March 20th Issue

ESPY Awards honor athletes

Sports 12

Postville hosts Diversity Night

Features 6

LUTHER COLLEGE

“Let the chips fall where they may.”

CHIPS

MARCH 20, 2014

Serving the Luther College community since 1884.

VOLUME 136, NO. 18

Panel addresses immigration

ESCUCHE. HOLA-Enlaces hosted an immigration panel titled “Past, Present and Future” on Wednesday, March 12 in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall.

Bjorn Myhre / Chips CASEY DELIMA FEATURES EDITOR On Wednesday, March 12, nearly 150 students, faculty, staff and community members gathered in the Recital Hall of the Center for Faith and Life for the Immigration Panel: Past, Present and Future hosted by the Hispanic Organization of Latinos y Amigos (HOLA)-Enlaces.

The panel consisted of Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion Sharon Jacob, Director of the Center for Ethics and Public Life Greg Jesson, Campus Pastor David Vásquez and Co-President of HOLA-Enlaces Marlon Enriquez (‘15). The panel featured personal stories from Jacob and Henriquez, immigrants from India and El Salvador, respectively.

“This [panel was] intended to look at individual stories,” Vásquez said. “There [were] two personal stories from people in our community who have experienced migration in different ways.”

An immigrant from El Salvador who came into the United States illegally, Henriquez explained how his residence status affects him as a college student.

“I have something called temporary protected status,” Henriquez said. “That means that I can be in the United States.

I can work, but I don’t get any federal benefits in any way. It’s renewed every 18 months, and I apply to try and get it renewed, but there’s a period of time where I’m not sure if it will be renewed. “ Henriquez explained the difficulty as an immigrant with his

residence status to attend college due to not receiving any federal benefits.

“I’m one of hundreds of thousands of students in the United States, who are possibly undocumented, who don’t benefit from federal aid in any way,” Henriquez said. “I’m a rare case that I’m in the United States and I’m getting great education at Luther.”

An immigrant from India, Jacob shared her experience as an international student in the United States.

“In terms of being here, working here, and having a life here … the rough side of immigration is realizing that you don’t fit,” Jacob said. “That you need a card to carry around with you always, that your license is valid only for a year and you have to go in and IMMIGRATION PANEL, PAGE 4

Miss Iowa 2013 Nicole Kelly comes to campus MATT HELM STAFF WRITER On Tuesday, March 18, the Student Activities Council Leadership Committee brought Miss Iowa 2013 Nicole Kelly to Luther as a part of an ongoing series of lectures. 107 students and community members attended the event.

In support of her platform, “Overcoming Disabilities,” Kelly encouraged students to reject stereotypes.

“I was born without my left forearm,” Kelly said. “As I grew older, I learned to offset the initial stares I received from people with an outgoing personality that would not give in to ‘no.’ I found my passion within a world where I was giving

people permission to stare, the stage.”

SAC Leadership felt that Kelly would bring a different energy to Luther than the typical leadership speaker.

“Nicole brings a fresh spirit to Luther, a positive energy,” SAC Leadership Co-chair Libby Kropp (‘14) said. “She is so full of smiles and confidence and the audience soaked up her vibrancy. The value of her message is in her perseverance; she provides motivation to keep pursuing our dreams no matter how rough things seem to be going.”

Kelly challenges people to think outside of the box and titles such as “pageant queen” and “disability.”

“The value of her message is in her perseverance; she provides motivation to keep pursuing our dreams no matter how rough things seem to be going.”

- Libby Kropp (‘14)

MISS IOWA, PAGE 4

MISS IOWA. Nicole Kelly visited campus on Tuesday, March 18.

Matt Helm / Chips

NEWS

PAGE 2 MARCH 20, 2014

NEWS EDITORS: WALKER NYENHUIS & BRITA MOORE

Organizations “on the move” for peace BAILEY MULHOLLAND STAFF WRITER

READY TO GO. Kirby Olson (‘17) demonstrates how to use the control room.

Abby Carpenter / Chips

LIS introduces multimedia center

Paige Lobdell (‘16) has used the multimedia lab for a few of her classes.

“They can show you how to do anything from The new multimedia lab in the basement of Preus working with Final Cut Pro, to exporting a video to Library held an open house on March 18. At the YouTube,” Lobdell said. “It is very helpful to have staff open house, Library and Information Services staff available, especially when you are working with the demonstrated how the facilities are opening doors for complicated technology for the first time.”

The second room is a studio used for video and new project possibilities.

User Services Multimedia Lead Matt Baumann photography projects. As well as having high-quality lights and backdrops, including a green screen, this explained the main purpose of the lab.

“We wanted to create a lab environment where room may be used as an interactive classroom.

The third room, which connects the computer lab students could receive technical help by those that and the studio area, is a control room. Many students have had more experience, and give them the proper have already come to the multimedia lab requesting tools to help them create their projects,” User Services to record music in this space, but this is something Multimedia Lead Matt Baumann said. that is not quite possible at this time. However, Prior to the opening of the multimedia lab, Luther Baumann is looking into this possibility. had some facilities available for projects, like the row In order to determine what kind of services Luther of three computers on the first floor of the library and needed, a six-month-long study was conducted in a storage area in the basement for photography and which 19 different departments were asked what their video projects. But with the growing need for media, needs were in terms of media, storage, software and these spaces proved to be inadequate. services they provide on and off campus. Director of “We’ve seen the demand grow on campus,” User Services Diane Gossman says these facilities are Baumann said. “If you look at the trends out there a result of that study. from social media to interactive classrooms, they Associate Professor of Communication Studies all require media of some sort, whether it’s video Mark Johns has waited a long time to see a lab like or audio clips. That’s why we wanted to create this this at Luther. space here, so you could come and create that type “When I interviewed for my job at Luther 16 years of media.” ago and was hired to be the first member of the faculty The lab can be used at any time the library is specializing in media studies, the Dean at the time open. The area consists of three different rooms. The promised that Luther would have a video studio the computer lab is in the first room, which consists of following year,” Johns said. “There have been several eight computers that are designed to produce video deans since then, and it took 15 years, but now the and media projects. In this room there is also a help promise has been kept.” desk where students can get help with their projects The lab is becoming instrumental to many classes.

“We hope to teach all of our video production classes or ask questions. in the lab in the near future,” Johns said. “That will include Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm | Thursday 9am - 8pm Media Production Concepts I and II, taught by [Associate Professor of Communication Studies] Thomas Johnson, as well as my current course in Electronic News Gathering.”

Gossman looks forward to seeing what can be created in the lab.

“Now that we have laid FASHION. FOR REAL LIFE. a digital foundation, the AFFORDABLE BOUTIQUE SHOPPING possibilities are endless for what can be done here,” Gossman said.

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A variety of student organizations on campus found common ground during Luther College’s Peace Week March 9-16. The Global Concerns groups, including People for the Rights and Inclusion of Diversity of Expressions, Environmental Concerns Organization, Hispanic Organization for Latinos y Amigos (HOLA)-Enlaces, Interfaith Student Association, Habitat for Humanity, Aynah and Muslim Student Association & Allies, collaborated to promote their causes under this year’s theme, “On the Move.”

