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Vol. 136, No. 14
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A look into Luther’s athletic past Sports 12
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Symposium sports diversity Maddy Kofoed
Staff Writer
Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, community members and guest speakers will take part in Luther College’s Black History Month Symposium, “Sports, Media and Race” Feb. 19-20. The topic of the symposium, which the Diversity Council and the Africana Studies department choose, changes each year. It has ranged from AfricanAmerican futurists to honoring jazz musician Duke Ellington. Diversity Center Executive Director Sheila Radford-Hill has coordinated the symposium for the last 11 years. “There’s quite a bit of misunderstanding about the relationship between genetics and athletic performance, and we wanted to explore that topic,” Radford-Hill said. David Epstein, a sports researcher and investigative journalist, will give the opening plenary lecture at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Epstein, an avid runner himself, conducted in-depth genetic research in genetic laboratories around the world while writing a book, “The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance.” “When the human genome was first sequenced a decade ago, there was this idea that many things about us would be determined by one single gene,” Epstein said. “But that turned out not to be the case. Genes turned out to be much more complex. They function in networks; they’re responsive to the environment. I think the media and some scientists still haven’t caught up to [that] fact.” Epstein’s lecture, “Dangerous Dichotomies: Nature versus Nurture and Athleticism versus Intellect,”
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Game on. Ian Carstens (‘14) curated the show “Who’s Playin’ Who,” which explores the Black History Month Symposium’s theme of “Sports, Media and Race” through the perspectives of student and community artists. will address the danger of the cultural notion that athleticism and intellect are inversely proportional. “I hope that one thing people walk away [with] is that the world doesn’t work in these kind of ‘eitheror’ dichotomies. It’s much more complex, and we need to treat it that way,” Epstein said. University of Minnesota Professor of Sociology Douglas Hartmann will give the second plenary
lecture, “Race, Sport and Media: Lessons from the 1968 Olympics, Rush Limbaugh and Bill Clinton and Midnight Basketball.” Hartmann authored “Race, Culture and the Revolt of the Black Athlete: 1968 Olympic Protests and Their Aftermath.” Sports, media and race continued on page 4
Immersion Program renewed Spencer Hodge
students will be made available on the
Staff Writer admissions website.”
Due to concerns of safety, scheduling and staffing, the future was unclear for the 2014 First-Year Immersion Program. After addressing these issues on Monday, Feb. 17, the President’s Cabinet ultimately decided to continue the program. “The program has been approved for continuation for 2014,” Vice President for Communications and Marketing Rob Larson said. “There are some operational matters that will need to be worked out by the group leading the program before details are announced. Those matters should get addressed in the next few business days and shortly after that, information for prospective
Many students who have participated in past programs note their support for the program. “Without these trips I would have been so uncomfortable during the first week of classes,” Deveny Miles (‘17) said. “I’m quiet and not a very outgoing person so making friends would have been difficult, but thankfully I had my whole immersion group that I already knew to hang out with.” Miles participated -Rob Larson in a bike trip through northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota. Over the course of six days, she and nine other students biked more than one hundred miles,
“The program has been approved for continuation for 2014.”
Photo courtesy of Maddy Craig
Rolling forward. First-Year Immersion will continue in 2014. A group from the 2013 program biked throughout northeast Iowa and southern Minnesota.
