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Fellas musical group performs in T-Bocks Upstairs
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Four education majors student-teach abroad in Singapore and Australia
Women's basketball team earns bid to IIAC Championship, falls to Wartburg
LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
CHIPS
MARCH 2, 2017
VOLUME 139, NO. 14
Luther alum harassed in Edina incident SHASA SARTIN STAFF WRITER Two Somali Muslim women, one of whom is a Luther alum, were verbally harassed at a Twin Cities-area restaurant on Jan. 28. The incident has raised concern as the victims consider the harassment to be an act of racial and religious prejudice. Kadra Abdi (‘08) and her friend Sadia Warfa were denied service at a Smashburger restaurant in Edina, MN, after spending the day shopping. Warfa’s three-year-old daughter was with the two women. According to Abdi, she and Warfa were verbally harassed by two Smashburger employees, including an assistant manager and a customer, and were denied their orders despite having already paid. Abdi drafted a complaint which she sent into the Minnesota Department of Human Rights on Feb. 23. She included her account of the experience in that document. “The assistant manager, Antonio, Christina [an
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
APC announces plans to cut fields of study BEN SELCKE STAFF WRITER
Kadra Abdi (‘08). employee], and their customer friend started to verbally attack us and told us ‘welcome to America’ and to ‘go back to your country’ if we were unhappy with the service,” Abdi wrote in her complaint. “We insisted we
Photo courtesy of Kadra Abdi were waiting for a service that we paid for; [we] continued to be verbally assaulted, belittled, and berated, in front of [Warfa’s] three-year-old child.”
ABDI | PAGE 4
Responding to decreased enrollment and a low student to faculty ratio, the Academic Planning Committee (APC) released its proposal to fully cut three areas of study and remove four majors and four minors. The Dean’s Office released an email to the Luther student body on Feb. 21 containing the details of the APC’s proposal, which resulted from a faculty meeting on Feb. 21. In a separate faculty meeting held on Feb. 23, the APC discussed alternatives to address underenrolled classes. The APC proposed to remove the following departments: Intersections — with the exception of the first-year Scholars Colloquium class — Chinese and Russian. The athletic training, dance, German, and Russian studies majors are being considered
for removal, along with minors in Asian studies, K-12 health and physical education, K-12 world languages education, and Russian studies. The proposal comes in light of the objective that President Paula Carlson and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Kevin Kraus set in the spring of 2016 to return to a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, a major shift from the current 11:1 ratio. Additionally, the proposal comes after the APC’s approximately seven-month evaluation of all academic departments. Vice President of Communications and Marketing Rob Larson framed the reductions in the context of Luther’s enrollment history. Larson said that the Luther student body increased in the 1990s but has since declined.
CUTS | PAGE 4
College gathers survey responses, considers adjustments to sexual misconduct policy ANA LÓPEZ STAFF WRITER As part of a national trend at colleges and universities, the Luther College entities responsible for sexual assault policies have conducted the Sexual Assault Climate Survey. The results of the survey will be used to assess, and possibly alter, the current sexual assault and sexual misconduct policies at Luther. Vice President and Dean for Student Life Corey Landstrom has been in charge of conducting the voluntary and anonymous survey over the past month. The survey asks for respondents’ viewpoints on sexual assault on campus, the overall climate of the institution, the effectiveness of Luther staff ’s response when dealing with a crisis, and the college’s overall demographics.
The survey accommodated all students regardless of whether they have experienced any type of unwanted sexual contact. Luther has been working with the Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS), a group of “private colleges and universities that collaboratively share, analyze, and use data of all kinds to advance their institutional missions,” according to the HEDS webpage. Associate Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator Matthew Bills said that Luther is currently analyzing survey responses, which it will use to shape Luther’s sexual assault and misconduct policies. “We didn’t go in with specific goals or areas we are targeting, but we think it is a good idea to periodically take a step back,” Bills said. “[We want to] look at our policies and ask our
students how the policies are serving them.” According to Landstrom, Luther’s Institutional Assessment and Research — a department that gathers, interprets, and shares data — will analyze the survey responses and then relay them to Bills and the Student Life Office for review. Landstrom said that Student Senate, the Diversity Council, the Campus Life Committee, and the College Assessment Committee will also receive the results. As stated in the student handbook, the current sexual misconduct policy is zerotolerance. According to Bills, the Student Life Office designs and frequently drafts the sexual misconduct policies, which it will modify based on the survey results. Bills added that the policies are constantly subject
to minor changes based on feedback. “Every number of years we have done a complete and thorough rewrite of the policies,” Bills said. “[This most recently occurred in] 2012 or 2013 under the leadership of Landstrom.” The United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) ensures that these laws are enforced and have created a list of “best practices” for colleges to follow, in which the sexual assault policy survey is included for colleges and universities nationwide. Under the supervision of Landstrom and Bills, the Student Life Office will incorporate any approved changes to these policies, which Bills said will most likely occur during the summer of 2017. Norse Against Sexual Assault (NASA) member Brigid Burke (‘18) said that it is difficult
to standardize conceptions of sexual misconduct. “I think it is hard because people define sexual assault differently,” Burke said. “It is really hard to get genuine answers because we are not laying out a groundwork of how we are defining each thing.” Burke also explained that NASA and the administration often work together to address the needs of the student body regarding sexual misconduct on campus and will continue to do so after the survey results are collected. Bills emphasized the importance of student engagement and input in these processes. “If students have questions or concerns, [they should] come talk to us,” Bills said. “We love to hear from students any time — my door is always open.”
NEWS
PAGE 2 MARCH 2, 2017
NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME
Professors receive promotions MADELINE AJACK STAFF WRITER The Board of Regents announced last week the appointment of tenure and full professorship to several faculty members. Those receiving tenure are Assistant Professor of Anthropology Anita Carrasco, Assistant Professor of Classics Dan Davis, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Kyle Fey, Assistant Professor of English Andy Hageman, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Thomas Johnson, Assistant Professor of Nursing Angela Kueny, and Assistant Professor of Education Jodi Meyer-Mork. Those who are being promoted to Full Professorship are Associate Professor of Philosophy Storm Bailey, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Environmental Studies Jon Jensen, Associate Professor of Chemistry Olga Michels, Associate Professor of Physics Todd Pedlar, Associate Professor of Music and college organist Gregory Peterson and Associate Professor of German Soeren Steding. “Tenure is an invitation to contribute what I can to Luther College in the ways that I can,”
Hageman said. “Before tenure [professors are] always maintaining networks and planning for the possibility that something might happen. Being tenured means I’ll be freer to take public positions on policies and procedures of the college without worrying about potential reprisals.” Carrasco said those awarded tenure view it as a way to express their thoughts and opinions without the fear of losing their jobs. “I can express my general ideas without fear of retaliation,” Carrasco said. “It’s protecting my academic freedom of speech. They reviewed my publication productivity and service to the college. Now I am no longer under scrutiny and my academic freedom is protected.” Before tenure, professors are subjected to annual evaluations that judge their teaching quality, ongoing research, and service to the college. The tenure process begins with a recommendation from colleagues to a committee of professors from various departments. Then the Dean of Faculty Development is then presented the case and brings it to the President. Together both parties then present the case to the Board of
Regents. Michels said full professorship offers both a raise and a life-long contract to the college. “Being promoted validates my work,”
“Being promoted validates my work. There is an acknowledgment of my teaching, scholarship and services — I can now see that people really appreciate all my hard work.” - Associate professor of Chemistry Olga Michels Michels said. “There is an acknowledgment of my teaching, scholarship, and services — I can now see that people really appreciate
all my hard work.” The Appointment, Tenure, and Promotion Committee (ATP) is the committee that recommends and evaluates different professors who wish to be awarded tenure and full professorship. This year, promotions coincide with potential faculty cuts. “This tenure promotion means more to me,” Carrasco said. “The college could have said, ‘We can’t afford you.’ It makes me feel very lucky. Even though we have these circumstances, we still got promoted.” Hageman also commented on his tenure in the face of potential faculty cuts. “I feel rather mixed,” Hageman said. “It’s hard to celebrate [the promotion] — getting it this particular year with Luther facing some significant challenges.” However, Hageman also noted that he’s most excited to be able to continue working alongside his colleagues. “I came into this process with a cohort of other people,” Hageman said. “That part of it has been a real pleasure, seeing all of us thrive, this cohort of friends and colleagues who have worked hard and are being recognized for it by being granted tenure.”