“This is a week where all the groups come together to engage the community around a theme which is broad enough to encompass their individual commitments and interests,” Campus Pastor David Vasquez said.

“On the Move” addressed the impact of globalization on particular social issues such as immigration, sustainable transportation, religious exchange and sexuality.

“There’s more movement in the world today than ever before, [both] people and ideas,” Deacon of Global Concerns Meggie DeJong (‘14) said regarding the overall topic.

As part of her position, DeJong oversaw Peace Week as a joint initiative between College Ministries and the Diversity Center.

The first day of Peace Week coincided with the Nobel Peace Prize Forum’s “Global Day” in Minneapolis. Throughout the week, tables in the Union informed students about gender issues, provided a platform for Muslim students to answer peers’ questions and promoted earth-friendly modes of transportation.

Evening events included sessions on immigrant cooperatives, being an ally to the LGBT community and an Immigration Panel. March 14 marked a day of fasting for 154 students who chose to donate a meal swipe to benefit Syrian refugees, raising over $650, while on March 16 Habitat for Humanity hosted a showing of the movie “The Soloist” and the Interfaith Student Association invited the community to experience Holi, the Hindu celebration of spring.

Attendance at particular events varied. Co-President of the Interfaith Student Association Rachel Williams (‘15) helped organize the “Ask a Muslim” tabling event, which she considered a successful catalyst for thoughtful, personal dialogue between students in a non-academic environment. Muslim student representative Fatimetu Jatri Emhamed (‘17) enjoyed the discussions and felt empowered by an opportunity to explain aspects of her faith.

“Most people asked why we cover our hair and bodies,” Emhamed said.

“In [Muslim culture] appearance does not matter. You do not need to see my body to know me.”

HOLA-Enlaces was pleased to see the Immigration Panel draw a fullhouse of students, faculty, staff and community members, while Habitat for Humanity’s Sunday afternoon movie screening garnered less attention than hoped.

The concept of Peace Week predates Vasquez’s arrival at Luther in 2001.

He believes a tradition of social activism has existed since the school’s founding in 1861, an extension of the Lutheran church’s commitment to integrating faith and social justice. Peace Week is one manifestation of this commitment.

Vasquez said that he hopes the variety of events offered this year connected with Luther students, prompting greater understanding and inspiring them to get involved.

“Peace Week tries to bring advocacy and action together … educating and thinking and then acting on these causes,” Vasquez said.

ART FOR PEACE. Rigzin Dolma (‘15) draws a henna pattern on Linh Hai Nguyen’s (‘14) arm while Lydon Smit (‘15) looks on at the Holi Celebration during Peace Week.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Bonnell

NEWS

PAGE 3

NEWS EDITORS: WALKER NYENHUIS & BRITA MOORE THURSDAY

Seven-Day Forecast

MARCH 20, 2014 FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

H U H H U H H 30/44

26/39

15/31

18/27

Green raises problem of “good Muslims”

20/32

19/33

21/30

Life Outside Luther Putin signs treaty to add Crimea to map of Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin redrew Russia’s borders March 18 by declaring the Crimean Peninsula to be part of Russia. While Putin’s action was hailed by jubilant crowds in Moscow and cities across Russia, Ukraine’s new government called the Russian president a threat, and the U.S. and Europe threatened tougher sanctions against Moscow.

“In people’s hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an integral part of Russia,” Putin said.

ISLAMOPHOBIA. Associate Professor of Religion Todd Green spoke about how the term “good Muslim” can contribute to negative perception of Muslims in America on March 18.

Abby Carpenter / Chips CASEY DELIMA FEATURES EDITOR On March 18 students gathered in Olin 102 to listen to a lecture by Associate Professor of Religion Todd Green titled, “Do we really need good Muslims? The dangers of Islamophilia for Islamophobia.” The lecture was a part of the Religion Forum that puts on lectures by different speakers about once a month.

Many people attended the lecture; every seat was full and some attendees had to sit and stand in the aisles.

In the lecture, Green explained the Western concept of a “good” Muslim that can be defined as a Muslim who is portrayed as someone who enforces anxiety about other Muslims and is critical toward Islam.

Many students appeared to be very pleased with the lecture including Andrew Sharot (‘15).

“I thought this lecture was really interesting,” Sharot said.

“Professor Green was really articulate while expressing his ideas. I kind of expected it to be focused on our fear of Muslims and Islamophobia in general, but the lecture was more about how we only accept a limited view of Islam due to our fear of it.”

Green explained the basis for his lecture, a seemingly contradictory concept.

“For those of us who study Islamophobia, or who seek to combat it, within that field there are questions that we wrestle with,” Green said. “One of which is the problem of the ‘good’ Muslim which is the desire in the West to create or identify certain types of Muslims as acceptable, as good, basically the Muslims we can like, against the normal assumption which is that most Muslims are people we’re supposed to be afraid of.”

Though this idea may seem to be a good one to many, Green disagrees. Green stated that the “good” Muslim is “just as shallow of a caricature” as a “bad” Muslim.

“The actual creation or identification of good Muslims while on the surface it might seem like it would combat Islamophobia,

I would argue that it often exacerbates Islamophobia,” Green said. “Some Muslims who like being in the position of a good Muslim gain a lot of power from it. There are some Muslims who are co-opted into that position and would resist it.”

Green gave an example of a way that the good Muslim narrative could be harmful and incorrect, discussing a girl who has become a popular feminist symbol for Western women.

“Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban a year and a half ago in Pakistan and she’s become a worldwide symbol for the fight against terrorism and girl’s education,” Green said. “I’d make a case that the West actually is trying to make her into a ‘good’ Muslim when in fact she’s a much more complex, nuanced person who would resist the good Muslim narrative. There isn’t a lot of talk in the media or among politicians about Malala as anything other than a symbol that reaffirms the war on terror, and yet Malala is quite critical of the war on terror. She’s often portrayed as someone who’s fighting for girl’s education almost as if she’s embraced Western secular values, and what actually drives Malala is her Muslim faith.”

Green also explained why Islamophobia is harmful and that he hopes to convince others to take action on the issue as well.

“Whenever I speak or write on this topic, I’m trying to convince people that we have a major problem,” Green said.

“This is a form of discrimination, bigotry and racism in the West. There are all sorts of horrible things that can happen if you’re a Muslim in the United States that would not happen if you were a Christian or a non-Arab. There have been deportations, detentions, Muslims who have been held without trial, who have been tortured … and the war on terror, which has led to over 100,000 deaths in Iraq and has displaced millions of people. All of this has been sustained in many ways by the sense that we should be afraid of Muslims and should be engaged in hostile actions with them. I want to convince people that we have to change that conversation, narrative and that way of thinking.”

“There are all sorts of horrible things that can happen if you’re a Muslim in the United States that would not happen if you were a Christian or a non-Arab.”

- Todd Green

New uncertainty about missing Malaysia plane Officials revealed a new timeline on March 17 suggesting the final voice transmission from the cockpit of the missing Malaysian plane may have occurred before any of its communications systems were disabled, adding more uncertainty about who aboard might have been to blame. The search for Flight 370, which vanished early March 8 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board, has now been expanded deep into the northern and southern hemispheres.

