7
8
Women’s History Month Profile: Liz Rog
11
ArtHaus hosts Cringe Night
Spotlight on Worship Workout
COLLEGE
LUTHER “Let the chips fall where they may.”
VOLUME 140, NO. 16• EST. 1884
MARCH 22, 2018
Luther joins nationwide school walkout
Red-Blue Dialogue looks at gun control OLIVIA ENQUIST STAFF WRITER
antisemitism, and all other forms of hatred. We used the walkout to stand in solidarity with all students who feel unsafe in school.”
The Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE) hosted another RedBlue Dialogue as a part of the yearlong series discussing the topic of gun control on March 15 in Room 120 of Preus Library. Nathan Campbell (‘18) and Billy Jeide (‘18), who participated in the Peace Scholars Program in Norway in 2016 and 2017 respectively moderated the dialogue. They focused on the importance of understanding differing viewpoints within controversial issues. Approximately 25 students and Decorah community members attended the event. Campbell and Jeide led the dialogue through activities fostering productive conversations addressing the issue of gun control. According to Director of the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement and Associate Professor of History Victoria Christman, the method Peace Scholars use to lead discussion, a method based on Nobel Peace Prize nominee Steinar Bryn’s model, was also used to create the Red-Blue Dialogues. “The CEPE administers the Peace Scholar Program and this year we gathered a group of students who identify as politically ‘Red’ or ‘Blue’ for a model dialogue session with Steinar when he visited campus in September,” Christman said. “The group continued to meet throughout the school year and we ran dialogue sessions on a variety of topics, each one moderated by the Peace Scholars. The issue of gun control was one that the students had requested we tackle, so that choice of topic was not a response to the Florida shooting, but the timing of the session was.”
WALKOUT | PAGE 4
DIALOGUE | PAGE 4
Asha Aden (‘20), Katie Moon (‘19), Forrest Schrader (‘18), Johanna Beaupre (‘18), Janet Irakunda (‘19), and College Pastor Mike Blair lead attendees in song, talk and prayer. Martin Donovan (‘20) I Chips
MARTIN DONOVAN STAFF WRITER Members of the Luther College community participated in the nationwide walkout to protest political inaction surrounding gun control on Msrch 14. The walkout also served as a time to remember the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Starting at 10 a.m., members of the Luther community gathered at the steps of the Center for Faith and Life (CFL) for 17 minutes as a symbol to remember the 17 people who were killed in Parkland exactly a month prior. Johanna Beaupre (‘18) was one of the organizers of the walkout. “Besides showing our support for the students walking out across the nation, we wanted to encourage members of the Luther community to use their power of voting to help solve the problem of gun violence in our nation,” Beaupre said. “We have the power to vote for people who
will work to actually pass bills to end the outrageous gun violence in our schools.” The political lobbying power of the National Rifle Association (NRA) was also a focal point of the walkout. While addressing the crowd gathered in front of the CFL, Asha Aden (‘20) pointed to the NRA’s political influence as a reason for the lack of gun control legislation in Congress. “Since December 14, 2012, there has been no major gun legislation passed on the federal level,” Aden said in her address. “This is because the National Rifle Association, NRA, a powerful political lobbyist, has led the fight against gun control efforts.” The hate symbols that were stomped into the football field at Carlson Stadium was also mentioned at Luther’s walkout. “The importance of this walkout was only amplified after the hate crimes that were committed on Luther’s campus the weekend before,” Beaupre said. “Safety in schools means freedom from the fear of gun violence, as well as racism,
Students join hands during the gathering. Photo courtesy of Photo Bureau
Students learn effective activism at workshop KRISTEN WUERL STAFF WRITER Co-founder of teaching organization Platform, Jennifer Mandelblatt, led a workshop on effective activism on Thursday, March 15. The political science department sponsored the workshop. After graduating from Cornell University in 2017 Mandelblatt and three friends founded Platform, an organization that works to help others become activists and a training and lobbying organization for everyone who identifies as a woman. According to Mandelblatt, Platform’s goal is to ensure that all voices are heard in rooms where political decisions are made. The organization works to provide tools and resources — a platform — for community
members to familiarize themselves with policy issues. Platform also publishes weekly newsletters on key political topics, connects women to experts in their fields of interests, and provides tools for learning to become effective activists. “Platform is about being a community,” Mandelblatt said. “Collective action to create change is important. One person can make a difference, but you’re so much stronger when you have this community around you.” After introducing attendees to Platform, Mandelblatt described how she and her friends founded the organization, provided input on what makes activism effective, and explained how current students can apply effective activism strategies to their lives at Luther and beyond. Mandelblatt then offered time for attendees to
voice their concerns about issues important to them. Students discussed topics of women’s health, fear of the feminist movement, and how to recognize and address bias. The workshop ended with an activity to apply what they had learned about activism. Mandelblatt split attendees into four groups and assigned each group to effectively advocate for a made-up cause to six student “senators” — to make either ice cream or popcorn the national food, and to make either “Party in the U.S.A.” or “Born in the U.S.A.” the national anthem. In the end, the student senators voted for ice cream to become the new national food and “Born in the U.S.A.” to become the new national anthem. ACTIVISM | PAGE 4
NEWS
PAGE 2 MARCH 22, 2018
Luther staff receives armed intruder training DIRK UMBANHOWAR STAFF WRITER In response to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida as well as other recent mass shootings, Luther sponsored two one-hour-long training sessions on March 13 in Valders 206 to educate staff on what to do in the event of an active shooter on campus. The training sessions were led by Assistant Dean of Student Life and Director of Residence Life Kris Franzen and Director of Campus Safety and Security Bob Harri. “Over the last decade we have seen active shooter situations in movie theatres, concerts, trains, restaurants, and schools,” Franzen said. “We train people how to respond to a fire alarm or a storm warning for their personal safety. Giving people tools and trainings on how to respond to an active shooter just makes sense.” Franzen and Harri taught staff in attendance about early intervention, specifically reporting students who show concerning behavioral signs to threatassessment hotlines and the campus emergency notification system. The main goal of the training sessions was to teach staff how to run, hide, or fight in the case of an active campus shooter. In the sessions, Franzen and Harri screened a Department of Homeland Security video showing the different courses of action for this situation. These included evacuating the building if possible, barricading the room and remaining silent, and fighting the shooter and distracting them if needed. This last strategy was demonstrated by an activity in which staff members threw tennis balls at someone trying to shoot a basketball into a hoop, representing how distraction can throw off a shooter. Harri said he hopes the training session will make staff feel more prepared for an emergency. “Our hope would be that those who attended now feel more comfortable with how they might respond in an active shooter or armed intruder situation,” Harri said. “Hopefully they are more aware of the steps they can take not only to respond to such an occurrence but what we can all do to help prevent it from taking place.” Staff members who were in attendance said the session was informative and useful. “The concept of run, hide, fight was a simple way to explain your options,” Assistant Director of the Career Center Dan Marlow (‘88) said. “I did not [previously] understand the importance of having an escape route and using it in this type of a situation. When I got back to the office, we had a good group discussion about what our best route would be in the event of an intruder.” Executive Assistant to the President Sally Ming also attended and agreed with Marlow. “I am concerned for the safety of the campus, I am concerned for the safety of the students and I’m concerned for my own safety,” Ming said. “By holding this, I feel like I’ve got more information so that if the unfortunate happens, I’ll be able to make better choices about what to do. I feel more safe now because I’m better prepared and have more information to handle that type of an unfortunate situation.” While no students were in attendance, student Paige Gartzke (‘18) appreciated that staff were trained. “I think it's good to be prepared for anything,” Gartzke said. “Learning how to defend yourself is like learning how to swim: you’re not always going to be in the ocean but you have to be prepared for it. I think it’s good that we’re taking steps to protect our campus from harm.” Franzen was pleased with how many staff members attended both meetings. “I was happy with the turnout,” Franzen said. “It would be nice to be able to offer sessions open to anyone in the community that would like to attend more sessions if there is interest or requests.”
