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LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.�
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As nationwide hazing incidents come to light, Student Life and the Inter-Greek Council consider Luther’s own hazing policy and how it affects Greek organizations on campus. SARAH OWENS STAFF WRITER Student Life is in the process of redesigning Luther’s hazing policy in response to recent incidents at several colleges and universities nationwide. Changes and additions to the policy are being made in collaboration with the Inter-Greek Council (IGC). “The only issue that we’ve had related to Greek life is one group that has been approached about possible hazing activities,� IGC President Margaret Meyer (‘16) said. “That might have been the one little spark that ignited this whole reformation. It wasn’t anything that I personally think is on the level of other hazing events going on in the United States, but Luther has the right to say what they think is considered hazing.� Vice President and Dean for Student Life Corey Landstrom explains that the hazing policy is ambiguous in comparison to the policies of other institutions, a sentiment shared by some members of Luther’s Greek organizations. “There’s a lot of vague language,� Chi Theta Rho member Claire Dembsky
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Greek organizations review hazing policy INITIATION. Alpha Beta Psi members (from left) Genevieve Valley (‘16), Erika Hinz (‘17) and Kalyn Roisum (‘15) participate in an initiation ceremony. ABY is one of the organizations working to clarify Luther’s hazing policy. Photo courtesy of Meghan Owens (‘15) said. “I know our organization has looked at the policy pretty closely and asked what it means. It’s really difficult to know what’s OK and what’s not, because there’s really nothing in it that says what specific activities aren’t OK. You can go as loose or as strict with those rules as you want. It’s difficult to tell where the line is.� Because of the current policy, many groups are unsure of what is acceptable in the eyes of the Luther community. Members of Greek Life stress that they are willing to adapt to the comfort level of their own pledges as well as the wishes
of all other people present at Luther. “There have been instances where administrators and professors weren’t OK with what we do,� Alpha Beta Psi member Kalyn Roisum (‘15) said. “So we’ve had to take that and adapt what we do every semester. Certain people can’t dress up on certain days because some professors don’t like that, which is fine with us. That’s just how it goes. If you don’t support it, that’s OK.� The activities of pledge month, often associated in pop culture with hazing, aren’t meant to turn anyone away or create embarrassment, according to
Film screening prompts discussion on campus ERIN DANIELSON STAFF WRITER Discussions about masculinity were facilitated after the recent screening of the newly released documentary, “The Mask You Live In� on April 8. The event was sponsored by Active Minds, along with several other organizations on campus. Active Minds helped to organize the showing of “Call Me Crazy,� a documentary on mental illness, last year. According to Active Minds President Katie Kovacovich (‘16), the group wanted to show something similar this spring. “We wanted to do another documentary, and the
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Representation Project came out with ‘The Mask You Live In,’� Kovacovich said. “We thought it would tie in super nicely with the panel ‘From Boys to Men’ that we did last semester. It was something Luther College has been talking about, and we thought Active Minds was a perfect organization to help bring this documentary to campus.� Following the movie, 40 viewers remained to participate in community discussion about the film and how it relates to Luther and society in general. “That’s pretty incredible to get an audience—especially one that’s made up of mostly students— to really want to talk about this and stay,� Kovacovich said. “I
was thrilled by the conversation that was brought to the table, the personal stories, ideas for how we can change things and what we see and hear at Luther and in society. I thought it was all wonderful.� The diverse group of students, faculty and community members was one thing that helped the event have an even greater impact, according to Elena Anderson (‘17). “It was really cool to see so many different people from the community come. There was a group of 12-year-old boys sitting right next to me, and I thought that was really cool that they came out and had this experience,� Anderson said. THE MASK YOU LIVE IN, PAGE 4
Roisum and other Greek representatives. “We don’t care if people know that we’re in a fraternity. What we’re trying to do is to shape pledges and create an environment for people to be themselves and to be open and trust each other,� Zeta Tau Psi President Cody Duncan (‘16) said. “Everything that we do is for a reason. There are always alternatives, and we never make anyone do anything that they’re uncomfortable with. We never make anyone do anything in general.� HAZING POLICY, PAGE 4
CSC readies gardens for summer season, offers classes SAMANTHA PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER As summer approaches, the Luther gardens are being prepared for the summer growing season and the Center for Sustainable Communities (CSC) is offering gardening classes for students, faculty, staff and other community members. With the installment of a high tunnel last fall, Luther student gardeners anticipate a longer growing season and look forward to offering a greater diversity of vegetables in the cafeteria this spring. “We’re going back to what the garden was originally set up to be,â€? student gardener Sarah Forsythe (‘15) said. “For the last couple years, the cafeteria wanted us to grow a lot of the same things ‌ but now we’re switching back to more diverse selections.â€? LUTHER GARDENING, PAGE 4
NEWS
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NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE
Community offers classes on mental health KASI MISSELDINE STAFF WRITER Approximately one in four adults in the United States experiences mental illness in any given year, according to the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center (NEIPJC) website. With the aim of providing support to those struggling with their own mental health as well as to friends and family of adults with mental illnesses, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), in partnership with NEIPJC and Families First Counseling Services, is currently offering two free educational programs for the Luther and Decorah communities throughout April and May. Both options, NAMI Peer-to-Peer and NAMI Family-to-Family, began on Monday, April 6. President of Luther’s Active Minds Katie Kovacovich (‘16) sees these classes as a way for students dealing with mental illnesses to learn from others who share their experiences outside of the Luther community. “I think there is power in speaking to people who have dealt with the same issues as you,” Kovacovich said. “Active Minds pushes to raise awareness and reduce stigma, and these classes are a perfect way to do that. They’re a valuable way for students to be able to have conversations about mental illness in a safe environment.” Coordinator of NEIPJC and member of the Peer-to-Peer class Julie Fisher agrees that Luther students should become educated about mental illnesses and efforts to support those who have them.
“Luther students, as college-educated people, are in a position where they can be advocates,” Fisher said. “They’re going to meet people throughout their lives who are impacted by mental illness. It’s out there. We’re all impacted in some form or another.” According to Fisher, trained mentors who are recovering from mental illness facilitate the NAMI classes in an accessible and relatable way. “The strength of this program is that it’s not run by PhD psychologists,” Fisher said. “It’s led by people who have experienced mental illness in their own lives and learned to deal with it in their own ways. [In the sessions] we each tell our story about how we’ve encountered mental illness in the past and what helped us. Then we talk about relapse prevention plans, relationships, living situations, work ... whatever people feel are the most critical areas for them. We also talk about figuring out how to keep our focus on recovery and how to enjoy life.” As someone who has experienced mental illness in her own family, Brita Carbonell of Families First Counseling Services is one of the leaders of the Family-to-Family classes. She sees awareness as the most important step toward a more accurate public perception of mental illness. “I really think education is the key, and understanding that it doesn’t have to be scary,” Carbonell said. “For family members, the more education they have, the more understanding they’ll have. It will help them to not blame themselves. The sooner people get educated, the better off they’ll be in the
“I think there is power in speaking to people who have dealt with the same issues as you.” - Katie Kovacovich (‘16)
EDUCATION FOR HEALTHY MINDS. Coordinator of the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center Julie Fisher encourages students to use their education to help those with mental health issues. Kasi Misseldine / Chips long run.” Although the classes have already begun, new members are encouraged to join up until the third week. According to the coordinators, these opportunities were made possible through a grant from the Winneshiek County Medical Center. Peer-to-Peer meets at the NEIPJC and
will continue for 10 weeks. Family-to-Family is a 12-week class held at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Decorah. Those interested in the NAMI Peer-toPeer option can contact Fisher at 563-3825337. Individuals wanting to join NAMI Family-to-Family can contact Carbonell at 319-505-3814.
Entrepreneurial Showcase celebrates student businesses DANNY MAY STAFF WRITER Finalists for The 2015 Daryl and Audrey Erdman Prize for Entrepreneurship, along with grand prize winner Evan Sowder (‘15), were announced at the 29th Annual Entrepreneurial Showcase on April 14. Sowder started his own freelance photography business while at Luther. “I’m extremely honored,” Sowder said. “To do something you love and then be rewarded for it—that’s an amazing feeling.”