Investigators examine fatal helicopter crash A news helicopter crashed into a street and burst into flames Tuesday near Seattle’s Space Needle, killing two people on board, badly injuring a man in a car and sending plumes of black smoke over the city during the morning commute. The chopper was taking off from a helipad on KOMO-TV’s roof when it went down at a busy downtown intersection and hit three vehicles, starting them on fire and spewing burning fuel down the street.

Libya tanker seized by U.S. Navy SEALS forces U.S. Navy SEALS seized an oil tanker off the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, stopping an attempt by a Libyan militia to sell the shipload of crude in defiance of the Libyan government. Supporters of the militia, which calls for autonomy for the eastern half of Libya, vowed March 17 to try to export oil again from the ports they control. Since Moammar Gadhafi’s fall in 2011, power in the country has been fragmented among multiple heavily armed regional militias.

General chokes up as he details affair during plea An Army general who admitted to improper relationships with three subordinates appeared to choke up Monday as he told a judge that he’d failed the female captain who had leveled the serious accusations against him. As he pleaded guilty, Brig.

Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair’s voice halted when telling the judge why he was pleading guilty to mistreating her in a deal that included the dropping of sexual assault charges.

“I failed her as a leader and as a mentor and caused harm to her emtional state,” Sinclair said.

Compiled from: hosted.ap.org

NEWS

PAGE 4 MARCH 20, 2014

NEWS EDITORS: WALKER NYENHUIS & BRITA MOORE

HOLA-Enlaces hosts panel

MEET MARLON. Panelist Marlon Henriquez (‘15) shared his experience as an immigrant from El Salvador.

Bjorn Myhre / Chips IMMIGRATION PANEL, PAGE 1 renew it every time. Sometimes people working in the driver’s license offices don’t understand your paperwork, so they see you as an illegal immigrant.”

In addition to the personal stories

of Henriquez and Jacob, Vásquez gave a brief history of immigration in the United States.

“We move for reasons that we find inspiring and that call us forward or threatening that make us move,” Vásquez said. “Migration is a natural

thing. As humans, we regulate some of that movement based on where we draw the lines and we make decisions about who comes and who doesn’t, but these are things we decide. There’s nothing natural about this. Whatever we say about immigration laws, we should not talk about it as if they are somehow God-given on Mt. Sinai. Neither are the lines that we draw.”

Jesson spoke about the ethical side of immigration in the United States.

“The problem of immigration is not easily solved because what we have to do is weigh all these competing interests,” Jesson said. “We need to have before our minds more than anything is a notion of fairness, and justice and grace. If we do not have those three, we will never solve the problem and it will keep perpetuating itself.”

Many students found the discussion productive and important. Joy Okeke (‘17) reported enjoying the panel. An immigrant from Nigeria, Okeke noted that the issue of immigration personally affected her.

“I really thought that [the panel] was really insightful,” Okeke said. “A lot of the topics that were brought to our attention were things I had hoped that a lot of people would be conscious about.”

Okeke was not the only student who

shared a personal connection to the issue. Coming from an immigrant family, Arturo Rico (‘15) commented on the importance of discussing immigration.

“I have a personal connection to immigration in the country because of my family, so I’m happy we have these panels at Luther so people who aren’t aware or don’t have a personal connection to immigration are here and able to find out what’s going on,” Rico said.

Those involved in organizing the panel were pleased with its attendance.

“It was a really successful night,” HOLA-Enlaces member Isaac Hitz Graff (‘14) said. “We were hoping for 40 or 50 people, so we’re really happy about how many people showed up.”

Hitz Graff explained why he and the other students involved felt that this panel was important to prompt discussion.

“So many people that are living here are marginalized by society,” Hitz Graff said. “If we want to be able to look in the mirror and be proud of who we are then we have to be able to say, ‘Look, there are people who are really being exploited.’ The awareness needs to be raised because if you don’t have an understanding, then the issue can’t be changed.”

Miss Iowa shares story

Upcoming Events

MISS IOWA, PAGE 1

Thursday, March 20 Guest Recital: Richard 7 p.m., Noble Recital Hall Fuller, Forte Piano Saturday, March 22 - Sunday, March 30 Spring Break Tuesday, April 1 Beyond the Bubble: “Power 9:40 a.m., Hovde Lounge, Search Workshop: Finding Preus Library Information in the Digital Age” Baseball: Wartburg College 1 p.m., Home Softball: Central College

3 p.m., Home

Symphony Orchestra Homecoming Concert

7:30 p.m., CFL Main Hall

Information from luther.edu/events

“We thought she had a good message, and being a pageant queen, she is different from anybody else we’ve brought to campus,” SAC Leadership Co-chair Kendra Moser (‘14) said. “She is young and more relatable to college students.

She is so different from any other pageant queen.”

Before her time as Miss Iowa 2013, Kelly was working in New York City playing the Child Guardian on the Tony Award-winning Broadway play “The Assembled Parties.”

“A year ago, I certainly didn’t see ‘pageant titleholder’ in my future,” Kelly writes on her “Meet Miss Iowa” biography page. “Perhaps I didn’t originally envision this path, but I now know that being Miss Iowa is the perfect fit for me.

Giving a voice to my platform, ‘Overcoming Disabilities,’ is a tremendous honor and I am thrilled to continue my adventure by speaking out and touching lives as Miss Iowa 2013.”

Kelly noted the importance of speaking to young adult audiences at venues such as Luther.

“There is such a need among our generation to talk about diversity,” Kelly said. “Now is our time to start breaking our perception ... I’m speaking to you guys as peers, which hopefully makes [the message] that much more powerful.”

ROYAL DUTY. Miss Iowa 2013 Nicole Kelly represents the platform “Overcoming Disabilities.”

Matt Helm / Chips

Luther College began classes on September 1, 1861, with an enrollment of 16 students.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT A&E EDITOR: MAGGIE STEINBERG

PAGE 5 MARCH 20, 2014

Six man jazz band

JAZZED TO PERFORM. (From left) Pianist Connor Jones (‘14), clarinetist Nathaniel Ruiz (‘16), instructor and trumpet player Jon Ailabouni (‘10), drummer Aidan Schmitt (‘17) and bass player Adam Graf (‘16) are all members of the Luther College Jazz Sextet. Saxophonist Joshua Jones (‘17) is pictured below.

Photo courtesy of Photo Bureau

The Luther College Jazz Sextet has played from Decorah to Rochester for audiences of all ages.

HANNAH BUTLER STAFF WRITER

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES. Joshua Jones (‘17) rehearses his saxophone with the Jazz Sextet.

Hannah Butler / Chips

Luther College Jazz Sextet (LCJS), under the instruction of Adjunct Professor of Music Jon Ailabouni (‘10), shared their music with an off–campus performance last weekend in Rochester, Minn. The group is composed of drums, piano, bass, clarinet, trumpet and saxophone.

This past weekend, the group entertained the audience with blues, fast bops and ballads. Drummer Aidan Schmitt (‘17) was excited about their recent concert.

“This past Rochester gig was . . . our first actual real paid gig,” Schmitt said.

Pianist Connor Jones (‘14) was also happy to see how well received LCJS was with the Rochester crowd.

“In between sets we had some alumni come up and people in the audience come up and they congratulated us for how nice we sounded and were surprised that we didn’t have regular gigs in Rochester elsewhere,” Jones said. “[The alums] said, ‘Hey, we could help you guys get more playing opportunities?’ I enjoyed that.”

