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“Let the chips fall where they may.”
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Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VoLume 138, No.22
New solar arrays dedicated on earth day Joram mUTeNge Staff Writer Luther College celebrated Earth Day by dedicating three new solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays. The new arrays are capable of producing 820 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. With the additional arrays, Luther College now hosts 1,100 kW of solar PV capacity, which is the most solar PV in the state of Iowa. The celebration took place at the college’s solar field site on Pole Line Road. President Paula J. Carlson gave welcoming remarks, and Campus Pastor Mike Blair delivered an invocation. In addition, students Hannah Sutcliffe (‘18) and Liam Fraser (‘18) from Professor of Religion James Martin-Schramm’s environmental ethics class gave readings. Other distinguished members of the community present were U.S. Representative from Iowa’s 1st district Rod Blum and owner of Oneota Solar LLC Larry Grimstad, both of whom spoke as well. Assistant Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities Maren Beard (‘08) said that the main reason for the installation of the new solar arrays was to achieve a set of sustainability goals the college set back in 2008. “One of the goals was to reduce our carbon footprint 50 percent by 2015,” Beard said. “[With the new panels] we have achieved that now, and the celebration will be about acknowledging this achievement.” Martin-Schramm, who was also present for the event, said that a recent ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court was the reason that Luther could afford the installation of new solar panels. “The ruling permitted third-party power purchase agreements,” Martin-Schramm said. “Up to that point, we could only buy electricity from our electric utility.” Becuase of this ruling, Luther was able to purchase the new arrays from local business Oneota Solar LLC,
Luther President Paula J. Carlson cuts the ceremonial ribbon, officially dedicating three new solar photovoltaic arrays. Will Heller / Photo Bureau instead of from a larger company such as Alliant Energy. Currently, Luther is renting the arrays at a fixed rate over the next 10 years. However, after 10 years Luther will retain sole possession at which point the arrays will belong to the college. Martin-Schramm said that if the Iowa Supreme Court had not made the recent ruling, they would have not been able to afford
Attorney Steve F. Downs lectures on civil rights karl badger Staff Writer Attorney Steven F. Downs delivered a lecture titled “Tribal Justice and the Erosion of Civil Rights: How Scapegoating Muslims Threatens Us All” on April 21 in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. The event was the last lecture of the 2015-16 Religion Forum Lecture Series. For the past decade, Downs focused his career on raising awareness of and providing legal assistance to those who have been convicted by way of preemptive prosecution. Preemptive prosecution is when a person is prosecuted on the suspicion that they could possibly commit a crime, despite whether they have actually committed a crime or not. Downs’ work has focused particularly, but not entirely, on preemptive prosecutions of Muslims in the post-9/11 world. As a part of this process, Downs helped co-found Project Support and Legal Advocacy for Muslims (SALAM), which became one of the founding
the new arrays. “At the moment we are paying a fixed price for that amount of electricity to Oneota Solar for 10 years, which is better than paying a rising price to Alliant Energy,” Martin-Schramm said. Solar paNelS, Page 4
“Paper Tigers” documents “trauma-informed” teaching elizabeTh boNiN Staff Writer
members of the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms (NCPCF), which focuses on ending profiling and preemptive prosecution. Downs’ lecture was organized through conversations between the religion department and members of the NCPCF living in Decorah. NCPCF Director of the Education Committee and Editor of the NCPCF Digest Melva Underbakke (‘70) felt that Luther would be a good environment to receive Downs’ lecture. “I think Luther has a lot of potential for changing things in the world,” Underbakke said. “So I thought it was important to have [Downs] here.” Downs began the lecture by asserting that humans by nature are defensive in a triballike manner. Downs argued that part of the reason that the U.S. government has profiled entire religious or ethnic groups using preemptive prosecution can be attributed to this tribal fear.
The social work department held a screening of the documentary “Paper Tigers” on April 20 in two classrooms in Valders. After the showing, a panel discussion was held with various representatives from social service organizations in Northeast Iowa. The documentary, directed by filmmakers James Redford and Karen Pritzker, follows six teens who attend Lincoln Alternative High School located in Walla Walla, Washington, a school considered to be a “trauma-informed” school. According to Assistant Professor of Education Jill Leet-Otley, “trauma-informed” is a relatively new term within the social work world that has come to mean recognizing that students have traumatic issues that affect their ability to learn in a school setting. “It’s a much more compassionate way to think about kids and education and ways to help the whole child,” Leet-Otley said. “It’s not expecting them to sit still and learn when they’re dealing with these traumas and issues. You just can’t ignore them.” According to Leet-Otley, who also served on the discussion panel, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACES) shows that the more traumatic experiences a child has, the more physical and psychological issues the child will have as he or she grows into adulthood.
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News
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News editors: katie NelsoN & jacob warehime
Service celebrates Luther’s participation as a Reconciling in Christ congregation lily kime staFF writer College Ministries celebrated that Luther is a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation in the Center for Faith and Life (CFL) on Sunday, April 24. This service was an opportunity for College Ministries to affirm their acceptance of all members of the community, including LGBT individuals. The RIC program was first started
in 1974 by an organization called ReconcilingWorks based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Their mission is to inspire, advocate and organize for the full acceptance and participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities within the Lutheran community. Since its founding, this organization has grown to over 640 participating churches. Luther’s College Ministries joined the RIC program in 1995. In the past, they have celebrated this particular Sunday in
brandon peck (‘16) stands with college ministries members on ric sunday before delivering his collaborative sermon with william cook (‘18). Lily Kime / Chips
various ways. In recent years, members of PRIDE have been invited to share a bit of their own personal testimonies. For the first time at an RIC service Luther has offered, two students delivered the sermon. Prospective seminarian students Brandon Peck (‘16) and William Cook (‘18) collaboratively delivered the sermon for the service. Although both of them hoped to use this opportunity to share their perspectives as members of the LGBT community, they are also focused on the main goal of every church service: to spread God’s word through the gospel. According to Cook, this is a chance to understand the gospel from a different perspective. “For me, it’s like half coming-out again,” Cook said. “This year, I came out as gender non-binary, which is really big. I think I bring that unique aspect in. How I can look at the context of the gospel. How does Jesus’ justice liberate us from the binary way of thinking instead of a sliding scale?” This unique perspective was something many different members of College Ministries were looking forward to sharing. Campus Pastor Mike Blair was enthusiastic about the impact this sermon could have on not only the two students delivering the sermon, but also those who heard it.
“I hope hearing a student preaching from that perspective of one who identifies with a gender or sexual minority might help [the congregation] see the Word a little differently,” Blair said. “I think it has a way of affirming the community and also challenging us to listen more deeply.” A main theme throughout the service was that everyone belonged within the Lutheran community no matter how they identify, which was highlighted by the repeated phrase, “For everyone born, a place at the table.” This message was heard in hymns sung by the entire congregation and performances by Cathedral Choir and Philharmonia. However, this message was highlighed most during Cook and Peck’s sermon. For these two students, “a place at the table” means that all were welcome because of who they are and who God has made them. Regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, socioeconomic status or any other trait that characterizes a person, every single human being is welcome at the table. “[It’s] the essence of what Christianity is,” Peck said. “It’s this one big banquet table and the purpose of the gospel is to say, ‘Whether you like it or not, every single person has a place at this table.’ You’re not called to like that person, you’re called to sit and eat with them.”
