February 12, 2015

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Chips is experimenting with some new features! Check out “The Norse Poll,” a survey of student opinions on hot topics (page 10), and our new QR Codes to view web content throughout the issue! Ballet dancers perform A Midsummer’s Night Dream

A&E 8

LUTHER COLLEGE

“Let the chips fall where they may.”

CHIPS

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Serving the Luther College community since 1884.

VOLUME 137, NO. 13

College decides not to host Mumford and Sons festival COLIN ROBINSON STAFF WRITER

ISLAMOPHOBIA IN EUROPE. Students were in Europe during the attacks on Charlie Hebdo in early January. Photo courtesy of luther.edu

Students encounter Islamophobia abroad MAGGIE STEINBERG STAFF WRITER On their first day of studying Islamaphobia in Europe during January Term, 27 Luther students arrived in the Netherlands as antiMuslim and anti-immigration sentiment boiled over in various European countries. Two gunmen opened fire at the office of French satire newspaper Charlie Hebdo on Jan. 7, 2015. The gunmen were labeled as terrorists and

sparked fierce reactions throughout Europe. “The attacks happened on our first full day in Europe,” Andrea Berkeland (‘15) said. “Our whole trip was impacted. During all the subsequent meetings we had, the topic was never far away from the conversation.” The J-term, led by Assistant Professor of Religion Todd Green and Professor of Political Science John Moeller, traveled to the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and England.

Trip blogger Ben Harney (‘15) explained that before the attacks, some people didn’t understand why there was a J-term studying Islam in Europe. “I would get responses saying things like, ‘Isn’t Islam primarily in the Middle East? Why aren’t you going there?’” Harney said. “Or, ‘I didn’t know there was much to discuss there. Are you sure it’s a pressing issue?’” ISLAMOPHOBIA, PAGE 4

College encourages safety precautions ELIZABETH TABAKA STAFF WRITER All Luther students and staff received a security alert with information regarding an intruder discovered in the room of a female student in Dieseth Hall on Jan. 27. The investigation of this incident is still ongoing, according to Director of Campus Safety and Security Bob Harri. “We don’t have much more information than is in the alert right now,” Harri said. “We do have reason to believe that the person came from the inside of Miller, crossed through Brunsdale over into Dieseth and then returned through Brunsdale back to Miller. We are still trying to identify who the person is.” It does not look like this incident was in relation to any other suspicious activity, according to Towers Area Coordinator Jordan Burkhart (‘13). “At this moment it seems like what took place was a single, isolated event,” Burkhart said. “However, Luther and the SAFETY, PAGE 4

Graphic by Samantha Ea

Mumford and Sons showed interest in performing in Decorah during the summer of 2015 as a part of their Gentlemen of the Road (GOTR) concerts, but due to the nature of the band’s needs, Luther officials denied their request. Their request relied largely upon the use of Luther facilities. The internationally renowned folk-rock band had hoped to perform at the end of a two-day music festival in Decorah. “There were two specific [requests],” Vice President for Communications and Marketing Rob Larson said. “The first request was to make space available for camping.” The group sought space for the musicians’ crewmembers and fans to stay near campus. One concern was the potential damage to spaces intended for educational purposes, such as Anderson Prairie, an area set to a specific burn cycle. The burn schedule is intended to promote natural diversity of plant species and camping would have disrupted the cycle. The prairie is also considered a lab space for students, according to Larson. “Our mission is academic, and to give up academic space for this is something we can’t do,” Larson said. “Dr. Carlson made that phrase about ‘the mission being academic. She wasn’t saying that precluded participating in the concert; she was speaking very narrowly to protecting space that is designated for academic purposes.” Aside from space to perform and camp, the concert also depended on the availability of residence halls. “The second request was that they said, ‘We need 2000 beds,’” Larson said. Luther administrators decided they must address what issues could arise from an influx of 2000 people on campus. “We have camps going on with minors,” Larson said. “How do we keep separation? We don’t want a seventh-grader hanging out in the same space.” Most of the official discussions surrounding the decisions have been kept private, resulting in many rumors. “There were a couple Decorah Newspapers articles, and it was something that people were just talking about,” Carl Bates (‘15) said. “This is just kind of something that blew up after we got out of classes [in December]. It was something that was a hot-button issue in town.” There is a lack of common understanding among officials who made the decision and those who have heard the gossip. “The two rumors I’ve heard is one, that it came down to issues with housing,” Bates said. “My first thought would be to worry about safety, litigationtype risks. The other that I’ve heard was kind of an ego-thing from the President’s cabinet. Very few people have the full story with this, and it’s easy to put words in people’s mouths.”

NEWS

PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE

Gallery provokes ethical questions KASI MISSELDINE STAFF WRITER A reception for the exhibit “Humans Being” was held Saturday, Feb. 8 from 6-8 p.m. and is now on display in the Dahl Centennial Union Gallery. These are selections from the works of the 14 students who took the January Term class “Art 290: Picturing Change—Street Photography in Hong Kong and Shanghai,” led by Assistant Professor in Art History Kate Elliot and Director of Visual Media Aaron Lurth (‘08). The show consists of 31 printed photos and a projection of portraits on a TV. Photos in the exhibit capture candid moments of people in various urban environments in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Macau. The gallery features citizens

sleeping on benches, gazing out the window of a bakery and lined up on a basketball court, to name a few. “[The group] came up with the title ‘Humans Being’ while looking at all the [photographs], seeing the commonality between the people living out their daily lives,” Lurth said. “A l t h o u g h we’re in a different culture, there are a lot of similarities between what you’d find in New York and what you’d find in Hong Kong. Even though some of the photos don’t contain humans, they all contain marks that were left behind by people.” One of the main focuses of the class was the discussion of the ethics of street photography. Elliot explained one of the types of questions the students were asked to consider.

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ETHICS IN IMAGES. (YDQ %HUJ ç DQG 'DQLHO &KDYH] ç VWXG\ LPDJHV RQ GLVSOD\ Makeda Barkley / Chips “Here I am, an American with a camera; how is what I’m doing beneficial?” Elliot said, Each student had to come up with his or her own personal code of ethics in response to

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this question. “It’s legal, but is it ethical? What kinds of pictures cross the line into unethical?” Elliot said. Students were expected to

Kasi Misseldine / Chips

make judgment calls about the kinds of pictures they were taking. “A lot of it is thinking about how you would feel if you were in their shoes,” Skye Newcom (‘17) said. “You don’t want to stop everyone and ask them for permission because you don’t want to lose that candid moment. You could lose something beautiful.” Newcom chose not to take pictures of homeless or intoxicated individuals. The language barrier was also a factor in asking permission to take photographs of people. “You’d have to point at the camera and point at them ... sometimes they would understand, sometimes they wouldn’t,” D.J. Simpson (‘16) said, comparing such interactions to a game of charades. This was the first time that this J-term experience has been offered at Luther. Many students who go on J-terms take pictures, according to Elliot, but she and Lurth wanted to design a class in which taking pictures would be the focus of the trip, rather than simply a byproduct. “Be a traveler, engage in the culture you’re taking pictures of,” Elliot said. The course was also modeled after similar trips Lurth has led for National Geographic over the past two summers. Both the faculty and students who participated in the class agree that it was a valuable opportunity. “It’s really rewarding to see that after only three weeks, a group of 14 people, [some of whom] had never been out of the country, ... were able to come up with a really solid group of images,” Lurth said. “[It] doesn’t holistically explain where we were, but gives an image of what they experienced.”