NEWS EDITORS: KATRINA MEYER & ANA LÓPEZ
New 'learning hubs' create opportunities for experiential learning
Illustration from the Mayo Clinic Destination Medical Center development plan. Photo courtesy of the DMC Excecutive Plan
EMMA BUSCH STAFF WRITER Luther College is currently exploring experiential learning opportunities for students through "learning hubs." The hubs would be located in cities across the Midwest, and also in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Destination Medical Center (DMC) initiative in Rochester, MN. According to Interim Dean for Institutional Planning and Mission Bradley Chamberlain, interest in increasing the number of experiential learning opportunities was present throughout the 18-month-long planning period prior to the approval of the Strategic Action Plan. He says that while Luther is still in the initial planning stages, the college has a vision for how these programs may function. “We envision this as a place outside of Decorah with a very focused purpose in creating experiential learning opportunities like internships and research experiences,” Chamberlain said. “So this is not a scenario where a student would go to Rochester, Minneapolis, Des Moines, [or other sites], and take four courses there as opposed to taking four courses here. They would go to one of those sites [and] they may take one or perhaps two courses either with a faculty member at that place or engage with the class here through technology, but a significant portion of their time would be in those experiential learning opportunities.” Chamberlain says that the faculty will ultimately define what these opportunities will look like. “We're still in the visioning stage and
there are conversations happening in terms of what some possibilities may be, but it will ultimately be up to the faculty to determine how those experiences will relate back to the general education program and how they will relate in the specific major programs,” Chamberlain said. In addition to establishing its own experiential learning hubs, Luther is in conversation with representatives of the Mayo Clinic DMC initiative. The DMC initiative is a $5.6 billion plan with the goal to expand the Mayo Clinic and DMC over the next 20 years in order to establish Rochester as a global destination for health, wellness, and the biotech industry. Representatives from Luther including Chamberlain, President Paula Carlson, Director of the Career Center Brenda Ranum, Associate Professor of History Robert Christman, and Professor of Biology Jodi Enos-Berlage attended a meeting with Mayo and DMC representatives on Dec. 18 to discuss Luther’s possible involvement. According to Enos-Berlage, the DMC sees Luther students as an incentive for new companies in the Rochester area. “They're recruiting [to attract new companies to the area] and the companies are asking two questions,” Enos-Berlage said. “One is, 'What access will I have to Mayo Clinic? and the second question is, 'Where is my workforce going to come from?’ They are very interested in the product of Luther College, which is our students. The quality of that product is what they are seeking because our involvement can help them achieve their objectives of making this Destination
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Photo courtesy of mayoclinic.org
Medical Center.” Christman says the DMC also approached Luther due to the large number of alumns currently living in Rochester and working with the Mayo Clinic, as well as the type of student Luther’s liberal arts education produces. “They need people, obviously, who understand science, but they don't want pure technicians,” Christman said. “They want people with broad educations who can bring a lot of different capabilities, viewpoints, and perspectives to the table. So they are very much interested in the type of student that Luther College turns out.” According to the DMC executive plan, possible short-term opportunities for Luther students include J-term experiences and fullsemester or summer internships. In the longterm, the DMC hopes to create “a steady stream of talented and dedicated Luther students coming to Rochester” for a variety of careers and the possibility of a “programmatic pipeline of defined opportunities and space.” While Luther plans to continue discussing options with the DMC and internally with faculty, Christman says the initiative offers a number of opportunities for a wide variety of students. “We see broad opportunities for students of all kinds of different disciplines and programs, so we certainly are not interested in excluding anything,” Christman said. “We're in initial phases here and if students had something in particular they saw and like us to consider, we would certainly be happy to do so.” Enos-Berlage says she and Christman have made an effort to document and share information and ideas regarding Luther’s involvement in the DMC initiative with faculty and are open to doing the same for interested students. “What we've tried to do for the faculty is collect information, summarize it, distill it, and then share it with everybody so that everybody can see the full conversation that we're seeing,” Enos-Berlage said. “I think that's been helpful so far, so we can certainly do the same for students.” Chamberlain says he will also look for ways to channel student input through Student Senate in the coming weeks.
NEWS
PAGE 3
NEWS EDITORS: KATRINA MEYER & ANA LÓPEZ
Rice lectures on nurturing resilience
MARCH 22, 2018
WEATHER THURSDAY Partly cloudy
49/31
PIPER WOOD STAFF WRITER University of South Dakota Division Chair of Counseling and Psychology in Education and Associate Professor of Counselor Education Kathleen Brown Rice delivered the lecture "Understanding and Nurturing Resiliency” in Valders 206 on March 13. The neuroscience and social work departments sponsored the lecture. Rice’s lecture focused on the neuroscience of stress, resiliency in adolescents, and how those functions are affected by cross-generational trauma and substance abuse. Rice discussed factors that negatively influence resilience in adolescents such as poverty and discrimination. In her lecture, Rice offered strategies to enhance adolescent resiliency through external factors like self-care and authentic interest. “When we marginalize people and we make them feel less than us, [we] affect their health — it affects their resiliency,” Rice said. “When you want to hear their story, that fosters resilience.” According to Rice, internal factors that positively affect resiliency include encouraging uniqueness, self-regulating, and understanding adolescent triggers. “Sometimes we have to think outside of the box,” Rice said. “What’s the best way to help them?” Carina Hansen (‘21)
FRIDAY Cloudy
49/30 SATURDAY Rain
35/25 SUNDAY Rain
39/29 MONDAY Cloudy
43/31 Kathleen Rice delivers a lecture about nurturing and resiliency in Valders 206. Piper Wood (‘21) | Chips appreciated the learning opportunities that Rice provided. Hansen also thought the information was applicable across disciplines and hopes to see an adoption of Rice’s external strategies in the education department at Luther. “Since Rice was talking about specifically building
resilience in children, I think it would be really cool to take this forward into teaching,” Hansen said. “The lecture had good material to help kids who are struggling.” The lecture brought together students and faculty across major disciplines. Assistant Professor of Biology Stephanie J.B.
