5
Martial arts group Shaolin Warriors performs on campus.
6
12
Alums start food blog for novice cooks.
Three wrestlers advance to nationals; Kreiter takes second
LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
CHIPS
MARCH 16, 2017
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VOLUME 139, NO. 16
Dance program alums voice concern Upon the proposal to cut Luther’s dance major, alums of the dance program wrote letters to college officials voicing their opposition to the proposal and gave testaments of academic excellence in the program.
Luther observes International Women’s Day SHASA SARTIN STAFF WRITER
dance and the body,” Hawley said. “I was appalled how numbers and meaning do not equate, and I’m curious about why the body and embodied learning are not prized at a liberal arts college.” Alum Catherine Lewis (‘16), a dance and psychology double major, said that she learned about the proposed cuts from current Luther students.
In concurrence with International Women’s Day on March 8, the Women and Gender Studies department and allied campus members held “A Day Without Women and Non-Conforming Folk,” in which women and gender minorities gathered to support one another and to provide a location for those abstaining from classes and employment obligations. Wylie Cook (‘18) headed the event alongside the women and gender studies department, who hoped to facilitate the Luther community to take part of International Women’s Day. “We wanted to create a time and place where women and other gender minorities could learn, speak, be inspired, and be called to action,” Cook said. Community member Liz Rog (‘81) led songs that were focused on comfort with one’s body and claiming feminism. People also read poetry and shared personal stories. Women and other gender minorities around the world abstained from work and other commitments as part of International Women’s Day, in which Associate Professor of Philosophy Holly Moore took part. Moore said that she abstained in order to call attention to the work of women and gender minorities that often goes unnoticed or under-appreciated. Moore sent an email to her students on International Women’s Day explaining her decision and the worldwide movement that highlighted labor inequalities for sexual and racial minorities. “The fact that I can strike is itself a mark of this inequality,” Moore wrote. “The fact that I do have a secure job is evidence not only that some (usually white, first-world) women now have access to these positions but also that my access to such a position is due to privileges that many other men and women do not have. I strike in solidarity with the world of women and men whose underpaid and unpaid labor sustains the value of my own life, and the life of this institution.”
DANCE MAJOR | PAGE 4
WOMEN’S DAY | PAGE 4
Haley Steffen (‘19) and Lindsey Ahlers (‘18) dance in the Center for the Arts. Kristen Wuerl (‘18) | Chips
KRISTEN WUERL STAFF WRITER In response to the Academic Planning Committee’s (APC) Feb. 21 proposal to cut the dance major, dance program alums have written letters of solidarity to Luther’s Board of Regents and the APC, exemplifying the unrest spurred by the proposal to fully cut four majors on campus. More than 25 alums wrote letters
at the time of print, primarily addressing how their dance education and experience at Luther embodied the college’s mission. If the Board of Regents approves the proposed cuts, the dance department would only retain its minor. For Professor of Dance Jane Hawley (‘87), dance as a field of study is essential to a liberal arts education. “For some reason, it’s acceptable in our society to be ignorant of
In lecture on news media, journalist analyzes right-wing populism in United States and India BIZ WAGENSON STAFF WRITER Journalist Jyoti Thottam spoke about India’s news media and the issue of self-censorship on March 9, highlighting the rise of right-wing populism as a major instigator of these issues in India and the United States in particular. Approximately 30 people attended the lecture.
Thottam made strong parallels between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the United States Donald Trump, pointing to their frequent use of Twitter and far-right populist political platforms to influence news media in both countries. Modi was elected in 2014 despite intra-party opposition, similar to that faced by Trump. In an interview, Thottam
emphasized how both of the leaders earned unexpected victories, driven largely by their direct connection with voters. “Perhaps the [news] media in both countries underestimated the extent of [national support for them],” Thottam said. “Both of these politicians have the ability to bypass the [news] media and communicate directly to their
supporters through social media. It is also clear that neither of these politicians value the press as an institution very much.” Thottam arrived at these parallels after providing several historical anecdotes of instances in which journalists and news companies challenged stringent Indian government authority. She explained that Indian news media
today are split between those sympathetic to Modi and those that are critics. Yet some news media, Thottam said in her lecture, view their consumers as customers for advertisers and publish celebrity gossip and tabloid news, which she called “celebratory media.”
THOTTAM | PAGE 3
NEWS
PAGE 2 MARCH 16, 2017
NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME
CEPE introduces TED Boldridge takes ELCA position Talk lecture series ANA LÓPEZ STAFF WRITER The Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE) is beginning a series of TED Talk screenings as a way to increase discussion on campus. The first of these screenings was a TED Talk titled “Our refugee system is failing. Here's how we can fix it,” by Alexander Betts, screened on March 9. After the screening, a discussion was facilitated by Associate Professor of History Robert Christman. TED Talks are short presentations devoted to the spreading of ideas about technology, entertainment and design. The CEPE is looking to have one screening per month where students can easily attend and engage in conversation after the TED Talk. Assistant Director of the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement Krista Holland explained the goals of screening the talks. “We are trying to offer more opportunities for discussion on campus and more hands-on programming,” Holland said. “TED Talks are easy, you can just show up, there is no preparation. We share and watch something together and have a discussion after.” The talks will cover diverse topics that are relevant to current global issues. During the talk screened on March 9, Betts explained that the current refugee system fails to provide sufficient options to refugees fleeing their home countries in fear of their safety. Betts claimed that there are four ways to solve these problems.
The first solution proposed was to provide refugees with the ability to work. According to Betts, these new jobs would benefit the refugees and the citizens of the host country. Second, countries with high refugee populations could create what Betts called “economic zones” that would incorporate the host country nationals and refugees in new economic zones by using the extra labor from refugees. Third, was the idea of “preference matching,” where the refugee system could match the particular skills of refugees to particular needs of the hosting countries. Finally, Betts proposed following the example of the Nansen visas, or humanitarian visas, which would allow refugees to arrive safely to other countries by boarding planes, thus saving lives. The CEPE is also considering applying for a license to hold TEDx talks on campus. TEDx talks are TED Talks focused on regional communitybased issues. Belal Krayem ('18) is a student involved in the proposal to host TEDx talks on campus. “I am working on getting our college licensed to hold TEDx conference, hopefully next fall,” Krayem said. “We are still in the first stages of the process.” Holland said that this is a real possibility, given a few conditions. “[The talks] would be wonderful, so we are in discussion about getting them going,” Holland said. “We will have to name it something different than TED Talks but I think there is definitely interest and people would be happy to participate.”
"We are trying to offer more opportunities for discussion on campus and more hands-on programming. TED Talks are easy, you can just show up, there is no preparation. We share and watch something together and have a discussion after.” - Robert Christman
THOTTAM | PAGE 1 Associate Professor of History Brian Caton, who organized the lecture in conjunction with the Asian studies department, explained that the inspiration for the lecture came from a class he taught last semester about new forms of nationalism. In that class, Caton and his students followed Modi’s election and analyzed the actions of
Indian news sources, which he said were openly addressing their need to self-censor. “A lot of what India nationalism thrives on is the ability to recraft a narrative about India’s past,” Caton said. “In an environment where the media — and to some extent scholars — are unable to or don’t feel the power to counter that narrative, [that is] what we are left with.” Attendee Amelia
Scarbrough ('17) said that she viewed Thottam’s lecture on differences in news sources as a lesson on how to be a better news consumer. “I really thought it was interesting how [Thottam] evaluated sources of journalism,” Scarbrough said. “I have been thinking about how I, as an individual, can still make a difference in how I share that [news]
through how I use it and what I read.” Thottam worked at Time Magazine as its South Asia Bureau Chief in India before relocating to the United States, where she took positions at UNICEF and then with Al Jazeera America. She is currently working as an independent journalist on a nonfiction book about the Partition of India.
