A&E 5
A CAPELLA CONCERT
GRANDPALS BEGINS
FEATURES 6
WRESTLERS TO WISCONSIN
SPORTS 11
LUTHER COLLEGE
CHIPS
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
DECEMBER 8, 2016
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VOLUME 139, NO. 11
Student workers seek unionization
Nursing deparment asseses changes SHASA SARTIN STAFF WRITER
join. “Right now I am interested in people who can volunteer to get authorization cards,” Eness said. In order to become a union, students must submit a proposal to The National Labor Relations Board. This proposal must have authorization cards or signatures accounting for at least a third of the student worker body. The LSWU has set a goal of gathering signatures by the end of February. The minimum amount of signatures needed for Luther’s student body is 510.
In response to the 50 percent retention rate for students in the nursing program’s 2017 class, students and faculty are reflecting and improving upon a series of previous changes made to the program in 2013. The 2017 class will be the first to graduate under the changed program. In fall of 2013, the Nursing Department implemented changes to its curriculum due to issues with students having to learn skills while simultaneously practicing them in Rochester. The program was changed so that the skills previously taught in Rochester during the junior year of the program were taught on campus during the sophomore year. Associate Professor of Nursing and department head La Donna Dale McGohan (‘95) said there are many advantages to the changes in 2013. “Revising the nursing curriculum [in 2013] addressed several crucial factors being driven by multiple strong forces influencing the nursing role: scientific advances, changing demographics of patient populations, new care technologies, emphasis on patient safety and patient access to healthcare information,” McGohan said. Erika Buchholz (‘17) was one of the students that experienced this new curriculum. “The first time [nursing majors] had their clinical experience was when they were up at Mayo [Clinic],” Buchholz said. “They sort of shifted everything so the junior year became the sophomore year when I was a student, and so we did most of those classes and got the groundwork done as sophomores. So, by the time we went to Mayo our junior year, we already had all of those skills.”
UNIONIZATION, PAGE 4
NURSING, PAGE 4
The Luther Student Workers Union, if recognized by The National Labor Relations Board, would be comprised of student workers from all different jobs on campus, including the cafeteria. Maria da Silva (‘15) / Photo Bureau ANA LÓPEZ STAFF WRITER A group of Luther students are collecting signatures in an effort to unionize. They are planning on submitting a unionization proposal to the National Labor Relations Board by February 2017. According to Maxwell Eness (‘20), the students interested became inspired to create a labor union after hearing about Dining Services student workers who unionized at Grinnell College, in Grinnell, IA. “I think it is a good thing for workers
to be able to get together and talk about issues,” Eness said. “I think it is a fundamentally good idea.” The Dining Services at Grinnell employs approximately 250 workers. After hearing about this story at the Des Moines Register, Eness began pushing for Luther Student workers to form a similar labor union. According to Eness, he is not only thinking about the Dining Services students but the student worker body in general. The workers interestested have formed the group Luther Student Workers Union (LSWU). Although they are not meeting regularly at the moment, LSWU is looking for more workers to
Panel addresses Dakota Access Pipeline JULIA CURTIS STAFF WRITER A panel of Luther students and Decorah community members who protested the Dakota Access Pipeline in Standing Rock, ND during Thanksgiving break sat on a panel held by the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE) on Nov. 29. About 100 students and Decorah community members attended the panel. The panel was comprised of three Luther students: Andres Alvarez (‘18), Courtney Field (‘19) and Rebecka Green (‘19) as well as two Decorah community members, Parker Deen and Britta Carbonell. Alvarez, Field and Green were three of 15 students who went to Standing Rock over Luther’s Thanksgiving Break. The panelists began by introducing themselves and their roles within the different
demonstration units. Green said she went to the frontlines of the protest, whereas others stayed at the base camp to provide supplies and support services for the other protestors. Each of the panelists had a different perspective on the issues occurring at Standing Rock stemming from their different educational backgrounds. Green said she focused on the religious conflicts the pipeline would bring, whereas Field brought a historical perspective to the situation. Alvarez, an environmental studies major, addressed the environmental issues of the pipeline. “There are plenty of ways to be an ally and support causes you are passionate about,” Green said. “You don’t need to put your body on the line for every issue you care about. But you definitely can. And it’s definitely effective and powerful.” STANDING ROCK, PAGE 4
[From left] Courtney Field (‘19) Rebecka Green (‘19) and Andres Alvarez (‘18) discuss their experiences protesting at Standing Rock. Maddie Miller (‘19) / Photo Bureau
NEWS
PAGE 4
DECEMBER 8, 2016
NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME
Nursing major reviews adjustments NURSING, PAGE 1 Although the class of 2017 experienced a 50 percent retention rate (22 students), since then, class sizes have essentially returned to their pre-change numbers. The class of 2018 is currently at 40 students, with the class of 2019 at 39. However, McGohan also noted that this number is likely to decrease after the conclusion of the semester. Elise Heiser (‘17) also entered Luther under this new curriculum and found that it posed some challenges for students. “Sophomore year was extremely difficult, especially that first semester,” Heiser said. “I mean, it’s partly because of the curriculum change, part because it’s such a new thing in general.” Heiser said that the nursing department faculty were receptive to criticism from students regarding the new curriculum. Heiser said they gathered feedback from students throughout their two years in the program — as their senior year is underway — and adjusted accordingly. “Based on the feedback that we’ve given our professors, they tweak the program based on that,” Heiser said. “We’re the guinea pig year, basically.” Buchholz echoed Heiser’s sentiments, adding that she feels the program has constantly been improving
since the initial changes in 2013. “They’ve done such a good job of changing it,” Buchholz said. “After my sophomore year they kind of just sat us all down and said ‘what worked well?’ [and] ‘what didn’t work well?’ They used a lot of our feedback and I think that’s really helped because they had a better idea of what’s been effective for students and what hasn’t.” Buchholz said she was happy about the changes to the program. Relative to the classes prior, Buchholz’s class was allowed more experience earlier on. “Since we’re the first class to have [the curriculum changes] implemented, now we’ve had it for [three] years and so we’re starting to see the changes,” Buchholz said. “I think they’ve been really positive just because we’ve had so much more hands on experience. So we were able to actually do patient care our sophomore year, and be in nursing homes and the hospital and all these places in Decorah before we went to Mayo.” Heiser said she thinks that further changes may be implemented regarding a reduction in clinical hours in the junior year. During the final two weeks of the spring semester students spend in Rochester, there is traditionally 80 clinical hours completed. However, that might not be a possibility anymore, according to McGohan.