NEWS

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NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE THURSDAY

Seven-Day Forecast

FEBRUARY 12, 2015 FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

H H H U U H B 11/3

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20/11

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Life Outside Luther

SERVING UP SANDWICHES. 6WXGHQWV WDNH DGYDQWDJH RI WKH QHZO\ UHPRGHOHG VDQGZLFK OLQH Steve Peterson / Chips

Dining Services adds new meal cycle STEVE PETERSON STAFF WRITER Dining Services is in the process of revamping the dining experience for students and faculty this spring, implementing a new meal cycle for this semester. They intend to introduce more variety while also serving student favorites more often, according to Dining Services. “We’re going to be offering more Asian foods and other world cuisines, because we’ve had a lot of requests for that,� Food Service Manager Leah McCrea said. The cycle is designed to branch out from the cycle that students are used to, but the staple dishes won’t be forgotten, either. “We’re going to have chicken nuggets a couple times per meal cycle, and we’re bringing back chicken wings,� McCrea said. In their efforts to bring variety to the plates of students, Dining Services reports their intention to become creative. “We’re just going to try and feature a lot of new things, like bringing in vegetables and foods that we haven’t

really worked with before,� Chef Caleb Timp said. In addition to the new meal rotation, the cafeteria is will offer specialty meals and events. The cafeteria will serve homemade spring rolls and other Chinese foods at dinner in celebration of the Chinese New Year on Feb. 19. Additionally, the Food Council will table outside of the cafeteria that night in an effort to get the comments, feedback and recommendations from students. On Feb. 24, the cafeteria is holding a faculty and staff appreciation day at lunch. “We’re hoping that an event like this will encourage faculty to spend more time in the cafeteria and with students,� McCrea said. Special cafeteria meals requiring a few dollars in addition to a meal swipe will be making appearances throughout the semester. On March 12 students will be able to pay with a swipe and a few extra dining dollars for a specialty rib dinner that comes with shrimp macaroni and cheese. More specialty meals are likely to follow. Both McCrea and Timp stressed that the goal of these changes is to

ĂŞ,I \RX KDYH D IDYRULWH UHFLSH DW KRPH \RX FDQ VXEPLW LW DQG RXU FKHIV ZLOO WU\ WR PDNH LW LQ EXON ĂŤ -Leah McCrea

please students. “We’re always trying to create new and fresh ideas to help make everyone happy,â€? Timp said. They also encouraged students to post their own recipes on the Dining Services website. “If you have a favorite recipe at home, you can submit it and our chefs will try to make it in bulk,â€? McCrea said. The Dining Services’ commitment to improving the campus dining experience has made an impression on the upperclassmen who have been witness to the changes made over the last few years. “I really like that they are making continuous efforts to change things up and make improvements,â€? Adam Winter (‘15) said. “I’m a big fan of the to-go option ‌ they are just making sure all of the students are happy.â€? To submit a recipe to Dining Services, go to luther.edu/dining/ submit-recipe/ or follow the QR code below.

Explosion at chemical plant in Eastern Ukraine sparks fire A powerful explosion rocked a chemical plant and set it on fire Monday outside the separatist stronghold of Donetsk in Eastern Ukraine, where fierce fighting has surged despite a renewed diplomatic push for peace. In Washington, President Barack Obama held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about reviving an elusive Ukraine peace plan, a meeting that comes as she and French President Francois Hollande are getting ready to meet Wednesday with their counterparts from Russia and Ukraine. No casualties or damage were immediately reported from the huge blast at the plant in Donetsk, which the rebels said was hit by government shelling. The city lies in the middle of Ukraine’s industrial heartland and explosions like this have long been feared. Police tear gas made Cairo soccer stadium a death trap Survivors described it as a corridor of death: a narrow route of high, chain-link security fences and barbed wire that thousands of soccer fans were filing through before entering the stadium to watch their team play. Then mayhem broke out. Those at the front of the line were turned back by police. Those in the back continued to press forward. Jittery police fired tear gas into the middle of the crowd, creating what survivors said was “like a whirlpool,� sucking people into a crush of bodies with no way out. The stampede killed 22 people Sunday night at the Air Defense stadium, a military facility in an eastern suburb of Cairo, prior to the game between Egyptian Premier League clubs Zamalek and ENPPI. Italy: 29 Immigrants die of hypothermia crossing Mediterranean At least 29 migrants have died from hypothermia while traveling from North Africa to Italy aboard a smuggler’s life raft in heavy seas, amid a surge of migrants making the dangerous sea crossing despite the harsh winter conditions. The victims were among 106 people packed aboard an inflatable life raft who were trying to cross the Mediterranean in rough seas and freezing temperatures, Italian coast guard Commander Filippo Marini said Monday. The migrants had summoned help late Sunday via satellite telephone while still off Libya’s coast. Marini said a merchant ship in the area responded until the coast guard arrived from the southernmost Italian island of Lampedusa and took on board both the survivors and the victims in seas with waves as high as 9 meters (30 feet), roughly the height of a three-story building. Compiled from: www.ap.org

NEWS

PAGE 4 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE

Security reviews safety protocol SAFETY, PAGE 1 Decorah Police Department are still working together to make sure a situation like this doesn’t happen again.” Burkhart reminds students that staff members of Residence Life are involved in incidents with security and law enforcement. “As an area coordinator, part of my duties is to ensure a safe and secure environment in all residence halls,” Burkhart said. “When something like this is reported to [us], we provide the initial support until Luther Security and, if needed, the Decorah Police Department can arrive to handle the situation.” After incidents occur, Harri hopes that alerting students and staff will raise awareness of safety and security on campus. “If it piques awareness, then that’s what the alert was meant to do,” Harri said. “[It’s] not necessarily to scare people but to get us thinking about what we need to do to stay safe.” Harri reminds students that it’s important to look at the bigger picture. “If you compare our numbers with other institutions like us, you’ll find that they’re lower or about the same, so we’re pretty safe,” Harri said. “The concern is that we tend to take that for granted.” Luther has a number of safety precautions in

practice which are important to consider, according to Vice President and Dean for Student Life Corey Landstrom. “The college has invested time and resources to provide a safe environment for all community members,” Landstrom said. “Whether it is the card access on the residence halls, security cameras installed in strategic locations or general patrols, the number [of ] incidents at Luther is low.” According to the U.S. Department of Education’s campus crime reports, Luther’s numbers of reported crimes are equal to or less than other schools in the area such as St. Olaf, University of Northern Iowa and University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Harri wants to remind students that even though crime levels are lower here on campus and in the Decorah community, it is still important to stay vigilant. “We are not immune from those same problems that plague the rest of the world,” Harri said. “We always have to be kind of cautious.” Harri has suggestions for ways students can help themselves be safer on campus. “One is to pay attention, and I don’t mean just pay attention to what I say, I mean pay attention to what’s going on around you,” Harri said. “Other things we can do are lock your doors when you’re away or when you’re sleeping, even if you’re just taking a quick nap, and don’t prop doors open. Keeping track of your valuables is another. If it doesn’t belong to you, don’t touch it without permission. Just be respectful of

“Lock your doors when you’re away or when you’re sleeping, even if you’re just taking a quick nap, and don’t prop doors open.” - Bob Harri

Upcoming Events

Class sees prejudice in context, abroad ISLAMOPHOBIA, PAGE 1

Thursday, February 12 Women’s Swimming and Diving- 10:00 a.m., Cedar Rapids, Iowa Liberal Arts Championships Men’s Swimming and Diving10:00 a.m., Cedar Rapids, Iowa Liberal Arts Championships Friday, February 13 “It’s The Dating Game” 7:00 p.m., Marty’s “The Vagina Monologues”

7:30 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Recital Hall Wrestling- Buena Vista University 7:00 p.m., Home Saturday, February 14 Men/Women’s Swimming and 10:00 a.m., Cedar Rapids, Iowa Diving- Liberal Arts Championships Women’s Basketball- Central 2:00 p.m., Home College Men’s Basketball- Central College 4:00 p.m., Home “The Vagina Monologues” 7:30 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Recital Hall Sunday, February 15 Community and Campus March 9:30 a.m., Center for Faith and for Peace Life, Main Hall “The Vagina Monologues” 1:00 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Recital Hall Monday, February 16 Chapel: Mark Muggli 10:30 a.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall Tuesday, February 17 Marketing Your Study Abroad 9:40 a.m., Olin 106 Experience Acing the Interview 7:30 p.m., Olin 105 Wednesday, February 18 Women’s Basketball- Wartburg 6:00 p.m., Home Men’s Basketball- Wartburg Summer Camp Fair

