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CHIPS LUTHER COLLEGE

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Vol. 135, No. 19

Twitter tweaks students Peter Jarzyna

Staff Writer

For the social media-savvy, Twitter accounts like “Luther Girl Problems” and “Scoes Hoes” may be familiar online presences. Some students have taken issue with the nature of these accounts’ posts, calling them derogatory, and are beginning to air their grievances.

When Jim Penning (‘13) noticed a post he considered particularly heinous, he decided something needed to be done.

“Regardless of whether or not it’s sanctioned at Luther, if someone were to look up Luther College Penning said. “They might wonder, is this the kind of community Luther embodies?”

According to Penning, some of the posts are innocent and silly. He recently met with Vice President and Dean for Student Life Corey Landstrom to see what kind of action could be taken to combat the more mean-spirited posts.

Since the administrators of these Twitter accounts are anonymous to the public, and social media accounts

April 4, 2013

Since 1884

Mackleno more Due to illness, the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis concert has been postponed until Fall 2013.

Jayne Cole

News Editor

&

Sarah King

News Editor

One of the most anticipated and high-selling concerts in Luther history has been canceled – for now. News of the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis concert postponement sent shock waves across campus on April 1.

In a letter written to the Luther College community, Ben Haggerty, known as Macklemore, explained the need for the postponed concert was due to problems with his vocal cords.

“A couple of years ago, I was diagnosed with nodules on my vocal cords,” Haggerty wrote. “I work very hard to take care of my and healthy. But from time to time, it becomes a problem. This is one of those bad times.”

Abby Powell (‘15) was among many in

and Luther has no removal power.

Penning is nevertheless considering alternative options for proactivity.

“I couldn’t believe that the moment we’d all been waiting for had just vanished out of the clear blue sky,” Powell said. “The fact that it

Twitter

and I think we all sort of clung to that with some hope of the terrible news not being true.”

Students who scalped their tickets may have

continued on page 10

Please Recycle

had a different reaction to learning of the concert’s postponement.

“I made 50 dollars off a concert that didn’t even happen,” Paige Schneider (‘13) said.

“I saw the person who I sold my ticket to, and they asked me if we were going to get reimbursed for the concert being postponed or not, and if they would just eat the money.

I honestly didn’t really know how to respond because I just spent it all.”

Micayla Irmiter (‘14) faced the same dilemma when she got the news.

“I am going to return the money to the lady who bought it,” Irmiter said. “I wouldn’t have cared that it was postponed if I hadn’t sold my ticket.”

Although many students are grateful that Macklemore will return next fall, others may no longer have the opportunity to see the performance.

“The only concerns that I have with this concert being postponed is that I feel as if we seniors didn’t really get what we paid for with our CAF this year,” Schneider said.

Similarly, Powell will not be able to attend the concert next year.

“Not just me but many current sophomores who are studying abroad next year have had this exciting opportunity stripped of them and there’s nothing we can do about it,” Powell said.

Off-campus housing headaches Katherine Mohr

Staff Writer should not sign a lease until they are of full time students, number of

Nationally recognized Photo Courtesy of Paige Armstrong

See page 10 for a story on Luther students competing at the national ACDA conference.

When Emily Wilson (‘14) signed a lease for an off-campus house the second week of October, she knew the risk she was taking.

“Luther [says] not to sign a lease, but our group didn’t want to get approved for off-campus and then not have anywhere to live,” Wilson said.

Wilson and the three others on her application were not approved to live off campus for next school year.

The Residence Life office informs all students looking to apply for offcampus housing approval that they

approved for off-campus housing.

The applicants were informed March 14 whether or not they were approved to live off-campus.

According to Director of Residence Life Kris Franzen, there were 156 applications ranging anywhere from one to four students per application, resulting in 88 students approved. Franzen says in her six years as director of Residence Life, this is the highest number of applicants. Many factors dictate how many students are allowed to live off campus.

“The number of students approved to live off campus is based on the several factors that include number

anticipated graduating students… and retention rates,” Franzen said.

“These numbers give us an indication of the number of students that will be on campus for the following fall.

When we see a shortage on campus, we release [off-campus housing approval] based on those numbers.”

Those applying for off-campus housing sometimes feel pressure from landlords to sign the lease early.

“Our landowner threatened to give [our house] to somebody else if we didn’t sign it in the week Housing continued on page 10

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

News April 4, 2013 English honorees travel to Portland

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Emily Gehlsen

Books, the world’s largest independent

Staff Writer bookstore, and other various sights such

Five members from the Luther chapter of Sigma Tau Delta traveled to Portland, Ore. for the English honor society’s international convention. This was professor of English and faculty advisor before retiring.

Sigma Tau Delta holds an international convention every year in a different location. This year, it was held in Portland on March 20-23. Various student presentations were made during the convention, ranging from poetry to research papers.

Events also included keynote speakers, various seminars and a banquet. Five members from the Luther chapter were accepted to present at the convention this year: Kirsten Hash (‘13), Chelsea Tegels (‘13), Eve Christensen (‘14), Lauren Nielsen (‘13) and Kathleen Towell (‘13).

“This year, everyone who submitted something got accepted,” President of the Luther chapter of Sigma Tau Delta Hash said. “It’s kind of like research symposium. Each person presents their paper on a panel in a certain time slot.”

Although the students selected to represent Luther at the convention were only in Portland for a short time, they were able to explore Powell’s City of

as the Saturday market under blossoming cherry trees.

Luther is one of over 800 active chapters of Sigma Tau Delta. It is one of the largest the nation. The Luther chapter sponsors events for the English department, and completes occasional service projects.

Scholl has been heavily involved on both the national and chapter scale of Sigma Tau Delta after playing a large role in founding Luther’s chapter in 1992.

“At the beginning, I didn’t really know Scholl said. “I thought it would be good so students could interact with teachers on an informal basis.”

In addition to serving as the faculty advisor for Luther’s chapter, Scholl has also held positions on the Sigma Tau Delta national board since 1997, including two years as the president elect. Although this is his last year as the faculty advisor, Scholl doesn’t think that this will be his last year attending national conventions Delta.

“A lot of people who have been associated with Sigma Tau Delta do show up at the conventions,” Scholl said. “With Sigma Tau Delta, you can continue going because you’re a member for life.”

Courtesy of Kirsten Hash

Exploring Portland. Eve Christensen (‘14), Lauren Nielsen (‘13), Chelsea Tegels (‘13), Kathleen Towell (‘13) and Kirsten Hash (‘13) stroll around the city.

After Scholl retires at the end of the 2012-2013 academic year, Associate Professor of English, Amy Weldon, will become the new faculty advisor of Luther’s Sigma Tau Delta chapeter.