Jackie Krawczyk (‘18) during a wound care lab during her sophmore year. Ashley Veeser (‘18) / Photo Bureau “There are no specific changes that have been determined for the future,” McGohan said. “As a department, we frequently look at trends in nursing practice and healthcare, in addition to benchmarking with other schools, to discuss if adjustments should be considered.”
Panel discusses DAPL, Standing Rock protests
Students seek unionization UNIONIZATION, PAGE 1
STANDING ROCK, PAGE 1 Assistant Director of the CEPE Krista Holland initially reached out to students who traveled to Standing Rock to be included in a panel about their experiences. Holland said she feels it is important for these students to communicate their experiences with others. “I think it’s our job as a center to recognize when students find areas to be involved in a public policy issue,” Holland said. “We need to give them a space to tell others about it and what their experience was like and also a chance to empower students to be in front of a group and be able to facilitate a discussion.” Attendee Annalise Johnson (‘18) said she feels it is important for students to learn more about what is going on at the site of demonstration because of future implications that could arise. “I think the situation is only going to get more intense and so I think it is important that people start looking into this more and educating themselves on what is happening there,” Johnson said. “If anything, [the panel] reinforced that this is a proper way to go about things. It is unfortunate that even though these people are so peaceful and going about things the best way they can — to stand up for what is right and what should be — they are being ignored or being met with violent force.” During the panel Green stressed the importance of sincerity and background knowledge when protesting for the rights of others, particularly in relation to the Standing Rock tribe.
Britta Carbonell (right) and Parker Deen (left) discuss the protests at Standing Rock during the panel. Maddie Miller (‘19) / Photo Bureau “You really should build up a sort of relationship with the community and the native people before you even consider going onto action, especially if you’re white,” Green said. “You need to show that you are there for the long run and not just to go home and say ‘I was in a protest.’ You have to make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.” For the CEPE, it is important to continue the conversation of how to promote student involvement in these types of public affairs. “The [CEPE] will continue to promote events like this so we can encourage discussion among students,
community members, faculty and staff,” Holland said. “We want every person to feel invited to participate and be heard at some level.” On Dec. 10, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not pursue an easement that would allow the continued construction of the pipeline. However, this is not a complete halt of the project and North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple declared the Corps’ decision “prolongs the serious problems” that law enforcement faces and “prolongs the dangerous situation” of people camping in cold, snowy conditions.
Eness said he expects gathering the required signatures will take some time. “It took the Grinnell students a couple of months to get 80 signatures or so,” Eness said. “We are well beyond that. Since the student workers at Luther are so many, the process will take longer.” Vice President for Finance and Administration Eric Runestad explained that there is no previous record of Luther Student workers attempting to unionize. Runestad also added that the National Labor Relations Board does not have a specific policy regarding student workers unions. “The National Labor Relations Board issued a ruling recently that gives graduate students and teaching assistants the right to unionize at private colleges,” Runestad said. “The ruling is not specific to undergraduate work-study students.” Eness added that he would like to work together with the administration to solve potential issues arising from the formation of the union. Student worker Connor Richards (‘19), who has worked for Dining Services, custodial and residence life, thinks a union may not be beneficial. “I think that we already have a good connection and communication with our employers at Luther,” Richards said “They look after you and appreciate what you do. I just don’t see how unionizing would help.” At the moment, the LSWU is going doorto-door and talking face-to-face with students to explain the union in detail and to ask for signatures. Eness said that ultimately, he feels the issue is a question of fairness. “I am not trying to achieve anything other than giving workers a democratic voice,” Eness said. “What I want is for workers to be able to say the things they prioritize as a body and be able to work towards those goals.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT A&E EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN
PAGE 5 DECEMBER 8, 2016
A capella ensembles showcase their “a ca-tastic” talent at winter concert LILY KIME STAFF WRITER The three Luther a capella groups Undeclared, Bromatic Progression and Beautiful Mess performed at their annual winter concert in the atrium of the Center for the Arts (CFA) on Dec. 4. This was Undeclared and Bromatic Progression’s first performance. Beautiful Mess had the opportunity to open for the Vocalosity concert earlier this year. Each group presented a set list of five songs to an audience of about 80 people. Bromatic Progression opened the show and performed pieces that included “Friends” by Francis and the Lights, “Snow” by Tonic Sol-Fa and “I’ve Got the Magic in Me” by B.o.B. Undeclared performed “Love Locked Down” by Kanye West, “That’s Christmas to Me” by Pentatonix and Justin Bieber’s “Let Me Love You.” Beautiful Mess finished up the show with pieces such as “Warrior” by Demi Lovato, “Lost in the Light” by Bahamas and a mash-up of MKTO’s “Classic” and the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” With the performance came the a capella groups first opportunity to showcase the talent of new members. Co-leader of Bromatic Progression Avery Mossman (‘17) is enthusiastic about the young talent in the group, especially with the initiative they have already taken within the group. First-year member John Bendt (‘20) arranged a piece that was performed at the concert by Bromatic Progression. “The addition of the new members has been a huge bonus for us,” Mossman said. “We also picked up two first-years and a senior, so it is a diverse array of new people. The two first-years are both tremendously talented.” According to Undeclared member Zane Larson (‘19), this concert took a significant amount of time and energy from all of the participants. Many participants in the a capella ensembles are also involved in Christmas at Luther (CAL), which took place the same weekends. Larson said that between rehearsals and performances for each of these ensembles, music schedules for the a capella members were hectic. “Preparation for this concert has been a little bit stressful because it is during [CAL] week,” Larson said. Co-leader of Beautiful Mess Lianna Stewart (‘17) said that even with all of the rehearsal times required for both their CAL and a capella ensembles, there was still a notable positive energy. throughout the practices and performance. Stewart was proud of all that the ensemble has achieved and appreciates the widepsread support from the Luther and Decorah community. “I can’t believe what we’ve accomplished and people are so willing and able to meet so much this week,” Stewart said. “I want people to know that we appreciate their support of us and this event. The event has become so
Andrew Botz (‘18), Jacob Bungee (‘18), Mason Montuoro (‘18), Max Rooney (‘17), Parker Fretheim (‘19) and John Bendt (‘20) from Bromatic Progression perform a group a capella piece. Lily Kime (‘19) / Chips big the last few years, which is amazing.” This year’s audience was crowded enough to fill the atrium in the CFA with people on both the first and second floors to watch the a capella performers. Audience member Nathan Baldwin (‘19) was impressed with the musical selections of each ensemble. “I really enjoyed all of the ensembles, and I really liked the variety of the music they performed,” Baldwin said. “They each did a combination of Christmas music and general pop music, so that was really cool.” Between all of the juggling of responsibilities such as CAL and preparing for finals, Mossman expressed his appreciation for the members of Bromatic Progression, a sentiment that has been echoed by members of each ensemble. “I’m really proud of the guys because they have really worked super hard,” Mossman said. “They make my day. Everyday this week has been a huge joy, even with everyone sick and tired from CAL and everything else. Rehearsal, even in the mornings, has somehow still been a joy.”
