Women’s golf win invitational
SPORTS 11
Burke, Storvick study Norwegian knitting
FEATURES 7
LUTHER COLLEGE
CHIPS
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
MAY 8, 2014
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VOLUME 136, NO. 23
Students selected for scholarships
LC Republicans, Democrats push for early voting SAM MOLZAHN STAFF WRITER
Katrina Okerstrom (‘14)
Becca Rudquist (‘14)
David Pfotenhauer (‘15)
MEREDITH BRUSTER STAFF WRITER Every year, Luther students receive regionally or nationally accredited scholarships to help pay for tuition. David Pfotenhauer (‘15), Katrina Okerstrom (‘14) and Becca Rudquist (‘14) are three examples of students that intend to use their scholarships for post-graduate study. For the second year in a row, Pfotenhauer received the Rossing Scholarship for undergraduate students studying physics. He will use the scholarship to fund a portion of his education at Luther. After Luther, he plans to pursue Ph.D. studies in mechanical engineering, with an emphasis in renewable energy. Okerstrom was awarded the McElroy Fellowship for students pursuing graduate studies. She and other recipients of the fellowship are awarded $30,000 over three years of graduate study. Okerstrom will attend the University of Iowa next year to study neuroscience. She will use the fellowship to finance her living expenses
during graduate school. Rudquist received a Fulbright Scholarship to study and teach in Malaysia from January to November of 2015. According to Director of Curriculum Development and College Honors Terry Sparkes, Fulbright Scholarships provide students with opportunities to experience another culture while growing as professionals and lifelong learners. “The U.S. Fulbright program is intended to create opportunities for cultural understanding between the U.S. and other countries,” Sparkes said. “[Scholarships] can be for teaching, study or research.” Rudquist reported feeling excited for the opportunity to teach internationally. “It just seemed like something that really fit what I am interested in,” Rudquist said. “Fulbright is about international opportunities, which I am definitely interested in [pursuing for] the first few years after college.” SCHOLARSHIPS, PAGE 4
Student organizations Luther College Democrats and Luther College Republicans have been working together to garner a satellite-polling station for the Iowa Primary Elections. Early voting will take place on Tuesday, May 13 and is open to all voters registered in Iowa. “We had Stacey Walker, staffer for Anesa Kajtazovic, come onto campus and collect signatures and that’s how we were able to have satellite voting here,” President of Luther College Democrats Charles Weathers (‘15) said. “What the early voting is going to be is for the primaries for people running for Bruce Braley’s spot. Mainly what this is going to be about is not only about the election but also having people understand that Luther does care about northeastern Iowa.” Registration for voting will be run on May 9 and 12 and students eligible to vote in the United States can register to vote in Iowa. “[Luther College Republicans] are going to run voting registration with the LC Democrats in the lobby outside of Marty’s,” Vice President of Luther College Republicans Aime Karam (‘15) said. “We’re teaming up because we feel that it’s important for students and everyone in the community. When you have a polling station here, it’s not just for the students; people from the community can come do it and it’s just a satellite-polling place. It’s just really important for people to be involved and really know what’s going on when the next election comes up.” Voter registration will also be available during voting on May 13 during the voting period. Part of the effort of the two groups is to allow students to have easy access to a polling place, but also to show that Luther College students are engaged in the communities of Decorah and northeast Iowa as a whole. EARLY VOTING, PAGE 4
L3 Banquet honors student accomplishments MADDY KOFOED STAFF WRITER Student leaders and organizations were recognized at Launching Luther Leaders’ (L3) fourth annual Leadership Awards Banquet on Sunday, May 4. The banquet recognized finalists and winners in four categories: Outstanding Event, Service Project, Student Leader and Student Organization. This year’s Outstanding Event award went to the Spring Immigration Panel sponsored by HOLA-Enlaces. The panel, which took place March 12, 2014, focused on educating the Luther and Decorah community on the current challenges facing immigrants in the United States. Finalists for this award included the Ethnic
Arts Festival sponsored by the Diversity Center and Happiness Week sponsored by Student Senate. The category for Outstanding Service Project was awarded to HOLA-Enlaces’ volunteering at English as a second language (ESL) classes for immigrant students in Postville, Iowa. This project, initiated by Enlaces in 2012, is an ongoing effort in which the group sends volunteers two to three times each week to help tutor and translate in ESL and General Education Development classes in Postville offered through Northeast Iowa Community College. The Habitat for Humanity Santa Fe Build and Dance Marathon Penny Wars were also finalists for this category. L3 BANQUET, PAGE 4
RECOGNIZING LEADERSHIP. HOLA-Enlaces won the awards for Outstanding Event and Outstanding Service Project. Aaron Zauner / Photo Bureau
NEWS
PAGE 2 MAY 8, 2014
NEWS EDITORS: WALKER NYENHUIS & BRITA MOORE
Campus recognizes work of custodians MATT HELM STAFF WRITER Students Helping Our Community (SHOC) sponsored Custodial Appreciation Day on May 1 in recognition of all of the work the custodians of Luther College do. “The very nature of the work they do is to be unrecognized,” SHOC President Sam Ward (‘15) said. “They are supposed to be out of the way so that we can complete our daily functions as students and staff. But the work that they do is essential for the college.” SHOC hosted an event for custodial staff from 9:40-10:50 a.m. in the Center for the Arts atrium with refreshments and live music. The group also provided the staff with gift cards from local businesses. The group has been tabling outside of the cafeteria, asking students to sign thank-you notes for the custodians. “We wanted students to know who their custodians are,” SHOC Interim President Sophie Ristau (‘15) said. “We printed out pictures with their names so that students could thank them in person when they see them around campus. Part of this process has been to gain a deeper awareness of these people who help us so much.” Custodians arrive on campus in the early hours of the morning to clean and maintain residence halls and public spaces. “Every morning I get here at 6 a.m. and start my bathrooms,” Brandt Hall Custodian Michelle Larson said. “Every day I do the same set of things. I talk to the kids. Some want to talk, and some don’t want to talk. But I say hi to everybody. Second semester, you see first-years getting used to knowing you and they like to chit-chat. I make it fun.”
Larson encounters an array of messes, from clogged toilets to after-the-bar mishaps, but some of them can get bizarre. “Fourth floor last year was covered with red solo cups filled with water from one end to the other,” Larson said. “I couldn’t get my cart out of the elevator, people couldn’t even walk. Like, really? You just have to laugh.” Larson feels that Luther provides a caring environment to work at. “I think we get treated really well here,” Larson said. “If my kids get sick and I have to take a few days off, I know I still have a job. I’ve worked at places where it wasn’t like that, but it’s different at Luther.” Mary Teslow has been cleaning Dieseth Hall since May 2000. “I’m starting year 15 and this has actually been the cleanest one yet,” Teslow said. “When I first started, it was like the movie ‘Animal House’. We’ve had toilets clogged with corn cobs. There must have been a keg party, because one time we found a keg hidden in a hole broken in the wall. We even had a guy who had a pet iguana named Shaq that he kept in his upper bunk.” “Messes are messes” is Teslow’s mantra. She said that ultimately, she loves her job. “It’s the kids that keep you going,” Teslow said. “I’ve built a lot of friendships through the years. You get to see how they have matured since freshman year and it is amazing how some really grow up. I had a student who graduated in 2001, and every summer we still have a little get together.” SHOC encourages students to wave “hello” the next time they run into custodial staff members at work to express appreciation for what they do.