Scholl’s impact on the Luther chapter of Sigma Tau Delta has not gone unnoticed.

“He’s been a good advisor, and fun to travel with,” Hash said. “I bet he will keep going to conventions.”

Habitat for Humanity builds character, houses Hannah Garry &

Jayne Cole

Staff Writer News Editor

Luther’s Habitat for Humanity chapter went on its 21st spring break trip this past spring break. Students in all classes, as well as Luther faculty, travled to San Antonio to help build houses for families in need.

The spring break trip is typically the pinnacle of the

Courtesy of Mari Kise

Working together. Habitat for Humantiy participants help construct a house in San Antonio.

chapter’s volunteer work, although they are active in Winneshiek County and the surrounding area year round.

The trip allows students to meet new people, travel around the country and give back to a community that is distant from their own.

San Antonio.

Jenna Dengler (‘16) was looking forward to spending in Texas being a far cry from the 30 degrees in Decorah.

“On our free day we got to go to Hemisphere Park. It was so pretty, everything was blossoming,” Dengler said.

According to Pastor Mike Blair, who advises the Habitat for Humanity chapter at Luther, the group typically likes to visit places multiple years in a row in order to build up a relationship, but this year decided to go someplace new.

“For a number of years we went to the gulf coast to help with recovery after Hurricane Katrina, and last year we went to Birmingham but this year there was some interest in exploring some new possibilities,” Blair said.

The new location also brought the opportunity of working at Habitat Restore, a lumberyard that recycles and sells items recovered from old Habitat for Humanity projects.

“It would be like a Goodwill version of something like Menards or Lowes,” Blair said.

Jenna Dengler enjoyed exploring an aspect of house

building usually goes unnoticed through Habitat Restore.

“They were very far behind on projects like building cabinets. Our big group put them ahead,” Dengler said. group worked on. She was impressed by the group’s efforts, as the workers held responsibility for how the projects were completed.

“It was a lot more independent than I thought it would be,” Dengler said. “I was excited to do actual construction.” some nearly completed houses, such as paint and window Blair said the trips have non-labor related challenges as well.

“One of the challenges is that it’s getting out of rhythms, a lot of the time the students who go don’t have a lot of friends going on the trip, but that tends to change very quickly,” Blair said. time, said that she was excited to form a community with the other students going through service.

“I like serving people and I think the trip is a good opportunity to do that,” Storvick said. “It will also be a good opportunity to meet some people too.”

Dengler agreed with Storvik.

“I was looking for more volunteer opportunities,” Dengler said. “It was a cool way to get involved.”

WAKE UP

BREAKFAST ALL DAY! M t W th F s Su

“Nothing fancy, just good food” 817 Mechanic St. Decorah 52101

CHIPS LUTHER COLLEGE

brightening your day since 1884

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

News

April 4, 2013

Seven-day Forecast

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Life outside Luther

News you can use from around the globe

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Compiled by: Jayne Cole News Editor

Possible suspects in DA death shifts to white supremists

Courtesy of Ryan Castelaz

When in Rome. The crowd looks to St. Peter’s Basillica during the papal address on March 17.

Luther reacts to new Pope Dylan Hinton

Staff Writer

*** Lousiville’s Kevin Ware resting after surgery Kevin Ware is already up and walking, and he’s got a nice souvenir to keep him company until he’s cleared to return to Louisville.

Cardinals coach Rick Pitino brought the Midwest Regional championship trophy when he visited Ware, who remains hospitalized after surgery to repair a gruesome fracture in his right leg.

several fell to the court crying.

*** 6000 Syrians killed in March, deadliest month yet

anti-regime activist group said Monday, blaming the increase on heavier shelling and more violent clashes.

Human Rights, said the increased toll is likely incomplete because Assad’s government often underreport their dead in the civil war.

Courtesty of Ryan Castelaz

Habemus Papam! Pope Francis’ picture can be seen all over the streets in Rome.

*** Easter egg hunt at Seattle zoo turns violent

reportedly pushed a child aside as her own child was scrambling

wasn’t interested in pursuing charges against her attacker.

*** Man accused of using fake penis for drug test

News Compiled from: http://ap.org

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Arts & Entertainment

April 4, 2013

SAC welcomes Kelley James Former Macklemore & Ryan Lewis opener takes Spring Concert stage.

Margaret Yapp

Staff Writer

A small yet enthusiastic crowd of Luther students, faculty and community members were pleasantly surprised when musician Kelley James visited campus on Tuesday, April 2. James was originally the opening act for SAC Spring Concert headliner Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, but when the rapper had to cancel due to nodules on his vocal cords, James stepped in as the main act, and certainly did the job.

“Kelley James has been performing for a long time, but mostly on the West Coast,” SAC Concerts Co-chair Ben Jarvis (‘13) said. “We have a few people in the Concerts Committee who have wanted to bring him here for a long time, and we decided now was the time.”

James is an independent recording artist who often performs with a unique mix of creative lyrics, freestyle rapping and instrumental solos.

“Kelley was so talented,” Erik Sand (‘14) said. “Not only did he have the vocals, but the instrumental skill as well. The drummer and bassist were also incredible.”

Much to his surprise, Sand was called on stage when Kelly asked the audience for a guitar player.

“Obviously I was not expecting that,” Sand said. “But when he told me we were playing [Sublime’s] ‘What I Got,’ I wasn’t too worried because it’s only two chords.”

James also called up SAC President Charlie Bruer (‘13), who impressed the audience with an impromptu drum solo. On top of bringing students on stage, James launched into freestyle lyrics about Luther, students’ home states, zombies, babies, popcorn and Roscoe’s.

As an independent musician, James is no stranger to the stage or improvisation. He has performed over 700 shows in the past four years, sharing the stage with nationallyacclaimed artists such as O.A.R. and Mike Posner.

Despite campus’ disappointment at the postponment of the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis concert, Luther enjoyed a fantastic show.

“Even though Macklemore wasn’t there, it was still a musical act coming to campus,” Sand said. “There was no reason to not go, and it definitely paid off.”

Breanne Pierce/Photo Bureau

Nothing but smiles. Independent musician Kelley James performed an extended set of original songs, freestyle raps and Sublime covers for the SAC Spring Concert in the Regents Center.

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

Breanne Pierce/Photo Bureau

Crowd goes wild. Over 300 students and community members attended the concert on Tuesday, April 2.

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

Arts & Entertainment

April 4, 2013

5

Clay and consciousness

Casey DeLima

Staff Writer

Luther students gathered at the Clay Studio in downtown Decorah the evening of Tuesday, March 19 to make clay bones for the social arts movement, One Million Bones.