First-Year Immersion continued on page 4
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2
February 20, 2014
Monologues speak for women Matt Helm
Staff Writer
Over Valentine’s Day weekend, the production of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” added the voices of Luther students to One Billion Rising’s call for justice. One Billion Rising is a global movement in response to the violence that one out of every three women faces in her lifetime, taking Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to celebrate women’s empowerment. Michael Ehrecke (‘15) and Marley Crossland (‘15) collaborated as co-directors to bring “The Vagina Monologues” to life on the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall stage. “I attended the ‘Monologues’ last year and it really resonated with me and made me so much more aware of society’s tendencies to oppress women,” Ehrecke said. “I knew I wanted to be involved in some way besides just attending. I’m at a point in my life where I’ve talked the talk a lot, and I’m really trying to walk the walk.” “The Vagina Monologues” are a collection of more than 200 women’s experiences and stories concerning sexuality and womanhood. The monologues cover a wide range of emotions, including the daily frustrations that women face. “I love the monologue called ‘My Angry Vagina,’” Crossland said. “Finally, somebody is saying it. Somebody is saying all of this sh*t that we have to put up with in relation to the monitoring of our bodies.” The cast had only a week of rehearsal to put together a full-fledged production. Each performer put in time on her own to learn and memorize her monologue, as well as work on her own interpretation of it. “You don’t want to have too many rehearsals,” Crossland said. “It keeps the stories fresh. You gain something from the women who inspired the message. When you are on stage, you are feeling out that person’s story.” Some of the monologues are controversial. For instance, the one Grace Swanson (‘14) performed takes a word many people refuse to say and repeats it over and over again. “My monologue, ‘Reclaiming C**t,’ is the one the audience traditionally responds to the worst,” Swanson said. “C**t is seen as a really derogatory
Rising for justice. word, so in an effort to get the audience to respond to it better, I [did] a more humorous take on it.” Other monologues discuss issues that affect women all over the world. Zora Hurst (‘17) performed “My Vagina Was My Village,” a piece that left the audience in stunned silence. “I always hope that I’m honoring the speaker properly,” Hurst said. “It is about the mass rape of Bosnian women during the war. People use rape as a political tactic. It is really disgusting, but this kind of violence is happening now.” The performance concluded with a call to action and a dance by the entire cast to the song “Break the Chain” by Tena Clark and Tim Heintz. “I love the dance so much,” Ehrecke said. “The show contains some intense, dark moments, but the dance is a celebration of the progress that has been made. It is a reminder to keep dancing, to keep moving and to keep talking.” Proceeds from the event were donated to Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, a non-profit organization that provides aid for women and children suffering from domestic violence, as well as to the Eve Ensler Foundation. “The donation is a tangible way to pay the love forward by helping women who are in a time of need,” Ehrecke said. For more information about the movement, visit onebillionrising.org.
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Lecture discusses humanity vs. other
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Life Outside Luther
Compiled by: Brita Moore News Editor
Ethiopian co-pilot hijacks plane to Geneva
*** Older Americans are early winners under health law
early winners under the nation’s new health insurance system.
***
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Science and literature collide.
Katie Wolter
Staff Writer
About 75 people filled the seats of the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall the evening of Feb. 18 to hear Associate Professor of Biology Eric Baack and Assistant Professor of English Andy Hageman present “Other from An Other Other,” a Paideia lecture involving sciencefiction films with human-alien encounters. “We’re using science-fiction films and thinking about when there are aliens interacting with humans and where there are scientists among the humans,” Baack said. “What does that tell us about science, about scientists, about the role of science in society?” The lecture was a collaborative approach to science-fiction films like “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” “Dark City” and “Alien.” “Part of what inspired the project for both of us was thinking about how someone with a strong science background and somebody who does literary and film studies
professionally would come at the same text,” Hageman said. Along with discussing how science-fiction films reflect attitudes and perceptions about society, Baack focused on how the films portray scientists and what this portrayal says about relationships between the common society and the scientific community. “The combination of humans and aliens and scientists together can ... lead to some interesting thinking about how we view scientists and how scientists view ourselves,” Baack said. While science fiction films have often been analyzed extensively, Hageman focused on a new way of learning that can be gained from these films. “It’s not new to say science fiction with aliens actually -Eric Baack teaches us a lot about ourselves,” Hageman said. “It is new to say what does it teach us about our perceptions of scientists, and how science functions in sort of what you might call the social imaginary.” The lecture also focused on questions of humanity within these films. “Through the representation of scientists we start to understand how somebody like Eric or the scientists in the movies ... get represented,” Hageman said. “How they present their stories to the general public is very crucial to how those things impact the sense of our humanity and also what it means to act in humane ways toward others whether they are human or not.”
“We’re using
*** U.N. letter to Kim Jong Un warns on accountability
when there are aliens
among the
*** Runaway snowball slams into college residence hall
News Compiled from: http://hosted.ap.org
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
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4 THIS WEEK IN
HISTORY (2/20-2/26)
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2/20/1962 - John Hershel Glenn Jr. is successfully launched into space aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft on the first orbital flight by an American astronaut. 2/21/1848 - The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx with the assistance of Friedrich Engels, is published in London by a group of German-born revolutionary socialists known as the Communist League. 2/22/1985 - In one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympic history, the underdog U.S. hockey team defeats the four-time defending gold-medal winning Soviet team at the XIII Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York. 2/23/1732 - George Washington is born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. An initially loyal British subject, Washington eventually led the Continental Army in the American Revolution and became known as the father of the United States. 2/24/1868 - The U.S. House of Representatives votes 11 articles of impeachment against President Andrew Johnson.The House vote made President Johnson the first president to be impeached in U.S. history.