8:00 p.m., Home

Thursday, February 19 10:00 a.m., Dahl Centennial Union, Main Lounge

Information from luther.edu/events

property and space.” Harri encourages students to play their part by reporting any suspicious activity they encounter. “Reporting incidents is important,” Harri said. “Even if we’re not going to solve every one of them, which we probably won’t, it’s good to know where it’s happening so we can do what we did with this alert. If something is happening, we like to let people know about it.” Students can also make the campus safer by taking action to help stop an incident in progress. “Bystander intervention is a critical skill for students to practice,” Landstrom said. “Stepping in, interrupting behavior or seeking help can be the difference between the safety, health and well-being of a student.” If you’re going to either intervene or report an incident, use common sense and have the necessary contact information readily available. “[You need to] know who to contact,” Harri said. “If you don’t have the security number programmed in your cell phone, you should. It is 563-387-2111. If that number for some reason doesn’t go through, they can always call the switch board at 563-387-2000 as well.”

Green explained how the attacks changed the tone of the course and highlighted the importance of studying Islam in Europe. “Moeller and I did not have to work too hard from [that] point onward to convince students why it was worthwhile to cross the Atlantic to study Islam in Europe,” Green said. “The Charlie Hebdo attacks generated an intense debate in Europe that our students were able to plug into without much difficulty.” Throughout the course, students met with politicians, activists and various organizations to get a sense of how Islamophobia affected the countries. “Europe has traditionally been rather homogenous when it comes to race and religion, so when Muslim

immigrants began coming over in the 1960s, they were unsure how to respond,” Berkeland said. “Things escalate when someone leads an attack like Charlie Hebdo and says that it is in the name of Allah, even though most Muslims would not agree that Allah would ever condone such violence.” The ensuing reaction of newspapers across Europe, and the debates around satire and freedom of the press, made the class’ discussions more relatable. “As troubling as it may seem, without a relatable and emotionally stimulating story, the struggle involving Islam in Europe may never be put in the spotlight it deserves,” Harney said. More in-depth blog posts from the course, titled “Islam in Europe: Western Responses to the Muslim ‘Other,’” can be found at luther.edu, or by following the QR Code below.

Graphic by Samantha Ea

CORRECTIONS: In the Chips Special Issue, Casey DeLima’s article "The Modern Maya" mistakenly stated that "the U.S, government determined that there were ‘communists revolts’ that backed a coup d'etat in 1954 that placed Carlos Castillas Armas, followed by many conservative military dictators, and a military government was installed." In fact, due to the fear that Guatemala would fall to communism, the U.S. government and the CIA backed the coup d'etat in 1954 that forced leftist president Arbenz to resign and placed military officer Castillo Armas in power. In the same Special Issue, Hannah Kielly was mistakenly quoted in “Kielly and Turco Paint the Sound” by Katie Hale as saying “[the paintings] have to be 16 inches at center from the floor.” The article should have read 60 inches, not 16.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Women rise

Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” will be performed in the CFL Recital Hall this Valentine’s Day weekend. MATT HELM STAFF WRITER A group of Luther women will give their annual performance of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” over Valentine’s Day weekend, with the inclusion this year of new monologues that showcase the diversity of womanhood. “Every year there are different monologues added in the script,” Director Bethany Seavers Templeton (‘16) said. “The monologues are all based on real interviews with real women.” One of the monologues this year is titled “They Beat the Girl out of My Boy...Or So They Tried” and focuses on the experiences of transgender women. “For the first time, the show is validating transgender women as women and giving them a chance for their voices to be heard,” Seavers Templeton said. Valentine’s Day coincides with V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women. Ensler included the transgender monologue as a part of her initiative to provide a voice to all women who face violence. “The fact that the life expectancy for trans women is 32 years old speaks to the hostility this community faces day to day,” performer Zora Hurst (‘17) said. “It’s especially pertinent at Luther because the Board of Regents is evaluating a policy that is supposed to provide on-campus housing options for people who do not conform to the gender binary. The monologue can start some good dialogue on campus that can reaffirm people’s humanity.”

Nicole Thompson (‘15) is participating in the transgender monologue and has expressed concern about portraying a transgender woman on stage as a cisgender woman herself. A cisgender woman is a woman who identifies with the gender she was assigned at birth. “I think it is important to remember that the monologues are done in a way that we represent that person; we are not that person,” Thompson said. “For me it is about wanting to do justice for someone’s experience. I want to be invested in it and I want to make sure that I convey and respect the monologue as well as I can.” Publicity Director Emma Cassabaum (‘16) encourages all students, especially those who might be uncomfortable with the subject matter, to attend the show. “A lot of people go with some trepidation because it is a show that has the word ‘vagina’ in the title, but by the end they are totally into it,” Cassabaum said. “Freshman year, my roommate and her friends came to the show and they were shy at first, but by the end they were totally pumped and raving about it for weeks afterward. It compels you to think outside of yourself and to understand so much more. Don’t be afraid to go.” “The Vagina Monologues” has shocked audiences with its frank treatment of controversial topics since its inception, but Laura Hayes (‘15) finds the supposed controversy amusing. “I just think of that old joke about how nobody even knows what their own vagina looks like,” Hayes said. “But it’s like, ‘why?’ The vagina is where it all started. The monologues take these

NEW MONOLOGUES AND MOVES. Performers will stage the One Billion Rising dance following the monologues. Matt Helm / Chips taboo subjects and make them relatable to all audience members across a wide scope of emotions.” In accordance with the guidelines that come with staging “The Vagina Monologues,” 10 percent of proceeds goes to V-Day International, and the remaining 90 percent goes to Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, an organization that works with survivors of domestic violence. “Everybody either has a vagina, likes vaginas or knows somebody with a vagina,” Production

Director Christie Owens (‘16) said. “It is important to respect and uplift that.” “The Vagina Monologues” will be performed Friday, Feb. 13 and Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. Tickets are $5.

Symphony Orchestra returns from Vienna residency EMMA DEIHL STAFF WRITER Over January Term, the Symphony Orchestra packed their instruments and suitcases to head to Vienna, Austria, and learn about the city’s history, listen to live music and perform a few concerts of their own. Symphony Orchestra conductor Daniel Baldwin specified that although the orchestra performs in Vienna, the trip is not a tour but rather a residency. “We go and set up shop in Vienna, and we stay put,” Baldwin said. “We live right there with the Viennese.” The Symphony Orchestra travels to Vienna during J-term

A VARIETY OF VIENNESE VENUES. While staying in Vienna, the Symphony Orchestra had the opportunity to play at some of the most prestigious halls in the country. Photo courtesy of Grant Preheim every four years, a tradition they have carried on since the 1970s. Baldwin has now accompanied the group on five of the trips.

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To prepare for their performances throughout the month of January, the orchestra rehearsed twice a day Monday through Friday. Their first full orchestra rehearsal began at 9:00 a.m. and continued until their lunch break. After lunch, they had sectional rehearsal for 90 minutes. “These rehearsals were important because they helped us get ready to play in Europe, where the orchestra was born, so we had to make sure we were at our absolute best,” Baldwin said. In addition to rehearsing, the students also partook in a class, taught by Luther Professors of Music John and Virginia Strauss,

who previously lived in Vienna. The students were expected to read a book about the history of Vienna and complete a study guide before embarking on the trip. “It was interesting to learn about the city while we were experiencing it,” French horn player Sadie Botine (‘15) said. The group visited several main attractions of Vienna including art museums, castles, opera houses and concert houses. They were given tickets to see two operas and two symphonies: Bizet’s “Carmen” and Strauss’s “Salome,” and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Radio Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble attended these

performances as a group, but in their free time some of the students and faculty went to additional symphonies and operas on their own. A highlight for many of the students on the trip was the opportunity to perform in a city that values classical music. For their three performances, two were in smaller venues and one was in the Vienna Concert House, one of the most important performance venues in the world. “It was my ideal day,” percussionist Leif Larson (‘15) said. “We woke up, listened to great music, went to museums and performed in a city that appreciates classical music.”

