October 4th Issue

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Rugby Students present a fresh scrums take on “Much Ado About it up Nothing” Sports 12

A&E 4

CHIPS LUTHER COLLEGE

“Let the chips fall where they may.”

Please Recycle

October 4, 2012

Vol. 135, No. 5

Daniels Recalls Activism

Walker Nyenhuis/Chips

Reaccounting activism. Eddie Daniels explains the important role activism against the oppressive Apartheid regime played in his life.

Walker Nyenhuis

Staff Writer

For 15 years, Eddie Daniels was a political prisoner. He recently visited Luther to share his story.

“At a young age, I fought for what is right, what is clean, what is decent,” Daniels said.

“I fought for the dignity of people, but I also fought for

my own self-respect.”

In the second half of the 20th century, a vicious period of racial segregation known as Apartheid plagued the country of South Africa.

Many resisted the government under Apartheid, risking imprisonment on Robben Island, which has been used for the isolation of political prisoners.

Daniels presented two lectures on his experience on Wednesday, Sept. 26. He also spoke to several classes and signed copies of his memoir, There and Back, in the Luther Book Shop. Until Oct. 29, he will be touring around the country, speaking wherever he is invited.

“I rarely say no to an invitation,” Daniels said.

“I’m happy to come over to the United States because the hospitality of the people here is tremendous. I’ve come here the past 9 to 10 years, and I am overwhelmed by the understanding, tolerance and kindness toward me.”

As a member of the Liberal Party of South Africa, Daniels participated in marches, sitins, demonstrations, and other protests against Apartheid.

In 1961, with the help of the National Committee of Liberation, later known as the African Resistance Movement, he began participating in various acts of sabotage against the government.

“We blew up the signal cables of the railways,” Daniels said.

“The trains couldn’t run and people couldn’t get to work.

We were causing the

Since 1884

Luther Homecoming Events Friday, October 5 Homecoming begins (through Oct. 7) 9:00 p.m. – Homecoming Jazz Orchestra Performance

Saturday, October 6 10:00 a.m. – Homecoming Parade 11:00 a.m. – Women’s Cross-Country: At St. Kate’s Invitational 11:30 a.m. – Men’s Cross-Country: At St. Kate’s Invitational 1:00 p.m. – Football: Luther vs University of Dubuque 4:00 p.m. – Men’s Soccer: Luther at Buena Vista University 5:30 p.m. – Women’s Soccer: Luther at Buena Vista University 9:00 p.m. – Flamingo Ball: “Where’s Dance?”

Sunday, October 7 Homecoming ends 10:00 a.m. – Worship Service 10:00 am – Sunday Brunch 1:30 p.m. – Homecoming Concert

Daniels visit continued on page 10

Compiled from Luther College Programming

Campus loses coffee, sushi due to state licensing issue Tony Chase

coming in on the coffee’s flavor and that the

Staff Writer coffee is responsibly sourced.

Students looking for local coffee and sushi on campus will come up dry this week.

On Sept. 19, Food Safety Specialist for the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Merri Cross found that both local restaurant Koreana and nearby Bean Masters Inc. do not have the proper licensing for wholesale purposes, which is to sell their product to an institution rather than a standard customer.

Even though there may be a great level of uncertainty about the return of the sushi and coffee, General Manager of Dining Services Wayne Tudor explained that Bean Masters Inc. hopes to rectify the problem.

“The coffee should return next week,” Tudor said. “They are doing what is needed to return the coffee to campus.”

Dining Services has been receiving positive student feedback about K’uun, with comments

“We will see how students react to the coffee throughout the year,” Tudor said. “My hope is that it will be available all across campus.”

Some students are upset by the sudden removal of K’uun.

“I just want the good coffee back,” Joe Lane (‘14) said.

Koreana sushi, however, will be absent from campus for the near future.

“We are waiting to hear back [from Koreana],” Tudor said. “We love doing business with them; I hope we can continue to sell the sushi.”

Nikka Lee, owner of Koreana as well as Cho-Sun, a restaurant serving Chinese food in Decorah, seemed positive about the return of sushi to campus.

Casey DeLima/Chips

Shushi and coffee continued on page 10

Missing local coffee. Annie Zylstra (‘15) enjoying K’uun coffee before its removal due to wholesale licensing issues.

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

News

2

October 4, 2012

Students present research on panel Katherine Mohr

Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Rachel Woolsey

Posing after presentations. From left: Jena Schwake (‘13), Cassandra Chalhoub (‘13), Sam Shimak (‘13) and Rachel Woolsey (‘14) were all chosen as panelists to present their papers at a communications conference in Ankeny. “ “

Senate debates changes to security, parking Noah Nelsen-Gross

Staff Writer

Noah Nelsen-Gross/Chips

Student Senate circles up. From left to right: Jordy Barry (‘15), Phil Hanson (‘16) and Ashley Kappers (‘16) meet to discuss Senate business.

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

News

October 4, 2012

Seven-day Forecast

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Mon

Tue

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Life outside Luther

News you can use from around the globe

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Secrets do make friends Peter Jarzyna

the words on the card, sometimes at the core you

Collector of secrets Frank Warren is known as the “Most trusted stranger in America.” His father has deemed him “voyeuristic” and his mother “diabolical.” Frank Warren brought his PostSecret project to Luther on Tuesday, Sept. 25, which resulted in an overwhelming sense of community.

The endeavor began in November of 2004 as he walked the dark streets of Washington D.C., soliciting secrets from strangers.

“Hi, my name is Frank, and I collect secrets,” he would tell them as he handed out blank postcards.

Seven years later, his blog, PostSecret, receives 7 million visitors per month.

His blog contains an ever-accumulating series of postcards, decorated with artwork and testimony to the more arcane details of our lives—designed and delivered anonymously.

Warren kicked off the event in the more humorous realm of PostSecret, noting the odd variety of objects he’s received secrets on, including luggage tags, seashells, and an uncooked Idaho potato. He once received a food wrapper with the scribbled proclamation, “I smuggled this into your lecture.

You were great, and so was my grilled cheese sandwich.”