Mock trial travels to Hamline, competes in regional tournament BIZ WAGENSON STAFF WRITER Luther’s Mock Trial team traveled to Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, to compete in the 2017 regionals competition over the weekend of Feb. 24. The team went head-to-head with eight different schools, finishing 3-5, meaning they will not be moving past this stage. If they had moved on, they would have gone on to the Opening Round Championships (ORCs) held in Geneva, IL with hopes of pursuing Nationals held in Los Angeles, CA. The team — which is led by Professor of Political Science Michael Engelhardt and consists of eight Luther students, including co-captains Libby Morton (‘19) and Anika Nelson (‘19) — competed against 23 other colleges including Drake University, University of Minnesota, and Hamline University. Before each of the trials started, Luther was assigned the side of plaintiff or defendant. After receiving their side, the team then debated a case which was sent to every school nationwide at the beginning of the 2016-17 academic year. The trials were judged by an assortment of lawyers, coaches from other teams, prelaw students, and judges. The points are awarded from the judges based off of categories such as professionalism of the participants and effectiveness of
Back from left: Katrina Meyer (‘19), Claire Eichorn (‘19), Becca Buse (‘19), Anna Luber (‘20), and Anika Nelson (‘19) Front from left: Cydney Rose (‘19), Karl Badger (‘19), Ishmail Hammid (‘19), Yancy Castro (‘18), and Libby Morton (‘19). their argument. The case sent to schools this year was a civil case about age discrimination in the workplace. The plot details a 50 year-old man name Riley Winter, a senior staff writer for a company recently purchased by entrepreneur Sawyer Shaw. After working for two years for his new boss, the plaintiff was fired. Nelson said Luther’s team decided that, after reviewing the
details of the case, age played a role in the firing. “If you look at both case sides, there is clearly no dispute that he did get fired for age, or at least it looked like he did,” Nelson said. “So from the plaintiff ’s side, we have to prove that Riley Winter did get fired on the basis of age discrimination. But [when we play] the defense, we have to try and prove that Sawyer Shaw never fired Riley Winter based on age,
but because he was a bad writer.” This year’s team is composed almost entirely of new members, with most of the members from last year having graduated with the exception of Morton. Morton said despite all the rookies, the team shows promise. “Last year we had a team of tried-and-true people,” Morton said. “This year we have a really talented team. I think we have a shot of doing well, but on the
Photo courtesy of Libby Morton (‘19)
other hand, we are really young team.” Nelson said that she feels a strong sense of camaraderie in the team, partly because they are all in the same year of school. “We’re entirely comprised of sophomores,” Nelson said. “We’ve all gotten really close and we’ve become a little family. It has become so fun with all of us hanging out and Mock Trial is just an addiction.”
NEWS
PAGE 3
NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME
MARCH 2, 2017
WEATHER THURSDAY Snow Showers
33/17 FRIDAY Mostly cloudy
37/27 SATURDAY Mostly sunny
53/42
Wright giving her lecture, “Girl Power: Ladies Lead in the Lemurs of Madagascar,” in Valders 206. Emily Turner (‘19) | Photo Bureau
Wright lectures on lemurs, female empowerment OLIVIA ENQUIST STAFF WRITER Luther College’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter hosted renowned primatologist and Distinguished Service Professor of Anthropology at Stony Brook University Patricia Wright on Feb. 20-21 as a part of the Visiting Scholars Program. As part of her visit, Wright gave a lecture titled “Girl Power: Ladies Lead in the Lemurs of Madagascar” as well as attending a showing of the movie based in her work titled “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar.” In addition to these two events, Wright held several informal lectures and conversations with faculty and students across campus. Wright has made strides in her work in anthropology, biology, and conservation but is best known for her career studying the social and familial interaction of lemurs. During her lecture, Wright spoke about her personal history, her work in biology as an undergraduate, her love of lemurs, and the creation of Ranomafana
National Park. Professor of English and President of Luther’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter Kate Narveson explained the process behind choosing the visiting scholar and the desire to choose someone with interdisciplinary interests. “We were impressed with [Wright’s] mix of scholarly expertise in anthropology and primatology, but also her service to the world,” Narveson said. “She went along so well with our mission statement of serving with distinction for the common good. We were also interested in the way that she would appeal to a wide range of departments as an interdisciplinary speaker.” Narveson added that she was pleased by Wright’s ability to form meaningful connections to Luther students in a setting that is different from what many of the visiting scholars usually experience. “Some scholars just don’t know how to think about where they are,” Narveson said. “It’s just not a world they have any
The documentary Island of Lemurs (2014), which was narrated by Morgan Freeman, featured Wright and her work.
familiarity with. They come and they are wonderful in sharing their enthusiasm and experience, but they just don’t make any connections to who we are. Dr. Patricia Wright was rare, unusual, and wonderful in being able to see what kind of school we are, think about the intersection of her values and our values, and how we mutually benefit.” Biology and Environmental Studies major Isobel Michaud (‘19) attended the lecture and said she appreciated the fact that Wright was able to use more than intellectual jargon and connect to the audience through personal anecdotes. “A lot of the colloquiums are very analytical and research based, which is awesome, but there’s no personality with research,” Michaud said. “I appreciated that she was a genuine person talking about her life story.” Sthela Holly Hanitrinirina (‘19) — an international student from Madagascar where Wright conducted most of her research — spoke about Wright’s influence in emphasizing the importance of conservation to the people of Madagascar. “As a Malagasy person, I learned so much about what’s going on in my own country,” Hanitrinirina said. “Having her working there has made that clear to people that it’s important to preserve the forest and value what we have.” Hanitrinirina said that while Wright’s lecture illustrated the importance of imitating the unique matriarchal structure of lemurs and the gender equality of the Malagasy culture, the biggest message she took away is one of personal growth. “I think that what I learned from her is that she grew so much,” Hanitrinirina said. “I think that is something to say to students — that when you travel and put yourself in an uncomfortable space, you grow. There is nothing bad in leaving your comfortable self, it helps you grow as person, even if it’s really hard.”
SUNDAY Partly cloudy
62/47 MONDAY Rain, thunder
52/31 TUESDAY Partly cloudy
43/26 WEDNESDAY Sunny
45/33 CORRECTIONS In the Feb. 23 issue of Chips, the article “Four athletes break Luther records” should have mentioned that Matt Staver broke the 1,000 meter freestyle and 400 meter IM records. In the Feb. 16 of Chips, both photo captions in the article “New compost machine helps advance sustainability goals” incorrectly labeled the feed stock for compost as “compost.” In the Feb. 23 issue of Chips, in the story “Luther Archives preserves history,” a freshmen beanie was referred to as a baseball hat.