The group hopes to book more off-campus performances.

“We’re going to try to get [gigs] happening this spring as well,” Schmitt said.

The sextet is active in Campus Ministries, playing for several chapel services as well as being featured in Jazz Orchestra concerts.

“We got a really good response for the Black History Month chapel,” bassist Adam Graf (‘16) said.

On March 6, LCJS played for a group of preschoolers on a field trip to Jenson–Noble Hall of Music. The sextet performed a version of “Happy Birthday” and introduced their instruments to the preschoolers.

“That’s the best when you get to play for young people and to see their faces light up and be able to experience music in a . . . real way with real musicians,” Ailabouni said.

Currently, the sextet is exploring original songs written by Ailabouni in preparation for their upcoming performance in Decorah at the Water Street Music Series on April 5. Other members of the group supply original tunes and arrangements as well.

Earlier this year Jones arranged “Sidewinder” to be performed at the last Jazz Orchestra concert. Ailabouni recalls collaborating with Jones on the piece and exploring the ideas of all the members of the group.

“I really believe strongly in having the group generate and pick their own repertoire because I want to honor the influences and interests of those in the group,” Ailabouni said. “In terms of our rehearsal, [the mood is] pretty relaxed.”

Ailabouni teaches the musicians while allowing them to actively participate in the music-making process.

“When we’re playing through music, we’re listening to each other . . . I want them involved in the analysis of what is going on,” Ailabouni said. “As the coach, I’m not the leader that says this is how we do it, and this is the only way—I want to hear everybody’s voice.”

Members of the sextet express similar sentiments.

“Jon is the professor, but he’s also a member of our group and we all have equal input as to what we’re going to play, [and] how we play it,” Schmitt said.

Many of the group members appreciate the environment LCJS gives them to grow musically.

“This is probably creatively where I grow the most as a jazz musician,” Graf said.

Although Luther has had many jazz combos in the past, LCJS is a relatively new group, only in existence since the fall.

“There was something that was called Luther College Jazz Sextet last year but it had almost all different members,” Graf said.

Ailabouni is new to the group as well, and the new members have added their own touch to the group.

“It’s kind of a whole new system,” Schmitt said.

Graf and Jones hope the new LCJS can create more interest in Luther’s jazz program.

“An important thing for us as far as getting out and playing is to spark interest and have the rest of the Luther community be interested in what we’re doing,” Jones said.

“Hopefully that curiosity brings more numbers to the combos or just the Jazz Band or Jazz Orchestra.”

Graf shares this hope for the future of jazz at Luther.

“Luther’s always [been] known as a choir school, and we have such a strong jazz program,” Graf said. “There’re so many jazz fans and jazz musicians on campus who could be more engaged in the jazz program. We want to represent jazz at Luther College on campus and off campus.”

Schmitt remains excited at the prospect of new performances.

“Like I said, we really want to play, just to play for no other reason than performance,” Schmitt said.

FEATURES

PAGE 6 MARCH 20, 2014

FEATURES EDITOR: CASEY DELIMA

Postville honors diversity

LOS VIEJITOS. Two high school students from Postville pose in their costumes for their performance of a traditional Mexican dance called: “La danza de los viejitos,” or “the dance of the old men.”

Casey DeLima / Chips

HOLA-Enlaces attends Diversity Night in Postville to learn about and support the community.

ANNA JEIDE STAFF WRITER Home-made Rømmegrøt, multi-colored Mexican handicrafts, a Somali fashion show and traditional Guatemalan dances all blended together to create a cultural showcase in the second annual Diversity Celebration in Postville on Friday, March 14 at Postville High School.

A group of about 15 Luther students from the Spanish service club Hispanic Organization for Latinos and Amigos and Enlaces attended the event.

“Enlaces has a huge connection with Postville, the main way is with our English as a second language classes,” CoPresident of HOLAEnlaces Alisa Schultz (‘14) said.

H O L A- E n l a c e s sends about 10 students each week to Postville to tutor adult students for English and GED certification.

Many of those students are immigrants and a large number are from Guatemala or Somalia.

Luther students attended the Diversity Celebration to show support for the Postville community members and to deepen their own understanding of the cultural backgrounds of their students.

Kylie Hanschman (‘17) reflected on her experience of teaching ESL and attending the Diversity Celebration.

“These people are helping us as well and teaching us … so we get a taste of their everyday

life and the challenges they face… [the Diversity Celebration] was a great way to immerse in the different cultures that exist within Postville,” Hanschman said.

The neighboring town of Postville is about 20 miles away from Luther and is home to roughly 2,500 residents, about one-fourth the population of Decorah. Within this small community, there are many nationalities represented from around the globe, giving the town its nickname “hometown to the world.”

In recent years, Postville has witnessed a massive influx of immigrants, especially from Guatemala, Mexico and Somalia.

“Postville is one of those rare gems that is such a small town but the diversity is immeasurable.

You don’t get a chance to see how that functions very often,” Schultz said.

In response to these changes within Postville, a diversity team was formed in the Postville Community School District.

“We wanted to educate not only the students but the teachers about the cultural differences within our student body and within the community,” Elementary School Teacher and Diversity Team Member Mary Guese (‘05) said.

“We want the community to be able to interact with culture, not be afraid of people that are different, teach them about their cultures and hopefully create acceptance.”

The vision and efforts of this group led to the creation of the Diversity Celebration.

Similar to the Ethnic Arts Festival at Luther, the celebration consisted of different exhibits displaying art, samples of traditional cuisine and historical and cultural information about each country. Some of the countries represented by Postville community members include Mexio, Guatemala, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

“We do this to let the students show off and

“We want the community to be able to interact with culture, not be afraid of people that are different, teach them about their cultures and hopefully create acceptance.”

- Mary Guese (‘05)

let them express how proud they are of their cultures. By letting them perform and share about their culture … they will know that we value and respect them. It is good for the family and the school,” Guese said.

The main event of the evening was a showcase performance of the different cultures. Students from the Postville Community School District each contributed a unique act ranging from traditional Mexican dance, singing the Saudi Arabian National Anthem, poetry-readings from Russia and a Scandinavian Maypole Dance.

“My favorite part was when the Somali students had the whole gym participate in a common song that we could all learn together,” Hanschman said. “It was great to see all the cultures doing one thing.”

In a crowded gym, more than 500 students, parents, teachers and community members were all singing and applauding along together.

“Whether it be a dance, music or choral you would watch the performance and everyone would go wild,” Schultz said. “It’s a rare opportunity to have an event that unites the entire community like that.”

DEILIG. Arturo Rico (‘15) and Isaac Hitz Graff (‘14) enjoy some Rømmegrøt at a display with Norwegian treats.

Casey DeLima / Chips

RAISE YOUR FLAG. A group of Postville high schoolers taught the audience the song, “Waving Flag.”

Casey DeLima / Chips

FEATURES

PAGE 7

FEATURES EDITOR: CASEY DELIMA

MARCH 20, 2014

Religious Life at Luther

CELEBRATE LIGHT. Students celebrate a candle light advent service in the CFL Main Hall on December 9, 2013.