Robert James Russell shares work with students jana mueller staFF writer Robert James Russell, author of the novels “Mesilla” and “Sea of Trees,” and the poetry chapbook “Don’t Ask Me to Spell It Out,” spoke to Adjunct Faculty in English Keith Lesmeister’s (‘01) creative writing class and held a reading along with several students from on Thursday, April 21. Russell is also the founding editor of Midwestern Gothic, a quarterly print journal, and Cheap Pop, a flash fiction online journal. The event featured students reading original work that they produced during the summer. Spencer Young (‘17) read his poems called “Why I Write” and “Purple Walls,” Amanda Jenkins (‘16) read “The Girl Who Tried
to Run Away Once,” Emma Deihl (‘18) read “The Art of Getting Out There” and Jacob Warehime (‘18) read “For the Street in Minneapolis.” The goal of the evening was to let the students share their original work alongside a professional writer, editor and publisher. The students discussed the experience in class. “An event like this is important for students, especially in the English field, to start networking,” Deihl said. “Meeting people who are successful in their jobs is really cool. In this case, we got to hear the works of a person who writes to give the Midwest a voice, and I think that is so important.” Russell focuses on the Midwest because he feels it is untapped territory in creative writing.
“I chose to focus my work on the Midwest because there is not extensive knowledge about it beyond the people who live there,” Russell said. “You hear all the time of people from the Midwest who become writers, musicians, actors who find their talent and then move to L.A. and never come back.” His goal is to spread the tradition and educate those on the literary culture here. “I try to get people to embrace small towns and literary traditions,” Russell said. “It is all about making people aware of the culture and goodness that resides in the Midwest, especially the rich literary traditions. It is important to not let that slip away.” Young thought it was a great opportunity to read alongside a
robert james russell reads from his book in olin 102 on april 21. Jana Mueller / Chips professional writer. “At first, I was definitely nervous to read alongside Rob,” Young said. “I’ve met a few published
authors during my time here at Luther, but never have I been given the chance to share my own work alongside them. Rob was entirely supportive of my work, as well as the work of all the other readers.” The event allowed students to listen and support one another through their writing. “Writing is a solitary act where there is virtually no interaction with anyone,” Lesmeister said. “Creating a literary culture brings writers together to celebrate the work they are creating.” Russell’s work revolves around creating a literary culture that is specific to the Midwest. Part of that is coming to places like Luther and raising awareness of how rich the culture is.
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life Outside luther: election update kaTie nelSOn News editor Primaries and caucuses have been taking place across the country since the first caucus took place in Iowa on Feb. 1. Since this time, Democrats and Republicans have been gaining delegates state by state. The total counts are as follows: Pledged democratic elegates: Hillary Clinton - 1,428 Bernie Sanders - 1,153
john doorenbos (‘16) and michael moore (‘16) looks over the norsecourse.com website their senior project group created. Matija Nikolic / Chips maTija nikOliC staFF writer A group of computer science majors, Blaise Schaeffer (‘16), Grant Barnes (‘16), Michael Moore (‘16) and John Doorenbos (‘16), created a new website named norsecourse.com in order to aid students in the process of registration. This year-long senior project aims to improve user experience for Luther students choosing their classes and overcoming challenges that some were facing with the current system of using the official course catalogue and the my.luther.edu website. According to Moore, they were driven to do this project because many other senior projects do not continue to develop as the seniors move on with their careers, but this team hoped to create something that will be used in years to come. They were also driven by the need for a more user-friendly method for registration. “My.luther.edu has its downsides,” Moore said. “The user experience is pretty dismal. It’s fairly basic in terms of its layout, and it’s just not something that is intuitive and easy to use. I’ve heard stories of people who would look up classes on my.luther. edu and then put them all in an Excel sheet and then work out their schedules there.” Schaeffer, Barnes, Moore and Doorenbos are pleased with the final result of their work and hope that the school will find ways to implement their product as an official tool used by students, though they are not sure if the school will fully adopt norsecourse.com. “Ideally, it would have been best if we could have this continue on and if Luther would take over and ensure that it gets repopulated with new courses every semester, but it’s not entirely up to us; it’s up to the school,” Barnes said. Associate Professor of Computer Science and department head Brad Miller shares Barnes’ desire to have Luther pick up the website. “They have demonstrated it to the Registrar’s Office, and they
have been very supportive, but it’s always really tricky when students develop a project like this and then they graduate,” Miller said. “We can’t take their diploma back and make them come back to fix bugs. There needs to be somebody from Luther who will be in charge, and that will be IT services staff that would make a decision whether this is something that they would like to continue supporting. I do hope that this continues, but there is no guarantee so far, as these things depend on the budget of IT services.” Doorenbos explained that the idea for the project first came about two years ago, in the Internet programming course he was taking with Moore. They built a pilot version for the class, but decided to continue working on it as a part of their senior project. “We made the first version of norsecourse.com that had some set of functionality,” Doorenbos said. “Then we got together at the beginning of this year to talk about senior project ideas. This seemed like the most doable, useful and the one most likely to continue being used.” Schaeffer believes that the project was a great chance for team members to learn how to collaborate with colleagues, which will be beneficial in their future work settings. “It started off with some brainstorming and getting together with these guys and them sharing their ideas,” Schaffer said. “It allowed us to get to know each other as a group and know how to get better at working with others and kind of go through the entire start-up process of processing and building a system from the ground up.” According to Schaeffer, they used many programming technologies while creating their website, including Python, Angular, a JavaScript framework JS, HTML and CSS. Barnes will have to continue work with these and other programs as he plans to continue improving the website and creating a mobile application for iOS during the summer. To utilize the website, visit norsecourse.com and go to the instructions section, complete with a demonstration video, to get started.
Republican delegates: Donald Trump - 845 Ted Cruz - 559 John Kasich - 148 Results from states holding primaries or caucuses between April 7 and April 19 are as follows: New York Clinton (D) Trump (R)
Wyoming Sanders (D) Cruz (R)
Search for running mates begins As the political campaigns get closer to election time and candidates are weeded out, the search for running mates by party front-runners begins. Republican candidate Ted Cruz is the first to be reportedly looking, supposedly courting Carly Fiorina as his 2016 presidential running mate, according to CBS News. Kasich and Cruz unite to undermine Trump As Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s delgate numbers continue to rise, fellow Republican candidates John Kasich and Ted Cruz have agreed to split their efforts by campaigning in separate states in an effort to block Trump from obtaining the rest of the 1,237 delegates needed for the nomination. According to CNN, Kasich is putting his efforts into campaigning in Oregon and New Mexico, while Cruz vies for the votes in Indiana. Trump has commented on the alliance at a rally in Rhode Island, according to NBC News. “Honestly, it shows such total weakness, and it’s pathetic, when two longtime insider politicians, establishment guys whether you like it or not, have to collude, have to get together, to try and beat a guy that really speaks what the people want,” Trump said. Clinton claims New York win Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the New York primary on April 19 with 58 percent of the vote. Her Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders took the other 42 percent of the vote. Both candidates have ties to the state, and both campaigned hard for the pivotal state.