NEWS
PAGE 4
MARCH 2, 2017
NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME
Life Outside Luther
ABDI | PAGE 1
Trump intelligence nominee seeks to explore Russian efforts President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the director of national intelligence pledged on Tuesday to support thorough investigation of any Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election, seeking to reassure lawmakers worried that partisan politics might interfere with a probe. SUV plows into marching band, injuring 12 students An SUV driven by a 73-year-old man plowed into a Mardi Gras parade crowd in Alabama, on Tuesday, injuring a dozen members of a high school marching band, but there was no sign the incident was intentional, city and police officials said. White House denies claims about Trump's biofuel order The White House on Tuesday denied that President Donald Trump planned to issue an executive order to change the national biofuels program, after the U.S. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) said Trump’s team had informed the group an order was pending. Russia criticizes UN resolution on Syria Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Tuesday a U.N. Security Council resolution put forward by Western powers to punish Syria’s government over its alleged use of chemical weapons would harm peace talks in Geneva. Mexican Foreign Minister lays conditions regarding NAFTA A defiant Mexico said on Tuesday it would only stay in NAFTA if it suited it and rejected the imposition of any tariffs or quotas when renegotiating the trade deal U.S. President Donald Trump wants to recast to benefit the United States. TransCanada Corp suspends NAFTA suit about Keystone XL TransCanada Corp has suspended a $15 billion NAFTA suit filed against the United States over the Keystone XL pipeline, the company said on Tuesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump approved the project last month.
Compiled from: reuters.com
CUTS | PAGE 1 “We need to make sure that our costs mirror [the decline],” Larson said. “The same way we went up when it was appropriate — now it’s a matter of going down.” According to Luther’s Assessment and Institutional Research Department, 2,169 students enrolled at Luther for the 2016-2017 academic year. The APC’s evaluation, conducted by its nine members, contained criteria for assessing the academic departments. In doing so the APC considered quantitative analyses, class sizes, the number of graduates per year, and whether enrollment was cyclical over a given period. However, Associate Professor of Art History and APC member Kate Elliott emphasized that, in some cases, less quantifiable traits emphasized interdisciplinary connectivity. “We looked at [each] program’s connection with other programs on campus,” Elliott said. “Some programs are small but serve a large number of majors. Physics is a good example.” Associate Professor of Physics and APC chair Todd Pedlar also feels that the strength of an academic department lies in its connection to other departments on campus. According to Pedlar, the APC considers departmental overlap as a means of evaluation, but also as a model for the future of the college as a whole. Pedlar explained his desire for a connected and integrated curriculum that spans different departments. “I really do want to see us work together to be creative about how we deal with this situation,” Pedlar said. “[We want] to look for ways for departments to partner together to be more creative about the way they offer courses.” The college has not yet reduced the faculty size in any way. Further, according to the faculty handbook, the college will not make reductions until the entire faculty has discussed, amended, and voted on the proposal.
Smashburger issued a statement denying Abdi’s claims about the incident, saying that only customers were involved in the dispute. “On Saturday evening, two guests in our Edina, MN restaurant expressed concerns about the speed and accuracy of the service they received,” the statement read. “Whenever a customer has a complaint, our team members are expected to try to address their concerns as quickly as possible. While that was happening, another patron got into a heated argument with those guests. The argument among the three guests went on for some time and was disruptive for other guests. In keeping with company policy, our employees asked all parties involved in the argument to leave the restaurant. Our focus is always to serve great food — to all customers — in a comfortable and safe environment.” In an interview with Chips, Abdi reaffirmed her belief that the harassment came out of prejudice. “I was already prepared for hate crimes against Muslims to be on the rise,” Abdi said. “I just didn’t think I would be a victim of it.” Abdi added that she believes people feel more inclined to act in a similarly prejudiced manner amidst the current
most of the country,” Shedinger said. “So many people feel much freer to vent their anger at Muslims because they see a president who talks the way he does.” Abdi said that as of Feb. 23 the Smashburger corporation had yet to contact her or Warfa. “There were a lot of people in the community who were outraged by this incident,” Abdi said. “The fact that Smashburger came to a conclusion w i t h o u t c o n d u c t i n g a thorough investigation was pretty shocking to a lot of people.” Abdi grew up in Cedar Rapids, IA before attending Luther. At Luther, she served as president of the Black Student Union (BSU) and - Kadra Abdi (‘08) the Muslim Student Association (MSA), as well as She went on to say that Student Senate president her behavior toward minorities senior year. Abdi works as a follows a top-down approach. communications and program “When you have someone in associate at Legal Rights Center that leadership position, the in South Minneapolis, MN. everyday person — it could Abdi added that she wants be your co-worker, it could be Luther students to remain someone you ride the bus with connected with the world — would feel like ‘Hey, my outside of campus so as to stay president agrees with me, and informed and be present among my president would [support] current events. what I’m about to say,’” Abdi “As students we feel like we’re said. being prepared for the real Professor of Religion Robert world,” Abdi said. “We’re getting Shedinger echoed Abdi’s ready for what’s to come next; I sentiment. think we forget that the world is “Islamophobia is rampant in happening around us.” socio-political climate in the United States. “We have a president who makes all sorts of hateful remarks against Muslims, the LGBTQIA+ community, and against black people,” Abdi said. “There are people who are listening to him and his words resonate with them.”
“When you have someone in that
leadership position, the everyday person — it could be your coworker, it could be someone you
ride the bus with — would feel like ‘Hey, my president agrees
with me, and my president would [support] what I’m about to say,’”
The proposed changes will come before a full faculty vote later this academic year. Faculty will meet on March 14 and April 11. Pedlar said that the second meeting is when faculty can take action on the proposal. “The procedure is very much the same as the procedure for creating a new program,” Pedlar said. “We go through the same steps.” The Board of Regents will subsequently receive the results of this faculty vote, at which point it will either accept or
“I really do want to see us work together to be creative about how we deal with this situation. [We want] to look for ways for departments to partner together to be more creative about the way they offer courses.” - Associate Professor of Physics and APC chair Todd Pedlar reject the proposal. Regardless, the current proposed cuts will not meet the administration’s desired 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, unless faculty vote to remove more departments than originally proposed by the APC. Despite the significant reductions that the APC proposed,
the Dean’s Office framed these reductions in its Feb. 21 statement in the context of the two new programs added to Luther’s curriculum in the past year: data science and neuroscience. Larson further highlighted the college’s emphasis on new areas of study. “The Dean’s Office is looking at programs we don’t have or fields of study that we don’t currently include that we might consider,” Larson said. “[The college is considering] programs that wouldn’t change who we are but would in fact strengthen our mission.” In the second faculty meeting on Feb. 23, Kraus discussed the possibility of changes to how the college addresses under-enrolled classes. Faculty are expected to teach six classes each year, Kraus explained. If one of those classes is canceled due to low enrollment — typically classes of five students or fewer — faculty need to re-offer the class the following semester. Kraus suggested that, alternatively, faculty should be given the choice between teaching another class and taking a pay reduction of one-sixth. As a further change, Kraus said he would like to see the minimum size at which point classes are canceled increase from five students to eight. Some classes, however, proceed regardless of their size due to college graduation requirements. Kraus proposed reducing the pay of faculty teaching those under-enrolled classes. “I think we should reduce the pay a little because there are only six students and not eight,” Kraus said. “I want to discuss that possibility.” While Kraus acknowledged that both the pay reduction and the raised minimum class size proposals were unpopular among faculty, he expressed his desire to speak with the Faculty Interests Committee (FIC) for its input on the matter. Kraus added that he would not move forward without the committee’s approval.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT A&E EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN
