Cathedral Choir completes Midwest tour FEATURES 6 Baseball to play Conference Tournament SPORTS 12
LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
APRIL 30, 2015
CHIPS
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VOLUME 137, NO. 22
Marcks statue vandalized LAURA PROESCHOLDT STAFF WRITER The “Oedipus and Antigone” statue outside of the Center for Faith and Life was vandalized with acid during the early morning hours Sunday, April 19, according to Director of Safety and Security Bob Harri. At approximately 11:30 a.m. Luther College Safety and Security noticed the damages. The statue is a bronze cast of a sculpture created by internationally renowned artist Gerhard Marcks in 1960. According to the Luther Fine Arts Collection, the cast is one of two in the United States and one of six in the world. It depicts a scene from the Sophocles tragedy “Oedipus at Colunus.” According to Luther College Fine Arts Collection Curator Kate Elliott, an acid was applied to the statue, leading to what conservators call “bronze disease.” Bronze disease is progressive, and the statue will require treatment to avoid further damage. “It’s a cyclical [reaction] that would deteriorate and eventually eat through the bronze metal at some point, so it’s not happening instantaneously, but it is serious,” Elliott said. Professor Emeritus Wilfred Bunge (‘53) and his wife, Ruth Jensen Bunge (‘51), gifted the sculpture to Luther College in May 2000. The sculpture became an addition to Luther’s extensive Gerhard Marcks collection given by Marguerite Wildenhain. According to Bunge, he and his wife chose to donate this particular statue because they felt it fit well with the Paideia tradition and the college’s liberal arts mission. Wilfred Bunge sees art as an important part of students’ educational experience. “Artists provide us genuine assistance in seeing the world and human possibilities and understanding them more clearly because that’s what an artist does,” Bunge said. “All majors, all students need to see the world—in part, at least—through the eyes of the artist. The more perspectives that you have for viewing and understanding the world, the better off you are.” Professional conservators from the Midwest Art Conservation Center will come to campus midMay to assess the damage. Two possible treatments include re-patinization (applying a new patina to the outside of the statue) or application of a tinted wax, procedures which will likely be costly, according to Elliott. The vandalism has provoked strong feelings from students and alums. Hans Becklin (‘14) spent STATUE, PAGE 4
Students pay on-campus fees to live off-campus STEVE PETERSON STAFF WRITER As a result of the limited number of people approved for off-campus housing, some seniors will pay for on-campus housing next fall in addition to paying rent for off-campus housing for the 2015-2016 academic year. According to Luther’s Residency Requirement, “All full-time students are required to live in college-owned housing unless married, of nontraditional age (23 years or older), or commuting from their legal guardians’ homes. Off-campus living is limited and is permitted for students only when there is a shortage of rooms in college residence halls. Students must receive written permission to live off campus.” However, students who do not receive college approval to live off-campus but value the idea of living off-campus can get around this policy by paying for an on-campus room and leaving it vacant. Daniel Herman (‘16) plans to take advantage of this housing alternative next year. “When I came to Luther, Res Life made it seem like there would be an option for seniors to live off campus if they were to so choose,” Herman said. Herman’s future housemate Michael Callen (‘16) explains his decision to go off campus in a similar way. “I value the freedom and the responsibility of having and maintaining your own home,” Callen said. “I have been looking forward to off-campus living for a while.” Although this has been a sporadic trend throughout the past, more students are choosing this route for next year as the offcampus housing prospects become more stringent.
ART DEFACED. The statue “Oedipus and Antigone” outside of the CFL was vandalized with acid on April 19. Laura Proescholdt / Chips
OFF-CAMPUS, PAGE 4
Ylvisaker roof leak prompts renovation ELIZABETH BONIN STAFF WRITER Ylvisaker renovations began the week of March 30 to reroof part of the building over the Hall Director’s apartment and social lounge on the east side. According to Director of Facilities Services Jay Uthoff, the construction is due to a leak. The total cost of the repairs will be approximately $123,000, according to Uthoff. The leaks were caused by a combination
of the old building’s age and leaks that kept returning. “All the insulation was wet; it would never really be able to dry out,” Uthoff said. “Once that insulation gets wet, you almost have to remove it in order for it to dry out and then perform like it’s supposed to. Wet insulation is like having no insulation.” Facilities first noticed the leak during the winter, but renovation was not possible with such low temperatures. Because of this, construction began several weeks ago and is still in progress. Although Facilities prefer not to work on construction
during the school year, they wanted to fix this problem as soon as possible, according to Uthoff. “We’ve had some tears in the roof membrane and you can patch [those], but they still get wet underneath,” Uthoff said. “You get to them as quickly as you can and there might be a lot of water, so it’s just better to redo the whole thing and get rid of the insulation and fix some things.” YLVISAKER, PAGE 4
NEWS
PAGE 2 APRIL 30, 2015
NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE
Students contribute acts of service MATT HELM STAFF WRITER Between the services provided by the fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and the upcoming Spring Fling on May 2 sponsored by College Ministries, Luther students have many opportunities to give back to the community this semester. “Charity is a part of the DNA of Luther,� Campus Pastor Mike Blair said. “There are all kinds of creative responses to charity; last weekend we had Dance Marathon. It's a part of education to learn about the needs of your neighbors and the world around you.� College Ministries sponsors the Spring Fling, a service project that invites students to volunteer to help community members with their yard work and housework. “We find our way through serving,� Blair said. “It is a good way to explore our own questions and to connect with others and practice our faith. Oftentimes students find that they appreciate getting to know residents and it feels good to help out someone and get outside of the world of classes and tests and to genuinely connect with another person.� According to Blair, Spring Fling offers an important element to volunteering that not all other community service organizations have. “There are several organizations that offer opportunities to serve the community, but Spring
Fling adds a faith component,� Deacon of Community Action Brett Blattner (‘16) said. “I believe providing opportunities for people to live out their faith is important. Since we live on a secluded college campus, we can easily distance ourselves from the outside world. Whatever faith background people have, understanding the needs of others and helping serve those needs helps us grow.� Donations from local residents will go toward the Ebola Outbreak Response through Lutheran Disaster Response, as well as Pathway to Citizenship efforts through the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center. “Students don’t have much money to give to a cause, so Spring Fling lets them give their good helping energy,� Blair said. “It’s a win-win day.� The co-ed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega has several ongoing service projects in place. “We try to focus on four different levels of service: Luther, the local community, within the fraternity and on a national level,� APO President Maggie Homeier
(‘16) said. “Service is at the center of everything, and fellowship comes next. I've gotten to know so many people and work with them when otherwise I might never have met them.� APO is planning a study break the Saturday before finals featuring music, games, ice cream and Kool-Aid. This event is open to all students. “We want to get people moving around instead of just sitting in the library studying,� Homeier said. APO members also make regular trips to the assisted living and residential care facility The Wellington Place. “We made crepe paper flowers with the residents,� Homeier said. “There was this guy I made a flower with and he went around and showed every single person he could that flower. It makes you feel good to see how you can make a difference.� Those interested in volunteering for Spring Fling can sign up through the College Ministries web page at luther.edu/ministries. Those interested in learning more about Alpha Phi Omega and the process for joining the fraternity can visit luther.edu/apo.