He quickly transitioned into the more emotionally riveting confessions.

“I think that if you open your mind and your heart to

said. “And you can grow from it.”

Warren introduces the idea of secrets forming “a common landscape of our private lives.” This communal bond was certainly present as he encouraged audience members to stand at one of two microphones and share a secret with the crowd.

Katherine Huska (‘15) was one of the dozen or so to share a touching fragment of her past regarding a missed opportunity to visit a friend who passed away last spring.

“After admitting that secret, I really felt I could move on and learn from it,” Huska said. “I was really happy after I shared, which is weird because it is such a sad thing that happened, but it felt good.”

Some audience members felt that sharing secrets created a new bond between them.

“The reception they got was just so wholesome,” Erik Hahn (‘16) said. “It was all very inclusive. By revealing these secrets, Frank Warren helped reveal this web between us that was previously invisible.

It helps to connect with people on another level.”

PostSecret has taken an active role in the awareness and prevention of suicide, mental illness and domestic abuse. Warren, a victim of abuse himself, voiced the importance of making humanity’s hidden ailments known.

“The children most broken by the world become the adults most likely to change it,” Warren said.

Volunteer Writer

Compiled by: Ingrid Baudler News Editor

Eventually, the economic recovery will pick up steam - whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney is in the White House.

That’s what many economic outlooks project. And the president - and

budget abyss facing the nation at year’s end. ***

Syria’s foreign minister brought his regime’s case before the world Monday, accusing the U.S. and its allies of promoting “terrorism” and blaming everyone from neighbors and extremists to the media for escalating the war - except the Syrian government.

Addressing ministers and diplomats from the United Nation’s 193 Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem lashed out at calls in Washington and in Arab and European capitals for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down as interference in Syria’s domestic affairs. ***

Co. with a civil lawsuit, alleging that Bear Stearns perpetrated massive fraud related to billions in residential mortgage-backed securities that it sold prior to its 2008 collapse and subsequent sale to the New York bank.

Working Group, which was set up by President Barack Obama to investigate and prosecute alleged misconduct that contributed to the

***

Several businesses in the Central Texas town of Waco are dealing with a smelly problem that won’t go away: decaying cricket carcasses.

A bank, a drugstore and other businesses have been inundated with the odorous onslaught of dead crickets that have been trapped inside walls and have collected on sidewalks.

http://ap.org

Telling truths. These secrets have been mailed to Frank Warren and posted on his blog as part of his PostSecret project.

Photos courtesy of www.goodreads.com

Arts & Entertainment

4

October 4, 2012

Margaret Yapp/Chips

Much Ado. This performance is set in the 1940s, but evokes the original Shakespeare spirit with its outdoor staging, in Harvey Wilkins Plaza.

Much Ado in WWII Luther Theatre takes the Shakespearian classic, “Much Ado About Nothing” to a 1940s dinner party.

Margaret Yapp Staff Writer Nineteen Luther students, including Tyler Hagy (‘13) and Liz Athas (‘15), present the first Shakespeare play that the Luther Theatre department has done

in around ten years, and they plan to do it in style.

“Much Ado About Nothing” will be performed in the vein of original Shakespeare productions: outdoors with a minimalist set design. Professor of English Mark Muggli served as the dramaturge, a position in theatre that deals mainly with research and development of plays. In this piece he helped with both interpretation of language and staging.

“Our outdoor ‘Much Ado’ performance evokes the adaptability of Renaissance acting troupes, which wandered the countryside and performed in a wide range of venues

including great halls, inn courtyards and village greens,” Muggli said.

“Presenting a first-ever production in the plaza outside Sampson-Hoffland represents some of the spontaneity and actor-centric verve of Shakespeare’s original stages.”

The play was originally going to be performed in Bentdahl Commons, but the Harvey Wilkins Plaza outside of Sampson-Hoffland better suited the needs of the production.

“The production team felt Bentdahl to be too large for ‘Much Ado,’” Hagy said. “The voice would be easily lost since the space is so open, and sound can go every which way. In the slightly smaller space by Sampson-Hoffland we have a glass wall on one side, which will help contain sound.”

Not only will the outdoor setting harken back to Shakespeare’s open roofed Globe Theater, but it will also allow audiences to watch the play with a backdrop of a setting sun while surrounded by autumn foliage.

“I am extremely excited about the reaction of the audience to the outdoor theater,” Athas said. “Shakespeare was meant to be experienced outside in the open air.”

Luther’s production will be

purposefully low tech, for historical integrity, with minimal props and set.

It will not be entirely traditional. They will be working with a version of the original play abridged by Muggli.

“I cut the play by about 40%,” Muggli said. “It is considerably shorter, but we cut no scenes or characters.”

It will be set in post World War II at a dinner party. Their take should prove to be interesting for novice and experienced Shakespearian audiences alike.

“Any experience of a great work of art like this makes people grow as both actors and as people,” Muggli said. It makes their own experience of language richer, and it makes them richer by having experienced the dilemmas that the play is about. It is a building experience for them and the audience.”

“Much Ado About Nothing” will be performed October 4, 6, 10 and 11 at 6 p.m. and October 5 at 5:45 p.m. at Harvey Wilkins Plaza, outside with a Luther ID, or $10. Tickets are

Sunday Service @10:30am . St. Benedict School (402 Rural Ave.) . 563-387-7706

Casey DeLima/Chips

Shakespeariance of a lifetime. Tyler Hagy (‘13), Kelly Harris (‘15), and Tim Komatsu (‘15) stroll side by side at a post WWII dinner party.

is offering rides from campus to their 10:30 church service. A van with the LifeHouse logo leaves from the Union @ 10:00 Sunday mornings.

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

Arts & Entertainment

October 4, 2012

5

Poetry Slam features local poets Jayne Cole

Staff Writer

The ArtHaus Poetry Slam, kicked off the fourth year of a lively and creative poetry reading event on Sept. 28.

The slams, which began in 2008, have become popular among Luther students and faculty along with the Decorah community.