“We’re raising awareness about genocide in countries like the Congo and Sudan,” Jenna Darsee (‘15) said.

Darsee, who often volunteers at the Clay Studio, helped promote the event to Luther students.

“We’re making bones that will be sent to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for a weeklong art installation,” Darsee said. “The movement is not exclusive to Luther; people are making bones all around the country.”

As a movement, One Million Bones is dedicated to using art to inspire not only awareness but activism to help humans worldwide. The installation pays tribute to victims of genocide as well as survivors, and will strive to call our government and the people in our country into action.

Katie Mathis (‘15) was one of the students who came to participate in the Clay Studio event, and she expressed enthusiasm about Luther’s participation in the movement.

“I’m really glad Luther is joining in this movement,” Mathis said. “We’re pinpointing an issue that’s worldwide and isn’t just a one-time occurrence.

It’s been happening more often than most people realize.”

Students throughout the United States have been carving and molding bones out of clay in the hopes of reaching the goal of at least one million bones for the art installation.

Casey DeLima/Chips

Sculpted with care. Katie Mathis (‘15) visited the Clay Studio on Tuesday, March 19 to support the One Billion Bones project.

For each bone made, one dollar is donated to the humanitarian organization CARE for their work in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Clay Studio also worked with middle school students of the Decorah community to make bones. Nationally, people of all ages have been taking part in the One Million Bones movement.

“I think it’s important to raise awareness about genocide in countries

like the Congo and Sudan,” Mathis said. “All of us are comprised of bones.

That’s a thing that humankind shares whether you’re from Sudan or from the United States. We all have bones.”

Many students who showed up for the event were pleasantly surprised at how many people came and showed their support for the movement despite a lack of heavy promotion.

“I was impressed by the turnout of the event,” Mathis said. “I didn’t know

if many people would show up because it wasn’t publicized a lot and it was off-campus. It’s more difficult to get people to come to events that are off campus, but there were still a lot of people at the Clay Studio.”

The art installation will take place in mid-June, so it’s not too late to contribute in some way. Those interested in contributing bones or volunteering can visit the movement’s website at www.onemillionbones.org.

Album Review: Cloud Cult’s “Love” Walker Nyenhuis

manner of musical expression along the way. Front-man

A&E Editor Craig Minowa’s earnest vocals drive the majority of tracks

As a loyal follower of Cloud Cult’s encouragingly unique work, I admittedly gagged when I discovered the indie rockers had decided to name their ninth album “Love,” a noun-verb so commonly thrown about in every creative context it seems to be unavoidably cliché. title, as the band showcases thematic artistry, fervent energy and honest lyricism complemented by waves of rich instrumentation comparable to 2010’s “Light Chasers.”

A band notorious for defying genre, Cloud Cult’s strength as artists comes from their versatility. In many ways a spiritual successor to 2008’s “Feel Good Ghosts (TeaPartying Through Tornadoes),” the album incorporates an extensive catalogue of philosophy and production to support its primary themes of purpose, belonging and determination.

The album opens with a lullaby (“You’re the Only Thing in Your Way”) and passionately concludes with a balladic call to action (“The Show Starts Now”), exploring all

while an array of strings, piano, percussion and modest electronic production successfully convey a universal message of hope and qualify “Love” as an impressive album of balance.

In another validation of balance, the album’s lyrics often toy with duality, the romantic notion of contradictory afraid of the dark, but that’s where you’ll learn to see” (“The Show Starts Now”), “Life is a playground, but it takes a lot of work” (“Good Friend”) and my ashamedly favorite lyrics from the album, “Some days, you give thanks. Some just a few examples of this honest dichotomy explored throughout the album.

While Minowa’s lyrics are poetic and heartfelt as always, this is not Cloud Cult’s most cogent or dynamic work. The album’s organization borders on forced and musical experimentation compared to earlier albums is considerably reserved. However, the band’s explosive energy and repeated optimism frequently compensate for

Artwork Courtesy of Cloud Cult

Made of love. Minnesota-based artist and band member Scott West created the artwork for “Love.” this uneasy maturity as they take listeners through another spiritual journey examining what it means to be human.

Simply put, “Love” is everything Cloud Cult. Through ceaseless encouragement and abundant musicality, all 13 tracks freshly address life’s complexity and eagerly dive into its messy puddle of emotions. To resurface lyrics from the aforementioned foot-stomper “Complicated Creation:” “Some days, you give thanks. Some days, you give the

Courtesy of Cloud Cult

We can’t do this alone. Cloud Cult’s ninth studio album features new cellist Daniel Zamzow (far right).

Notable tracks: The Show Starts Now, Complicated Creation, Good Friend, Meet Me Where You’re Going.

Opinion

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April 4, 2013

Editorial

CHIPS The void doesn’t care about you

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, 400-500 words and submitted by Sunday at 5 p.m. the week before publication.

Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor.

and don’t even hear your own echo. That’s soul crushing, isn’t it?

On the other hand though, – what makes me think I even deserve a rejection letter? Why is the business world obligated to give a rip person? At some level, it seems like common courtesy. I think we’re conditioned, as well. In school, if you bomb a paper, at least

Michael Crowe

Editor-in-Chief

In my ongoing job search, one aspect has surprised me most. No, not the rejection letters – I expected those. I’m not unrealistic. It is not a good time to be looking to work in the newspaper business, as print ad sales remain low. I was prepared for that. I made that choice.

No, what has surprised me is the lack of formal rejection. I’ve sent out dozens of applications only to hear nothing back. It makes me want to curl up in a corner and weep. At this point, I almost welcome rejection letters. At least then I know where I stand.

Rejection is a glimmer of hope.

Sending job applications out feels like staring into the abyss, and a time-consuming one at that. But, instead of the abyss staring back (or even sending a nice rejection email, thankyouverymuch!) the abyss is just, an abyss, I guess. It makes the entire process feel so entirely hopeless, like frittering time away, especially with so many other pressing projects. You scream into the void, “Hire me!”

of ‘twentysomething’ is up for grabs.

“One morning, you open the newspaper and read that today’s young people are an assiduous, Web-savvy master race trying to steal your job and drive up the price of your housing stock,” Heller wrote.

“The next day, they’re reported to be living in your basement, eating all your shredded wheat, and failing to be marginally employed, even at Wendy’s. For young people with the luxury of time and choice, these ambiguities give rise to a particular style of panic.”

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not panicking. But I’m getting closer.