RECOGNIZED. (from left) Luther custodians Gloria Frana, Cathy Nelson, Chuck HumphreyKlimesh and Chris Thompson attended SHOC’s event May 1. Matt Helm / Chips
Aynah sells bread to fund Argentina co-op
BREAKING BREAD. Luther’s Aynah chapter is helping create economic opportunities abroad. Photo courtesy of aynah.org NILS JOHNSON STAFF WRITER This spring, several Luther students established a textile cooperative with a small Argentinian community through Aynah, a global non-profit organization started by Luther alums in 2012. To do their part, Luther’s Aynah members are selling bread to fund a project aiding one of these communities in need. The term “Aynah” is a Quechuan word meaning, “today for you, tomorrow for me.” This word embodies the organization’s efforts to form mutual relationships between its donors and the recipients of the donations. The group focuses on empowering communities through cooperative development. There are currently three chapters: Luther College, St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. Aynah is not a typical donation organization but works to benefit its donors as well as those who receive support. “We collaborate with communities in a mutually beneficial way,” Aynah member Luke Hanson (‘14) said. Hanson expressed that the relationship Aynah establishes between each pair of communities helps supporters gain valuable knowledge about providing aid to those in need in tandem with providing monetary support for the recipients. “We’re learning how to work with other communities that need help in a way that is more empowering to them and to us,” Hanson said. The chapter is taking on a creative endeavor for a fundraiser: members are selling home-baked bread. Each loaf sold sends $5 to a developing community in order to stimulate a local business and provide jobs for individuals in the region. “But also, we wanted to come up with a way to get Aynah out to the Luther community,” Aynah member Holly Harris (‘16) said. “Everybody likes bread.” The Luther chapter’s focus is on providing aid to a small community in Cruz del Sur, a small town north of Buenos Aires, Argentina. “The community struggles with unemployment and poverty, especially for women and recent high school graduates,” Hanson said. To alleviate the issue, Aynah contacted the community and worked to identify a particular industry that, if expanded, would help provide jobs and income. “There was a high demand for textiles in the country,” Hanson said. “[Aynah] came up with the idea to start this textile worker’s cooperative to generate income.” This aspect of developing a domestic business is key to the Aynah project. The organization’s website, www.aynah.org, states that the project creates “initiatives originating in the community because only the community has the experience and expertise to understand their unique assets, culture, people and outstanding needs.” To get involved with Aynah, students can visit the organization’s website, visit the Luther chapter’s Facebook page, or buy loaves of bread. Loaves are $5 and can be ordered in advance from the group members.
NEWS
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NEWS EDITORS: WALKER NYENHUIS & BRITA MOORE THURSDAY
Seven-Day Forecast
MAY 8, 2014 FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
P H H H P Q H 55/71
44/59
49/69
48/71
48/67
47/64
45/62
Life Outside Luther
Ukraine sends elite force to Odessa due to unrest Ukraine sent an elite national guard unit to its southern port of Odessa, desperate to halt a spread of the fighting between government troops and a proRussia militia in the east that killed combatants on both sides May 5. The government in Kiev intensified its attempts to bring both regions back under its control but seemed particularly alarmed by the bloodshed in Odessa. It had been largely peaceful until May 2, when clashes killed 46 people, many of them in a government building that was set on fire. FOOD FOR THOUGHT. The Hunger Banquet participants experienced the ways in which income inequality causes an unequal distribution of food globally. Spencer Hodge / Chips
Students explore global food issues SPENCER HODGE STAFF WRITER On April 29, about 20 students joined Luther College’s Food Council for the Hunger Banquet. The students were served three different meals that each represented different income classes of the world, while sharing stories and statistics on world hunger. The purpose of the banquet was to raise awareness about the disparity in nutrition around the world. “We have this privilege and power over what we eat in the United States, specifically on campus, and we can forget that,” Chair of Food Council Callie Mabry (‘14) said. “It is important to provide an awareness of others that are not as fortunate as us.” At the beginning of the event, students were each given a character ticket. The tickets assigned students with an income class of low (less than $1,128 per year), middle ($1,128-$6,300 per year) or high (more than $6,300 per year). In proportion to the globe’s current wealth distribution, more than 50 percent of the tickets assigned students to the lower income group, 30 percent were assigned to the middle income group and 20 percent were assigned a high income status. Along with an income class, the character tickets also provide students with a brief biography of a character living within his or her respective income class. “I think [the character tickets] are helpful because you avoid talking about masses of people and instead talk about individuals,” Mabry said. “This way students can learn one person’s story that may explain why they are in each income group.” After receiving their income class, students were directed to their income-based dining area to wait for their service. The high income class was seated at a table set with water, juices, coffee and an appetizer salad while the middle income class was seated next to them at a table set only with glasses of water. While these students took their seats, the low income class was placed on a floor mat away from the tables.
“I thought it was interesting that they separated us based on our income,” low income participant Reina Owecke (‘17) said. “I still thought the separation could have been more realistic. I don’t think low income families drink their water ice cold from fancy Peace Dining goblets.” Once all groups were seated, the high income class was served first to further exaggerate the disparities between certain classes. They received a marinated tofu and vegetable meal, while the middle and low income classes awaited their simpler rice-based meal. This representative wealth disparity caught students’ attention. “It must have really stunk to sit on the floor for so long,” high income participant Eva Peterson (‘17) said. “I felt terrible.” Once the low class received food, some students had to wait even longer based on their gender indicated on their character card. “I don’t know how often gender plays a role in dining, but it happened at the banquet and didn’t feel right,” Owecke said. “That kind of thing isn’t ideal at all.” Although the event coordinators emulated class mobility at the meal by reassigning students to new class rankings, it was noted that social mobility is often not a realistic opportunity for those facing hunger. Instead, the event highlighted the fact that many remain in the income class they are born into and that the disparities between the rich and the poor are getting larger. The event closed with a final blow to the lower income classes when the high income class was exclusively served a cupcake dessert. However, the high income students, impacted by the event’s message, decided to make a change against the inequality by slicing their dessert into shareable portions to give to everybody at the event. “During the whole meal I was lucky enough to be in the high income class which is my realistic position in the world,” Peterson said. “When the cupcakes came onto our table I felt horrible and couldn’t help but wanted to share.”
Nigeria group threatens to sell kidnapped girls Nigeria’s Islamic extremist leader is threatening to sell the nearly 300 teenage schoolgirls abducted from a school in the remote northeast three weeks ago, in a new videotape received Monday. Abubakar Shekau for the first time also claimed responsibility for the April 15 mass abduction, warning that his group plans to attack more schools and abduct more girls. Clip suspected in circus accident Investigators suspect that a snapped clip sent eight aeria acrobats plummeting 20 feet or more during a daring act in which performers dangle from their hair. One injured performer told her father she didn’t notice anything amiss before her “plunge into darkness.” The clip, a common type called a carabiner that’s used for everything from rock climbing to holding keyrings, was one of several pieces at the top of a chandelier-like apparatus that suspended the performers, fire officials said. After the accident, the 4- to 5-inch steel clip was found in three pieces on the ground with its spine snapped. Target CEO out in wake of security breach Target CEO Greg Steinhafel has become the first boss of a major corporation to lose his job over a breach of customer data, showing how responsibility for computer security now reaches right to the top. Steinhafel, who was also president and chairman, stepped down nearly five months after Target disclosed a pre-Christmas breach in which hackers stole millions of customers’ credit and debit card records. A pair of ospreys has quieted a fire alarm in one New Jersey shore town. The raptors have built a nest inside the fire siren at Spring Lake, N.J. By law, the nest can’t be disturbed. Ospreys are listed as a threatened species in New Jersey during their breeding season. So the siren has been turned off for the spring and summer, while firefighters and paramedics rely on pagers and cell phones to alert them of emergencies.
