Troubled Waters
University of Minnesota Vice President Karen Himle resigns after Troubled Waters brouhaha
University of Minnesota Vice President for University Relations Karen Himle resigned today, after months of dispute over her attempt to suppress or delay the Troubled Waters documentary.MORE »
More Troubled Waters: University emails reveal big fear of big ag
Late last Friday the University of Minnesota released more than 2,500 pages of documents regarding the film Troubled Waters. The film originally was pulled from its TPT premiere by U of M Vice President for University Relations Karen Himle on September 7 and later rescheduled after the University took a serious hit from the press and the community for what was viewed as censorship and a threat to academic freedom. MORE »
Troubled Waters: Himle's apology and her emails
Karen Himle's "apology" made the front page in the Star Tribune Saturday, but the folks digging through 2500 newly-released emails are finding it hard to believe. Some of the first emails made public show Himle's contempt for the film and its producers, and don't give much evidence of concern for academic freedom. MORE »
U of M President Bruininks, faculty: Academic freedom at stake in Troubled Waters brouhaha
UPDATED 9/28/2010 6 p.m.: Yes - academic freedom is at stake in the attempt to stop the premiere of Troubled Waters documentary, said President Robert Bruininks in a statement issued late today. Faculty had already called for a full-scale investigation of why the premiere was canceled by U of M University Relations vice president Karen Himle. On blogs and in classrooms, U of M faculty, students and staff called the move censorship by the university. MORE »
"Troubled Waters"—You can see it!
After canceling the premiere of the Troubled Waters documentary sparked outrage and complaints, the University of Minnesota has now decided to allow the film to be shown at the Bell Museum on October 3, as originally scheduled. The press release was issued late in the afternoon on September 23, so we will have more to report over the weekend. MORE »
"Troubled Waters": What we saw, why you can't see it
The latest wrinkle in the Troubled Waters controversy is that the University doesn't "own" the film. A final "Project Abstract" was completed by the film's producer, Barbara Coffin, on September 7, and the film was delivered to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), the legislative body responsible for overseeing $349,000 in funds for the documentary project.
What this means as far as an official release remains to be seen, but I viewed Troubled Waters at LCCMR on Monday, along with another reporter. MORE »
U of M decision on "Troubled Waters" questioned by commission, other funders
The University of Minnesota looks to be getting itself into deeper hot water. After pulling the film "Troubled Waters" weeks before its premiere for "scientific review," the department of University Relations sent out a statement late yesterday asserting that University officials were reviewing the film to see if it "meets the specifications of the legislative appropriation to the University." The documentary was funded in large part by the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) through the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.MORE »
Who pulled the plug on University of Minnesota's "Troubled Waters"?
[UPDATED 9/16/10—See box below.] Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story has been nearly four years in the making. A team of researchers, filmmakers, and scientists have been up and down the Mississippi River, knee deep in swamps and icy waters, and elbow deep in footage and research. The film, by the U of M's Bell Museum of Natural History, focuses on agriculture, pollution, and sustainable solutions. Now, suddenly, its premiere has been canceled, and no one can say exactly why.MORE »
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