Sowder has learned what it takes to be his own employer in the process of being a successful entrepreneur. “I'm excited to be an entrepreneur,” Sowder said. “It's a lot of hard work, but it offers a lot of flexibility." The Luther students named as finalists for the Erdman Prize were Patrick Larson (‘17), Gus Nelson (‘17), Lars Sorenson (‘17) and Eric Tiller (‘16). Larson, Nelson and Sorenson founded The Blue Alps, a Craigsliststyle classifieds website exclusively for Luther students, faculty and staff. “Entrepreneurship allows you
to create value by yourself,” Nelson said. “You can do it through your singular efforts.” Putting in the effort alongside of other school-related responsibilities means the hard work pays off in many facets, according to Sorenson. “I think it’s important for students in college to work on their passion,” Sorenson said. “It’s a lot of fun.” Professor of Management Tim Schweizer (‘80) teaches a course on entrepreneurship and has had the opportunity to bring in different speakers to address his class about how to be a successful entrepreneur. “At least half of the speakers that I bring back never majored
in business,” Schweizer said. “In one of the top books in the world about the startup process, the author recommends a liberal arts education as the best education for an entrepreneur.” Students attending the award ceremony took part in a networking session during which they could converse with fellow students and other attendees. According to Schweizer, the showcase has been developed and refined since its inception in 1986. “It’s taken a lot of different shapes and forms,” Schweizer said. “It promotes entrepreneurship. We focus on opportunity recognition
and people that have the passion and will actually go do it. A lot of people see opportunities, but they don’t ever act on it.” The significance of entrepreneurship for Luther students has increased over the years, according to Schweizer. “I think it’s even more important now than it was, because there are a lot more opportunities to be entrepreneurs now,” Schweizer said. “You don’t need the startup capital that you did in the old days. I think more and more people are going to be working for themselves.” Founder of Landport Property Management Software Jody Pettit gave a keynote presentation about her experience as an entrepreneur. She also gave the students advice on starting their own ventures. “I think [entrepreneurship] is wonderful,” Pettit said. “It’s fun to invent new things and to problemsolve. One piece of advice [I would give] would be to be persistent and to do your homework.” Being an entrepreneur gives students a way to study new areas and see the effects their ideas have on others, according to Larson. “It feels good to have our hard work recognized,” Larson said. “We’re all still finding passion within our fields as well as outside of our fields.”
NEWS
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NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE
APRIL 16, 2014
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Life Outside Luther Rubio tells supporters he is running for President Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio entered the presidential race Monday by offering the nation a younger generation of leadership that breaks free of ideas “stuck in the 20th century,” a jab at both Democratic favorite Hillary Rodham Clinton and his one-time Republican mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
MATT HELM STAFF WRITER Luther College PRIDE and Student Senate co-sponsored “Bursting the Luther Bubble: Narrating New Normals,” a discussion panel related to issues that Gender and Sexual Minorities (GSM) experience on campus. “I think the most important takeaway from the conversation was the topic of visibility,” President of PRIDE Jesus Lucero (‘16) said. “The more people that are aware of the problems the GSM community faces at Luther, the more these problems will be solved in the future.” The members of the panel were Tyler Broadwell (‘16), Student Senate Diversity representative Zora Hurst (‘17), Associate Professor of Religion Sean Burke, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Women and Gender Studies Maryna Bazylevych and Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and History Lauren Anderson. “I really wanted a group of people that represented a large area of what campus is, and I was happy with the way the conversation went,” Lucero said. “I saw some faces in the audience I didn't recognize. I consider the talk a victory if we reached just one new person.” The panel discussed the lack of housing for transgender and nonbinary students on campus. “Luther will not recognize a personal
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CONTINUING DISCUSSION. Associate Professor of Religion Sean Burke, Zora Hurst (‘17) and Tyler Broadwell (‘16) discuss life at Luther for those who are a part of the Gender and Sexual Minority (GSM). Matt Helm / Chips gender identity unless it matches the one that is on your birth certificate,” Hurst said. “We have drafted proposals for gender-neutral housing only to have them shot down. There are no housing options for transgender students on campus, and in the eyes of the college, nonbinary people do not exist. It is shameful.” Burke was the first openly gay professor to be hired to the religion department and was a member of the panel. “There's a sizeable Gender and Sexual Minority community here, and yet that is not something being talked up by admissions,” Burke said. “Toleration has not quite crossed over
“Toleration has not quite crossed over into celebration.” -Associate Professor of Religion Sean Burke
into celebration. Luther has made a statement to committing to diversity seriously. We emphasize the need to hire women and the need to hire people of color, but why haven't we gotten to the point where we can name GSM as a diversity we celebrate?” The panel discussed Luther’s tendency to follow instead of lead when it comes to policies regarding the GSM community. “There's this idea that Luther is progressive, but I find it to be fairly conservative with progressive moments,” Burke said. “I came out 21 years ago and yet I still struggle with whether or not I should come out to my class. Does that serve best when I know there’s a segment of the population who will not listen to anything else I say?” Broadwell spoke from the perspective of somebody who is openly gay and involved in Luther athletics. “I come from rural Minnesota and Michelle Bachman is my representative, so when I came to Luther I thought it was my little heaven on Earth in conservative mid-America,” Broadwell said. “But as time passed I started noticing slight micro-aggressions. I've had friends tell me they are glad I'm not a flamer. In the locker room I hear the word ‘fag’ a lot. It’s the little things that kind of start to tear at your soul a bit.” The panel ended with a discussion about the changes that could be made to make campus more welcoming for the GSM community. “Sheila Radford-Hill was in the audience and she said something that really struck me,” Lucero said. “She said that we need to start being more intolerant of intolerance, of being treated a certain way. I think there's a lot of value in that.”
Ex-guards receive prison sentence for Iraq shootings U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced former Blackwater security guard Nicholas Slatten to life in prison on Monday on a charge of first-degree murder for his role in a 2007 shooting that killed 14 Iraqi civilians and wounded 17 others. Three other guards—Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard—were each sentenced to 30 years and one day in prison for charges that included manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and using firearms while committing a felony. Former South Carolina community college student wanted for campus shooting Kenneth Morgan Stancil III is being pursued for an open count of murder by local authorities. Stancil entered a Wayne Community College building about 8 a.m. with a rifle and went to the third-floor print shop, school officials said. Stancil’s former work-study boss Ron Lane was killed in the print shop. Lane had worked at the school for 18 years. President Obama does not plan to support Clinton in primary campaign According to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, President Barack Obama is not planning to endorse his former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for president. Earnest says the president made the decision because other friends of his may also run. It is up to Democratic voters to choose their presidential nominee, but Earnest says the nominee can be confident they will have the president’s support. 17-year-old mother found with malnourished daughter deemed victim A 17-year-old taken into custody after her severely malnourished 4-month-old daughter was hospitalized and the corpse of a 3-year-old was found at a North Las Vegas home will not face criminal charges, the district attorney in Las Vegas said Monday. The teen was released Monday from juvenile detention into the custody of county child protective services, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said. “This child is a victim in this case and can best receive appropriate and necessary services through the dependency court system and family services,” Wolfson said. ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes leaked as season five begins Four of the fifth season’s 10 episodes were leaked online. Within an hour, there were reportedly more than 1 million downloads of episode one. HBO said it is “actively assessing” how the breach occurred. Compiled from: www.ap.org
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NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE
CSC kicks off gardening season GARDENING, PAGE 1 Food and Farm Fellow for the Center for Sustainable Communities Nick Fisher (‘12) began working on production plans for the gardens this February when he returned to Luther after spending two years in the Peace Corps bringing sustainable agriculture to farmers in Paraguay. The gardeners have been hard at work preparing head lettuce, spinach, kale, collard greens, colorful carrots and radishes to be served in the cafeteria this spring. Fisher takes pride in the garden’s new high tunnel and works alongside a crew of five student gardeners. “There’s a lot included in the gardens, even though it’s not that big of a space,” Student gardener Parker Beard (‘17) said. According to Beard, he enjoys the learning and community aspect of his job.