FEATURES

PAGE 6 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER

Luther recognizes Black History Month

IT’S COMPLICATED. The 12th Annual Black History Symposium will take place Feb. 11-12. Pictured above are attendees from the 2014 Black History Month Symposium Photo courtesy of luther.edu DANNY MAY STAFF WRITER In light of recent incidents such as the Ferguson, Missouri, shooting and films such as “Dear White People,” more attention has been called to racial issues and prejudice in our nation, issues that are brought to the forefront of public discourse during the month of February, which is nationally recognized as Black History Month. Black History Month has been celebrated since 1976, when it was extended from a weeklong commemoration to a full month. Here at Luther, Black History Month is celebrated through the Black History Symposium, which will take place on Feb. 11-12. This year the title of this year’s symposium is “Africans and African-Americans: It’s Complicated.” To students and staff, Black History Month has many meanings. “From my perspective, it is very necessary,” Diversity Center Director of Student Services Wintlett Taylor-Browne said. “And it will always be necessary, until the history of the United States includes the history of all of its people.”

The month of February commemorates the struggles black Americans have endured over time. “To me, Black History Month means celebrating and recognizing the challenges that black people have faced,” Patrick Larson (‘16) said. Some feel that the past must be considered to fully comprehend incidents such as the Ferguson shooting. “I think those instances bring to light that those experiences happen for particular reasons,” Professor of Africana Studies and

in terms of how it has been observed or participated in at Luther,” Whitsitt said, “I think that is something I’d like to see change. I would say that the participation is lukewarm across the campus.” Taylor-Browne addressed the education system and the biased portrayal of blacks in some recent textbooks. “I taught U.S. History in a high school in New Jersey,” Ta y l o r - B r o w n e said, “The history book that the state recommended had African-Americans represented in only two chapters: the chapter on slavery and the chapter on migration.” According to Taylor-Browne, the education system plays a major factor in the installation of racial notions and perceptions. “Until there is a curriculum that teaches the history of all the people, then you’re going to need things like [the symposium] so that we can get the rest of the story,” Taylor-Browne

“Black history is not history just to be enjoyed by black Americans. It’s American history.” -Novian Whitsitt

English Novian Whitsitt said. “And it requires a kind of historical consciousness to come to grips with what those experiences mean and how we’re to make sense of them.” Whitsitt would like to see a larger presence of Black History Month at Luther. “I don’t know if I’ve seen any evolution

said. Whitsitt views the month as a time for society to educate themselves on black history. “Black History Month is seeking to address or shore up the general public’s lack of understanding and appreciation for this aspect of American history,” Whitsitt said. Whitsitt believes it is important that all people recognize and partake in the acceptance of black history. “Black history is not history just to be enjoyed by black Americans,” Whitsitt said. “It’s American history.” During the symposium on Wednesday, Feb. 11, the film “Bound: Africans versus African-Americans” was followed by a dinner and successive plenary session in the CFL. On Thursday, Feb. 12, Pamela Cook will give a talk in chapel, and “Bound” film director Peres Owino will speak about the making of the film. There will also be a panel discussion with faculty and alums, followed by a gallery exhibition and a talk and reception on the second floor of the CFL. For full details on the symposium, visit www.luther.edu/diversity/ symposium.

Newly formed Robotics Club builds quadcopter ERIKA STORVICK STAFF WRITER The third floor of Olin isn’t just for teachers’ offices or study lounges; it is now home to Luther’s first autonomous quadcopter built by the unofficial Robotics Club. The autonomous quadcopter represents the first student attempt in recent years to develop a robotics program on campus. The group consists of seven students, mostly studying computer science or math, seeking to apply their programming classes to robotics. “We just started it this year,” Robbie Nesmith (‘16) said. “It is still fairly new, fairly small and low-budget.” The students meet in the computer lab on the third floor of Olin every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to work on various projects. Their work is unofficially sponsored by the computer science department, but they hope to become an official club next year. “We’re planning on expanding a little bit,” Nesmith said. The autonomous quadcopter is the group’s main project. The frame of the robot, constructed of carbon fiber and aluminum, was purchased in a kit, but the rest of the construction has been their work. The Arduino and Raspberry Pi, two mini computers, will be mounted in the middle of the frame. “The idea is that it will have a camera on it, so it will be able to recognize when there are obstacles and fly around them,” Nesmith said. “Currently we’re working on an algorithm for keeping it balanced while it is in the air.” The group’s mathematician Stephen Becklin (‘16) developed the algorithm to help with stability, making the quadcopter capable of leveling itself if it begins to tilt in flight. Balancing the quadcopter required some deconstruction of the robot. As a result, it is not yet complete. “It’s kind of in progress,” Nesmith said. “It doesn’t really look

THE ROBOTICS TEAM. (From Left) Ales Varabyou (‘16), Robbie Nesmith (‘16), Stephen Becklin (‘16), Ellen Widerski (‘15), Zechariah Smith (‘17), Kirby Olson (‘17) and Trevor Brandt (‘17) pose with the quacopter. Erika Storvick / Chips very robotic or polished at the moment.” Almost none of the students had experience with robotics before building the quadcopter. They started with the basics, learned C programming and then jumped right into this project. Because Luther does not have a strong history of robotics, as the computer science department is not geared toward that type of programming. In future years, the group hopes that robotics will be included in the curriculum.

“Luther doesn’t offer any courses that have to do with the hardware except for computer architecture,” Ales Varabyou (‘16) said. “For a lot of people, that would be an interdisciplinary thing people would like to study in the future. Considering how good our computer science department is—and we do have some funding—let’s see how far we can get.” To view the quadcopter, students can attend the Student Research Symposium in the spring, where the group will present their work.

FEATURES

PAGE 7

FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Campus couples celebrate romance

SHE ASKED HIM. Professors of Psychology DaYLG 1MXV DQG .ULVW\ *RXOG KDG WKHLU ĆUVW GDWH RQ Valentine’s Day. Photo courtesy of Kristy Gould

THREE TIMES THE CHARM. Brady Brinkmeyer (‘16) and Rachel Brooks (‘16) will celebrate their third Valentine’s Day together this year. Photo courtesy of Rachel Brooks

MARGARET YAPP STAFF WRITER As Luther couples get ready for February 14, the campus is getting a little more pink and sparkly. Whether you are celebrating with a loved one, friends or going stag, it is hard to avoid the glitter, sequins and hearts that come with the day of love. Read on to find out how three Luther couples celebrate Valentine’s Day. Professor of Psychology Kristy Gould and Professor of Psychology David Njus (‘90) Chips: How did you two meet? Njus: We first met when she interviewed for her job here. Luther brought us together. Gould: He was already working here when I interviewed in the fall of 2001. The interesting thing about Valentine’s Day and us is that I actually asked him out on our first date on Valentine’s Day, so it has that little added thing for us. What do you usually do to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Gould: Well, we have that added something so that is always reflected in the cards we give each other, and we usually go

out to eat. A few times we’ve done some special things. One year, it was our five-year anniversary of me asking him, so I hired some students: four guys that came in a quartet to sing to him before his class started. Njus: That’s right. I blocked that from my memory. Rachel Brooks (‘16) and Brady Brinkmeyer (‘16) How many Valentine’s Days have you spent together as a couple, and what do you usually do to celebrate? Brooks: This will be our third! We [usually] go to La Rana but we might be changing our plans a little bit this year. Brinkmeyer: We have talked about a few different options. We talked about going to Rochester and making a day out of it. Going to La Rana, that is always an option, but we also talked about hiring my roommates to serve as waiters in our apartment. They don’t know that yet, though. What is your favorite part about Valentine’s Day? Brooks: It is a nice way to remember to appreciate each other, sometimes you can get caught up in the everyday life stuff, so it’s nice to take a moment to remember how special the other person is in your life. Brinkmeyer: I think Valentine’s Day is this pre-ordained