Hypocrisy, degradation, and @ScoesHoes

Spring 2013 Staff

Associated Collegiate Press National Online Pacemaker Award 2011 lutherchips.com

feedback, even if it’s negative. When else in your life can you accomplish something and expect instant feedback, validation?

This void is common for our demographic. There was a great piece in the January 14 New Yorker, called “Semi-Charmed Life,” that ran with the subhead “The twentysomethings are all right.” In it, author Nathan Heller examines some recent literature that considers the

Opinion

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

Editor-in-Chief...................Michael Crowe Managing Editor..........................Ethan Groothuis News Editors...............................Jayne Cole Sarah King Features Editor......................Jessy Machon A&E Editor......................Walker Nyenhuis Sports Editor..................................Matt Yan Staff Writers.........................Ingrid Baudler Eve Christensen Hannah Garry Emily Gehlsen Dylan Hinton Noah Lange Katherine Mohr Sam Molzahn Brita Moore Bailey Mulholland Margaret Yapp Head Copy Editor...................Benj Cramer Copy Editors...............................Katie Hale Kirsten Hash Ad Representative.................Charlie Bruer Becca Dugdale Ad Accountant.....................Ramesh Karki Photography Coordinator..........Casey DeLima Web Manager...........................Noah Lange Web Technician...................Nathan Haines Design Technician...................Noah Lange Social Media Director..............Drew Mick Adviser.............................Martin Klammer

It’s the end of era. The era of instant, outside validation.

In this vacuum of external validation, satisfaction has to come from somewhere else, somewhere internal. And that’s not easy.

Right now, that’s what I’m going to miss about all of this. Even at Chips, if a reader disagrees with an aspect of our coverage, they’re

Dylan Hinton

Staff Writer

“If its after the hours of 10:30 p.m. and you’re a girl and you’re not sucking or f***ing you’re doing something wrong with your life.”

Using less than 140 characters, the geniuses behind the Twitter account “@ScoesHoes” managed to craft this deliciously degrading tweet earlier this March. For those who may be unfamiliar, @ScoesHoes is a twitter account run by an anonymous group of Luther students who had the ingenious idea to create a page where students could submit photos of women at the bar Roscoes. The women

featured in these pictures are “Scoes Hoes,” or women that are acting promiscuously.

The administrators of the page also tweet encouraging the men and women of Luther College to get drunk, go to Scoes, and hook up with each other, and then ridicule the women for doing exactly that.

This Twitter page completely embodies the double standard women are faced with regarding their sexuality. @ScoesHoes simultaneously encourages Luther women to come to Scoes to dance with a man and go home with him, and then degrades the women that do.

Not only that, but ScoesHoes actually publishes photos of women behaving in of the title “@Scoes Hoe.” Potential legal issues aside, the fact that Luther students are taking pictures of other students – without permission – and posting them on the internet is blatantly disrespectful and downright disturbing. Moreover, the focus of sexual ridicule in these photos is always the woman, despite the fact that the men dancing with them are behaving the same way.

And of course, all of this degradation is brought to you anonymously. No person

or persons can be held accountable for any statements or photos posted, which undoubtably emboldens the party responsible for the account. The creators clearly did not feel they could tweet such heinously sexist content from their personal accounts, and the fact that they have chosen to express these thoughts through an anonymous venue suggests they are aware that what they are doing is wrong, or at least realize the backlash they would receive if their names were associated with the content. @ScoesHoes is a disgusting byproduct of social media, anonymity and ignorance. The women of Luther College should be free to dress and act how they want without fear of being shamed, photographed and ridiculed on the internet. The creators of the account have absolutely no right to pass judgement on the sexual choices of their classmates, and doing so anonymously is unbelievably cowardly. This Twitter account is a poor and body. I know the majority of this campus does not hold to the same sexist, archaic mindset as the account’s creators, and I hope that others will stand up in opposition to the incredibly offensive tweets of @ScoesHoes.

LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS

Opinion

April 4, 2013

Dear Mr. Holton, I am writing in response to your eloquently written personal attack on the staff of this newspaper for publishing the name of a student who was arrested for OWI and crashing into several parked cars. The following remarks do not represent the opinions of the Chips staff or Luther College.

I would like to take the time to clear up a few things.

First of all, nowhere in the article did the writer come anywhere close to “dragging a fellow student through the mud,” as you put it. Where did you see any sort of attempt at defaming your friend’s name in the article? It was objectively written, stating the facts of the case and recording the responses of those affected by the situation. The writer took no steps beyond stating the accused party’s name.

Whatever intent you extrapolated from the article is predicated on your own assumptions and prejudices. Nobody wrote an opinion piece attacking your friend. As you said yourself, all of the information we cited is in the public record, so all the writer did was restate what people already know.

Would you rather us protect the names of people who make the choice to commit crimes? What kind of message would that send to the Luther community? I would much rather have the names published and deter

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potential offenders from committing senseless crimes and harming innocent bystanders than censor them for your friends’ benefit. In this case, the needs of the community come before the needs of the individual.

It is quite ironic that you throw baseless accusations at the writer of the article while also pleading for the staff to have empathy. How dare you attack the writer, whom you do not even know? You paint her as a scheming journalist who tramples people’s rights just to get a story when that could not be further from the truth.

In reality, she is a kind and caring individual who was instructed to cover an incident that has serious implications for students on campus.

She did not deserve to be singled out and degraded for doing her job. If you have any moral compass you would realize that you owe her an apology.

I also have no doubt that your friend made an honest mistake and deeply regrets what he did. The fact of the

matter is, he is alleged to have driven while intoxicated, putting other people’s lives at risk. Your friend must take personal responsibility for his actions, which includes dealing with his name being published in a newspaper.

We must accept the consequences of our actions regardless of their desirability. If you do not understand this, you may have a difficult time adjusting to adult life.

This newspaper has an obligation to publish the truth. As David Mitchell wrote, “Truth is singular. Its versions are mistruths.” These other versions have no place in this production.

Censoring the details in a story that impacts public safety would be doing this community a disservice. I believe that our commitment to the truth is what makes Chips a quality newspaper, and my hope is that future writers uphold this standard.

Matt Yan (‘14)

Opinion: Roast Mutton

The power of opinions and response

Casey DeLima

Photography Coordinator

I’ve heard many assertions about how I’m supposed to judge people. I’ve been told not to judge people by their appearances, or not to judge people by their mistakes. One thing that has always stuck for me was that I was supposed to judge people by their actions over anything else, especially when it came to how they treated other people.

One thing that has come into my consideration recently is whether or not someone’s thought or opinions count as actions, and therefore can be used to judge an individual. The more I think about it, the more I believe that your opinions definitely contribute to what kind of person you are, no matter what the opinions are influenced by.