Compiled from: www.ap.org
NEWS
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Upcoming Events Thursday, May 8 Women’s Track & 1 p.m., Home Field - IIAC Outdoor Championship Heptathlon Men’s Track & Field 1:15 p.m., Home IIAC Championships -Decathlon Knut Gjerset Annual 7 p.m., Olin 102 Lecture: 200 Years of May 17th Dance Performance: 7:30 p.m., Jewel Theatre Highway 57 Center for Ethics and 8 p.m., Valders 206 Public Life Lecture: Jim Leach Friday, May 9 Student Research 9 a.m., CFL Main Hall Symposium Opening Celebration Women’s Track & 1 p.m., Home Field - IIAC Outdoor Championship Heptathlon Men’s Track & Field 1:15 p.m., Home IIAC Championships -Decathlon Women’s & Men’s Track 3 p.m., Home & Field - IIAC Outdoor Championships - Day One Dance Performance: 7:30 p.m., Jewel Theatre Highway 57 Spring Opera Performance 7:30 p.m., CFL Main Hall Saturday, May 10 Legacy Trust Scholarship 11:30 a.m., Peace Dining Recognition Luncheon Room Women’s & Men’s Track 1 p.m., Home & Field - IIAC Outdoor Championships - Day Two Dance Performance: 1:30 p.m., Jewel Theatre Highway 57 President’s Council 5:30 p.m., Peace Dining Recognition Dinner Room Spring Opera Performance 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 11 Recital: Distinction in 4 p.m., Noble Recital Hall Accompanying Recital: Registered 7 p.m., Noble Recital Hall Chamber Groups Norsemen Annual Concert 7 p.m., Decorah Lutheran with Luren Singers Church Tuesday, May 13 Senior Recognition 9:40 a.m., CFL Main Hall Convocation Information from luther.edu/events
NEWS EDITORS: WALKER NYENHUIS & BRITA MOORE
Scholarships awarded SCHOLARSHIPS, PAGE 1 Recent Fulbright recipients include Kimmy Rooney (‘13) and Kirsten Jacobson (‘11). Okerstrom suggests that students interested in post-graduate scholarships begin searching early on, set goals and pursue their passions. Faculty members suggest that students take advantage of research opportunities to prepare for graduate school. “Get involved with research early, do research in any capacity so that you are exposed to the types of things that, once you get to graduate school, you will be spending a lot of time doing,” Professor of Psychology Kristy Gould said. To apply for scholarships such as the Rossing,
McElroy and Fulbright, students must first be recommended by Luther College faculty. Following recommendations, most scholarships require an essay, letters of recommendation and interviews. According to Pfotenhauer, there are many scholarship opportunities available of which students are not aware. “I think [students] might be surprised if they just do a little bit of research and searching,” Pfotenhauer said. “[You should] definitely talk with the Financial Aid Office here. There are hundreds of scholarships that are just floating out there that I think a lot of people miss.” To learn more about student scholarship opportunities, contact Terry Sparkes or the Financial Aid Office.
Student organizations honored L3 BANQUET, PAGE 1 The award for Outstanding Student Leader went to Paul Esker (‘14). Esker, this year’s Student
PRESIDENT PAUL. Paul Esker (‘14) accepts the award for Outstanding Student Leader. Aaron Zauner / Photo Bureau
Senate president, has also had leadership roles through Dance Marathon, Resident Assistant positions, the Presidential Search Committee and the Campus Life Committee. Other finalists for this category included Libby Logsden (‘15) and Marlon Henriquez (‘15). The category of Outstanding Student Organization was awarded to Luther College Dance Marathon (LCDM). LCDM hit the ground running in its first year at Luther. Over 450 students were involved, and the event – including team fundraising and the “big event” on Saturday, April 12 – raised nearly $40,000 to support families treated by the Children’s Miracle Network. Finalists for this award
included HOLA-Enlaces and Active Minds. While each category named only one winner, L3 director Jane Hildebrand emphasizes that the purpose of the event is to recognize and celebrate student achievements on campus. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate student organizations and the leadership we have on campus,” Hildebrand said. “We’ve got some wonderful individuals as well as some great groups, and we want to give the opportunity to share that with everybody.” Lenny Ulloa Silva (‘16), a co-leader of HOLA-Enlaces, appreciated the event. “We have done a lot and it’s really nice that they recognized us for that,” Ulloa Silva said.
Luther to host early voting EARLY VOTING, PAGE 1 of Decorah and northeast Iowa as a whole. “I’m part of the Winneshiek County Democrats as well and a lot of issues that we have with them is that they’re not fully convinced that Luther cares about the community as much, and we want to show them that that’s not true,” Weathers said. “We do care about who represents this part of Iowa because we’re going to spend four years here, or will have spent four years here and it is important how this part of the state works out.” Karam stressed the importance of the two groups working together, especially in an election year. “We really want to have cooperation in the next year
because it usually gets pretty harsh and people say interesting things to each other,” Karam said. “So we really want to work together just because we are one student body and we all want the same things for the most part, and it’s important to recognize differences and embrace them.” Weathers echoed Karam’s sentiments and stressed the importance of participation in politics. “We want to start working with the Luther College Republicans because we don’t want animosity between these two groups,” Weathers said. “An interest in politics is important in your education and we want Luther students to feel civically engaged. And no matter what your politics are, we can both agree on that point.”
Due to the Civil War, illness and other causes, there was not a graduating class at Luther until 1866.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT A&E EDITOR: MAGGIE STEINBERG
PAGE 5 MAY 8, 2014
Sing (and ring) for spring Norsemen, Aurora, Cantorei and Luther Ringers performed in their spring concerts this past week. HANNAH BUTLER STAFF WRITER Cantorei, Luther Ringers, Aurora and Norsemen had two performances this past week. Cantorei, one of Luther’s six choirs, and Luther’s hand bell group, Luther Ringers, shared a concert in the Noble Recital Hall on May 1. Cantorei opened the spring concerts with “Living in a Holy City” by Stephen Hatfield. For their second set they performed Gabriel Faure’s “Messe Basse,” which was a nod to the recent travels of Cantorei Conductor and Adjunct Faculty in Music Linda Martin. “I was inspired to do this set because last summer I was in France and Paris for the first time in my life,” Martin said. “One of the places we went was the cathedral where [Faure] worked as an organist for many years.” Closing their portion of the concert were two pieces written by Ysaye M. Barnwell, a member of the musical group Sweet Honey in the Rock who visited Luther last fall. Martin feels these arrangements were especially appropriate for her choir given their smaller number. “I find in some ways it’s a very different group in the spring, and that’s why I think I picked out those Sweet Honey in the Rock pieces,” Martin said. “I thought those are more for smaller, more intimate groups, and that’s what we have.” The choir appreciated the diverse repertoire, and Cantorei member Mary Claire Vuckovich (‘16) noticed how much the choir loved the pieces.