Fretham said she wanted to bring Rice to campus after listening to a lecture by Rice at a neuroscience conference. Rice also delivered guest lectures in social work courses at Luther during her visit, and hosted a dinner with biology and social work majors before her lecture. Social work major Jana Mueller (‘19) attended classes and the dinner discussion with Rice. She is looking forward to applying Rice’s research methods in her own social work research. “It was a different way of looking at social work,” Mueller said. “[Rice] incorporates different elements with the brain. She talked a lot in our class about cultural competence in research and that is something we are trying to focus on more in our research methods class. It gave me things to think Kathleen Rice talks with Madi Brauer ('19) during a dinner organized for biology and social work about for my own research majors. Piper Wood (‘21) | Chips this semester.”
TUESDAY Partly cloudy
44/28 WEDNESDAY Sunny
51/34
THURSDAY Partly cloudy
54/34
Icons designed by Freepik from Flaticon.
M
NEWS
PAGE 4
MARCH 22, 2018
Life Outside Luther Woman killed by self-driving Uber car A woman in Arizona was hit by a self-driving car as she was crossing the street on Monday. The testing of self-driving cars was taking place in Arizona, Pittsburgh, and Toronto, but the company said that it is suspending North American tests. The selfdriving car is supposed to cut down on vehicle crashes and fatalities, but in the meantime, lawmakers are considering the safety of these tests. Pennsylvania election map upheld by Supreme Court The Supreme Court and a panel of federal judges from Pennsylvania both upheld the electoral map in Pennsylvania on Monday. The ruling was in response to Republican effort to block the map from going into effect. The new map might improve Democratic chances of winning back Congressional seats later this year. The Supreme Court decision was 5-2. Austin police fear serial bomber may be behind attacks Four powerful explosive devices have detonated around Austin during the month of March, killing two and wounding four. Police fear that this might be the work of a serial bomber, leaving residents in Austin fearful of another attack. During the investigation, the police have been unable to find a motive and have urged the bomber to reach out with demands. The latest bomb went off on Sunday, seriously injuring two men. The Sunday bomb was detonated using a tripwire, which is more sophisticated in design than previous attacks. FBI and local law enforcement are working together to find the bomber. McDonald's agrees to settlement in federal labor case On Monday, McDonald's agreed to a settlement in a case that alleges labor law violations within the franchise. The settlement allows McDonald's to avoid being considered a "joint employer" in situations where the violations occurred. In a statement, McDonald's representatives said that they would be happy to resolve the claims, but in the settlement they did not accept responsibility. The settlement now must be approved by a National Labor Relations Board Judge. Whole Foods holds supplier summit After Amazon purchased Whole Foods last summer, there has been concern that Amazon will disrupt the grocery business. Whole Foods has been restructuring all year and decided to hold a summit on Tuesday, March 20, for its major suppliers among continued concerns.
Taken from: reuters.com
NEWS EDITORS: KATRINA MEYER & ANA LÓPEZ DIALOGUE | PAGE 1 The dialogue began with an activity designed to promote listening for understanding. Attendees were split into groups of four where they described their personal experiences with guns. Each person was allotted one minute to talk about their background, then the group sat in silence for another minute to gather their thoughts. Attendee Jacob Domogalla ('19) liked how the activity provided insight into other people’s opinions on gun control. "I thought that, for a
discussion, [sharing our experiences with guns] was really interesting," Domogalla said. "Usually when we talk about stuff or have an opinion on things, we have a history of why we believe that. I thought it was helpful in understanding each other and their stance.” Attendee Genevieve Ehlers ('19) appreciated how the structure of discussion allowed participants to feel heard. “It gives you a chance to see everyone’s side before getting defensive about your own,” Ehlers said. “The way the dialogue was structured with the minute of silence between talks gave a time specifically to
digest what was said but also to form your own opinion. This way what people were saying was being heard rather than the ‘listeners’ deciding what they would say next.” The moderators then led an activity called 'four corners.' Participants moved around the room depending on their views about certain statements such as “guns make American homes safer.” Each corner of the room was assigned different meaning varying from “agree” or “disagree” to “maybe” or “I don’t know." People then responded to their placement within the room and were encouraged to move
WALKOUT | PAGE 1
if their beliefs changed after discussion. Domogalla explained his desire to contribute to conversations about gun control on Luther’s campus. “Personally, I grew up with guns,” Domogalla said. “I grew up in rural Minnesota and my father taught me how to handle guns. He made me shoot some of his guns. Basically, he raised me with the awareness that guns are weapons, so you have to handle them with responsibility and extreme care. I just felt like we see all this media talk, and I wanted to contribute to this discussion.”
ACTIVISM | PAGE 1
Workshop organizer Anna Phearman (‘19) met Mandelblatt while studying in Washington, D.C. as a participant in the Lutheran College Washington Semester Program. The two worked together to create a series of debates on disability rights for Platform. Phearman contacted Mandelblatt to host a Platform workshop at Luther this semester.