Hey you! Do you feel strongly about something? Tell everyone about it in the Chips opinion section! Send your 500-700 word article to chipsedt@luther.edu by 5pm on Sundays to see your words in print!
in Israel/Palestine
Harleigh Boldridge ('18) in the Sahara of Morocco. Photo Courtesy of Harleigh Boldridge ('18) SAM MITCHELL STAFF WRITER Social work and biblical languages double major Harleigh Boldridge (‘18) accepted a recent position as a leader for the Peace Not Walls Program through the Evangelical Luthern Church in America (ELCA). In her position, Boldridge will accompany local Lutherans and Christians in Israel and Palestine to lead Holy Land trips during the summers of 2018 and 2019 with 15 other young adults of color, ages 21-30. Peace Not Walls is a program that teaches leaders to conduct tours in the Holy Land and to teach other young adults about the history of the region, the current conflict, the role of religion, and the hope for peace. Accepted applicants will work alongside Palestinians, Israelis, Jews, Christians, and Muslims, working for peace and creating a relationship with the countries of Israel and Palestine. Boldridge first heard about the position when College Pastor Anne EdisonAlbright contacted her. “I learned about Peace Not Walls while riding a bus from Des Moines back to Luther after a day of lobbying at the state house,” Boldridge said. “[EdisonAlbright] saw a post about the opportunity for youth leader training with Peace Not Walls through the ELCA, and thought it would be something I was interested in. So I looked up the program and felt like I had to apply.” Edison-Albright said that Boldridge is highly qualified for the position. “So much about Harleigh — the way she prays with her feet, her previous work with refugees, the way she lives out her faith by making connections across differences — makes her a great choice for the opportunity,” Edison-Albright said. According to Boldridge, the goals of the program center on equipping young adults of color to lead trips that specially focus on the intersection of race, culture, and class by using a global lens with local implications. She said other goals include educating participants about the growing conflict in Israel and Palestine and deepening the faith and identity of travelers as they build relationships with global companions and neighbors. Boldridge will leave for training in Israel and Palestine on May 3 with 15 others. “While we are in Israel, we will be split into 8 pairs of leaders who will work together to coordinate and lead Holy Land trips in the summers of 2018 and 2019,” Boldridge said. “We will return this summer to our homes and then meet again this September in Washington, D.C. for leadership evaluations and furthered training.” Edison-Albright added that she is excited to see Boldridge make a difference in the world. “Certainly this is a life-changing opportunity for Harleigh,” Edison-Albright said. “I know the good work she’ll do will help change lives in people she connects with in Israel and Palestine, in the ways she brings her experiences home with her, and in the ways she mentors the youth she will guide.” Boldridge said she’s looking forward to seeing what she will take away from this opportunity. “I think that anytime you are willing to take a leap of faith and learn something new you stand to benefit immensely,” Boldridge said. “I am going to have a pretty big learning curve but I think that this will be a good experience to bring back into my community.”
NEWS
PAGE 3
NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME
MARCH 16, 2017
WEATHER THURSDAY Partly Cloudy
40/34 FRIDAY Partly Cloudy
47/28 SATURDAY Partly Cloudy
43/25 SUNDAY Counselor Stuart Johnson presents to a group of student-athletes.
Mostly Sunny
Olivia Enquist ('19) | Chips
SAAC bystander training begins OLIVIA ENQUIST STAFF WRITER The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted its first bystander training lecture of the semester on March 8 in Valders 362. The lecture, the first in a series of three, is part of SAAC’s larger effort to involve student-athletes in bystander training by working around studentathletes' busy schedules. The lecture was presented by Counselor Stuart Johnson to an audience of seven students, most of whom were studentathletes, using the "StepUp!" program. The "StepUp!" program was developed by the University of Arizona in partnership with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a way to raise confidence when confronting problems in a way that will ensure the safety of oneself and others. The program stresses the importance of being proactive when helping others and is used across campus. SAAC Executive Board member Melisse Chasse ('17) explained why the group focused on student-athlete involvement when it came to the organization of events like bystander training. “The idea is that the athletes are a huge part of the student body at Luther, especially as far as people who go out on the weekends and things like that,” Chasse said. “Just making them more aware and able to deal with situations
was a big focus for SAAC and their athletes.” SAAC Executive Board member Patrick Larson ('17) added that the group saw the training as a chance to discuss problems that students might encounter on campus. “We saw this as an opportunity to help educate student-athletes on important issues like sexual assault, alcohol abuse, depression, and others,” Larson said. “Student-athletes make up
affect student-athletes' lives on NCAA member institution campuses. SAAC felt that it was important to focus on including student-athletes in bystander training because scheduling has often been a barrier to attendance. Chasse explained that even when scheduling with athletes in mind, making sure that events don’t conflict with games or practices, attendance can be an issue. Therefore, SAAC has provided a participation incentive — the team with the highest percentage of players to attend an event wins a Whippy Dip gift card. “It’s definitely in progress right now, with not very many athletes showing up,” Chasse said. “It’s hard because you want to catch the athletes at the right time where they’re not in their busy season. It’s just something fun. I know that a lot of teams like to do team building activities and we always do Whippy Dip walks so we decided that would be a good [incentive].” Larson added that the bystander training is applicable to life at Luther. “Luther is not immune to things like sexual assault, depression, or alcohol abuse,” Larson said. “While I believe most students would consider our campus safe and very supportive, this doesn't mean there aren't students who are being affected by the many things that are covered in the bystander training.” SAAC’s other bystander trainings will be held on April 6 and 19.
"While I believe most students would consider our campus safe and very supportive, this doesn't mean there aren't students who are being affected by the many things that are covered in the bystander training.” - Patrick Larson ('17) nearly 25 percent of the student body at Luther and it is important that we are trained and ready to step up to help our peers in critical situations.” SAAC, a committee made up of student-athlete representatives from each team on campus, works to provide opportunities for their athletes, to communicate with coaches and their teams, and to offer input polices that
48/33 MONDAY Showers
53/30 TUESDAY Sunny
46/23
CORRECTIONS A photo caption in the March 9 article "Standing Out," Chris Norton was labeled "Christ Norton." His grad year was also incorrectly labeled as 2019, not 2015. In the same issue, in a photo caption in the article "Ballroom and Swing takes Dance Fest," Samuel Nunnikhoven's name was misspelled. In the February 23 issue of Chips, the article "Dean for equity and inclusion candidates interview on campus" included the incorrect photo of one of the candidates, Poonam Arora. The photo was of Poonam Arora from Manhattan College, not Poonam Arora from Grinnell.
Icons designed by Freepik from Flaticon.