PAGE 5 MARCH 2, 2017
Fellas no longer in the cellar The “Fellas in the Cellar” moved their annual performance to T-Bock’s Upstairs and created a new theme: “The Stories We Tell” JULIA CURTIS STAFF WRITER Fellas, a group of all-male Luther alumni and current students, performed at T-Bock’s Upstairs on Feb. 25 as a part of the Water Street Music Series. The group, directed by Assistant Professor of Music Andrew Last (‘97), had two performances on Saturday for sold-out audiences. The Fellas performed musical numbers from off-Broadway
and this whole different world of stories of people.” As part of the theme “The Stories We Tell,” Jimmy Deignan (‘15) sang a love song to Christopher Columbus and the first Apollo mission. Mitchell Stevens (‘17) sang about not knowing what to do with his arms while singing. It also included more solemn songs, like “Netherlands Carillon,” a song about a man whose brother died in war, sung by Fellas newcomer
“When you get up there and you have strong singers that can all get together and sing emotional music it really does bring audiences to thunderous applause.” -James Odegaard (‘15) shows; new composers; and classic musicals such as “Pippin,” “Newsies,” and “Spring Awakening.” The performance was interspersed with solo and small group pieces. Last recommends pieces for the Fellas to sing and then the Fellas pick their repertoire from their own music and the recommendations. Student Engagement Coordinator and Fellas member James Odegaard (‘15) said that these unique pieces offer a different experience than listening to more popular musical theater. “A lot of these pieces are deeply personal because they haven’t been publicly broadcasted a lot,” Odegaard said. “What I think is really awesome is the amount of people who are coming who are not involved in any music. [People] tell me that they’re coming to support their friends but also to experience something new
Parker Fretheim (‘18). “When you get into the show you get little vignettes,” Co-Director of the Water Street Music Series Will Krageschmidt (‘18) said. “They are like snapshots from people’s lives often from larger storylines.” Audience member Kate Knepprath (‘17) was amazed by the range of songs the Fellas performed. “I feel like I experienced every emotion I have ever experienced in the last hour and a half,” Knepprath said. “I was crying, I was happy, I was sad, and I was laughing. They sang songs that I didn’t know, but they somehow still resonated.” According to Odegaard, the group started three years ago under the direction of Last and has performed annually since then. Since students and Luther alumni comprise the Fellas, the group only rehearses once all together before
Nick Vande Krol (‘18), West Frye (‘16), David Pfotenhauer (‘15), and James Odegaard (‘15) perform at T-Bock’s Upstairs. Will Heller (‘18) | Water Street Music Series their performance. “There’s nothing like singing with a bunch of powerful voices,” Odegaard said. “When you get up there and you have strong singers that can all get together and sing emotional music it really does bring audiences to thunderous applause.” Originally named “The Fellas in the Cellar,” the group used to perform in the Cellar on Water Street. Upon realizing the performance needed more space, The Fellas moved their main performance space to T-Bock’s Upstairs. Krageschmidt said that the Fellas’ performances are one of the most popular of the Water Street Music Series. “From an organizational standpoint, the tickets really sell themselves,” Krageschmidt said. “It’s really rewarding to see a packed house. People buy tickets even knowing they can only stand.” New Fellas member Michael Hagstrom (‘17) said that one of the things that separates the Fellas from other musical groups is the sense of community that comes from being part of the all-male performance. “It’s just cool to see the different years of students coming back to sing with Dr. Last and it brings back such a strong sense of community,” Hagstrom said. “We’re just a bunch of guys having a good time singing and I think that’s what’s really fun.” Last declined to comment.
Benjamin Leonhardi (‘20) plays guitar for The Fellas. Will Heller (‘18) | Water Street Music Series
FEATURES
PAGE 6 MARCH 2, 2017
FEATURES EDITOR: FRAN STEVENSON
Luther education majors student teach abroad
Continuing their education outside of the classroom
SAM MITCHELL STAFF WRITER Four students from Luther College are spending their spring semester student teaching abroad Morgan Mortenson (‘17) and Pyi “Mario” Aung (‘17) are in Australia and Mollie Mickelson (‘17), Jenna Lemieux (‘17), are in Singapore, but they have had similar experiences outside the borders of the U.S. Students teaching internationally have to apply for the opportunity to complete half of their student teaching abroad. Mortenson is a math major and a 5-12 secondary education minor. “Unless you plan way in advance, it’s really hard to spend a semester abroad while trying to complete the education program,” Mortenson said. “Luckily, since education requires a whole semester of student teaching anyway, the easiest way to study abroad is to take advantage of the international student teaching opportunities.” Field Placement Officer Kristin Bigler places all education majors into their student teaching and practicum positions. According to Bigler, some of the challenges that students face abroad include communication issues due to technology and the differences in how schools operate. After placements have been released Mortenson says that it is up to the students to find housing and transportation to their placement. “Any student teaching placement far from home is going to require more independence and responsibility than a placement close to home,” Mortenson said. Mickelson also said that students who are thinking about studying abroad are often discouraged by the fact that there could be major culture shock for the student teacher. “There is a variety of cultures [present in] Singapore,” Mickelson said. “We are constantly surrounded by other people and hearing multiple languages being spoken at the same time.” Mortenson is student teaching at an Australian school which has no language
Jenna Lemieux (‘17) and Mollie Mickelson (‘17) in Singapore.
Morgan Mortenson (‘17) hikes in Australia.
Jenna Lemieux (‘17) and Mollie Mickelson (‘17) in Singapore. barrier but the multiple languages being spoken on the streets are apparent when she steps out of the school’s doors. “Australia is actually very similar to America,” Mortenson said. “The
hardest thing for me to do was probably getting used to the Aussie slang. It took quite some time to get used to words like ‘bikkie’ (biscuit or cracker) and ‘Macca’s’ (McDonald’s).”
Photo courtesy of Mollie Mickelson (‘17)
Photo courtesy of Morgan Mortenson (‘17)
Photo courtesy of Mollie Mickelson (‘17)
Luther Students are often curious about the differences between student teaching in the U.S. school system and school systems abroad. Lemieux, a K-12 music education major.
“In the international school Mollie and I are at, the class size is much smaller,” Lemieux said “Although the sizes of classes can vary with the country and the city in which you are placed in, diversity
within the classroom can be found anywhere.” Both Lemieux and Mickelson are working with choirs at the Singapore American School though students are not usually placed in the same school or country while student teaching. Lemieux is placed with the middle school choirs and Mickelson with the high school choirs. “So far it has been very rewarding,” Mickelson said. “I was able to help the choir students prepare their solos and ensemble performances for the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS) and I am so excited to hear how they do.” Lemeiux’s student teaching experience has already been fulfilling. “I have been put in the most crazy experiences here,” Lemieux said. “My most cherished moments here are when students leave the classroom singing and happy. I want them to feel that way every time they come to class.” Mortenson also finds that student teaching abroad is a very rewarding experience. “My favorite moment of student teaching so far was the first time that I taught my year 10 class,” Mortenson said. “I was administering a test and had just started going through the directions when a student stopped me mid-sentence and asked, ‘Whoa! Do you have an American accent?’ That grabbed everyone’s attention and I was bombarded with questions such as ‘Are the American high schools just like they are in the movies?’ or “What’s it like in America?’” Mortenson said she has enjoyed traveling around Australia along with her student teaching experiences. “I’m just really enjoying experiencing the day-to-day life,” Mortenson said. “I see kangaroos almost daily and have gotten to see quokkas, the happiest animals on Earth. I live less than a mile from the Indian Ocean, so I’ve been able to go kayaking and fishing on the ocean, which I would never get to do living in the Midwest.” Lemieux, Mickelson, and Mortenson agree that student teaching abroad goes far beyond just the learning experience and look forward to continuing to travel abroad.