A look at the role of religion in the lives of Luther students.

HANNAH GARRY STAFF WRITER College Ministries works to expand its outreach by offering a wide variety of faith organizations and types of worship services.

“Last Sunday [March 16] we celebrated Holi, it’s a Hindu tradition celebrating spring and color,” President of the Student Congregation, Joshua Davis (‘15), said. “We’ve never done it before, and I think it was a real success.”

Davis feels that College Ministries does a good job of offering a diverse array of outlets.

“We really try to facilitate all the needs that we can think of, but it’s important that students get involved and try to bring forth their needs and desires,” Davis said.

The large number of different faith organizations, Davis feels, explains why some may observe lower attendance at traditional services.

“If you go to Sunday morning

worship, you’re not going to see most of the campus there, but I think the point is that college ministries is not just Sunday morning worship. It’s a week-long, multi-hour, multi-group organization,” Davis said.

FOCUS, the student-led service held on Sunday nights, has also seen lower attendance this year.

“I think it’s fair to say and apparent to anyone who would attend that numbers have been lower from years past,” FOCUS facilitator Toby Ziemer (‘15) said.

Ziemer thinks this reflects a cultural shift away from attending worship services.

“Less people coming has kind of been a trend in churches generally, more people are experiencing faith personally,” Ziemer said.

For Davis, this does not necessarily mean that students at Luther are less involved in faith life.

“I wouldn’t say there’s a smaller student involvement, its just must more spread out,” Davis said.

Ziemer said FOCUS has shifted somewhat in order to offer a different experience to worship-goers.

“We’ve gone from the Main Hall to the CRH , not particularly because we’ve been having lower numbers on

Photo courtesy of Luther College Ministries

Sundays, but because we really wanted to foster community,” Ziemer said.

Both Ziemer and Davis agree that faith life at Luther contributes to the community experience.

“It’s been very rewarding to have Luther facilitate its own groups because then the people that I see around campus, that I see in my classes, I can also see them in a spiritual context and it allows for much deeper relationships than you might have in a public

school where there’s not necessarily an institutionalized spiritual life,” Davis said.

Ziemer feels the diversity of Luther’s faith life is what sets it apart.

“There are so many approaches and ways that people live lives of faith and it’s all under one roof here, we’re defined more as people all looking for answers, I think that’s one of most unique things about Luther and faith life here,” Ziemer said.

FESTIVAL OF COLOR AND LOVE. College Ministries had a celebration for the Hindu Festival of Holi on March 16.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Bonnell

Recreation services hosts a Planetarium show SPENCER HODGE STAFF WRITER About 40 Luther students were starry-eyed in the Valders Emil C. Miller Planetarium on Thursday, March 13. Elizabeth Larget (‘14) presented the winter sky constellations and other space news by illuminating black light space illustrations and projecting a replication of the starry night on the room’s domed ceiling.

“For Luther students, this was the first show of the spring,” Larget said. “A lot of the shows that I do are for elementary school field trips so I look forward to having college kids.”

Larget is an elementary education major and typically only uses the facility for younger students. Outdoor Recreation sponsors two planned presentations for Luther students a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Otherwise, Larget opens the doors a few hours a week between classes so students can pop in.

“Outdoor Recreation looks for things to do in the winter time,” Recreation services student worker Leif Vandersteen (‘14) said. “But that’s hard to do because people don’t like being cold. Thus we try to do things

like this.”

Larget first helped students identify constellations by projecting them with the stars already traced together by lines. She then explained the constellations’ stories and mythology before removing the lines again. The students’ attention focused on the starry ceiling so they could test their knowledge without any aid. Many students found that they could find a few of the constellations on their own.

“If she had not had the pictures, I would not have been able to make the connections,” Riley Jamison (‘14) said. “I’d still get lost sometimes, but it doesn’t make a difference. It’s still a lot of fun.”

Some of the constellations presented included Orion the hunter and his two dogs Canis Major and Minor. The stars are imagined to depict Orion pointing a bow forward in front of his chest with an arrow above his head and the dogs

trailing behind. One story says he is on a hunting trip ready to knock an arrow into his prey, but another story says he is being attacked by another horned constellation of the horned bull Taurus . Some students found these stories the most enjoyable part of the presentation.

“It was really interesting how they took a group of stars and connected them with a creature, person or some mythology,” John Evans (‘17) said. “I had fun.

I would definitely recommend it.”

Larget enjoys her position at the Planetarium and would like more students who are interested in a show to have an opportunity to see one.

“Most people don’t know this place exists,” Larget said. “People can just email me and set up a private show to check it out.” Students who are interested can email Larget at largel01@ luther.edu.

“It was really interesting how they took a group of stars and connected them with a creature, person or some mythology, I had fun. I would .”

- John Evans (‘17)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 8 MARCH 20, 2014

A&E EDITOR: MAGGIE STEINBERG

Symphony on tour Before heading to Vienna next year, Symphony Orchestra will be touring the upper Midwest over Spring Break.

JENNA NELSON STAFF WRITER The Luther College Symphony Orchestra (LCSO) will spend their spring break touring the upper Midwest from March 22–30. The orchestra’s 78 musicians will travel to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois to perform four multi-movement pieces

by Johannes Brahms, Aram Khachaturian, Modest Mussorgsky and Igor Stravinsky.

The tour will culminate in a homecoming concert on Tuesday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life.

Although the tour is a chance for the LCSO to perform their music selection, the experience of traveling over the break becomes a bonding opportunity for many of the orchestra’s members.

“It’s a really good time to get to know people because in rehearsal we don’t really get to talk,” violinist Bryn Hedlund (‘16) said. “We bond so much during that time and I really do think, as cliché as it sounds, it does influence how we play because we’re so much more connected and cohesive once we know each other.”

Not only will the orchestra members have the chance to connect with one another on tour, but many of this year’s stops will provide members with the opportunity to see loved ones.

“I am most looking forward to having familiar faces in the audiences–whether it be family or orchestra alums,” bassoonist Hannah Josephson (‘14) said.

Hedlund is also excited to connect with family and friends.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. Trombonist Ben Cooper (‘14) prepares for tour with the rest of Symphony Orchestra.

Jenna Nelson / Chips “Playing at my high school will be great, because it’s a good chance for people who haven’t seen me play since high school to come see me in a different orchestra setting and caliber,” Hedlund said. “It’ll be kind of a combination of my two worlds.”

This year’s tour will be the last in the three-year cycle of domestic tours. In January 2015, LCSO will travel to Vienna, Austria for their international tour.

Professors of Music John and Virginia Strauss first led the Vienna tour in January 1977. Since then, the LCSO has traveled to Vienna every four years for the chance to learn, perform and study music abroad. As a part of the Vienna residency, Symphony Orchestra

members will get the chance to perform in venues such as the Vienna Konzerthaus and the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz.

Josephson is one of the current members to have traveled to Vienna in 2011 with the LCSO. “I loved every second of it,” Josephson said. “We rehearsed every day, had some class discussion on the history of Vienna and then spent the rest of our time exploring museums, seeing operas and plays or just touring the city.”

For more information on the LCSO or their tour performance dates, visit their Web page on Luther. edu.

