elected to the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents on February 21, 2011, by a joint meeting of the Minnesota House and Senate. He is serving a six-year term on the 12-member body, which is charged with overseeing the University of Minnesota system. In 2022, Sviggum suggested that the University of Minnesota Morris might be "too diverse". He said that two of his friends' children had not gone to Morris because they "just didn't feel comfortable there". Morris has a little over 1,000 students, of whom 54% are white and 41% are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. When asked for a response to criticism of his remarks, he replied, "I was just asking a question. I'm sorry some feel the question might be offensive." Work with Minnesota senate On January 16, 2012, Sviggum was named communications director and executive assistant for the Republican caucus in the Minnesota Senate. Sviggum replaced Michael Brodkorb, who had resigned in the wake of a scandal involving former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch. Sviggum was criticized for his intention to remain a regent during his tenure with the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk said he believed holding both positions was a conflict of interest. Sviggum admitted that taxpayers should not have paid for pamphlets created by the Minnesota Senate Republican communications department and used by 15 Republican Senators for Republican attendees of precinct caucuses. He publicly apologized for using taxpayer's resources to produce campaign materials. On June 11, 2012, the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings ruled that sufficient evidence existed for a complaint the Minnesota DFL Party filed against Sviggum and 14 Republican Senators regarding the pamphlets to continue. The complaint against Senator Doug Magnus was dismissed. References External links University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs Profile Minnesota House of Representatives Website for Steve Sviggum 1951 births Living people People from Kenyon, Minnesota St. Olaf College alumni Speakers of the Minnesota House of Representatives Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives American people of Norwegian descent American Lutherans 21st-century American politicians