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Lecturer shares personal side of Bonhoeffer’s life DANNY MAY STAFF WRITER Staff Director at the United States Holocaust Museum Victoria Barnett gave a lecture on German Lutheran pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Thursday, April 23. The lecture, titled “Dietrich Bonhoeffer: ‘Unfinished’ Hero,� addressed Bonhoeffer’s role in the resistance of the Holocaust and the ethics of resistance. The lecture was in Olin 102 and hosted a full crowd. “I thought it was a really interesting lecture,� Thad Guy (‘18) said. “I didn’t know a ton about Bonhoeffer, but I really liked what [Barnett] had to say about reexamining historical figures more accurately. I think it’s important for [students] to dig in a little bit deeper and learn some additional things [outside the classroom].� Barnett has published other works on Bonhoeffer, spent time
editing his volumes and reading all of his writings. Her aim with her lecture, she explained, was to reexamine Bonhoeffer in a more holistic sense. “One of the problems is that with Bonhoeffer, we think we know everything there is to know,� Barnett said. “I think Bonhoeffer is much more complicated than we think. Because he wrote so much theology, I think that seeing the complexity in his life helps us to better understand the complexity in the theology.� Assistant Professor of History Anna Peterson was in charge of hosting Barnett’s visit, and the history department sponsored the event. Peterson explained that she came across the opportunity to have Barnett speak at Luther when she was at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum last summer for a faculty seminar. Peterson, who teaches a course on the Holocaust, hopes students
LEARNING ABOUT LUTHERANISM. 3DLJH -RKQVRQ ç VSHDNV ZLWK 9LFWRULD %DUQHWW IROORZLQJ KHU OHFWXUH DERXW /XWKHUDQ WKHRORJLDQ 'LHWULFK %RQKRHIIHUèV OLIH ZRUNV DQG UHOHYDQFH LQ WKH OLYHV RI /XWKHU VWXGHQWV WRGD\ Danny May / Chips left the lecture with a better understanding of the resistance movement during the Holocaust.
“I think [the lecture topic] fits with a lot of the other conversations that we’re having
on campus surrounding the topic of ethics,� Peterson said. “We can use Bonhoeffer’s life to examine those questions. I was hoping [my students] would think more deeply about resistance and the role individuals played in that.� Barnett ensured that the information in her lecture was relevant to Decorah and Luther. “Some of the questions [Bonhoeffer] dealt with were the big questions about human life,� Barnett said. “Those kinds of questions are still very much out there today. None of us know what lies ahead, but one of the things that Bonhoeffer illustrates — reflecting on how you live — is important for all of us.�
NEWS
PAGE 3
NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE
APRIL 30, 2015
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Seven-Day Forecast
Luther enrollment numbers increase for 2015-16 year COLIN ROBINSON STAFF WRITER Recent numbers show that enrollment for the first year class in the 2015-16 academic year will be back to the average count after low enrollment numbers in 2014-15. “Are we ahead of deposits this year? Yes, we are,� Vice President for Enrollment Management Scot Schaeffer said. “Last year we didn’t meet our deposit goal. The goal hasn’t gone up. If we bring in 640 students, we are where we want to be.� Although it’s not a steadfast way of predicting enrollment for the coming year, the number of admissions visitors has been up compared to last year, according to Schaeffer. “There are a lot of things that could happen in the next three
weeks,� Schaeffer said. Admission and enrollment numbers come in and change on a weekly basis. The admissions office is currently bringing in many prospective students, meaning next week’s enrollment numbers may be completely different, according to Schaffer. Any housing effects of a larger first-year class will be minimized due to Luther’s many firstyear housing o p t i o n s , according to Assistant Dean for Student Life and Director of Residence Life Kris Franzen. “As far as housing for new incoming students, we have some flexibility in numbers,� Franzen said. “The first-year side of Olson Hall is a small, tight-knit community, and having 100 first-year students in Olson is ideal. Brandt Hall also has some flexibility. The majority
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of the rooms are triple size and we move the room occupancy up and down from doubles to triples based on the number of new incoming students. The current numbers are telling us the new incoming class will look similar to two years ago, so the first-year halls will represent that same picture.� The most noticeable change for the coming school year is focused on the number of students who are visiting and paying their enrollment deposits, according to Coordinator of Diversity Recruitment Keith Lesmeister. “From the admissions standpoint, things are looking really good compared to last year,� Lesmeister said. Luther’s admissions office has not changed anything in the recruitment process. There were multiple reasons for last year’s lack of enrollment, according to Lesmeister. “One of the reasons [enrollment was down] is because we started with fewer students in the pool,� Lesmeister said. “When you start with fewer students, fewer students apply, fewer get accepted and fewer accumulate in the class.�
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Life Outside Luther Riot erupts after funeral for man fatally hurt in police custody Rioters looted stores and hurled rocks and bricks at Baltimore police Monday, injuring several officers just hours after thousands mourned Freddie Gray, the man who died after suffering a severe spinal injury in police custody. Nepal quake death toll tops 4,000 As the death toll from Saturday’s magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Nepal climbed past 4,000, aid workers and officials in remote villages near the epicenter pleaded Monday for food, shelter and medicine. Help poured in from countries large and small in the form of medical and rescue teams, aircraft and basic supplies. Gay marriage arguments proceed in Supreme Court After rapid changes that have made same-sex marriage legal in all but 14 states, the Supreme Court began hearing arguments over whether it should be the law of the land on Tuesday. The ruling in question will decide whether samesex marriage can or cannot be defined by the Constitution as the union of a man and a woman. United States, Iran discuss nuclear weapon policy The Obama administration moved on two fronts Monday to advance its nuclear diplomacy with Iran, with talks between top U.S. and Iranian diplomats and an effort to sell the emerging deal to American lawmakers and constituencies. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met at the residence of Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York for the first time since April 2, when world powers and Iran sealed a framework agreement that would limit Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon. They now have little more than two months to meet their own June 30 deadline for a comprehensive agreement. Prosecutor describes Colorado gunman’s path to carnage A prosecutor declared Monday that two psychiatric exams found Colorado theater gunman James Holmes to be sane as he plotted a mass murder, considering a bomb or biological warfare before settling on a shooting with the intent of slaughtering more people. The defense holds that Holmes experienced a break with reality months before the shooting, soon after he turned 24. Holmes’ attorneys say he has schizophrenia. ESPN sues Verizon over unbundling of its sports channel ESPN is suing Verizon in an escalating clash over how the popular sports channel is being sold in a discounted pay TV package. The complaint filed Monday in New York’s state Supreme Court alleges Verizon is breaking its contract with ESPN, owned by Walt Disney Co., by unbundling the sports channel from the main programming line-up of Verizon’s FiOS TV. Compiled from: www.ap.org
NEWS
PAGE 4 APRIL 30, 2015
NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE
College renovates Ylvisaker roof YLVISAKER, PAGE 1 The construction has not gone unnoticed by residents of Ylvisaker. The front entrance is partially blocked off, so students must walk up the ramp to enter the building. According to Branden Moreau (‘18), the biggest inconvenience for residents has been the noise. “It's really loud in the morning, but the construction is good because it's an old building,” Moreau said. “That kind of stuff is expected.” Although students will have to deal with these minor inconveniences for now, Facilities hasn’t run into any problems with construction, according to Uthoff. Finishing the repairs should go smoothly. “We’re sorry about the inconvenience for the students, but hopefully we've kept the inconveniences to a minimum,” Uthoff said. Generally, students are thankful that the leaking problem will be fixed soon. “I'm glad that they’re trying to make it better and that our roof won't leak anymore,” Rachel Stoddard (‘18) said. Construction workers will return at least two more times, and hopefully the roof will likely be finished by the weekend of May 2, according to Uthoff.