Students gather on the steps of the CFLto remember the victims of the Parkland shooting Photo courtesy of Photo Bureau As the protest progressed, Luther students standing at the front of the crowd crossed arms and held hands as a sign of unity. “What I also found very powerful was that we started holding hands," Katy Roets ('18) said. "That was really exciting for me. It was such a minor thing that we didn’t mean to do, but it was cool to watch. It was just a really powerful physical affirmation of [our] cause.” Besides this act of solidarity, Roets also said that the physical presence of the crowd of people at the CFL was a reminder of campus unity. “I was at the very front in front of the microphones and I looked back a couple of times and saw this really incredible sea of students,” Roets said. “Getting that perspective is always a motivator to keep doing what you are doing because it affirms what you were doing to begin with. It’s hard to keep doing something if you feel like there is not support behind you.” The nationwide walkout was organized exactly a month after the Parkland shooting to maintain the gun control movement's momentum. However, some Luther students believed that the gun control movement should have mobilized earlier and had more protests leading up to the national walkout. “Although this event has been an
amazing thing and an amazing first step for so many people, the fact that it is coming a month after the event is kind of telling how the gun control movement has been going,” Collin Zollinger (‘20) said. “We are so delayed with our reactions, or we have no reactions at all. Having more momentum, having more events, starting sooner; instead of creating momentum now with events like this.” Some students saw the walkout as a beneficial way to start discussions surrounding gun control on Luther’s campus. “I think it's a good stepping stone for further conversations, and it is important to get all views,” Alex Aakre (‘19) said. “Having continuing dialogue or discussions like the [Center for Ethics and Public Engagement] is hosting, that is an important thing to be a part of. If you want to be engaged on the issue you should be aware of all sides." Aakre added that the gun debate is a complex topic that should be addressed in an intentional manner. “I like my guns, but a lot of my family works in schools,” Aakre said. “Every time there is a school shooting, that really hits home. I think there are steps that we need to be taking, but having slow and deliberate steps because we don’t want to cite fear.”
“This workshop is about joining in conversation and realizing you’re not alone [on certain issues],” Phearman said. “The goal is to become an advocate for yourself. I’m really excited to see Luther students find their voices, have empowerment, and start conversations.” Associate Professor of Political Science Carly Foster felt that hosting the workshop had value for many students on campus. “This event is sponsored by [women] for women’s issues, but it’s absolutely inclusive,” Foster said. “We want people to find effective ways to make their voices heard.” Mandelblatt highlighted the importance of activism for everyone. “[Effective activism] is something [anyone] can do and it’s not scary,” Mandelblatt said. “It can feel intimidating, but democracy and its success hinges on young people getting involved. There’s so much at stake right now. We need to be heard and we have a right to be heard.” Phearman was so struck by Mandelblatt’s techniques and Platform’s philosophies that she is working to start a Platform chapter on Luther’s campus next year. “I think [starting a Platform group on campus] would be a great opportunity for Luther students to work on improving campus and the broader nation and world around us,” Phearman said. “It’s important to continue these conversations after this event.”
Jennifer Mandelblatt is a co-founder of Platform. Kristen Wuerl (‘18) | Chips
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 5
A&E EDITOR: LILY KIME
MARCH 22, 2018
E V I D E N C E
Members of EVIDENCE: A Dance Company performing together.
Photo courtesy of EVIDENCE: A Dance Company website
Sharing human experiences through dance ROZLYN PARADIS STAFF WRITER EVIDENCE: A Dance Company brought their interpretation of the human experience to Luther through the expression and integration of contemporary and traditional African dance movements. The performance took place in the Center for Faith and Life on Saturday, March 17. Renowned choreographer Ronald K. Brown founded EVIDENCE in 1985 and is now the company’s Artistic Director. “I wanted to create a company that, when people came to view them, they saw real people on stage,” Brown said. “I want people to see the reflection of themselves on stage [and] the reflection of the human experience.” EVIDENCE’s mission is to promote understanding of life in the African diaspora through dance and storytelling. The company travels
through North America, Europe, and Africa to perform, teach master classes, and conduct lectures for all ages. The performance featured three sections. The first section was a piece titled “Four Corners” where the women wore full-flowing maroon skirts and the men wore linen pants and long, sleeveless shirts. “Four Corners” is inspired by a piece of writing by an unnamed author: “... Beloved, you say your God, woman you’re of the earth, lamentations born, you son... Four Corners with blades and sheaths... Stand Up.” The second part of the performance consisted of five shorter pieces, each lasting just a few minutes. The music changed drastically between the pieces, from fast-paced songs with a strong, heavy beat to slow instrumentals with rich strings. The dancers wore vastly different costumes but all were teal, flowy, and added an extra dimension to the movement.
The final movement was titled “Grace,” and Brown joined the dancers on stage. Three men and one woman wore white costumes. The woman in white represented a goddess full of grace who made her journey to Earth. The three other dancers on stage wore red. By the end of the performance, the goddess had spread grace, bringing the three dancers to heaven. This was represented with a costume change from red to white. Dance major Abby Suhr (‘18) enjoyed the entire show, but especially the last section. “I really liked the opposite of the red and white [costumes] on stage and seeing how the movement of the two differed,” Suhr said. Throughout the performance, Brown seamlessly integrated aspects of traditional African dance and contemporary movements into one dynamic style. Rounded ballet arms were juxtaposed with sharp torso isolations. Explosive choreography
Founder and artistic director of EVIDENCE: A Dance Company Ronald K. Brown teaches Teo Jubé (‘19) during the master class. Annika Vande Krol (‘19) | Photo Bureau
Dancers Annique Roberts and Kevin Brown perform a duet together. Photo courtesy of Ronald K. Brown/ EVIDENCE, A Dance Company Facebook was followed by a simple walk from one side of the stage to the other. Moments of the performance were purposefully unstructured. This was to imitate real people grooving to the music like they might in their own home. When the music quieted, the audience could hear the pitter-patter of the performers’ feet on the stage. “The movement on stage was authentic,” Suhr said. Along with choreographing professional dancers on stage, Brown also teaches master classes that introduce individuals to this style of movement. “My love really is to bring dance to everyone,” Brown said. “I strive to bring access to dance regardless of an individual’s interests.” One of his master classes took place during a Movement Fundamentals course with Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance Andrea VazquezAguirre in the Center for the Arts on Friday, March 16. The class was taught by Brown and assisted by company dancer Demetrius Burns. It lasted one hour and was attended by 30 dancers, most of whom were students. Brown began the class with a relaxed, contemporary-based warm-
up and slowly introduced traditional African dance movement. He never paused in his instruction, but transitioned from warm-up to center work and then across-the-floor work. “The continuous flow of the class was beautiful,” Vazquez-Aguirre said. “[Brown] introduced movements in the center and incorporated them across the floor. It was a great way to introduce movements to dancers at a variety of levels.” Vazquez-Aguirre also commented on Brown’s ability to make the class accessible to those who had never experienced dance before. “He didn’t let [those struggling with the movement] fall through the cracks,” Vazquez-Aguirre said. “He worked with them individually so they could feel successful, too.” There were many similar movements between the master class and the performance. Surh enjoyed both watching and dancing with EVIDENCE. “The movement was so energetic,” Suhr said. “I couldn’t stop moving or smiling.” L.A. Theatreworks: The Mountaintop is the next show in the Center Stage Series. This takes place in the CFL on April 6 at 7:30 p.m.