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: FRAN STEVENSON
Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion Natalie Williams and students participate in class. Lily Kime | Chips
MARCH 2, 2017
Visting Assistant Professor of Religion Robert Wafula teaches class. Ryan Bjelke (‘20) | Chips
Visiting religion professors Natalie Williams & Robert Wafula
LILY KIME STAFF WRITER
V
isiting Assistant Professor of Religion Natalie Williams temporarily left her home, husband, and cats in New Jersey to teach at Luther College for the 2016-17 academic year. The religion department hired Williams because two religion professors are off campus for the year: Co-Director of the Nottingham Program this year, James Martin-Schramm and Associate Professor of Religion Todd Green is on sabbatical. While at Luther College, Williams has taught Christian Ethics; History of Christian Thought; Marriage, Divorce, and Family Ethics; Religion in America, and Sexual Ethics. Two of Williams’ classes are new to both her and Luther College. Williams supplements her classes with knowledge from past research in a way that specifically suits Luther’s learning community. “I love having the freedom to create these classes the way I want to create them and to pursue lines of thinking that I find interesting,” Williams said. Students responses to Williams’ teaching style and her classes has generally been positive. Several students mentioned her tendency to have students discuss potentially controversial topics in small groups, a sentiment Williams agreed with. According to Coltan Jacobson (‘17), this helps to foster a sense of trust between all members of the class. “She began Christian Ethics by telling us that it was an open and safe space to speak, which I found to be true,” Jacobson said. “The students were really [able to] say whatever they wanted to say.” Annie Weinberg (‘19) also found the classroom Williams created to be a relaxed place to express ideas and to learn trust one’s peers. “[Williams] goes about [making us feel comfortable] by telling us that she wants the classroom to be a safe space, and she understands that is difficult for people that don’t really know each other,” Weinberg said. “But she wants us to feel like it’s okay to open up.” Despite the success of these classes in her students’ eyes, it is unlikely that the classes she created will continue to be taught after Williams
has left Luther, according to Associate Professor of Religion and Head of the Religion Department Sean Burke. “In most cases, courses that are designed by visiting professors are only taught while they are here,” Burke said. “Every now and then we have someone that is interested and able to pick up a course, but these are typically geared toward the teaching and personal interests of the individual faculty member.” Many of Williams’ students find that not only are her courses about unique topics, but she teaches them in a unique way, too. As a professor that prefers to foster dialogue with students rather than lecturing at the front of the class, Williams wants students to drive discussions. “Students are in charge of their own learning,” Williams said. “I can present information and try to facilitate conversations, but I want students to feel like they have power to talk about difficult things.” Students recognize Williams’ teaching philosophy. “Our class is really structured more towards what we want to talk about, not what she has planned for us to talk about because it is our own learning experience,” Weinberg said. Although this style is ideal for some students, it challenging for those students who prefer a more traditional lecture-based class. Sari Kroschel (‘19) enjoyed Williams’ class and how Williams applied current events to the curriculum, but was uncertain about her style. “Something I would have liked in her class [was] a little more structure,” Kroschel said. “It was so discussion-based, which is good, but it was different because I’ve been in other religion classrooms that were a lot more structured with assignments and lectures.” Williams has several goals in mind for her near future. One of her major goals is to publish her first book, which is about the ethics of divorce. She also hopes to continue what she has learned during her time at Luther. “Even if I don’t teach in a college, one thing being here has solidified for me is that I love the things that are associated with teaching,” Williams said. “Facilitating discussions, empowering other people to own their voice, to do things that are difficult, and to figure out who they are and what
NORA FELT STAFF WRITER
V
isiting Assistant Professor of Religion Robert Wafula is finishing his third year of teaching as a visiting professor in the religion department where he brings the focus of postcolonization to his classes. Wafula uses the lens of his own cultural background to explore topical issues with his students. He focuses on how history and religion interact with contemporary issues; how modern life is informed by the past. Wafula is particularly interested in race issues. The disparity between the rich and the poor, and the continuous systematic structures that perpetuate these inequalities. “Of all the things I like about teaching, I like looking at topical issues,” Wafula said. “A lot of my time at Luther is spent reading things that focus on racial conflict. We look at how religion plays off of racial diversity, animosity, differences, violence, and [we] relate that to contemporary racial issues.” Wafula became interested in postcolonialism growing up in Kenya, a country colonized by Britain. During this time he saw the disparity that plagued Kenyans and he questioned its necessity. “Postcolonialism is my lens through which I see everything: religion, economics, and politics,” Wafula said. “It’s a helpful lens. The way I understand postcolonialism is the idea of critiquing power, of talking back to power, especially when power oversteps its boundaries and
begins creating philosophies, practices, or institutions that become violent or unjust against other people.” As a visiting professor, Wafula is presented with the opportunity to gain teaching experience with the hope of securing a tenure position at an institution in the future. Visiting professors bring new ideas and unique perspectives to the religion department and the college as a whole, according to Associate Professor of Religion Professor Sean Burke. “It brings us diversity,” Burke said. “It brings us people whose work in the field is current and more recent. With that they bring new ideas, new perspectives and new approaches that have developed since we [the religion faculty completed their] doctoral work.” Wafula also serves as the Vice President for Postcolonial Networks and Managing Editor for Borderless Press. These foundations work for “Knowledge Activism,” looking at how knowledge is created and who benefits from that knowledge. Postcolonial Networks investigates how history transmits knowledge in academia from the perspective of victors and has left behind large quotients of the world as a result. “My fight, in terms of justice, is to make a case for the major part of the world,” Wafula said. “My mission is to see if we can, through Borderless Press, encourage scholars in the nonWestern world to write, to publish, and put their work out there. And then to do activism to get readers, schools, colleges, and libraries to take in these books and assign these books.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8 MARCH 2, 2017
A&E EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN
Ethnic Arts Festival: A showcase of culture, customs, and creativity
Sujana Shrestha (‘17) represents her country Nepal.
XAVIER CONZET STAFF WRITER The Ethnics Arts Festival, an annual event at Luther since the 1980s, gives students the opportunity to feature their countries and customs with various displays and presentations. Students participating presented booths to teach attendees about their country. The event was held in the Center for the Arts (CFA) on Feb. 25. Tiwonge Chirwa (‘19) believes that the festival benefits Luther’s campus and the Decorah community because it brings the student body and residents of Decorah a deeper understanding of what it is like to be studying far away from one’s home country.
Xavier Conzet (‘19) | Chips
Nanuun Tsend-Ayush (‘18) shares her culture from Mongolia with Abby Vidmar (‘19). Xavier Conzet (‘19) | Chips
said. “This one time a little girl came to my table and asked why my flag had a sun on it. I had no idea so we ended up just Googling it.” According to Torrillas, the Ethnic Arts Festival has also changed her perception of Luther and what it is like to be a foreigner in the United States. Torrillas feels that participating in the event for the first time has helped her realize just how much support she, and other international students, have on campus. “Many international students were feeling scared with the executive order and I think that this is a good event for us to all come together and support one another,” Torrillas said. Torrillas added that the Ethnic Arts Festival improved her relationship with other
“When you are a member of a community it is important to know those around you and appreciate where they came from.” -Tiwonge Chirwa (‘19) “The Ethnic Arts Festival means community,” Chirwa said. “It means getting together and learning about other people and their cultures. When you are a member of a community it is important to know those around you and appreciate where they come from.” According to Chirwa, learning about others also helps dispel any stereotypes that the countries are labeled with. Vicky Torrillas (‘17) helped plan the event and presented a booth for both Uruguay and Argentina. “It is a learning experience for both the person tabling and the attendees,” Torrillas
students. “It helped me realize just how little people know about different countries,” Torrillas said. “A lot of people mix up countries when they are talking to international students. It’s not offensive or anything like that because they just don’t know and have a genuine curiosity.” This was Assistant Director of the Diversity Center Michelle Boike’s first year organizing the festival. Her new idea for this year was to change the venue to the CFA and serve food at the same time as the festival. “I thought what I would do this year is try to put the food and tabling together because it creates a different atmosphere,” Boike said.