Kirsten Elstad (‘18) performs for Beautiful Mess.
Lily Kime (‘19) / Chips
FEATURES
PAGE 6 DECEMBER 8, 2016
FEATURES EDITOR: FRAN STEVENSON
GrandPALS prepares to become Luther organization
Emily Osborne (‘18), Alex Carpenter (‘18) and Emily Green (18) BEN SELCKE STAFF WRITER A student-run organization called GrandPALs is working towards becoming an official Luther organization. GrandPALs connects students with nursing home residents in the Decorah area similar to PALS. Students in the organization will be paired with a single resident and meet with them at the nursing home for an hour on alternating weeks. The group was originally conceived by Alex Carpenter (‘18) and co-founded by Emily Osborne (‘18) and Emily Green (‘18). The idea came in part from the success of PALs which is a Luther organization that pairs students with local youth. Many students on campus want to foster more of these kinds of relationships and the next step is to provide more options with a different generation. “GrandPALs is sort of a spinoff of PALS,” Osborne said. “We’re trying to connect Luther students with elderly residents in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities in town.”
GrandPALs is in the process to becoming a fully recognized student organization. The founders have already created a constitution and are completeing other required paperwork. They are currently waiting for approval from Student Senate. Each of the co-founders had spent time working in nursing homes which inspired them to create this organization. “We all worked in nursing homes or assisted living homes over the summers,” Osborne said. “Those kinds of relationships are really important to us and we wanted a way for ourselves to pursue that while we’re at Luther and for other students to have the same opportunity.” The idea to form the group originally came from Carpenter and his inspiration came from similar work he did in high school. “I was in a group that was very similar to this, that was called Bridging the Gap,” Carpenter said. According to Osborne, a concern and reality of living on a college campus is the limited
interaction most students have with a diversity of age groups. GrandPALs hopes to facilitate and provide these interactions. “We’re inspired by the idea of intergenerational relationships,” Osborne said. “Especially when students are stuck on campus all day with people our own age it’s hard to make those connections.” Learning about someone and having a greater appreciation for their values is a main focus of the club. According to Green, gaps in values can be large between different generations. “[We hope] to gain a better understanding of what their life was like and what our life is like now so there isn’t as much of a divide between values and faiths,” Green said. According to Carpenter, Luther students could develop new skills as a practical component of the new organization. “Students at Luther would be able to develop leadership skills, and they could benefit from the volunteer hours,” Carpenter said. The group has not sent any
large survey to the general student body but has still managed to find a large number of students who are interested. “We started sending around an interest form to our friends and so far we have around twenty people that are really interested,
Fran Stevenson (‘17) / Chips but we’re not sure how big it will get,” Osborne said. The group expects to be fully approved by spring semester at the latest. They hope to have gained more students who are interested in participating by them as well.
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: FRAN STEVENSON
OCTOBER 22, 2015
Biology department gains new land
From left: Cody Hanson (‘17), James Ostlie (‘17), John Westby (‘17), Ryan Pribyl (‘17), Maria Warner (‘18), Marissa Wales (‘17), Brooke Hilger (‘17), Emily Schwartau (‘17), Matthew Peterson (‘17), Bret Powers (‘17), Emma Stivers (‘17), Isaac Jensen (‘17) and Hannah Haugen (‘17) are students in Associate Professor of Biology Beth Lynch’s course. Photo courtesy of Beth Lynch SPENCER HODGE STAFF WRITER A ten acre tract of woodlands called the Weigle-Roslien forest, including an old sugar maple and single basswood forest, was donated to Luther College by emeritus David Roslien (‘59) and Larry Weigle (‘59) several years ago. This year Associate Professor of Biology Beth Lynch and her students established six 20 by 20 meter permanent forest research plots for studying. “By ‘permanent plot’ we mean that we put stakes in the corners so that every year we can go back and find the same spot,” Lynch said. “Inside the plots the students identified all the trees and measured their diameters, made a map of all the locations in the plot, looked at small diameter, woody things like saplings and they also looked at the ground flora.” According to Lynch, other qualities that students observed in their plots were slope, canopy cover and damage to trees. Lynch explained that all these observational inventories are done to enable an analysis of the plot’s ecological movement
through time. “The idea of permanent plots is that you establish some baseline information and then when you go back year after year you can see how the ecosystem changes,” Lynch said. “The cool thing is that we’re using a procedure that’s common to a couple dozen colleges across the U.S. so we can compare data from site to site — through the [Ecological Research as Education Network] (EREN).” Lynch and her students are participating in a specific project of the EREN called the Permanent Forest Plot Project which shares data from identical studies across the country. According to the EREN website, the project is meant to establish a widereaching research mechanism that allows students and faculty to address questions of ecological patterns across a range of locations and ecoregions. “One big ecological question people are trying to answer from the data collected from these plots across the country is ‘how being on an edge affects how forests change over time?’,” Lynch said. “So we put six plots in the forest — some
of them are on the edge of a cornfield and some of them are in the interior of the forest.” After researching these various qualities of the forest, students then began independently developing research topics about the forest. “By a month into the course my students had learned a lot about the forest,” Lynch said. “We had been out there every week for lab, I told them some of its history. They then used it to generate research questions of their own.” Research topics of woods included studies of carbon storage and invasive earthworms. Lynch spoke about the difficulty of the research. “Researching carbon storage means going out there and figuring out how big the trees are, how much carbon is in each each tree, measuring the carbon content of the soil and then estimating the amount of stored carbon in the ten acre piece of forest,” Lynch said. “It was an ambitious project, and they found out really cool information. There is really high organic carbon storage in the soil. It is a really ancient forest.”