February 20, 2014
Symposium covers sports, race Sports, media and race continued from page 1
The symposium will also feature Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Thomas Johnson, producer of the Emmy-winning program “Windy City LIVE” Jane Hunter (‘03) and former Luther Assistant Football Coach Benny Boyd. Luther student Ian Carstens (‘14) will discuss the art exhibit “Who’s Playin’ Who,” featuring pieces by Brian Nnaoji (‘14), Jenna McGee (‘15), Jacob “LeRoy” Smith (‘16) and Decorah artist Tom Sheppard at the end of the symposium. The exhibit in the upper level of the Center for Faith and Life highlights themes of the symposium, such as the United States’ socio-political memory and cultural health. Radford-Hill noted the importance of recognizing Black History Month. “It’s a time when we recognize the particular challenges, issues, opportunities and contributions, just to be more aware,” Radford-Hill said. “In a broadly pluralized and diverse society, I think it behooves us to be aware of how valuable our out how we’re going to make the most of them.”
First-Year Immersion continues in 2014 First-Year Immersion continued from page 1
stopping for rests at local restaurants, campgrounds, mini golf courses, archery ranges and the beach. Members of the group reported appreciation for the opportunity to build community while scrambling between these various activities.
“I wouldn’t have the friends, connections and experiences I have now if I did not go on the Immersion trip,” Kelly Dawson (‘17) said. “And I also realized I can bike thirty miles a day!” Students from other Immersion trips pulled similarly positive experiences from their time together. Joshua Weisenburger (‘17) participated in a canoe trip in the Boundary
Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. “It was a nice thing to be able to do before we came to campus and got involved in all the daily hectic stuff,” Weisenburger said. “Being able to get a jumpstart on getting integrated into the community at Luther is more valuable than anyone could put a price on. It would suck if they cancelled them. Big time.”
2/25/1870 - Hiram Rhoades Revels, a Republican from Natchez, Mississippi, is sworn into the U.S. Senate, becoming the first African American ever to sit in Congress. 2/26/1935 - Nazi leader Adolf Hitler signs a secret decree authorizing the founding of the Reich Luftwaffe as a third German military service to join the Reich army and navy. Courtesy of http://infoplease.com, http://histoy.com
Photo courtesy of Maddy Craig
The great outdoors. Many participants of the 2013 First-Year Immersion Program spent the week camping together.
BREAKFAST ALL DAY! M t W th F s Su
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W
of the
Week boondoggle
“Nothing fancy, just good food”
noun
817 Mechanic St. Decorah 52101
1. work of little or no value done merely to keep or look busy.
\boon-dog-uh l\
Arts & Entertainment
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February 20, 2014
The Wiz is back
Photo courtesy of Mark Kartarik
Music from Minneapolis to Decorah. (From left) General B and The Wiz band members Erik Wadman (‘12), Kevin Coughenour, Seth Duin (‘12), Kai Brewster(‘13) and Quincy Voris (‘12) look forward to returning to Decorah and playing at Smiley’s on the River in front of fans from the community.
Luther alums of indie band General B and The Wiz return to Decorah to share their music and new EP “Lie Until You Prove It.” Jenna Nelson
of fun and if it’s as fun for you as it is for the audience, then
Staff Writer
Luther-born band General B and The Wiz is returning home this Friday, Feb. 21 for their set at Smiley’s on the River. The
to a band that has evolved since graduation scene. Quincy Voris (‘12) and guitarist Seth
music, and that turned into General B and
scene.
“Jam with your roommates, have a ton of fun and if it’s as fun for you as it is for the audience, then you’ve got somthing.” -Quincy Voris (‘12)
stand out. Photo courtesy of Mark Kartarik
Jammin’. Kai Brewster (‘13) and Quincy Voris (‘12) playing during the band’s EP release party in October.
can listen to albums and read their blog.
Photo courtesy of Mark Kartarik
Guitar wizards. Seth Duin (‘12) and Kevin Coughenour playing during a set at Nomad World Pub in Minneapolis.
spring
career fair thursday, march 6, 2014 • 10 a.m.–3 p.m. • main lounge, dahl centennial union All students are invited to attend.
The Career Center Second floor, Dahl Centennial Union (563) 387-1025 career@luther.edu http://career.luther.edu
LUTHER COL
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February 20, 2014
Featu
Black History Month
Active in the past and present.