Upcoming Events
Sculpture vandalized STATUE, PAGE 1 his senior year researching Marcks, along with classmate Aaron Zauner (‘14). “When I heard about this vandalism, my heart broke,” Becklin said. “As a student at Luther I spent a lot of time pondering that statue and considering how it represented Marcks’ life marred by war and tragedy.He viewed himself like Oedipus — a man of sorrows. To vandalize it is to deface the soul of another person.” Zauner feels that the highly personal nature of art makes incidents of vandalism highly troubling. “This statue is valuable, but at the end of the day, this is just as much a travesty as having our own classmates’ works vandalized,” Zauner said. “That’s because artists put a part of themselves, both figuratively and literally — go look at the statue, there are spots where you can see fingerprints — into their
works.” To Seth Vander Horst (‘15), this incident raises important concerns about art in the public spaces. “The vandalism is extremely unsettling to me as an art student. I question not only why this person thought it was okay to vandalize the statue but also if public art is safe at Luther,” Vander Horst said. Despite the risks, Elliott feels that it is important for students to encounter art in public spaces. “Artwork is part of your campus climate,” Elliott said. “We think it’s really important for it to be part of the Luther education. Nobody wants to pull artwork out of public spaces, but we always run the risk that it’s going to get damaged. That’s one of the things you have to do in order for art to do its job, which is to be out in the world.” Director of Facilities Jay Uthoff said that vandalism takes a toll on the campus community. “The willful damage or destruction of college property is very disheartening to all concerned.
Students pay additional fees to live off campus OFF-CAMPUS, PAGE 1
Thursday, April 30 Men and Women’s Track and Field 4 p.m., Home - Wartburg Dual Religion Forum: Teaching Religion 6 p.m., Olin Hall, Room 102 at a College of the Church Student Panel Red Against Rape Film Screening 7 p.m., Valders, Room 206 of “It Happened Here” Friday, May 1 Softball - IIAC Tournament All day, Home Theatre Performance: 7:30 p.m., Center for the Arts, Metamorphoses by Mary Jewel Theatre Zimmerman Saturday, May 2 Softball - IIAC Tournament All Day, Home Philharmonia Concert 1 p.m., Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, Noble Recital Hall Kwanzaa Dinner 3:30 p.m., Dahl Centennial Union, Peace Dining Room Theatre Performance: 1:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Center for Metamorphoses by Mary the Arts, Jewel Theatre Zimmerman Sunday, May 3 FMEA: Andrew Ellingsen 4 p.m., Center for the Arts: Room Movement in the Elementary 217 Classroom Monday, May 4 Chapel 10:30 p.m., Center for Faith and Life Tuesday, May 5 Student Recitals: General Recitals 9:40 a.m., Noble Recital Hall, Sundt Organ Room, Choir Room, Jenson-Noble Hall of Music Wednesday, May 6 Guest Lecture: Henrik Williams, 7 p.m., Olin Hall, Room 102 Uppsala University, Sweden Thursday, May 7 Theatre Performance: 7:30 p.m., Center for the Arts: Metamorphoses by Mary Jewel Theatre Zimmerman
Vandalism can be a criminal act and investigating takes time, talent and resources that can be put to more productive uses elsewhere,” Uthoff said. Executive Assistant to the President Karen Martin-Schramm urges students to consider how their actions affect others. “It takes a lot of maturity and respect to opt for the common good and appreciate and enjoy the beautiful surroundings we’ve been given,” Martin-Schramm said. “We need to think about how to honor each other in the community in a way that builds us all up.” Elliott is encouraged by the student outcry following the incident. “I’ve been happy to see the anger from students about this,” Elliott. “A broken window on a Saturday night or even a graffitied wall doesn’t seem to provoke the same kind of anger, which makes me think that students really care about the artwork on campus. I don’t worry about our collection being out there.”
“Each year we have one or two students that do not pick up their keys and generally they tell us it because they plan on living with their significant other that lives in the Decorah area,” Director of Residence Life Kris Franzen said. “It is not common practice to reside off campus but pay for on-campus room and board.” Herman also argues that living off-campus teaches life skills that are hard to obtain while living in residence halls. “Cooking meals every night, cleaning, house maintenance — these are adult things, and I feel that it is important to learn them and live with them before you ‘go out in the world’,” Herman said. Residence Life is not concerned that this recent trend will have a significant effect for life on campus. “Paying to live both on campus and off campus is an expensive situation to put yourself into — one
that I do not think most students can afford.” Franzen said. Some students living off campus this year have expressed similar concerns to Residence Life about the lack of connectivity to campus. “If you are able monetarily, and that’s how you want to live out your year, go for it,” Hannah Rowse (‘15) said. “But [living off campus] definitely makes me feel a bit like an outsider when I am on campus for class or campus events.” Despite certain students’ decisions to go off campus, Residence Life still maintains the position that living on campus has certain advantages. “I feel students will be missing out on some of those opportunities,” Franzen said. “We know students that live on campus report higher satisfaction rates of their undergraduate experience when they live on campus; students are more likely to be involved in the campus community. There are many benefits to being a residential campus, and that is one of the reasons we have the unique vibrant community we have on campus.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 5
A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON
APRIL 30, 2015
BODIES IN WATER. The upcoming production of “Metamorphoses” centers around a large pool as part of the set in Jewel Theatre.