Our opinions make up a lot of our identity, when you think about it. Even the simple ones, such as our preference of breakfast cereals, influence how we act even in the smallest of ways. Our opinions influence our actions, and our actions may not make us into the people we are indefinitely, but our actions are the things that others perceive about us most often.

So why not judge other people on their opinions? I don’t necessarily mean judge in a negative way, either, but what better way to understand who a person is than knowing how they feel about certain things?

That being said, I’m still toying with the idea and am not one-hundred percent sold, either. However, I do agree that if someone has an opinion and voices it, they need to be prepared to own up to what they said even if it receives negative feedback.

We all have our right to free speech, so that means both sides are allowed to talk at the same volume.

All too often I see people becoming hurt or offended by someone judging their opinion. People will state their opinion in public or on a social media site, but then expect everyone to either agree with the opinion or commend them for it. The hard truth about human

beings is that we don’t always agree on things, and we’re very quick to prove that.

There’s really no point in becoming upset over someone disagreeing with you and judging you for that opinion because in the end, there’s really nothing you can do about that person’s opinion of you. Just as you have a right to your opinion, others are entitled to theirs, even if their opinion involves you and your opinion.

My point is that if we state our opinions — which I am in full support of — we need to be prepared to get some feedback, negative or otherwise.

We are adults now and we can’t hide behind excuses anymore. Our opinions become parts of our identity, and our identity is always going to be something that people can try to observe and judge.

-Casey DeLima (‘15) This being said, don’t limit your expression of your opinions. Your opinions are indeed yours, and you have every right to share them. However, it is always necessary to consider the consequences of your actions, and it is our responsibility as adults to own up to our actions when challenged.

“We all have our right to free speech, so that means both sides are allowed to talk at the same volume.”

8

Features

April 4, 2013

Vayner takes the podium Boris Vayner conducts Philharmonia during Spencer Martin’s absence.

Ingrid Baudler

Staff Writer

Everyone quiets down as the concertmaster stands up, signaling the oboe to tune the orchestra.

The concertmaster sits down and the conductor steps up. He doesn’t say much; just, “Ok, second movement,” with a steady face.

Then, with the upswing of the baton, he eases into the music. His straight face doesn’t change much but his arms swell with the cellos and bounce with the melody.

While Spencer Martin is on sabbatical this spring semester, Boris Vayner is conducting Philharmonia Orchestra and teaching viola lessons. Vayner lived in Russia for the first 26 years of his life and has chosen two pieces by Russian composers for Philharmonia to play in their next concert, giving orchestra students like Sarah Nicla (‘14) a unique experience. “[Vayner] doesn’t say a whole lot, but he really conveys his emotions through the music,” Nicla said.

“You can tell he’s really emotionally connected to the pieces.”

Vayner felt the music would be challenging for his students and he enjoys the opportunity to conduct songs that he’s so close to. He also predicts the students will find value in the experience.

“I felt it might be interesting for them to play this music because I’m from Russia,” Vayner said. “I grew up with this music. I studied it from my childhood.”

Ingrid Baudler/Chips

Watch and learn. Aaron Mertzenich (‘14) takes lessons with Vayner now that Spencer Martin is on sabbatical.

Ingrid Baudler/Chips

Feeling the music. Boris Vaynor shows the musicians what he wants while conducting Philharmonia.

The orchestra is playing “Night on Bald Mountain”

by Modest Mussorgsky and “Deuxième Syphonie” by Alexander Borodin. Both composers are part of the famous group of Russian Romantic composers know as “The Five.” This group revolutionized music and developed a distinct Russian style, while others were following in the footsteps of the European composers before them.

“Their idea was not to follow European tradition but to establish Russian symphonic music using a lot of Russian folk music,” Vayner said.

Instead of following the accepted rules of composition, “The Five” studied music differently and explored a different kind of harmony.

“Borodin probably knew about the rules, but mostly he just followed the beauty of the music,” Vayner said.

“It’s very light because it doesn’t have this mental power. It has only this beauty power.”

According to Vayner, Mussorgsky went even further with this idea with abandoning the scholarly goals of European music and simply creating original beauty with music.

“It’s very picturesque, his music,” Vayner said. “You can really see the images.”

Vayner started out as a violinist at 7 years old and switched to viola when he went to college at age 16.

At college in Russia he earned a degree in music and mathematics.

Since then, he has joined the St. Petersburg String

Quartet as a violist and toured the world, playing 50-60 concerts per year. He has played in countries in North America, South America, Europe and Asia including U.S. destinations such as the Library of Congress and Lincoln Center.

The quartet is currently stationed in Wichita, Kansas as the Quartet-in-Residence at the Wichita State University School of Music.

Vayner is taking a break from touring this semester to conduct at Luther. He has some conducting experience from summer camps and smaller groups and thought he’d try out conducting a large orchestra. He also brought a lot of viola experience to the job of teaching lessons.

Aaron Mertzenich (‘14) plays in Symphony and Chamber Orchestra and takes weekly viola lessons with Vayner. “[Vayner provides] a different take and a different angle on my playing,” Mertzenich said.

Both he and Nicla have taken regular lessons with Martin and have since switched to Vayner for the semester.

“It’s a lot of technique but not as much verbal feedback,” Nicla said.

Nicla sits in the front row during Philharmonia rehearsal and is moved by the power and the depth of the Russian pieces.

After the rehearsal, Vayner quietly walked back to his office, sweat dripping onto his collar.

Tenured profess Bailey Mulholland

in orchestral conducting and his doctorate of m

Staff Writer Connections made while attending various

Allen Hightower has recently received tenure as Professor of Music and Director of the Luther College commitment to music.

A Texan born into a family of lawyers and judges, Hightower’s interest in music diverged from the norm but was supported by his grandmother, who encouraged him to learn piano early on. He joined choir in high school and became student choral director, discovering his “intuitive knack” for directing.

“That was when the conducting bug bit,” Hightower Courtesy of Allen Hightower Like father, like daughters. Recently-tenured Allen Hightower lives in said. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music Decorah with his wife Kristin and his two daughters, Caroline and Julianne. education, a master’s degree in choral conducting, another

eventually led him to his present post at Luthe “I never would’ve thought my next step been a liberal arts college,” Hightower said, explaining that Craig Arnold, a friend from graduate school and his predecessor at Luther, recommended him to the college.

He applied upon invitation, drawn to the “rich Lutheran choral tradition” despite his Evangelical religious background. Receiving t as a non-Lutheran came as a surprise. “[I’m grateful] to Luther for entrusting [

“That wa bug bit.”

