memories of a national Governor's meeting he attended a short while ago.
"We determined that the world economy, in the future, will need great minds in science and mathematics. The Colorado School of Mines is a perfect example of how we can lead the world by following this path."
Throughout the speech, Ritter voiced gratitude to schools like CSM because they are leading the future industries with new discoveries every day.
Ritter expanded on the subject, saying: "The Energy Budget is both a National Security issue and an Economic Security issue. Colorado can become a leader in changing our dependency on carbon by setting an example for other states. It is both a national and a state issue."
Efforts have already been put into process. Ritter announced that "a bill is on its way to my desk that has already passed the Colorado house…that will make 20% of all Colorado utilities be renewable by 2020."
After the speech, a forum was opened to the Governor and three questions were raised.
First, Ritter was asked if Mines could help in any way with Colorado's Energy Budget.
Ritter responded: "By being a leading energy research facility as Mines is. It is important to keep up good relations between these facilities and state offices."
Ritter also responded to a raise in higher education funding question put forth by Casey Morse, Student Body President.
"If Colorado were to put forth all the money necessary for every student seeking higher education this year, it would cost 850 million dollars and frankly, we just don't have the money. Believe me, we want to, but there's no way to achieve it right now."
Finally, Ritter was asked how Mines is to get a higher graduation rate, as it is currently graduating 65-70% of incoming students.
"There is a bill underway to help such efforts that will get students better acquainted with college starting in high school and even lower. This way we can ensure our future."
The forum went smoothly and was well received. As a closing, Ritter was given a Mines sweatshirt and blue Mining Hard Hat.
"I was very pleased with his visit," said Harold Cheuvront, Vice President and Dean of Students. "He made the time to come out here within the first six months of his term, he was genuinely attentive and interested, and he made us feel as if his being here was the most important thing to him at that point in time. Certainly, his focus on working with CSM on the State's energy economy is important to the School and to the State of Colorado."
There is an ongoing invitation for the Governor to return anytime he wishes to visit.
Governor Bill Ritter finished his tour of the Colorado School of Mines and gave a speech to the students, parents, and community members.
The address focused around Colorado's Energy Budget and the nation's need to expand more quickly into renewable energies.
Gov. Ritter started by offering memories of a national Governor's meeting he attended a short while ago.
"We determined that the world economy, in the future, will need great minds in science and mathematics. The Colorado School of Mines is a perfect example of how we can lead the world by following this path."
Throughout the speech, Ritter voiced gratitude to schools like CSM because they are leading the future industries with new discoveries every day.
Ritter expanded on the subject, saying: "The Energy Budget is both a National Security issue and an Economic Security issue. Colorado can become a leader in changing our dependency on carbon by setting an example for other states. It is both a national and a state issue."
Efforts have already been put into process. Ritter announced that "a bill is on its way to my desk that has already passed the Colorado house…that will make 20% of all Colorado utilities be renewable by 2020."
After the speech, a forum was opened to the Governor and three questions were raised.
First, Ritter was asked if Mines could help in any way with Colorado's Energy Budget.
Ritter responded: "By being a leading energy research facility as Mines is. It is important to keep up good relations between these facilities and state offices."
Ritter also responded to a raise in higher education funding question put forth by Casey Morse, Student Body President.
"If Colorado were to put forth all the money necessary for every student seeking higher education this year, it would cost 850 million dollars and frankly, we just don't have the money. Believe me, we want to, but there's no way to achieve it right now."
Finally, Ritter was asked how Mines is to get a higher graduation rate, as it is currently graduating 65-70% of incoming students.
"There is a bill underway to help such efforts that will get students better acquainted with college starting in high school and even lower. This way we can ensure our future."
The forum went smoothly and was well received. As a closing, Ritter was given a Mines sweatshirt and blue Mining Hard Hat.
"I was very pleased with his visit," said Harold Cheuvront, Vice President and Dean of Students. "He made the time to come out here within the first six months of his term, he was genuinely attentive and interested, and he made us feel as if his being here was the most important thing to him at that point in time. Certainly, his focus on working with CSM on the State's energy economy is important to the School and to the State of Colorado."
There is an ongoing invitation for the Governor to return anytime he wishes to visit.
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