“I really think my work-study experience at Luther has been almost as valuable as classes and the more normal part of my college education,” Beard said. “It’s a combination of the awareness of the food I eat and working with the soil.” To complement the summer gardening season that is fast approaching, the CSC is continuing an educational gardening series for 2015. Class subjects for the season include home greenhouse construction, backyard chickens and container gardening. In an effort to promote sustainable lifestyles for students and community members, the CSC welcomes aspiring gardeners and seasoned gardeners alike. The classes are free of charge, making them accessible to anyone interested in broadening their knowledge on how to garden or what kind of opportunities are available to domestic gardeners.
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Greek community addresses hazing HAZING POLICY, PAGE 1 Although the groups are in consensus that the policy is in need of redefinition, some hesitancy and strain has been expressed during the waiting period. “I think there’s tension just from not knowing what’s going to happen, perhaps,” Roisum said. “There’s some stress of having to build this policy and wondering how it’s going to affect our traditions and things that we’ve maybe never seen as anything harmful. But that’s what hazing policies are about … bringing people to justice if something terrible happens. I think this is a good thing and it needs to happen. It just depends on how it plays out.” This back and forth process has kept Greek members busy as they balance their many philanthropy projects this month.
As hazing among Greek organizations has come to the forefront of the news in the United States, members of Luther’s sororities and fraternities hope to combat stigma and shift Luther’s focus toward the good that their groups are doing. “People have that m i n d s e t of what sororities and fraternities are and kind of look past other things that we have done,” Chi Theta Rho Pledge Mistress Marissa Kot (‘17) said. Through the Inner Greek Council, the Greek organizations
“Everything that we do is for a reason. There are always alternatives, and we never make anyone do anything that they’re uncomfortable with. We never make anyone do anything in general.” - Cody Duncan (‘16)
Masculinity discussion continues THE MASK YOU LIVE IN, PAGE 1
Thursday, April 16 Dance Guest Artist Residency: 7 p.m., Center for the Arts, “Trans-disciplinary Town Hall” Studio 1 with Chrissy Nelson and Bailey Anderson Friday, April 17 Dance Guest Artist Residency: 9:40 a.m. Center for the Arts, “Somatics and Privilege Studio 1 Conversation” with Chrissy Nelson and Bailey Anderson Women’s Tennis - Winona State 4 p.m., Home University Saturday, April 18 Men’s Tennis - Wartburg College 8:30 a.m., Home Dance Marathon 12:00 p.m., Regents Center Men’s Tennis - Elmhurst College 3:30 p.m., Home Sunday, April 19 Softball - St. Mary’s University 2 p.m., Home (MN) Women’s Tennis - Augustana (IL) 3:00 p.m., Home Theatre Performance: 2015 Senior 7:30 p.m., Center for the Arts, Project: “Gauging Perception of Studio 1 Self with Other” Focus 9:00 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall Monday, April 20 “An Evening With Nick Jonas” 9:15 p.m., Regents Center Tuesday, April 21 Baseball - Wartburg College 1:00 p.m., Home Softball - Buena Vista University 3:00 p.m., Home Collegiate Homecoming Concert 7:30 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall Wednesday, April 22 Gallery Reception: Bob Campagna 4:30 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Gallery Thursday, April 23 Lecture: Invisible Geographies 7 p.m., Center for Faith and Life Norse Theatre Movie Night 8 p.m., Valders 206
on campus can collaborate to overcome misconceptions. “Every group has their own specific mission statement,” Meyer said. “But we’re all about community and building t h o s e friendships a n d relationships. As IGC, we want all of these small groups to work together to have a bigger impact. Sometimes the different groups get bad reputations for groups not liking each other, but that’s not the case at all. We all respect each other and enjoy everybody else’s activities.”
“There were people from a lot of different backgrounds at the talk, and I really appreciated that.” Students and faculty discussed their reactions to the movie and brainstormed ways to combat gender stereotypes and break down damaging concepts of masculinity. “I think we need to watch our language, so when people say something like, ‘Oh, you’re being a sissy,’ or ‘Grow a pair,’ question that. Say, ‘What are you actually saying?’” Anderson said. “It is seriously in every conversation and those gender stereotypes are being reinforced. I feel that people know it is an issue, but they think that it’s not their problem or they feel uncomfortable talking about it and so they don’t want to do it.” The documentary was a reminder that everyone can strive to do more in addressing issues of gender stereotypes, according to attendee Alvin Kim (‘16). “I’m assuming most people who came into watching this movie had at least some sense that this is an important issue and we need to talk about this,” Kim said. “I learned that I still have a lot of learning to do in perpetuating more of a positive idea of what someone’s identity can be within masculinity and among other gender topics.” One specific aspect of masculinity touched on during the film and discussions following was athletics. Students were torn about the effect sports have on males’ perception of
masculinity. “I feel like Luther is a pretty unique campus,” Anderson said. “I feel like it is kind of divided by a lot of the music guys and then a lot of the sports guys, and it’s kind of two separate worlds with two different types of males. From the contact I’ve had, the music guys seem to be less traditionally masculine, so they are more sensitive, and sports guys are more traditionally masculine from what I’ve observed.” While Robinson felt that her interactions with male athletes perpetuated stereotypes about masculinity and manhood, Kim said that in his experiences as an athlete he found the opposite to be true. “One of my basketball coaches was actually a very positive influence on masculinity. He dissuaded any sort of negative hypermasculine qualities in people,” Kim said. “I think Luther does a good job of kind of promoting that idea, but obviously we can do better, which is why we have showings like this that help promote that idea of self-awareness and awareness of other people’s situations.” Kim expressed the importance of attending events like this one. “I think people forget that you can’t just stop at the one exposure to opening your mind to something like this,” Kim said. “You need to constantly keep reinforcing that idea with more evidence and more discussion about why these things matter.” More information on “The Mask You Live In” and the Representation Project can be found at http://therepresentationproject.org/films/themask-you-live-in/
“Those gender stereotypes are being reinforced. I feel that people know it is an issue but they think that it’s not their problem or they feel uncomfortable talking about it and so they don’t want to do it.” -Elena Anderson (‘17)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON
APRIL 16, 2015
IOWA INSPIRED. “All Recipes are Home” premiered at Luther on Saturday, April 11, and explored the connections between food and home Director and Playwright Sean Christopher Lewis experienced during his travels across Iowa. Aaron Lurth / Photo Bureau
A little taste of home LAURA PROESCHOLDT STAFF WRITER
Director and Playwright Sean Christopher Lewis’ new musical, “All Recipe’s are Home,” premiered at Luther College on Saturday, April 11. The development of “All Recipes Are Home” began nearly five years ago when Director of Campus Programming Tanya Gertz and Hancher Auditorium Executive Director Charles Swanson had coffee and a conversation about how a stage production that explores Iowa food culture might look. Some time later, Luther College Center Stage Series, along with University of Iowa and Grinnell College, commissioned Lewis to write and direct a production on this topic. “It’s really exciting when multiple people care about meaningful, high quality, engaging art that reflects the Midwest,” Gertz said. Lewis, who co-founded Working Group Theatre in Iowa City in 2009, has written several plays
inspired directly by the stories of Iowans, including “Out of Bounds,” a multimedia production about bullying, “The Broken Chord,” a play that explores Alzheimer’s and its impact on families and caregivers, and “Telling,” a play that sheds light on the impact of war as told and performed by Iowa City veterans. To find inspiration for the musical, Lewis traveled across Iowa, including Decorah, to spend time with local farmers and food enthusiasts. During his time in the Decorah area, Lewis moved sheep, cleaned onions and served purple potatoes to middle school students in order to learn about the unique connections that exist among food, land and family. Gertz sees Lewis’ approach as especially unique. “I don’t know anyone else who’s saying, ‘I want to tell the stories of real people, I want to do it in a theatrical way that’s really meaningful and I want to start by asking someone to tell me their story,’” Gertz said. Last fall, Lewis visited Decorah to
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THE IOWA CONNECTION. The Awful Purdies, an indie folk group based in Iowa, created an album of original songs around the production of “All Recipes are Home” Aaron Lurth / Photo Bureau collect the stories that would form the basis for “All Recipes Are Home.” Sustainable Foods Educator Maren Beard (‘08) arranged meetings with a range of food producers and enthusiasts including WW Homestead Dairy, Canoe Creek Dairy, Decorah School District, Sweet Earth Farm, River Root Farm, Meadow Farm, Pepperfield Farm, Luther College students and gardeners, Iowa Food Hub, Foresight Farms, Seed Savers Exchange and Vesterheim Museum. “He wasn’t sure when he was here what he wanted to be exploring or what the play was going to be about,” Beard said. “It was kind of just trying to give him different fodder and things that he maybe could use later.” Lewis made several observations as he spent time with Decorah locals that influenced the direction of the
production. “People were passionate and very connected to food in a way I am not,” Beard said. “Family always came up when people talked about meals, as did special dishes. The senses—what something smelt like or felt like—were constant.” These observations led Lewis to develop a story based on the relationship between food and home. “At Seed Savers, I loved the idea of immigrants traveling with seeds in their pocket that would then be planted at their new home,” Lewis said. Lewis asked the Awful Purdies, an all-female quintet specializing in folk music, to contribute five songs to the play. According to the Awful Purdies website, the basis for these songs was a series of stories the group had collected from farmers and other individuals across the state. One theme the Awful
Purdies explore in their album is maintaining a connection to home through recipes. Beard feels that Decorah residents might have gain new perspective through Lewis’ musical. “It’s a rare opportunity to watch someone who is not from here come and observe and try to dig deep into what exists here and make something for us all to watch,” Beard said. Gertz thought “All Recipes Are Home” was especially poignant for Luther students. “You’re going to be connected to Decorah for the rest of your lives because you have had this formative time here, and that is now part of your story,” Gertz said. “[This musical] is a wonderful representation of people figuring out what their lives will be by asking, ‘What choices will I make, and who will I become?’”