Foreign film review: “The Great Beauty” Academy Award winning film “La Grande Bellezza” contrasts the allure of wealth with life’s simpler beauties.

LEIF LARSON STUDENT FILM CRITIC

TIMELESS. 2014 Oscar winner “The Great Beauty” offers a new look at modern Rome.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

Earlier this month I was able to catch the new Italian noise “The Great Beauty.” After its 2013 premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, this fresh work of Italian cinema has been receiving awards in Europe and in the U.S. Its recent victory for “Best Foreign Film” at the Golden Globes and “Best Foreign Language Film” at the Academy Awards has created plenty of discussion for film lovers here in the states.

This modern masterpiece, directed and written by Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrertino, is deserving of high praise.

The film is a story about life’s main ambitions: art, music, Rome, love, and death. The film touches on how serious and fun life can be, but also shows how meaningless things compose life.

The main character, Jep Gambardella, played by the award-winning actor Toni Servillo lives a wealthy lifestyle due to the success of his published novel.

After decades of parties on his apartment rooftop, which neighbors Rome’s Colosseum, Jep leaves the “high life” to discover the many other forms of beauty.

With the lush and swift cinematography of Luca Bigazzi, the film paints a stunning portrait of modern day Rome.

After a brief but beautiful introduction, the film begins at one of Gambardella’s rooftop parties. Dancing, drinking, club music and vulgar behavior present themselves in a decadent way.

The viewers enter a world of distractions—a world full of people who refuse to think seriously or sensibly about real life.

The film presents a compelling juxtaposition of modern and ancient art. Virtuosic contemporary music by the likes of David Lang and Arvo Pärt fill viewers’ ears as their eyes are fixed on the ancient architecture of Rome.

These subtle, surreal moments give the film its flavor.

“The Great Beauty” is playing in limited theaters in the U.S., and the DVD/Blu-ray release date is March 25. While a viewing on the computer screen might be valuable, I strongly suggest everyone see this film in the cinema where movies truly hold their magic.

I refuse to give this film a rating; a worthy addition to Italian cinema does not need a grade.

Instead of binge-watching “Frozen,” treat yourself to this great Italian film. Life is truly “la grande bellezza!”

OPINION

PAGE 9

MANAGING EDITOR: JAYNE COLE

MARCH 20, 2014

Spring funding decided A Sit-Down with Senate Spring is slowly making its way to Decorah, and we are almost halfway done with another semester here at Luther College. That being said, organizations have been gearing up for their events that are being held on and around campus.

The Student Senate Finance Committee has been busy at work reviewing Spring Funding applications and we have finally made decisions regarding the allocation of funds for this semester. It has been the mission of our committee to serve student organizations with funding so that they can contribute to the Luther community. Within our newly formed

mission, we have restructured the focus of use for this student funding. Our primary focus is to keep organizations on their feet, followed by funding events on campus that benefit our community.

While we understand that organizations would like to attend conferences, it is our firm belief that conferences only benefit a small part of the Luther community. Because we are allocating students’ money from the CAF fee, it is our primary goal to fund organizations that are doing work that directly benefits our community.

Our three-tiered funding process consists of continuity funding, which is funding that is vital for the organization to continue their work on campus. Of the $3,360 requested this semester for continuity funding, we were able to grant $2,125 to organizations—roughly 63% of what was requested.

The second form of financial offering would aid organizations in their efforts to plan an event on

campus. Of the $4,450 requested for event funding, we were able to grant $1,645 to organizations—roughly 37% of what was requested. Finally, we were able to grant about 48% of the money that was requested for organizations to attend a conference—$1,730 was requested, and we were able to grant $830.

After gathering our thoughts and trying to be as fair and reasonable as possible with student funds, we successfully allocated the remaining $4,600 that was given to us this semester.

As the chair of the Finance Committee of the Luther College Student Senate, I would personally like to thank everyone that applied for funding and especially the members of our committee: Kyle Knoke (‘17), Jacy Mahoney (‘16), Travis Houle (‘15), Maria Ellingson (‘14) and Melody Elele (‘15). Should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at jessdi01@luther.edu. Soli Deo Gloria!

-Dietrich Jesson (‘15)

many of them commented that their photographs were simply not enough to “truly capture it. Not even close.”

That’s when I realized: technology does not capture what it means to truly live.

I know that this is starting to sound all philosophical and sort of strange like “oooohhhhh duuudeee LIFE dude, it’s about LIVING man” (he says with a certain illegal substance in hand) but I’m just trying to be honest and if you think about it, it really isn’t so “hippie dippie” at all.

Just like a photo can’t capture that perfect sea view, it can’t even begin to capture the accomplishment I felt after hiking up the steep hill to get there or the feeling of the forceful wind from the salty Mediterranean Sea that was nearly, literally and metaphorically, blowing me away.

It is from this thought that I began pondering other forms of technological communication and how they simply do not compare to real-life conversation. Being

away from Luther has made me think about this a fair amount. The technologies I use to keep in touch with people who are not close to me will “suffice” but it cannot compare to what it’s like to be in their presence. I can randomly receive a Facebook message from someone at Luther but it will not compare to running into him or her on campus and simply saying hello or talking to them for an hour about their life or any topic under the sun.

Technology does not truly capture a moment. In your coming days, think about that. Think about what it would mean if you VISITED someone when they were sick rather than send a “get well soon” text message.

Think about what the little things actually mean to other people and what they could mean to you. Whether it be across campus or just down the hall, a small act of kindness that transcends technology can remind you of something very important: what it means to be a living human being.

“You know what I mean, man?”

regarding the allocation of funds this semester.”

- Dietrich Jesson (‘15)

The price of technology

MICHONA JOHNS COLUMNIST I spent this past weekend on the tiny island of Gozo, one of the three Maltese islands. Gozo is the second largest of the islands, the smallest being Comino with a population of four. Gozo is much less densely populated than Malta, its land is much less urbanized and is mostly used for agriculture. There is much more green space on Gozo, which was very exciting for us Midwesterners.

I was walking on one of the higher points of Gozo when I had a beautiful thought. As my classmates around me took photos of the surrounding landscape,

THE REALITY OF THE BATHROOM GARBAGE POLICY

“That’s when I realized: technology does not capture what it means to truly live.”

- Michona Johns (‘15)

Spencer Hodge / Chips

OPINION

PAGE 10 MARCH 20, 2014

Luther College Chips 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 and 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 Microsoft Word document to chipsedt@ luther.edu with Letter to the Editor as a 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 before Sunday at 5:00 p.m. the week before production. Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor.

Contact Chips: Phone: 563-387-1044 Fax: 563-387-2072 Email: chipsedt@luther.edu Advertising: chipsads@luther.edu Website: lutherchips.com Facebook: facebook.com/LutherChips Twitter: @LutherChips

MANAGING EDITOR: JAYNE COLE

Build a better cover letter Career Corner A cover letter is a personal letter that you send with your resume or job application. It’s the first thing the hiring manager sees when she opens your envelope or email. It’s your hello, your smile, your chance to create a rapport and your reason for writing.

Does everyone send a cover letter with his or her resume or job application? No. Most people don’t include a cover letter.

That is why you should send one. It shows you are different. It shows that you are serious about the job and you cared enough to write. According to the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, 86 percent of executives said cover letters are important when evaluating job candidates.