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NEwS EDitorS: KatiE NELSoN & JaCob warEhiME
Dedication held for new solar arrays soLar paneLs, PagE 1 According to Martin-Schramm, the new solar panels will not only help the college achieve its sustainability goals, but also reduce its overall expenses.
Emily Dufford (‘16), Lukas Phillips (‘18) and Emily Mueller (‘16) partake in the reception following the dedication. Will Heller / Photo Bureau
In her opening speech, Carlson also talked about the reduction in electricity expenses as a result of the installation of new solar panels. “This new solar 820 kilowatt solar array that we dedicate today will increase the amount of solar power generated on campus to save at least $1 million in electricity costs over the 20-year life of the system,” Carlson said. Sutcliffe, who read an excerpt from the poem “Sun” by Mary Oliver during the dedication said that she appreciates Luther’s dedication to sustainability “I’m really impressed with Luther College’s sustainability goals,” Sutcliffe said. “I think that I’m pretty lucky to go to a school that’s working so aggressively to reduce emissions. Our plan is to be neutral by 2030 and we’re halfway there already, which is pretty cool.” However Sutcliffe also said Luther has a long road ahead to completely achieve this plan. “There is a long way to go,” Sutcliffe said. “I think in a way we’ve picked the low-hanging fruit and now we have to get a little more creative with where we’re getting our carbons cuts. There’s only so much solar energy that we can harness because we don’t have the storage capacity to hold the charge.” In his closing remarks, Grimstad thanked Luther
President Paula J. Carlson speaks from the podium at the dedication. Will Heller / Photo Bureau College for its courage to carry out a progressive carbon reduction program. At the end of the celebration, Carlson joined with Grimstad in cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
Film raises awareness Steve Downs gives on alternative teaching lecture on justice fiLm, PagE 1 These traumas include divorced or separated parents, physical, psychological or sexual abuse, parents with a history of substance abuse, mental illness, violence or incarceration. Having an ACE puts the child at risk for continuing the cycle of abuse and neglect, as well as physical problems such as heart disease, diabetes and short life expectancy. “It doesn’t mean you’re destined, but knowing that is a wake-up call for a point where we can intervene and help kids be aware of risks, and how we as a society can help kids so we provide more support,” Leet-Otley said. Leet-Otley said to offset these negative effects, children need one stable adult in their life. In “Paper Tigers,” the teachers at Lincoln Alternative High School try to emulate that influence. Rather than taking a punitive approach,
the movie shows the faculty and staff at Lincoln High trying to understand the students and working to form a positive and formative bond with them. Associate Professor of Social Work Britt Rhodes (‘96) said this way of teaching students is a much more personal approach. “We’re shifting our thinking from this question of ‘Why did you do that?’ to this question of ‘What happened to you?’” Rhodes said. Rhodes, who helped plan the event, was impressed by the teachers’ dedication to their students in the documentary. She added that the responsibility to care for children is not just on schools but on communities as a whole. “We can’t push things off and say it’s the school’s problem to deal with behavioral issues, but rather to think about how this is our collective responsibility to create safe, stable and nurturing environments,” Rhodes said.
Attendee and education major Sheila Lowery (‘18) said the film taught her to help prevent these issues by taking time to understand a student and not just assuming the worst. “Not everything is in their control, and the way they’re acting might not be the way they want to,” Lowery said. The documentary also showed Lowery just how much time goes into being an influential figure for students. “In the movie, the teachers took a lot of time to focus on the students and what was going on in their lives,” Lowery said. “I learned that it takes a little more work than people assume it would be.” Attendee Allyson Franz (‘16) and future social worker, believes that watching “Paper Tigers” will help her understand her clients more. “[The film] will help me to work with them and empower them better than I might have if I had not seen a real life example of people doing that in a really cool way,” Franz said. Overall, Rhodes said she sees the film as a sign of hope for the future. “That’s one of the things that gives me hope,” Rhodes said. “Maybe we know something more now than what we did before.”
Steve Downs speaks in front of a list of people convicted by preemptive prosecution. Karl Badger / Chips Lecture, PagE 1 “The reason why I think we do [profile] is that there’s a tribal fear somewhere that we have to be strong and that we have to find [terrorists],” Downs said. “Yet we don’t know who we’re looking for. It started out as a particular group: al-Qaida. Once we got rid of them, we slowly start to hear Americans say, ‘You know who I think we’re really after? All of Islam.’” Downs continued his lecture by telling stories about Muslims who were preemptively prosecuted after being induced by FBI-informants into saying things considered subversive to the U.S. Because of this, Downs said, they were not granted the full due process of law. He concluded by pointing to the Abrahamic roots of Islam and Christianity, arguing that Americans should keep such similarities in mind before assuming that groups like Muslims have malicious intentions. “The story of Abraham is one we need to start telling,” Downs said. “The idea that our civilization was based on this story of respect and
accommodation between a family. If people understood that, I think it is much harder to demonize and start acting as though we are tribalists.” William Cook (‘18) attended the lecture and felt that Downs’ points were pertinent to young American culture. “I think [this conversation] is needed because often our generation wants to finds one marginalized group and fights for that group only,” Cook said. “We need to start seeing the interconnections.” Professor of Religion Guy Nave, who helped bring Downs to Luther and also attended the lecture, said that people should approach these types of discussions not only to learn more about other groups but also to explore one’s own thoughts and prejudices. “Sometimes we come to these talks to find out less about ourselves than to find out about Muslims,” Nave said. “We don’t come to these talks to interrogate ourselves. I really hope that the talk causes all of us to pause and to be introspective and self-reflective and to ask, ‘What does this say about me?’”