They are now hosted four times a year. In a testament to the the event’s success, the slams were originally held at the ArtHaus events, they moved to the Elks Club and continually averages 150 people per night.

“Along with classes, we knew we wanted to have public art events as well.” Co-Director of ArtHaus, Kristen Underwood said. “I went to a poetry slam in Ashville, N.C., and knew I wanted to do it here.”

However, this isn’t your typical slam. With emphasis on a supportive and welcoming atmosphere, ArtHaus structured the “There are moving moments,” Underwood said. “It takes a lot of courage to share something you have written.” minute segment to warm up the audience. The second part, entitled “Original Voices,” is a non-competitive segment, followed by the good-willed “slam,” which gives poets a chance to compete. Complete with a homemade applause o’meter, the poets are scored based on the response from the audience, from “hm, interesting” to “uff da!”

All the poetry performed is original and the event is inclusive of anyone willing to perform.

“Anyone in the community can come to the stage and offer a poem and the audience is utterly supportive,” Associate Professor of English and past featured artist Amy Weldon said.

Rob Carbonell, a Decorah citizen and past poetry slam winner, was the featured poet. Carbonell headlined the event with a twenty performed a wide range of works that included clever stanzas about his role as a “House Husband,” to moving, personal poetry that captured the audience in an emotional silence.

“I was incredibly nervous until I got behind the microphone,” Carbonell said. “ I hope to keep doing poetry. It feels good.”

Fourteen poets, including several Luther students, followed Carbonell in the popular “Original Voices” segment. The poetry

Jayne Cole/Chips

Spittin’ Rhymes. Decorah resident and featured poet Rob Caronell reads his work for the ArtHaus Poetry Slam. ranged from politically charged opinions, to clever metaphors about society to touching verses describing loved ones.

Coordinator of Diversity Recruitment, Keith Lesmeister, (‘01) was the evening’s guest, Master of Ceremonies. Lesmeister, who has performed in numerous slams himself, thinks the event makes Decorah unique.

“The best way is to put it into context with other literary events and just the sheer number of people that come.” Lesmeister said.

Many also believe it is a great way to bring the Luther students to experience Decorah off-campus.

“When you think about Luther, community is what people talk about,” Executive Producer of the Poetry Slam Mark Faldet (‘82) said. “From 8 years old to 80 years, all walks and ages come to support each other. It is cool to see the blending of the two communities. Art doesn‘t just reside in a room on campus.”

Professor of English Nancy Barry, who also performed at the event, encouraged her creative writing students to attend the slam.

“I want it to demystify poetry. Poetry is very real, very local and very down to earth,” Barry said. “There is great fun in it.” event inspired to continue experimenting with poetry.

“I think poetry is brought to life when read aloud,” Taylor said. “ I think poetry slams are such a unique thing. People don’t know how cool poetry can be.”

Art Haus will host another slam on Nov. 16. Students interested in performing an original piece in either category should contact the ArtHaus at (563)-382-5440.

“People are surprised that something as rich as this happens in Decorah,” Faldet said. “It gives people a voice.”

KWLC Album Review: “Cruel Summer” Luke Stennes

Much more reliable, though, are the

general lack of purpose behind the lyrics

Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, both members of the Wu-Tang Clan, turn in some absolutely classic verses. And surprise appearances by R. Kelly and Ma$e are great to hear. The verses end up being a mixed bag, but the quality of rhymes being spit here is positive overall.

As far as production quality goes, Kanye’s

At the end of the day, the guys at G.O.O.D. Music did not do what they could have to

KWLC Hip Hop DJ spectacular features from hip-hop legends. prevent “Cruel Summer” from achieving it.

“Cruel Summer” is not a Kanye West record. If you go into it expecting Yeezy’s usual level of quality, you will be disappointed. “Cruel Summer” is the new album from G.O.O.D. Music, West’s record label, and it is much more about showing off West’s crew than the man himself.

The G.O.O.D. music posse consists of well established rap-game names like Pusha T, Common and Kid Cudi, current hitmakers Big Sean and 2 Chainz and lesserknowns like Cyhi The Prynce. The quality of performances from the G.O.O.D. Music members vary, however. Pusha T and Big Sean do a great job, and 2 Chainz brings his usual bombastic charisma to each of his many verses. However, Cyhi The Prynce appears a bit too often and becomes an annoyance. Kid Cudi only has one real appearance on the album and he seems detached and unfocused.

Lyrically, they struggle. Listening to the album all the way through, I never felt a good sense of direction in their verses. Oftentimes they end up sounding showy and shallow.

live up to their prestige. If you like hip-hop, give it a listen; if you’re not a huge fan, this album will not do anything to sway your opinion.

Summer” ends up with the best money can buy. Hit-Boy, who brought the “Paris” beat to “Watch the Throne,” provides the best beats on the record with the songs “Cold” and “Clique”. We also have three beats from relative newcomer Hudson Mohawke that all deliver beautifully.

Kanye West oversees the whole project, resulting in a cohesive and musically profound collection of tracks.

Overall, “Cruel Summer” delivers a steady stream of solid tracks. The best way to describe the album as a whole is “Solid”.

It brushes with greatness at times, but the sometimes-lackluster performances and

www.idolator.com

“Cruel Summer.” Fans of West may notice similarities in artwork to his previous albums.

LUTHER COL

Feat

6 October 4, 2012

Teachers become the students Matt Yan

Staff Writer

This fall, some students may notice that their fellow classmates are looking a bit older ... and sort of familiar ... like maybe they should be in front of the class instead of in it.

Because Luther allows all professors to audit courses for free, several members of the faculty are taking classes for personal enjoyment. Associate Professor of English Amy Weldon is on a sabbatical this year and decided to take wheel-thrown pottery.

“This is something that I’ve wanted to do for years and I’ve just never had the chance,” Weldon said. “I believe really strongly that a good artist is someone who has a connection to the physical world and can do things and make things with her hands. Pottery is a way for me to explore art in the sense of making things and crafting things well.”

Because Weldon is taking a break from teaching, she has enough free time to pursue her own projects in the class. By her estimate, she has made at least 50 pieces and gone through 150 pounds of clay. Weldon feels that the course challenges her to push through frustration.