When writing your cover letter, address your letter and envelope or email to the hiring manager by name and title. If you are getting a referral from a friend, ask your friend for the hiring manager’s name. If you are writing to a company and you don’t know the manager’s name, call the company and ask for it. The office assistant who answers the phone will be glad to give you the information you need. Make sure the manager’s name, title and

Vesterheim artifacts to EPCOT

Spring 2014 Staff Ingrid Baudler Jayne Cole Walker Nyenhuis Brita Moore Features Editor: Casey DeLima A&E Editor: Maggie Steinberg Sports Editor: Julia Joseph Staff Writers: Meredith Bruster Hannah Butler Abby Carpenter Hannah Garry Matt Helm Spencer Hodge Elizabeth Hurley Zora Hurst Anna Jeide Nils Johnson Maddy Kofoed Luke Manderfeld Sam Molzahn Bailey Mulholland Jenna Nelson Katie Wolter Head Copy Editor: Cameron Meyferth Copy Editors: Emily Crowe Bethany Seavers Templeton Ad Representative: Lauren Meintsma Ad Accountant: Sam Matheson Photography Coordinator: Casey DeLima Photographers: Abby Carpenter Bjorn Myhre Design Technician: Bjorn Myhre Web Manager Isaac Davis Social Media Director: Alex Catena Circulation Manager: Tess Wilson Adviser: David Faldet

address are accurate and spelled correctly. If you are answering an advertisement or job posting that gives no contact person’s name or no company, address your letter to “Hiring Manager.”

Keep your letter short and sweet. In the first paragraph of your letter, grab the hiring manager’s attention simply by telling her why you are writing. Identify the position for which you are applying and how you found out about the opening. Often people include a statement about why they are interested in the organization.

In the second paragraph of your letter, rouse the hiring manager’s interest. Explain what makes you special. Outline your strongest qualifications that match the position requirements. Mention aspects of your relevant work experiences, extracurricular activities, volunteer experiences or personal achievement. Share examples of how your experiences have helped to develop skills needed for the position. Convince the employer you have the skills, qualities and motivation to perform in the position.

In your final paragraph, show appreciation to the reader for their time and consideration. Express your interest in obtaining a personal interview and indicate that you will be calling to check on the status of your application. A less direct approach would be to include your telephone number and the hours you can be reached with a statement like, “I look forward to hearing from you soon.”

For more assistance or to learn how to effectively use email when submitting your resume and cover letter, consider attending a “Writing Your Resume & Cover Letter Workshop.”

Check the Career Center website for dates and times. Workshops will be held throughout the coming year.

-Brenda Ranum, Career Center

Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors:

JAYNE COLE MANAGING EDITOR The new Disney movie “Frozen” has proved popular on Luther’s campus.

Walk through the Union and you will be guaranteed to hear “Let it Go” sung at least once on your way to the caf for lunch. What many Luther students do not know, however, is that Decorah has its own involvement with the hit movie. At their request, the Vesterheim Norweigian-American Museum loaned artifacts to be shown in a Norweigian exhibit at EPCOT. This is exciting not only for the Vesterheim, but for Luther as well.

Inspired by the premier of “Frozen,” EPCOT created an exhibit on Norwegian culture entitled “Norsk Kultur: Inspiration for Disney’s ‘Frozen.’” 21 artifacts were loaned from the Vesterheim for their exhibit. The articles will be on display at the Norway Pavilion in EPCOT for the next three years.

The manager of EPCOT emailed the Vesterheim last June asking to borrow artifacts for their exhibit.

Many different types of artifacts were chosen, including a kubbestol (a chair made from one log), a tine (a small storage container, like a lunch box) and a primstav (a yardsticklike object originally for the Saint’s Feast days when Norwegians were expected to attend church. It was used as an almanac after the Reformation).

The artifacts chosen were everyday objects important to Norwegian culture. Most of the artifacts housed at the Vesterheim were brought to the Decorah area directly from Norway, thus proving that they were deserving enough to hold a space in the single trunk most families brought on their journey across the ocean. Now that some of these artifacts are temporarily housed at EPCOT, more people will have access to a history unique to Decorah.

What is perhaps most exciting, however, is that the request from EPCOT proves the Vesterheim’s significance not only to Deocorah but also the country. It is exciting that the Vesterheim Museum is recognized nationally as one of the

most important venues to learn about Norweigian culture. Not only that, but this venue is right in our backyard and free to visit with a student ID! The Vesterheim contains much of Luther’s own history, making the museum important for Luther students as well. It is really neat to have a large part of Luther’s history on display to more than just Decorah.

Although some pieces are on display miles away, the Vesterheim offers many other exhibits and artifacts that can help people learn about “Frozen’s” cultural context without venturing to Florida. Enhance your “Frozen” viewing experience and venture downtown to learn more about Norwegian culture!

FROZEN IMAGE. Workers at the Vesterheim prepare artifacts to be sent to Epcot. Photo Courtesy of Alison Dwyer

SPORTS

PAGE 11

MARCH 20, 2014

SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH

LUFDA wins tournament

TALKING STRATEGY. Members of LUFDA prepared for their game last season.

Photo Courtesy of LUFDA LUKE MANDERFELD STAFF WRITER The Luther Ultimate Flying Disc Association (LUFDA) started their season off on the right foot in St. Louis on Saturday, March 8-9. The team won all eight of their games in their first tournament of the spring season.

LUFDA won the first games by a large margin of victory, but ran into trouble against the Iowa State Frisbee Club. They were trading scores up to 12, but pulled away to win the match 14-12. They ended the tournament on a 15-7 championship victory over Brown University.

“It felt great because we were cooped up all spring,” team captain Cole Puffer (‘14) said. “It was great winning and works as a measuring stick for the rest of the season.”

The team updated the tournament on their official Twitter page, @lutherultimate, with some witty tweets.

“Senior citizen and medicare recipient Grayson Pangburn makes a nice falling catch near the endzone then completes it to DJ for another score,” one of the tweets said.

The tournament starts the season looking to make another run at the nationals. They finished 11th last year.

“Everyone is on the same page this year,” senior Frisbee player Will Harren (‘14) said. “We all know that the ultimate goal this year is to make a run at nationals and win it.”

The team starts the season at a disadvantage with the former head coach leaving for graduate school at the University of Iowa. This puts them as one of the only ultimate frisbee teams without a head coach in the nation.

“Not having a coach puts us at an odd spot,” Puffer said. “It puts a lot of pressure on our team to deal with all of the executive and financial stuff.”

The team replaces a head coach with a sort of governing system. Their two captains, Puffer and Trent Erickson (‘14) are taking more of a leadership role than before. The presidents, Harren and Nate Converse (‘14), schedule the

season and make sure that the team has a place to stay on their road trips. The treasurer Joe Novak (‘14) controls the finances and the budget.

“The experience and habits we developed last year has done a great job in our ability in working without a coach, because we haven’t lost any seniors this year,” Puffer said.

The absence of a head coach also alters some of their practice strategies and the team dynamics.

“Some of our guys are pretty stubborn and like to do things a certain way, and we disagree,” Harren said. “But our seniors have really found their place on the team and have settled into their roles.”