Kasi Misseldine / Chips
“Metamorphoses” makes a splash KASI MISSELDINE STAFF WRITER
The Luther College theatre/ dance department is about to make a splash with their final production of the season, Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses.” This contemporary adaptation of Ovid’s mythological poetry combines absurdity with reality. The play explores themes of transformation and love through a collaborative process that involves storytelling, dance, music and a large pool in the middle of the stage, which, according to members of the ensemble, is a character of its own. Assistant Professor of Theatre and Director Bobby Vrtis explained that Zimmerman’s script calls for a pool, but isn’t specific about its size or depth, which allowed for freedom in designing the set. “We came to this design because we wanted variable
depths,” Vrtis said. “We wanted to be able to submerge actors and create surprises for the audience.” Cast member Eva Gemlo (‘15) spoke to the symbolic importance of the water and how it fits with the theme of the show. “The theme for this season has been discovery and change, and water works well with that,” Gemlo said. “[Water is] such an unpredictable element. It’s such a truthful thing. It’s difficult to work with, but it also grounds you in reality.” Despite the grounding presence of the water, Vrtis’ intent is for the play to stray from realism. “We don’t want realism to be the only way to express a story,” Vrtis said. “I’m hoping [Metamorphoses] will create a sort of productive bafflement for the audience. I hope something persists with the audience that they want to keep questioning and talking out. It’s different than other productions because
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we’re not trying to make sense.” Gemlo explained that each member of the cast plays several different roles, which gives everyone a chance to experience transformation on a personal level. Among other characters, Gemlo plays King Midas and Aphrodite. “It’s weird to go from playing a masculine role to playing the goddess of love and beauty,” Gemlo said. “It’s been a fun challenge to learn how to shift truthfully and not superficially.” According to many members of the cast, collaboration has been a defining aspect of this production. Christie Owens (‘16) and Inga Aleckson (‘18) have arranged and will perform music for the show. “I really enjoy the collaborative process [of Metamorphoses],” Owens said. “It’s cool to make my own music and arrange, and to add to this big pot of ingredients.” Michael Ehrecke (‘15) commented on the benefits of bringing different sets of talents together. “Christie and Inga are bringing an eerie, ethereal sound score to the scenes,” Ehrecke said. “There’s something about music, especially for people who haven’t had a lot of dance experience that makes it more inviting ... [it’s] something to fit your body to.” Josh Harper (‘16) has also enjoyed the collaborative process. “When you get so many creative people in a room, ideas start to flow out,” Harper said.
MYTHOLOGY MEETS REALITY. The surreal themes of “Metamorphoses” meet reality in the pool. Kasi Misseldine / Chips For Ehrecke, the ultimate message of the play is love, which is powerfully symbolized by the presence of water on the set.
“The pool is anything you want,” Ehrecke said. “But you can see it as the sacred holder of love.”
“Metamorphoses” will be performed in Jewel Theatre on May 1 at 7:30 p.m., May 2 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., May 7 at 7:30 p.m., May 8 at 9:30 p.m., and May 9 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free with CAF and $12 without and can be purchased at tickets.luther.edu
FEATURES
PAGE 6 APRIL 30, 2015
FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER
Lucero and Lussier elected Student Senate President and Vice President FRANCES STEVENSON STAFF WRITER Jesus Lucero (‘16) and Nicole Lussier (‘16) were elected Student Senate President and Vice President early last week, running against Ashley Kappers (‘16) and Phil Hanson (‘16). Student Senate announced the results of the 2015-2016 senate elections Friday, April 24. “[Running for president was a] natural next step for me,” Lucero said, “I love Luther; I love getting involved.” Lucero has two years’ experience on the senate acting as the Diversity Representative for Gender and Sexuality and the Committee Chair for Student Life. The 2015-2016 academic year will be Lussier’s first year on Student Senate, although she has served a previous position for Student Life. Lucero asked Lussier to run as his vice president, thinking she could add a new perspective to the Student Senate as someone new to the governing body. “In the positions that Jesus and I have both held we’ve done a lot of listening,” Lussier said, “We’ve spent the last three years as listeners. I think we’re pretty confident that our leadership is going to cater to those people that we have listened to, and we’re really excited about next year.” Kappers, elected as secretary, is excited for another year on Senate and is looking forward to continue serving the Luther community.
“I would like to see some of the projects that we have been working on this year to be continued,” Kappers said, “Some [of the projects] include the co-ed Baker proposal, the new point system and the new sustainable practices that the Campus Betterment Committee has been working on.” Lucero and Lussier, running on the campaign “Redefining Community,” are hoping to continue many of the projects as well. “[There are] general problems with the way that we select housing,” Lucero said. “The bigger co-ed proposal, that’s ... been happening since before we were here, and providing more housing opportunities for first- years, especially that may not identify as male or female or may not identify with the sex that they were born with. We’re trying to navigate through how we can make them feel more comfortable.” Jose Cobo (‘18), elected as a Diversity Representative for Race and Ethnicity, believes the Student Senate to be an important piece in finding the potential of the student body. “I believe in forming an engaged community of individuals able and willing to create the place we want,” Cobo said. “I decided to participate in the Student Senate elections with the hope of representing students’ desire to grow in community.” Lucero and Lussier encourage students thinking of running for a Student Senate position to apply in future years.
FUTURE LEADERS OF STUDENT SENATE. Nicole Lussier (‘16) and Jesus Lucero (‘16) will be the Vice President and President for Student Senate in 20152016. Frances Stevenson / Chips “Do it,” Lucero said. “If you honestly think you could make an impact, there are a lot of things that we do behind the scenes that people don’t know about, and we do change a lot of policies and stuff on campus. A lot of people don’t
know what we do and don’t understand what Student Senate is. If people are really willing to put themselves out there and make a difference and make a change on Luther campus, this is great way to do it.”