NEWS
PAGE 4
MARCH 16, 2017
NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME
Life Outside Luther South Sudan and African Union stall on human rights court The African Union and South Sudan are failing in their joint responsibility to set up a court to prosecute atrocities in the central African country and are not cooperating with a United Nations inquiry, a U.N. investigator said on Tuesday. EU headscarf ban creates pushback from faith groups Companies may bar staff from wearing Islamic headscarves and other visible religious symbols under certain conditions, the European Union's top court ruled on Tuesday, setting off a storm of complaint from rights groups and religious leaders. Kenyan doctors cease three-month strike Kenyan doctors ended a three-month strike in public hospitals on Tuesday after reaching agreement on pay and working conditions, ending a standoff that threatened to discredit the government before August's elections. Erdogan says apology from Netherlands not enough Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday a diplomatic row with the Netherlands could not be dismissed with an apology and warned of further possible measures, after the Turkish government suspended high-level diplomatic ties with the Dutch. Germany to fine social media sites over hate speech Germany plans a new law calling for social networks like Facebook to remove slanderous or threatening online postings quickly or face fines of up to 50 million euros, or $53 million. Republican plan to repeal Obamacare would reportedly leave millions uninsured Fourteen million Americans would lose medical insurance by next year under a Republican plan to dismantle Obamacare that would also reduce the budget deficit, a nonpartisan congressional research office said on Monday, throwing President Donald Trump and Republicans on the defensive as they press forward with replacement legislation. British PM may commit to negotiating Brexit with Scotland British Prime Minister Theresa May is committed to engaging with the Scottish government on Brexit plans, her spokesman said on Tuesday, a day after Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called for a new independence referendum. Sturgeon wants that referendum to be held in late 2018 or early 2019, but first needs approval from the British Parliament. Fox, Turner win broadcast rights to Argentine Soccer Divisions of U.S. media companies Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. and Time Warner Inc. won a joint contract to broadcast Argentine soccer matches for five years from next season, the Argentine Football Association said on Tuesday. IS Commander killed, government forces battle for bridge Iraqi government forces killed the Islamic State commander of Mosul's Old City on Tuesday as the battle for the militants' last stronghold in Iraq focused on a bridge crossing the Tigris river.
Compiled from: reuters.com
Inga Aleckson ('18) and Mohammed Aljardat ('19) dance together. DANCE MAJOR | PAGE 1 “I think cutting the dance program is an incredible mistake,” Lewis said. “The Movement Fundamentals curriculum is one of the very few post-modern dance programs in the United States. Rather than training in ballet, modern, and jazz, Luther trains in somatics and the body. We become artists instead of imitators.” Hawley explained that the three Movement Fundamentals courses that the dance department currently offers — 105, 205, and 305 — teach students how to apply dance concepts through experiential anatomy. For Lewis, these courses exemplified the dance program’s
interdisciplinary nature and spurred new perspectives. “The dance major taught me to think in entirely new ways,” Lewis said. “Movement Fundamentals demands that you take learning from other disciplines and apply it in the dance studio. I had to embody this learning, which caused me to understand concepts and material so much more deeply than simply thinking about it in a classroom desk.” Hawley found similar testaments of interdisciplinary work in letters from other alums as well. “[These alumni] are innovators in their fields because of embodied learning,” Hawley said. “Interdisciplinary thought is
WOMEN'S DAY | PAGE 1 Moore invited her students to join her at the event, and alternatively engaged in a “teach-in,” in which she and other professors fostered open dialogue. Cook explained that this allowed attendees to simultaneously be a teacher and a student, and further described this unique educational opportunity. “It was a day off, but I was still engaged with the world,” Cook said. “We talked about how we can engage with others around issues relating to women and other gender minorities in this politically charged climate.” Cierra Buckner (‘18) also chose not
really easy for them because the body comes into all disciplines. They are able to do new research and research that ties into the innovation in their fields.” Theatre and dance double major Amanda Moran (‘12) agreed with Hawley and said that the dance program spurred her to pursue personal research. “It primed me for not only being aware in my personal life but also for successfully moving into the profession of somatic counseling,” Moran said. “When I began my training in dance and movement therapy, I found that my body-based skills were very advanced compared to my peers who had come from traditional dance and psychology
to attend class in order to take part in the event. “The conversation was far too engaging and important for me
backgrounds.” Lewis said her training in Movement Fundamentals set her apart from fellow graduate students as well. “My clinical instructors give feedback that I have a really strong understanding of body mechanics,” Lewis said. “These are skills I undoubtedly developed through dance training.” Hawley appreciated the letters of support and was relieved that dance students’ education was so valuable. “I don’t think I would’ve known the vitality of these people had they not had to defend what is vital to them,” Hawley said. “These letters are a testimony of a liberal arts education, and that’s been really deeply inspiring, no matter what happens.”
excellent way to engage in social justice and show the rest of the world — or the rest of campus — that human rights matter, that they are important, and that you would be willing to sacrifice time and money to protect [those] lives.” Buckner stressed the importance of this event to the Luther community in particular. “Luther is sometimes a harmful place for people whose voices often fall to the margins in the real world,” Buckner said. “I firmly believe we need more opportunities to gather just like we did that day and talk about the things that make us feel small and under-appreciated and just downright forgotten.”
“I think participating in things like that is an excellent way to show the world that human rights matter and that you would be willing to sacrifice time and money to protect [those] lives. - Cierra Buckner ('18) to leave,” Buckner said. “I think participating in things like that is an
Kristen Wuerl ('18) | Chips
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 5
A&E EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN
MARCH 16, 2017
LILY KIME STAFF WRITER The Shaolin Warriors, a touring martial arts group from China, performed in the Center for Faith and Life (CFL) on March 11. They performed their show “The Legend Continues” to a crowd of about 500 Luther students, faculty, staff, and Decorah community members. The performance was a part of the Center Stage Series. According to Deng Youfeng, a member of the Shaolin Warriors since 2009, the group originally formed in 1998 when the founders of the group decided that they wanted to share the traditional style of martial arts with people around the globe. Some of the group’s origianl members have left the group, and new members have joined, but the group typically maintains a membership of roughly 20 warriors. This performance featured a wide variety of talent from the Shaolin Warriors. Through choreography the performers displayed feats of flexibility and strength; one performer lifted a fellow performer over his head in a scene where they grappled for a drinking jug. The performers displayed their skills in solo routines and in mock battle scenes. The performance also showcased a variety of weapons and props, including swords, fans, staffs, three-sectioned staffs, and kwan daos. The three-sectioned staff is a type of flail weapon. It consists of three sections of staffs made of either wood or metal. They are connected with rope or metal rings. The kwan daos is a Chinese sword used for slashing movements. It only has a single edge.
Shaolin Warriors:
A stunning showcase of martial arts
A Shaolin Warrior warms up for the performance. During the show there were opportunities for audience participation.
A Shaolin Warrior practices choreography in rehearsal before the show. Lily Kime (‘19) | Chips
In the first half the performers invited 16 young audience members to come onstage and imitate the motions the master showed them, which gradually became faster. During the second half, the warriors invited two men onstage to imitate a fight as it was mimed by two masters. All of the performances individual scenes worked together to tell the story of the lives of two young apprentices as they transitioned from the beginning of their training to mastery under monks’ guidance. The performers that played the characters of the apprentices were the youngest members of the group at eight and 12 years old. As a featured show in the Center Stage Series, the Shaolin Warriors were chosen as a part of a diverse selection of productions this semester. Director of Campus Programming Paul Atkins sees the Center Stage Series as an opportunity to provide a variety of entertainment to Luther students, faculty, and Decorah community members that they may not have the opportunity to see elsewhere. “The Center Stage Series seems to work best when it features a variety of performers,” Atkins said. “We will have some music — which may be classical or not, some dance — which may be modern or something more like ballet,
Lily Kime (‘19) | Chips
and theatrical shows as well.” Attendee Genevieve Ehlers (‘19) thought the performance was new and different from most on-campus events. “I really enjoyed [the Shaolin Warriors],” Ehlers said. “I feel that it was really important for them to come to Luther and [bring] diversity for our school.” According to Deng, the skills that the Shaolin Warriors presented within their performance contributes to the message the performers wish to send. They want the audience to experience the beauty of martial arts and appreciate the story they tell through their movements and the music. Attendee Alex Lau (‘19) said that the music quickly changed from soothing and slow, to intense and exciting. The colorful theatrical lights and death-defying actions captured his attention and introduced him to a different tradition. “I really liked the newness of it because I’ve never seen something like this before,” Lau said. “Getting to witness this piece of culture was really great.” The next performance in the Center Stage Series is The Bad Plus, a threepiece music group. This group will be performing on April 7 in the CFL. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office in the CFL or on the Luther ticket office website.
