Sikkink, Donald E.

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7441#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Donald Sikkink was born in 1928 in Minnesota. He grew up on a farm in Southeast Minnesota, just south of Rochester. He graduated from Harmony Public High School in Harmony, Minnesota in 1945. He chose to attend a Dutch Reformed College, Central College, in Pella, Iowa, until he was drafted in April 1946. After 1947, when all draftees were discharged from the Army, Sikkink attended the University of Minnesota on his G.I. Bill. He received his bachelor's degree in 1949, his master's degree in 1951, and his doctorate in 1954. After teaching for two years at Stanford in Palo Alto, California, he received a job in the Speech Department at South Dakota State University. He taught there until 1963, when he came to St. Cloud State. Sikkink taught in the Speech Communications department and held several administrative positions. He was vice president for Academic Affairs, director of International Studies, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Humanities, and chairperson of the department of Speech Communication. He retired in 1990.

Transcript Summary: Sikkink described his early educational background and career. He discussed his decision to attend a Dutch Reformed college, as his family grown up in the Dutch Reformed church. However, that was interrupted by World War II, which allowed him to finish school on the G.I. Bill. He talked about his decision to simply go straight through to his dissertation as quickly as possible, as well as his first teaching experience in Stanford, which he did not particularly enjoy. Sikkink described his time in South Dakota, and then his path to St. Cloud.

Sikkink explained his first impressions of St. Cloud State, claiming that he was surprised at how reluctant students were to speak up in class and express their thoughts and opinions. On the other hand, he was also surprised by how freely and openly the faculty spoke their beliefs, causing him to believe that there was a greater sense of freedom among the faculty at St. Cloud than at the previous schools he had taught at. Sikkink discussed St. Cloud State president George Budd and his policies. In addition, he described the ways in which the speech department has changed. Sikkink explained the way that the city of St. Cloud had changed thinking of St. John's as their university to adopting St. Cloud State as the city's college, due to the tremendous growth and change undergone by the school during Sikkink's time there.

Sikkink described what he considers to be his highs and lows while at St. Cloud State. He mentioned certain classes he enjoyed, such as the class he taught on parliamentary procedure. He also talked about the establishment of bachelor of Elective Studies degree, which he says was done as sort of an experiment. He explained his work in administration over the years. Sikkink expressed disappointment at the then-current situation where the faculty and administration were not getting along, claiming that the fighting was hurting the institution. Finally, Sikkink shared some anecdotes that describe some of his most memorable experiences at St. Cloud State University.

Interviewed by Jerry Westby