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In summer of 2006, Center faculty and staff spent the first Sunday of the Minnesota State Fair working at the Academic Health Center’s booth. We’ve come to appreciate our ability to literally reach out to the public at the fair, and this year was no different. Since it was a beautiful summer day and the first weekend of the fair, we enjoyed an unprecedented number of visitors to the booth (nearly 1,000).We assume that they were attracted by our large signs suggesting "CHEW ON THIS," but it may have been the free packs of gum (sugar-free) and University logo gifts. In return for their choice of prize, visitors to the booth were asked to answer one of the three "Chew on This" questions:
- Should people pay higher health insurance premiums if they have unhealthy behaviors? Yes-84%; No-16%
- Would you be willing to wait longer for a total knee replacement so that more people could have access to health care? If so, how long? Yes-84%; No-15%; Unsure-1%, the majority who said yes indicated that they’d be willing to wait for up to six months.
- Should the government impose mandatory quarantine (locking people in their houses or in the hospital) in the event of a bird-flu outbreak? Yes-64%; No-30%; Unsure-6%
The answers that people wrote on index cards weren’t so surprising for the way the majority "voted," but they were interesting for the overwhelming proportion that shared the same viewpoint. The individual comments showed insights, sophisticated comments, and the sort of public engagement that we can usually only dream about. It’s heartening to know that the work we do touches a chord with so many, and makes it clear why outreach continues to be an important part of our mission. The Minnesota State Fair brings out millions of our fellow citizens every summer, and it’s great to know that so many are willing to exercise their minds in addition to their pocketbooks and waistlines. See you there next year!