“It’s challenging because I’ve got tenure and a Ph.D. and it’s easy for me to think I’m supposed to be good at everything the first time,” Weldon said.

“With pottery you learn that you just have to keep trying. There is no substitute for trying and putting in a lot of effort over time. No matter how good you think you are at something, you’ve always got more to learn.”

Evgenia Fotiou of the Anthropology Department has had a similar experience in her drawing class.

Despite having an advanced degree in her field, Fotiou feels that her class is one of the most difficult she has come across.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Fotiou said.

“Some days the professor asks us to do impossible things. I feel it’s helping me to think creatively about my own teaching. It’s also

Matt Yan/Chips

Knead for speed. Assistant Professor of English Amy Weldon happily works with clay in the CFA. fun because we can laugh with each other as failures because most of us are not very good anyway.”

Visiting Assistant Profesor of English Alison Mandaville, who teaches Paideia I and Rhetoric, is taking Russian this semester. She enjoys the idea of not having to take control of the class for once.

“I don’t think -Prof. Amy Weldon students realize how nice it is to have someone else preparing information for you to learn,” Mandaville said. “I don’t have responsibility

“It’s a very good spiritual and intellectual practice to be a learner ... It humbles you and makes you aware that you’ve still got a lot of things to learn yourself.”

for how class goes. I can just sit back and it’s like going on a Disneyland ride.”

Weldon echoed her sentiments and said that it was a learning experience in itself to go from being a professor to a student.

“It’s a very good spiritual and intellectual practice to be a learner instead of to always be a teacher,” Weldon said. “It humbles you and makes you aware that you’ve still got a lot of things to learn yourself.”

For Mandaville and Fotiou, their already-heavy workload makes it hard for them to always get homework done on time. Luckily for them, however, they don’t need to worry about grades. When asked if her professor treated her any differently from other students, Mandaville laughed.

“I get happy faces on my work instead of grades,” Mandaville said.

Lighting up the stage at Homecoming O

LLEGE CHIPS

tures

October 4, 2012

7

New club helps students speak out New Forensic Speech and Debate Club up and running Brita Moore

Staff Writer

“That whole ‘popping’ thing is so comedic when I’m reading poems about dead lovers,” Thomas Lundberg (‘15) said.

By “popping,” he meant a quick body motion a speech competitor makes to show that he or she is portraying a different character. It is just one of

the many intricacies of competitive forensics.

Lundberg is one of 30 members of the new Luther Forensic Speech and Debate Club, which competed for the first time Sept. 29 at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

Eleven students competed in the first Mid-America Forensics League (MAFL) tournament.

“We just wanted to see what collegiate level events are like,” Club President Jordy Barry (‘15) said. “We can watch the events and see how to do them better in the future.”

The club is fully student-run and student-coached. Professor of Communication Studies Kim Powell serves as advisor.

“I competed in forensics for four years and coached for ten years, so I’m Casey DeLima/Chips helping the team with budget, league Talking it out. Members Ruonan Zheng (‘15) and Jake Putnam (‘15) go fees, travel arrangements and practice over their selections of speeches together while Max Kemp (‘16) looks on. space on campus,” Powell said.

The club started up at the beginning of the year with an informational meeting, a pile of suggestions. Extemporaneous the team experienced collegiate speech auditions and a banquet. speakers research the topic for half an for the first time, seeing the difference “We did auditions to see where hour and create five to seven minute from high school level forensics. The everyone was at in terms of skill and speeches based on that research, while tournament was intended to serve as a experience,” Barry said. impromptu speakers have two to three learning experience. Other area schools Before the UNI minutes within similar to Luther, such as Gustavus and tournament, the a seven minute Wartburg, attended the tournament. team had a practice window to think Each speech was judged out of 30 meeting to go over about the topic points, with judges basing their totals the different types and use the rest of on content, technicalities and speaking of events and how time for their style.

-Jordy Barry (‘15) the to properly execute speeches.

“It ultimately depends on the judge,” them.

Luther’s Speakers must Barry said. c o n t i n g e n t have the ability to Then the competitors were ranked 1-6 competed in the extemporaneous think and reason on the fly, and they are in each round, with the top two moving speech, poetry reading, impromptu encouraged to discuss current events on to the finals. speaking and prose reading catagories. within their speeches.

The team will continue competing Overall, there is one thing that must For prose and poetry, speakers this fall with another MAFL tournament be true of all categories: select three to five pieces to read called “Wisconsin Swing” on Oct. 27-28 “You want it to be very attention- interpretively. and scrimmaging with the University of grabbing,” Barry said.

“There should be a unifying theme Northern Iowa and Bradley University.

Extemporaneous and impromptu are throughout the pieces so it makes sense In the meantime, they will continue similar to each other in the way that both that they run together,” Barry said. practicing the art of forensics, including involve randomly selecting topics from At the tournament, the members of “popping.”

“You want it to be very attention-grabbing.”

Casey DeLima/Chips

Practice makes perfect. Max Kemp (‘16) rehearses his speech.

Open Mic Night

Homecoming Open Mic Night Captions Front: Tim Van Cleave plays bass with Scandinavian folk string group ‘Fiddlestix and the Kilt.’

Center: Male a cappela group ‘Bromatic Progression’ performs a mash-up.

Right: Berta Antonieta Timan Pereira (‘15), Shelly Yao (‘15) and Yunfei Xie (‘15) sing in Chinese.

“Congratulations on Luther’s Homecoming!”

OCATED L Y L T N E IE GE DRIV CONVEN E L L O C ON

Closing for the year on Sun, Oct. 7th

Opinion

8

October 4, 2012

Editorial: Perpetually Uncomfortable

CHIPS Weekend Ragin’ with Tolstoy

Chips is a student publication of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

The paper is designed, composed, edited and managed entirely by Luther students. It is published weekly during the academic year, excluding the month of January.

The opinion section is designed to provide a forum for Chips, its staff members and the Luther community. Opinions expressed in articles, editorials or columns do not necessarily represent the views of the Chips staff. The author is solely responsible for opinions expressed in Chips commentary.