FEATURES
PAGE 6 APRIL 16, 2015
FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER
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MOVIE-MAKIN’ MEN. Björn Myhre (‘16) and Evan Sowder (‘15) set up a slider shot to capture the Broken Arch in Moab, Utah.
STEVE PETERSON STAFF WRITER Aspiring filmmakers Evan Sowder (‘15) and Björn Myhre (‘16) took a vacation to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in Moab, Utah, to film two documentaries over Spring Break. The first of the two films, entitled “Sacred: Arches and Canyons,” exhibits the two parks’ landscapes and wildlife. Sowder hopes their work will inspire people to enjoy the outdoors. “By portraying the beauty that’s out there in a cinematic fashion, we hope to convince people to get outside and assume a role in protecting what’s good and beautiful,” Sowder said. Upon returning to Decorah, Sowder and Myhre began compiling the footage for “Sacred,” which will be the pilot episode for a planned documentary series covering other National Parks. The team also plans to produce a film about the making of “Sacred.” Myhre hopes these documentaries can inspire individuals to care about
environmental responsibility. “Through our film we want to promote environmental stewardship and an appreciation of nature,” Myhre said. According to the filmmakers, a documentary revolving around nature only made sense for the pair of them. “As avid outdoor enthusiasts, we were immediately drawn to the idea,” Myhre said. “Arches and Canyonlands fit the bill because of their close proximity to one another and their moderate climates at this time of year.” Despite the fair climate, the production process was not an easy one, according to the filmmakers. “Filming in places like Arches and Canyonlands while doing both parks visual justice was no easy task, especially in one week,” Myhre said. In order to gather all the necessary shots throughout the seven days of filming, Sowder and Myhre worked 14-20 hour days, often staying up through the night to capture anything and everything they could. “Regular meal times and sleep
schedules were a luxury we could not afford since we were constantly pushing ourselves to capture as much of the scenery as possible,” Myhre said. Although Sowder and Myhre primarily worked alone, they ended up receiving guidance after meeting a local man named Denali Daniels. “On one of our first days we met an adventurer and photographer who was willing to show us around,” Myhre said. “His knowledge of the area enabled us to focus solely on creating content instead of spending time finding locations.” Sowder believes that their hard work will pay off in the films’ production. “We left with some great
footage,” Sowder said. “We both gained practical experience in creating low-budget, cinematicgrade nature documentaries while having fun doing it.” After finishing the project in Utah, Sowder and Myhre plan to continue promoting land stewardship through “Sacred.” The installment on Arches and Canyonlands will be submitted to various film festivals for greater publicity. “We would like to make the series happen with the help of grants, crowdfunding and support from environmental interest groups,” Myhre said. According to Sowder, traveling to Moab to film “Sacred” provided Sowder and Myhre with an
Photo courtesy of Evan Sowder invaluable learning experience as they each connected with the land they strive to protect. “I think I can speak for the both of us when I say that in the silent stillness of the desert night, looking up and seeing the stars out in full force was a moving and very humbling experience,” Sowder said. Sowder and Mhyre will premiere “Sacred” on May 14. The location and time has yet to be decided but will be publicized around campus and on social media outlets within the coming week. They will also present on their filming process and show an early screening at the Student Research Symposium on May 8. “Sacred” will be available online following the premiere.
BROKEN ARCH. Pictured above is Broken Arch of Arches National Park. Photo courtesy of Evan Sowder
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER
APRIL 16, 2015
LeDoux awarded Brudos Opera Prize EMMA DIEHL STAFF WRITER Jenny LeDoux (‘15) performed a vocal recital on April 11 in honor of the annual Brudos Family Opera Prize award, donated by Luther alum and former Chair of the Luther Board of Regents Alan Brudos (‘55) and his wife, Sally Brudos. LeDoux is the thirteenth recipient of the award. The Brudos family awards the $5,000 prize to a Luther College senior who demonstrates exceptional talent in vocal performance and plans to pursue a career in opera performance following graduation. The Brudos Prize was created to help the recipient pay for the various expenses involved in pursuing a professional career in music. “[The Brudos Award] has helped me immensely,” LeDoux said. “When I applied to and visited graduate schools, a lot of money went toward plane tickets, audition fees and workshops with voice faculty.” LeDoux applied to three graduate schools, including the University of Cincinnati, Northwestern University in Chicago and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. LeDoux underwent a competitive audition process in order to receive the Brudos Award. According to LeDoux’s voice professor and Associate Professor of Music Karen Kanakis, students who wish to be considered for the award must apply
in February of their junior year and meet certain requirements. “They must identify themselves as someone who is interested in pursuing opera,” Kanakis said. “There’s a minimum GPA of 3.0 and they must have the approval of their voice teacher.” After applications are submitted, the voice faculty holds an evening of auditions in which each applicant sings two pieces. “It’s a wonderful evening,” Kanakis said. “The students work all year toward [the audition], so it’s thrilling for the voice faculty to sit and listen to all of the students perform.” When deciding on a winner, the voice faculty considers the students’ stage presence, musicality and vocal quality. “A lot of it is about potential,” Kanakis said. “We want someone who is viable to go on and have an opera career, and that can be sort of a complicated assessment.” After reviewing applications and listening to auditions, the voice faculty selected LeDoux as the thirteenth Brudos Award winner. “Jenny is very conscientious,” Kanakis said. “She cares a lot about her art and her craft, and she works very hard to be good at all aspects— not just singing well, but portraying characters, thinking about the text and how she looks when she performs. I think she’s very well rounded in that sense.” According to Kanakis, LeDoux also has a positive influence on students in her seminar class. “She’s so talented that I feel like
DEMONSTRATING POTENTIAL. Jenny LeDoux (‘15) performs at the thirteenth annual Brudos Family Opera Prize recital on April 11. Emma Diehl / Chips it would be really easy for a firstyear student to maybe be a little intimidated by her, but she puts them at ease and helps create a very positive environment for everyone,” Kanakis said. LeDoux performed her recital on Saturday, April 11 in front of her friends, family, peers, professors, Luther President Paula Carlson and Alan and Sally Brudos, who travelled all the way from Atherton, California, to attend the event. “Alan and Sally are both so kind and generous,” LeDoux said. “They exude love for the arts and are truly inspired by young artists. They
really feel like family. I know I will have their support for the rest of my life because they continue to stay in contact with recipients of their award.” After she graduates from Luther, LeDoux will attend the University of Minnesota to earn her Masters of Music. She wants to continue to perform and eventually teach. “I hope to someday open my own voice studio, and I also want to bring classical music to public schools,” LeDoux said. “[Classical music] is a dying art, and I want to continue to share my art with kids.” According to Kanakis, the Brudos
Award serves as encouragement for LeDoux and other prizewinners to pursue their dreams and aspirations. “[The Brudos Prize] implies that we have faith in [LeDoux’s] potential to go on and succeed,” Kanakis said. “This is a nice way of saying to a student, ‘We really do believe that you can go on and do this, and we want to encourage you and help you do that.’” Brianna Shelly (‘16) was recently named the fourteenth Brudos Family Opera Prize recipient. Shelly will perform a recital in the spring of 2016.