Entisar Kedir (‘19) and Yeasbira Bekele (‘19) represent Ethiopia. Xavier Conzet (‘19) | Chips “You get to look at some tables, socialize, and grab a bite to eat.” Boike believes that the Ethnic Arts Festival is an opportunity for students and community members to learn about other countries and cultures they may not have known much about before. “All of this is happening to create a space where we can appreciate the diverse people on our campus, and it creates a chance for people to showcase their love for their culture,” Boike said.
The Ethnic Arts Festival ended with a show in the Center for Faith and Life (CFL). Students performed dances, tradition songs, poems, and skits related to their different countries. Attendees Troy Downey (‘20) and Leo Herbach (‘20) both felt the festival was a success. “The singers were amazing, the emcees were friendly and funny, and the dancing was spot on,” Downey said. “This festival really made me see how valuable diversity is.”
OPINION
PAGE 9
MANAGING EDITOR: MAKEDA BARKLEY
STAFF Editor-in-Chief Emily Crowe Managing Editor Makeda Barkley News Editors Danny May Jacob Warehime Features Editor Fran Stevenson A&E Editor Elizabeth Bonin Sports Editor Katrina Meyer Staff Writers Madeline Ajack Emma Busch Julia Curtis Lily Kime Sam Mitchell Ben Selcke
Shannon Baker Xavier Conzet Olivia Enquist Ana Lopez Shasa Sartin Biz Wagenson
Part-time Writers Nora Felt Kristen Wuerl
MARCH 2, 2017
TO THE EDITOR
An open letter: Anderson Prairie Elementary School Proposal Dear Dr. Molly McNicoll, We, as student Senate, are writing to outline the strengths and weaknesses of leasing land from Anderson Prairie to the Decorah School system. The goal of this letter is to portray the view of the student body. These views were collated from individual conversations with students, the views expressed at the forum on Anderson Prairie on Feb. 16, and extensive research from the Student Life committee. After evaluating the proposal for the new elementary school we believe that it is in the student’s best interest to preserve the prairie. The prairie currently serves as a research and recreational resource to students, faculty, staff, and people across the country. In the past five years over 30 different classes have utilized Anderson Prairie in their
curriculum, including English, philosophy, and even Paideia classes. This resource also serves as an outdoor laboratory for research in botany, entomology, and ecology as well as introductory lab courses in Biology. The land is a destination for academic and faith-based organizations from across the country and in our own backyard. It is important to note the environmental implications. Anderson Prairie plays a key role in Luther’s commitment to preserving the natural land that surrounds us. Luther’s mission statement says that Luther was “... founded where river, woodland, and prairie meet, we practice joyful stewardship of the resources that surround us …” By preserving Anderson Prairie, Luther College would be reaffirming its duty to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and maintain local
biodiversity, while simultaneously protecting the local infrastructure from flooding. Luther College and the Decorah community have long had a mutually beneficial relationship. While the community could benefit from having the new elementary school located in Anderson Prairie, such a decision would prioritize the interests of Decorah community members over Luther students, faculty, and staff. There may be benefits to leasing the prairie; however,00 the advantages for students are greatly outweighed by the disadvantages. As we have outlined above, Anderson Prairie serves as a vital resource for academics, recreation, and protecting the environment. Signed, Student Senate
Head Copy Editor Olivia Benson Copy Editors Elyse Grothaus Sarah Owens Ad Representatives Tyler Hovey Madeline Petellin Web Content Manager Michael Vann Social Media Director Elyse Grothaus Distribution Manager Sarah Owens Faculty Adviser David Faldet
SUBMISSIONS Submissions for letters to the editor should be submitted 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, 400-700 words and submitted before Sunday at 5:00 p.m. the week before publication. Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor. Chips will not accept submitted articles or campus announcements. Opinions expressed in columns and letters are those of the authors(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Chips or organizations with which the author(s) are associated.
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. Fax: 563-387-2072 Email: chipsedt@luther.edu Advertising: chipsads@luther.edu Website: lutherchips.com Facebook: facebook.com/LutherChips Twitter: @LutherChips Instagram: @luthercollegechips
Anderson Prairie is home to many plants and organisms, as well as student housing, Baker Village. Photo courtesy of luther.edu
EDITORIAL
Anderson Prairie as elementary school site violates school mission I find it hard to even grasp the proposal to build an elementary school on Luther’s Anderson Prairie. As we seem to adhere to our mission statement as a sort of campus constitution — and understandably so — why would we even consider DANNY MAY allowing an action so NEWS EDITOR blatantly adverse to that statement? The Luther student body is largely opposed to the school site and any administrative move to allow the school to be built is a move against the better interest of Luther’s main source of income — its students. The $20,000-$25,000 that Luther will receive annually for leasing the land is incredibly marginal in comparison to the potential negative effects on college admissions. There are simply no viable reasons to proceed any further with the proposal. Three acres in the northeast corner of the prairie are slotted for Baker expansion in the future, regardless of the proceedings of the current school proposal. Further, the school board has six other sites, including the least-intrusive option to renovate the current John Cline Elementary School Building. There is room for expansion on that same site, which would jeopardize neither Luther lands nor the college’s relation with the Decorah Community School District for educational collaboration. On that note, the school board’s argument for increased educational collaboration if the school is built on Anderson Prairie is baseless; any Luther education student can easily walk, drive, or cycle the 1.3 miles to John Cline, or the 1.6 miles to Carrie Lee. Promoting
more convenient Luther student immersion is simply a cover-up for the school board’s price-driven interest. Anderson Prairie is a laboratory and an iconic natural area for the Luther community. I live in Baker Village and regularly enjoy walks through and around the prairie along with the simple sight of it each morning upon waking up. Decorah community members are also able to enjoy walks and recreation in the prairie. Any school constructed on the site would not only be an eyesore but would also infringe upon a tiny portion of the type of prairie that once covered 85% percent of Iowa. The justification that the proposed school would only cover approximately one third of the prairie is only ostensibly comforting — the reality is that any building constructed on the site would effectively tarnish Anderson Prairie’s value to the college. If the prairie itself is of such importance to the Decorah School Board, it should implement a smaller-scale version of a prairie on any of the alternative sites, accompanying the new building and still preserving Luther’s cherished land. The school board could also explore field trips to Anderson Prairie, which would allow students to engage with native species and spend time outdoors. The fact that the school board’s arguments have more viable alternatives indicates its hollow justification for the proposal. To build over a portion of Anderson Prairie is to infringe upon the college’s identity. Luther has major admissions clout because of its pristine landscapes and small-town location. Many students enroll at Luther because they value instant access to natural and open lands, Anderson Prairie being one of the most wellknown. That the administration can apparently be enticed for such a trivial financial gain is disheartening. I hope to see the Decorah School Board’s proposal proceed no further than its current state.
OPINION
PAGE 10 MARCH 2, 2017
MANAGING EDITOR: MAKEDA BARKLEY
TO THE EDITOR
Decorah residents resolve to publicly support Muslims Dear friends, A number of concerned Decorah residents joined together last fall to create a resolution in support of our Muslim friends and neighbors, as well as Muslims around the country who are more and more under threat from all sides. The situation is becoming very dangerous as our new president is advocating for a Muslim ban and a Muslim registry. The aforementioned group felt it was important that Decorah takes a stand for basic human rights and civil freedoms. At the present time, the resolution has been endorsed by the Decorah Human Rights Commission, the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center, the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms, Northeast Iowa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Ryumonji Zen Monastery, Good Shepherd Congregation Council, and First United Methodist Church of Decorah. In addition, over 50 individuals have currently signed the resolution. It is not too late to sign the resolution supporting Muslims. If you have already signed it, please share this with others. Signatures will be collected until March 6, at which time the statement will be presented to the Decorah City Council with the request that Decorah pass it as a resolution. If you would like to add your name, you can do so at the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center, 119 Winnebago St. in Decorah. The text of the resolution follows: “Friendship Not Fear: Standing in Solidarity with Muslims in our Local Community and the Nation.”