Undercover love Chips Carrie Juergens
Staff writer
It was a Friday night. My heart pounded and my palms were sweaty as I prepared to take the stage. This could be the night to end it all. This could be the night that I find my true love. Or an awesome cup of coffee. Either way. The Dating Game has been going on at Luther as part of the Valentine’s Day events on campus for the past four years. SAC Special Events Co-Chairs Meg Ostrem (‘16) and Krista Anderson (‘16) were excited to be in charge of the event and at the prospect of making matches among Luther students. “We [were] especially excited about this year because it [was] on Valentine’s Day,” Anderson said. “It’s something for people to hang out with their friends, or find their one true love. That’s what I always do on my Friday nights.” Ostrem differed slightly in her opinion of the game. “It’s just a fun event for students,” Ostrem said. But Ostrem did emphasize The Dating Game’s impressive credibility. “I would say that this is better than Match.com,” Ostrem said. “But I don’t know anything about Match. com. It’s probably better than Tinder, too.” Those who lost the chance at love still received a
consolation prize. often “difficult” in nature to find out what a person is “Each of the contestants [got] a gift card to Magpie,” like. Anderson and Ostrem had informed me beforehand Ostrem said. “The bachelors and bachelorettes [got] of the kinds of questions the bachelor would ask. $10 gift cards, and each of the contestants will get “They’ll ask the hard questions,” Anderson $5 gift cards. You don’t win or lose, it’s really said. “They’ll ask, ‘Cats or dogs?’ That says just for fun.” a lot about a person, you know.” There I was, shaking in my boots, knowing The first question that our bachelor that love was right around the corner, asked us was what we would do to impress or, rather, the panel separating us on the him. stage. The other contestants gave me the once over, each woman confident that they would be the one to win the bachelor’s heart. I was rooting for myself, of course, but could see that each woman had her own admirable qualities. Top Banana acted as master of ceremonies for The Dating Game, and added another level of brevity to the festivities. They read off shout outs to people in the audience that their friends had written, some talking about how attractive a friend or crush was, some included invitations for rendezvous afterwards and some were blatantly sexual. Questions asked were Crazy little thing called love.
Jac cook “I’d (‘16) Bring “I’d comp I re secre We Many the e I did girls, goose wom thoug It can th c
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February 20, 2014
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h prompts discussion While this may be true for some, others feel black history is not amount of time to dedicate to black history, and that the exploration and investigation of black history should be prevalent year-round. “There should be black history all through the year,” Anderson Hannah Butler Staff writer said. “It is not enough to go to one event once a year.” Whether or not Black History Month is underrated, Radford-Hill advocates February as a learning opportunity. Black History Month remains an important occasion for not just “Today, I think that Black History Month is an opportunity to Luther students but all people regardless of their race. Events for rededicate ourselves and recommit ourselves to understand what Black History Month take place every year at Luther College to our culture is about,” Radford-Hill said. celebrate the month and remember the history of American people, Langason also encourages students to and this year students are showing more make the most of Black History Month. interest due to the revival of the Black “Take some time to understand the Student Union. The Black Student Union African and African-American journey in disbanded three years ago due to lack of America,” Langason said. “I think if we interest, but has once again become a SAC don’t have time to celebrate the hardships approved group this year. and celebrate how far we’ve come, then Chelanga Langason (‘16) is one of the we are robbing the people of what they members of the newly-revived Black deserve. Hundreds of years of slavery, Student Union and commented on Black discrimination and oppression … to be in History Month’s relevance to everyone. 2014 where we can sit here and have this “Learning the history is important for all conversation is amazing. And if we don’t students,” Langason said. “It’s an important -Sheila Radford-Hill celebrate that, we are doing a disservice to history to learn because it’s an important every African and African-American who part of American history.” worked so hard, who fought so this could Executive Director of the Diversity Center Sheila Radford-Hill happen.” believes this idea may be growing on campus. Regarding the upcoming events on campus, Radford-Hill “Students have become more involved and more engaged in the describes the Black History Month Symposium as a day-and-aidea that black history is about them,” Radford-Hill said. half long opportunity to consider the tremendous impact black In spite of this rising awareness, the problematic mentality that history has made in American culture, and to remind ourselves of Black History Month is not for everyone still remains an issue. those people who helped make that impact. She encourages all to Radford-Hill expressed that this sentiment may be present on attend the lectures, visit the art exhibits and read the various books campus, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and available. History Lauren Anderson speculated that perhaps Luther’s small
“
black population leaves some students feeling that Black History month is over-emphasized.
er
cy Mahoney (‘16) answered, “I’d bake you ies.” d practice my pickup lines on you,” Sondra Burns ) said. I thought that was an effective tactic. ging the heat is always a good choice. d shower,” Ally Klug (‘16) said. I considered that a pliment. Let’s be honest, people, we’re in college. esponded that I’d make him dinner, because I’m etly a domestic goddess. e continued in this manner for several rounds. y witticisms arose, but I had my eye on the prize entire time. However the prize kept evading me. dn’t get to answer as many questions as the other , as the bachelor kept skipping over me. The silly e was probably overwhelmed to have so many men fawning over him. I wasn’t worried about it, gh. I knew I was doing well, regardless. came time for the bachelor to whittle down ndidates, and I took a deep breath. He kept implying hat he was going to eliminate me, first eliminating contestants 2 and 3. But then something very surprising happened. In the end, Ben Coady (‘17) turned out to be the bachelor and to my surprise he chose Top Banana Master of Ceremonies Neal Abbot as the victor. As sad as I was, at the end of the day, I did still have a $5 gift card to Magpie. Yum.