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Features

April 4, 2013

9

Sam Molzahn/Chips

I’ma take your grandpa’s style. Seasoned thrifters Carl Bates (‘15), Jayne Pearson (‘15) and Annie Schlaefer (‘15) pose proudly in their thrifted clothing.

Poppin’ tags

Students adopt the popular thrift shopping trend.

Sam Molzahn

Staff Writer

Looking for a come-up? Only got twenty dollars in your pocket? Take a page from Macklemore’s book and go thrift shopping for new clothes.

Thrift shopping is the act of digging through second-hand stores to buy items at a cheaper price than retail. Shopping for clothes at thrift stores has been popularized by hip-hop artist Macklemore’s song “Thrift Shop.”

The song may have brought more attention to thrift shopping, but some Luther students were taking part long before the song’s release.

“My dad used to take me when I was young,” Annie Shlaefer (‘15) said.

Shlaefer has been thrifting for years and Jayne Pearson (‘15) echoed that response.

“I had friends in high school that went to thrift stores, so we would go to thrift

stores in St. Paul,” Pearson said. “I had a The shifting inventory can also change teacher in high school that wore thrifted shopping strategies. clothes. It made me realize that you could “I always go just browse because you work thrifted clothes into your everyday life.”

Pearson said.

Thrift shopping in the Decorah area is There are different reasons why students available at some stores including The go thrift shopping, including a tie-in with Depot Outlet and a Luther’s goal of Goodwill store. sustainability.

“For being a “What I like about small town we’re thrifting is it’s an very lucky to have opportunity to be both The Depot and sustainable and Goodwill,” Carl live simple through Bates (‘15) said. buying secondhand -Janye Pearson (‘15) clothing,” Bates “The Depot is great because almost said. Buying used everything in the clothes reduces the store is two dollars or less. Goodwill is a consumption of materials needed to make bigger store and almost a brand name – so new clothes. to speak.”

The two stores have different roles thrifted clothes than a sustainable lifestyle. and their inventory changes frequently. Schlaefer likes thrifted items because they The fast turnover of inventory creates a different atmosphere as opposed to retail it’s lived-in already,” Shlaefer said. “I stores. used to buy all my soccer cleats used.”

“I like to go thrifting on a weekly basis Thrift shopping can also be done for because the inventory will change over different purposes. Macklemore’s song time,” Bates said. references a lot of unique clothes he buys

“I always go just browse because you never know what you’re

from thrift stores. zany things that are different from the norm,” Bates said.

While unusual clothes can attract shoppers to thrift stores, some students go thrifting for more practical purposes.

“A good portion of my wardrobe is from thrift stores,” Pearson said. “I do it more for my everyday clothes than for just funny clothes to buy.

Macklemore’s song “Thrift Shop” talks but has it changed the culture of thrift shopping?

“The ideas behind it have changed,” Shlaefer said. “Instead of saying ‘I need this’ and buying it at a thrift store now it’s an activity.”

Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” has brought a social aspect to thrift shopping.

“I love to go and shop with friends,” Bates said. “Most of the time I’m there with other people and it does become a social activity. [The song] has brought a certain level of allure and transparency to thrift shopping. Making people aware that this exists is a great thing and it is

sors series: Allen Hightower

musical arts. institutions er. p would’ve

tradition] to an ‘outsider,’ so to speak,” Hightower said.

“That was brave on their part and I hope I’m living up to it.”

That would seem the case, as he received tenure within only three years. The process was accelerated since he had already been tenured after teaching for ten years at his undergraduate alma -Allen Hightower mater, Sam Houston State University.

Hightower enjoys living in Decorah with his wife Kristin, a voice teacher, and two young daughters, Caroline and Julianne. Also part of the family is McCoy, a cocker spaniel named for a character from “Law & Order,” one of Hightower’s

as when the conducting ”

own more the position

[the choral

favorite shows. He is also a huge fan of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and pretty much anything British.

Outside of traditional choral repertoire, he appreciates the worship aspect of contemporary Christian music and considers country music to be “great storytelling.”

“It’s hard for a professional musician to listen to [the music they work with] and not have a critical ear, so it’s nice to simply enjoy [other genres],” Hightower said. “I consider myself a broad-minded musician … and [ultimately] my interest is rooted in making music with other people.”

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10

April 4, 2013

Conducting with competence Brita Moore

Staff Writer

Luther has demonstrated its choral competence once again. Recent alum Paige Armstrong (‘12) won the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Undergraduate Conducting Competition in Dallas, Texas over the weekend of March 13-16 as part of the national conference. Current student Tyler Hagy (‘13) made the As the only undergraduate level choral conducting who were two of nine students selected from a pool of 90 applicants nationwide to go to Dallas.

“Getting to that point was a big deal from our small school going up against these big universities,” Hagy said.

Armstrong was a member of Nordic Choir for three years, including serving as vice president her senior year, and worked as an assistant to Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music Allen Hightower while earning a music education degree. She was inspired to apply after the 2011 competition in Chicago, when Brett Hightower watched.

“Dr. Hightower leaned over to [me] and said, ‘Hey, you could do really well in this competition,’” Armstrong said. “That stuck with me, and that’s what made me pursue if it was still a possibility as a ninth-semester student.”

Armstrong completed her student teaching in fall 2012 and currently works in the Twin Cities area. She has taught at the elementary level but is considering furthering her choral conducting career.

“It had been awhile since I’d gotten a chance to my life towards going back to a conducting realm,” Armstrong said. “I’ve always had a dream of coming back to Luther someday.”

Hagy is double majoring in music and theatre with an education minor. He hopes to conduct at the collegiate level eventually.

“The convention was a lot of fun being in an environment with people who share the same passion as you,” Hagy said.

Hagy had considered applying for a couple years, also

Photo Courtesy of Paige Armstrong

Music magic. Associate Professor of Music Sandra Peter, Tyler Hagy (‘13), Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music Allen Hightower, Paige Armstrong (‘12) and Tim Peter (‘86) enjoyed the ACDA conference. citing Epperson as an inspiration, as well as Hightower himself, who won the graduate level conducting competition in 1997. way I look and my ideal sound, in hearing the choirs he’s worked with and being a member of Nordic this year and hearing that sound every day,” Hagy said.

To apply, the candidates had to tape themselves conducting a choir with which they had not rehearsed with Nordic, and Hagy’s video was with Collegiate Chorale.

“The better the ensemble you have to work with, the better you look as a conductor,” Hightower said.

They sent in the videos in October and learned of their both spent a great deal of time studying the music and practicing for what the competition would bring, an eight-minute time slot to work on two prescribed pieces with a choir made up of quartets from schools across the country.