BILL NYE THE ROMANTIC GUY. Taylor Baloga (‘15) and Brett Condon (‘15) will spend this Valentine’sDaywithBillNye.MargaretYapp/Chips date night for every couple, and it helps you remember how important it is to have one-on-one time. Taylor Baloga (‘15) and Brett Condon (‘15) How did you two meet? Baloga: We were at a bonfire, actually, down by the river and we were just sitting around talking, and we ended up sitting next to each other. This is our first Valentine’s Day together. What are your plans for the big day? Condon: We were originally going to go to Chicago for the weekend, but [Taylor] got an email from Augsburg saying they were going to give us free tickets to see Bill Nye up in the Twin Cities. Baloga: We’ll probably go out to eat or something afterwards. Bill Nye is super romantic, right? Any words of wisdom for new couples? Condon: Never stop dating. Just keep trying. Don’t let it get boring. Baloga: Don’t get discouraged by things getting normal, always find ways to have fun. We like to cook together, and that’s a very normal thing in life but it is exciting when you have someone to do it with.

Lesmeister teaches creative writing ELIZABETH BONIN STAFF WRITER

FILLING A NEW ROLE. Lesmeister, who usually works with students in admissions, taught a class over J-term. Photo courtesy of Photo Bureau

This J-term a new instructor set foot into the classroom, but he certainly wasn’t new to Luther. Coordinator of Diversity Recruitment in Admissions Keith Lesmeister (‘01) taught an Introduction to Creative Writing class this January. “I had just finished my MFA in literature and writing, and I inquired with Professor of English Nancy Barry and mentioned to her that if they had opportunities for something like this, I’d be interested,” Lesmeister said. Lesmeister recently completed his MFA from Bennington College. After receiving the approval from Admissions, the Dean’s Office and the English department, Lesmeister began teaching his first class. Lesmeister had to make the change to working with Luther students as a teacher rather than an Admissions recruiter. “It was the first class I’d ever taught,” Lesmeister said. “I would say

the biggest change was just learning classroom management skills and trying to work with the class as a whole, but to also work with students on an individual level with their stories and poems.” Professor of English David Faldet (‘79) was available for any questions that Lesmeister had about the position, as Faldet had previously taught a similar class. “I encouraged him to push and challenge the students,” Faldet said. Faldet believes that Lesmeister’s first performance teaching in a Luther classroom went very smoothly. “He did an excellent job of it,” Faldet said. Students also agreed that Lesmeister made the change from Admissions recruiter to professor very naturally. “If you didn’t know it was his first class, I don’t think you could’ve ever guessed,” Cody Reimer (‘16) said. The students enjoyed the atmosphere Lesmeister brought to the classroom, whether it was reading and writing short stories and poems, going through writing workshops or listening to authors talk in person or through Skype.

“I enjoyed coming to class every day,” Sean Dempsey (‘16) said. According to Sarah Owens (‘16), Lesmeister had a very casual teaching style that made the students feel comfortable in the classroom setting. “Keith is really laid back and just really open to everybody’s opinions and really good at fostering discussions in class,” Owens said. “I think he just brings really interesting perspectives to whatever we’re talking about.” Dempsey believes that Lesmeister helped him to observe everyday things better, which improved his writing skills. “He’s very humble about it, but he’s a very good poet and short story writer himself, and I think he has a lot of good advice to offer to people who want to enhance their writing abilities,” Owens said. Lesmeister’s future as a professor at Luther is still unclear, but he said he would certainly be open to the conversation. “The thing I really learned and appreciated most is that the Luther students are phenomenal in all ways,” Lesmeister said.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 8 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON

A midwinter night’s ballet

A CAPTIVATING COMBINATION. 'DQFH/LYH EURXJKW DQ DGDSWLRQ RI 6KDNHVSHDUHèV ĂŞ$ 0LGVXPPHU 1LJKWèV 'UHDPĂŤ WR WKH &)/ RQ )HE PDUNLQJ WKH ĆUVW SURIHVVLRQDO EDOOHW SHUIRUPDQFH RQ /XWKHUèV FDPSXV LQ HLJKW \HDUV G.V. Suos / Photo Bureau FRANCES STEVENSON STAFF WRITER For the first time in eight years, professional ballet pliÊ’d onto a Luther stage. On Friday, Feb. 6, DanceLive brought Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dreamâ€? to life in the Center for Faith and Life. With detailed costumes and an intricately constructed stage, the Main Hall was transported 400 years back to a world of fairies and princes. According to the Director of campus Programming Tanya Gertz, this performance was a direct result of student feedback. “Students really wanted a story ballet,â€? Gertz said. The Performing Arts Committee uses student feedback to decide on most of the performances they bring to the CFL stage. According to PAC members, student input is the most important

criteria in the deciding process. “We’ve definitely been missing that classical element,� President of PAC Britany Thorpe (‘16) said. One of the biggest challenges of the performance was combining an art form dependent on words with one that is completely wordless. “‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ being such a well-known play comes in handy,� PAC technology executive Sheri Schwert (‘17) said. “With dance, it’s so much in the eye of the beholder.� According to the performers, the combination of the narrative of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream� and the visual element of ballet made the story accessible. “It’s about love,� the principal dancer Julia Ponomavera said. “It’s about relationships, and it’s interesting for kids because it’s fun.�

According to Thorpe, one of the reasons Luther is able to get so many artists and performances to come to rural Iowa is the incredible hospitality PAC shows to its guests. “We have some of the highest satisfaction ratings when it comes to artists coming to Luther,� Thorpe said. “We get really fantastic artists, and that’s mostly because of our really awesome reputation.� Acording to Gertz, the mission of PAC is to bring enriching live performances to the students of Luther. One of the most exciting things about the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream� ballet is that many students had never seen ballet and most likely will not have an opportunity to see this particular type of ballet in the rural Midwest. “Iowa is not just fly-over space,� Gertz said. “Great, amazing, beautiful art happens here.�

Album review:

50 Shades of Grey Soundtrack CARL BATES KWLC STATION MANAGER Disclaimer: If you are expecting the tone and the content of the “Fifty Shades of Grey� soundtrack to match its edgy BDSM source material, prepare to be disappointed. Rather, this soundtrack compilation leans toward a more vanilla collection of lush, atmospheric songs that emphasize romance, courtship and sensual love. The soundtrack features a diverse and satisfying mix of originals, covers and classic 20th century artists such as the Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra. The strength in this soundtrack lies in its ability

to create a cohesive sound unified around sensuality. This allows well-established and familiar songs to feel completely different while listened to as part of the album. Perhaps most notable is the remix of BeyoncÊ’s breakout from 2003 single “Crazy in Love.â€? Featuring a slower tempo and backed by a completely reworked, sparse piano track, the song transforms from a dance track to a bedroom ballad. Another standout is a similarly reworked cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire.â€? Female English singers steal the show on this soundtrack. Ellie Goulding links up with Taylor Swift’s hit-maker Max Martin for one of the catchiest tracks on the album, “Love Me Like You Do,â€? and Jessie Ware diverges

from her usual nostalgic 1980’s synth sound to hop on a groovy soul instrumental in “Meet Me in the Middle.� However, the artist to watch out for on this album is up-and-comer Laura Walsh, who is currently best known for providing vocals for the English deep house duo Gorgon City’s hit “Here for You.� Walsh provides a captivating and commanding vocal performance on this soundtrack with “Undiscovered,� hinting that she has the complete package of voice and songwriting sensibilities necessary to become a breakout star this year. I am highly anticipating the release of her debut album “Soft Control� this March. If you are looking for a cohesive, sensual soundtrack

to your Valentine’s Day weekend, look no further. For the best in new independent music, tune in to KWLC Radio Monday through

all classes 25-50% off udents! st for Luther

Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. KWLC can be found at 1240am on the radio dial or online at kwlc.luther.edu.