Besides the intensive research, Lynch explains that being near the old growth sugar maples and the single stemmed basswoods is an exceptionally valuable experience.
Land converted for bio research.
“I think when you walk in there it’ll feel different than other woods which I think it is an amazing place,” Lynch said. “There is nothing like it around here.”
Photo courtesy of Beth Lynch
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8 DECEMBER 8, 2016
A&E EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN
Christmas at Luther encourages light and love on campus and the world BIZ WAGENSON STAFF WRITER The Luther choral and orchestral tradition, Christmas at Luther (CAL), took place Dec. 1-4. The student musicians performed for students, alumni, parents and community members. The concert featured at Luther’s Aurora, Cantorei, Cathedral, Collegiate, Norsemen and Nordic choir along with the Symphony Orchestra and the Luther Ringers. Assistant Professor of Education, Coordinator for Music Education and Conductor of Cantorei Jill Wilson said that CAL preparations begin in the spring when conductors meet to choose the musical pieces. Rehearsals begin in the fall. “We usually start working on [CAL] in October and the [previous] concerts were early this year, so it was nice to have that extra time for the Christmas music,” Wilson said. “We work individually with our groups and then two weeks before Thanksgiving we start getting together on Sunday evenings. Then, [the week leading up to CAL] has two and a half to three hour rehearsals every night to prepare for it,” Wilson said. During that first meeting the conductors also chose the theme for CAL. This year’s theme was “Out of Darkness, Light!” The theme is illustrated not only through the music, but also through the accompanying narrations, the backdrop art
Assistant Professor of Music Andrew Last (‘97) directs Norsemen.
Will Heller (‘16) / Photo Bureau
and Christmas lights and candles that illuminated the stage. Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Aurora and Cathedral choirs Jennaya Robison (‘96) commented that she would like the audience to gain a sense of solace for a brighter future. “It seems very appropriate at this very odd time with our nation, as there is a sense of uncertainty, no matter what
heart into the concert.” According to attende Amelia Scarbrough (‘17), the participants in CAL succeeded in delivering a great show for those in attendance. “CAL was very good, and is one of my favorite ways to start celebrating the Christmas and Advent season,” Scarbrough said. “The power of all the voices coming together never ceases to blow me away.”
[one’s political views],” Robison said. “It just feels unsteady right now. I think [what we wanted to] offer is a sense of purpose and hope to people [and] that the theme would translate that there is light coming even in this time of unsteadiness in our nation.” Cantorei President Marissa Kot (‘17) explained that CAL participants wanted attendees to enjoy the show and to
appreciate the large group effort put into CAL. “We all put so much heart and work into making Christmas at Luther amazing,” Kot said. “We talk about how it is our job to make sure we inspire the audience and give them an amazing concert. This could be someone’s first time or their last time seeing Christmas at Luther, so it is important that we sing our hardest and put our
Math and English mix to showcase poetry MASSI FAQIRI VOLUNTEER WRITER The humanities and math teamed up to create the art exhibition “Trigonopoetry.” The exhibit created by Tiberiu Chelcea opened on Oct. 22. Chelcea, a Romanian artist who relocated to the United States to pursue a PhD in computer science, created the works that comprise the “Trignopoetry” exhibit in Preus LIbrary. He gathered words and phrases from 1920s trigonometry textbooks and turned them into expressive poems and paintings. According to Chelcea, he uses diverse mediums from poetry, art and language to depict the coexistence of the three mediums and to create a unique means of communication and expression. “Poetry is an art of codes,” Chelcea said. He was inspired by the impact of art, which was at its peak during the Romanian Communist era, when the state was spreading propaganda through manipulated and censored media. In “Trigonopoetry,” Chelcea uses
homographs, which are words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently, to combine trigonometric terminology with literature. For instance, “sin,” a trigonometric ratio, is used in its other meaning of “sin” which is an immoral act against the divine law. Chelcea uses other trigonometric terms such as “value” and “ambiguity” in the same way. He considers these homographs a skill of trigonopoetry which can be words of expression. Chelcea finds that “Trigonopoetry” opens new perspectives in poetry through its interaction with math and science. He compared his exhibit to the classical European arts which are all drawn and measured by mathematical eyes. Gallery Coordinator David Kamm admires “Trigonopoetry” in the sense that it is an innovative combination of art, math and language. He believes that it provies and opportunity to rethink the direction and meaning of art. “His works are engaging and colorful,” Kamm said. “It is a combination of design, colors and words, like a conversation
with you, so we can call it a new form of dialogue.” Art major Martha Hall (‘18) believes that Chelcea’s exhibition has given a visual context to trigonometry. “This is a creative innovation in art, where we see trigonometry speaking to us in the body of art,” Hall said. Chelcea wants “Trigonopoetry” to inspire viewers. “I want the exhibit to encourage everyone to dare to do and create something which no one has done before,” Chelcea said. “There should be no need for resources when one wants to create something based on his or her latent skills and creativity.” However, Chelcea does not want to define a takeaway lesson and message for his pieces to the audience. He wants to leave it up to the audience’s interpretation so that they can perceive them in their own ways and find their own meanings in the artistic pieces. Hall also considers “Trigonopoetry” an inspirational innovation in art. “It gives us a vision of the liberal arts, where art invites and combines with
Mustafa Muhammadi (‘19) and Ramesh Gore (‘19) observe trignopoetry. Massi Faqiri (‘20) / Chips different disciplines,” Hall said. “We can feel how they collaborate and coexist together.” The exhibit will close on Dec. 11.