Arts & EntErtAinMEnt
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A&E Editor: JEnnA nElson
April 28, 2016
VPa presents “the illusion”
illusion or reality. Josh Harper (‘16) and Erik Mueterthies (‘18) rehearse a lamentation scene surrounded by an illusion-inspired set made of cardboard boxes. Emma Schlabach / Chips emma schlabach stAff WritEr The Visual and Performing Arts Department cast of Tony Kushner’s “The Illusion” prepare to bring audiences together by exploring betrayal and love through humor. “The Illusion” will run April 29, May 5 and May 6 at 7:30 p.m.; and April 30 and May 7 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m in Jewel Theatre. Assitant Director Mim Harries (‘16) explains the plot and major themes of the production. “The show follows an older father who essentially ran his son out of the house 15 years prior and has now come to this magician because he cannot find anything about what happened to his son,” Harries said. “He wants to know what happened to him because he is coming to grips with his own mortality. The magician conjures up these visions of the son’s life, which is where we spend most of the time in the play.” Josh Harper (‘16), a lead
member of the cast, describes how the play has been modernized. “The playwright Tony Kushner modernized [‘The Illusion’] from an old French comedy,” Harper said. “The French comedy was sort of lost to time because it never really found its audience.” Even though the play might seem dark, Harper says that humor is found within the script through exaggerated characters. “All of the characters are exaggerated forms of themselves, sort of stereotypes, so [Harper’s character] is the exaggerated terrible father,” Harper said. “Everything that is going on is so exaggerated that you can’t help but laugh, but you find that the reason you’re laughing is because all of these characters contain that little bit of human.” Harries emphasizes the prevalence of humor in the play as someone who often observes during rehearsals. “Expect magic and expect humor,” Harries said. “This is a
hysterically funny show, and the actors are doing a phenomenal job and have made the script funnier than I ever thought it could be.” A lot of the humor that is found in the performance is due to the approach Assistant Professor of Theatre Robert Vrtis has implemented through warm-up and rehearsal techniques. “A lot of the exercises come from clown work, clown and mask work and red nose work,” Vrtis said. “We are going to wear [the red clown noses] until the last dress rehearsal and only take them off for the performances.” Miranda Joslin (‘17) describes the clowning approach to warm ups. “To do [the red nose style approach] it is pretty much way over-the-top energy and way over-the-top emotions and reactions,” Joslin said. Vrtis chose this approach for the show to not only tap into the actors’ minds but also into creativity through the body as well. “The idea [behind this method] is that instead of only the intellectual exercises in analyzing script and analyzing character, the body has a whole kind of creativity that we think of as secondary and [these exercises] make it primary,” Vrtis said. The “clowning” approach also fosters the idea that the process of creating and rehearsing the show is of equal importance to the final product. “The entire process matters, and the growth of the actors
clowning around. skye newcome (‘17) wears a red nose during tech rehearsal to continue the cast’s clowning technique practice. Emma Schlabach / Chips matter, and the experimentation with process matters, and that it is kind of a research of its own,” Vrtis said. “The whole rehearsal process is different in the sense that there is a constant anxiety whether or not this thing is going to work, but it is fueled by people that want it to work, so it is kind of a wonderful terror.” According to Joslin, Harries, Harper and Vrtis, the varied forms of humor are one of the main reasons students should
attend the show. “[Clowning style] is meant to make others laugh and meant to be entertaining and give you a fun night,” Joslin said. “It’s hilarious! You can’t believe some of this stuff is actually happening!” Tickets for the show cost $12 for adults or $5 for children under 12 and are free with a Luther student ID. For further purchasing information visit tickets.luther.edu.
Features
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Features editor: erika storvick
Dancing with the Luther Stars ELySE GrothauS staFF Writer Luther College Ballroom & Swing Club put on the first ever “Dancing With the Luther Stars” (DWTLS) show in conjunction with SAC Flamingo Ball/ Homecoming on April 23. The event was modeled after the hit ABC reality show, “Dancing With the Stars,” with each couple performing two dances. The “stars” were Assistant Professor of Music Jennaya Robison (‘96), Assistant Professor of Music Andrew Last (‘97) and Assistant Professor of Psychology Justin Sprung, who paired up with Luther Ballroom & Swing dancers Cody Arndtson (‘17), President of Luther College Ballroom & Swing Sara Ranscht (‘16) and Elizabeth Hurley (‘16), respectively. The couples performed their dances along with other Luther College Ballroom & Swing showcase performances in the Center for Faith and Life. Arndtson served on a board of students that conceptualized DWTLS during spring of 2015. He has worked with his partner, Robison, since September 2015 to prepare for the event. Arndtson and Robison were named winners of the competition for their chacha and waltz dances, after being scored by a panel of judges and audience voting. According to Arndtson, the experience was fun because the student “pros” and faculty “stars” switched roles outside the classroom. He also explained that this event was a way to promote
WaLtzinG to victory. cody arndtson (‘17) and Jennaya robison (‘96) performing in dancing with the luther stars. Annie Goodroad /Photo Bureau Luther College Ballroom & Swing as it is still a young organization. “The purpose of Dancing with the Luther Stars is really to try and get Luther College Ballroom & Swing connected with the Decorah community,” Arndtson said. “We want more people from Luther and Decorah dancing ballroom in any capacity. We hope to increase our popularity and get people dancing from this event.”
critiquE. luther Ballroom and swing alum Meg Mcclure (‘15) gives feedback to dancers. Annie Goodroad / Photo Bureau
Luther College Ballroom & Swing partnered with SAC Flamingo Ball/Homecoming to promote and organize this completely student-run event. Former chair of SAC Flamingo Ball Tricia Glotfelty (‘16) explained how the partnership began. “This past fall, the Flamingo Ball Committee co-sponsored the Flamingo Ball with Luther College Ballroom & Swing, and they were
fantastic to work with and added so much to the event,” Glotfelty said. “Because they co-sponsored with Flamingo Ball for our event, it worked out very well to cosponsor with them for their event.” Ranscht partnered with Last for the event. Ranscht explained that although the outcome has been overwhelmingly positive, this completely student-driven event required a lot of time and effort.
SWinGinG to thE bEat. Justin sprung and elizabeth Hurley (‘16) perform at the event. Annie Goodroad / Photo Bureau
“The biggest challenge in putting on this event was that it has not been done before,” Ranscht said. “There were so many details that we didn’t think about. There is no formula for putting on this event, so we had to figure it all out.” Zane Larson (‘19) attended the show after he found out that his choir director Last was one of the faculty members competing for the trophy. Larson was pleasantly surprised by the level of dancing demonstrated by the professors. “It was definitely very fun,” Larson said. “I would love for them to make it an even bigger deal next year! It was just the first year, and I hope they build it up and make it one of the huge events at Luther.” Sprung prepared his two dances, the East Coast swing and tango, with Hurley. They rehearsed once per week during fall semester, where Hurley taught him the basics of ballroom dancing. During the second semester, Hurley put together choreography, and they worked on learning the two routines. “It has been a very humbling experience,” Sprung said. “I haven’t had any dance experience before this, but it has been a lot of fun. There have been challenging days, but it has overall been very enjoyable, and [ballroom dance] is something I could see myself doing for fun on the side.” To include the greater community, Luther College Ballroom & Swing is hosting a social dance April 30 at 7 p.m., with a cost of $3 or free with Cocurricular Activities Fee (CAF). Students interested in ballroom dancing can also participate in social dance lessons on Monday nights from 8:00-9:30 p.m. in the Regents Center Dance Studio.
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Features editor: erika storvick
april 28, 2016
up up! FarM FiLM FEStivaL. Audience members discuss the film- after the screening on Saturday in Olin 102.