FEATURES
PAGE 6 MARCH 16, 2017
FEATURES EDITOR: FRAN STEVENSON
Sweet Potato Noodles with Kale Pesto and Goat Cheese, a recipe from Yumbler. Emily Stumpf (‘15) | Yumbler
Alums cook up yummy food
BEN SELCKE STAFF WRITER Learning how to cook on a budget? Luther alums Emily Stumpf (‘15) and Margaret Yapp (‘15) launched a food blog titled “Yumbler” that is perfect for the young adult learning to cook. Their goal is to provide innovative recipes designed for the average cook. Yumbler’s mission as stated on the website: “Yumbler is a food blog for you. We are dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, and exciting and seasonal recipes for you and your lifestyle.” They operate their blog through WordPress at yumyumbler.com. The blog is divided into four sections: Recipes, Buying on a Budget, Scoop on Soup, and Tips and Tricks. The recipes are then divided into four categories: Main Dishes, Veggie Heaven, Naughty Wednesday, and Desserts. Although the blog is newly created, Stumpf and Yapp already have a fair number of recipes in each category. They try to post at least twice a week. The Naughty Wednesday section offers a new twist on food blogs, healthy alcoholic drinks that incorporate flavors most drinks do not include. One of the drink recipes featured is the blood orange martini. Stumpf and Yapp hope their directions and recipes are easy and a little out of the ordinary. In addition to the recipes Yumbler provides, it also has tips to help the novice cook around the kitchen. In the most recent post in their Tips and Tricks section, Stumpf and Yapp discuss the use of the spiralizer, a gadget that makes long thin strips out of vegetables or anything else you pass through it. Yumbler also aims to help less food-savvy shoppers buy good food at reasonable prices with future articles. “We want to have advice articles about buying in bulk, buying on a budget, and meal planning,” Yapp said. “We want it to go beyond recipes.” The goal of the blog is to get people to cook good food and enjoy it. The recipes also encourage people to get out and explore more than just the shelves of the nearest grocery story. “Hopefully our seasonal recipes will encourage people to visit their local farmers markets and stores where they can get fresh foods,” Stumpf said.
Mushroom Rissotto, a recipe from Yumbler blog. Emily Stumpf (‘15) | Yumbler
"Ultimately, the real question is: what isn’t a yumbler? An ice cream milk shake, banana and peanut butter, a big sandwich – a yumbler is anything that makes you smile, say “yum alert,” your favorite treat!" -Emily Stumpf ('15) Emily Stumpf (‘15) and Margaret Yapp (‘15). The blog has a clear emphasis on being as inclusive to a variety of people and diets as possible. “Our articles vary on expertise and knowledge of food,” Stumpf said. “We try to do seasonal foods and we try to incorporate as many gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options as possible.” Stumpf emphasized the health goal of the blog and related this to her own story and switch to a healthier diet. “I realized a lot of it comes down to food being processed, as soon as I started to make my own food [I felt healthier],” Stumpf said “I want to encourage people to make that move.” As with most new ventures, finding time to work on a passion is difficult. Both Stumpf and Yapp work day jobs but still make time for the blog. “Right now it’s taking a lot of work,” Stumpf said. “I’ll come home and do a couple of hours of work or a couple of hours of cooking so I feel like it’s really stressful right
Photo by Jeanette Byrnes now but I’m really hoping that it pays off in the long run.” Stumpf tied in her experience at Luther to her success post-college and her attitude to get something accomplished. “What you’ve done at Luther is a great launching pad for you to do almost anything,” Stumpf said. “My advice for someone who has the time is to go for it.” Yapp seconded this idea, emphasizing that determination helps individuals achieve success after college. “Don’t underestimate yourself because you’re young,” Yapp said. “Follow what excites you and take a chance, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.” Students looking to follow the blog can go to the website directly or follow the blog on Facebook or Instagram. Yapp and Stumpf take requests for recipes, so if there is anything in particular you would like to see on the blog send it in on social media or by email at yumyumbler@ gmail.com
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: FRAN STEVENSON
MARCH 16, 2017
Luther celebrates reformation with Liberating Grace Conference MADELINE AJACK STAFF WRITER The Liberating Grace Conference, a celebration of the 500th anniversary of the reformation, will commence with Pastor Nadia BolzWeber and Refugee Spokesperson Ralston Deffenbaugh as keynote speakers on March 31 and April 1. The conference is part of the series of events titled “The Reformation of Everything.” “[The Conference] will demonstrate how [the keynote speakers] see the interaction between the church and the world,” Associate Professor of History Robert Christman said. “And also how the Reformation impacts the church and world through the arts.” The Liberating Grace Conference will consist of the distinguished lecture from Bolz-Weber, a keynote address from Deffenbaugh, and a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Mass in B-Minor” by Luther’s Symphony Orchestra and Nordic Choir. The Liberating Grace Conference will take place in the Center For Faith and Life’s main hall. Tickets are free for students and they are invited to attend the conference and the concert.
“The conference will look at the Reformation and its impact on religion and spirituality,” Christman said. “But also the history of Europe and United States and thoughtsecular impact on music.” Bolz-Weber is a renowned Lutheran Pastor from Colorado. She is also a New York Times’ Best Selling author for her books “Accidental Saints” and “Pastrix.” She is currently the pastor at her founding church, The House For All Saints and Sinners. “Bolz-Weber is an ELCA pastor,” Christman said. “She’s unique, provocative, countercultural. She’s a former stand-up comedian, but also had problems with addiction.” Bolz-Weber is different than most ELCA pastors appealing to young people and the non-traditional churchgoers. “Bolz-Weber is a prophetic voice in the church today,” College Pastor Mike Blair said. “She’s a Lutheran rock star.” Along with Bolz-Weber, the conference will also feature Deffenbaugh as a keynote speaker. Deffenbaugh works with refugees and immigrants with concerns to
their legal rights with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The LWF is the largest organization for Lutherans in the world, consisting of human rights lawyers and activists. Deffenbaugh is the LWF’s main representative to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. “Deffenbaugh and Pastor BolzWeber are people who sought to challenge the church and live the life
degree to which the church has actually lived the ideas of the Reformation today,” Christman said. “I think Pastor Bolz-Weber is going to say there’s work to be done.” Deffenbaugh’s speech will be titled “Welcoming the Stranger: Refugee at the core of the Lutheran World Federation”. He will also be holding a workshop that will discuss refugee protection during uncertain times. In his address, Deffenbaugh will discuss refugees and immigrants in Europe, as well as the general climate of the West on refugees, emphasing an international perspective. “Deffenbaugh’s life calling has been with The Lutheran World Federation,” Blair said. “But also to tending to those who are vulnerable, especially refugees and immigrants.” College Ministries and professors urge students to attend the Liberating Grace Conference according to Christman. “This college does not require a Lutheran background or belief,” Christman said. “But a core ethos that is based upon some motion of
“Deffenbaugh and Pastor Bolz-Weber are people who sought to challenge the church and live the life of Jesus” - Pastor Mike Blair of Jesus,” Blair said The keynote speakers’ reputations have attracted college students, high school students, and other Midwest area pastors. “Pastor Bolz-Weber is a prominent voice in the church today,” Blair said. “She’s got quite a few tattoos and she swears sometimes, it’s really something!” “Each speaker will discuss the
the Protestant Reformation.” Tickets for the Liberating Grace Conference are available at the box office in the Center for Faith and Life.
Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber. Photo courtesy of keylife.com
Ralston Deffenbaugh. Photo courtesy of humanrightschurch.org
NASA prepares for Sexual Assault Awareness Month NORA FELT STAFF WRITER Norse Against Sexual Assault (NASA) is putting statistics into action for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April to create a dialogue about sexual assault on campus. On March 31 campus will be dotted with approximately 300 balloons tied to students, a visual representation of the percentage of the approximately 1 in 8 students that experience sexual assault during their college career. NASA is a collaborative group between students and administration that advocates for
sexual assault awareness, education, prevention, and support. NASA strives to create a campus and larger society that is aware and intolerant of sexual assault. Student life recently conducted the Sexual Assault Survey and NASA plans to use these statistics to inspire change on campus. The first step in enacting change is raising awareness through conversation and education, according to NASA’s Head of Communication Hannah Maxa (‘17). Since students are immersed in a culture that experiences sexual assault, it is crucial for NASA to create rhetoric that allows open dialogue about difficult
(top row from left) Hannah Maxa ('17) , Natalie Cote ('19), Lydia Nelson ('17), Luke Emerson ('19), Matt Bills. (bottom row from left) Jenny Hickey ('19), Brigid Burke ('18), Catelyn Janda ('18). Nora Felt (‘17) | Chips
subject matter. NASA expressed that words, like “consent,” and “sexual assault,” can easily lose meaning, be morphed to individual interpretations, and used in vastly different ways and contexts according to Maxa. This is a driving factor behind the balloon event and Sexual Assault Awareness Month as a whole. Maxa said a goal of NASA is advocating for awareness and conversation. “There is a lot more gray matter that can come out in conversation,” Maxa said. Sexual assault can be perceived as uncomfortable and emotional to discuss; in order to do so NASA is trying to reach all of the Luther community in new ways. “We want to get people involved however they are comfortable,” Maxa said. “Some people aren’t that comfortable talking about sexual assault. It’s a touchy subject. Maybe they don’t want to watch a movie, but they’ll go to a lecture.” NASA has an intensive month to raise awareness, educate, and discuss how to end sexual assault. This cannot be done without complete community engagement to create momentum that spans past the single month of April, according to Maxa. Associate Director of Human Resources and Title IX Director and NASA’s faculty advisor Matt Bills hopes for the longevity of NASA to help reach the students and administration’s goal of ceasing sexual assault. “We are working to create a campus climate that is intolerant of sexual misconduct,” Bills said. “I love that language because it evokes a community itself that is resistant to these types of acts. That’s the end goal of NASA, that’s the end goal of the administration.”
Following the balloon event, NASA has scheduled myriad events to engage all corners of the Luther community. NASA will screen the documentary about sexual violence, “It Happened Here,” on April 6 in Valders 206. Riley Dennis, an intersectional feminist and public speaker dedicated to lifting marginalized voices and creating dialogue around pressing issues, like rape culture, will be coming to speak on April 27. The variety of events is aimed at community engagement. NASA does not succeed as an organization if the community is not actively and continuously involved, according to Bills. NASA had a successful Sexual Assault Awareness Month in 2016. NASA hopes to have similar success in event attendance this year that will spawn continuous growth and change in Luther’s climate. Continuous growth is a focus for both the students and the administration. “I have no doubt that this group [of leaders] are passionate about NASA,” Maxa said. “But what happens when they leave? We hope to create a continuous group doing this type of advocacy.” Bills echoed this hope for the longevity of a sexual assault advocacy partnership between administration and students. “My number one goal is make sure students have the support they need to create a sustainable organization that can do important advocacy on our campus,” Bills said. NASA has been active on Luther’s campus for just over a year now. NASA has organized Bystander Intervention Trainings and partnered with many sports teams in previous awareness efforts. The awareness efforts will continue throughout April.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8 MARCH 16, 2017
A&E EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN
The Oneota Film Festival The annual film festival celebrates its third year
JULIA CURTIS STAFF WRITER Films of various genres produced in many different countries attracted viewers to the third annual Oneota Film Festival (OFF) March 9-12. The annual free event showed over 30 films including the Academy Award nominated film “Life, Animated,” as well as films about the Driftless region, the environment, and social issues across the globe. The movies were shown at various locations on Luther’s campus, including Valders and Olin. Luther Volunteer Chair Kristen Carlson (‘18) found film selection to be relevant to the Luther and Decorah communities. “The Oneota Film Festival does a really good job of selecting films based off the Decorah community and what they think would be interesting for the Driftless area,” Carlson said. “It’s fun to see the films year by year and a lot of the films will focus on conservation or environmentalism. They might focus on things that are interesting to people such as cuisine, gardening, or music. They also try to highlight advocacy and being able to give a voice to stories you wouldn’t often hear.” “Life, Animated”, one of the films selected, tells the story of a young autistic man, Owen Suskind, who regained his communication abilities by watching animated Disney films. The documentary, directed by Roger Ross Williams, follows Owen’s life from the time he loses his ability to speak, through his school years, into adulthood, and when he moves out of his family’s home. During these times of growth and development, Owen gives himself
an alter-ego called “The Protector of Sidekicks,” which the film includes as short animations. Towards the end of the film, a French consulate invites Owen to speak about his experiences and how he and other people with autism communicate through their passions. Williams based the documentary by the book of the same name, written by Owen’s father, Ron Suskind. Attendee Alyssa Wildenauer (‘17) was impressed by the wide selection of films. “I looked through [the program] and thought, ‘Wow, this has stuff for everyone
and has information that could apply to anyone’s interests because there are so many options,’” Wildenauer said. Another film, “Mysteries of the Driftless,” won an Emmy for its perspective on the Driftless region. The film focuses on protecting three attributes of the area covering Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin, Northwest Illinois, and Northeast Iowa: topography, biodiversity, and anthropology. At the end of the showing, the filmmaker Tim Jacobson held a question-
Oneota Film Festival Board President Nancy Sojka and Board Secretary and Public Relations Secretary Sara Friedl-Putnam discuss the films with a community member. Julia Curtis (‘17) | Chips
and-answer session about the region. Jacobson described the film as a pilot film that encourages people to explore and learn more about the area where they live. Other films included “The Music of Strangers,” which highlighted a travelling group of musicians created by Yo Yo Ma; “Food Waste,” which studied how people use and discard food; and “Connected,” a film about how technology has changed the way people relate to each other. Attendee Tiphanie Keefe (‘93) said that at last year’s festival she saw a film about Waldorf schooling in Norway, which made her want to move to Norway. “I think there are a lot of interesting films,” Keefe said. “You learn a lot of new information and see things that you wouldn’t typically see.” President of the Oneota Film Festival Board Nancy Sojka said that the filmselection process begins with receiving film recommendations from board members and other Decorah community members, as well as submissions from students and independent filmmakers. The board searches for films that premiered within the last two years. From October to January the board views the films and votes on which films to include. “[The goal of the film festival] is to engage the community in discussions about the stories and issues of our times by showing documentaries about issues people are already talking about,” Sojka said. “[I] always look forward to the people who come and hearing them talk about issues that the films bring up; that’s my favorite part.” OFF also has various films available to view on their website at www. oneotafilmfestival.org.