OPINION
PAGE 9
MANAGING EDITOR: MAKEDA BARKLEY
Luther College Chips Chips is a student publication of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The paper is designed, composed edited and managed entirely by Luther students. It is published weekly during the academic year, excluding the month of January. The opinion section is designed to provide a forum for Chips, its staff members and the Luther community. Opinions expressed in articles, editorials and columns do not necessarily represent the views of the Chips staff. The author is solely responsible for opinions expressed in Chips commentary. Chips will not accept submitted articles or campus announcements. Submissions for letters to the editor should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document to chipsedt@luther.edu with Letter to the Editor as a subject line. Letters to the Editor are subject to editing without changing the meaning of the letter. Authors will not be notified of changes prior to publishing. Letters must be signed, 300-400 words and submitted before Sunday at 5:00 p.m. the week before production. Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor. Contact Chips: Phone: 563-387-1044 Fax: 563-387-2072 Email: chipsedt@luther.edu Advertising: chipsads@luther.edu Website: lutherchips.com Facebook: facebook.com/LutherChips Twitter: @LutherChips Instagram: @luthercollegechips
Fall 2016 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors: Features Editor: A&E Editor: Sports Editor: Staff Writers:
Head Copy Editor: Copy Editors: Ad Representatives: Web Content Manager: Social Media Director: Distribution Manager: Adviser:
Emily Crowe Makeda Barkley Danny May Jacob Warehime Fran Stevenson Elizabeth Bonin Sidney Larsen Luke Berkley Emma Busch Julia Curtis Lizzie Garvin Spencer Hodge Lily Kime Ana Lopez Katrina Meyer Shasa Sartin Ben Selcke Dmitry Vorona Biz Wagenson Olivia Benson Elyse Grothaus Sarah Owens Tyler Hovery Madeline Petellin Michael Vann Elyse Grothaus Sarah Owens David Faldet
DECEMBER 8, 2016
Leaving the Luther Bubble: from the inside looking out
SIDNEY LARSEN SPORTS EDITOR As I near the end of my career here at Luther, I’ve realized that leaving the place that I’ve come to see as home for the past four years is a bittersweet time. On one hand, I have had some of the happiest memories of my life here, ones that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I have discovered people here at Luther that I know will be lifelong friends. I have learned countless lessons from professors and staff and had amazing opportunities that I doubt I would have found at any other school.
On the other hand, I am ready to go. While the Luther bubble provides students with a space to discuss their ideas, I feel that many of the ideas represented at Luther are often comfortable and Midwest-nice. As someone told me once, it is easier to stay in a comfort zone, having debates and discussions with people that you know won’t judge you and despite small differences in opinions, generally accept the same broad ideals. However, you learn so much more when you break out of that comfort zone. Even President Barack Obama said in a 2015 speech in Iowa, “I don’t agree that you, when you become students at colleges, have to be coddled and protected from different points of view.” I truly realized the gravity of this statement during my study abroad in Togo this past summer. I spoke with friends who believed that women’s place is in the home and I met some of the Togolese president’s many wives. I met Muslims and Christians and those who practice voodoo and I got to see how they all lived and worked and functioned together. Having the chance
Norse Poll
I think building any kind of institution for children is a good idea, but there are lots of factors to think about like cost and the area that they’re building it on. -Gracie Griffiths (‘19)
to converse with the Togolese about customs and beliefs completely foreign to me opened my eyes to a whole different world, a world that I will one day move back to permanently. But I want to say that you don’t have to travel halfway across the world and you don’t have to leave college to find a difference in culture and beliefs. Look around you and you will begin to realize that you are surrounded by students from all around the world, you just might not know them. Step outside your comfort zone and get to know everyone that you can; listen to them and be sensitive to their traditions and beliefs. You never know what you might learn and the amazing friendships you might create. Once you pop a bubble, you can’t put it back together, and in a way, I feel that is true for our Luther bubble. That is why, although I am filled with sorrow at the thought of leaving Luther, I am excited to see what adventures and enlightening experiences my future has in store for me, and I am comforted by the fact that I will always be a Norse at heart.
How do you feel about the possibility of an elementary school being built in Anderson Prairie?
I feel like the prairie has a lot more value for biological research the way that it is now. I think that an elementary school could possibly damage it for many years to come. - Sherri Schwert (‘17)
I’m not sure if it would be nice having an elementary school up close to a college, since during the weekends there are activities that go on at both places. I don’t know if it would mix well, but the educational experience could be nice. -Amy Pham (‘18)
In response to Erazo opinion piece published in the Chips Nov. 10 issue Letter to the Editor I’d like to respond to Christian Erazo’s Nov. 10 Letter to the Editor about the damaged political yard sign on College Drive and Locust Road. First of all, I’d like to point out that the reporters at decorahnews. com do not wake up in the morning and ask ourselves, “Who can we cause problems for today?” We wrote a news story about Erazo because he had an encounter with a Decorah police officer and they issued a news release about the incident.