Vesterheim

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Join Icelandic knitting expert and designer HĂŠlène MagnĂşsson as she shares her passion for Iceland’s rich knitting heritage.

Call 382-9681 to register.

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502 W. Water St. • 563-382-9681 • vesterheim.org

OPINION

PAGE 9

MANAGING EDITOR: SARAH KING

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Is lying ever okay? SARAH KING MANAGING EDITOR The truth hurts. Ignorance is bliss. Knowledge is suffering. There are so many different ways people have said this, but what they all come down to is this: lying is okay. So is it really? Personally, I love the idea of truth telling, but I know it’s no simple matter. Here’s a little game of “Would Your Rather:” It’s Valentines Day, and you come home from class or work to find your partner cooking a homemade meal for you. They smile, help you out of your pea coat and hand you a glass of your favorite cocktail. “Sit down,” they say. “Relax.” You sit down at that cliché, yet somehow still a little bit romantic, candlelit table. Your partner has made a feast. You heap your plate with spoonfuls from each dish and dive in. The moment the fork enters your mouth you freeze. You stretch your jaw mid-chew in an attempt to separate the food from your tongue and hold the fork suspended in front of you. “Is something wrong?” your partner asks. It’s a simple enough question. So how do you answer? Would you rather tell your loved one that they must have misread 1 teaspoon of salt for 1 tablespoon? Or would you rather smile, swallow and say, “Everything is great, dear.”

The first answer could ruin an entire evening, a weekend or a relationship, depending on the level of sensitivity of the other person and other factors. Lying would be so much easier than telling them, “You know what, hon? This is terrible. Let’s go grab McDonalds.” This situation may seem arbitrary, but it illustrates a problem we all face every day, hundreds of time a day, in every conversation we have. Lying is something we have been doing for years. But does that make lying okay? Ever since that first time we dropped our moms’ favorite vase and blamed it on our older mischievous sibling in order to avoid getting into trouble, we learned to lie. We then reinforced it with the many times we tried to come up with alternative excuses for not turning in our homework other than the dog ate it. Nowadays, our lies are a bit more serious, though, than whether or not we picked up our room before running out the door to play with friends. We deal with deeper issues that can affect how we live the rest of our lives. Those little white lies we told as children are no longer so little or so innocent. Lying about your sources on a paper or cheating on an exam not only affect us academically and professionally, but they affect our character. Our choices of when we lie – I say lie because I don’t think any one of us is perfect enough to never lie – define us. It’s also easier to tell lies. The Internet gives us the option to construct false personas

and hide behind screens. And with the rise in social media and endless exposure to media, who doesn’t feel pressured into presenting a false, socially “perfect” version of themselves? Technology has done a number of great things for us, but it also makes us feel like we are always in competition with one another, even in our personal lives. A lot of times there doesn’t seem to be a perfectly right or wrong answer. However, I do find that the truth is almost always better, no matter how much it hurts. Frankly, I find it feels so good to be completely honest with people than deceive them. Despite this, I do lie. I can’t help it sometimes. I lie to myself every time I think, “One more fry won’t hurt.” I even sometimes lie to my family and friends, the people I care most about. I love my family and friends so much I can’t help but try to protect them when I can. Yet every time I do lie to them, I have to wonder if I’m right. If and when I do lie to people I love, it’s because I think they will be better off not knowing the truth. But who am I to decide what is best for them? Is that not playing God? And what if they find out later I withheld the truth? It could be the end of the relationship. Deciding whether or not to tell a lie is a struggle we all face, and one I don’t think any one of us will ever fully overcome. Living a life of love and a life of truth don’t always go hand-in-hand, yet I will try my best to do just that.

If there’s anything the Vagina Monologues have taught me, it’s that the experience of Womanhood doesn’t become invalid the second it diverges from your own. When sharing the voices Eve Ensler transcribed, women involved with this show and present in the audience become a community. We haven’t all been victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault. Not all of us can identify with having or enjoying same-sex encounters. Not all of us have seen a baby being born. Nevertheless, our ability to imagine and identify with women we know who have endured those things makes this show so empowering. This same approach should be used when it comes to the new transgender monologue: “They Beat the Girl Out of my Boy.” Transcribing and condensing the violence, humiliation and harassment faced by five women, this monologue makes an experience that is often overlooked into something important. With a life expectancy of 30 - 32 years, trans women –women who identify as, and therefore are, women – are habitually silenced; metaphorically and literally. The ending of this violent pattern is long overdue. Trans women are made into punch lines: how many jokes can you think of that end with “but she was a dude the whole time.” They are made into monsters: how many

Letter to the Editor

times have you seen people gag at the sight or mention of trans women and their bodies? The Trevor Project states that “Nearly half of young transgender people have seriously thought about taking their lives, and one quarter report having made a suicide attempt.” Read that quote again. It should be unsettling. This monologue is needed on this campus now more than ever. This month the Board of Regents is reviewing a policy that would be a step in providing on-campus housing to trans students considering Luther College as the place they want to get their education. At present, the visibility of trans students on this campus is a dangerous thing. With no required training for faculty and many students carrying their prejudices with them, many trans students on this campus may choose to remain in the closet for their own safety. The Vagina Monologues are concerned with honest commentary over favorable falsehood. For this reason, the dissection of each of our prejudices is asked of us throughout the show. What judgments have we made about young mothers? Or rape victims? How have we unknowingly become tools of oppression in the lives of those we love? We are to face the truth head-on, and the outcome is always as such: the celebration and edification of women enriches all of our lives, and our discomfort should never prevent us from doing so. I invite you to hear the stories of trans women this weekend. Let their voices be as important and relevant to you as the voice of your mother, your sister or your friends. Let their silence be broken.

The 2015 Grammy’s featured an array of amazing affairs, ranging from empowering and inspirational performances to Beck’s unexpected and debatable win for Album of the Year. While I could linger on my personal opinion of who deserves Album of the Year, I think it’s much more productive and imperative to discuss the astounding performances of John Legend, Common, Pharrell and Beyoncé. As a white male, I am going to use my privilege to address an issue that has become profusely redundant, yet extremely important. With this recent onset of black activism and clear exhibitions of racial injustice, I thought I would voice my opinion. During their performances, Pharrell, Common and Legend, like Mike Brown, raised their hands in surrender, a symbol that has become the rally cry for Ferguson protestors. Beyoncé graced the masses with a beautiful rendition of the hymn “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” which has been recently featured in “Selma,” a film that depicts the campaign of Martin Luther King Jr. The Grammy’s were preceded earlier in January by Luther College’s screening of “Dear White People,” a satirical film that highlighted the oppression of black people today. The film was followed by a discussion which sought to broaden the racial awareness of Luther students. The social presence of these actors and artists has never been more needed. With the recent media outburst on Michael Brown’s murder, as well as countless other shootings and unjustified deaths of black people, the issue of racism has never been more apparent in our generation. These black artists are taking a stand and using their positions as pop culture superstars to artistically and influentially make their point. I will simply relay their message: RACISM IS NOT DEAD! The systematic oppression faced by the black community is far-reaching and continues to be wildly unaddressed; this opinion piece is my call to action! I applaud the powerful performances of these black artists and actors, not only for their musical talent and artistry, but for their firm and dedicated action against this ever-present problem. Theirs are the voices we need to listen to. We need to make this issue a priority. We cannot forget the lives lost to this omnipresent white power. For some people, it may be difficult to admit that there is a problem, but it is what’s necessary. If you are comfortable in your current position, then something is wrong; there is always something wrong. If you’re not voicing your opinion against these terrible crimes, then you don’t care. It’s going to take more than reading my opinion to instill justice. It’s going to take more than reading a Buzzfeed article to educate yourself. It’s going to take more than an angry Facebook post to incite change. Therefore, I encourage everyone to take a stand and cry out against injustice. If you are for this change, which you should be, Luther College and the Decorah community are continuing this conversation with the Don’t Shoot Series, which aims to educate the public on issues of race and the flawed criminal justice system. More information can be found at www.luther. edu/dont-shoot/.