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 Lily Kime Ana Lopez Sam Mitchell Shasa Sartin Ben Selcke Biz Wagenson
Madeline Ajack Shannon Baker Emma Busch Xavier Conzet Julia Curtis Olivia Enquist
Part-time Writers Nora Felt Kristen Wuerl 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.
MARCH 16, 2017
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Obamacare 2.0: questionable replacement for American Healthcare As a conservative that voted for Trump and as someone who benefits from Obamacare, I have mixed feelings about the current health care proposal. How am I supposed to trust a system that was thrown together at the last minute and all the White House will say about it is that they promise “no one will be worse off financially?” That is far too vague to be considered an acceptable response. When I am looking at healthcare, good coverage is just as important as the cost. Telling me that I will not lose money means nothing when I have no assurance that my insurance will be of any value. If I am going to accept this new plan, then a few things need to be addressed. The first thing I take issue with is the fact that the bill will only provide two years for people with pre-existing conditions to obtain coverage. While this does provide plenty of time for people currently with pre-existing to obtain coverage, it does not provide a means to guarantee coverage to people with those conditions in the future. After those two years are up, there is nothing stopping an insurance company from denying individuals due to them being a “bad investment.” For further clarification on continuous coverage, it only applies to those who already had insurance before their illness came to be. Illnesses such as cancer are not something you can predict and we as a society need to make sure that there is a means for it to be taken care of. The second thing I take issue with is the way that the health savings account (HSA) will be implemented. While I recognize that this plan will benefit me, I also see that it will benefit specific groups a lot more. With the way these savings accounts will be set up, people end up benefiting more or less depending on how large their income is. With the current plan being a tax-free account that you can put an unlimited amount into, it already serves wealthier people much more than the poor. It also allows family members to inherit all of the money into their account tax free. This is a loophole with the estate tax. Essentially this law would make it so that a rich person could have their families inherit free insurance
for generations. That will only serve to benefit the rich rather than the poor. While there are some obvious problems in this system, it is important to recognize that there are also many potential benefits. While the way the HSAs will be set up benefit the rich more than the poor, that doesn't mean they do not help the poor at all. The fact that this is an untaxed account means that there are a lot of things that can be done with it to benefit poor families. It can be used to purchase health insurance without tax as well as prescriptions, nutritional supplements, and weight loss programs. These specific parts of the bill will help many Americans by encouraging them to actively live a healthier lifestyle than they already do. The last two big benefits I see in this plan are tax deductions for doctors doing charity work and opening up competition for health insurance companies in different states. Allowing doctors to deduct up to ten percent of their income from taxes based on how much charity work they do as a doctor will only encourage doctors to provide more charity care, thus helping poor members of American communities. The growing amount of charity health care could act as competition to companies and they would have to lower their costs in order to compete. This could actually be complemented by the reduction of interstate regulation of health insurance providers. Their already lowering cost due to charity competition would be added to the growing competition of companies from several other states. This competition would lead to lower healthcare prices as well as more options that are tailored to the specific needs of each client. As I have previously stated, I have mixed feelings about this proposal. I see that there are some areas where it might be a step backwards. There are also many beneficial aspects. I am cautiously optimistic about this plan. But only the future will tell if it is overall a good one. Signed, Xavier Conzet (‘19)
The Norse Poll
How do you feel about the proposed alternative to Obamacare?
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
“I think it’s ridiculous. I’ve tried to get other people’s opinions about it and I’ve heard it from a selfish perspective … it’s not about jobs, it’s about providing health services to people who could die from everyday sicknesses or diseases that could be treated.” -Daniel Brown (‘18)
“I’m not from the U.S. so the whole idea of health care being private, that doesn’t make sense. In any other country that I know of healthcare is a right and healthcare is provided by the government or some form thereof. ” -Pablo Alonso (‘17)
“I feel like people more disliked Obamacare because of Obama, I know the popularity of Obamacare has gone up now that he’s gone. I feel like too many people get entrenched in the political parties.” -Fiona Edberg (‘18)
OPINION
PAGE 10 MARCH 16, 2017
MANAGING EDITOR: MAKEDA BARKLEY
EDITORIAL
The importance of governmental transparency and the EPA
KATRINA MEYER SPORTS EDITOR
There have been a lot of crazy headlines in the news over the last year. It is almost as though we have become numb to hearing the craziest headlines in the news. The campaign that Donald Trump ran was full of promises and statements designed to be inflammatory and outside the political norm. There is outrage for a few days or even weeks when something is especially controversial, but it seems like most matters are just swept away a few days later when another big story hits the news. That has been the pattern of news today which makes it very difficult to stay informed on the changes and policy reform happening
in the administration. The latest in a line of disturbing headlines was an interview where the new Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scott Pruitt stated that there has not been enough research done on the impact of human activity on climate change. This lack of a conclusion means that the man who is in charge of protecting the environment is not sure that the environment needs to be saved from anything in particular that humans are doing. Unfortunately, this comment is in line with remarks that Trump has made previously about climate change, such as when he said that climate change was a hoax started by the Chinese. This announcement of uncertainty comes along with announcements that the Environmental Protection Agency is going to be undertaking large budget cuts, so it is unclear whether any funding will be available to conduct such research. Pruitt’s statement does seem to be largely in line with the Trump administration’s stance on climate change. Trump has been working hard to repeal most of Obama’s
advances to help control climate change. The most symbolic of these acts is Trump’s moves to remove the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate. This is very discouraging for the future of the planet. It is also not an acceptable stance for the President of the United States or the head of the EPA. The overwhelming majority of scientists and scientific data has agreed that climate change is happening and is a legitimate threat. The evidence is all around us. Temperatures that make us think it’s April or May were evident even in Decorah this February. My home town in the northwest Chicago suburbs set a record for the longest start to a year without snow on record. We can already see the changes that are taking place and these changes are likely to continue and increase in severity as time continues. The most frustrating part of these policy changes is that they are done in such an executive way. Climate change was not a top issue in the campaign. It got glossed over by the current of other campaign declarations and promises. Now that he has been elected, Trump has been able to make controversial appointments like Scott Pruitt. Despite protest, a man who has repeatedly sued the Environmental Protection Agency is now running it. Just like the comments doubting humanity’s role in climate change, Pruitt’s appointment was swept up in another wave of controversial appointments. The people making these decisions are not of our generation. They will not face the same consequences of climate change as we will. Yet they are the people making decisions that will have a huge impact on our future. We need to be more aware of what is happening. With our future in the hands of someone who has made us all become accustomed to crazy stories, we have to try to keep our government accountable. We cannot allow ourselves to get swept up in the tide of craziness and allow some issues to fall by the wayside. Especially in a community where we are surrounded by such beautiful nature and where we make a point to take care of that nature, we also have to do our part politically. The first step is to stay informed. We need to know what is happening in the EPA and the White House and then voice our informed opinions. That is the essence of a democracy. We do not have to let the administration stun us into silence over important issues that affect our future. By keeping informed and making our voices heard, we can ensure that we still have some say on important issues.