FEATURES
PAGE 6 MARCH 22, 2018
FEATURES EDITOR: SHASA SARTIN
Sean Brown (‘13) and a barista working the espresso bar at Impact Coffee.
Cara Keith (‘21) | Chips
IMPACTCOFFEE : LOCAL ROASTS How Sean Brown (‘13) turned his family frame shop in to a staple of the Decorah coffee scene CARA KEITH STAFF WRITER The warm lighting and welcoming atmosphere greet the community members entering Impact Coffee, where the vibrant green-and-black color scheme of the menu draws customers in. A sofa sits in the corner of the seating area and sets of wooden tables and chairs comprise the rest of the seating accommodations. The owner of Impact Coffee Sean Brown (‘13) often greets customers by name and works behind the counter to help make the coffee orders that come in. Impact Coffee is located in downtown Decorah and opened in the fall of 2015. Impact Coffee was originally a frame shop run by Brown’s parents for over 30 years. The Brown family eventually became business partners with a couple from Honduras who roasted coffee beans to be sold at the frame shop. This led to the store becoming half frame shop and half coffee shop. Eventually the couple from whom the Brown family bought the roasted coffee beans moved away which required Sean Brown to learn how to roast coffee beans himself. “When the couple we were getting our beans from left, we had to learn how to roast kind of on the fly and we haven’t looked back since,” Brown said. This is when he began cultivating Impact
Coffee’s legacy for roasting in town. Impact Coffee barista Megan Oliver (‘18) explained why Impact Coffee is important to the Decorah community. “We’re the only coffee shop that actually roasts our own beans,” Oliver said. “We probably pride ourselves on the quality of our coffee compared to other coffee shops and so I’d say that we’re exposing the community to really good coffee.” Even though the quality is high, Oliver is regretful that this experience is not always the same on Luther’s campus. “What kind of sucks though is that Luther doesn’t really do it justice even though they have the beans,” Oliver said. “If you go into town, it’s completely different.” Impact Coffee is well-known for roasting their own beans. First, the company buys their beans from an importer out of Minneapolis. Then they take the beans and roast them in a facility two miles east of Decorah. “We used to roast the beans in my parents’ garage,” Brown said. “We totally gutted that and built a full-on roastery.” Once Impact Coffee started roasting their own beans they began to sell their beans wholesale to different companies in the Decorah area. Impact Coffee sells their coffee beans to Luther College, Oneota Co-op, Quillin’s, and a few other smaller companies, as well as supplying the coffee beans for their
Max Kemp (‘16) and Professor of Anthropology Anita Carrasco in impact Cara Keith (‘21) | Chips own coffee bar. Brown described how Impact Coffee began providing coffee to Luther College. “We started with them three years ago,” Brown said. “Luther wanted to go local and we provided that for them and it’s just been an ever-growing partnership since then. Everything at Luther is now Impact Coffee.” Impact Coffee has become a staple location for many college students at Luther. Madeline Pope (‘21) first became acquainted with Impact Coffee on a visit day. “I just thought it was the cutest little place ever and it’s so cozy in there,” Pope said. “The baristas there are just so cool and they make a really good chai latte, which I know isn’t technically coffee but I still really like it.” As of now, the only major plan that Brown has for Impact Coffee is to continue expanding his wholesale coffee bean business while maintaining his current coffee bar in Decorah.
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: SHASA SARTIN
MARCH 22, 2018
Women’s History Month Profile
LIZ ROG “I feel so lucky that I’m known in this community as a song leader and that this community values the power of song.” - Liz Rog Liz Rog leading community singing at the 2018 Decorah Women’s March.
out into the real world I would find that everything was like the musicals that I watched as a child where people just burst out into song and they all knew the same [words] because they all lived together,” Rog said. Rog initially came to Decorah in 1980. Since then, she has come to define herself as a cultural activist in the Decorah community. Rog says she gets involved in a number of issues, including but not limited to advocating for
Decorah Power, immigrant rights, and environmental concerns. She also participated in the Decorah Women’s Marches, where she combined her commitment to song and activism. “I feel so lucky that I’m known in this community as a song leader and that this community values the power of song,” Rog said. “People that have come to our marches and rallies here and have been to others [know] that once you’ve had song at one of those, the song is
Katy Roets (‘18) and Liz Rog walking at the 2017 Decorah Women’s March.
Photo courtesy of Liz Rog
EMMA BUSCH STAFF WRITER Liz Rog has spent the past 38 years of her life in Decorah doing what she loves most; building community through song. A native of Roseville, Minnesota, Rog spent much of her early childhood singing with her family. Music was a defining aspect of her worldview. “I grew up singing all the time and expecting that when I got
everyone’s place in the gathering.” After years of attempting to define what singing meant to her, Rog says she came to acknowledge that she possessed an “ancestral memory” of how important singing was to her ancestors’ lives, as well as the ancestors of others around the world. “I finally realized that my longing for that kind of world was really because I am one of the many people who was born with the seed of a memory that says, ‘This is the way that we are meant to be,’” Rog said. “And [this mindset is] really necessary in these times when so many people are shut down and so many people feel that they’re not enough. I think we can use song as a way to practice unraveling that false story.” Rog has lead groups like the Open Hub Singing Club and Community Sings at Luther and has put on gatherings that encourage people of all generations to dance and sing. She is well-regarded by many in the community for her kind and giving nature. “Liz is among the most compassionate and well-grounded individuals I have ever met,” Katy Roets (‘18) said. “She has the uncanny ability to include any and everyone in song, even when they’re visibly uncertain; the loving energy she exudes encompasses everyone she meets. Liz is truly a Decorah legend, and I would argue in many ways not unlike the late Weston Noble.” Local author and friend Tabita Green says that Rog’s kindness was what made her stand out when
Photo courtesy of Liz Rog
they first met. “One of my earliest memories of Liz is when I reached out to her about being part of the first community singing group in Decorah,” Green said. “There was a suggested donation and I wasn’t working at the time, so I wasn’t sure I’d be able to participate. Rather than waiving the fee for me, she invited me to help out in different ways so I could attend the group for an in-kind donation of sorts. It was such a small thing, but a different way of engaging another person that was refreshing to me.” Rog lives in Decorah with Daniel her husband of 30 years and their 19-year-old cat. She managed the Oneota Co-op for 25 years but now makes her living by renting out Fern Hollow Cabin, a house that her great-great-greatgrandparents first built when they came to Decorah from Norway in 1853. Currently, he spends most of her time as a freelance community organizer in order to stay connected with the Decorah community and encouraging others to do what she feels humans do best; make beautiful things. “The best thing that we humans have as a way to give honor back to the Earth is through using that which is uniquely human to us; our voices, our bodies, our ability to make poetry, [our ability] to make that uniquely human beauty,” Rog said. “I believe that’s what humans were put here for, to crank that out. If we stop cranking it out, then we stop remembering or feeling the joy of being alive that is our birthright.”