The Norse Poll
“It’s not the brightest because we need to think about how the elementary students are going to be affected by being so close to college life.” -Ian Adams (‘20)
We, the undersigned, are concerned about the alarming wave of Islamophobia sweeping our nation. The Muslim students at Luther College, the Somali Muslim community in Postville, and Muslims around the country are our friends and neighbors and they are facing greater challenges in their day-to-day lives as a result of the growing fear. Advocates for Muslims receive threats on a regular basis. While anti-Muslim hate crimes intensify, prominent politicians support proposals that would violate the constitutionally protected rights of citizens to be free to practice the religion of their choice. These proposals include advocating for mosque closings, registration programs, internment camps, and halting refugee resettlement. Our diverse gifts and perspectives as a community lead us to a common commitment to work for justice, inclusion, and equality. We repudiate the hostility and hatred aimed at Muslims in and beyond our community. We deplore hate speech and fear mongering — and the bigotry and violence they spawn. We pledge to challenge Islamophobia whenever and wherever it occurs, to foster relationships with Muslims based on friendship and not fear, and to serve the common good by maintaining a firm commitment to racial and religious diversity. Signed, Mel Underbakke, Ph.D. Director of Education, National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms
How do you feel about the proposed construction of an elementary school in Anderson Prairie?
“I think if we don’t hold our ground now, who’s to say we won’t continue to develop areas that are important and valuable to the Luther community in the future. ” -Addy Taylor (‘18)
“I can see both sides of the issue. One, Luther needs money, but also the elementary school is going to get trashed [by intoxicated Luther students].” -Andrew Botz (‘17)
TO THE EDITOR
In response: “Luther Archives preserve history” I write to correct the cutline of last week’s features story entitled “Luther Archive preserves history.” The picture shows Luther College archivist Hayley Jackson holding a seamed, brimless cap with a very narrow front visor and a button at its crown. The blue cap bears the intials “LC” and on the visor someone has written “WENDY.” The cutline identifies the object as an “archived Luther College baseball hat.” In fact, the article pictured is a freshman beanie, part of a fashion that reached its peak in the 1950s, of first-year students at many colleges across the country being required to wear silly hats. Luther students were freed of this requirement as one of many rights (such as freedom to go out dancing) they came to
insist upon in the 1960s. The beanie was a part of a college-wide hazing ritual that targeted new students. This headwear allowed older students to pick out a new student even from a distance and, if the mood struck them, have the beanie-wearer buff their shoes, sing a college song from memory, or remain in their seat in chapel until released by permission of their older superior. It meant that no matter how well-groomed or appareled first-years looked when they emerged for the day, pride in their appearance would get a setback from their required, somewhat ridiculous cap. The rule stayed in place each fall until a moment at the homecoming football game when all first-years, sitting together in their own section of the rough and
creaky wooden bleachers at Nustad Field, were freed of the imposition of those caps. With a cheer they threw them into the air. I’m sure Wendy was happy to see hers go. Wendy’s beanie is a good illustration of what Destiny Crider says of the archives in last week’s story. The archives allow hands-on connection with “the complexity of … cultures … and the history of the college.” The beanie pictured is a good piece of physical evidence of the good old/bad old days of our Luther predecessors. Signed, David Faldet (‘79) Professor of English
SPORTS
PAGE 11
MARCH 2, 2017
SPORTS EDITOR: KATRINA MEYER
Track and Field teams compete in Indoor Championship SHANNON BAKER STAFF WRITER The Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship was held Feb. 24 and 25 at the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, IA. The men finished ninth out of nine teams and the women finished seventh out of nine. The Luther Track and Field team sent 33 men and 32 women to compete in a variety of contests in both sprinting and distance categories, as well as field events including pole vault, long jump, high jump, shot put, and weight throw. The women had a number of performances that ranked among the top all-time performances for Luther. Marta Springer (‘19) and Morgan Sammons (‘18) both competed in the pentathlon and made Norse athletic history. Springer placed fifth with 2878 points and Sammons placed seventh with 2660 points. These ranked fourth and sixth respectively for the Norse all-time. The 4 x 800m relay, featuring Springer, Mallory Carr (‘17), Ilsa Knivsland (‘20), and Stephanie Murray (‘17) ranked ninth all time for Luther with a time of 9:45.41. The men also had a number of performances that set all-time records for Luther. The 4 x 800m relay, featuring Bret Powers (‘17),
Collin Kern (‘20), Kyle Gilberg (‘19), and Andrew Millan (‘20), set a new Luther record with a time of 7:54.16 earning the team second place in the meet. Elijah Kane (‘18) placed third in Luther’s all-time heptathlon history with a performance that scored 4027 points. Head Coach Jeff Wettach (‘79) expressed his excitement for the opportunity the competition presented. “I am so thrilled about the possibilities for our team and individuals within our team,” Wettach said. “Our biggest focus will be on individual and relay team performances, and as the [season] progresses, we will continue to focus on supporting each other.” With the addition of Nebraska Wesleyan University to the IIAC conference, the competition level in the conference has risen. Nebraska Wesleyan, which joined the IIAC conference beginning with the 201617 academic year, has several athletes ranked in the top ten for NCAA Division III performances in track and field. While the competition was fierce, Wettach wanted the team to focus on personal improvement. “Points [will be] hard to come by this year. We need to be a team of overachievers,” Wettach said. “We need to focus on performances more than outcomes.”
Senior captain and sprinter Kayla Ingvalson (‘17) explained the team’s goals in terms of individual performance. “[As a team] we’re going to continue to focus on ourselves, and make sure we are giving our very best effort and not worry about the competition,” Ingvalson said. In addition, the team’s supporting one another and improving personal times, the energy of increased competitiveness at the Indoor Championship was tangible, according to Ingvalson. “There is something different about the IIAC Conference Championship,” Ingvalson said. “Coach [Wettach] always says ‘your best performance is still in you.’ I can’t wait to see what our team is going to do in the outdoor season.” The Indoor Championships may be the culmination of the indoor track season, but they also mark the start of the transition from the indoor track to the outdoor track. There are no scheduled track meets during the entire month of March, but moving to the outdoor season marks an increase in training quality and quantity. “The [March] break is a really good time to realign mentally, take a break, and gear up for some more good work,” distance runner Jordan Boge (‘18) said. “Meets are mentally taxing.” In the one-month hiatus from
Jackie Krawczyk (‘18) hurdling at Luther College Alumni meet. Photo courtesy of Luther College Photo Bureau intercollegiate competition, moving to the outdoor track will allow the team to train for new events such as the javelin, 3,000-meter steeplechase, 400-meter hurdles, and the hammer throw. In addition to focusing on new events, Wettach believes training on the bigger and softer outdoor track, which is only six years old, will improve the team’s physical wellbeing. “The [outdoor] track is much more conducive to good health because the indoor [track] is so firm,” Wettach said. “I look to March as a great
month to make progress with our training.” With the shift to the outdoor season, Luther Track and Field plans to maintain the team’s strong mentality and unity that they bring to their competitions. “Practice-wise, our huge goal is to come into practice with that positive mental attitude and [keep] each other accountable,” Boge said. “Racing-wise there are so many factors going into how [we] place, but it is more nuanced than that. [Our goal] is striving for our best each and every day.”
Norse of the Week KATRINA MEYER SPORTS EDITOR The Luther Men’s Tennis team won a decisive early 9-0 victory against Wisconsin Lutheran. Trent Schneider (‘18) guarunteed the win with a powerful performance. He and his doubles partner Anders Jensen (‘18) won 8-2. Schneider also posted a 6-0, 6-0 win to place first in singles. This brings the men’s tennis record to 3-0 for the spring season. Chips: How did it feel to start off the spring season so well? Schneider: It was good. We had a meet against Saint Johns the week before. That was a good meet that we pulled out 5-4. This past weekend it was good to get some matches in and we got everyone playing. It was good to get match playing early on, and it was good to start our season 2-0. How do you guys handle the transition from fall season to spring season? It hasn’t been too much of a transition. We worked really hard in the off-season.