Chips will not accept submitted articles or campus announcements.

Submissions for letters to the editor should be submitted as a word document to chipsedt@luther.edu with “Letter to the Editor” as the subject line. Letters to the editor are subject to editing without changing the meaning of the letter. Authors will not be notified of changes prior to publishing. Letters must be signed, 300-400 words and submitted by Sunday at 5 p.m. the week before publication. Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor.

Contact Chips Phone: 563.387.1044 Fax: 563.387.2072 E-mail: chipsedt@luther.edu Advertising: chipsads@luther.edu website: http://lutherchips.com

tantrum ever. Even as I hit my teenage years – those years that every parent seems I studied even when my mom told me to “just pick ‘C’” and was always more comfortable rereading Jane Austen novels in my room than doing anything crazy.

Now those times have changed.

Jessy Machon

Features Editor

I wasn’t much of a problem child. Now, that doesn’t mean that my parents didn’t have their own unique set of parenting issues to deal with (I used to have anxiety attacks in unfamiliar grocery stores and cry whenever slow songs came on the radio), but for the most part, I took it pretty easy on them. I was quiet, kicked the diaper habit in a day and had only one public

I’m not going to claim that I’m suddenly a mad rebel or anything, but I have started to go out of my comfort zone a bit. I think this is partially due to the fact that I’m just getting older, but it’s also because I’m slowly realizing that if I keep up my safe, slightly reclusive tendencies, I might regret it later. I don’t want to look back on my life and wonder what it could’ve been like if I hadn’t always just done what was comfortable.

As a result of this realization, I’ve begun to break out of my shell a little bit. Basically, this means that instead of sitting in my house and reading a book, I

Matt Yan Margaret Yapp Head Copy Editor...................Benj Cramer Copy Editors...............................Katie Hale Kirsten Hash Ad Representative.................Charlie Bruer Michael Johnson Ad Accountant......................Sam Matheson Photography Coordinator..........Casey DeLima Videographer.....................................Bryce Kilker

Design Technician...................Noah Lange Social Media Director..............Drew Mick Illustrator..........................Michael Johnson Adviser.............................Martin Klammer Associated Collegiate Press National Online Pacemaker Award 2011 lutherchips.com

the multiple times that I’ve started reading at parties because I’m hardly a stunning conversationalist and talking to people wears me out. Or the Friday night earlier this month when I decided that the only thing I really wanted to do was drink a pot of tea and read some Tolstoy in my room.

So maybe I’m not crazy enough to be on “Jersey Shore” quite yet. And maybe

chance that I won’t become a creepy cat lady.

to accept it – it’s only natural, right? But I do not accept that men are necessarily more inclined toward lust than women. To argue that our assertion. To argue that our cultural values must change, however, is an unassailable necessity – are diametrically opposed to the ideals of feminism. The feminist ideal has not been actualized, and it never will unless we closely look at how our culture continues to tell men that women are objects.

Ms. Juergens’ solution is that men should “take us on an innocuous

Dear Editor: This past week I was astounded to see a letter in your pages which

a reversion to the dating system of old and chivalry. Knowing that this does not represent the men of Luther I know, who are respectful Managing Editor..........................Ethan Groothuis toward women and proud feminists, I feel the need to respond. To

Jayne Cole Carrie Juergens Katherine Mohr Brita Moore Bailey Mulholland

that maybe it’d be a better idea to buy a

male mind. If men truly cannot help but objectify women, men can

Fall 2012 Staff

News Editors........................Ingrid Baudler Sarah King Features Editor......................Jessy Machon A&E Editor..........................Charlie Parrish Sports Editor..........................Jena Schwake

sometimes make myself talk to people. Or I just read books in public places.

Of course, being the hermitic person that I am, my best efforts to break out of my shell sometimes don’t work out quite as planned. Like a couple of weeks ago when I decided to get my nose pierced on

accepts men and women as equals, not a perversion of historic norms which forever maintain that men cannot help but objectify women, deserve all the money and have all the power.

Before I address that, let’s look at Ms. Juergens’ primary argument.

She seems to believe that men have no choice but to objectify and therefore sexually desire women. She believes it is a “visceral” reaction so deeply imbedded in the physicality of men (our viscera) that we cannot control it. The effect of this argument subverts her point: this sort of thinking leads to the conclusion that male biology necessitates that women are objects to desire no matter how smart, personable, or loving they might be, as those characteristics are secondary in the

sidewalk, the classic dating paradigm has negative social undertones.

In the classic paradigm, the man always asks and the man always pays.

If the man needs to buy the dinner, this recognizes that there is an agreed upon exchange – the man receives companionship from the woman commensurate with the expense of the date. This has serious implications – since the man requires money to obtain companionship (and the woman does not) isn’t his need for money greater? If his a woman (and the woman need only provide for herself), is it not appropriate for a him to be paid more than she for the same work? I hope that we all can recognize that this idea is sickeningly sexist, yet it is built on a social paradigm that many of us take for granted. This seemingly innocuous date, if undertaken in the classic style, subtly sets up an economic dynamic which places the man above the woman and Chivalry is also seen as a solution. In my view, chivalry is rightfully dead. This antiquated concept derives from the medieval notions of what makes an ideal knight: performing courageous and honorable duties for the weak. As feudal societies broke down, the essence of the chivalric system was distilled down to entail men (the honorable knights) helping women (the weak). This system sets up a hierarchy which forever places men above women. By accepting this system, women become the objects of men’s actions because they are weak and women are refused their personal agency, further perpetuating gender advocate for common courtesy instead. Both men and women should when your hands are full, you appreciate it, no matter your gender or theirs. That’s how it should be – chivalry not included.

This is not an attack on Ms. Juergens or on her letter. I respect that she wrote it out of frustration for our societal norms. However, her proposed solutions only further exacerbate our society’s problems.