Zora Hurst (‘17)

Jacob Clausen (‘15)

Transgender voices join Vagina Monologues, public discourse Letter to the Editor

Raising voices and hands

OPINION

PAGE 10 FEBRUARY 12, 2015

MANAGING EDITOR: SARAH KING

Holy guacamole!

Luther College Chips

Editorial

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 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

While Luther’s usual buzz of activity was engaged in a brief respite during J-break, controversy ensued in Norman, Oklahoma, over an online post by the Oklahoma University student newspaper, The Oklahoma Daily. The staff of The Daily made a public record request to see the contract made with music artist Jack White, who was set to have a performance at OU on Feb. 2. While their alleged intent was to see how much their school was paying the artist, they also got their hands on the rider, which is a list of requests or demands for a performance. While riders often exist to ensure a venue doesn’t cut corners in costs, like providing very cheap food, they also sometimes make ridiculous requests with the intent to see how closely the entire contract is being read and followed. In the case of White’s rider, there was, among other things, a detailed recipe for guacamole, including a request for it to be very chunky. The Daily posted the rider and guac recipe, along with the entirety of the contract, on their website on Jan. 29, four days before the concert. Throughout the post, the writer repeatedly pokes fun at

some of the decidedly more eccentric details of White’s rider and criticizes some details, such as the banning of photography in or around the venue during the show. While the post was likely intended as a humorous side story to a more serious investigation into the use of funds by their university, The Daily received much condemnation from readers criticizing their breach of White’s privacy. In addition, White was very upset, and his booking agency reportedly blacklisted OU. White is reported to have said at the Feb. 2 concert, “Just because you can type it on your computer doesn’t make it right.” In The Daily’s defense, what they did wasn’t necessarily wrong. They posted documents that were publicly available to anybody with the primary intent to inform students of what their money was being spent on, which is important news to report. However, The Daily was careless and unprofessional in their bashing of White’s rider and publication of the guacamole recipe. The editorial staff should have put more thought into the potential consequences of such an inappropriate, tabloid-like article. They will certainly share a portion of the blame if OU is no longer able to attract Grammy-

The Norse Poll

winning talent like White in the future. On the other hand, perhaps White overreacted to The Daily’s article. It was their duty to gain legal access to those documents and report on the facts relevant and important to their readers, the students of OU. Further, no significant harm was done to White or his crew overall. As a public figure, White is just as open to criticism, scrutiny and mockery as U.S. President Barack Obama or our own President Paula Carlson. However, it is certainly White and his agency’s prerogative to be upset and deny future bookings if they feel they have been wronged. Here at Chips, we are committed to objectively reporting the facts as a newspaper staff. We also aim to seek out new viewpoints and angles in an effort to shed new light on groups and events around Luther, and to give voices to those unheard. However, we also wish to pay attention to how individuals may be affected by the articles we publish. We are acutely aware that wanton mockery of any figure, even public, is inappropriate, not to mention unprofessional and inconsistent with the image with which we wish to represent our school and ourselves.

Chips asks random Luther students what they think about this week’s editorial.

Spring 2015 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors: Features Editor: A&E Editor: Sports Editor: Staff Writers:

Head Copy Editor: Copy Editors: Ad Representatives: Ad Accountant: Photographers: Design Technician: Web Manager: Social Media Director: Distribution Manager: Adviser:

Walker Nyenhuis Sarah King Makeda Barkley Emily Crowe Abby Carpenter Dylan Hinton Julia Joseph Cody Arndtson Elizabeth Bonin Erin Danielson Emma Deihl Matt Helm Danny May Kasi Misseldine Sarah Owens Steve Peterson Samantha Phillips Laura Proescholdt Colin Robinson Maggie Steinberg Frances Stevenson Erika Storvick Margaret Yapp Elizabeth Tabaka Katie Hale Cameron Meyferth Bethany Seavers Templeton Alex Brandt Hannah Mick Tyler Hovey Cody Arndtson Samantha Ea Isaac Davis Britany Thorpe Elizabeth Hurley David Faldet

“Everyone loves a good guac recipe, but I think ridiculing Jack White and putting the recipe out there without his permission is a bad way to get a new guac recipe.” Kailey Peterson (‘15)

EVERY VALENTINE’S DAY EVER

“I think if it’s something someone could get ... and then package, that’s where it gets shady. I think if they put it together and then sell it using Jack White’s name, then I’d be upset.” Skye Newcom (‘17)

“It seems like if the intent of the article was to be rude, then that’s just a rude thing to do. At the same time, he maybe overreacted.” Abbey Syme (‘16)

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Swimmers prepare for Liberal Arts Championships

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SAMANTHA PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER Luther College swimming and diving is preparing for the Liberal Arts Championships hosted by Coe College Wednesday, Feb. 11 through Saturday, Feb. 14. Swimmers hope to set personal records because it is their last meet of the season. Clare Slagel (‘16) looks forward to the positive energy on the pool deck and cheering on her teammates. “One of the best parts about this meet is just being able to see everyone’s work paying off,� Slagel said. “So many people drop so much time. It’s also fun to see their reactions when they look up at the clock and realize just how fast they went.� Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach Lance Huber is excited to see his swimmers being rewarded for a season’s worth of hard work and dedication. In order to prepare for this final meet of the season, Huber leads his team through less intense workouts as they taper for the big meet.

Bre Pierce / Photo Bureau

“We get a lot of energy since we aren’t working out as hard, and things can get really goofy at practice,� Captain Liz Reed (‘15) said. “There is no other time of year like taper for swimmers. We live for it.� Luther expects to take home first place in both the men’s and women’s competitions. “It’s going to be a very close, tough meet for the guys, and the girls are going to be challenged this year like they haven’t been in the past,� Huber said. “We need that. It keeps everybody on their toes, keeps them fast.� With a history of success in the past, the team is optimistic. Victories in the relays will help both teams gain points quickly to be put toward a high final score. “The seniors do a great job of leading by example,� Lexi Scharmer (‘16) said.

According to Scharmer, they set the tone of practice by working hard and making sure no one slacks off. “This class has a leadership factor that is unheard of,� Huber said. “From their freshman year, they have been such a tight, core group that has carried this team year to year. Ryley Kramka (‘15) and Sam Weinberg (‘15) have been two of the best captains we’ve ever had.� Not only are Huber and the underclassmen swimmers sad to see them go, but the seniors themselves are also full of emotion as they head into the last meet of their collegiate careers. Weinberg spoke of how bittersweet it will be to leave the pool that final time. “We’ve given as much as we possibly could to this team,� Weinberg said. “It will be a very prideful moment to get out of the pool and be pleased with what we have done the past four years.�

“There is no other time of year like taper for swimmers. We live for it.� - Liz Reed (‘15)