PAGE 8
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
MARCH 22, 2018
A&E EDITOR: LILY KIME
Audience members become performers at Cringe Night Inga Aleckson (‘18) reads an old journal entry for the audience at Cringe Night.
NATALIE NELSON STAFF WRITER ArtHaus hosted Cringe Night at The Courtyard & Cellar on Friday, March 16. Eighteen readers took turns reciting embarrassing old poetry, Facebook posts, journal entries, and even songs. The night opened with Susie Wold (‘20) reading from an ABCs picture book she wrote in elementary school. She shared her letter G, which read “Goose: about the size of a microwave but bigger.” Two readers later, J.J. Schrick (‘19) played his guitar and sang a song he wrote in eighth grade titled “I’m Looking out the Window.” Executive Director of ArtHaus Shannon Dallenbach Durbin was in charge of planning the event. She said the annual
event used to take place at ArtHaus, but because of their lack of seating space, it was moved to the Courtyard & Cellar. Over 60 people bought tickets for $5-$10 to the event. “We have the sliding cost because we want the event to be affordable, but it’s also good to support art in the community,” Durbin said. “So people can pay different amounts depending on what they are willing and able to pay.” Durbin said the most exciting thing about Cringe Night was the fact that the event drew people of all different ages. “Community members came to read and so did college students,” Durbin said. “We didn’t get as many high school students because they’re still writing this stuff, so it’s aimed at a little bit of an older crowd.” Durbin said she liked the fun, casual
Executive Director of ArtHaus Shannon Dallenbach Durbin reads her old diary. Natalie Nelson (‘19) | Chips
atmosphere of Cringe Night. “Cringe Night is all about having fun,” Durbin said. “I think a lot of people think they don’t want to share and then, as they realize what the atmosphere is like, more people want to share. I’ve had people leave the event to find their journal and come back. I was too nervous to share the first time, but I shared last time and now I want to do it again and again.” Durbin said a last-minute flux in the number of performers happens every Cringe Night and is the most challenging thing about planning the event. Only seven readers were signed up to read at the beginning of the night, but as people began sharing, more and more attendees elected to perform. Performer Emma Buddecke (‘21) hadn’t originally intended to read.
Natalie Nelson (‘19) | Chips “The more I heard people read embarrassing things, the more I realized how many embarrassing things I have done,” Buddecke said. Anna Streeper (‘18) said it was the first ArtHaus event that she has attended and that she and her friends all enjoyed it. “I thought it was a really fun way to spend my Friday night,” Streeper said. “I appreciated that people from the community got to get up and share. That made it really fun. I loved hearing stories of people I knew too. It is definitely something I would do again.” The next Cringe Night event will occur during the fall semester. Durbin is looking forward to her next event: a Poetry Slam with visiting poet Akwi Ngi. This will take place on April 27 at The Courtyard & Cellar.
J.J. Schrick (‘19) plays a song he wrote in eighth grade.
Natalie Nelson (‘19) | Chips
OPINION
PAGE 9
MANAGING EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN
STAFF Editor-in-Chief Jacob Warehime Managing Editor Elizabeth Bonin News Editors Katrina Meyer Ana López Features Editor Shasa Sartin A&E Editor Lily Kime Sports Editor Ben Selcke Staff Writers Gillian Klein Natalie Nelson Grace Onsrud Emma Busch Martin Donovan Olivia Enquist Matthew Gleaves Piper Wood Dirk Umbanhowar Cara Keith Part-time Writers Forrest Stewart Kristen Wuerl Martel DenHartog Rozlyn Paradis Head Copy Editor Olivia Benson Copy Editors Elyse Grothaus Lyndsay Monsen Ad Representatives Bergen Gardner Web Content Manager James Miller Social Media Director Elyse Grothaus Distribution Manager Lyndsay Monsen 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 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 22, 2018
EDITORIAL
Supporting “Walk up not walk out” is problematic It’s been a tough past few weeks at Luther, there’s no doubt about that. As a campus, we’ve had to go through the unimaginable. Every day since the hate incident, I have been plagued with sadness by the fact that some of my friends no longer feel safe here. But I also have been LYNDSAY MONSEN continuously inspired by the COPY EDITOR students who are speaking up, saying “enough is enough,” and addressing these issues that are immediately affecting our community and our country. The walk-out last Wednesday in honor of the 17 staff, faculty, and students killed in the Parkland, Florida shooting was amazing. I was one of the first few people to arrive, so I had the privilege of being at the top of CFL steps to see people crawling out of every corner of campus, walking across library lawn and Bentdahl Commons singing “Bambalela.” It was a moment I’ll never forget; I definitely shed a tear or two. I even Skyped my mom to tell her about it and she said she got chills. Isn’t it sad that we can’t have a unifying and peaceful moment like this without people finding some reason to be upset about it? In the days following the national walk-out, I saw a plethora of posts on social media advocating for the concept of “walk up, not out.” These posts came from mostly privileged and white people, I might add. The idea of “walk up, not out” says that students shouldn’t walk out of their classrooms to protest gun violence but rather spend that time walking up to that student who is being bullied and be kind to them. Essentially, walk up to the student that you think is most likely to be the next school shooter to avoid a shooting happening in your school. This is problematic for many reasons. Firstly, it is victim blaming. It is saying that it is the students’ fault who got shot because they weren’t kind enough to the shooter. That is completely unfair. I saw a tweet recently from one of the students
who survived the Parkland shooting that said, “Students like Helena Ramsay would never bully someone. But she died because of him.” The victims of this shooting were incredible kids who should have gone on to do incredible things. In no way is it their fault that they were killed on Feb. 14. I also saw a very interesting post on Facebook from someone who was bullied throughout her childhood. She said that if someone walked up to her on this day and in this manner, she would have felt very uncomfortable. She said it would have felt like an obligation and that this student didn’t really want to be her friend. Additionally, this movement could be very dangerous in the way that it assumes all quiet kids in the corner are brainstorming their next potential mass murder. In reality, some people are just introverted. Finally, I would like to acknowledge that walking up is definitely just as important as walking out. This, I think, is within the same realm of “All Lives Matter.” No one who advocates for Black Lives Matter is going to deny that all lives matter; in fact, that’s the entire purpose of the movement. But countering the efforts of Black Lives Matter by saying all lives matter defeats its purpose. No one who was at the walk-out at Luther last week — or anywhere across the country, for that matter — will deny that spreading kindness across this campus is important and something of which we need to do more. But ultimately, this issue is so much bigger than that. Students last week were advocating for stricter gun control laws because the truth is that if Nikolas Cruz didn’t have access to an AR-15, he wouldn’t have been able to murder that many people. But this isn’t an op-ed about gun control — you can look up my last one if you want to find my opinions on that. This is an op-ed about the importance of letting students advocate for what they are passionate about. I am grateful for President Carlson, the Luther faculty, and the organizations that put together the walk-out last week for fostering a campus that is so supportive of letting us advocate for what we believe in. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I would merely like to caution everyone about what they truly mean when they support the concept of “walk up, not out.”