NORSEMEN. The all-men’s choir premiered an original piece by member Jonathon Kobs (‘17). Aaron Zauner / Photo Bureau
“‘Wanting Memories’ was one of our favorite songs as a whole,” Vuckovich said. “It was a chance for us all to connect.” Luther Ringers followed Cantorei’s performance with four sets and included a Norwegian piece by Edvard Grieg called “March of the Dwarfs.” Twin sisters Allyson and Kaitlyn Fillmore (‘15) played a duet by Monika Durbin entitled “Contemplation.” Luther Ringers Conductor and Associate Professor of Music Greg Peterson enjoyed the opportunity to play in a concert setting. “It’s a nice culmination for the semester,” Peterson said. “Hand Bells are a popular group in churches and some schools, but we tend to hear them mostly in churches. It’s nice to have a concert setting for them.” First–year choirs Aurora and Norsemen also presented a joint concert in the Center for Faith and Life on May 2. Norsemen member Mitchell Stevens (‘17) appreciated performing after a LUTHER RINGERS. Luther’s hand bell group played a variety of songs, semester of working on including “March of the Dwarfs” by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. repertoire. Hannah Butler / Chips “We worked for
CANTOREI. Inspired by Cantorei Conductor Linda Martin’s trip to France, the choir sang Gabriel Faure’s “Messe Basse.” Hannah Butler / Chips
AURORA. The choir opened the concert with “Earth Song” by Frode Fjeilheim, a song featured in the movie “Frozen.” Aaron Zauner / Photo Bureau months preparing a bunch of songs,” Stevens said. “It was really stressful a lot of the time, so it was just awesome to see it culminate into this concert.” The Norsemen featured a medley from the musical “Les Misérables” arranged by Norsemen Conductor and Assistant Professor of Music Andrew Last (‘97). Norsemen also premiered “When I Have Sung My Sons to You,” an original composition by Norsemen’s own Jonathan Kobs (‘17), which ended in a standing ovation from the audience. Aurora sang pieces in Latin, Church Slovonic and English. For their fourth piece they sang “Earth Song” by Frode Fjeilheim, the opening piece from the popular Disney movie “Frozen.” Many of Aurora’s pieces were unaccompanied, a result of the growth Aurora experienced throughout the year according to Aurora Conductor and Assistant Professor of Music Jennaya Robison (‘96). “The women have grown tremendously in their tone quality and ability to sing things–especially unaccompanied literature–well in tune,” Robison said. “They’ve just become better ensemble members as a whole. [The spring concert is] a really joyous time for the singers, the family members and the audience members to come and see what we’ve done.” The concert came to a close with Norsemen and Aurora collaborating on Leonard Bernstein’s “Make Our Garden Grow.” Spring concerts will continue with performances from Luther Chamber Groups on May 11, and Showcase Concerts by Nordic Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band and Jazz Orchestra on May 23 and 24.
Correction: The May 1 Chips article titled “Sex, Sparta and SPIN” featured a photo naming Emily Ebertz (‘15) as the title character Lysistrata. Abbey Syme (‘16) was cast as Lysistrata. The photo portrays Ebertz as Peace.
FEATURES
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FEATURES EDITOR: CASEY DELIMA
Social work goes to Chicago Luther’s cap on the number of Luther students that can attend the Chicago Center is temporarily lifted. ZORA HURST STAFF WRITER This year, 11 Luther College social work students were accepted to intern at The Chicago Center for spring of 2015. For some programs on campus such as the social work and education program, a practicum is required for the major, and these students are given the option to study off campus. In the case of social work students, they must stay within 80 miles of Decorah and
attend a weekly seminar at Luther, or go to Chicago where the Chicago Center holds a seminar. When these 11 students were accepted to study at the Chicago Center Practicum Program (CCP), some problem solving had to be done. The cap negotiated between Luther College and the Chicago Center about 10 years ago determined only eight students at a time could be off campus with the program. While the acceptance of the 11 CCP students was something the college could be proud of, the financial situation brought up issues. “Typically, part of a student’s Luther tuition is forwarded to [CCP],” Vice President for Academic Affairs Kevin Kraus said. “Students pay room and board with [CCP] as well. If [the college] had been losing a bunch of money, the cap would have had to stay in place.” Eventually, the cap was
renegotiated, due to Executive Director of the Center for Global Learning and International Admissions John Lund. But this year’s negotiations do not provide a permanent solution. “This year’s students are covered, but for the long term, things are kind of uncertain ... eight’s not a bad number, but in any department you’ll have up years and down years,” Lund said. Students, professors and administration all hope to keep CCP as a feasible option for those interested in education practicum or social work with domestic study programs. “I totally respect and admire those in the CCP and I’m so glad it’s part of our curriculum and what we can offer students,” Professor of Social Work Ginger Meyette said. “It’s such a unique program and helps students to get excited about their major and get excited about social
work.” During their time with the program, social work students live in inner-city Chicago. For work, they may be placed in schools, hospitals, agencies that combat human trafficking, homeless shelters or housing for those who are HIV positive. After completing an orientation to familiarize them with the city of Chicago and its public transportation, students move into their housing. The CCP owns the apartment building where students live during their time with the program. The shared living space offers a taste of independent living away from a residential campus setting. Students like Caitlin Olson (‘15) look forward to applying to CCP and sharing those experiences. “I plan on attending the Chicago program because I want to immerse myself in a different environment than I’ve been in while at Luther,”
Olson said. “In the future I hope to work with people in an urban environment, and this will be a great experience to see what that’s like as a social worker.” The present influx of students in the social work programs has not tarnished Luther’s reputation for small, close-knit classes. Meyette confirms the class dynamics haven’t changed this year, due to the emphasis on groupwork in the social work curriculum. The social work students accepted to go to Chicago look forward to experiencing life in a different setting than where they’ve enjoyed the last two years. “That’s the thing about Luther,” Lund said. “You’re able to come to this pretty part of northeastern Iowa, off the beaten path, and you get to see a much larger world. After these experiences, students will never see the world in the same way again.”
PREPARING FOR PRACTICUM. (From left) Alex Lohrbach (‘15), Paige Clark (‘15), Caitlin Olson (‘15) and Sarah Haley (‘15) work in groups to discuss their research proposal in Social Work Research Methods. Casey DeLima / Chips
Back from Beyond the Bubble HANNAH GARRY STAFF WRITER On Tuesday April 29, the Career Center offered the last Beyond the Bubble session of the year. In order to plan sessions for next year leaders of the Beyond the Bubble program will meet in May to discuss feedback from this year. Executive Assistant to the President Karen Martin-Schramm, one of the key coordinators of the Beyond the Bubble sessions, believes the sessions offered next year, will be very similar to those offered this year but after reviewing feedback from students and alums, Martin-Schramm hopes the program will continue to grow in the future. “This was really a pilot this spring to see how things would flow and what student interest there was and to see if some [sessions] were more popular than others,” Martin-Schramm said. One of the challenges of the Beyond the Bubble sessions has been their short running time of 45 minutes. Martin-Schramm thinks that offering longer sessions with students’ busy schedules would not have generated as much interest. “We try to make them quick and insightful sessions,” MartinSchramm said. “But it’s hard to cover everything you need to cover in a short amount of time.” One of the things setting the Beyond the Bubble sessions apart
from other lectures on campus is the program the Career Center ran in concurrence with many work-studies on campus allowing student workers to get paid for attending certain sessions that contribute to their development as an employee. “I’ve talked to students who go to other colleges and they just think that [this incentive] is really a wonderful aspect of this program,” Martin-Schramm said. Martin-Schramm said she was impressed by the amount of students who attended sessions not for their work-study but because they were interested. She thinks the feedback from students has been overall positive. Erin Schmidt (‘14) attended three Beyond the Bubble sessions. Out of these she found “Communicating: The Key to Success at Work (and Everywhere Else)” to be the most helpful. During this session students got to discuss how to avoid having their words be misinterpreted and how to be clear in situations where they need additional instruction.
“As a nurse, communication is a huge part of the job as you are interacting with the patient, family and other members of the healthcare team on a daily basis,” Schmidt said. Jordan Jensen (‘14) attended the session titled “Good to Great Employees: The Crtitical First Year on the Job” where students got to talk to one another about working inside and outside of Luther. “It was a fantastic program that opened my eyes to real aspects of the workplace and reminded me of common etiquette and rules of working with others,” Jensen said. Martin-Schramm thinks one of the program’s biggest strengths is the real world knowledge it offers students. Some of the sessions covered topics like cooking and car mechanics that students could struggle without once they enter the real world. “I think it’s a wonderful expression of being a residential college because we’re teaching you to live and work,” Martin-Schramm said.