Find me somebody to love!
on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
February 20, 2014
Arts & Entertainment
8
Center Stage ablaze Luther to perform “Fahrenheit censorship and technology. Anna Jeide
Staff Writer
This Friday, performers from Aquila Theatre plan to ignite the stage with Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” a stage adaptation of Bradbury’s dystopian novel. First published in 1953, “Fahrenheit 451” deals with themes of censorship, technology culture and conformity. “‘Fahrenheit 451’ is a classic text,” Director of Campus Programming Tanya Gertz said. “[It] also has a number of fascinating connections to the world we live in today that hopefully can create some rich and engaging campus conversations.” The story is told through the eyes of protagonist Guy Montag, a fireman whose job is to burn outlawed books. In Montag’s world, books are deemed useless and devoid of all value. He does not question his role in burning books until he meets a young woman named Clarisse, who challenges his assumptions about society. Montag grows skeptical of what he has been taught to believe as true: that books have no value. As his curiosity grows, he begins to see a correlation between people’s addiction to technology and the shallowness of human relationships. “This is particularly relevant in our world today, and I think [it] has to challenge us to think about how technology might influence our lives–and what we will claim that gives our lives, communities and relationships meaning,” Gertz said. Due to the novel’s popularity, Bradbury wrote the script for a stage adaptation in the 1960s. Audiences have the opportunity to experience the story through the lens of theater, which may offer new perspectives and insight into the themes of the novel. It is this adaptation that will be presented to Luther College by the Aquila Theatre.
Fired up. The stage adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s novel “Fahrenheit 451” features a dystopian society where “[They] are distinctive in that they use simple through Montag’s search for answers. sets–a few pieces may be used in multiple and clever “Maybe this is a call from the past for us to see [ways],” Gertz said. [the current] transition we seem to be in,” Assistant In addition to the performance, Professor of English Andrew a mural is being created to further Hageman said. “Maybe it can give conversation about themes from us some provocations and insights “Maybe this is a call “Fahrenheit 451.” Gertz describes as to thinking about what kind of from the past to see how community members are decisions we want to make about contributing to the mural by [the current] transition the fate of the paper print book answering the question, “If Art, today.” we seem to be in.” Music and Literature were banned, Students are encouraged to arrive what would you commit to memory -Andrew Hageman at 6:30 p.m. on the night of the show so it would not be lost?” to join the cast in the CFL Recital The mural will be in the CFL Hall for a discussion regarding the on Friday, Feb. 21 for Luther students and staff to significant aspects of the work. The performance will contribute to. begin at 7:30 in the Main Hall. Tickets, free with Bradbury’s work forces audiences to question CAF and $15 without, can still be purchased through the connections between technology and literature the Box Office.
From the Stork’s nest: “The Wolf of Wall Street” Andrew Stork
Photo courtesy of IMDb
Drugs, sex and money. Leonardo DiCaprio plays real–life stockbroker Jordan Belfort, a man whose incredible road to success is marked with corruption, crime and scandal.
three things consistently: drugs, sex and
Film Critic lots of money.
“Obscene” and “crazy” best come to mind after experiencing the cinematic journey that is “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Directed by legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese, the movie feels like “Goodfellas” in a Wall Street context, taking the true story of former stockbroker Jordan Belfort, played by DiCaprio, and unveiling it to the audience through dark, comedic glamorization. Narrated by DiCaprio, the film portrays Belfort’s outrageous career trajectory to the audience as though the devil was reading his favorite picture book. It’s possible that greed has never been more exposed or glamorized at the theater, which for the most part benefits the film. The film barely scrapes by with it’s R–rating, as the audience is constantly forced to readjust their limits for how morally corrupt the characters can become. The film doesn’t hold back, fueled with elements that draw us to
The overabundance of these elements promote an odd combination of anger and fascination within the viewers. The overexposure of mature themes makes the film suffer at times, becoming excessive after the first hour. Along with the lack of a redeeming force to compete with Belfort’s injustice, the film fails to balance good versus evil within humanity or our financial system, limiting the territory of the questions it wishes to pose. Yet the insistent nature of the film is what makes Scorsese’s work succeed, as such satire forces a discomfort on the viewer that challenges them to think deeply about important questions in our world today. DiCaprio arguably gives his greatest performance to date. Bold is his portrayal of Belfort,
he exploits an absolute hatred for a character you can’t keep our eyes off of. The film has been nominated for multiple awards, including five Oscars. It’s success can also be attributed to the performances of the other cast members, which include Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie and Matthew McConaughey. The antonym of a “feel good” movie, this film is not for everyone and its intensity cannot be underscored. But even if its mature content distracts viewers, one may discover it a necessary evil, forcing the audience to confront their discomfort and inspire a need for self–reflection. Grade: B+