Secondly, we are dumbfounded by Erazo’s claim that our story, “strongly refers to me as a ‘Chicago man,’” and “Wrongly labels me as a criminal because of my origin.” First, our story referred to him as a Chicago man because he comes from Chicago. Secondly, if it’s a crime to come from Chicago, then I am guilty as well because I grew up in the Chicago area and attended Northwestern University. I understand that we all occasionally do things we regret. The best response is to accept the blame and resolve to do better in the future. Erazo has filed a written guilty plea to the Fifth Degree Criminal Mischief charge, so it is my hope we’ll all put this behind us and we wish him well in the future. Signed, Paul Scott, Editor, decorahnews.com
OPINION
PAGE 10 DECEMBER 8, 2016
MANAGING EDITOR: MAKEDA BARKLEY
Criticism of administration: appropriate or excessive? Letter to the Editor In the past couple of weeks, it seems like the administration of this school has come under some unnecessary heat. It's been hard to sit and listen to people call President Carlson out by name and scold her for something I am not entirely sure she’s in charge of fixing. Paula Carlson is the President of our college, she deserves a certain level of respect. At the very least there should be respect for the office she holds, I am sure it's not an easy position to occupy. It has been disheartening to hear people insinuate that she and other administrators don’t care about the students. They care about the well-being
of all Luther students, if they didn't then they wouldn't be here. I come from a family of teachers and school administrators, people in that profession don't do it for the money or glory; there's a lot less of those two things than you would think. They put in the long hours because they honestly care about educating young adults and feel a calling to do so. The administration works hard and they have some big fish to fry: declining enrollment, staff reduction, our ecological impact. On an average day, I am worried about whether or not there will be jello in the Caf, on their average day they’re worried about keeping Luther from going defunct. So if it seems like your voice is going unheard by the administration, cut them some slack. They’re carrying a lot of weight on their shoulders. The decisions they make affect not only the students and staff of Luther
but all people who call Decorah home. This town is based around this college. When we hurt, Decorah hurts. When we thrive, Decorah thrives. Administrators cannot change the day-to-day culture of this school, only students can. So if you have to call someone out, call us out. Say “Hey Alex, you’re not doing enough and here's why.” When you do, make sure you provide hard evidence to back up the notion that anyone is not doing enough. This is an institution of higher learning, we must produce arguments based on clear and present facts and be able to cite specific instances. I am a believer in protest and checks on authority, I wouldn’t be a Lutheran if I wasn’t. Luther provided 95 arguments. I understand there will be a list of concerns delivered to President Carlson, I hope this list will find its way into widespread publication and will be based on fact and
provide clear arguments. This is how we can change campus culture, by providing a reference point for students to look to. Not by shouting blame through a bullhorn in the Caf, but through education and publication. I truly believe that Luther College provides an environment that is based on acceptance. I think a lot of people believe that. I also truly believe that we have been a little harsh President Carlson. She deserves the benefit of the doubt and I hope we can grant it to her. It is easy to blame the College Administration — to say they’re not doing enough, but just because it's easy doesn’t mean its right. We can find an agreeable outcome without pointing fingers and that I truly believe. Hostility only breeds hostility, but respect breeds respect. Signed, Alex Aakre (‘19)
Potential solutions to the Carillon bell problem Letter to the Editor The final installment in a series of letters by Associate Professor of Music and Composer-In-Residence Brooke Joyce This is the fifth and final article pertaining to Luther’s carillon. To recap, we discussed our current synthetic system of bell sounds (a laptop attached to loudspeakers), explored the nature of sound in the public sphere, breezed through the history of the carillon as a worship instrument and retold the story of how Luther came to install an instrument called the Carillon Americana in 1961. In this article, we’ll tackle the question of how we might move forward with an alternative to our current system. In a feature story about Henrietta Torgerson published in Chips in 1989 (recall that the Torgerson sisters were both employed by Luther in the 1970s and 1980s and both played the Carillon Americana regularly), staff writer Jennifer Spickerman remarked, “Luther is fortunate to have maintained the personal and expressive form of its carillon. There is always a fear that an automatic player will replace the bellmaster, stripping the carillon of its soul. Luther still adheres to the enlightened expression of human experience through the tradition of the carillon.” It is worth noting that at least since the mid-1990s, ten years after Henrietta Torgerson’s retirement, and especially since the current system was installed in 2009, no human agent has been involved in sounding the electronic carillon sounds at Luther. After having extensive conversations with a number of Luther’s constituents, including current and former students, current and former staff and faculty, current and former members of Luther’s Board of Regents and members of the Decorah
community, it is clear to me that there is widespread interest in continuing to have bell sounds on campus. Many people with whom I spoke remember the old Carillon Americana with great nostalgia and passion. The word “love” came up more than once. And for many, their experiences with the Carillon Americana were heightened by their knowledge that one of the beloved Torgerson sisters was up on the top floor of Main, playing away. There are currently two proposals being considered by the music department: When, and if, a capital campaign to renovate Main Building is initiated, include plans to install an acoustic carillon. A small instrument, of approximately 14 bells, could be accommodated on the rooftop of the Main tower so long as the weight of the bells could be supported. It is possible that a used set of bells could be purchased and that one of the companies mentioned above would simply install them and build a playing mechanism. This would substantially reduce the overall cost. On a small instrument such as we suggest, most if not all the bells could be played automatically, allowing the instrument to chime the hour as well as play hymn tunes. Some carillons have a distinctive pattern of notes that constitutes their hourly chime — a Luther alum or current student could compose a unique chime for the community. The carillon could be played live before all worship services, before significant campus events like Homecoming, Christmas at Luther and Commencement. At other times, the carillon could be automated to play hymn tunes appropriate to the liturgical calendar. Additionally, a summer concert series would be a wonderful addition to the community and could prove to be immensely popular among diverse audiences. In the meantime, we would make professional recordings of our own Luther Ringers and use them in place of the synthetic bell sounds currently used. The Luther Ringers would play a five-octave set of handbells and the lowest bells sound in the same range as carillon bells. The Ringers could easily record a host of hymn tunes as well as other liturgical music appropriate for the season. There would be no cost associated with making this transition. It was President Ylvisaker who envisioned the Carillon Americana as an integral part of campus life. In our current day and age, when there is so much division and fear in the world, the beautiful sounds of bells can be a like a sonic bright light, bringing hope, beauty and solace into a community. It is my hope that we at Luther College will continue to think of ways to bring human expression into our everyday