“[Beyond the Bubble] was a fantastic program that opened my eyes to real aspects of the workplace and reminded me of common etiquette and rules of working with others.” - Jordan Jensen (‘14)
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: CASEY DELIMA
MAY 8, 2014
Knitting at the Vesterheim
CLOSE KNIT. (From left) Anna Burke (‘15) and Peter Storvick (‘14) present Norwegian knitting at the Vesterheim while modeling their own Norwegian sweaters. Anna Jeide / Chips
Students Peter Storvick (‘14) and Anna Burke (‘15) present their knowledge on Norwegian knitting. ANNA JEIDE STAFF WRITER Most students can’t wear their homework, but Luther students Peter Storvick (‘14) and Anna Burke (‘15) are an exception. Storvick and Burke each modeled their hand-knit Norwegian sweaters at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum on Sunday, May 4 for a crowd of about 50 students and community members. Storvick and Burke each presented their research projects about an aspect of Norwegian knitting, including their finished sweater projects. Both conducted their projects as an independent study through the Scandinavian studies department. Storvick decided to knit a Marius sweater and research the development of knitting
Students ABBY CARPENTER STAFF WRITER The biology department has routinely been burning the prairies for more than 20 years and this year is no different. “Fire is one of the two natural processes that help maintain prairie, historically,” Professor of Biology Kirk Larsen said. “The other process is grazing, and since we don’t have large herds of grazers on campus, fire is our one tool that we can use to mimic natural historic processes to maintain this type of ecosystem.” The burnings are done every spring, between March 1 and May 31. During this time, the Biology Department burns Anderson Prairies, Gateway Prairie, Aikman Prairie and little plots on campus like Regent’s Hill Prairie and the plot by Valders. The burnings depend on several factors; the two biggest are dryness and wind. “We need wind that’s constant and going in a certain direction,” Larsen said. “We also worry about smoke and how heavy the smoke’s going
as a national tradition in Norway for his Scandinavian studies minor. Storvick chose to knit in the Marius tradition because it is the most popular style in Norway and is typically red, white and blue, representing the colors of the Norwegian flag. Though it took considerable time and dedication to complete, Storvick enjoyed the knitting process. “Depending on the week I’ll work five to 10 hours … [but] it’s not like a job. It’s like my personal relax time,” Storvick said. Storvick’s passion for knitting came from observing his mother and grandmother when he was in high school. Storvick also learned more about his Norwegian heritage through his research on the history of Norwegian knitting. Storvick’s sister Erika Storvick (‘16) attended the presentation. “We truly embrace our Norwegian heritage, although Peter perhaps does it best,” Erika Storvick said. For the past three years Storvick has been knitting hats and scarves as gifts for friends and family, but this project is his first sweater. “Knitting plays a large role in the Storvick household,” Storvick said. “Family knitting and
participate to be. Wind is important because it helps us control the fire.” The fire is carefully controlled during the burns, and the biology department uses a specific technique. The fire is started on the downwind end of the prairie where there’s a mowed “burn break” along the edge. This serves as a fire block. The faculty and students slowly burn the prairie along the edges working upwind and routinely put the fire out on the outside edges, letting it burn toward the middle. Once a large area is blackened on the downwind side of the prairie and along the edges, a head fire is started. “When you start a head fire, that’s when all the flames get really, really big,” Larsen said. “The flame just roars until it reaches that burnt black area, and it goes out, like flipping a switch.” The total burn takes about an hour, but the head fire takes only a matter of minutes. Larsen stresses that although the flames are quick and powerful during the head fire, nobody’s in danger because of the carefully controlled back burn.
movie nights are a regular occasion, and knit gifts are very popular.” Storvick found that his passion for knitting has only grown stronger after this project. “Now that I’ve made one sweater I really want to make more,” Storvick said. “It’s easy to create a decent hat, but it’s more rewarding to work for a long period of time.” Burke also drew inspiration from her family knitting traditions. Burke’s mother raises sheep for their wool, which she spins into yarn. “I’ve been knitting since I was young,” Burke said. “My mom taught me on potholders.” She typically uses her mother’s wool for her knitting projects. Burke researched the origins of different Norwegian knitting patterns. She drew connections between different patterns and Norwegian nationalism based on where the patterns originated. Burke completed her project during J-term, knitting about four hours per day. Though she is not Norwegian, Burke has always been curious about Norwegian knitting. “I’m from Postville, and being from around here you see a lot of different knitting patterns in sweaters,” Burke said.
in
Biology professors like Larsen, Assistant of Biology Molly McNicoll and Associate Professor of Biology Erik Baack are involved with the burn, however, the majority of the “burn crew” consists of about 15 students. Will Harren (‘14) has participated in a few of the prairie burns and explains why he was interested in joining. “I was raised with the idea that ‘Only you can prevent forest fires!’ with Smokey the Bear, and then I come here and find out that they’re important and prairie fires are good,” Harren said. Most of the prairie burns have already been completed this year, but Larsen encourages any students interested in participating in a burn next year to contact either McNicoll or himself. In order to become part of the burn crew, students must first go through a training session where they will learn the ecological reasoning of the burn, the effects on the prairie, the impact on the native and invasive species and also the mechanisms and safety issues.
Burke combined the styles of Marius, Selbu, Fana, Setesdal and Jersey to develop her own original hybrid pattern. “It definitely looks like a Norwegian sweater, but its not a traditional sweater by any means,” Burke said. Burke conducted some of her research by examining artifacts at the Vesterheim to create her unique design. Vesterheim Chief Curator Laurann Gilberston hosted the presentation on Sunday and assisted Burke with her research. “We really enjoy when people of all ages become inspired by our collection and our resources and then make them into a vision of their own,” Gilbertson said. “It’s especially exciting when people look at the objects … and make something for themselves that’s meaningful.” Visiting Instructor in Scandinavian Studies Kari Grønningsæter served as the faculty adviser for Burke and Storvick’s projects. “I just feel I’m so lucky to be a little part of it,” Grønningsæter said. “They do it all on their own and I just try to support. They give me lots of inspiration, and it’s an inspiration for other students.”
prairie
burning
INFERNO. Assistant Professor of Biology Molly McNicoll helps with the prairie burning. Photo courtesy of Will Harren
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8 MAY 8, 2014
A&E EDITOR: MAGGIE STEINBERG
Familiar drive, new dance DARK ROAD. Students rehearse for “Highway 57,” a show inspired by director Blake Nellis’ frequent commutes between Minneapolis and Decorah. Bjorn Myhre / Chips
“Highway 57,” written and directed by Blake Nellis (‘07), is a dance performance inspired by solitary drives and themes of love and death. KATIE WOLTER STAFF WRITER “Highway 57,” an original dance performance conceived and directed by Visiting Teaching Associate in Dance Blake Nellis (‘07) made its debut in the Jewel Theatre May 2 and will be performed this coming weekend. “The most exciting part of being a part of ‘Highway 57’ was watching everything come together,” performer Catherine Lewis (‘16) said. “It wasn’t until this past week that we were able to interact with the set and to hear the dances with the live musicians. It’s also really exciting to perform for an audience and to feel the energy and feedback from the crowd, which changes the piece a lot.” Involving a cast of 19 dancers and 42 crew members and musicians, “Highway 57” is intended to grab, inspire and challenge audiences. The inspiration for this dance piece comes
MOVEMENT. The dances in “Highway 57” are inspired by Edgar Lee Master’s poetry collection “Spoon River Anthology.” Bjorn Myhre / Chips
from Nellis’s solitary moments during his two and a half hour drives back home and the book “Spoon River Anthology” by Edgar Lee Masters. “I started thinking a lot about a book Dr. James Griesheimer gave me, the ‘Spoon River Anthology,’” Nellis said. “Some of the characters kept resonating with me, and I really adore these characters that are afraid or that I can relate to. They didn’t say something that they wanted to say, and now we read it in their first person epitaph which is a strange, beautiful way to hear the dead.” Live musicians accompany the dancers’ movement and five poems from “Spoon River Anthology,” all recorded in Associate Professor of Music James Griesheimer’s voice, are used throughout the performance as well as an original poem with adaptations by Nellis. “There’s levity and there’s walking too fast, and then there is movement of someone who has an old soul and feels tired and scared and dead; so it’s really the gamut,” Nellis said. “The way I make work is fractal and based in memory and imagination. I find snippets and characters and pieces and parts, and they
intertwine to form more of a collage.” Auditions for “Highway 57” were in December, and the cast, crew and musicians have collaborated and rehearsed throughout the whole semester. “I find myself really being able to relate to the people in these poems–to their fears, their regrets and the way they strove to live their lives,” Lewis said. “As part of the process of creating the show we talked a lot about fear and love and relating to the characters. This has made the piece a lot more meaningful to me as a performer.” The director, cast, crew and musicians are grateful and appreciative of those who have already attended and they are looking forward to the new audiences of “Highway 57” this coming weekend. “Dance often has to look good and feel right or we don’t get it,” Nellis said. “I think that this piece allows people to get it no matter what. It allows them to say, ‘I don’t like it’ and that’s getting it. Or it allows them to say, ‘I’m scared, I don’t understand’ and that’s [also] getting it. I want to challenge the way we view art.” There are more chances to see the show May 8–9 at 7:30 p.m. and May 10 at 1:30 p.m. in Jewel Theatre.