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Opinion
February 20,2014
Why I chose the Greek life
As I enter my second semester of my junior year here at Luther I find myself feeling happy, healthy and excited about life. I go to a great school, am looking forward to all of my classes and am surrounded by good people. I also happen to find myself currently the leader of my sorority, Tau Delta Gamma. This is another reason that I feel life is good at this point, even through all the trials and tribulations of being part of a group that tries to corral 30 + independent women into doing group activities. But wow, do I love those crazy kids, every last one of them. If you had told me in high school that I would end up president of a sorority in college, I would have snorted obnoxiously and waved the idea away with
a flick of my double-jointed wrist. Now that I find myself in the position, however, I’m glad and proud to be representing this group of incredible women that make up part of Luther’s campus. My freshman year a friend spent way too much time trying to convince me to join this sorority: “All you have to do is dress up wacky for a month.” No friggin’ way, I thought, I have enough going on here trying to deal with the transition from high school to college. But somehow fall semester came along and I got dragged along to the teas (which were hilarious and awkward) and found myself wearing a green cape that resembled something the Grinch’s wife would wear come October of my sophomore - Kristen year. And I loved it. There were a few parts of pledge month that made me think “no friggin’ way” all over again and there is always room for improvement when it comes to activities like this, but there was always someone there, an active member of Tau Delts or another pledge who would poke me in the ribs and say, “come on, you know we’re worth it.” And they were right. Within Tau Delta Gamma I have met the most organized, craziest, least appropriate people I know,
and I am proud to call some of them my best friends and all of them my sisters. I chose to pledge because I was looking to meet all these kinds of people, and specifically new people who would all be interested in my betterment during my years of college and I honestly feel that I have met them in Tau Delta Gamma. As they say, if you can’t handle the heat, get outta the kitchen, so if you join a sorority expecting everything to be cookie cutter perfect and fun a la Legally Blonde, don’t. There are tough parts about being in a sorority and many valuable opinions that don’t always line up. I t’s a fluid and changing group with goals to make every year better, more fun Syverud (‘15) and more appealing, not only to us but also to the community of Luther College. Being in a sorority is not all roses and butterflies, but every once and a while when you’re having a really terrible, horrible, no good, dirty rotten day, it’s a pretty good feeling knowing that you can text/call/send out a dinner invite to 30 + people and most of them will say, “of course, when and where?”
changing group with goals to make every year better, more fun and more appealing...”
- Kristen Syverud (‘15)
“Let’s shake things up” Congratulations! You are now reading the inaugural installment of the Luther College Student Senate Column! For the remainder of this school year, the Student Senate intends to publish a column in each issue of Chips (provided that the wonderful editors of this fine publication continue to put up with us). The goal of this column
is twofold: first, to inform students of the activities of the Senate; and second, to elicit feedback regarding the issues that come before the Senate, ideally engendering vibrant debate around these issues. For example, the Senate has recently wrestled with how to improve the offcampus and upper-classmen housing
Spring fever
application process, while upholding don’t have much power at all. Typically, our identity as a residential college the best we can do is make suggestions and respecting Luther’s budgetary to the college administration and board. need to fill beds on campus. We have But, with enough support/outcry/ wondered whether the ranking system wailing and gnashing of teeth from the through which housing selection and student body, it’s amazing what can be class registration occurs should be changed! altered; should high school credits be I must admit: I hope that this column included? We have stirs the pot. I hope fielded complaints that this column regarding the alcohol provokes vigorous policy, specifically debate. I hope in Farwell clusters. that this column We have adjusted empowers Luther to new board plans students with along with the greater knowledge rest of the student of college policies body, explored the and how those feasibility of changes policies could and so much more! change. I hope But for Student that through Senate to affect vibrant, campuspositive change, we wide engagement -Paul Esker (‘14) in need your input and discussion engagement in the of important ongoing conversation issues, we can on how to make pursue a better Luther a great place to be a student! Luther College. That’s because I hate Whether you come to chat with us at stagnation. I get frustrated with treading our 9:45 a.m. Thursday meetings in the water. Let us reject stagnation and Loyalty Hall Board Room or send in a instead push forward! Let’s question letter to the editor of Chips, we want tradition. Let’s actively pursue our to hear your thoughts on the student aspirations. Let’s shake things up. experience at Luther College! I certainly do not want to imply that Best, Student Senate has the power to do Paul Esker (‘14) whatever we want; in most cases, we Student Senate President
“But for Student Senate to affect positive change, we need your input and engagement in the ongoing conversation...”