Ana López / Chips
Up Up! film festival explores land issues ana LópEz staFF Writer Luther hosted the last session of the Up Up! Farm Film Festival this Saturday, April 23 in Olin 102. The Up Up! Farm Film Festival focused on issues related to farming and the larger food system. The screenings occured at different venues throughout Decorah from April 13 to April 23. All the different screenings were centered on different issues related to farming. The screening on April 23 was a selection of five short films, titled “OUR LAND,” that discussed issues with land accessibility for farmers. The clips addressed issues of distribution and the flaws of the food system, and also addressed the way these problems could be changed. The screening also included the movie “The Perennial Plate: An act of resistance,” a movie about chocolate production in Mexico and how to bring back old methods of production. The various movies screened during the festival were sponsored by The Greenhorns, a grassroots organization that “promotes, supports and recruits new farmers
in America.” The 40 independent films were set in different locations and made by a very diverse group of filmmakers. After the screening, a discussion regarding land accessibility took place. The guest speaker was the President and Co-founder of the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) Suzan Erem. SILT is an organization that helps young farmers obtain land to farm sustainably. Erem explained that throughout the years, it has been getting harder and harder for small farmers to have access to land, especially if the land is close to cities. SILT strives to “permanently protect land to grow healthy food” by making it more accessible to farmers. “There are all these young folks coming through, they want to learn how to farm,” Eren said. “We hear these stories of how they want to farm some day, but they never find access to land. They don’t know people who own land.” Erem also explained how SILT worked to alleviate what she called a structural, state-wide issue. After donating their land to SILT, the land would eventually be more affordable for young farmers, and
that will also secure the production of sustainable, healthy food. “No developer will ever be able to buy this land because the only thing that could happen in that land in the future is sustainable food farming,” Erem said. “Suddenly you reduce the pool of people who could buy it and you drop the price.” There were many different members of the community attending this Saturday’s screening, from Luther students, to alums and farmers from around the area. After the screening, there was a potluck in the Oneota Classroom to conclude the festival. Attendees and other members of the community were invited. The film festival gave biology major Matthew Nielsen (‘16) the opportunity to engage in and learn from a topic he was interested in. “I usually try to go to at least one thing a week outside of the Luther community that I can get something out of,” Nielsen said.
“I am really interested in different types of agriculture and people’s connection with the land, and that’s what the whole festival is about.” Nielsen attended the screening of “To make a Farm,” a Canadian film that was first screened in the International Film Festival in Vancouver, which documents the life of five young people who decided to move from the city and start organic farms. The movie centers around the question of how the production of local food and farming will look in the future. “It was really interesting seeing how they struggled and seeing the different struggles that each person had,” Nielsen said. The Up Up! Farm Film Festival was sponsored by several institutions and organizations in Decorah, including Seed Savers Exchange, the Oneota Community Food Cooperative, the Winneshiek Energy district and the Center for Sustainable Communities at
Luther College. Deborah Bishop, a board member of the Oneota Film Festival, also attended many of the screenings of the Up Up! festival. She appreciated the festival as she felt she could relate to the discussion and the issues presented in the films. “[The film festival] culminated with the idea of reserving land to be kept in food production,” Bishop said. “All of this is really near and dear to me because we had a farm and we had to sell our 80 acres and lose the farm because we couldn’t afford to keep it going.” She added that she was grateful for how Decorah has been responding to sustainable proposals and how common it is in the community. “I am so grateful to live in a place in which this kind of thing is more a norm than the exception,” Bishop said. “People are learning that Decorah is a hub for that kind of activity.”
LanD accESibiLity. the up up! Farm Film Festival celebrates young farmers and focuses on contemporary issues faced by farmers. Ana López / Chips
Arts & entertAInment
pAge 8 AprIL 28, 2016
A&e edItor: JennA neLson
the waiting room. (From left) Adrienne Lee (‘19), Hannah Butler (‘16), Catherine Lewis (‘16) and Christen Foster (‘18) navigate their characters’ reasons for liposuction as they interact in the waiting room set. Photo courtesy of Abbey Syme
sPin explores themes of body image makeda Barkley VoLunteer WrIter SPIN Theatre presented the play “The Most Massive Woman Wins” by Madeleine George on April 21 through April 24. A piece about body image and individual experiences causing poor body image, the play explored deep-seated issues over the course of one 45-minute act. The one-act comedy featured a cast of four actresses who each played a woman awaiting liposuction surgery in the same doctor’s office. Throughout the length of the show, a combination of monologues, flashbacks, nursery rhymes and interactions with one another revealed the complex experiences which prompted each woman to pursue the procedure. “We see the background of why they have the body image that they do and why they feel the need to get liposuction,” Director Madeline Geier (‘17) said. Using minimal props and costumes, each woman played a series of supporting characters in the background stories of why each of the four main characters struggled with negative images of themselves. “Body image is a struggle that is unique to all people,” cast member Hannah Butler (‘16) said. “We all have different background stories that lead us to struggle with this issue that we give one name, but it really affects us all quite differently, and I think that’s shown in the production through the four different characters.” The issues of body image and society’s role in creating that
image were the central themes throughout the performance, delving into the causes of these issues from various angles. “A big part of [the show] is exploring how women talk to each other and how we’re socialized to look at bodies and compare ourselves to other people,” cast member Catherine Lewis (‘16) said. The characters all experienced various forms of trauma, including rape, self-harm, abuse by family members and eating disorders, exposing a variety of the ways in which people develop negative perceptions of their bodies. “I think what is important to remember about the play is that these narratives are not the only versions of what leads to our perception of self, but at the same time I think there is something in each of these narratives that we can relate to,” Geier said. In addition to addressing a serious issue that affects everyone, the play was chosen in order to promote underrepresented female playwrights, according to Lewis and Geier. “From my understanding, SPIN’s artistic team really wanted to do a show that focused on women’s issues and was written by a female playwright,” said Lewis. “That’s actually a really hard thing to find, and you don’t see these kinds of plays put on very often, so they tried to make a really conscious choice to do that.”
In addition to bringing the issue of body image to the dialogue of Luther’s campus, the cast participated in the selfexploratory activity called The Four Phases, led by Lewis as part of her senior project. “It was decided before auditions happened that [The Four Phases] was going to be a part of the rehearsal process, because it works very much on connecting your mental and emotional self with your physical self,” Geier said. “How do you move, how do you express yourself through your body?” “The Most Massive Woman Wins” was the second and final SPIN Theatre production of the semester, following the “24-Hour Musical.” Luther’s student-run theatre organization, SPIN gives students both outside and inside the department an opportunity to be a part of the theatre production process. “Normally SPIN has a lot of opportunities that are a smaller time commitment than being in a main stage show, but still just as fulfilling,” Geier said. “There’s also a great sense of ownership and pride because it’s all done by students from start to finish.” SPIN Theatre plans to offer a variety of workshops and small cabaret scenes during the upcoming fall semester in addition to their annual haunted house.
“A big part of [the show] is exploring how women talk to each other and how we’re socialized to look at bodies and compare ourselves to other people.” - Catherine Lewis (‘16)
KWLC Block Party Preview roBert marston Co-dIreCtor oF soCIAL medIA And promotIons This Saturday, April 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. KWLC will be hosting their second annual Block Party! Luther’s Bentdahl Commons will set the stage for live music, a Luther College Sustainability clothing drive
and a hog roast, courtesy of the Norse Culinary Team. Musical guests include The Weathered Heads (Winona, Minnesota), Spiked Mild (Madison, Wisconsin), and Decorah’s own Meadowlark Valley. Come out to support the little basement that rocks and enjoy some great music! Know your bands: The Weathered Heads Formed and based in Winona, Minnesota The Weathered Heads have been together since 2012. They describe their sound as a blend of rock, pop and jam music that “offers a seamless
blend of unpretentious rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, jam, soul and pop,” according to Todd Hanson of The Noisy Neighbor. Whether you’re a DIY rock audiophile or you never make it past the Billboard Top 40, The Weathered Heads have something to offer to everyone’s tastes.