“[The characters] didn’t say something that they wanted to say, and now we read it in their first person epitaph which is a strange, beautiful way to hear the dead.” - Blake Nellis (‘07)
Art auction draws in community MAGGIE STEINBERG A&E EDITOR ArtHaus hosted its sixth annual silent auction May 2 at T-Bock’s Sports Bar in downtown Decorah. Pieces from various Luther students and community members were on sale during the live auction. The event drew in students and the public for an evening of appetizers, song and art, and Luther a capella group Beautiful Mess performed a full set for 45 minutes. Proceeds from the auction went to support ArtHaus and the ArtHaus Youth Scholarship Fund.
ADDING SOME SONG. One of Luther’s a capella groups, Beautiful Mess, performed a full set at the auction. Casey DeLima / Chips Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm | Thursday 9am - 8pm
ART AND APPETIZERS. (From left) Katie Mathis (‘15), Micayla Irmiter (‘14) and Cate Anderson (‘14) support their fellow artists at the ArtHaus auction. Casey DeLima / Chips
DISPLAYING WITH STYLE. Jayne Cole (‘14) shows off a print by Lennis Moore (‘72), the father of Assistant Professor of Art Ben Moore (‘02). Casey DeLima / Chips
FASHION. FOR REAL LIFE. AFFORDABLE BOUTIQUE SHOPPING
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OPINION
PAGE 9
MANAGING EDITOR: JAYNE COLE
MAY 8, 2014
Senate makes a difference A Senate Sit-Down Last year I ran for Student Senate because I wanted to make a difference at this school. I believed this college needed a policy that encouraged students to seek help for their friends who drank too much alcohol without fear of getting in trouble. I can proudly say the policy will be in effect for next school year. I understand there are many cynicisms directed toward the effectiveness of Student Senate. I had them myself, but I can now say that Senate has had an incredible year, from which the student body will benefit for years to come. Under the leadership of Paul Esker (‘14) and Luke Hanson (‘14), Student Senate has accomplished many actual, tangible and impressive things this year. Student Senate more than tripled student organization funding from $4,000 to $14,000, while simultaneously
revamping the process through which student organizations applied for this funding. This new process increased accountability and oversight, while ensuring that funding from the Co-curricular Activities Fee (CAF) reaches as many students as possible. Increased funding means increased responsibility, so this year also saw the creation of the Student Leadership Committee,with the goal of supporting and empowering student organization and student leaders so that CAF funds distributed by the senate could be used effectively. The Student Leadership Committee provided many opportunities for groups to improve their leadership abilities and also coordinated the first annual, and rousingly successful, Happiness Week! During this week, student organizations from across campus came together to plan events all week with the goal of boosting morale on campus and bringing unexpected smiles to students! This year also saw an immense revision of the Student Senate Constitution and Bylaws, which will allow Senate to function more effectively and efficiently. Frivolous
rules were removed, inconsistencies were reconciled and procedures were solidified, ensuring long-term stability in the senate. Lastly, a proposal regarding co-ed Baker was unanimously passed by the Senate. This proposal benefitted from the thorough research of several dedicated senators, largely on the Student Life Committee. This research included a comprehensive review of co-ed housing options at peer institutions and gave the Senate context on how best to pursue expanding co-ed housing to Baker Village. We continued with the momentum started last year, and even if the proposal does not pass through the upper echelons of the college hierarchy I am confident next year’s senate will keep the pressure on. I am proud to have served my peers as a Senior Representative this year. It is incredible what 30 dedicated students can do when they are determined to improve the “Luther experience” for this year and beyond. To those naysayers who doubt what senate is capable of, this year we took action that could literally save a life. Believe it. -Leif Vandersteen (‘14)
“To those naysayers who doubt what Senate is capable of, this year we took action that could literally save a life.” - Leif Vandersteen (‘14)
Career test drive: A look at the Job Shadow Program Career Corner
Shadow Program aided her. “The job shadowing experience helped me affirm my future career. It allowed me to see both the positive and negative side of the education field. Overall, it was a wonderful opportunity to help me decide my future.” Once the students sign up for their desired fields Joni Rollinger, the Employer Relations Coordinator in the Career Center, connects students with area professionals. The students are then able to work independently with their contact to schedule observation time. This flexibility allows students to choose the duration of the experience. This year the program included connections with 44 professionals from the Decorah community. By keeping experiences in the Decorah area students have less difficulty with transportation. The experiences are offered in fields that range from accounting to education, engineering to journalism, and many more. Shadow experiences in the medical field are particularly popular with many students
working with staff at the Winneshiek Medical Center. These experiences can act as a way of affirming a desired career path or discovering that a particular field is not a good fit. Students are able to ask questions and receive feedback from experienced professionals while they take in the work atmosphere of that particular position. As well as being an opportunity for career exploration and community involvement, the Shadow Program is a great chance to network. If uncertain about a major or future career path, the Job Shadow Program is an excellent resource to students as it provides the ability to sample a wide variety of careers or to develop beneficial connections within a specific field. This participative approach can be more informative than simply researching professions as it allows students to see first-hand what a job is really like. Students should definitely take advantage of this program!