We hit quite a bit and stayed outside as long as we could. We continued to work really hard with our workouts throughout, so the transition hasn’t really been bad at all. We feel like we have been ready all off-season. When did you start playing tennis and why? I started when I was five. My mom put me in tennis and I ended up liking it and have played it ever since. I started playing tournaments when I was around 12, so that’s when I got a little more competitive. If you could take tennis lessons from anybody in the world, who would it be and why? Definitely Rafael Nadal. I always loved him growing up, and I use the same racket as him. I always enjoyed watching him growing up. It was really fun to see him and Federer this past January in the Australian Open finals. What is your favorite part about playing tennis here at Luther? I would say the team aspect. We have a great group of guys. We are very close, and that makes me enjoy everything
even more. I just love playing and I like being around great teammates. It’s good to have a team atmosphere because tennis can be an individual sport sometimes. You’re out there by yourself in singles and you only have one partner in doubles, so it’s fun to have a team atmosphere in a sport that can seem so individualized. What is your favorite memory playing tennis here at Luther? I would say last year, my sophomore season, we were playing Coe at home. We had a big crowd and that was fun. My partner, Kyle, and I got a big win. Even though that was the only match we ended up winning, I thought that everyone played pretty well. That was something special for me. We all played really well together, and we beat a really solid Coe doubles team. If you could have a superpower, which one would you want to help you play tennis? Being able to read my opponent’s mind would be the most helpful, so I can know what they are thinking strategy-wise. Hopefully they are also thinking about
where they are going to hit the ball right before they do, so I could get there early. Reading minds would be great.
Trent Schneider (‘18) Photo courtesy of Luther.edu
SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR: KATRINA MEYER
PAGE 12
MARCH 2, 2017
Women’s Basketball advances to IIAC Championship finals
Weekly Standings Men’s Basketball Nebraska Wes. Loras Buena Vista Simpson Wartburg Central Dubuque Coe Luther
IIAC 11-5 11-5 10-6 9-7 8-8 8-8 7-9 6-10 2-14
Recent Scores
Overall 18-7 18-7 14-11 16-9 16-9 14-11 10-15 10-15 4-19
Feb. 15 @ Simpson College L 74-62 Feb. 18 vs. Central College L 105-70
Women’s Basketball
Anna Madrigal (‘17) fights her way around a double team.
EMMA BUSCH STAFF WRITER On Feb. 23, Luther Women’s Basketball beat Loras College 65-62 in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) semifinals. This victory advanced the team to the finals. The women were subsequently beaten by Wartburg College 81-68 in the championship finals. In the semifinals, Katie Waller (‘18) led the team in scoring with 17 points, including two free throws that gave the Norse the lead with 20 seconds left. Laura Hamilton (‘20) scored 13 points and Anna Madrigal (‘17) scored eight points. Hamilton also led the team with eight rebounds and contributed four assists. In the finals, the Norse fell just short of beating Wartburg. Hamilton led the team in scoring with 16 points, closely followed by Waller with 15 and Madrigal with 13. Hamilton and Waller both led the team with seven rebounds each. The Norse ended their season 17-10. Because the team was participating in a tournament, they did not
know who they would play until two days before the game. Forward Lauren Resner (‘18) explained the team mentality in tournament play. “In tournament play, there’s a saying that goes ‘the ones who are supposed to win don’t always win and the underdogs can pull out,’” Resner said. “So we went in with that mentality.” According to Resner, this did not present a challenge to the team because they were prepared to face any opponent. “We knew who was playing and so we got a feel for both teams,” Resner said. “Obviously we didn’t want to say who was going to be the winner, but we were planning for Loras. But just in case, we were also practicing for Nebraska.” In order to prepare for the game, the women have focused on perfecting their technique, according to team captain and forward Madrigal. “A lot of it is focusing on what we do and perfecting the style of basketball we want to play,” Madrigal said. “We can’t control how
Photo Courtesy of Luther Photo Bureau Loras is going to prepare or know for certain how they’re going to attack us, so it has been our motto all season to focus on what we can bring to the game: hard work, defensive toughness, and a fast tempo.” Head Women’s Basketball Coach Amanda Bailey explained the obstacles that the team had to overcome early in the season. “I am extremely proud of how our team has come together and grown this year,” Bailey said. “We started out the season 0-3 in non-conference, playing some very tough competition. We were playing many young kids and still trying to figure out the team’s identity.” Bailey described the development that the team went through as the season progressed. “We talked a lot about patience in the beginning of the season and continuing to get better everyday and I think that we still are getting better,” Bailey said. “With every practice and game this group comes together more and raises our level of play. Coming into the season we were
picked to finish fourth in the conference. I think that we have surprised a lot of people and surpassed their expectations.” Center Madilyn Heinke (‘19) described the team’s determination that led to their success. “There’s definitely challenges in every season,” Heinke said. “This year, coach liked to explain that it was a rollercoaster. There’s a lot of ups and downs, but no matter what we just stuck through. Because we have such a young team, we didn’t know what was going to happen coming into the season, so everybody was playing really hard.” Heinke described the overall feel of the season, looking forward to the future. “Our highs were really high, like when we beat Wartburg, and then our lows got pretty low when we lost the following game by quite a bit,” Heinke said. “There were a few games where we just didn’t come together, but when we did, it was amazing. I believe this is the best we’ve ever played together. I’m really excited to see where we go.”
10 Wartburg Luther Loras Buena Vista Coe Nebraska Wes. Simpson Dubuque Central
IIAC 15-1 12-4 10-6 9-7 7-9 6-10 6-10 5-11 2-14
Overall 23-2 16-9 16-9 13-12 12-13 13-12 9-16 9-16 9-16
Recent Scores
Feb. 23 vs. Loras College W 65-62 Feb. 25 @ Wartburg College L 81-68
Men’s Tennis Coe Dubuque Luther Central Nebraska Wes. Wartburg Loras Simpson Buena Vista
IIAC 2-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1 0-2
Overall 5-3 4-0 3-1 3-8 1-5 1-5 2-1 3-4 3-5
Recent Scores
Feb. 11 vs. Simpson College W 9-0 Feb. 11 vs. Wisconsin Lutheran W 9-0
Upcoming Schedule
Mar. 4 @ St. Scholastica Mar. 5 @ UW- La Crosse
Women’s Tennis Luther Coe Dubuque Central Wartburg Loras Simpson Nebraska Wes. Buena Vista
IIAC 8-0 7-1 6-2 5-3 4-4 3-5 2-6 1-7 0-8
Overall 10-1 9-1 7-4 7-3 4-5 7-7 5-7-1 1-8 0-15
Recent Scores
Feb. 25 @ St. Olaf College L 5-4
Upcoming Schedule
Mar. 4 @ St. Scholastica Mar. 4 @ UW- La Crosse
Wrestling 1 Wartburg 16 Loras 20 Central 21 Coe Luther Dubuque Simpson Buena Vista Nebraska Wes.
IIAC 8-0 7-1 6-2 5-3 4-4 3-5 2-6 1-7 0-8
Overall 20-0 12-7 10-2 11-8 9-8 7-11 6-9 2-7 1-9
Recent Scores
Feb. 11 Winona Statue University Invitational NTS Feb. 14 @ St. Olaf College W 38-9
Upcoming Schedule
Feb. 25 NCAA III Central Regional Mar. 10-11 NCAA III National Championships