Alum advocates for prairie preservation Letter to the Editor Last month’s proposal to sell Anderson Prairie to the Decorah Community School District alarmed me as both a proud Luther alumna and scientist, and it saddens me that future Luther students may not have the opportunities for hands-on education and scientific research that were keystones of my Luther education. While some Luther students come to Luther for music, other students come because Luther boasts hundreds of acres of natural areas adjacent to campus. The 27-acre Anderson Prairie is more than a patch of flowers; it’s where many students discover they want
to go into science. The short walk from SampsonHoffland to the prairie allowed easy access for classes and is where I built a lot of the fundamental skills I’ve used both in graduate school and the working world — plant and insect identification, restoration techniques and an understanding of the time and work it takes to do research. These opportunities are a rarity, and since leaving Luther I haven’t seen another school that can offer this kind of access. This issue bothers me not only as a wistful alumni but also as a scientist. Prairies are one of North America’s most rare and endangered habitats, especially in a state like Iowa where less than one-tenth of one percent of the natural habitats remain intact. With Luther’s commitment to sustainability, preserving a space like Anderson Prairie should be a no-brainer. Prairies have been found to support diverse communities of soil bacteria that break down methane and rich communities
of birds and insects. Focusing on some recent headlines, prairies are the kind of habitat needed to increase populations of both bees and monarch butterflies. The reason for the population declines in both cases are complex, but it is generally agreed that a key reason for lower numbers is a lack of flowers in the landscape. Going beyond living organisms, prairies are also key in preventing erosion and retaining and filtering water, as well as capturing carbon from the atmosphere. If Luther wants to walk the sustainable walk, a windmill is nice, but the college’s natural spaces are the true anchors of this commitment. As the college’s mission calls us to “practice joyful stewardship of the resources that surround us,” I urge the preservation of Anderson Prairie for current and future students. Sincerely, Marissa Schuh (‘14)
SPORTS
PAGE 11
DECEMBER 8, 2016
SPORTS EDITOR: SIDNEY LARSEN
Wrestlers takedown Wisconsin Open KATRINA MEYER STAFF WRITER Luther College Wrestling competed at the Wisconsin Open at University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, WI on Dec. 3. The Wisconsin Open was an individual tournament, meaning that no team scores were calculated. Instead wrestlers placed individually in their weight classes. Justin Kreiter (‘17) led the Norse with a second-place finish out of 13 wrestlers at 184 and a 3-1 record for the day. Matthew Chlebek (‘17) and Tristan Zurfluh (‘17) both finished third for the Norse at 197 and 165, respectively. Chlebeck had five victories to one loss during the tournament. Zurfluh won four matches and lost one. Gilbert Valadez (‘19) at 141 and Clayton Jennings (‘17) at 285 placed fourth in their respective weight classes. Because the Wisconsin Open was an individual tournament, it offered the wrestlers opportunities that they do not normally have at team meets, according to Kreiter. “It [was] a good opportunity for us to work on some of the areas that we [needed] to improve,” Kreiter said. “We [got] a lot of matches, so that [was] a lot of opportunities to fix what we [needed] to. I [saw] the meet as another opportunity to get better.” The team is working hard to continue improving. Assistant Coach Drew Van Anrooy (‘16) said that the coaching staff focuses on catering to each wrestler’s specific needs in practice. “Practices are going well,” Van
Anrooy said. “They are getting more focused on an individual basis to help each wrestler with what he needs to suit his specific style. We are just trying to help each guy to become his best individually so that the team can perform to their utmost potential.” According to Head Wrestling Coach Dave Mitchell the Norse still have room for improvement and he hoped that the Wisconsin Open would give the wrestlers a chance to be more aggressive. “We really want to focus on our style, no matter who we are wrestling against,” Mitchell said. “We really want to take the action to our opponents. I feel like
we haven’t been controlling the matches as much as we need to. We haven’t been controlling the pace; we haven’t been as physical as I would like to see us; we haven’t been as aggressive as I’d like to see us. Hopefully we can get out there and be aggressive, control the pace and force our stuff on our opponents.” Despite a desire to improve, the team already has a strong base of dedication to start off their season, according to wrestler Samuel Camacho (‘20). “We have a lot of heart,” Camacho said. “We have a strong mindset and we are getting better with each practice. We’ve got a room full of really talented
guys and we’re getting our shots in.” Looking forward to the rest of their season, the team has important longterm goals, as wrestler Javier Reyes (‘17) explained. “We just want to keep getting better each day,” Reyes said. “The season leads up to the NCAA championships in March. That’s a long time from now, but it will come quicker than most of us expect it to. We just need to take advantage of every day and get good training in to prepare until then.” The Norse move on to host the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Dec. 8 at 7:00 p.m.
Connor Murphy (‘19) retrains his opponent earlier this season.
Photo courtesy of Luther.edu
Norse of the Week SIDNEY LARSEN SPORTS EDITOR Wrestler Justin Kreiter (‘17) was named the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Performer of the week for the week of Nov. 27. Kreiter’s performance versus UW-Eau Claire at home on Nov. 22, which included a fall over his opponent at 6:34, helped bring Luther within points of winning the meet. Kreiter is a 2016 All-American after placing fourth at the National Championship Tournament last year. He is currently ranked first in the NCAA Division III at 184.
Justin Kreiter (‘17) attempts to pin his opponent. Photo courtesy of Luther.edu
Chips: You were recently named the one leg. IIAC Performer of the Week. How What is your favorite memory from does it feel to be honored this way? your Luther Wrestling career? Kreiter: It means a lot since Winning my match to be an Allthe IIAC conference is so tough in American. It was an exciting match wrestling. To be the top-performing being the most important of my career athlete in the best wrestling conference and coming down to a last-second escape is a great honor. to win it. What is the most challenging part Which weight classes have you competed about being a wrestler? in throughout your career? The physical demands of the sport. It I have competed at 174 and 184. is a long season of intense training and When you graduate competition that requires large amount will you continue your involvement in the of discipline. What do you love most about sport? your sport? I will most likely Competition. I enjoy going stay involved with out and putting my training the sport through to use. Feeling good and coaching at the winning matches is what high school level. makes the sport fun. Would you If you could design rather wrestle a your own singlet what bear or a lion? Neither is a would it look like? good choice but It would be pretty probably a bear simple with one solid since I feel like it color and then the would be a little school name or logo slower than a on the front and a flag Justin Kreiter (‘17) focuses in before a match. or conference name on Photo courtesy of Luther.edu lion.
