The University of Minnesota was founded seven years before the territory of Minnesota became a state. The U of M is now in its 150th year. Through it's evolution from a preparatory school to a leading land grant, doctoral and research institution, the university has been an enduring fixture throughout Minnesota's history. All this week Minnesota Public Radio marks the sesquicentennial of the University of Minnesota with a series of reports called the "Universal U". Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire has the first of our ten reports.