“The job shadow experience helped me
This spring Luther students participated in 167 job shadow experiences through the program sponsored by the Career Center. The Job Shadow Program allows students to sign up in areas of their interest to observe professionals in those fields. The program is designed to be a “career test drive” for students, allowing them to experience firsthand what the day-to-day activities of different jobs may entail. Over 70 students participated in this year’s program with many of them signing up for multiple shadows. Although the majority of the students are either firstor second-year students, the program is also open to upper classmen. All years can benefit from a closer look into what could be their future profession. Firstyear student Kayla Ingvalson (‘17) shared how the Job
CELL PHONE LOVE
- Kayla Ingvalson (‘17)
- Hannah Fuhrman (‘14)
Spencer Hodge / Chips
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 Spring 2014 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors:
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
Choir auditions continue Letter to the Editor Dear editor: Each spring the choral faculty of Luther’s Music Department listens to hundreds of students from
across the entire campus audition for membership in one of Luther’s four upper-class choirs. Incoming first-year students audition upon their arrival for the fall semester. Luther’s choral program is one of the largest collegiate choral programs in the country, and typically involves more than 500 Luther students. The audition process for membership in a choir includes singing a prepared piece and sight-reading. It is important that the student be able to read music and have a love of singing. While most of the auditions for next year have been completed, it is still possible to schedule a choir audition by contacting me at highal01@luther.edu. -Allen Hightower
Caring about net neutrality Letter to the Editor If you use the Internet at all, hopefully you care about a current issue called “net neutrality.” If you have no idea what “net neutrality” is, please consider reading this. It’s for you. What is net neutrality? Basically, it is the principal that all traffic on the internet is treated equally, regardless of where it’s going, where it’s coming from, or what it is. But why should you care? Lets say your Internet Service Provider, or ISP, is called “BigISP.” You pay BigISP a monthly service fee to use their service. You are also a paid subscriber of Netflix. BigISP sees that Netflix is a popular service with its customers and wants to enter the internet video field, so they start up their own Netflix-like service, called “BigVideo.” BigISP argues that its (horribly outdated) infrastructure is not able to handle the extra load that Netflix is attributed to, which is over 30% of all traffic on the Internet (theguardian.com). So instead of spending some of the money from their (ridiculously large) 97% profit margin (technologyreview.com, nextbigfuture. com) on upgrading their infrastructure, they slow down Netflix traffic to lighten the load on their infrastructure. This is called throttling. This also can be used as a way to get more customers to begin using its video service, BigVideo, and stop using Netflix. So now, whenever you try to watch Netflix, which used to load fine before, your videos stop and buffer frequently. Conversely, BigVideo videos load and play without a problem. Netflix isn’t happy about this, because now Netflix subscribers who use BigISP have a worse experience than they did before and are understandably upset. They think that it’s Netflix’s fault. You, a BigISP subscriber, are also not happy. You pay a lot of money for a reliable Internet connection, not one where you can barely watch Netflix content anymore. You decide to switch to a new Internet provider, but quickly realize you can’t, because BigISP is the only one in your area. 28% of US households have one choice for Internet service, a monopoly. 67%
of US households have only two choices for Internet service providers in their area (news.yahoo.com). BigISP tells Netflix that they’ll speed Netflix traffic back up to normal speeds if Netflix pays BigISP a monthly fee. Netflix, to avoid upsetting and losing customers, agrees to pay the fee. BigISP loves this because they are getting paid twice to deliver content to you. You are paying them, and now Netflix is paying BigISP for access to its customers. In order to offset the cost of this new fee that Netflix has to pay the ISP, your Netflix monthly cost may have to increase by a few dollars per month. As it is now, this practice is not illegal. In fact, much of this scenario is already happening. Comcast is “BigISP.” Beginning in October 2013, Comcast began limiting connection points to Netflix’s servers. Speeds between Comcast customers and Netflix decreased 27% between then and late February 2014, when Netflix agreed to pay Comcast an undisclosed amount of money to stop limiting Comcast subscriber’s connections to Netflix (cnet.com). We are dangerously close to the death of net neutrality in the United States. While other governments (the EU, Brazil) are in the process of signing net neutrality into law, making all content delivery on the internet equal and this scenario illegal, the FCC in the U.S. has decided to entertain proposals from Comcast, Time Warner Cable and others to allow the creation of “fast lanes” on the internet. They say that this will allow companies such as Netflix, Amazon, Google and others to pay the ISP more money for a faster pipe to customers. While this may sound good at first, this could ultimately kill internet innovation in the U.S. as smaller, start-up companies, will no longer be able to compete on this new, uneven playing field. The fast pipe is the current pipe. Everything else is going to be slowed down. If the FCC allows the ISPs to do this, it will likely stifle U.S. economic growth. Imagine if the internet giants Google, Amazon and others decided to move from the U.S. to an EU country where laws are more internet friendly, or if the next big company opts to start up in Brazil for the same reasons. If you are so inclined, you can contact the FCC to tell them how you feel about the importance of an open and equal internet by sending an email at openinternet@fcc.gov. You may also consider getting involved at freepress.net.
“While this may sound good at - Ryan Bennet (‘16)
Further information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtt2aSV8wdw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc2aso6W7jQ - Ryan Bennet (‘16)
SPORTS
PAGE 11
MAY 8, 2014
SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH
Multi-eventers train for conference championships
STRAIGHT SHOOTER. Katie Gaudian (‘14) at the Luther Invite this fall. Photo courtesy of Luther Sports
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS. Caleb Freund (‘15) high jumps at Norse Relays this season. Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore BAILEY MULHOLLAND STAFF WRITER A plethora of activities fall under the umbrella of track & field; running, vaulting, hurdling, throwing, jumping high and jumping far. Excellence in every event requires an athlete that will put in extra training time. “Multi-eventers” compete in the Pentathlon, Heptathlon and Decathlon, two-day events which encompass five, seven and 10 track & field events respectively. The competitor’s final score for the overall event is a combination of scores they achieve in each subevent. Indoors, women participate in the Pentathlon and men in the Heptathlon, while outdoors, women move up to the heptathlon and men to the decathlon. “Indoors, we have one Pent a year and outdoors, we do the Hept twice,” Anna Burke (‘15) said. “We don’t do a Hept every weekend because they aren’t always offered, and it would kill you. But we do five to seven events a meet.” Meets between those with full Pentathlons, Heptathlons and Decathlons serve to hone particular skills and acclimate athletes to competing for the duration of a meet. “You just keep going at meets,”
first-time multi-eventer Windom Shields (‘16) said. “You don’t have hours between events, you just compete, compete, compete.” Many multi-eventers appreciate the constant busyness, however. “When I’m running all over the place I don’t have time to worry about outcomes and just focus on the process,” Burke explained. Leah Broderick (‘15) feels similarly. “It’s an event where you have to have a short memory,” Broderick said. “You have to be able to forget about [past performances, good or bad] and focus on the next event.” Training is a substantial time commitment for multi-eventers, as they often arrive early to practice and stay long after others have left. They must master a number of skills, some which may be familiar and others that are completely new. Anna Lampe (‘15) decided to do the Pent and Hept to develop her abilities in a variety of ways. She entered multi-events as a hurdler with long jump experience. “I’m always about trying new things,” Lampe said. “I’ve been improving since I started and I keep getting better than myself, so that’s how I like to measure it.” Broderick, who also plays
volleyball, appreciates the cross over between her sports. “Javelin is my favorite event,” Broderick said. “It’s a similar arm motion to swinging a volleyball which I think helps, [and] a lot of the footwork for the field events is similar to footwork in volleyball.” First-time multi-eventer Henry Jungbauer (‘15) has been training for multi-events but will not compete this year and will instead focus on sprint relays. “[The Decathalon is] a good mix of things I know how to do and things that sounded fun to try,” Jungbauer said. “[It’s] the ultimate test of track & field because you do everything: jumping, throwing, running short and long distances.” Multi-eventers agree that a certain bond forms when they spend so much time together invested in the same pursuit. “I would say my favorite part is the community that you form with your teammates, because you spend so much time preparing together,” Lampe said. The Luther multi-event group currently consists of Broderick, Burke, Lampe, Shields and Caleb Freund (‘15), who will all be competing in the IIAC Track & Field Conference meet May 9-10 at Carlson Stadium.
RACING TO THE FINISH. Anna Lampe (‘15) runs the 100 meter hurdles at Norse Relays earlier this season. Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore
Women’s golf wins first place at Loras JULIA JOSEPH SPORTS EDITOR The women’s golf season has come to an end after a first place finish in their last tournament. Starting their season at the Mount Mercy Invitational April 12-13, the women’s golf team went from placing fourth of nine in this tournament to winning the Loras Invitational April 2728. In the fall the team placed third of eight in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC). They trained during the winter months and played in three invitationals this spring season.
