Haley Zblewski: Tell me about your background.

Steven Majstorovic: I was born in a refugee camp a few years after the war. My mom was in a concentration camp during World War II and she weighed 62 pounds when she got out … After the war, my dad was all of 89 pounds when he got out.

My dad is from Bosnia, he’s Bosnian, and my mom was from Poland, she’s Polish. I came to the U.S. when I was 6 and grew up in Chicago, in inner city Chicago … I went to the University of Michigan and flunked out after four years. I had a 0.0 average for two semesters. After that, I spent 17 years mostly in Montana ski bumming and playing in a rock ‘n’ roll band. We actually saw a lot of success, almost had that big record deal. Then, I went back to college, actually showed up this time and got a free ride, this time for academics and went on to get my Ph.D.

HZ: Why did you want to teach political science?

SM: Because politics affected my family’s lives … When I went back to school I majored in political science and computer science. And I was better at computer science, but it was so boring. I actually backed into teaching. I just kept taking classes, and then was getting my Ph.D. It was completely by accident. I’ve been very lucky in my life.

HZ: What’s the strangest thing that’s happened in one of your classes?

SM: It could be, and it happens across many classes, I teach cultural politics and talk about minority issues. And white students are uncomfortable with it, while minority students are comfortable with it.

And recently, a student’s phone went off in class and he picked it up and threw it across the room … I just handed it back to him.

HZ: What’s your favorite place in Eau Claire?

SM: The Joynt. It’s a cultural mecca where you can actually have conversations. I also like Fanny Hill, going there to listen to music and have a beer. It’s a great view out there. But I really miss Montana. It’s the last best place.

HZ: So, in your band, what instrument did you play?

SM: I played lead guitar, and also learned how to play the steel guitar, not country music, but for rock ‘n’ roll. I still play in my free time. The best job I ever had was playing guitar in a
rock ‘n’ roll band. Being a professor is my second best job.

HZ: What’s your favorite marsupial?

SM: After thinking of many types of marsupials, I’ve decided it’s the koala because it’s so stupid but people still love it because it’s cute. It’s a reflection of our society — if people are cute, they can do all sorts of crap and they can get away with it.

HZ: That’s about all I had for questions.

SM: That’s it? You don’t want to know the meaning of life?

HZ: Sure, what’s the meaning of life?

SM: Federico Fellini, the great Italian filmmaker, was once asked ‘what is the purpose of life?’ And he said “the purpose of life is to live.” That’s it.