Cadaver lab tours honor donators, educate all ELIZABETH BONIN STAFF WRITER Students had the opportunity to take a tour of the cadaver dissection lab in Sampson-Hoffland April 1-9. Students of any major were allowed to sign up for the student-led tour. “I think it’s really eye-opening to see what’s really inside of our body,” Jenna Johnson (‘16) said. “I know some people are kind of squeamish about it, but it’s just insightful to know and see the intricacies.” Johnson first saw the cadaver lab as a prospective student and says that it is what partially drew her to Luther. According to Johnson, viewing the cadavers gives students a truly unique experience they may not be able to get at other schools. “As a biology student, it’s really quite unique to have that type of class at a small liberal arts college, especially because there were three cadavers,” Johnson said. “To have that many for one class is a really unique thing.” Sarah Floden (‘15) is among the students who gave tours of the lab. Floden says that giving tours has helped her practice explaining the body to people outside of the health science field, a skill that will help her in her goal to become a doctor. “I think our bodies do so much for us, but we don’t often take the time to think about what’s going on underneath the surface, and the cadaver lab allows you to see that,” Floden said. “It also kind of gives you a glimpse of your own mortality because these people have passed away, but they chose to donate their bodies to science. They wanted their bodies to be used to educate people, and that’s really cool. I think people get excited about that opportunity.”
Because the donors have chosen to give their bodies to science, Assistant Professor of Biology Stephanie Fretham (‘05) mandates that the cadavers be respected in the lab. “Part of the idea is that the individuals that choose to donate their bodies for this purpose want to theoretically continue teaching after they die,” Fretham said. “I have one big rule in the dissection lab: that we respect the donors. This is part of respecting their wishes to want to continue to teach and share their gift with others.” Those taking the tour are allowed to touch the different parts of the cadaver’s body because they want people to learn from them. According to Fretham, this is part of respecting the donors’ wishes. “First, [we can] honor their donation by learning as much as possible, including sharing the experience with others through tours,” Fretham said. “Second, speak about the donors in a way that you might speak about a grandparent or other relative, without being insensitive or crass. Finally, always be mindful of their privacy and the feelings of their families, which includes not taking any photos or video and also not discussing any highly individual features such as scars or tattoos outside of the course.” The cadavers came from the University of Iowa. When the course is over, they will be returned to Iowa City, cremated and then returned to their families. As the tours have come to a close, Floden says she has enjoyed seeing people leave the cadaver lab with a new appreciation for the human body. “I think people are nervous when they come in about what they’re going to see,” Floden said. “Seeing a donor can be kind of jarring, and the smell of the chemicals can be off-putting, but once people start looking at it, they realize how cool it is to be able to look under the
surface and understand how your body works on a new level. So to see the fear go away and a sense of wonder replace that fear is really cool.”
NO BONES ABOUT IT. Sarah Floden (‘15) was one of the tour guides for the cadaver lab April 1-9. Elizabeth Bonin / Chips
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8 APRIL 16, 2015
A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON
VPA seniors present culminating work FRANCES STEVENSON STAFF WRITER & WALKER NYENHUIS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nearing the end of their final semester at Luther, senior theatre and dance majors in the visual and performing arts department hosted a showcase called “A Senior Moment” on April 10, 11 and 12. Performances and presentations were held between Storre Theatre and the Center for the Arts. According to theatre major Michael Ehrecke (‘15), the annual showcase allows seniors the chance to present their creative work in collaboration. “It was this really great opportunity for all of us to be individuals but an ensemble in a sense,” Ehrecke said. “It’s a huge way for us to present our work to each other and to the campus.” Projects ranged from adaptations of published plays, costume and lighting designs, business and production studies and original theatre and dance compositions. Jennifer Schmidt (‘15) reported finding inspiration for her original dance piece, “What the Late Bird Gets,” from personal experience. “I’m a chronically late person. I have a very hard time getting places on time or transitioning quickly,” Schmidt said. “[This project was] my individual journey ... figuring out the ways that we enter what feels like our path in life and then maybe get redirected by something, ... We know that the early bird gets the worm, but what happens to the bird that shows up just after the rest of the flock came through?” Ehrecke’s original theatre work “(out)fit” portrayed his experience coming out. He explained the benefits of sharing personal stories as art. “The lesson I took away is that if you can connect with yourself, then just imagine
“WHAT THE LATE BIRD GETS.” (From left) Kajsa Jones (‘15), Catherine Lewis (‘16) and Jennifer Schmidt (‘15) perform Schmidt’s original dance composition as part of the theatre and dance senior showcase “A Senior Moment.” Frances Stevenson / Chips how greatly you can connect with others,” Ehrecke said. “I really feel strong in that belief–that inner connectivity does lead to outer expressivity.” While most projects were presented at the showcase, Kelly Harris’ (‘15) project will take place on April 19 in Studio One of the Center for the Arts. Harris’ project, entitled “Gauging Perception of Self with Other,” was created in conjunction with the Student Life Office to create an educational message for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“I’ve been working with the theatre department and with Jane Hawley to create a project that is meant to start conversations between people about issues of sexuality and intimacy and trust within the specific scope of sexual assault and consent,” Harris said. For the visual and performing arts faculty, senior projects represent the transition their students plan to make into working professionals and artists. “We, the faculty, hope that we’re giving
the student the sense and the understanding that they can take their major and really make it work into life,” Jane Hawley (‘87) said. Students report feeling the transition as well. According to Ehrecke, the positive responses to his project encourage him to continue practicing and sharing his work with a broader audience. “This isn’t the conclusion,” Ehrecke said. “This is the capstone and, even more so, a stepping stone.”
Album Review: Sufjan Stevens “Carrie & Lowell” HUNTER PRUEGER KWLC ROCK DJ “I don’t know where to begin,” Sufjan Stevens sings on “Death With Dignity,” the opening track of “Carrie & Lowell,” his first full length LP since 2010. The album revolves around the death of Stevens’ slightly
estranged mother, Carrie. It’s an exploration of death, relationships and Stevens’ struggles with drug and alcohol abuse after Carrie’s death as a means of connecting with her. In an interview with Pitchfork, Stevens said of his new album, “This is not my art project; this is my life.” His lyrics are still as poetic as ever and require an amount of focus to decode. History references are largely replaced
by deeply personal metaphors and Greek mythology. But when he repeatedly sings, “We’re all gonna die,” halfway through the album at the end of the existential piano ballad “Fourth of July,” the message pierces through the thickness. However, it’s immediately in the past as the absolutely pleasant opening to “The Only Thing” plucks its way into the silencing aftershock left by “Fourth of July” as if it’s only a simple thought and nothing more. Then, the uplifting composition of “The Only Thing” (as well as other tracks)
is contrasted with mournful lyrics including thoughts of suicide. This apparent paradox evokes an array of emotions. This is the most personal Stevens’ music has ever been, and the production fits. His wistful, emotional vocals lightly cover a simple yet atmospheric combination of his typical lineup of plucked/strummed string instruments and a collection of minimalist synths that elicit a sense of emptiness. Compared with his two most recent LPs, there is a stark lack of mixed meters and maximalist orchestrations, but it doesn’t
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
sound completely unfamiliar. “Carrie & Lowell” calls upon the simplicity of “Seven Swans” and even “Illinois” tracks such as “The Seer’s Tower.” Much of the album was recorded in Stevens’ apartment, and the production feels intimate but also hazy. Is that instrument a piano or a synth? It can feel a bit rugged at times, but the imperfection brings us all closer into Stevens’ state of mind and tells us that, no, it’s not meant to be perfect, but this is the real thing – “This is not my art project.” The end result is ethereal.