Unturned compost deemed unusable for gardens SARAH OWENS STAFF WRITER Luther’s compost pile cannot be used in the Luther gardens, according to Sodexo standards. The compost can still be used on the Decorah community gardens, but Sustainability is searching for ways to meet Sodexo guidelines in order to put Luther’s leftover food to use among its own produce. “Whoever started composting had a great initiative, but we haven’t been able to implement it as well as we should,” Lauren Mordini (‘16) said. “There’s not enough oxygen to help decompose it since it’s not being turned often enough. Food from the caf has a lot of pathogens in it that need to be decomposed properly. We’re not allowed to use that soil on the gardens because that would cause issues with the pathogens being transmitted.” Luther does not currently have the infrastructure in place to regulate the compost’s temperature and oxygen exposure. Sustainability is looking at investing in an industrial composter, as well as creating a work-study position to ensure that the compost is turned regularly to make it suitable for Luther’s gardens. “The two big things we need to figure out are infrastructure and the things we need to purchase, and the other issue is labor,” Cargill Energy and Waste Fellow Jamie Stallman (‘14) said. “Who is going to be doing this? Is it Grounds, Facilities, Sustainability, Gardens? So there are a couple different departments. It might be teamwork or hiring a new person or rewriting a job description. We’re not sure what to do about the labor part yet. We’re also looking at industrial composters, which Gustavus and St. Olaf have right now, but they’re six figures.” According to Stallman, food waste made up 30-
PILE OF RUBBISH. According to Sodexo’s standards, this pile of Luther’s compostable foods is unusable in the gardens. Sarah Owens / Chips 35 percent of the 468 tons of waste that Luther threw away last year. Composting is a part of reducing that percentage, but the cost of doing so is a matter of debate. “Economically, payback is something that we need to look at,” Stallman said. “Luther is going to be a million dollars in the hole because of decreased enrollment. To try to legitimize buying an expensive piece of equipment is hard because they could use that money more prudently in some other fashion.” While the logistics are being looked into, members of the Environmental Concerns Organization (ECO) will take steps to further inform the Luther community on how and why to compost, as well as adding compost bins in the residence halls to further reduce Luther’s carbon emissions. “I think it’s going to take a lot more education,” ECO Leader Elena Anderson (‘17) said. “I just look at the
plates that people set down on the conveyor belt in the caf, and a lot of the time people don’t do the proper thing with their food. It’s silly because then it just gets thrown away.” Although the compost is not currently being used on the Luther gardens, it can still be applied to the community gardens. Anderson believes that once Sodexo standards are achieved, students will participate in composting more actively. “I think it’s powerful to have people be part of a whole circle,” Anderson said. “If we’re able to tell people that they should compost because their compost will provide nutrients that will then be used to produce their food, more people will help. I think when people have more of a connection to their food, [they will be] more responsible about eating, and they’ll be healthier themselves.”
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER
APRIL 30, 2015
LADY MADONNA. Pictured above is Jacob Clausen’s (‘15) digital print titled “Untitled (Our Lady of Sorrows),” which will be featured in his exhibit “Immaculate Ejaculate” in the Dahl Centennial Union Gallery for the month of May. Image courtesy of Jacob Clausen
Clausen gallery examines sexuality in Christian art ERIKA STORVICK STAFF WRITER The Virgin Mary is getting saucy in the Dahl Centennial Union Gallery. Images of her being groped and adorned in lacy garments will be displayed as part of Jacob Clausen’s (‘15) featured student exhibit “Immaculate Ejaculate” for the month of May. Clausen’s exhibit “Immaculate Ejaculate” focuses on the sexualization of Mary and other religious icons in art. His work, inspired by the Virgin Mary and various art-historical representations of her, incorporates traditional religious iconography, sexual imagery and vivid color schemes. According to Clausen, his work exposes sexual undertones already present within Christian art. “All these things are already there, and it’s just something that people don’t often think about,” Clausen said. “A lot of these modes and symbols [within Christian art] are quite sexual in nature, and by extension misogynistic …the Virgin Mary is reduced to a tool for patriarchal transcendence.” Clausen has been working on this exhibit for over a year as part of his senior honors project. According to Clausen, the idea for this project came in response to a book he read critically analyzing the theory behind pornography. After reading this book, Clausen started examining sexuality in other forms of art. “I started to think of other things that could become sexualized,” Clausen said. “I was looking at some art-historical, religious paintings and I was making a lot of connections.’’ The sexualization of Mary in art is highly controversial as Mary is a central figure within Christianity, particularly within the Catholic Church. Many of the images Clausen based his work upon are used as venerable images within religious institutions.
“Whenever you begin distorting religious images and symbols, you have to understand that these are around because they have meaning to people,” Deacon of Global Concerns and future President of the Congregational Council Carter Johnson (‘16) said. “You always have to do this with an air of sensitivity.” The Luther art faculty has also acknowledged the potentially controversial nature of Clausen’s work. “He’s dealing with a difficult subject, [but] there is a difference between offensive and obscene,” Assistant Professor of Art and Clausen’s adviser Ben Moore (‘02) said. “I don’t think he’s making work that deals with obscenity. He’s dealing with imagery that already exists. It’s classical painting—he’s just changing the color.” Clausen acknowledged the controversial nature of his work and accepted the possibility of offending some audiences. “It is kind of a touchy subject, especially with it being religion and there being some sexual things going on in it,” Clausen said. “With this, I’m not trying to offend anyone, although I’m sure someone will be offended by it … it’s more about encouraging people to not always take everything at face value.” According to Clausen, his work is meant to cause people to question their religious convictions and re-evaluate what the role of art should be within religion. He acknowledges that his message is provocative but wants people to look at the larger goal of critical thinking. “Something that I really like about the art department at Luther is that they are really pushing students to inform their work with things that are socially or politically charged … instead of just making things that look cool,” Clausen said. The exhibit will remain in the Union Gallery until May 26. There will also be a reception May 17, where the public
can have conversations with the artist. “He’s trying to make a stance … but
his aim is also not to hurt someone,” Moore said.
VIRGIN MARY. Pictured above is Clausen’s digital print titled “Untitled (Virgin and Child).” Image courtesy of Jacob Clausen
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8 APRIL 30, 2015
A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON
TOUR TIME. Cathedral Choir toured several Minneapolis-area churches before returning of their homecoming concert on Tuesday, April 28. Photo courtesy of Emma Hohulin
Cathedral Choir sings beliefs EMMA DEIHL STAFF WRITER Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Assistant Professor of Music Jennaya Robison (‘96), wrapped up another year of vocal performance with their annual tour and homecoming concert Tuesday, April 28 in the Center for Faith and Life. The group traveled to three churches in the Twin Cities area before returning to Luther for their concert, titled “I Believe.” “This will not be a typical concert — it’s actually more like a performance because everything is kind of tied together,” Cathedral Vice President Emma Hohulin (‘17) said. The choir’s concert repertoire all fits the theme “I Believe.” Between pieces, members of the choir speak, sing phrases and act to weave all of the music together. Cathedral left Luther early on Saturday morning and sang at Wayzata Community Church in Wayzata, Minnesota. On Sunday, they performed for two services at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis before holding a concert at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Owatonna. The group performed pieces they’ve worked on throughout the year, including their two Christmas at Luther pieces. “Simply having [the theme] be ‘I Believe’ allows for so much more freedom, and from a musical standpoint, there are so many things that fit the theme of belief because it doesn’t confine into belief of a certain thing,” Josh Weisenburger (‘17) said. Certain sections in each piece represent different beliefs one can choose to uphold. “The music talks about belief in God, belief in goodness, the everlasting and other things,” Cathedral President Luigi Enriquez (‘17) said. “It definitely speaks to us now because when we come to college, a lot of us question our own beliefs.” According to Hohulin, Robison frequently mentions the theme during rehearsals to help the members connect with the music. “[The theme] really gives us a focal point for how we can focus our emotion during our pieces,” Weisenburger said. “Tying
SNAPPING A SELFIE. Director Jennaya Robison and Manager of the Choral Works Iniative at Minnesota Public Radio Tefsa :RQGHPDJHJQHKX WRRN D JURXS VHOĆH DIWHU D FKRUDO ZRUNVKRS OHG E\ :RQGHPDJHJQHKX Photo courtesy of Emma Hohulin into the concept of something greater than you is part of what being in a choir is, so it’s taking it out of the context of a choir and putting it in the realm of something personal.” During the tour, Cathedral promoted Luther’s choral program, shared their music with audiences in the Twin Cities area and grew closer with one another. According Hohulin, this year’s Cathedral Choir shares a close bond. They did teambuilding activities throughout the year to help create a strong connection. “The week before Spring Break, I typed out all of the names of the choir members, cut them out and everyone drew a name, and they had to send ‘SPO Love’ to that person,” Hohulin said. “We also had a dress up week last week to get ready for the tour.” Hohulin’s most memorable Cathedral
moment is when the choir raised over $1,400 for Christmas Cheer, a fundraiser used to buy Christmas gifts for a family in need. “People came and donated so much money that we were able to buy everything on the list and more,” Hohulin said. “It was incredible being in the choir room and just seeing how generous our choir members were.” Other members of Cathedral used the tour and homecoming concert to reminiscence on the year. “Cathedral has been a pace where I’ve gotten closer with people in my grade,” Weisenburger said. “For whatever reason, the group this year is just inclusive to each other, and I’ve gotten to know several of my peers better through choir than I think I would have otherwise.”