The team only played the first round of the Loras Invitational due to rain. The tournament was delayed to day two, and the second round was canceled. The six women golfers that competed ended the round 15 strokes ahead of Coe College, who took second. The previous weekend the team placed sixth of six teams at the Wartburg Invitational. Madeline Petellin (‘17) was a medalist with a two-day total of 176 on the par 72 course in Waverly, Iowa. After a month of competition in the spring, the team ended their season with a first place win, gearing them up for next year.
SPORTS
PAGE 12
SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH
MAY 8, 2014
Luther teams compete in IIAC tournaments LUKE MANDERFELD STAFF WRITER
Men’s golf, softball, men’s tennis and track & field all just finished competing in or are preparing for the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC). Men’s Golf The Luther men’s golf team finished third in the IIAC Championship 15 strokes behind first place finisher University of Dubuque. They finished the second weekend of the tournament with a grand shot total of 1232 in the 36-hole weekend at the par 70 Dubuque Golf & Country Club. Tobias Kohl (‘14) finished third out of 40 in the tournament, shooting 300 over both weekends. He won his fourth all-conference title, becoming the third player in Luther history to do so. Elliot Horst (‘16) and Andrew Peter (‘14) also claimed all-conference honors, finishing seventh and 10th respectively. Horst shot 305 to get his first allconference honor and Peter shot 310 for his second honor. Peter Kephart (‘17) and Britt Vander Linden (‘17) finished 22nd and 27th respectively for the fourth and fifth spot for Luther. Softball The Luther women’s softball team secured their place
in the NCAA III National Tournament after winning the IIAC tournament that spanned May 3-4. They defeated Coe College 15-11 to take their second title in the last three years. The tournament started out with the Norse playing the Beavers of Buena Vista University. They took the game by a score of 5-4 thanks to a walk-off home run by Kristen Winter (‘15). Becca Girvan (‘14), one of the Norse’s best pitchers, threw a complete game for her 16th win. She will be a big force for the Norse’s continuing run. “[Girvan] has gotten some good wins this year,” Luther Softball Head Coach Reneae Hartl said. “She will obviously lead us through the postseason as she has the last three years.” Girvan did just that in the next game against Coe College in the semifinals of the double elimination tournament. Girvan got her second complete game in as many days and further impressed by striking out nine batters while only walking four in the 2-0 victory. Coe College returned to the championship game after defeating Simpson. Kelsey Rose (‘15) went three for five with four RBIs and a home run in the high-scoring game. Kate Weiland (‘15) also had four RBIs with a home run
Norse of the Week
JULIA JOSEPH SPORTS EDITOR Becca Girvan (‘14) is a pitcher for Luther’s softball team. In the IIAC tournament semi-finals Girvan pitched her 17th victory of the season. Girvan allowed three hits, four walks and struck out nine. Girvan was named NCAA III Regional MVP in 2012 and 2013. Chips: What is the highlight of the season so far? Girvan: Sweeping Coe during conference season play after getting swept by Dubuque a few days before. Also, winning the conference tournament was a highlight. What is the best part about being the pitcher? Being involved in every play and having your team behind you to support you all the time. If you could be a pitcher for any
and went two for four. The Luther Softball team hopes to make a run at regionals this weekend, starting with Washington-St. Louis on Friday, May 9. Men’s Tennis The Luther men’s tennis team lost in the IIAC tournament finals against Coe College, the top ranked team in the IIAC before the tournament, by a score of 5-2. A win would have earned Luther an automatic bid to the NCAA III Nationals Tournament. They started the tournament sweeping Simpson and Wartburg to make it to the final match. The final match was a big one for the Norse. They were trying to knock off the conference winner in Coe College. Before the tournament, Head Coach Adam Strand said a few things they needed to do to beat Luther tennis’ rival. “We can’t let [Coe College] get to a lead out of the gate,” he said. “If we come out of doubles with a lead, the whole dynamic of the match changes. We have been down after doubles the last few times [against Coe College] and it ends up hurting us.” Luther doubles didn’t live up to the hopes of Strand, going 1-2 to go down early. James Ayer (‘14) and Kyle Appel (‘17) earned the only
professional team, which team would you choose? I don't know a lot about professional softball teams, but if I could be on a professional baseball team I would pick the Twins. Have you played other positions besides pitcher? Throughout my life I have pretty much played everywhere at some point, but I've mostly always been a pitcher. I guess I chose pitcher because I wasn't that good at any other positions. What was the biggest challenge you or the team has had to overcome this season? This wasn't a huge challenge, but a challenge our team faced this year was coming together as a team and staying together throughout the whole season. What will you miss most about softball and the team after you graduate? The biggest thing I will miss will be the friends I’ve made and the different experiences I’ve gotten to have because of softball. How do you get mentally prepared before a game? How does your team get one another ready and excited? Our team gets excited listening to music on the bus and in the locker room before games, but I think we are all ready in the first place.
win for the Norse in doubles play, defeating Coe’s Ryan Hickman and Michael Janssen 9-7. Appel won the only singles match winning 6-1, 6-2. The loss ended the Norse’s season, finishing at 23-7 Track & Field Luther track & field have their IIAC meet on May 8-9. The meet will be held at Luther College. The meet will be the last time the team competes together as a whole, meaning the team wants to be on the top of their game. “The meet is a way that grades the team on how they have done over the year,” Head Track & Field Coach Jeff Wettach (‘79) said. “We come into it with a lot of confidence. It is the last meet we have as a team, so everyone wants to contribute to a good finish because we are all about team.” For the women, Wartburg has a strong grip on the conference and is also ranked third in the nation. Loras, Luther and Central will try to battle for the second spot, according to Wettach. The men will try to topple the strong teams of Wartburg and Central, who finished first and second respectively at the indoor meet this season. The women finished second last season and the men finished fifth.
Weekly Standings Baseball
Buena Vista Wartburg Central Loras Simpson Coe Luther Dubuque
IIAC 22-6 19-9 17-11 13-15 12-16 11-17 9-19 9-19
Recent Scores
Overall 33-7 25-15 25-14 17-21 20-20 15-22 16-24 14-26
May 5 vs. Hamline University L 1-14 May 3 vs. Dubuque L 1-8, W 12-0
Softball
#9 Coe #10 Luther #14 Central Simpson Dubuque Buena Vista Wartburg Loras
IIAC 11-3 10-4 10-4 10-4 8-6 5-9 1-13 1-13
Overall 35-8 30-6 30-10 27-15 22-15 15-21 17-19 14-22
Recent Scores
May 4 IIAC Tournament Championship @ Coe W 15-11 May 3 IIAC Semifinals @ Coe W 2-0
Upcoming Schedule
May 9-11 NCAA III Regionals @ Pella, Iowa
Men’s Tennis Coe Wartburg Luther Central Buena Vista Simpson Dubuque Loras
IIAC 7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-7
Overall 24-7 11-9 23-7 13-10 5-14 8-13 2-14 1-13
Recent Scores
May 3 IIAC Tournament Championships vs. Coe 2-5 May 3 IIAC Semifinals vs. Wartburg W 5-0
Women’s Tennis Coe Luther Wartburg Central Loras Buena Vista Simpson Dubuque
TAKING THE MOUND. Becca Girvan (‘14) pitches against Loras April 22. Kate Knepprath / Photo Bureau What is your ideal weather to play in? It's always nice to play when it's sunny and warm, but playing in the spring that rarely happens. So any time its not pouring or snowing is great.
IIAC 7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-7
Overall 19-5 14-8 11-7 11-6 4-10 6-11 1-16 4-15