Spiked Milk UW-Madison Students Matthew Norman (drums), Dan Mark (bass), and Sam Prosser (guitar) teamed up just last year to form this basement jam rock trio. They’re sure to bring some upbeat guitar riffs and an electric energy to the stage.
Meadowlark Valley The indie folk project of Luther College’s JJ Schrick (‘19) includes a diverse range of acoustic instruments and thick vocal harmonies. Songs like “Bottom of the Hill” portray influences from the likes of indie folk icons such as Fleet Foxes.
For the best in new independent music, tune in to KWLC radio monday through 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.
OPINION
PAGE 9
MANAGING EDITOR: STEVE PETERSON
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 2016 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors:
Anna Jeide Steve Peterson Katie Nelson Jacob Warehime Features Editor: Erika Storvick A&E Editor: Jenna Nelson Sports Editor: Danny May Staff Writers: Karl Badger Elizabeth Bonin Elyse Grothaus Lily Kime Sidney Larsen Ana López Katrina Meyer Jana Mueller Joram Mutenge Matija Nikolic Laura Proescholdt Emma Schlabach Head Copy Editor: Cameron Meyferth Copy Editors: Bethany Seavers Templeton Olivia Benson Ad Representatives: Alex Brandt Jesse Anderson Ad Accountant: Tyler Hovey Layout and Design Technician: Cameron Meyferth Photography Coordinator: Katie Nelson Photographer: Steve Peterson Web Manager: Michael Vann Social Media Director: Nora Sell Distribution Manager: Elizabeth Hurley Adviser: Laura Fuller
APRIL 28 , 2016
Taking a moment to appreciate moments
ANNA JEIDE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF I’ve got a lot on my mind. I’ve got a lot on my mind and little time to pause or think about much else. It’s that time of the semester again when everyone is frantically running around, sprinting to the finish line. Final papers are due, big exams are coming up and those student organizations we committed to at the beginning of the semester just don’t feel like a priority anymore. The to-go line has become habitual, and for my fellow seniors, the only walls we’ve seen in days are the three square walls of our senior carrels in the library. It was sunny today? Oh, I didn’t notice. The end of year stress happens every semester, yet this time around it feels very different for me. Partly, the stakes seem to be much higher as I am finishing up my senior paper and final coursework for the last undergraduate classes I will take in my life. I still feel the weight of responsibility in my extra-curricular activities. I still care ,and I still want to be involved, but I also feel myself pushing away, anticipating graduation and life after Luther. Now, this might get sappy and cliché (as you would expect from any senior this time of year), but bear with me. I’ve been struggling with ambivalent feelings about graduation. On the one hand, I’m a bit sad to go, but overall I am more excited about the future than I am sad about leaving Luther. The end of senior year is such a time of mixed emotions. Some of us have plans, some are still unsure of what the future holds. Some of us can’t wait to leave, while some of us can’t wait to return as alums. We feel burdened by the workload but cringe at the thought of saying goodbye to friends we have grown with over the past four years. Some of us feel all of those things at the same time, and it can be hard to relate to one another when we feel so differently about the end. I’ll be moving to D.C. in August, and honestly, I can’t wait to explore a new city and meet new people. I can’t wait to put my education to good use and
experience life, for the first time, as something other than a student. But all my excitement about the future has caused me to lose gratitude for the moment. I’ve let myself become irritated by the little things. I have little patience for my friends, classmates and coworkers. I’m losing my appreciation for a place and people that have been so formative to my growth in countless ways, and then feel guilty that I’m not as nostalgic as everyone else. I have to remember the incredible opportunities and experiences I’ve had here. I’ve been fortunate to be able to build relationships with professors who challenged me academically, and advised me personally when I struggled. I’ve made lifelong friends. I’ve studied abroad three times. I learned another language. I got to work with an amazing and dedicated staff of journalists at Chips, many of whom have become my closest friends. I had the chance to make music with other beautiful human beings through choir. And each year I grew, learned more about myself and experienced all kinds of highs and lows along the way. It’s hard to remember all of that at a time of high stress, but it is so important to remember the bigger picture when everything feels overwhelming. So in this chaotic end, what are the things you are grateful for? Especially to my fellow seniors: what are you grateful for today? We only have a month left in this place. Whether you are terrified at the idea of leaving, or can’t wait to move on to where you’re going, take a moment to think about that. I probably fall into the camp of those who can’t wait for the next chapter, but in this moment, I don’t want to be anywhere but here. I don’t want to look back at this month and regret that I wasn’t fully present. A friend recently connected with former Chips staff member Ethan Groothuis (‘13), whose advice was this: “Good luck with finals and, as special advice from a once-senior, don’t turn down any opportunity to see friends and meet with the professors you enjoyed these last few weeks. It might mean sacrificed sleep or spending some money in some cases but it is so worth it. Too many of my friends regret the times we could have all spent together before going out into the world because they just laid around watching Netflix or sleeping instead. Don’t be one of them!” I wholeheartedly agree with him. So finish the senior papers. Get the work done. But each day from now until the end, do something that will be memorable. Skip the to-go line and eat dinner with that friend you haven’t talked to much this year. Take advantage of these (limited) beautiful sunny days. Most of all, don’t talk about how stressed you are. Talk about this moment. Don’t let stress in the present, or fear of the future, get in the way of gratitude.
“I probably fall into the camp of those who can’t wait for the next chapter, but in this moment, I don’t want to be anywhere but here. I don’t want to look back at this month and regret that I wasn’t fully present.” - Anna Jeide (‘16)
opInIon
pAGe 10 ApRIl 28, 2015
MAnAGInG edItoR: Steve peteRSon
Confusion regarding new dean position on campus Letter to the Editor The announcement of a search for a Dean for Institutional Equity and Inclusion was released last month to a largely receptive Luther community. I initially included myself in this celebration and was proud the school I chose to attend decided to aggressively address the issues and disparities of inclusion, equity and diversity on our campus. My satisfaction faltered slightly when I noticed several voices absent from the celebration, voices that I would have pegged to be on the forefront of what was a perceived victory. I began to ask around and question the position itself. To my surprise, no one could give a lot of information. It seemed most were happily ignorant about the decision and lack of transparency of the position and its upcoming search, so I became happily ignorant myself. After a few weeks, I noticed an increase in conversation about the position, the search and most importantly, the controversies surrounding it. After several conversations with other concerned acquaintances and an emotional meeting with Just Action, I started to worry. What stuck out the most
to me was the lack of student involvement in the knowledge and proceedings of this search. I look back at my happy ignorance and that of others and realize it was not that we were simply blinded by good news, but it was that we had no idea what was going on. In all honesty, I have had many conversations about the process and still am not fully sure what is going on. In my own interpretation, I view a Dean for Institutional Equity and Inclusion as someone who is supposed to represent the beautiful richness of culture and diversity on our campus. So why is the process of defining this position, a position designated by title to represent inclusion, equity and diversity on campus, being shielded from the curious minds of over 2,000 students subject to representation? If the search for candidates begins during the summer, it would be when most students are absent from Decorah and from the opportunity to visit with and vet the finalists. Therefore, I strongly urge the search advisory committee to hold off on hosting candidates until the fall when all students, faculty, and staff, are back on campus and have direct access to potential candidates who are supposed to represent
Luther’s diversity. I will not hide my disappointment in the way this process has unfolded. It seems there is a lot of unnecessary confusion about how the position was created, and it is disheartening that many students are unaware of how to give their input, utilize their influence, and understand the larger issues at stake regarding the nature of this position. Unfortunately, as students, it seems the chance to voice our opinions about the specifics of the position has long passed. However, I urge all of my fellow students to be nothing short of relentless in insisting we be allowed to have influence in the rest of the process, namely, to interact with and vet finalists when they visit campus for interviews, hopefully in the fall semester. Students have just as much at stake in matters pertaining to diversity on campus as anyone else and therefore should be thoroughly involved in the process of selecting a dean intended to promote a campus-climate of inclusion and equity.