SPORTS
PAGE 12
SPORTS EDITOR: SIDNEY LARSEN
DECEMBER 8, 2016
Kaupp begins Luther career with a splash
Weekly Standings Men’s Basketball Coe Simpson Nebraska Wes. Wartburg Buena Vista Loras Dubuque Central Luther
IIAC 2-0 1-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-1 0-2
Recent Scores
Overall 4-2 5-2 6-1 6-1 3-2 3-3 2-2 5-1 1-6
Nov. 30 @ Loras College L 87-94 OT Dec. 3 vs. Coe College L 58-60
Upcoming Schedule Dec. 7 vs. Simpson College 8:00 PM Dec. 29-30 California Lutheran Tournament
Women’s Basketball
Head Swim and Dive Coach Nicole Kaupp stands in the Luther College Aquatic Center. EMMA BUSCH STAFF WRITER Head Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive Coach Nicole Kaupp began her first competition season coaching at Luther in Fall 2016 after accepting the position in March of the 2015-2016 academic year. Kaupp officially began her coaching duties at Luther on April 1 and, according to Assistant Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive Coach Bethany Nicoll (‘10), has quickly established a positive relationship with the team. “She’s been with us since April, so it’s helped that she got to meet a lot of the swimmers last spring and was able to lay the grounds for this season over the summer and the fall,” Nicoll said. “We met with the seniors a lot over the spring and this summer, so that helped get everybody used to her style. It’s been pretty easy. Everyone was really excited about her coming to campus, so that made it better.” According to Kaupp, though there have been minor challenges coming into her position as Head Coach, she has enjoyed her experience with the team so far.
“I think that any time you’re new to a place there’s going to be challenges,” Kaupp said. “But in terms of the team itself, I think that even though we’ve had some bumps, overall it’s been pretty smooth. The team has really taken to my style and my personality. I have lots of quick responses, which have taken a few of them by surprise but they’ve gotten used to it. There really hasn’t been a lot of backlash at all. They’ve just jumped on board and it’s been a really great experience so far.” Men’s team co-captain Justin Yuan (‘17) said he believes that Kaupp has brought new energy to the program and has enabled his teammates to perform to the best of their abilities. “[Her coaching style] has brought about a renewed intensity in the swim program,” Yuan said. “She aims to bring out the best in every swimmer she coaches. Many of my teammates have performed beyond their expectations by achieving personal best times this early in the season and competing in new events that they have never swam before. The rest of the season is sure to be exciting and the entire team
is looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish.” According to Nicoll, Kaupp has kept many Luther swim traditions but she has made some changes to the team’s practice schedule. “She made it clear that she wanted to keep a lot of the same traditions, but she did change the practice schedule a little bit this year,” Nicoll said. “So before we were doing two practices a day, four days a week. This year we have built in recovery, so we have two practices on Monday, swim in the afternoon on Tuesday, only morning on Wednesday, afternoon Thursday and twice on Friday. That means every practice we can go all out, be intense and take away a lot of garbage yardage as we call it. I think that’s been a positive change and the swimmers seem to like it a lot.” Women’s team co-captain Pilar Dritz (‘18) explained that she has found this tweak in the schedule to be helpful and that it has allowed the team to use their practices more efficiently. “I think that it has been a great change,” Dritz said. This schedule allows for us to incorporate more power training during practice and
Emma Busch (‘20) / Chips more weight training while still being able to recover and balance academics.” According to Kaupp, the Luther athletes have been a source of pride for her as Head Coach and she is excited to see where the remainder of their season will take them. “I really like the athletes themselves,” Kaupp said. “It’s a group of really committed individuals who want to be the best that they can be. I’m excited about that and where we as a program can go from here.” Prior to coming to Luther, Kaupp served as an assistant coach and later as an interim head coach at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, in 2009. She went on to Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and served as an assistant coach for seven seasons, where she helped coach 41 All-Americans who earned 160 All-American honors, including five national championships from 2009-2016. Kaupp’s current season record with her teams is 1-3 with the men and 1-3 with the women. She will coach the Norse at the next men’s and women’s meets against Loras at home on Jan. 7.
Wartburg Buena Vista Luther Dubuque Coe Central Nebraska Wes. Loras Simpson
IIAC 2-0 2-0 2-0 1-1 1-0 0-1 0-2 0-2 0-1
Overall 6-0 4-3 4-3 3-4 2-3 6-1 3-3 3-4 1-5
Recent Scores
Nov. 30 @ Loras College W 68-63 Dec. 3 vs. Coe College W 73-70 OT
Upcoming Schedule
Dec. 7 vs. Simpson College 6:00 PM Dec. 10 vs. UW- River Falls 2:00 PM
Women’s Swim & Dive Coe Simpson Luther Nebraska Wes. Loras
IIAC 2-0 2-1 0-0 0-1 0-2
Overall 2-1 5-2 1-3 0-2 2-5
Recent Scores
Nov. 5 @ Grinnell College L 89-211 Nov. 19 vs. UW- La Crosse L 81-218
Upcoming Schedule
Jan. 7 vs. Loras College 1:00 PM Jan. 14 Luther Sprint Invitational 11:00 AM
Men’s Swim & Dive Coe Nebraska Wes. Loras Luther Simpson
IIAC 2-0 1-0 1-1 0-0 0-3
Overall 2-1 2-0 2-5 1-3 2-4
Recent Scores
Nov. 5 @ Grinnell College L 86-198 Nov. 19 vs. UW- La Crosse L 124-170
Upcoming Schedule
Jan. 7 vs. Loras Colllege 1:00 PM Jan. 14 Luther Spring Invitational 11:00 AM
Wrestling
Central Wartburg Dubuque Loras Buena Vista Luther Simpson Coe Nebraska Wes.
IIAC 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1 0-1
Overall 3-0 4-0 2-2 1-4 0-0 0-1 1-3 0-1 0-2
Recent Scores
Nov. 19 Auggie-Adidas Open NTS Nov. 22 vs. UW- Eau Claire L 15-20
Upcoming Schedule
Dec. 8 vs. UW-La Crosse 7:00 PM Dec. 10 UNI Open