In practice, the team works on the various throws that are used in game. The flick is the throw with your dominant hand. The backhand is thrown across your body, and the hammer is an overhand throw that levels out in mid-flight.

Their main concern is working on their defense, focusing on positioning and determining the cuts the offense will do.

The Luther frisbee team looks toward the next tournament, which they believe will be one of their biggest challenges of the season.

“We will be playing a lot of state schools that will be there, and it will be a hard challenge for us,” Harren said.

They still have a few things to work on before they go to that tournament, but are confident in their ability to be ready for the competition.

“We need to improve on some of the nitpicky things,” Harren said. “We have to fine tune everything, make sure we perfect everything.”

The team travels to South Carolina over the first weekend of spring break to play a tournament Saturday, March 21-22.

Serres runs at Nationals JULIA JOSEPH SPORTS EDITOR Tricia Serres (‘16) competed at the Indoor National Championships on March 14-15. She ran the mile trials on Friday to place second in a time of 4:56.1 to qualify for final on Saturday.

“My mentality for the mile trials was to be in the top three in the heat to guarantee a sport for Saturday,” Serres said.

In the final for the mile on Saturday afternoon, Serres battled head-to-head with Christy Cazzola of UW-Oshkosh to finish second in a time of 4:51.97, which was .5 behind Cazzola’s winning time of 4:51.47.

“I planned to sit in the pack and then make a move in the second half of the race,” Serres said. “I like making races exciting and honest to the tactics behind running.

That’s what makes it fun. I like the mental side behind racing.”

Last year at the Indoor National Championship Serres placed fourth in the mile.

This year her mentality was a little different going into the competition.

“I was more calm this year,” Serres said. “I was still nervous and had butterflies, but I was more confident in my abilities this year. I could relax a little bit more and enjoy the experience.”

After running the mile twice, Serres prepared for the 3000m less than three hours after the mile on Saturday.

“I had the perfect amount of time to recover and get food and chill for awhile before starting to warm-up,” Serres said. “If my break would have been any longer I would have started to get anxious and the previous races would have had more time to set into my muscles. With less time I would have felt rushed, so it worked out really well for the 3k.”

Like her other races, Serres had a strategy for the 3k. Having the longest race of her Championships at the end was a challenge that Serres accepted and planned accordingly.

“I just wanted to go out there and give whatever was left in my legs. At first I was going to sit back with the pack but then I just decided in the race that I had to try to catch the leader,” Serres said. “Finishing second in the mile motivated me and gave me that extra adrenaline to perform well in the 3k. I was ready to compete again.”

With a finishing time of 9:39.49 Serres took third in her final race of the meet to receive All-American honors. Cazzola also won the 3000m with a time of 9:38.72.

Although her team was not able to be at the meet, they watched the meet together at Luther and cheered Serres on while her coaches cheered her on in person.

“I mostly get myself ready and calm before I race, but it’s nice to get a high-five from the coaches and some positive energy.” Serres said.

After the 2014 Indoor National Meet, Serres has received All-American Honors six times.

“It was an awesome experience. I’m happy with my races and I’m glad I had the opportunity to put myself out there and compete,” Serres said.

TIME TO CELEBRATE. Tricia hugs her dad Rob Serres (‘82) after her the mile. Photo Courtesy of Luther College Athletics

The blue carpet

Weekly Standings Wrestling #1 Wartburg #8 Coe #11 Loras Luther #20 Dubuque Buena Vista Central Simpson

KATIE WOLTER Earlier this week Luther athletes, students, staff and faculty gathered in the Center for Faith and Life Sunday afternoon for the second annual Norse Awards.

The atmosphere was light-hearted and festive as the Luther community socialized on the blue carpet and celebrated Luther’s athletic accomplishments.

The Norse Awards were organized and put on by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) with executive board members including Maggie Pierson (‘14), Alexis Dorschner (‘14), James GarciaPratts (‘14), Katie Blocker (‘14) and Meagan Koepnick (‘15).

“We had been planning and gathering information, videos and pictures for several months,” Koepnick said. “We were very excited for everyone to see the show and to see all that Luther had accomplished in the past year.”

The award ceremony included video highlights for each award category with a description of why the person or play was nominated.

With these back stories, all in attendance could better understand some of the athletic accomplishments Luther athletics has had in one year.

Last year the Norse Awards involved only the athletes and coaches, but this year the event was open to all of the Luther community.

“We really wanted to include the entire Luther community in the awards ceremony because the support system goes beyond

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

Overall 18-0 13-5 11-10 16-7 10-8 3-9 7-10 3-14

Recent Scores

March 14-15 NCAA II National Championships:

RUNNING THE SHOW. Zachary Stottler / Photo Bureau just the athletes and coaches,” Koepnick said. “It includes trainers, faculty and staff, students and the community of Decorah so we felt that everyone should be invited to this great celebration of Luther athletics.”

Also on the program was the keynote address entitled “Forever A Norse: Johanna Olson.” Luther alum Marney Olson (‘99) shared the inspiring story of her sister Johanna Olson (‘01) and her 15-year battle with brain cancer. Johanna ran cross country and participated in track & field during her years at Luther and continued her passion of running after her Luther career.

An Olympic Trials Qualifier, Johanna races through her battle with cancer used every opportunity she had to run. Her passion for running helped her cope during her battle and gave her family a way to bond while training together to run in the Twin Cities Marathon in 2012 on Team Joha. Sadly, Johanna passed away in January of 2013, but her story leaves behind a mark of excellence within the history of Luther Athletics.

While the ESPY awards honor athletes from the past year, the keynote address also honored those who paved the way for Luther athletics today.

Baseball

ESPY AWARD WINNERS -PERSEVERANCE AWARD: Brenna Gibbons (‘13) Cross Country and Basketball -MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Tyler Wedemier (‘13) Basketball -FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Shari Huber (‘13) Softball -FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Clare Slagel (‘16) Swimming -RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Softball Defense -COMEBACK OF THE YEAR: 4x800 Meter Relay Women’s Track and Field -WINNING MOMENT OF THE YEAR: Men’s Soccer -PLAY OF THE YEAR: Jayden DeVilbiss (‘16) Wrestling

Buena Vista Luther Central Simpson Wartburg Coe Dubuque Loras

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

Overall 6-1 3-1 5-2 5-3 6-6 3-4 2-5 1-5

Upcoming Schedule

March 21-30 Spring Break Trip @ Tucson, Ariz.

Softball

#14 Coe #7 Luther Dubuque Wartburg #4 Central Simpson Loras Buena Vista

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

Overall 10-1 7-1 6-1 13-3 6-2 11-7 4-4 1-5

Recent Scores

March 12 @ Vadnais Heights, Minn W 6-4, L 2-5

Upcoming Schedule

March 21-30 NTC spring Games @ Clermont, Fla.

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

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

Overall 15-3 11-4 3-6 7-4 3-5 2-7 1-5 0-6

Upcoming Schedule

March 23-28 Annual spring trip @ Orlando, Fla.

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

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

Overall 15-3 8-5 7-5 8-3 5-7 5-6 1-12 4-10

Upcoming Schedule

March 23-28 Annual spring trip @ Orlando, Fla.

KEYNOTE

SPEAKER. Maria da Silva / Photo Bureau