OPINION
PAGE 9
MANAGING EDITOR: SARAH KING
APRIL 30, 2015
The naked truth Letter to the Editor For those of you who don’t read every email you get from Luther, the very first announcement in this week’s bulletin looks something like this: Special Notice: If you are a senior and want to participate in the prestigious tradition that is Naked Soccer at Luther, then we have some news for you. We have called upon the local police to patrol the campus in search of all fun-seekers, so that they may arrest you under Iowa Criminal Code 701.2. This will effectively bar you from entering into the job market that you spent the last four years trying to qualify for. Also, this may label you as a sex offender, and we (as well as any potential future employers) all know that all convicted sex offenders are pederast demon hell-spawn. If you get arrested, you will not be able to walk the stage at graduation, because who the heck knows what kind of crazy stunt a pederast like you is going to pull. I am of course paraphrasing quite liberally here, but
you can imagine my dismay upon reading this notice. Now I, for one, know that indecent exposure laws exist for many good reasons, and I agree that they should be enforced. However, just as officer discretion plays a role in not arresting everyone that drives five over the speed limit, I think the same discretion should apply to Naked Soccer. Granted, I understand the harsh sanctions – Naked Soccer got out of control in the late ‘90s/early 2000s with underage kids playing, sexual harassment and an assault on a police officer. However, I think that rather than use this latest round of sanctions as another weapon in the ongoing Luther College War on Fun, the administration has an opportunity to regulate Naked Soccer into something that is safe and fun for all parties involved. At Carleton College they have Rotblatt, a longstanding traditional, campus-sponsored softball game where it is “tradition for players to both bat and field with a beverage of their choice in one hand,” according to their college website. I’d also like to imagine a Trout Fry that was campus-sponsored, which would be more of a mix of what Trout Fry and Fish Fry are today. It wouldn’t have to be an ode to hedonistic drunkenness or a chastened counter-measure, but rather students and the administration working together to throw a grand, inclusive party. Sadly, as long as the Luther administration continues The War on Fun, there will be no such events. Robbie Helgason (‘15)
Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge worsens cultural appropriation LUANNA GERDEMANN COLUMNIST I didn’t think it was possible, but there is now an Internet challenge even more stupid than the Cinnamon challenge of 2010: the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge. Basically, young people – a majority of them female – stick their lips in containers such as glass jars, shot glasses, and cups, suck out all of the air and hope to get fuller lips from the suction inside of the container they’re using. What I just described probably sounds like the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard of, right? Like, who would do that? Apparently a lot of people who want a “simple” alternative to real lip injections. There are lots of problems with this
new Internet trend. First: why would you do that to your lips? People have seriously been getting injured, cutting their lips or damaging their face in some way in their cheap, pathetic attempt at homemade lip injections sans the needle. This is actually dangerous, damaging and outright stupid. Secondly, Kylie Jenner did not do this to her lips. She probably has had real lip injections! What makes you think that you can get the same type of lips as Kylie when you’re sucking the air out of a glass looking like an idiot compared to a person who got real, professionally done lip injections? Although we don’t know exactly how she’s doing it – maybe she’s gotten extra pouty in her Instagram pictures – she’s definitely not sticking her face in glass jars and sucking the air out
of them. And finally, the biggest problem with this trend is its overall hypocrisy and plain irony by the participants of this challenge. In our society, full lips are seen as a stereotypical characteristic of African American people. The majority of participants of this trend happen to be white. Two words: cultural appropriation. How can we live in such a racist society while simultaneously taking certain aspects from African American culture and glamorizing it as part of the dominant white culture? The most basic example is tanning. How many girls (or guys) tan themselves for prom or during the winter? We marginalize different, darker races, while at the same time go pay someone money to make us look darker. Do you see what’s wrong here? I haven’t seen anyone at Luther doing this ridiculous challenge yet, but I think it’s important for us to recognize the underlying problem in the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge. While yes, it’s idiotic, moronic, asinine and any other insulting word you’d like to use, it’s very problematic and contradictory to how we treat African American people, versus how we treat African American culture in our society. We love rap music; we love dark (but not too dark) skin; we love big butts and full lips! When we incorporate black culture into white society, it’s completely okay and glorified, but we still continue to discriminate against the people from whom all these great things come. If you are a person who has ever thought about doing this challenge, think twice about what your “Kylie Jenner Lips” are really telling others.