Spencer Hodge/Chips
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
Opinion
February 20, 2014
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 or columns do not necessarily represent the views of the Chips staff. The author is solely responsible for opinions expressed in Chips commentary. Chips will not accept submitted articles or campus announcements. Submissions for letters to the editor should be submitted as a word document to chipsedt@luther.edu with “Letter to the Editor” as the subject line. Letters to the editor are subject to editing without changing the meaning of of changes prior to publishing. Letters must be signed, 300-400 words and submitted by Sunday at 5 p.m. the week before publication. Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor. Contact Chips Phone: 563.387.1044 Fax: 563.387.2072 E-mail: chipsedt@luther.edu Advertising: chipsads@luther.edu website: http://lutherchips.com Facebook: facebook.com/LutherChips Twitter: @LutherChips
Focus on things that matter my friends and classmates critique their appearances and obsess over their minor
my eyes drift towards the imperfections in my appearance. I automatically focus on the disproportionate length of my neck, teeth. I can’t help but compare the image I see staring back at me to those of the women I see everyday around campus and in the media. I am not alone. The average woman has thirteen negative thoughts about her body or appearance each day. These criticisms not only lead to decreased self-esteem and poor body image, but also to dangerous dieting behaviors that can have negative impacts on physical and mental health. There is no doubt Luther students match or exceed the national average in body and appearance criticisms. Everyday I witness
Associated Collegiate Press Best of Midwest 2014 Publication Website, second place Best of Show, fourth place
personal attitudes and comments. All too common are phrases such as “I want to lose ten pounds” or “wow she gained some our lives, do we as college students allow weight.” Even compliments like “You look negative thoughts great in those jeans” about our appearances and other comments dominate our minds? emphasizing personal Much of the blame appearance reinforce for our preoccupation our obsession with with physical beauty. If all we attractiveness has ever reinforce in our been attributed to friends and classmates the media and the is their appearance, unrealistic ideal that is no wonder we are presented to us via the always thinking about internet, television, the way we look. movies, etc. Images What if the key to of alarmingly thin accepting ourselves women and toned lies in consciously - Christina Scharmer (‘14) changing the way understanding of we think and talk? what it means to Instead of focusing on be beautiful. These the negative aspects images aren’t going away. Although of our looks, think about the amazing small changes have been made by some things your body is capable of. Tell your fashion designers and magazines, realistic friends things that you appreciate about depictions of average bodies and faces them as a person and comment on their remain exceptions to the norm. accomplishments rather than their looks. With so much emphasis on the We as Luther students do so many great contribution of the media to our self-esteem things, so let’s focus on our excellence and appraisal of appearance, a second, in athletics, music and academics and
“There is no doubt Luther students match or exceed the national average in body and appearance criticisms.”
our ideas of beauty and attractiveness is ignored. This component consists of our
others. - Christina Scharmer (‘14)
Editorial
Let go of the “Africanized” cover
Spring 2014 Staff Editor-in-Chief....................Ingrid Baudler Managing Editor........................Jayne Cole News Editors....................Walker Nyenhuis Brita Moore Features Editor....................Casey DeLima A&E Editor.....................Maggie Steinberg Sports Editor.............................Julia Joseph Staff Writers....................Meredith Bruster Abby Carpenter Hannah Garry Matt Helm Elizabeth Hurley Anna Jeide Carrie Juergens Maddy Kofoed Luke Manderfeld Bailey Mulholland Jenna Nelson Katie Wolter Head Copy Editor........Cameron Meyferth Copy Editors...........................Emily Crowe Bethany Seavers Templeton Ad Representative..........Lauren Meintsma Ad Accountant.....................Sam Matheson Photography Coordinator..Casey DeLima Photographer.....................Abby Carpenter Web Manager...........................Noah Lange Design Technician..................Bjorn Myhre Web Technician........................Isaac Davis Social Media Director.............Alex Catena Circulation Manager................Tess Wilson Adviser.....................................David Faldet
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Casey DeLima
News Editor
“Wow! This is so great and creative!” “This is CRAZY good!” These were some of the captions posted on Facebook with the video of the “Africanized” “tribal” cover of “Let It Go” from Disney’s “Frozen.” Those were not the thoughts that came to me as I watched the video, however. Sure, that little girl sang well enough and it sounded kind of cool, but instead of being left in awe like many of my Facebook friends, I was more or less disgusted by how offensive it was. The cover was created and performed by One Voice Children’s Choir, Alex Boyé and Lexi Walker. One Voice Children’s Choir is often recognized for their 2002 Olympics performance. The choir is comprised of children ages 5 to 18 that come from Wasatch Front, the metropolitan area in northeast Utah. All of the members in this choir can therefore be considered