Men’s and Women’s basketball gain conference wins at home ERIN DANIELSON STAFF WRITER The Luther Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams swept Simpson on Wednesday, Feb. 4. This was the first time during conference play this season that both teams clenched victories in the same night. The women defeated the Simpson Storm 45-35, gaining a 16-4 record for the season. “Our last meeting [with Simpson] was a heart-breaker, sending us into overtime on a last-second bank shot,� Women’s Head Coach Amanda Bailey said. “This was a great win for us last night, to take control and do what we needed to do in regulation time and not wait for a lastsecond shot.� The Norse victory brought the team to 6-3 in conference play, which was a crucial moment in regular season play, according to guard Moran Lonning (‘16). “It was a very ugly game, but I am just so happy we won,� Lonning said. “It was a must-win game. Simpson is a tough team and they are well-coached. They beat us at their place with a buzzer beater to send them to overtime, so we were ready for revenge but also just for conference standings we had to win.� The team’s hustle that helped the Norse in Wednesday’s win is something Bailey attributes to this year’s team Mission Statement, GRIT. “Our greatest strength is our GRIT,� guard Meagan Koepnick (‘15) said. “We

work hard every day and attack each game with guts, resilience, intensity and toughness.� Although the women continue to strive for improvement in practices and games, Bailey felt the win over Simpson was a strong step forward for the team. “While it may not have been pretty on the offensive side, our defensive effort was one of the best this season,� Bailey said. “I am very proud of our girls with their work ethic, teamwork and attitudes this season.� The women continued their season with a 79-72 win over Buena Vista University Saturday, Feb. 7 at home. “Our goal is to keep taking each conference game one at a time as each game is important,� Koepnick said. “The Iowa Conference is a strong league with a lot of good teams, so we need to bring it each night.� The men continued the action at Luther on Feb. 4 with a 58-51 win over Simpson, improving the team to 7-13 this season. “We started off kind of slow, not completely the way that we wanted to,� guard Cody Kliethermes (‘15) said. “Throughout the game we just stuck together and kept playing as a team. One thing led to another, and we got hot and started playing to our scheme and just got it done.� The men were missing a few players on Wednesday due to injuries. The team feels the absence of their players on the defensive end, according to Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mark Franzen. “As far as injuries, Aaron Huber (‘15) broke a bone in his wrist and is out right

now,� Franzen said. “He is a three-year starter and our best defender. Cory Schultz (‘17) has a fracture in his foot. Without these two guys, we need to really step up on defense. Aaron provided excellent defense on the perimeter and Cory was a shot blocker inside.� The loss of players to injuries and other factors this season has helped the team to establish a no-quit attitude which is one of the team’s greatest strengths, according to Kliethermes. “We’ve handled a lot of adversity, had a bunch of guys go down with injuries and sickness and guys playing through being banged-up and stuff,� Kliethermes said. “But every game we just go out and we’re

IN CONTROL. &ROOHJH

relentless. We go out there and make sure that we’re competing the right way and taking it to teams, and that’s what we’ve done and why we’ve been so competitive in the last few conference games.� The team’s positive attitude through tough times helped to bring the Norse another win on Saturday, Feb. 7 against Buena Vista. The team won with a lastsecond shot by forward Jake Martin (‘15) to clench a 66-64 win, bringing them to 4-6 in conference play. “The guys on the team have a great attitude and work ethic,� Franzen said. “Our objective is to move forward and reach our potential. That is our approach and things are moving in that direction.�

.\OLH 5RPHR ç SOD\V JXDUG DJDLQVW 6LPSVRQ Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore

SPORTS

PAGE 12

SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Track & Field hosts 28th Annual Alumni Meet SARAH OWENS STAFF WRITER The Norse track & field team hosted the 28th Annual Alumni Meet on Saturday, Feb. 7. Both the men’s and women’s teams won the meet in a field of four teams. The men’s and women’s alums both finished in second place with 50 alums competing. The annual meet represented more than just another platform for competition for the Norse. It adds a capstone to the first week of practice as a full team after having multiple teammates dispersed across the globe throughout January Term. “It’s the perfect way to get through those first-race jitters,” Head Track & Field Coach Jeff Wettach (‘79) said. “It’s not a large meet, so it’s still a casual, familiar atmosphere.” To add to that supportive and encouraging atmosphere, Assistant Coaches Vaughn Tackmann (‘11) and Maggie Pierson (‘14) put together a special team meeting on Friday night before the meet. They invited four track & field alums, ranging from the eras of 1965 to 2012, to share some retrospective thoughts that would resonate with the team as everyone prepared themselves for competition the next day. “It brings a total sense of a legacy,” Captain Aaron Weckwerth (‘15) said. “These are the people who were in the position that I’m in. They’d done the training; they’d done the racing. They’ve run alongside the alums from before their time and now they’re coming back and supporting

PAST AND PRESENT. against current Track & the 2,000m Steeple.

Weekly Standings Men’s Swimming IIAC 2-0 2-1 1-2 0-2

Luther Loras Coe Simpson

Overall 2-3 4-4 2-9 2-4

Recent Scores

Jan. 24 vs. Coe College W 167.5-54.5 Jan 16-17 @ Grinnell 4th of 6

Upcoming Schedule

Feb. 12-14 @ Coe College, Liberal Arts Championships

Women’s Swimming

LEARNING FROM THE BEST. Jeff Wettach (‘79) joined the competition in the high jump, clearing 4’ 7.75”, and long jump in the Alumni Meet. Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore us by their own presence.” Speakers included Ashley Matthys (‘12), who recently qualified for the Boston Marathon; Chris Shockey (‘94), whose name can be found on several Top-Ten lists for Luther records; Lori Pierce (‘87), a former All-American in the 1500 meter; and Bob Naslund (‘65), who taught and coached at Luther for 84 consecutive semesters. “[Naslund] had traditions of greatness, I know that,” Wettach said. “He had a very strong team, a team that had a strong support for each other and an awesome atmosphere of enthusiasm and positive energy.” The alums did not share their race tactics or tell the secret to the perfect execution in field events. Despite the differences in age, all four alums had messages that were similar. They told the team how their memories with teammates at Luther persisted years beyond graduation and held more weight once they were no

Three alums competed Field team members in Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore

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

Luther Loras Coe Simpson

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

Recent Scores

Jan 24 vs. Coe College W 157-80 Jan 16-17 @ Grinnell 4th of 10

Upcoming Schedule

Feb. 12-14 @ Coe College, Liberal Arts Championships

Wrestling #1 Wartburg #16 Luther #17 Coe Loras #30 Dubuque Central Simpson Buena Vista

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

Recent Scores

Overall 17-1 11-6 8-8 9-10 8-11 7-4 7-10 2-13

Feb. 5 @ Pella, Iowa vs. Central College W 28-9 Jan. 29 vs. University of Dubuque W 30-9

Upcoming Schedule

ALUMS COME BACK TO RUN. Ashley Matthys (‘12) and Julia Shiefelbein-Egan (‘11) run in the Johanna Olson Memorial Mile. Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore

longer surrounded by Norse track & field teammates. “When you see those people, it’s better,” Naslund says of any and all Luther track & field members. The 28th Annual Alumni Meet allowed past team members to reminisce on unforgettable memories and the current ones to create their own. “I know what it’s like cruising down the last 100 meters of that race,” Matthys said. “You get a surge and rush of pride every time people on this team are cheering for you.” The current team created the atmosphere of which the alums spoke as they cheered on their teammates in every event at the meet. 80 alums attended the meet. The past, present and possibly future runners of Luther were bridged together by one common theme: exhibiting loyalty to their teammates and Luther College.

Feb. 13 vs. Buena Vista 7 p.m. Feb. 14 @ Dubuque, Iowa 9 a.m.

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

IIAC 8-2 7-3 7-3 6-4 4-6 4-6 3-7 1-9

Recent Scores

Overall 15-6 17-4 13-8 13-8 11-10 8-13 8-13 6-15

Feb. 7 vs. Buena Vista W 66-64 Feb. 4 vs. Simpson College W 58-51

Upcoming Schedule

Feb. 14 vs. Central College 2 p.m. Feb. 18 vs. Wartburg College 8 p.m.

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

IIAC 8-2 7-3 7-3 7-3 5-5 4-6 2-8 0-10

Recent Scores

Feb. 7 vs. Buena Vista W 79-72 Feb. 4 vs. Simpson College W 45-35

Overall 14-7 17-4 14-7 13-8 15-6 13-8 7-14 9-12

Upcoming Schedule

Feb. 14 vs. Central College 4 p.m. Feb. 18 vs. Wartburg College 6 p.m.

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