“I think that poses a challenge for the student conductors because you’re not working with a choir that has sung together over and over all year, but these quartets came from very different approaches to singing, and in a short time, make an ensemble out of it,” Hightower said.

Hightower attributed Armstrong’s success to her ability assigned music very well, she could adapt to the sound she heard.

“As a trained singer and choral musician, she has a substantial arsenal of effective techniques to really evolve the sound,” Hightower said.

Hagy, who also worked with Assistant Professor of Music Andrew Last (‘97) and Professor Emeritus of Music Weston Noble (‘43) to prepare, said the competition indicated some of the skills he is continuing “One of the biggest compliments I got from judges and other people was the way that I look and my gesture,”

Posts provoke public More off-campus housing approvals a future possibility Twitter

continued on page 1

Housing continued on page 1

that we did,” Briana Osterman (‘14) said.

Franzen points to miscommunication fueling the pressure to sign leases earlier than allowed.

“We have been very clear with students that they should not sign a lease until they are approved to live off campus,” Franzen said.

“The students themselves need to stop putting the pressure on each other by signing the leases so far in advance.”

Approval for off-campus housing is based solely on the number of credits completed at the end of fall semester.

For now, there is a waiting list on which Wilson and Osterman stay. Franzen says there might be

more approvals soon.

“During the last week of March we will have more definite numbers on some of the programs and will visit the off campus numbers again,” Franzen said. “If we feel that we may be short on beds at that time we will go back to the off campus list.”

As for Wilson, she remains locked into her lease, waiting for the next step.

“If I can’t work it out with my landlord and I can’t work it out with Luther, I won’t financially be able to come back as a senior,” Wilson said. “I understand that I made a bad decision in signing my lease. I took a risk and it backfired on me.

But I’ve invested so much money as a student and worked hard to go to this school, I feel like I earned a certain amount of respect.”

“The main objective is to get the word out and make people realize how childish and foolish it is,” Penning said. “Is this really how we want the Luther community to be represented? They attack certain groups on campus, they show disregard for certain groups on campus and they’re overall stupid.”

The Luther administration is well aware of these accounts, according to Vice President for Communications and Marketing Rob Larson, who regularly scans them to get a sense of the tenor of the voice, take a look at what people are saying and ensure that there isn’t anything he needs to act on.

“I think that to the extent that someone from the outside uses it to take measure of who we are is really unfortunate, because it isn’t who we are,” postings, so I can see why they might be interesting to some people.

They’re fads, for the most part. But as a person who is pretty invested in the institution, I don’t walk away saying, ‘This is who we are.’”

In the eyes of Carly Ellefsen (‘15), the ‘Scoes Hoes’ Twitter account is especially degrading.

“It’s pointed directly at women,” Ellefsen said. “Even if it were also more inclusive to men, it would still be pretty tasteless in that it just exploits drunk people. It’s parading the idea that any girl who goes to the bar is ‘easy’ or promiscuous. It’s very juvenile.”

As Penning prepares to graduate, he articulated that he would like to be proud of the institution and to know that he can back up the ideologies embodied by the student community.

“When I think of the student body, I think about all the initiatives that have been going on for things like sustainability, not for making a public mockery of weekend activities and belittling certain students,” Penning said. “Are we going to be better than that? Are we going to be a better campus?”

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Sports

April 4, 2013

11

Teams travel to warmer climates Noah Lange

Staff Writer

Every spring break, many sports teams travel south to avoid the freezing weather in Decorah. This year was no different, as numerous teams flew or drove down south to enjoy the good weather and prepare for their seasons.

Golf The men’s golf team traveled to Florida over spring break to get ready for the 2013 season. With the conditions in Iowa typically unsuitable for golf at the end of March, the team takes an annual trip during spring break to the Sunshine State to get back into shape after a long winter and to get some early preparation for the competition they’ll face later in the season.

“Coach always likes to start the spring this way, take a spring break trip to Florida,” Andrew Peter (‘14) said. “This is always a special trip.”

The team even got the opportunity to play matches against other schools taking advantage of the sunny weather.

“We got a chance to compete with two other schools that were down there,” Peter said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Luther faced St. Joseph’s College and Farmingdale State University, both of Long Island, New York, in matches toward the end of the week.

“We did pretty well,” Peter said. “We shot 292 for our team score, which is one of Luther’s lowest in a long time. We won that tournament, so it was a great way to end the week and start our spring season.”

While the team’s annual trip is old hat for many students on the golf team, this year’s was special for Peter.

“This is my first year at Luther, so for me this was my first time going on the trip,” Peter said. “It was a really great experience.”

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Briggs

Fun in the sun. The baseball team takes in the warm weather after a grueling bus trip to Tucson, Arizona.

Baseball The men’s baseball team’s spring break saw them travel to Arizona for a week of practice and matches against other schools, followed by a triumphant return to Storm Lake, Iowa where they posted a 3-1 victory over Buena Vista University in their conference opener for the 2013 season.

“Well, we bussed down thirty hours to Arizona, so that’s a bit of a different animal,” Thomas Weber (‘13) said with a wry grin.

“I think we showed some promising signs to take with us moving forward for the rest of the season.”

Aldon Severson (‘15) said. “While down south, we didn’t play as well as we had hoped, [but] we took away a lot of positive things from each [game].”

Luther’s team played six varsity and four junior varsity games while in Arizona in preparation for the regular conference season.

“So we’d get up and get to the field early and play the varsity game, then have a little down time to eat lunch and get refocused between games, and then the JV game would start,” Severson said.

The trip to Arizona has become a tradition in the last years at Luther. After Alex Smith (‘03) replaced Brian Gillogly (‘82) at the helm of the baseball team, the team has traveled to Arizona each year instead of the trip to Florida they’d had in the past. Severson was enthusiastic about the change.

“It’s gone well. Arizona obviously has good weather, and not rain, so that helps a lot.”

Women’s tennis beats Carthage, Elmhurst Sports Information

Luther College season in Orlando. White-Baer was also impressive

The women’s tennis team completed its spring trip in Orlando, Florida with its fourth straight win, this time easing past Carthage 8-1. The Norse controlled the action at the bottom two doubles spots and then swept all six singles positions to pick up the victory.

Katy Lindstrom (‘13) and Annie Whiteley (‘13) defeated Erin Henrickson and Abi Howell (8-2) at No. 2 while Lola White-Baer (‘15) and Hailey Johnson (‘16) dominated the action at No. 3 in an (8-1) win over Daria Ekkert and Holly Weber. Carthage tallied its lone point of the match at No. 1 to make it 2-1 in favor of the Norse heading into singles.