OPINION
PAGE 9
MANAGING EDITOR: SARAH KING
APRIL 16, 2015
Freya players question gender equality; sports editor responds JULIA JOSEPH SPORTS EDITOR
Letter to the Editor From reading the article “Ultimate Frisbee teams use Spring Break to grow” in the April 2 issue of Chips, one could find a myriad of information about LUFDA and Pound: who they played, how they played, as well as LUFDA’s seed and record. What was missing from the article was the same information for Luther’s women’s Ultimate team, Freya. Freya did an incredible job at the tournament and finished second, which was mentioned, but there was no other information about how we played or who we played. We were especially surprised that Chips did not mention that following the tournament we were ranked the seventh DIII women’s team in the country. This is newsworthy information, but rather than represent us equally, information relating to the reason for the trip or our existence as a group was left out. Yes, bonding is very important, but since that was one the few things said about Freya, that makes it seem like that’s all we can do or that the other information wasn’t worth mentioning. We are a sports team, not a Girl Scout troop. This is not meant in any way to belittle the accomplishments of Pound or LUFDA. All three teams work very hard, and we appreciate having our seasons covered by Chips. We understand that mistakes are made in journalism and not including information about our tournament was likely an oversight. But it concerns us that this oversight may have reinforced a belief that women’s Ultimate is not taken as seriously as men’s Ultimate, an idea fed by the larger misconception that women’s teams are not as important as men’s. We ask that in the future, when an article is covering all three teams, we receive equal representation and an accurate portrayal as a group whose primary goal is to play as a competitive Ultimate Frisbee team. Lucia Holte (‘17) and Hannah Garry (‘15)
As sports editor for Chips, it is my job to make sure all of Luther’s teams are represented throughout their respective seasons. To ensure that this happens, I look ahead at team schedules to find out when important games or events are happening for a team and assign writers to those stories accordingly. Whether the sport is school sponsored or club, I think every team should be featured in our paper. Once assigned, our staff writers choose how they want to angle the story and conduct interviews to gain new perspectives and understandings about the team, event or athlete they are covering. Along with being the sports editor, I am also a female student-athlete at Luther. I have been on the track & field team since my first year and can attest to the hard work every individual, coach and trainer puts into Luther athletics. I have also done research within my major on gender representations in sports and find this topic important in our society and as an aspiring journalist. This is my third semester as Sports Editor. Throughout my time with Chips, I have taken my job seriously and have done my best to represent every team and group involved in Luther athletics. In the March 26 issue, a story was written about the athletic trainers to show all the hard work they do behind the scenes. In the February 26 issue I ran an article about “Ashes to Go” and how this event connected faith and sports at Luther. I also personally write the Norse of the Week article, and if one were to look back at a semesters worth of Chips, they would find equal representation for male and female athletes. That is not a coincidence.
While I personally make sure I follow every team at Luther and interview the athletes that stood out each week, I also switch between men’s and women’s teams each week. Occasionally there may be two weeks in a row that feature the same gender because an outstanding performance occurred that I felt necessary to cover. I understand that people involved in stories may not always agree with what is written or said during an interview, which is why we work as a staff to get every side to a story to tell it most accurately. We do not take our jobs lightly and work to report the most accurate information that we can find before our weekly deadlines. To help make this possible, writers depend on interviews to support their stories and bring them to life with information credited to sources. Writers have the challenge to work with what was said in an interview because time often allows for only one interview from a team if multiple teams are covered in a story. As journalists, we use the information given to us to tell our readers the most important facts. In response to comments or frustrations by athletes that the Sports section is biased based on gender, I encourage you to continue to write in and inform me of discrepancies. This is not always the fault of our staff writers, but rather a lack of information or communication between teams and athletes they contact. They report the facts they find and information given to them by their sources. It is our goal as journalists to report unbiased news, and we appreciate feedback from readers if this is not the case. I will continue my work in helping to report the successes of Luther Athletics, and I thank the athletes, teams, coaches, trainers and athletic department for all that they do to make athletics possible at Luther for people of all genders.
Students gather at Grinnell to share activism Letter to the Editor Can you imagine a world where no gender or attraction or race is punished with acts of violence? Where higher education is accessible to all and does not lock young adults into a lifetime of debt? Where workers are paid a living minimum wage? Where clean air and water and nourishing foods are inherent rights
for all of life on this planet? Whether we know it or not, we as young people have tremendous power to determine and activate the outcomes for our future and for future generations. The more we come together to see each other’s work and dream of what’s possible, the more we move toward actively creating a world that is healthy and just. This coming weekend, April 18-19, students from all over the state of Iowa are gathering at Grinnell College to learn from one another and discuss our roles as co-creators of the future of our state. The purpose of the convergence is to provide a space for student leaders and activists to examine the ways we can work together
to empower and unite our various movements – movements for equality of gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, ecosystems and climate action, wage and labor, women and girls, and much more. The convergence will host representatives from all of Iowa’s major state universities and liberal arts colleges but is still waiting for participants from Luther to emerge. Let’s show the state of Iowa that Luther College is a socially and politically engaged institution with students who participate in the important issues of the wider world. Any interested Luther student is eligible to come learn and share. The event begins Saturday morning,
April 18, and ends in the early afternoon on April 19, with an optional networking party on Friday evening. Participants choose from a number of sessions to attend during both days and enjoy social activities in the evening. There is no money involved. All expenses, including food, housing and transportation, are covered by the Iowa Student Power Convergence. To register for the event, look up the Iowa Student Power Convergence on facebook, or go to http://iowaconvergence.com/ rsvp. For more information, contact zylsan01@luther.edu. Annie Zylstra (‘15)
#NorseAware: Tabling to educate campus about SAAM In the United States, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). By promoting SAAM, we hope to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities on how to prevent it. Norse Aware, partnering with Student Life, has been tabling in the Union, offering informational brochures about resources that could be used in case of a sexual assault and ways to be an active bystander in normalized situations on campus. While we understand that prevention is not the only component to the equation, education can only go so far.