Asserting that men cannot help themselves for biological reasons men only, need take the initiative necessary for dating continues to promote the economic dominance of men over women. Believing that chivalry is a solution, and not a problem, further perpetuates the idea that women are helpless and weak. I join Ms. Juergens in hoping that in our society, women and men might respect one another for who they are, not how they look. However, needlessly promoting antiquated societal norms also promotes other antiquated societal norms: sexism and male dominance.

Sincerely, Hans Becklin (‘14)

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

Opinion

October 4, 2012

9

Opinion

Ludusphilia: my personal obsession

Tyler Hagy

Columnist

You know what I love? Sports. I love all kinds of sports, everything from football to archery to water polo. I just love all kinds of sports. As a “music/ theatre nerd,” I don’t think many people understand how much I love sports. Maybe it’s my immense musical talent or my charming good looks, but people never approach me to talk about sports. The last person to approach me complimented me on my new haircut, but I didn’t hear two words about the Green Bay-Seattle game! What is up with that!? I

mean, I know I might be intimidating (what with my knowledge of touchbacks and touchdowns and all that), but I like to think I’m approachable!

Let’s look at the Packers-Seahawks game. I was right there with the Twitterverse and the Realm of Facebook decrying the poor call made by the refs.

To be honest, I didn’t watch the game, but I KNOW that it shouldn’t have been a touchdown.

How did I know, you might be asking yourself? Because I’m just that good. I have this innate sense about sporting events which has never really done me any good, but I know someday I’ll be able to put it to good use (i.e. “Back to the Future Part II”).

Until Doc Brown comes and whisks me away in his DeLorean, I’ll just have to be content with knowing everything about every sport ever invented.

Some facts about sports (that I definitely did not look up on Google): Did you know that kickball was

invented by Nicholas C. Seuss around 1917? Or did you know that Pesäpallo, the baseball-like game, is often called the national sport of Finland? Did you know that the first interval in “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a minor third down? Sorry.... That last one wasn’t about sports.

Forget I said anything!

I hope it’s clear by now that I really don’t know much about sports.

I can talk to you about some soccer, but that’s about it. If you ever want to know the ins -Tyler Hagy (‘13) and outs of Franz Joseph Haydn’s life, or how many coffee beans Beethoven used per cup that he brewed (60), you can come talk to me! But, I hope you won’t come talk to me about nickelbacks (a fifth extra defensive back in a football formation) or I will attempt to play you Nickelback’s “Photograph.” I hope that’s enough of a deterrent... Until next time!

Allons-y!

by Mark Z. Muggli, Professor of English reverential voice to identify Shakespeare as the greatest writer of all time, they are usually thinking of his tragedies – perhaps of their summer’s experience with a wrenching “King Lear,” or maybe just their ninth grade forced march through “Romeo and Juliet.”

Shakespeare did have a deep understanding of those experiences we call tragic.

And this summer I did in fact see an excellent “King Lear,” a play that would make any father or child peer night wondering how such cruelty and stupidity can live, while knowing that it does.

But Shakespeare is also a superb

writer of comedy, in every sense of that word. His verbal jokes are a total hoot, the situations he invents visions of comic resolution bring tears even to tough old codgers like me.

Shakespeare often introduces comedy into seemingly unlikely places: into conversations around funerals and making.

People often identify these moments as “comic relief,” probably the literary critical term most commonly used by people who might not even know that they’re doing literary criticism when they use it (One hears terms like “anagnoresis” less often).

I, however, don’t like the term “comic

Par for the Norse

relief,” as I’ve said many a time before – my Shakespeare students might over the years have appreciated some comic relief from my seriously repetitive insistence that the term misrepresents the role of the comic.

First of all, a reminder that you have a rare chance to see Shakespeare’s hilariously comic “Much Ado About Nothing” this week and next. It’s a very approachable play, and any college student – whether they’ve ever seen or studied it before – will be swept along by the play’s suspenseful story, engaging dialogue and memorable characters. The “merry war” between the central characters Beatrice and Benedick is lover’s quarrelling at the five minute version: Disdain! Are you yet living?”

Beatrice: “Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signor Benedick?”

As you see the play, think also about the “comic relief” offered by the buffoonish Dogberry, the leader of a seemingly inept crew of law enforcement officers. Dogberry is first of all funny because he most preposterously misuses words: “O villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this.”

As that malapropism might suggest, Dogberry is driven by his pomposity.

He sputters so much about being called an ass by one of their prisoners that he ends up calling himself an ass, and in the process proves himself to be one: “Oh that he were here to write me down an ass!”

But one of Dogberry’s funniest moments is when he explains his theory

him go, and presently call the rest of the watch together, and thank God you are rid of a knave.”

Given that the play is at this point getting serious, with a bridegroom using his wedding ceremony as an opportunity to accuse his fiance of promiscuity, Dogberry’s outrageous advice might seem like the essence of comic diversion. And yet as the plot develops, we realize two things : The play’s most respectable, honorable characters would have been wiser to have followed Dogberry’s theory of punishment righteous code of immediate punishment.

Dogberry’s seemingly inept officers are actually the ones who uncover the play’s central crime.

The Dogberry material might therefore be better called “comic intensification” than “comic relief.”

Rather than giving us a temporary respite from the play’s serious action, our laughter actually helps us to more fully understand the play’s central vision.

“Much Ado About Nothing” deals with love and war, with male bonding and heterosexual love, with honor, sexual purity and the nature of marriage.

It is also very funny. And its humor is what actually make us understand those serious issues to their fullest.

Upcoming Events Much Ado About Nothing A Luther College Theatre Program

basic message is that they should ignore should react if they tell a man to stop and he refuses, Dogberry answers,

A rare chance to see live student Shakespeare on campus!

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

News

10

October 4, 2012

Local sushi and coffee pulled Sushi and coffee continued on page 1

“By the middle of October, the sushi should be back on campus,” Lee said. “There are some classes that are required for the proper licensing that were not required in the past.”

Koreana has been selling sushi at Luther for over half a decade, and Lee does not want to see that end.

Casey DeLima/Chips “The Luther students Coffee cut off. Local coffee producer K’unn has help a lot for both businesses,” Lee been temporarily removed from Sunnyside. said. “It will be great to have the sushi

to return to campus.”