Elected senate leadership hopes to effect change, shed nostalgia where necessary A Senate Sit-Down First and foremost, we would like to thank the Luther College student body for electing us to be your President and Vice President of Student Senate 2015-16. We were absolutely elated to receive the news and couldn’t be happier to serve all of you in the coming year. Though we are just beginning our journey and transitioning into these new leadership positions, we face this upcoming year with an abundance of energy and a positive attitude. Through many meetings with different students, administration and faculty, we have come to realize that there are a lot of people calling for change and there are a lot of key items that we need to take time to explore and consider. We’ve had the privilege and honor to learn from Libby Logsden (‘15) and Maggie Steinberg (‘15) who have led us in this past year of reflection as we have transitioned President Paula Carlson into Luther’s culture and community. In a recent meeting with Libby and Maggie, we were able to communicate our uncertainties and fears, and as we listened to the “do’s and don’ts,” we were inspired. They not only reflected on their years in Senate, but additionally on their incredible four years here at Luther. As we draw near to the end of our experience, it’s easy to be caught up in a sense of nostalgia. Luther currently boasts about our wonderful institution and the many organizations and leaders that come with it; however, one cannot miss the students’ call for more respect and authority on campus. We as a community too often fear change that could ultimately work to our profound benefit. In this way we are afraid that Luther falls short of its students’ aspirations. So where are we falling short? What do we need to change? Most importantly, with whom do we need to talk to motivate these changes? We passionately care about this institution, and the reason we are calling for change is so that Luther can survive in a time where private liberal arts colleges are failing. This year has been one of silent rumblings and stirrings. As we step up next year, we want to hear what you have to say. We have the power to make a difference on this campus not only as a senate but also as a student body. It’s time to make some changes, but we need your help, Luther. Let’s protect what we love and propel it to achieve something better. Twenty-six senators is a start, but a student body is a force. Let’s redefine community together. Jesus Lucero (‘16) & Nicole Lussier (‘16) President & Vice President elects of Student Senate
OPINION
PAGE 10 APRIL 30, 2015
MANAGING EDITOR: SARAH KING
Luther College Chips
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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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Editorial We have all heard it before. Writers have predicted the future, creating what seemed at the time like a farfetched technology or societal norm that eventually became reality. H.G. Wells wrote about deadly heat rays in “The War of the Worlds” and a nuclear world in “The World Set Free,” predating lasers and the atomic bomb. Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” predicted antidepressants and Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” inspired organ transplants. Some writers have intended their creations to signal exciting possibilities to come, while others have intended them to be a warning of potential future dangers. Our generation has been raised in a world where these predictions and inventions seem to come true every year. iPods, laptops, smart phones, genetic modification, social media: the list goes on and on. One of the latest real-world creations predicted by an author is the LuLu application. LuLu is an app created in 2013 that allows female users to link their Facebook accounts with it and evaluate male friends they have dated on the basis of their romantic, personal and sexual appeal. Users often use hashtags to let other users know what a particular guy is like. Some are positive, like #LifeOfTheParty and #PlaysDidgeridoo, but most are just mean, like #Boring, #DeathBreath and #NeverSleepsOver. Where have we seen this before? Gary Shteyngart’s 2010 satirical novel “Super Sad True Love Story.” In the novel, all people in the world wear äppäräts, devices that project their personal rating as a human, according to everything from their credit score to their “F---ability”
The Norse Poll
“It’s taking a personal reaction and making everybody aware of it.” Simon McCullough (‘17)
score, for the entire world to see. This app is only a couple of rating categories short of making Shteyngart’s nightmare a reality, or maybe it’s not. Credit ratings could fall under the category of “personal appeal,” depending on the superficiality of its users, and who is to say whether or not a female user of LuLu can post whether a male subject has good credit or not. Not having used the app ourselves, it’s hard to say. Nevertheless, the intent behind creating the LuLu app only furthers the materialization and commodification of our dating culture. What LuLu implies is that men are commodities for women to rate, like a restaurant or hotel. No longer will people want to “get to know” each other; rather, they will look for another person to rate their date so they can weed out “losers” and pick a highly rated guy. Further, it will encourage men to act superficially in the hopes of creating a highly rated persona rather than be true to themselves. It also poses the danger of creating a platform for hate speech to thrive. Women who have been stood up or found faults in guys can use LuLu to bash them relentlessly, label them as they choose and rank them lowly so that no other woman will want to date them. In a world where revenge porn and anonymous social media platforms have taken hold, we have to wonder if LuLu is just another app contributing to hate speech rather than open, honest communication. If there is a redeeming quality about LuLu, it is that the application requests permission from men to create a profile about them, and men can request their profiles be removed if they so desire. Despite this, the overwhelming number of problematic aspects remain and only contribute to creating the dystopian future Shytengart warns the reader of.
What do you think about using rating apps for dating?
“I feel like that can be really offensive and bring down down other people’s self-esteems ... [but] if the guys are willingly doing it, then there’s nothing wrong with it.” Andrea Markert (‘17)
ê,W GHĆ QLWHO\ ZRXOG HQFRXUDJH competition [and] create rivalries between people, especially if they’re interested in the same type of person.” Fred Scaife (‘16)
SPORTS
PAGE 11
APRIL 30, 2015
SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH
Baseball prepares for Conference SAMANTHA PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER After putting in hours of practice under the direction of its new coaching staff, the Luther baseball team is optimistic as they look toward the IIAC conference tournament on May 7-9 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “During the preseason, we were ranked last,” pitcher Alec Knop (‘15) said. “So I think that was motivation for us to stick it to everybody who didn’t believe in us.” The team is currently ranked second in the conference behind Wartburg. “Now we have a really good opportunity to finish at the top of the conference, and I think our goals are swinging now,” Head Baseball Coach Bryan Nikkel said. “We’re maybe better than what we thought. Let’s keep pushing the envelope and not just settle for something that we can obtain.” According to Knop, the coaching staff has done well to voice what they want out of their players and the team has seen major progress since last year. “[Nikkel] and the other coaches have done an awesome job [ensuring] that we respect the game of baseball and make sure it’s played the way it’s supposed to be played,” Knop said. “They have instilled the importance of hard work into us, but the players have really taken it and run with it.” First baseman Aldon Severson (‘15) acknowledged Nikkel’s effective coaching style. “He’s very straightforward on what he expects from his players and how he expects them to conduct themselves both on and off the field as members of the Luther baseball team,” Severson said. “On
the field, he and the other coaches bring a level of energy and intensity that I think the players learned to feed off of and really enjoy. Even though it’s only his first year here, I know he and the other coaches are going to do great things with the program in the years to come.” According to Nikkel, a relentless positive attitude and a strong team atmosphere characterize his coaching style. “I don’t name captains,” Nikkel said. “I want leaders to emerge out of the framework. I don’t care if you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior; there are ways you can help lead the group.” Creating a strong team atmosphere was another of Nikkel’s goals from the start of the season. With a strong eight-man core of seniors leading, the men have come together as a team. “As a collective unit, we’ve grown a lot over the season … especially from a younger core group of guys who have experienced a lot of playing time and really stepped up to the plate and gotten the job done,” Severson said. “Spending four years [with the other seniors] on and off the field allows you to get pretty close and make some long-lasting relationships.” The team considers each game to be the biggest of the year. According to Nikkel, while this mentality makes most players nervous, it makes him excited. “It gives us something to play for,” Nikkel said. “Back in September, all we wanted was something to play for. And now we have [it]. So I think there’s no time to be nervous, there’s no time to put extra pressure on ourselves. We just have to go out there and play like we know how to play and have fun with it and embrace the moment.”