EDITORIAL
Elitism and choirs at Luther: the exclusion of average When I came to Luther in the fall of 2014 I was pretty gung-ho about joining Aurora. I hadn’t been overly involved in choir in high school but I was excited to be a part of the Luther choir community. My first-year roommate was very much a FRAN STEVENSON choir person and FEATURE EDITOR quickly told me about the Luther choirs. I decided not to audition. I was scared to be rejected by the choir department and snubbed by its conductors. My fall semester senior year I finally joined a choir and joined the Luther community in the experience of Christmas at Luther. I found a community in Cantorei and a wonderful group of women who love to sing and include anyone who feels the same. I joined a choir institution that, as a whole, looks down on Cantorei for being an inclusive community. For letting anyone join whether it be because they weren’t placed in a different choir, because they don’t have the time to commit to another choir, or just because they don’t feel all that serious about choir in general. Why you would dissuade anyone from doing something you yourself love to do is confusing to me. Can’t everyone enjoy the music?
I saw how Cantorei always got the short end of the stick and the way it was looked at by other choirs and even their conductors. But if you bring it up other choirs will tell you you are imagining it because they have never experienced it, and why would they have? They are part of the problem. The Luther choral department has created a community of competitiveness on par with the Luther varsity football team, which excludes those not good enough or popular enough. They get to march through the hall in their uniforms, or in this case, blue robes. This is why we can spend the money to hire a new choir conductor and fund three guest conductors and then cut five whole liberal arts academic departments. Choir is supposed to include people, the point of a choir is for a group of people to sing together as a community. It’s a group sport. Instead at Luther we have an exclusive choir department built on a hierarchy. Can you reach the top choir? Those who fall short, either by choice or because they don’t get placed in a more exclusive choir, are looked down on both by conductors and students in the music department. This keeps students who might really enjoy choir from joining one. As someone outside of the music department for most of my time at Luther, it is seen as pretentious and exclusionary. Even a student in a different academic department than the music department that participates in choir and voice lessons can see how the vocal students are made out to be kings and queens, constantly praised for their vocal talent until their egos explode. This is the result of
other vocal students and the professors and conductors within the music department favoring these students and reminding them of it of every day of their lives. Luther’s music program cranks out egos like that of D1 football universities, pumping money into a department because it brings them prestige but poorly preparing students for life outside of a place that treats them like royalty. Just like a career in football, a career in vocal performance is unlikely at best, particularly in a societal climate moving away from liberal arts as a whole. It’s unfair to both these students who are unprepared for a life where they won’t be told how wonderful they are every day and for the students overlooked who just wanted to sing in a choir or continue learning about music alongside their education in a different subject. Is that not the point of a liberal arts education? On my way out of Luther I am reflecting on my three years at this school, the things I wish I had done, and the things I wished for from my college. Luther is known for its music program, it is one of the first things you learn about when considering applying. But Luther also has a lot of other majors and departments. The school shouldn’t and can’t revolve around the music department and its students and professors or it will find itself with less and less students and money in the next few years. Vocal performance students are not the ones donating the majority of money to Luther and less and less students are looking for good vocal performance programs in a college, yet, when you walk by Jenson-Noble you might get the impression that the universe revolves around it.
SPORTS
PAGE 11
MARCH 16, 2017
SPORTS EDITOR: KATRINA MEYER
Tennis spring season gets underway EMMA BUSCH STAFF WRITER The Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams traveled to Gustavus Adolphus College on March 1. Both teams lost by a score of 9-0. The men’s team now has a 5-2 record, while the women’s team record stands at 11-4. Both teams will continue their spring season during their annual trip to Orlando, FL, during spring break. According to Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach Adam Strand (‘04), both teams have been performing well so far and improving on last year’s season. “Our top seven players from our varsity lineup last year are all back and we have a couple other guys that are really contributing as well,” Strand said. “One thing that this group struggled with a little bit last year was closing out those tight matches. We had several matches throughout the spring where we were right there, but we couldn’t quite pull it off. So I think having our first three really tight matches go our way has been really encouraging for them.” According to Strand, the men’s and women’s seasons are structured a little differently from each other. The women’s conference season takes place in the fall before the spring season. During the spring season, they focus on playing more competitive teams in order to prepare themselves for the NCAA Division III Tournament. Women’s Tennis Captain Lauren Welch
(‘17) says that the team prepares for this change by continuing to train between seasons. “Our team does a great job between our fall and spring season of staying active,” Welch said. “We all lift together to prepare for the spring season. We also have random court times during the winter that many girls use. This is a great time to take a mental break from tennis to be able to hit it hard when
Nate Parsons (‘19) waiting to return a shot. Photo courtesy of Trent Schneider (‘18)
we get back to spring season. There is a bit of dust that needs to come off when we hit the courts in the spring, but it is shaken off pretty quickly due to the intense competition we [get during] many of our early matches.” The men’s fall season is a bit shorter than the women’s, but according to Men’s Tennis player Kenny Goins (‘17) they use it to prepare for a more competitive spring season. “In the fall we just have a conference tournament and a regional tournament and then our alumni match,” Goins said. “It gives the coaches an opportunity to test out doubles teams and different pairings like that so we can set our lineup in the spring and be more successful. In between, we have a lifting regime and conditioning so we don’t get too rusty in the off-season.” The teams will both go to Orlando, FL, for a tournament during spring break. According to Strand, both teams are looking forward to their annual spring break trip and the new opportunities this year’s trip offers. “We’re going to play six matches with each team this year” Strand said. “In the past we’ve played four or five. One of the exciting things about this year is that the United States Tennis Association has relocated their home base — their national campus as they’re calling it — right in the Orlando area. It’s got 100 courts, all different types of surfaces, indoor courts and all that. We’re guaranteed to play at least one match down there, hopefully more. So they’re going to have some neat opportunities for our players down there.” Looking forward, Strand hopes the team
will continue to focus on developing their skills. “It’s about continued growth at this point,” Strand said. “Gustavus [was] one of the tougher teams on our schedule. Whether we’re playing them or someone we’re a little bit more even with or stronger than on paper, I think at this point in the season we just want to continue to grow as a team and individual players.”
Kelsey Kruse (‘20) serving. Photo courtesy of Trent Schneider (‘18)
Get to know Luther Track and Field’s newest coach KATRINA MEYER SPORTS EDITOR Assistant Track and Field Coach Rebecca Wesley is an addition to the staff this year. She graduated from Bethel University in 2015 where she was a multiple-year letter-winner in cross country and track. She got a Master’s in Education in Applied Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota and then served as an assistant cross country coach at Augsburg College for a year before joining the track team at Luther. Chips: When did you decide that you wanted to be a coach? Wesley: I knew that I wanted to do collegiate coaching at some point because I had such a good experience with my collegiate head coach. He really motivated me to believe in myself and helped me to know that I could do it because being a woman in the coaching field is kind of rare. My coach in college helped me because he allowed me to be his student worker, so I got to know a lot of the ins and outs of track that way.