“It seems there is a lot of unnecessary confusion about how the postion was created, and it is disheartening that many students are unaware on how to give their input, utilize their influence, and understand the larger issues at stake regarding the nature of this position.” -Rebecka Green (‘19)
Signed, Rebecka Green (‘19)
Higher education: has a focus on profit overidden academic quality? Letter to the Editor The dramatic switch of college campuses from educational institutions to entertainment institutions has little traction in the media or conversation among students. This is because it has slipped in between the cracks, slowly integrating itself into our expectations without notice or objection. With the placement of athletics before academics, administrative focus aimed at bringing in as much money as possible at all costs, and the shift in priorities from the quality of education to the quality of the “college experience,” colleges across the U.S. have become forprofit businesses first and educational institutions second, and it is only getting worse. A serious problem within the college community is the increasing placement of athletics above academics. As a former student-athlete, I am aware of the great benefits that come with participating in athletics as a student. While athletics provide an excellent outlet for students and the community,
their priority status over classes or homework is concerning. Funding is poured into new athletic facilities while faculty numbers are being reduced to save money. Alumni donate large sums to the athletic departments to keep their legacies alive, rather than to uphold the academic viability of our institution. Students are expected to put in hours of practice a day on top of homework and work studies, despite the division three status of Luther. On top of this, students avoid classes at certain times of the day in order to better fit their athletic schedule. Leaving classes early for athletic events or missing class altogether is also common. Additionally, U.S. colleges have trained their focus on constantly increasing profits by making their first priority the acquisition of new students and the pleasing of generous donors, rather than seeking
the best options for their current students, faculty and staff. Tenure-track faculty positions are becoming few and far between as a way to cut costs at universities across the country, making it difficult for qualified candidates to stay in one place for more than one year or earn a reasonable salary. Additionally, the needs or preferences of current students take a back seat to keeping up appearances for prospective students or preserving funds for extra amenities on campus other than academics. When our parents attended college (if our parents were lucky enough to be able to), it is likely that the primary quality they looked for in an institution was the quality of education they would receive. Now, our generation is largely focused on which college will offer them the most up-to-date workout equipment or the best extra-curricular
“U.S. colleges have trained their focus on constantly increasing profits by making their first priority the acquisition of new students and the pleasing of generous donors, rather than seeking the best options for their current students, faculty and staff.” -Makeda Barkely (‘17)
activities. Colleges are forced to continually improve their student entertainment facilities in order to compete with their peer institutions, which takes funding away from their academic departments. Many college websites have become advertising platforms aimed at prospective students rather than functional resources for the current students—Luther is a prime example of this. The issue of entertaining and attracting students has manifested in the form of a bells-andwhistles competition that is infringing on the ultimate mission of our colleges. While I am aware that the quality of education is still a priority in the minds of many students, we have become accustomed to the luxuries of our college campuses morphing into entertainment institutions. When I hear professors conversing about their worries of finding another job because their department is receiving a budget cut and then hear two student-athletes celebrating news of a new state-ofthe-art athletic facility that will cost millions of dollars, I can not help but be concerned about the direction the Norse and every other college are headed in. Signed, Makeda Barkely (‘17)
SpORTS
pAge 11
ApRil 28, 2016
SpORTS eDiTOR: DANNy mAy
Swimming and diving team annouces new head coach
New Head Swimming & Diving Coach and Director of Aquatics Nicole Kaupp. Sidney LarSen STAff WRiTeR Luther announced on Wednesday, March 23 that Washington University’s former assistant coach Nicole Kaupp accepted the position of head swimming & diving coach and director of aquatics for the Norse. She began her coaching duties on April 1. Before coming to Luther, Kaupp served for seven swimming seasons at Washington University in St. Louis, from 2010-2016, where she coached 41 All-Americans who earned 160 All-American honors, including five national championships. She also served as interim head coach for Southwestern University in 2009. According to Kaupp, her motivation to pursue a coaching position at Luther stemmed from a suggestion made by a
parent of one of her swimmers at Washington University. The parent notified her of the job opening after hearing positive feeback about Luther, and Kaupp applied. A search committee, selected by Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Renae Hartl, conducted the hiring process, which involved several steps. The committee included Hartl, Head Women’s Soccer Coach Russ Schouweiler (‘05), Senior Associate Director of Admissions Kirk Neubauer (‘76), Associate Professor of Health & Physical Education and Program Director of Athletic Training Brian Solberg (‘88) and current Luther swimmers Justin Yuan (‘17) and Pilar Dritz (‘18). Hartl explained that each of the committee members was selected based on what they brought to the table. “I like to have another acting head coach [on the committee] and I try to pick the best person
who has some time to put into helping with the search,” Hartl said. “I thought Coach Schouweiler was a great choice for that.” Further, Hartl chose Solberg because of the pertinence of his department to the new coach. Neubauer’s experience with swimming made him a beneficial committee member as well. “I chose Solberg because he is [the] chair of our [Health & Physical Education] department, and the swim coach will be teaching in his department, so I thought it would be great to have that academic component in the evaluation process,” Hartl said. “I picked Neubauer because recruiting is such a big part of this job, and he served Luther as a swim coach back in the day, so he had a little bit more swimming knowledge and gave [an] awesome perspective into things as we discussed the candidates.” Yuan explained the different levels of the lengthy hiring process: six coaches were selected from the initial pool of applicants, and from there the candidates were narrowed down to four. Each candidate came to Luther for interviews and to visit with the team. From those four, Kaupp was selected. The entire swim team was incorporated into the interviews to ensure that the committee selected a coach who fit the team as a whole. “The whole team was invited to meet the candidates when they were on campus,” Hartl said. “Then I worked with [Interim
Sidney Larsen / Chips Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Coach] Bethany Nicoll (‘10) to select a couple kids from each class and each gender to eat lunch with the candidates in a little bit closer of a group so that the candidates could ask the swimmers some questions in a little bit more intimate setting.” In addition to meeting the team during the interviewing process, Kaupp began her career as head coach at Luther by getting to know the swimming and diving team. She felt that meeting with each swimmer and diver individually was an important way to become familiar with team dynamics. “[The interviews] have been great,” Kaupp said. “The meetings have been eye-opening, but in a very positive way. Everyone seems to be asking the right questions and seems excited, and I’m excited to be here.” Yuan was impressed with how involved Kaupp has been from the start of her Luther career. He explained that she began contacting the team as soon as she was able. “She started the day she knew she got the position,” Yuan said. “She emailed the entire team saying that she got it, and then she sent out a questionnaire asking the team about team dynamics and how we interact as a team just to get to know the team. The day she set her foot on campus, she was interacting with the team, getting next year’s program ready. She’s already been very active as head coach,
which is what we like.” Kaupp said that she doesn’t like to set goals for her swimmers, but she instead wants to support the goals that they set together. “In terms of my coaching goals, I would say that I want everyone to swim fast—I want to see a lot of personal best times,” Kaupp said. “I want everyone to accomplish their own goals. I want to support the team and help them achieve the goals that they set as a team. I want to push everyone, and I want to make them become the best athletes that they’re capable of becoming.” Yuan appreciated Kaupp’s willingness to work with the team to meet its own goals, and he expects great things from the new head coach. “I think she’s going to bring intensity,” Yuan said. “She’s already shown that in the few weeks that she’s been here. We’ve done so well in the past at the Liberal Arts Championships, but she’s focused on getting us to the next level, to Nationals, and I think that’s what Luther swimming has been missing for so long.” Overall, Kaupp was very impressed with the Norse and looks forward to her future at Luther. “It’s just a very open, welcoming community where people want to get to know you,” Kaupp said. “It’s great; it’s just a big family.” Nicoll will again serve as assistant coach for the swimming & diving team.
