5 minute read
ON THE HILL
The Nobel Hall of Science “pod”— five of 36 custodial staff members. From left to right: Paul Wilson, Mona Hegazy, Richard Dahn, Eliza Alsaker, and Gary Prins.
CLEAN HILL OF HEALTH
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On the frontlines of the pandemic at Gustavus are 36 custodial staff members whose work has expanded from keeping the campus clean and beautiful to the addition of keeping the campus safe from COVID-19.
In other words: You can’t just sweep COVID-19 under the rug.
The Custodial Services staff is responsible for the general cleaning and disinfecting of academic and residential buildings—everything from a lab in Nobel Hall to a kitchen in Norelius.
Now, during the pandemic, their work has increased dramatically—with student and employee safety at the forefront. This means increased disinfecting of all the spaces the staff already cleans and maintains, plus safe turnover of rooms that house students who are in isolation and quarantine on campus.
For their own increased safety, the custodial staff have adopted a “pod” system in which they work together in small groups and assigned buildings in order to reduce contact across staff.
The staff prides itself on the services they provide for the students. “We love to watch them grow and progress throughout their time at Gustavus,” says building services manager Tim Sisk. The overall beauty of the campus—both naturally and architecturally—is also a source of pride for this team charged with keeping it so.
What can our on-campus community do to serve these frontline workers? “Be attentive to your surroundings and aware of how your actions can impact those around you,” says Sisk. “When we are all doing our part to keep things as neat and tidy as possible, our department has time to go above and beyond.”
In other words: We aren’t living in a vacuum, Gusties.
PRETTY GOOD NEWS Spring sprouted with national and international student awards.
GUSTIES WANT EVERYONE TO VOTE
Haley Jostes ’23 has been awarded a DAAD RISE Scholarship to Kaitlyn Gruber ’21 has received conduct research in Germany at one of the country’s top a National Science Foundation universities. Her research is focused on the study of clay-organic Graduate Research Fellowship. nanocomposites and how they can best Gruber is pursuing biochemistry be used to improve water quality and molecular biology and and water health. Jostes is a chemistry. Gruber has produced sophomore biochemistry and high-quality data to understand molecular biology and chemistry the photochemistry of the double major and has already been herbicide dicamba, while very involved in three separate research intentionally mentoring other opportunities during her time Gusties in the lab. Hayley at Gustavus. Haley Jostes Lhotka ’19 was a finalist. Ja’de Lin Till ’21 has been selected as a recipient of the Critical Political science major Christopher Ortiz ’22 will attend the Language Scholarship (CLS) in Public Service Fellowship academic program at the University Mandarin Chinese. The program of Michigan this summer. The program offers students an immersive is an intense academic preparation study abroad experience to program that prepares learn languages important for undergraduate students who America’s engagement with the want to go into public service for world, part of a U.S. effort to a master’s degree. “I’m excited for expand the number of Americans the opportunity to explore more studying and mastering critical at the graduate level, and learn what foreign languages. Till studies my future work in international history, geography, and statistics. affairs might look like,” he says.
Kaitlyn Gruber
Ja’de Lin Till
Caden Gunnarson ’23 has received a Goldwater Scholarship, which helps ensure the U.S. is producing highly-qualified professionals in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Gunnarson is biochemistry and molecular biology major.
Caden Gunnarson Christopher Ortiz
Gustavus was recognized as a Voter Friendly Campus by national nonpartisan organizations Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Gustavus is the only liberal arts college in Minnesota and one of only 235 colleges and universities in the country to earn the recognition. The program requires college and university campuses to engage their campus communities and promote voter registration and voting as part of their institutional mission. The goal is to help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process and develop a culture of democratic engagement on campus.
CAMPUS SOCIAL
Follow @gustavusadolphuscollege, @gustieathletics INSTAGRAM
@gustavus Kurt Elling ’89 won the Grammy for Best Vocal Jazz Album! Learn more about the @gustiealum who’s recognized as one of the best male jazz vocalists of our time. #gogusties #whygustavus #GRAMMYs
Follow @gustavus, @gustiealum @gustavusadolphuscollege Emily Ford ’15 is in the midst of a 1,200-mile winter solo thru-hike of Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail. “Nature is a place of equality in society. This is about opening the door for more people of color to enjoy the outdoors,” she says. [Editor’s note: She and her canine companion, Diggins, completed their journey on March 6.] #gogusties
@gustavus_art The ceramics studio’s pod-b was put in work during a three-day week. Lots of beautiful work in progress, keep it up art students! #gustavusart #mnartist #gustavusadolphuscollege #ceramics #airdryclay #whygustavus
Follow /gustavusadolphuscollege /gustavusathletics /gustavusfinearts /gustavusalumni
As the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament begins, we have Gustie Virginia A. Caine ’73 (former Gustie hooper, top, second from right) to thank for the health and safety of fans and teams. She’s the public health director of Marion County, Indiana.
10:00 a.m. Time for Reflection
“When we’re talking about anti-Black racism, we’re not talking about it as just an issue in the criminal justice system and or of policing. This is about it being part of the fabric of U.S. society, but also the logic of the world. White supremacy is a global phenomenon, a global logic, that has impacts for Black people, disenfranchises Black people.”