The Norse Poll What do you think of “walk up” or “walk out?”
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 that the walk up campaign is just a little bit of a cop-out to actually talking about the real issue, which in gun violence is guns, not necessarily being nice to people. It should just be being nice to people all the time.” - Maddy Lomprey (‘21)
“I support student walkouts because I think they are more effective than being nice because I think being nice is an everyday thing anyways.” -Aysia Webb (‘21)
“I think the idea of walking up versus walking out is a little naive because it’s telling students that they shouldn’t trust their instincts if they feel that there’s a student who could possibly harm them and that their feelings and thoughts about other students are not valid. And I also think that it puts a lot of pressure on students who are shy that they might feel that they’re being stereotyped in a wrong light.” -Madeline Kuehn (‘19)
OPINION
PAGE 10 MARCH 22, 2018
MANAGING EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Luther security needs a female officer Since last Sunday, when symbols of racial hatred were stomped onto Luther’s football field, I have had and overheard many conversations about safety on Luther’s campus for all students and what can be done to improve it. In the midst of one of these conversations, a friend pointed out that there are no women on Luther’s Safety and Security staff. I was surprised that I had never considered more deeply the reasons for this disparity. That might come from my own internalized assumptions about what someone who works in a security-related job is supposed to be like — specifically, the assumption that security-related work is masculine. Luther is not the only place with a gender disparity in security staff. Part of the reason why Luther does not have a woman on the security staff is probably because there are fewer women going into this field. I found the category, “Security Guards and Gaming Surveillance Officers”
on a list titled Nontraditional Occupations for Women in 2009 by the United States Department of Labor. This list stated that
“Gender diversity on the security staff, and racial diversity as well, is a step towards making more students feel safe on campus.” -Grace Onrud (‘19) of all the people employed in this type of profession in the United States in 2009, only 22 percent were women. There is no reason why a woman
cannot do this job as well as a man. And besides simply being adequate, a female staff member might actually improve the effectiveness of security staff on a college campus. The current Luther Security officers are extremely competent at what they do. They are good, caring, and trustworthy people, and I am thankful for all the work they do on a daily basis to make our campus a safe place. Yet despite all of this, during the two years I have spent at Luther, I have heard many women express reluctance at the idea that they should call on Luther security in a situation where they or a friend are intoxicated, alone, or in any other sort of vulnerable situation. I do not believe that this has anything to do with the security officers themselves, but more to do with a general discomfort that some women have, for a variety of reasons, with calling for assistance from a man in a position of authority whom they do not know very well.
We are also told to call security as responders after situations of sexual assault and some people may feel more comfortable talking to a woman in that situation. It is unfortunate that any student should feel nervous about asking for help from the very people who are working to keep us safe. Gender diversity on the security staff, and racial diversity as well, is a step towards making more students feel safe on campus. At this time especially many students do not feel safe. Luther students, faculty, and staff have had some beneficial, fruitful discussions in the past week on how we might improve that. If Luther decides that hiring another security officer is a part of that improvement, I would encourage them to consider diversifying the safety and security staff. Signed, Grace Onsrud (‘19)
EDITORIAL
The limits of forgiveness as a way to end hatred
ANA LÓPEZ NEWS EDITOR As I was scrolling down my Facebook feed, I saw a BBC video titled “Why did a black man hug a neo-Nazi skinhead?” The video depicted a neo-Nazi walking into an anti-fascist rally at the University of Florida protesting the presence of the alt-right leader Richard Spencer on their campus. Many people in the crowd
punched the neo-Nazi as he walked through the crowd, shouted at him, and insulted him. The video focused on one black man who confronted the person and asked: “Why don’t you like me?” He then said, “Give me a hug! Give me a hug!” Next, the two of them hugged. The video praised this man and hinted at how expressions of love and forgiveness can be healing and can get rid of hatred. Essentially, “hug a Nazi and end hatred.” Simple. I do not condone violence in any form, but there is something deeply unsettling about this “hug a Nazi,” “befriend a member of the KKK,” “forgive the person that tried to kill you” kind of discourse: why is it that people of color and marginalized people have to do all of the forgiving? All the hugging? All the loving? All the
educating? If that is the case, then what is everyone else doing? Surely, forgiveness, love, and
“It should not be the job of only minorities to risk their well-being to demonstrate humanity.” -Ana López (‘19) friendship are things that can change a person’s life. They can have a significant impact in the life of people and I do believe that, in the right circumstances, they can eradicate hatred. However, I do think that using this rhetoric in mass media and our communities can
be dangerous. In doing this kind of work, minorities risk their safety and emotional well-being. This kind of work is physically and emotionally draining. It is no easy task to confront someone who hates everything you are and forgive them, love them, and give them a hug. The work of people like Daryl Davis, Matthew Boger, and the man who hugged a neo-Nazi at a rally is important work, but it is not work that should be expected from minorities. It should not be the job of only minorities to risk their well-being to demonstrate humanity. I believe that praising this rhetoric puts unfair pressure on minorities to forgive and actively seek for understanding from people that are fundamentally against their existence. This rhetoric is
problematic not only because it is difficult and draining, but, most importantly, because it delegates the responsibility to act to minorities alone. If we see these stories of forgiveness as the only way to end hatred, I fear that there will be very little done in other areas. As we move forward in our discussions dealing with hate on our own campus we must think about this. You should not expect your friend of color to give the “let me explain to you why what you said was racist” talk or to advocate for understanding and forgiveness. I believe that ending hatred is something that requires the strength and power of all of our community. It is our responsibility and we should keep in mind that this is work that we should all do.
SPORTS
PAGE 11
MARCH 22, 2018
SPORTS EDITOR: BEN SELCKE
Women’s tennis falls to Carthage MATTHEW GLEAVES STAFF WRITER
Week
Norse of the
Alli Harter (‘21) perpares for the serve.
