Remembering Paul Wellstone – Compassionate Senator and Great Carleton Professor

Yesterday marked the 21st anniversary of Paul Wellstone’s death, a beloved Carleton professor for 21 years before becoming a prominent figure in American politics, known as the “conscience of the Senate.” Therefore, in this blog post, I would like to reflect on the legacy of an individual who was a cherished member of the Carleton community, leaving a lasting impact on our institution and the world far beyond Northfield.

Though Wellstone grew up in Northern Virginia and attended the University of North Carolina (both for his bachelor’s and Ph.D), Minnesota became his lifelong home after arriving at Carleton as a tenure-track professor in the Political Science department. His impact on Carleton and the greater Northfield community was immediate. Wellstone was a perfect fit for Carleton, embodying the institutional commitment to undergraduate learning. It was Wellstone’s passion for students and engaging teaching style that made him an endearing presence on campus. He urged students to put their education to practice, and in this regard, led by example. He immersed himself in campus activism – organizing protests, criticizing the school’s administration for its ties to corporate interests, and speaking out on issues affecting the community. Outside of campus, Wellstone’s work included helping start the Organization for a Better Rice County, an advocacy group for the rural poor. His wife, Sheila, also worked in the library at Carleton and was a strong advocate on domestic violence issues on campus.

Wellstone taught at Carleton until his election to the US Senate; despite running as an underdog political outsider, running against an incumbent who outspent him 7 to 1, his grassroots campaign led him to victory. In the Senate, Wellstone was the leading progressive voice . Among his legislative accomplishments, he wrote and passed legislation banning gifts from lobbyists, preventing sex trafficking and sexual violence, defending worker rights, and protecting the environment. Even as an unapologetic liberal, his personable nature allowed him to find unlikely bipartisan support in issues such as mental health. The conservative outlet, National Review said: “Paul Wellstone may sit at the far end of the political spectrum, yet it is difficult to dislike him on a personal level — even right-wingers must admit that he would probably make a good neighbor. Smiles and laughs come easily to him…He can be feisty, but he’s rarely rude; there’s still something of the college professor about him, acquired over the 21 years he spent teaching political science at Carleton College…He speaks in measured tones, as if believing reasonable people will agree with him if they just listen long enough.”

Today, the tangible legacy of Paul Wellstone lives on through the Wellstone House of Organization and Activism (WHOA), the Wellstone Fund for Community Engagement, and the Wellstone Classroom in Willis Hall. WHOA fosters activism on campus and communities outside Carleton by sponsoring events, delegations, dinners, etc. WHOA is devoted to creating a space for people to come together as human beings who desire social change. Members of WHOA are committed to raising awareness on a variety of issues and serving as a hub for any and all Carleton activists. The Wellstone Fund for Community Engagement provides up to $5200 in financial support for students pursuing social justice internships over the summer. And in true liberal arts fashion, the Wellstone Classroom hosts a range of classes, from Political Science to Environmental Studies to Economics.

So here is to Paul Wellstone, a man who epitomized the best of Carleton.

It seems like just yesterday that Kai (he/him) first arrived at Carleton. Yet now, he is a Senior Political Science & Psychology major and Public Policy minor. Kai loves Carleton’s friendly campus culture, spending much of his time hanging out at Sayles, taking walks around the Lakes or in the Arb, volunteering for Project Friendship, and pitching/playing infield for the baseball team.