What is your favorite thing about coaching? I just love watching kids get better, reach their goals, and become better people through the sport. I think sports are more about the educational process than athletics. It teaches you a lot about overcoming obstacles and adversity in certain ways. What made you decide to come to Luther? The first thing that comes to my head sounds so trivial: my favorite color is blue. I love that all the tracks are blue here. But above that, meeting [Head Track and Field Coach Jeff ] Wettach (‘79) played a big role. Before Luther, I was helping coach cross country at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and I came down for a student-athlete visit. It was a really last minute decision. Coach Wettach set up a student-athlete meeting, lunches with some of the coaches, a drive around town to get to know the area. It was a very warm and welcoming experience. Also, I came from a region that competed with Luther in cross country, so Luther in my head has always had a very good
supportive background with great sportsmanship. That is something I really like and appreciate. Has anything surprised you about Luther? I wouldn’t necessarily say surprised, but one thing that I have noticed is that the student-athletes here are really hardworking. They are dedicated to the sport and they communicate a good amount if something is bothering them in terms of injuries. They are hardworking and knowledgeable about how to help themselves be successful. What was your favorite event when you were competing? In high school, it was definitely the 400m dash. In college, it went up to the 800m run. I’m one of those people that like to challenge themselves. I like to feel like I really gave it my all at the end of the race. My coach in college recognized that I had good endurance, so I moved up to the mile as well. What are you most looking forward to for the rest of your first season? I’m just really looking forward
to the outdoor season in general. I think that we built a lot of speed and strength during the indoor season. That is going to translate well going forward. I’m also looking forward to being on the outdoor track. Our field event people will get to actually throw things and jump outside. The track here is so nice and I am looking forward to the athletes being able to train and compete on it. Do you have a favorite athlete or role model who you look up to? They aren’t popular athletes, but I would say the coaches that have coached me along the way. They have all been a good group of positive people that have been really influential for me. If you could create a new event, what would it be? Maybe a steeplechase that incorporates long jump and pole vault. On the straightaway there is a pole vault. You vault over and land on the mat, roll off and run on to the water barrier on the curve. On the other straightaway there is a long jump pit where you land in the sand and keep
running. On the other curve there is just a normal steeplechase barrier. Honestly, that’s a lot, so maybe just one lap. I think it would be called the Crazy Man’s Race or something like that, and basically only one person at a time could run this race for it to be safe.
Assistant Track and Field Coach Rebecca Wesley Photo Courtesy of Augsburg College
SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR: KATRINA MEYER
PAGE 12
MARCH 16, 2017
Weekly Standings
Justin Krieter (‘17) (above), Javier Reyes (‘17) (upper center), and Tristan Zurfluh (‘17) (upper right) competing various wrestling tournaments. Photo Courtesy of Dave Mitchell and Luther.edu
SHANNON BAKER STAFF WRITER Luther wrestlers Justin Kreiter (‘17), Tristan Zurfluh (‘17) and Javier Reyes (‘17) competed in the NCAA Division III wrestling championships March 10-11 at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, WI. Of the three Luther competitors, Kreiter placed second overall, becoming the national runner-up, two-time All-American, and two-time Scholar AllAmerican. As a team, Luther finished 22nd nationally. Kreiter entered the national tournament with an overall season record of 24-2, Zurfluh with a record of 21-10, and Reyes with a record of 27-16. The 2017 tournament was the second national tournament appearance for all three athletes during their time at Luther. Both Kreiter and Zurfluh were 2016 AllAmericans, finishing in the top eight of last year’s tournament. To qualify for the national tournament Kreiter, Zurfluh, and Reyes had to wrestle well and advance in the NCAA regional
meet on Feb. 25. Fifteen schools competed at the regional meet, including all of the schools in the IIAC conference. According to Wrestling Coach Dave Mitchell, this regional tournament is one of the most difficult in the NCAA since it includes several nationally-ranked teams such as Wartburg College, the number-one ranked school in the country. Despite the high level of competition, Mitchell was impressed with his team’s success at the regional meet. “We made great strides,” Mitchell said. “We came into the year thinking our team would be a bit different than it [ended up being]. We had definitely wrestled the best we had all year at the NCAA regional.” Kreiter, who was seeded fifth, beat the undefeated No. 4 seed in the quarterfinals, won against the No. 1 seed from Augsburg in the semifinals, and then lost to the No. 2 seed from UW-Whitewater in the finals, earning second place. Zurfluh and Reyes did not place at nationals. Zurfluh and Kreiter had high expectations prior to the national
Wrestlers advance to NCAA D III Nationals
meet. Even though many teams sustained injuries early on in the season which prevented initial competition, both athletes were optimistic about their performances leading up to nationals. “It started out kind of slow,” Kreiter said. “I was battling some injuries early and basically had to sit out the first couple of tournaments we had like the Luther Open and the Augsburg Open. I only had two losses in the year, and those were low spots, but after that it picked back up and I was wrestling the best I ever had all year.” Zurfluh’s health also hindered him at the start of the season, but he believes his previous knee injuries are not a factor in performing well at a national level. “My record is probably not the best because I lost during the injuries,” Zurfluh said. “But all that matters is peaking at the right time and making sure you’re focusing enough when it counts, which is right now.” According to Mitchell, sending three athletes to the national competition is an accomplishment not just
for those three, but also for the entire Luther Wrestling team. Mitchell said that having a team atmosphere that focuses on working to make each athlete better was an important component in helping Kreiter, Zurfluh, and Reyes qualify. “I am just really proud of this [team] overall,” Mitchell said. “We’ve challenged them, we’ve pressed, we wanted to be better than what we were, and so we pressed on a daily basis to do that.” In addition, the success of the three athletes at nationals is something that Mitchell said will positively impact his future teams. “It sparks this excitement and this goal that others want to accomplish and sets a standard that is really important for us,” Mitchell said. “Their accomplishments will really help fuel the fire for next year’s team.” With all three of the national qualifiers graduating this spring as well as six other seniors, Mitchell’s goal for next season is to increase recruiting and continue to develop the remaining athletes on the team.
Baseball Coe Luther Nebraska Wes. Loras Wartburg Buena Vista Dubuque Simpson Central
IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Recent Scores
Overall 4-2 3-2 7-5 2-2 5-6 3-4 2-3 3-7 2-5
Mar. 4 @ Washington University - St. Louis L 14-7 Mar. 5 @ Washington University- St. Louis W 9-2
Upcoming Schedule
Mar. 18 @ Hamline University Mar. 19 @ Oberlin College
Softball
Buena Vista Loras Luther Central Coe Nebraska Wes. Wartburg Dubuque Simpson
IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Overall 1-0 4-0 6-0 5-1 9-2 11-5 8-4 1-3 2-12
Recent Scores
Mar. 3 @ Washington University - St. Louis W 2-1 Mar. 3 @ Northland College W 2-1
Upcoming Schedule
Mar. 18 @ Transylvania University Mar. 18 @ Trine University
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
Mar. 5 @ UW- La Crosse L 9-0 Mar. 11 @ Gustavus Adolphus College L 9-0
Upcoming Schedule
Mar. 20 @ Calvin College Mar. 20 @ Grinnell College
Men’s Tennis Coe Dubuque Luther Loras Wartburg Central Nebraska Wes. Simpson Buena Vista
IIAC 2-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-3
Overall 10-3 5-2 5-2 5-1 3-7 3-10 1-8 6-6 3-8
Recent Scores
Mar. 5 @ UW - La Crosse L 8-1 Mar. 11 @ Gustavus Adolphus College L 9-0
Upcoming Schedule
Mar. 20 @ Calvin College Mar. 20 @ Grinnell College