Photo courtesy of Photo Bureau
Luther Women’s Tennis faced Carthage College on Saturday, March 17 and lost, bringing Luther’s record to 9-4 for the season. During the spring season Women’s Tennis plays non-conference teams, Carthage being one of them. The spring season is challenging in that the team needs to adapt to the different playing styles of nonconference teams. According to Jackie Cychosz (‘18), this is difficult yet beneficial. “Playing people outside of our conference is very different than playing people in our conference,” Cychosz said. “We just have to adapt to different skill sets stuff that we’re not really used to. But these matches are really good for us; they push us and make us realize that we have to work that much harder.” According to Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach Adam Strand (‘04) the team performed well given the tough competition. “I was extremely proud of the effort that our women showed on Saturday against another quality regional opponent,” Strand said. “Kelsey Kruse (‘20) and Devon Bourget (‘21) stepped into the top doubles spot for the first time against this type of competition and handled themselves very well. Cychosz and Anna Pearson (‘18) also played outstanding at number two doubles, notching a decisive win for us.” The final score was 7-2, Carthage. Luther came through with a win in both singles and doubles. In singles,
Stephanie Almquist (‘21) defeated Maria Salerno of Carthage with a score of 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 (107). In doubles, Cychosz and Pearson took down Carthage’s Natalie Favia and Lauren Woznicki with a score of 8-1. The team knew coming into this meet that it would be tough with that mindset, they were able to leave the meet knowing they tried their best. Cychosz confirmed this overall attitude. “We went into the match thinking it was going to be a tough and we went into it thinking just play your hardest, play strong and that’s all you can really do,” Cychosz said. “I think coming out of it, we all felt pretty good about it. There were some people disappointed that the scores didn’t reflect how well they played, but I think that’s about it.” Looking forward, the team is working on staying consistent on the court and paving a road towards winning qualifiers for nationals. Cychosz reiterated the need for consistency. “At this current moment, we are just trying to stay competitive and stay strong, win a couple matches,” Cychosz said. “The ultimate goal is to win automatic qualifiers to get to nationals. Qualifiers is a tournament where we get to play people in our conference and whoever wins qualifiers goes to nationals. That’s our ultimate goal.” Luther will play their next three matches in Florida over spring break. They will face Calvin College on March 23, Kalamazoo College on March 25, and Loyola New Orleans on March 28.
Colin Coffey (‘19) was named IIAC player of the week on March 19. He is the second Luther baseball player to be named IIAC Payer of the Week this year. Photo courtesy of Luther Athletics
SPORTS
PAGE 12
SPORTS EDITOR: BEN SELCKE
MARCH 22, 2018
Worship Workout brings faith to fitness GRACE ONSRUD STAFF WRITER Worship Workout, an event that combines physical activity with prayer and faith-based discussion, drew a group of about 20 students to the North Gym in Regents Center on Friday, March 16. Ben Hermann (‘18) began the event with a prayer after which the group broke off into pairs and began a circuit workout that involved squats, planks, bicycles, and even tire flipping, depending on skill level. After every four rotations on the circuit, the group took a break for water and to gather for another short devotional from a group member before continuing the activities. Hermann developed the idea to combine exercise and worship and first proposed the idea to Focus leadership as a new activity they could add in conjunction to Sunday night worship services. Now it has grown into something larger as he has led Worship Workout at his hometown church in Moline, Illinios and at Fellowship of Christian Athletes summer camps in Rochester and at Luther. This was the first Worship Workout session at Luther this semester, but Hermann is hoping to hold a few more before the semester is done. He is currently working to turn Worship Workout into a business that he can continue after gradation. “I came up with the idea my [first year at Luther],” Hermann said. “I just wanted to get a group of friends together and just say a prayer before or after and work out together. It kind of transitioned into something more.” According to Hermann his interest in physical activity and his faith in God helped him overcome his own health struggles, prompting him to integrate both interests into one event. “I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was nine and I never wanted that to interfere with what I could do physically or who I could become,” Hermann said. “I wanted to be able to share my story and show [people] that God didn’t give them whatever medical problem they are having and that God can help you work through it.” During the devotionals, others from the group shared their own stories and struggles with physical health and faith. People asked each other questions about how their faith had changed over the course of their college career and shared personal stories about what brought them closer to their religion. Spencer Davies (‘18) has attended Worship Workout many times over the past year and a half. He said that the personal aspect is an important
Weekly Standings
Baseball Luther Loras Central Wartburg Coe Nebraska Wes Buena Vista Dubuque Simpson
IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Recent Scores
Overall 9-1 10-3 9-5 7-5 5-6 4-6 4-9 3-7 1-10
March 18 vs. Northland College W 14-4
Upcoming Schedule
March 20 vs. Crown College
Softball Luther Buena Vista Simpson Central Loras Wartburg Nebraska Wes Coe Dubuque
IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Recent Scores
Overall 8-1 11-3 11-3 12-4 5-3 10-6 11-7 8-8 4-10
March 11 vs. UW-Stevens Point W 9-4
Upcoming Schedule
March 24 Spring Games
Men’s Tennis
Ben Hermann (‘18) leads Worship Workout. part of the event. “I like the combination of exercise and faith,” Davies said. “It really
“I came up with the idea my [first year at Luther]. I just wanted to get a group of friends together and just say a prayer before or after and work out together. It kind of transitioned into something a lot more.” - Ben Hermann (‘18) works well together. I like the sense of community and engagement; it makes
Grace Onsrud (‘20) | Chips
it more personal.” He said that the size of the group usually varies from around 20 to 45 people, and many of them know each other well. “There are some new faces here and there and some people who come every time,” Davies said. Hermann said that one of the things he enjoys about Worship Workout is that it can bring together people of various athletic backgrounds. “Some people who come are really into fitness, and for some people it’s their first workout ever,” Hermann said. “It’s a pretty diverse group in terms of physical and athletic ability.” Attendee Tressa Forrest (‘19) said that Worship Workout brings together two important parts of her life, and she hopes that Hermann will be able to continue Worship Workout as a business after graduation. “I hope that it’s something he can spread to other college communities because I think it’s been a really cool thing in Luther’s community,” Forrest said. “I think it could be really beneficial to other college students, too.”
Loras Luther Coe Simpson Central Dubuque Wartburg Buena Vista Nebraska Wes
IIAC 2-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1
Recent Scores
March 17 vs. Carthage College W 5-4
Overall 6-2 7-1 11-4 6-4 7-7 2-4 4-8 1-4 1-10
Upcoming Schedule
March 23 vs. St. Lawrence University