American. The lead vocals are sang by Lexi Walker, an 11-year-old resident of Salt Lake City. Alex Boyé, the creator of the video, is of Nigerian descent but was born and raised in Great Britain. Although an interesting layer to the controversy, the problem with this is not that an American choir is singing the cover, but the cultural ignorance portrayed. For one, Africa is not a country. It’s a continent that has 53 independent countries, representing about a fourth of the countries in the world. To say that this video is “Africanized” is a stretch. Ethnic groups in the African continent number in the
thousands, and yet this video takes a language that remains only the term African. People are not learning about these cultures, but instead only getting one skewed representation. From the wooden mask huddled in a wall of ice to the choir of children with circles of white face paint on their cheeks, I couldn’t help but feel that they weren’t representing the depth of culture that Africa provides the world. I hardly feel that a little added percussion as well as a few phrases being sang in a language that we’re left to believe is simply “African” makes something
“Africanized.” There is also something harmful about using the word “tribal.” The words “tribe” and “tribal” have been often used as a derogatory term and have been thought of as a synonym of “primitive.” Whether they meant it that way or not, it that way, which is again, problematic. I’ve never been well versed in music, so I guess I can’t really say whether this new cover has musical value. However, I do know that calling this cover “Africanized” and “tribal” is ridiculous and offensive for multiple reasons.
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
Sports
February 20, 2014
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Men’s basketball prepares for conference Luke Manderfeld Staff Writer As the Luther men’s basketball season comes to an end, they look forward to the all-important Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Tournament starting on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The tournament will decide who represents the IIAC at nationals this year. Luther, currently sitting in third place in the conference at 7-5, is still trying to hold onto one of the top seeds to be able above fourth-place Loras with two games left in the season. In order to stay at the top of the conference, Luther needs to where they rank fourth in the IIAC at 77 points per game. “We are one of the top teams [in the conference] in scoring,” Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mark Franzen said. “When you score points like that, it gives us a shot against any team that we face.” They also look to build on the recent wins that they have collected over the last few weeks. They have won seven of their last eight games and had a six-game winning streak before dropping a game to Coe College on Feb. 12. “We got a rhythm going with our offense and defense right now,” Franzen said. “Really, our focus is on continuing the
Huddle up. momentum we have on both ends of the court.” The team still believes that they could improve on a few parts of their game before entering the tournament. out how to get defensive stops,” Luther foward Brian Nnaoji
(‘14) said. “The games that we have lost we weren’t able to stop them effectively.” Defense will be one of the main factors over the last two games because they will be seeing some high scoring teams in the University of Dubuque and Central College, who are second and third in the conference in scoring, respectively. Luther looks to some of their leaders on the team to cap off a great season and to lead them through the tournament. John Androus (‘14), one of the top players in the IIAC, is one of those leaders. He ranks among the top ten in the conference in scoring (17.5), rebounds (7.5) and assists (2.87) and is one of the team’s co-captains. Jake Martin (‘16) has been one of the team’s consistent players. Transferring to Luther this year, he has stepped up to make an impact. He ranks 11th in the IIAC in scoring (13) and second in rebounding (8.9). The most important thing to the team going into the tournament is to play their best every time they step on to the court. “We want to compete the whole 40 minutes we are on the court,” Nnaoji said. “Just play our game on both ends of the court.” Luther will look to end their season on the right note to bring momentum into the IIAC tournament. They play University of Dubuque at home on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m.
Women place first, men second at LAC Hannah Garry &
Staff Writer
Julia Joseph Sports Editor
Spotlight on Sochi Julia Joseph Sports Editor
Friday highlights:
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“Everyone swam out of their
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Luther legends Black History Month celebrates Luther athletes that made an impact.
February 20, 2014 Weekly Standings
Luther Buena Vista
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Bailey Mulholland
Volunteer writer Upcoming schedule:
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A step toward greatness. Alex Rowell (‘68) pitched for Luther college.
Luther Buena Vista
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Norse of the Week Julia Joseph
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Sports Editor What do you enjoy most about being
Austin Bauer (‘14), known on the track Recent scores:
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Chips: Do you have any pre-race rituals? How do you guys get each other ready before a race as a team in such an individualized sport? What is your favorite race to compete in?
Courtesy of Ally Fillmore
Austin Bauer’s (‘14) form and beard were perfected during his four years.
What meet are you most looking forward to this season?
What was your mindset going into Saturday’s 3,000meter?
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on Saturday? Have you made any changes this year to improve?
What is the most helpful coaching tip you can get before a race? How has your workout regime helped you toward the performances you had
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