Norse of the Week JULIA JOSEPH SPORTS EDITOR In the IIAC NCAA Tennis Qualifier Tournament, Jackie Cychosz (‘18) clenched one of the two singles wins the team needed to make it to the championship match. Cychosz defeated her Wartburg opponent 6-0 and 6-1. The team went 5-0 in the semifinals match and lost to Coe College 1-5 in the finals. Chips: What was the biggest challenge in your match against Liz Rucker from Wartburg? Cychosyz: Definitely maintaining a stable mental state. When playing someone as solid as Liz Rucker, it can be difficult to keep your emotions and focus in check. Thankfully I was able to keep calm and pull out a win. Who is a professional tennis player you look up to? The two tennis players that I look up to the most are Roger Federer and Eugenie Bouchard. What was the highlight of the spring season for you individually and as a team? When I defeated Jillian Wallace from UW-Whitewater. She was probably one of the toughest competitors that I had faced all year, and the fact that I was able to pull out a win was amazing. I think the highlight for the team was when we got a 6-3 victory over UW-Eau Claire. Although I personally
PITCHING TO SUCCESS. College on April 11.
didn’t play my best tennis that day, the level of intensity and athleticism that the rest of the girls brought to the table was so amazing, and I’d say that was the best group effort that we had all year. How do you create a team dynamic even though tennis is an individual or partner sport? I think we got very lucky with the team that we had this year. We all became so close that it wasn't difficult to create a strong team dynamic. I think it’s so important that we’re not only friends on the court but off the court as well. Does the focus change in the spring season since you don't play Conference games? Which season is more difficult? I’d say that our focus stays about the same. Although the matches that we play in the spring are non-conference, we still take them seriously knowing that we need to stay competitive to prepare for the Automatic Qualifier Tournament at the end of the year. In terms of difficulty, I believe that the spring season is the hardest. The caliber of tennis that we play against during the spring is incredibly high. What is your favorite meal to eat before a match? A turkey and ham sandwich from Subway with a bag of Doritos. Why did you first start playing tennis? I started playing tennis because my dad and my brother would play all the time when I was little. I got really jealous that they were spending so much time together that I asked to join. I've been playing ever since. What was the hardest part of the transition from playing in high school to college? The difficulty level of the teams that you play was hard to transition to. I think the biggest change is that I’ve started regarding the sport as more of a team effort rather than thinking about individual success. In high school, I was more focused on the betterment of my own game, but joining such a supportive and group-oriented team has given me a new perspective. With one season under your belt now, what are your new goals going into summer training for the fall season?
Alec
Knop
(‘15)
pitches against Loras Courtesy of Photo Bureau
I hope that when summer training comes around I will be quicker and stronger than I have ever been before. As for a team goal, I want us to be strong enough to be undefeated in our conference during fall season. Considering the talent that we have and the talent that I have been told that we are bringing in next year, this is definitely an attainable goal for us.
SWING TO A WIN. Jackie Cychosz (‘18) plays against Simpson College in September. Bre Pierce / Photo Bureau
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Women’s tennis competes in National Qualifiers ERIN DANIELSON STAFF WRITER The women’s tennis team participated in the IIAC NCAA National Qualifier Tournament on April 24-25, concluding their season with a 5-1 loss in the finals to conference champions, Coe College. The team defeated Wartburg 5-0 in the semifinals sweeping the doubles matches and picking up two singles wins from Jenna Myers (‘16) and Jackie Cychosz (‘18). “Knowing that Wartburg almost beat us in the fall with an overall score of 5-4, our team was ready to fight,� Maggie Helms (‘16) said. “We told each other that if we win all three doubles matches then we would win the overall dual, and that's exactly what we did. We played with incredibly high intensity and aggression in order to send a message to Wartburg that we were ready, and our spring schedule prepared us well.� In the finals, Luther’s only win came from the number two doubles match played by Hailey Johnson (‘16) and Lauren Welch (‘17). The team has prepared for the IIAC qualifiers all season by playing regionally and nationally ranked opponents, according to Assistant Coach Fran Fairfield (‘11). “These challenging matches have helped us to get better as a team and to handle adverse conditions well,� Fairfield said. According to Fairfield, the women’s team has focused on improving their singles play this spring as fall season showed
Weekly Standings Softball
IIAC 12-0 9-3 8-6 7-7 6-8 5-9 4-10 3-11
#4 Luther #17 Central Simpson Coe Buena Vista Dubuque Loras Wartburg
Recent Scores
Overall 35-3 28-9 29-9 23-15 18-19-1 14-26 19-19 22-17
Apr. 28 vs. St. Mary’s University W 9-5, L 4-5 Apr. 26 vs. University of Dubuque W 7-1, 8-0
Upcoming Schedule
May 1-2 IIAC Tournament Decorah, Iowa
Baseball
HARD WORK PAYING OFF. -HQQD 0\HUV ç SOD\V 6LPSVRQ DERYH 0\HUV ZRQ KHU VLQJOHV PDWFK DJDLQVW :DUWEXUJ RQ $SULO Bre Pierce / Photo Bureau room for growth in this area of competition. “Our biggest goal for the spring season was to improve in our singles play,â€? Helms said. “There are more points involved if we can win all six of our singles matches versus all three of our doubles matches.â€? Along with improving throughout the season in singles play, Fairfield attributes much of the team’s success to strong leadership. “I think the greatest strength of our team is that we are an experienced team,â€? Fairfield said. “We only have one senior in the varsity lineup, but we have five juniors, and they add a great deal to the competitiveness and team dynamic.â€? Although the Norse women had
hoped to advance to Nationals, their goal ended with their loss to Coe in the finals. “Although it didn't turn out the way we would have hoped, I feel that we played extremely well,� Adriana DePaolis (‘15) said. “All of us fought hard at every spot, and I am very proud of the way we competed.� Despite ending their season earlier than planned, the Luther women finished with a 15-10 record overall this spring, and DePaolis left with many positive memories. “It has been so great being a member of this team for four years, and I have made many lifelong friends because of Luther tennis,� DePaolis said.
#11 Wartburg Coe Loras Luther Buena Vista Central Dubuque Simpson
IIAC 20-8 17-11 13-11 13-11 12-12 12-12 7-17 6-18
Recent Scores
Overall 30-9 26-12 19-16 18-18 22-13 16-19 12-24 10-25
Apr. 27 vs. Central College L 1-11, W 5-2 Apr. 26 @ Central College L 1-2, L 3-12
Upcoming Schedule
May 1 @ Buena Vista University 3:30 p.m. May 2 @ Buena Vista University 1 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 21-6 15-10 11-10 11-8 7-10 6-15 4-9 0-10
Apr. 24-25 NCAA Qualifier Tournament W 5-0, L 1-5
Men’s Tennis #36 Coe Luther Central Wartburg Dubuque Buena Vista Simpson Loras
IIAC 7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 2-4 2-5 1-6 0-6
Recent Scores
Overall 18-6 14-11 7-8 8-14 6-13 4-14 4-16 0-14
Apr. 26 vs. Augustana W 6-3 Apr. 25 vs. Central College W 9-0
Upcoming Schedule
May 1-2 IIAC NCAA Qualifier Tournament
TOGETHER UNTIL THE END. The Luther VHPLĆ QDOV DQG ORVW WR &RH &ROOHJH RQ $SULO
women’s
tennis
team beat Wartburg in the Photo courtesy of Photo Bureau