Elise Allen (‘13) saved her best match of the trip for last, cruising past Bari Reynolds (6-2, 6-0) at No. 1, just one year after Reynolds had defeated Allen in a third set super tie-breaker when the teams met last

in a (6-0, 6-1) rout of Haleigh McPeek at No. 2.

Maggie Helms (‘16) rallied back to win the first set over Henrickson at No. 3 and then rolled to a (7-5, 6-1) win. Lindstrom gutted out a (6-3, 6-4) decision against Howell at No. 4 while Whiteley held off Kelsey Bowen (6-3, 6-3) at No. 5. Adriana DePaolis dropped her opening set in a tie-breaker, but came back to win (6-7 (7), 6-1, (10-3) over Weber at No. 6.

With the victory, the Norse improve to 14-5 overall this season. Earlier in the day, Luther dispatched Elmhurst College by a 9-0 score. All nine players saw action in that match, which started off with six wins in straight sets. The Norse only dropped a total of 14 games over 12 sets.

Luther will be back in action with a home match against Wheaton on Friday, April 12. The next day, the Norse will travel to Carleton College in Northfield, Minn.

Photo Courtesy of Luther College

Smash-tastic. Annie Whiteley (‘13) focuses her energy as she prepares to return the ball to her opponent from Grinnell in a match last year.

Whiteley is 9-4 in singles competition this season.

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Slagel steps up at Nationals

April 4, 2013 Weekly Standings Softball Coe Simpson Luther Central Loras Buena Vista Dubuque Wartburg

IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Overall 18-2 21-3 13-3 16-5 7-6 9-9 6-8 4-14

Recent scores: • Mar. 30 vs. Houghton College W 12-3 • Mar. 30 vs. Univ. of Chicago W 11-8 Upcoming schedule: • Apr. 6 vs. Coe @ Cedar Rapids

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

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

Overall 19-0 7-3 9-5 3-11 6-7 3-10 7-4 0-8

Recent scores: • Mar. 27 vs. Carthage W 9-0 • Mar. 27 vs. Elmhurst L 4-5 Photo Courtesy of Lance Huber

Clare Slagel (‘16) accepts her trophy for her fourth-place performance in the 100 backstroke.

First-year earns AllAmerican honors in 100 and 200 backstroke, sets three school records.

Abby Carpenter

Staff Writer

Clare Slagel (‘16) cleaned up at the Women’s Swimming NCAA III Championships on March 20-23, earning All-American honors twice and winning third and fourth place medals.

As the only Luther swimmer to go to Nationals in Texas this year, Slagel swam the 500 freestyle and placed 22nd with a new school record of 5:01.65. But it was with the 100 and 200 backstroke that Slagel truly impressed. As the only freshman in the A finals field, Slagel finished fourth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.72, earning AllAmerican honors. Slagel earned AllAmerican honors for a second time when she swam the 200 backstroke, posting a time of 1:59.40 minutes and setting a new school record. She broke a third record in the 100 backstroke during the qualifying round.

With such outstanding results, Slagel is arguably one of the most talented athletes at Luther. But those that know her best know that despite her amazing performance in the pool, Slagel remains very grounded and focused.

“Clare is a humble, mature and a very disciplined student athlete,” Head Coach Lance Huber said. “This allows her to focus on what is needed to be successful. Her work ethic, like many on the team, is outstanding.”

Slagel is nothing if not humble. When asked about her results at Nationals, she talked mostly about her experience of the entire event and the overall ability

of the swimmers there.

“I was very surprised with my own performance, but I was more caught up with the speed and the talent of the other swimmers at Nationals,” Slagel said. “It is amazing how fast the sport is becoming and it was such a neat experience to be able to cheer for other swimmers that our team swam against earlier in the season.”

Throughout the entire season Slagel remained a hard worker, which didn’t go by unnoticed by the team. Fellow swimmer Nicole Larsen (‘16) recalls Slagel’s unwavering dedication.

“One of the things that I was super impressed with was at practice when the rest of the team was on taper and Clare had one or two more sets that she had to do on her own because she wasn't on taper yet,” Larsen said. “She always did the sets without complaining, which is very impressive, and worked her butt off.”

Because Slagel was the only swimmer to qualify for Nationals at the Liberal Arts Championships on February 14-16 this year, she had to continue training up until Nationals with specialized one-on-one practices with Coach Lance Huber.

“We talked a lot about the importance of communication through the year and especially during the re-taper time from LAC to Nationals,” Huber said. “Much of the preparation was Clare taking one day at a time. The team is phenomenal about supporting everyone, national

qualifier or not. So I know that the team played a big part in her preparation.”

Luther’s swim team is a very tightknit group of individuals. It’s the family-type feeling that convinced Slagel to swim at Luther.

“I came into Luther unsure of whether or not I would swim,” Slagel said.

“Once I met the team, I fell in love with the swim program and I was so impressed by the coaching staff I knew it would be a better decision to swim than not to.”

Not only does Slagel say that the team was the driving force for her joining the program, but she also credits the team with her results at Nationals.

“The team was incredible and there to support me the whole way,” Clare said.

“Often I would be training with my teammates in the pool or they would be right by my side during a difficult workout. Without their support there is no way I could have made it so far.”

Although the swim season is now over, and there is no pool to currently practice; Slagel and the rest of the swimmers are already excited about next year and the benefits of the new pool.

“We have our eyes set on making Nationals next season with our relays and more individual swimmers,” Slagel said. “We were incredibly close to [qualifying] our medley relays this year, and that will definitely be a source of motivation for the upcoming season.”

Upcoming schedule: • Apr. 6 vs. Coe @ Cedar Rapids

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

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

Overall 16-3 14-5 10-6 8-10 8-6 4-7 4-7 1-13

Recent scores: • Mar. 27 vs. Carthage W 8-1 • Mar. 27 vs. Elmhurst W 9-0 Upcoming schedule: • Apr. 12 vs. Wheaton @ Home 4:00 p.m.

Women’s Swim and Dive Luther Loras Coe Simpson

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

Overall 6-0 5-4 1-6 1-3

Recent scores: • Clare Slagel 3rd and 4th at NCAAs

Baseball IIAC Luther Wartburg Central Buena Vista Loras Coe Simpson Dubuque

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Overall 2-0 10-2 6-3 3-2 3-3 4-4 4-5 0-2

Recent scores: • Mar. 30 vs. Buena Vista W 4-2, 6-2

Upcoming schedule: • Apr. 5 vs. Coe @ Home 1:00 p.m.

• Apr. 6 vs. Coe @ Home 1:00 p.m.