We believe everyone on campus, including faculty and staff, should be involved with SAAM. Why? The answer is simple: sexual assault and violence affect everybody. The more we turn a blind eye to it, the more that we victimblame individuals on campus for events that weren’t their fault and the more, these events will repeatedly be a part of our culture and a part of what Luther College is. Through our Facebook page, we hope that students, faculty and staff at Luther might learn something about sexual assault, and that we as a community can start to question not only the language that we use when talking
to survivors but also our attitude toward them. This month, we will have events on campus that will be part of SAAM, including Kelly Harris’s (‘15) performance of her senior project “Gauging Perception of Self with Other” on Sunday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the CFA. On April 21, Norse Aware and other student organizations will table in the Union with more brochures and will sell T-shirts to support Riverview Center, our local crisis resource. Erin Danielson (‘16) and Vicky Torrillas (‘16)
OPINION
PAGE 10 APRIL 16, 2015
MANAGING EDITOR: SARAH KING
Luther College Chips
Iowa drug stamp tax proves unprofitable
Chips is a student publication of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The paper is designed, composed edited and managed entirely by Luther students. It is published weekly during the academic year, excluding the month of January. The opinion section is designed to provide a forum for Chips, its staff members and the Luther community. Opinions expressed in articles, editorials and columns do not necessarily represent the views of the Chips staff. The author is solely responsible for opinions expressed in Chips commentary. Chips will not accept submitted articles or campus announcements. Submissions for letters to the editor should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document to chipsedt@ luther.edu with Letter to the Editor as a subject line. Letters to the Editor are subject to editing without changing the meaning of the letter. Authors will not be notified of changes prior to publishing. Letters must be signed, 300-400 words and submitted before Sunday at 5 p.m. the week before production. Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor. Contact Chips: Phone: 563-387-1044 Fax: 563-387-2072 Email: chipsedt@luther.edu Advertising: chipsads@luther.edu Website: lutherchips.com Facebook: facebook.com/LutherChips Twitter: @LutherChips Spring 2015 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors: Features Editor: A&E Editor: Sports Editor: Staff Writers:
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Walker Nyenhuis Sarah King Makeda Barkley Emily Crowe Abby Carpenter Dylan Hinton Julia Joseph Cody Arndtson Elizabeth Bonin Erin Danielson Emma Deihl Matt Helm Danny May Kasi Misseldine Sarah Owens Steve Peterson Samantha Phillips Laura Proescholdt Colin Robinson Frances Stevenson Erika Storvick Elizabeth Tabaka Margaret Yapp Katie Hale Cameron Meyferth Bethany Seavers Templeton Alex Brandt Hannah Mick Tyler Hovey Cody Arndtson Samantha Ea Isaac Davis Michael Spear Britany Thorpe Elizabeth Hurley David Faldet
Editorial In case you haven’t been keeping up with 2016 election announcements, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) recently announced that he is running for the GOP nomination. Despite whether you agree with his views or not, he made an interesting point in the midst his announcement-week speeches in early primary states. During his April 11 speech in Las Vegas, Nevada, Paul said, “The war on drugs has created a culture of violence and put police in an impossible situation. Three out of four people in jail for drug crimes are people of color, but if you look at the statistics, white people are using drugs at the same rate.” While Paul is certainly not the first to criticize America’s war on drugs, he may very well bring the issue to the spotlight by forcing other candidates to respond and by putting drugs on party agendas. The war on drugs is among the greatest problems in the U.S. today, causing unequal and discriminatory convictions and incarcerations, and is very closely related to the many cases of police violence that seem to pop up as frequently as Chips publishes a new issue. Author Michelle Alexander compares today’s war on drugs to Jim Crow laws of the early 20th century in her 2010 book “The New Jim Crow,” in which she writes, “Ninety percent of those admitted to prison for drug offenses in many states were black or Latino, yet the mass incarceration of communities of color was explained in race-neutral terms, an adaptation to the needs and
The Norse Poll
“I’ve never heard of an Iowa illegal drug tax until right now.” Josue Silva (‘16)
demands of the current political climate. The New Jim Crow was born.” For students living in Decorah, Iowa, drugs and the laws surrounding them may seem like a problem for large urban areas, but there is an Iowa issue with drugs, and that is the Drug Tax Stamp law. Since 1990, Chapter 453B Code of Iowa requires drug possessors to purchase a stamp that must be affixed to any illegal controlled substance of at least a defined minimum (including a live marijuana plant). Failure to comply is a Class D felony, with up to five years prison and a hefty $7,500 fine. However, due to the illegal nature of many controlled substances, almost nobody acquires them. In 2013, only two stamps were issued in all of Iowa. Read any news article about a drug arrest in Iowa and you will almost certainly see “Iowa drug tax stamp violation” or “Failure to affix drug tax stamp.” While Fifth Amendment rights are protected by language in the law that prohibits prosecution on the basis of acquiring stamps, the law is generally ignored and often unknown until the charge comes up after being caught with an illegal substance. What purpose does this law serve? Is it to further punish those who use drugs? Force people to take a plea bargain to get the felony charge (and fine) dropped? Or is it to increase state revenue so other taxes can be lowered? Amid American Revolutionary-esque cries of “taxation without representation,” a perhaps more just way to handle drugs would be to decriminalize certain drug use and tax legal purchases. The current law as it stands does nothing but add fuel to the fire of an unjust and discriminatory war on drugs, both in Iowa and nationwide.
What do you think of Iowa’s Drug Tax Stamp law?
“Why would you tax something if you’re not even supposed to sell it or have it? That just doesn’t make sense to me.” Sylvia Kaare (‘17)
“It’s kind of interesting that they’re taxing something that’s illegal. I don’t really know how to feel about it.” Evan Berg (‘17)
Student calls for vending machine boycott Letter to the Editor
Luther’s campus would be well served to better grasp the inefficiency of campus vending machines. Students are probably unaware of the surprising amount of energy these seemingly passive pieces of machinery use. In terms of electricity, the 35 vending machines on campus consume 11,375 kWh of energy per year, according to a campus study. That’s equivalent to 8,425 pounds of coal being burned.
Put another way, with every 16-ounce bottle you purchase, you also buy a half-pound of carbon dioxide to send into the atmosphere. In a sense, when you buy from a vending machine, you’re paying just as much for CO2 as you are for the drink. Oftentimes it’s difficult to know how to approach a problem like this. It isn’t charismatic, it hardly ever leads to visible consequences and it’s not the result of a centralized and easily visible source. That being said, it’s a problem nonetheless and students are nothing if not problem solvers. With that in mind, it’s important to understand that vending machines are an expression of demand, operating in response to what we as students are willing to pay for. Thus,
a powerful impact can be made on a personal level. By looking elsewhere for a snack and a drink, we can substantially reduce demand and perhaps, in turn, inspire greater change from those who have the authority to enact it. At its core, though, this all springs from individual behavior, from the choices we make and the habits we fall into. Problematic tendencies don’t just affect us; they are a result of who we are. Ugly as that may be, the silver lining in all of this is that problems are not always permanent and solutions are rarely ever unattainable. I certainly don’t claim to have the answers, but I’m ardently unwilling to concede that they don’t exist. Jeffrey Lackmann (‘18)
SPORTS
PAGE 11
APRIL 16, 2015
SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH
Luther to host Rugby Days COLIN ROBINSON STAFF WRITER The Luther College rugby teams will host the annual Rugby Days tournament Saturday, April 18. The event invites teams from around the Midwest to compete in a more relaxed venue. St. Olaf, Gustavus and teams comprised of non-college players are among the teams involved. Rugby Days is an opportunity for
RUGBY STRONG. Morgan Melton (‘15) and Grant Barnes (‘15) practice in preparation for Rugby Days. Colin Robinson / Chips
the Luther men’s and women’s teams to recruit and prepare for the upcoming spring season, according to the captains. New players can use this tournament as a means to learn and ease their way into the sport. The tournament also provides players with a way to seek possible options for their post-collegiate career in rugby. “I know after I graduate I’m going to want to play on a men’s team,” men’s Cocaptain Tom Lundberg (‘15) said. “This is a way for you to get to know what opportunities are out there.” The men’s team numbers are currently down and as a result they are constantly recrutiing. “We lost a lot of guys this year,” Lundberg said. “We had a few that went to track and we’ve had a couple injuries. Right now we’re still trying to recruit people, but I think we will be able to fill out a team for sure. It would just be nice to have a few subs.” In comparison, the women’s team has had great success with the team’s depth, work ethic and practice attendance so far this season, according to the captains. “We’ve been working really hard in practice,” women’s Co-captain Cayce Lanning (‘15) said. I think we’ve improved even from last fall. We have probably 12 or 13 new girls that we’ve had to train in, but they’ve been coming to practice consistently and have been practicing really hard.”
Norse of the Week JULIA JOSEPH SPORTS EDITOR Katie Wieland (‘15) is a captain on Luther’s softball team. Playing a double header against Wartburg on April 8, Wieland was six for nine at bat with a walk-off grand slam in game one and a three-run homerun in game two. Wieland also hit two doubles at bat throughout the games. In a double header against Simpson on April 11, Wieland was two for four at bat and drove in two runs, helping her team win both games. With such a good start to your season, how do you plan on continuing your streak? It’s a crazy start that we’ve had; we didn’t really expect to go on a run like that. Through practice, each game we see things that we need to work on. Just today Coach [Hartl] was talking to us about our hitting. It’s good to know that we can have success, but also knowing that these next few games will be really tough as well, so we need to come prepared for whatever we’ll face. What’s the biggest thing you think the team can improve on at this point? We have a lot of talk about our individual at-bats and our mentality when we go up to the plate. We left a lot of runners on in our last game. I think just picking the right pitches is important for us. Our defense is solid and our pitching is great, but hitting’s a big deal in softball so just knowing that you have to focus on each individual at-bat and improving little things. When did you first start playing and why? My dad had me out there by the time I was three or four. I really didn’t have a choice. He tried to get my sister to play, but she hated it. When I fell in love with it, he was out there with me all the time.