Rachel Brummond (‘15) expressed her melancholy about the absence of the sushi at Marty’s.

“Not having sushi on campus is really disappointing,” Brummond said. “It’s nice to satisfy any sushi craving without the long walk downtown.”

If you desire -Nikka Lee sushi or the local coffee, rest assured that both items will be back on campus sooner rather than later.

“The Luther students help a lot for both businesses. It will be great to have the sushi return to campus.”

Daniels shares the importance of activism as tool for peacekeeping Daniels visit continued from page 10

government quite a headache.”

Daniels was arrested in 1964, following a series of government raids. He underwent 92 days of questioning and detention before being formally tried.

At the time, the standard punishment for sabotage was the death penalty, but Daniels was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 5 years of house arrest. It was during his imprisonment on Robben Island that he was befriended by Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa following Apartheid.

“I was the only prisoner of my organization on Robben Island,” Daniels said. “I had no [Mandela] came down to my level to comfort me.”

Throughout his visit to Luther, Daniels frequently complimented Mandela on his generosity and kindness. He was humbled by the political leader’s sense of humanity and dedication to reconciliation after the fall of the apartheid government.

“When he had his enemies at his feet, he could have smited them,” Daniels said. “Instead, he embraced them. This is the greatness of Mr. Nelson Mandela.”

Daniels noted that the end of Apartheid was not solely a South African affair. He referenced many instances of businesses and foreign powers that refused to cooperate with the Apartheid government because of its cruelty.

He expressed his gratitude for the assistance to his audience.

“All of this pressure against the South African

d r o

W

of the

Week

alacrity \uh-lak-ri-tee\

government helped us to defeat the Apartheid,” Daniels said. “Through you, I thank the world.”

Throughout his struggles, Daniels strove to maintain his integrity and work with those who did the same. He encouraged his audiences to

stand up for what they believe, even though it is not always easy.

“When you stand up for goodness and decency, you will face enemies,” Daniels said.

“Be guided by your conscience.”

THIS WEEK IN

HISTORY (10/4-10/11)

**** 10/5/1947 - President Harry Truman (1884-1972) makes the first-ever televised presidential address from the White House, asking Americans to cut back on their use of grain in order to help starving Europeans.

10/6/1866 - The Reno gang carries out the first robbery of a moving train in the U.S., making off with over $10,000 from an Ohio & Mississippi train in Jackson County, Indiana.

10/7/1780 - Patriot militia under Colonel William Campbell defeat Loyalist militia under Major Patrick Ferguson at the Battle of King’s Mountain in North Carolina near the border with Blacksburg, South Carolina.

10/8/2009 -Two people die following a botched sweat lodge ceremony at a retreat run by motivational speaker and author James Arthur Ray near Sedona, Arizona. A third participant in the ceremony died nine days later.

10/9/1942 - Chicago bootlegger Roger “The Terrible” Touhy escapes from Illinois’ Stateville Prison by climbing the guard’s tower.

10/10/2004 - The actor Christopher Reeve, who became famous for his starring role in four Superman films, dies from heart failure at the age of 52 .

10/11/1793- The death toll from a yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia hits 100 on this day in 1793.

Walker Nyenhuis/Chips

All smiles at the Luther Book Shop. Eddie Daniels poses for a picture with Visiting Professor of Africana Studies Lauren Anderson at his book signing.

Courtesy of http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

BREAKFAST ALL DAY! M t W th F s Su

noun

“Nothing fancy, just good food”

1. cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness; liveliness

817 Mechanic St. Decorah 52101

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

Sports

October 4, 2012

11

Where have all the veterans gone? had to do with increasing numbers of Luther limited facilities and equipment.

Some sports, like football, simply need

NORSE SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE

the team as a whole.

“Everybody in a program contributes,” Assistant Head Football Coach and Offensive Line Coach Paul Hoffman said. “Some people are playing on Saturdays. Some people are back ups. Some people are scout team players.

Those people are so important … everybody’s got their roles.”

The implementation of junior varsity teams is a way that coaches are trying to give every student an opportunity to participate.

But with so many arenas in which to participate at Luther — athletics, music and year of college but, as time goes on, they may lose interest or become involved in new activities. Keeping players within the program is something coaches like Hoffman strive for.

Photo Bureau

Side out! Natalee Johnson (‘16) looks to deliver the perfect serve. Johnson is one of 10 first-years that comprise the volleyball squad’s 21-woman roster.

things, whether it’s music, whether it’s being Sports and music are comparable in that the

Tisa Tollenaar

Volunteer Writer themselves cut.

& Jena Schwake

Sports Editor

Whether taking in a game at Carlson Stadium or the Regents Center, fans of Luther athletics athletes. With their wide involvement in all fall sports, the class of 2016 is already showing strong.

The women’s volleyball and tennis teams

According to Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Joe Thompson, this shouldn’t concern upperclass athletes.

“The number of kids that get cut from any program tends to be pretty small, probably

“Everybody in a program contributes... everybody’s got their roles.”

-Coach Paul Hoffman

minus a little bit,” Thompson said. “When I came 18 years ago,

respectively. Other teams with at least 30 and women’s soccer, football and men’s and women’s cross country.

But with so many athletes from just one class, where does this leave the upperclassmen

“[I suppose] it’s been 10 or 12 years [since] the athletic department looked at that policy and decided to drop [it].”

Currently, Luther has an estimated 550

are those in highest demand.

“It’s our job as coaches, for the sake of the school and the program, to go out and recruit better players,” Hoffman said. “So, if we do a really good job, those

start.”

In that, Thomspon notes that the recruitment selective. athletes and the most talented student athletes and you never know which class they’re going to reside in,” Thompson said.

Nils ‘Duco’ Johnson (‘14) Sport: Cross country Major: English Hometown: Middleton, Wisc.

Favorite part of running cross country at Luther: The people in it. Struggling through workouts and races wouldn’t be the same without your male and female teammates by your side. It’s a riot off the course too: cookouts, preseason and weekend get-togethers can always be counted on for good times and a bunch of laughs.