SPORTS
PAGE 12
SPORTS EDITOR: DANNY MAY
APRIL 28, 2016
Track & field teams compete at Augustana
Weekly Standings Softball
#2 Luther Simpson Central Buena Vista Coe Wartburg Loras Dubuque
IIAC 11-1 8-4 7-5 7-5 6-6 4-6 2-10 1-9
Recent Scores
Overall 34-2 29-8 21-13 20-15 24-8 14-22 14-20 8-26
Apr. 23 vs. Central (doubleheader), W 1-0, W 4-0 Apr. 26 vs. Loras (doubleheader), W 15-5, W 2-1
Upcoming Schedule
Apr. 30 @ Simpson (doubleheader), 2:00 PM
Baseball
Wartburg Buena Vista Luther Coe Dubuque Simpson Loras Central
Ryan Schnaith (‘18) strides out during the 800-meter run at the Augustana Meet of Champions. KATRINA MEYER STAFF WRITER The Luther men’s and women’s track & field teams competed at the Augustana Invitational Meet of Champions on April 22-23 in Rock Island, Illinois. In a meet filled with nationally-ranked teams, the women placed eighth out of 12 teams, and the men finished ninth out of 13 teams. The women were carried by several first-place performances. Tricia Serres (‘16) won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:30.07, and Lauren Mordini (‘16) won the 5,000-meter run with a time of 18:11.40 as Luther swept places one through five in the event. Kayla Ingvalson (‘17) finished fifth overall in the heptathlon, scoring 3,584 points, highlighted by first place finishes in the shot put and 800-meter run portions of the event. In the field events, Jackie Hoyme (‘16) placed sixth in the hammer throw at 47.02 meters and third in the discus throw with a toss of 45.47 meters. Top performances for the men included Nick Sigrist (‘18), who finished third in the men’s decathlon, scoring 5,944 points. Alex Streitz (‘19) finished fifth in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:52.12 as the Norse took five of the top 10 places. Lucas Kane (‘18) threw 52.56 meters to place fifth in the javelin throw. John Donovan (‘16) finished sixth in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:58.37, while Jackson Reemstma
(‘19) also finished sixth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.07. Head Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Coach Jeff Wettach (‘79) explained that the high level of competition, which typically includes at least five teams on both the men’s and women’s sides that are nationally ranked in the top-20, elicits strong performances from the Norse. “The competition is incredible [at this meet],” Wettach said. “That’s exciting, because generally that brings out your best performances.” Men’s captain Peter Lillibridge (‘16) compared this meet to a milestone of the season, the Iowa Conference Outdoor Championships. “[The Augustana meet] is a very strong one on our schedule,” Lillibridge said. “All the teams there will be nationally ranked, so we’re going against some really [top-flight] teams in the Midwest. It’s a really good meet for us to go out and perform well. It’s almost like a pre-conference atmosphere, so it’s a really strong meet that we get to be a part of.” Ingvalson added to the importance of starting to prepare for conference at this point in the season. “Our motivation and our mindsets need to start focusing and getting in gear for conference,” Ingvalson said. “With the second half of the outdoor season we really have to set our minds on what we want to accomplish.”
Danny May / Chips
With the meet at Augustana and the second half of the outdoor season, Women’s Mid-Distance/Distance Assistant Coach Yarrow Pasche explained why this point in the season is exciting for the teams. “There’s a lot of people who have been doing some great work,” Pasche said. “It’s really fun when we bring that work level down, and people are able to see the benefits of all the work they put in and get great performances out of it. I think we’re getting into that part of the season, and I think we are all looking forward to that.” Women’s captain Serres agreed and is optimistic about the remainder of the season. “Things come together around this time,” Serres said. “It’s really exciting to see.” Going forward, both the men and women have three meets left before the Iowa Conference Outdoor Championships. Both teams will send select individuals and relay teams to compete at the Drake Relays on Thursday, April 28 through Saturday, April 30 in Des Moines, Iowa. The remainder of the team will again travel to Winona, Minnesota, on Saturday, April 30 to compete in the St. Mary’s Open. Wartburg College will host the Iowa Conference Outdoor Championships on Friday and Saturday, May 12-14 in Waverly, Iowa.
IIAC 17-3 13-5 13-7 10-10 8-12 8-14 6-14 5-15
Overall 24-8 22-8 24-8 14-14 15-17 11-23 12-18 8-24
Recent Scores
Apr. 19 @ Wartburg (doubleheader), W 2-1, L 4-10 Apr. 22-23 @ Coe (two doubleheaders), W 3-0, W 8-3, W 9-2, W 6-5
Upcoming Schedule
Apr. 29-30 vs. Buena Vista (two doubleheaders), 1:00 PM
Women’s Tennis Coe Luther Central Wartburg Simpson Loras Dubuque Buena Vista
IIAC 7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-7
Overall 13-10 14-7 10-4 8-14 5-14 7-11 1-13 0-10-1
Recent Scores
Apr. 24 @ Augustana-Rock Island, L 0-9 Apr. 24 vs. St. Norbert (in Rock Island, Ill.), W 5-4
Upcoming Schedule
Apr. 30 @ Iowa Conference NCAA III AQ Tournament
Men’s Tennis #37 Coe Luther Central Wartburg Loras Dubuque Simpson Buena Vista
IIAC 6-0 4-0 4-2 4-2 2-3 2-5 1-5 1-6
Overall 19-5 15-10 10-8 12-11 9-7 4-16 10-10 2-19
Recent Scores
Apr. 16 @ Loras (in Waverly, Iowa), W 9-0 Apr. 23 vs. Coe, L 1-8
Upcoming Schedule
Apr. 30 @ Central, 9:00 AM