WORKING TOGETHER. Jake Albee (‘15) and Tom Lundberg (‘15) move WKH EDOO XS WKH ĆHOG GXULQJ SUDFWLFH Colin Robinson / Chips Rugby Days will provide an opportunity for the new players of the women’s team to compete against other collegiate teams, but Lanning sees it as an opportunity for the team to grow. “It’s not necessarily who wins and who loses,” Lanning said. “It’s all about having good competition,” The tournament also offers a lot of opportunities for the new and seasoned
Did you always play the same position? Yeah, surprisingly I’ve always been at shortstop. Coach has tried to move me around a little bit, but for some reason I always end up back at short. What has been the biggest challenge individually and for the team this season? For me, I always struggle with the mental aspect; dealing with failure is a big struggle for me. As a senior I’ve come across the fact that this is my last year, so why not enjoy it and take away the failure aspect and just enjoying every second I’m on the field. We have talked about that as a team; taking our failures at bat or errors and realizing we have other opportunities to be better. Not taking that failure as a whole game thing, but going on and doing better. What’s your favorite pre-game meal? I don’t do consistent meals, but Coach’s favorite meal is Subway, so we get that all the time. I’m a big pasta person, so some type of pasta or lasagna. I love my carbs. What types of goals do the coaching staff have? As a team that’s gone to Nationals so many years, both while I’ve been here and in the past, I think that’s always our goal to make it to Nationals. We don’t necessarily look at Nationals right now, just each game ahead of us. We just want to win as many games as we can and see where we can go, and hopefully that leads to Nationals. How do you stay focused throughout the game? Our team is very fun and loose. I think that helps us stay focused more because we’re not too intense and don’t freak out too much, just joking around a little bit and having fun and knowing that we’re there to play the game that we love. Some would see it as not being focused, but I think our personalities just allow us to have fun and stay relaxed and love the game. What’s your favorite weather to play in? Usually we don’t get it, but I like a nice calm day, 60 or 70 degrees and not too windy, but we usually get the 50-degree chilly weather that’s not fun to play in. But I would say 70-degree calm day with blue skies. Best advice before a game? My dad always tells me to play like a champion and to have fun. I get very nervous going into games, wanting to do well and be perfect. I think the best advice I can get is to trust your ability and to trust that you know the game and know how to play, so to just have fun and relax and enjoy it. What game are you most excited for coming up?
players to get to know each other as well as other people who are into the same sport. “When I started last spring, this was my first game,” women’s rugby player Bri Shekels (‘15) said. “When you’re out on the field and you hear all of your teammates cheering you on, it really makes you feel like you are part of the team and you feel a lot closer to them.”
LETTING NOTHING PAST. Katie Wieland (‘15) helped Luther beat Wartburg 15-4 and 12-6 on April 8. Bre Pierce / Photo Bureau Central. They’re a big rivalry. I always get nervous with Central because we’re two powerhouse teams that just fight to the finish. It’s a very big game for us; there’s something about Central that we get hyped up about. We’ll be there, which is worse because those red fans can come out and get you. They’re very intense, so we just have to remember to play our game and do what we know how. What has been a highlight of the season so far? Coming back from Florida undefeated was one of the highlights. We had so many games we should’ve lost. Coming back from Florida and seeing what we can do as a team, coming back from those deficits and just knowing how strong our offense was to counteract all those runs we were down by. It was cool for us to see what we’re made out of.
SPORTS
PAGE 12
SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH
APRIL 16, 2015
Weekly Standings Softball
IIAC 8-0 6-2 5-3 4-4 3-3 3-5 1-5 0-8
#4 Luther #13 Central Dubuque Buena Vista Coe Loras #22 Simpson Wartburg
Recent Scores
Overall 30-2 25-8 14-16 13-14 19-11 16-14 22-8 19-14
Apr. 14 @ UW-La Crosse W 2-0, L 5-7 Apr. 11 vs. Simpson College W 1-0, 9-6
Upcoming Schedule
Apr. 18 @ Central College 2 p.m. Apr. 19 vs. St. Mary’s 2 p.m.
PASSING THE TORCH. Sam Stokes-Cerkvenik (‘15) passes the baton to Henry Jungbauer (‘15) in the 4x200-meter race, securing a win for their relay team. Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore
Norse Relays provide unique opportunities for atheletes ERIKA STORVICK STAFF WRITER Luther track & field hosted the 49th annual Norse Relays on Saturday, April 11. The Norse men’s team placed first and the women’s team placed second overall, with team members placing in several individual events as well. “It’s significant because it’s a home meet; there’s a great history to it and there’s some amazing records from this meet,” Head Track & Field Coach Jeff Wettach (‘79) said. “It’s not a large meet for a number of teams, but it’s really good quality.” Five men’s teams and six women's teams competed in Saturday’s relays. Unlike other meets throughout the season, the relay format for this meet is unique and includes events like 4x1600 relay and the sprint medley. According to
Tim Semmen (‘16), Luther is one of two schools to host the 4x1600 this early in the season. “It’s really the beginning of our outdoor season,” Semmen said. “It’s when outdoor starts building and picking up–you start seeing times begin to drop more and more.” Saturday’s meet was the second outdoor meet of the season and one of two home meets for the 2015 track & field spring season. The other, the Wartburg Dual, will occur April 30. “Every opportunity to compete is special, but it's so awesome to compete at the blue oval on our home turf,” Leah Broderick (‘15) said. “There is an extra incentive to do something great.” According to Wettach, participation is always an important part of the Norse Relays. He noted that the Relays incorporate more athletes than individual
ALL-SPORTS RELAY. (From Left) Taylor Bremer (‘15) runs for the athletic trainers and Kyrie Dailey (‘15) represents the women’s swimming & diving team in the All-Sports Relay. Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore
events and being at home allows even injured athletes to attend and work events. “That’s part of the draw for the meet– it’s a great team meet,” Wettach said. “It’s great for getting everyone on the team involved.” Many student-athletes appreciated the participation aspect as well. “[The different relays] bring some new, interesting aspects to the meet,” Semmen said. “Also, the fact that it’s at Luther is a cool atmosphere and allows students to come and watch.” The team also invited athletes from other Luther sports to compete. Known as the All-Sports 4x100 Relay, the event included participants from athletic trainers wearing neck braces in wheel chairs, to swimmers wearing speedos and flippers. “It’s a fun thing because it promotes the sport, and we think it’s great to involve the rest of the student-athletes,” Wettach said. “It’s a very popular event.” Although the relays were inclusive, the meet was also competitive as it provided an opportunity for athletes to qualify for Drake Relays. Scheduled for April 23-25, this meet is larger than Norse Relays and provides competition from all college divisions and schools from across the country. “Having run in the Drake Relays myself, it’s a huge thing,” Wettach said. “I know it inspires a lot of our studentathletes.” Both Norse Relays and Drake Relays are unique for the amount of relay events. Some athletes appreciate this change of pace. “Ask any track athlete–relays are awesome,” Broderick said. “There is something that happens when you run with a baton in your hand, and it's always exciting to see how that unfolds.”
Baseball
#13 Wartburg Loras Coe Buena Vista Luther Central Dubuque Simpson
IIAC 13-5 8-6 10-8 7-7 7-7 7-7 6-8 2-12
Recent Scores
Overall 23-6 14-11 18-9 17-8 12-14 11-14 11-15 6-19
Apr. 11 vs Loras College L 0-1, W 12-2 Apr. 10 vs. Loras College W 8-2, L 0-7
Upcoming Schedule
Apr. 17 @ University of Dubuque 1 p.m. Apr. 18 @ University of Dubuque 1 p.m.
Men’s Tennis #36 Coe Central Wartburg Luther Simpson Dubuque Buena Vista Loras
IIAC 6-0 4-0 3-2 1-1 1-2 1-3 0-4 0-4
Recent Scores
Overall 17-4 6-6 7-12 7-11 4-12 5-12 2-13 0-12
Apr. 12 @ Lakeville, Minn. vs. Carleton College L 1-8 Apr. 10 @ Winona, Minn. vs UW-Eau Claire L 4-5
Upcoming Schedule
Apr. 18 vs. Wartburg College 8:30 a.m. Apr. 18 vs. Elmhurst College 3:30 p.m.
Women’s Tennis Coe Luther Wartburg Central Loras Simpson Dubuque Buena Vista
IIAC 7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-7
Recent Scores
Overall 19-5 13-7 10-9 10-7 6-8 6-14 4-9 0-10
Apr. 10 @ Winona, Minn. vs. UW-Eau Claire W 6-3 Apr. 3 @ Winona, Minn. vs. Wheaton College L 1-8
Upcoming Schedule
Apr. 17 vs. Winona State University 4 p.m. Apr. 19 vs. Augustana 3 p.m.