It’s just a team that becomes your second family.

Pre-competition ritual: Try to convince myself that it’s just another practice, with more people. Then make sure the short shorts are on right.

Guilty pleasure TV show: Gilmore Girls

Graphic by Noah Lange/Chips

If I could eat lunch with anyone it would be: Big Bird. I’m curious to see how the eating thing works with a beak. Seems hard.

Sports

12

Rugby: aggression meets playfulness Carrie Juergens

Staff Writer

Luther College rugby is back on the pitch and ready to ruck, scrum and maul their way to victory.

The men and women both have different goals for the season.

“Our goal is to make it to Division III Nationals,” Men’s Co-Captain Adam Stein (‘13) said.

The women are aiming their sights a bit lower, by going back to the basics.

“Our goals are to build up our team and to work on getting better individually—not to win, but to improve as individuals,” Women’s CoCaptain Elaine Seekon (‘14) said.

Both teams were scheduled to play over the weekend. The men were supposed to take on Gustavus but had to cancel due to a lack of players. The women put up a good fight against Carleton but lost 10-0.

“This is a rebuilding season, and there are lots of new girls learning very quickly,” Seekon said. “There will be payoff in future seasons for our hard work now.”

The men are experiencing similar difficulties, in terms of having few experienced players on the field.

“We need more bodies in general,” Men’s Co-Captain Mark Gisleson (‘13) said.

Rugby is an unfamiliar sport to those outside of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.

“The objectives in rugby are to keep control of the ball for as long as possible, to set up good team rucks and to take advantage of every opportunity that defense gives you,” Stein said.

Rugby is a very aggressive sport, but it comes with some lightheartedness, as well. All rugby players are given a nickname that captures a characteristic that came out during the first game.

Some nicknames include Sailor Moon, Ling Ling, E-train, Fink and

October 4, 2012

Weekly Standings Football Coe Simpson Central Loras Wartburg Dubuque Buena Vista Luther

IIAC 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1

Overall 4-0 3-1 2-2 2-2 2-2 1-3 0-4 0-4

Recent scores: -Sept. 29 @ Loras L 25-28 Upcoming schedule: -Oct. 6 vs. Dubuque (HC) 1:00 p.m.

-Oct. 13 @ Wartburg 1:00 p.m.

Women’s Soccer Loras Central Wartburg Simpson Coe Dubuque Buena Vista Luther

IIAC 2-0-0 1-0-1 1-0-0 1-0-0 1-1-0 0-1-1 0-2-0 0-2-0

Overall 8-4-0 8-3-1 7-1-2 7-2-0 7-3-1 3-5-2 8-3-1 4-6-1

Recent scores: -Sept. 26 @ UW-Eau Claire L 1-5 -Sept. 29 vs. Loras L 1-3 Upcoming schedule: -Oct. 6 @ Buena Vista 5:30 p.m.

-Oct. 10 @ Dubuque 5:00 p.m.

Volleyball Wartburg Coe Dubuque Loras Luther Simpson Buena Vista Central

IIAC 3-0 3-0 2-1 2-1 1-2 1-2 0-3 0-3

Overall 16-3 13-6 9-11 7-11 8-8 5-12 4-14 3-11

Recent scores: -Sept. 26 @ Loras L 2-3 -Sept. 27 vs. UW-La Crosse L 1-3 Courtesy of Elaine Seekon

Reach for the stars! In hopes of gaining possession Elaine Seekon (‘14) and Amy Hermeier (‘14) hoist Shelby Babcock (‘15) high into the air with a line out.

Amazon.

People either shroud the origins of their nicknames in secret or profess their story boldly upon inquiry. The group is surrounded by much tradition.

“My favorite part of playing rugby is the social afterward. We get together

Carrie Juergens/Chips Heave ho! Cameron Miller (‘13) watches his teammates as they perfect the scrum.

with the other team and make friends, whereas in football there’s a lot more enmity,” Gisleson said.

The teams are more open than ever to new recruits, but the game takes grit.

“I never had any experience with rugby before going into this,” Matt Boelter (‘16) said. “The best moment of the first game for me was the first time I got hit.”

The women’s team captains hope to leave a legacy for future rugby women in their coaching style this year.

“We had a clinic with Menagerie [Twin Cities women’s rugby team] this weekend,” Women’s Co-Captain Abby Sandry (‘13) said. “We want to develop a system to teach new people as they enter so that we have a consistent game plan even as old players leave and new ones come in … I hope that when I leave we’ll have a firm foundation for the future of Luther women’s rugby.”

On Saturday, Oct. 6 both the men and women will face off with their respective alumni at Luther’s home pitch.

Those interested in playing should contact Abby Sandry (sandab01), Elaine Seekon, Mark Gisleson (gislma01) or Adam Stein for more information.

Upcoming schedule: -Oct. 3 vs. Dubuque 7:30 p.m.

-Oct. 5 @ Augsburg 7:00 p.m.

Women’s Tennis Coe Luther Wartburg Simpson Central Buena Vista Dubuque Loras

IIAC 7-0 6-1 4-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-6

Overall 8-1 10-1 8-3 8-5 8-4 4-7 4-7 1-12

Recent scores: -Sept. 29 vs. Buena Vista W 8-1 -Sept. 29 vs. Simpson W 8-1 -Sept. 29 vs. Central W 8-1 Upcoming schedule: -Oct. 5-6 IIAC Individual Tournament

Men’s Soccer Loras Dubuque Simpson Coe Central Luther Buena Vista Wartburg

IIAC 2-0-0 2-0-0 1-0-0 1-1-0 1-1-0 0-2-0 0-2-0 0-1-0

Overall 11-1-1 8-2-0 8-4-0 4-7-1 3-6-1 6-3-2 5-4-1 3-5-1

Recent scores: -Sept. 26 vs. Cornell W 7-0 -Sept. 29 vs. Loras L 0-2 Upcoming schedule: -Oct. 6 @ Buena Vista 7:30 p.m.

-Oct. 10 @ Dubuque 7:00 p.m.