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Jazz Orchestra performs and recruits in Colorado
Students train to create peer-mentoring program
Flip your paper over for a special, foolish edition of Chips.
LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
CHIPS
MARCH 30, 2017
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VOLUME 139, NO. 17
Foster declines position as dean, raises questions EMILY CROWE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
From left: College Pastor Mike Blair, President Paula Carlson, Assistant Professor of Political Science Pedro Dos Fawcett (‘17), Cierra Buckner (‘18), and Ashleigh Bunkofske (‘18). Panel members not pictured: Interim Director of Center Wintlett Taylor-Browne, Professor of Art Richard Merrit and Associate Professor of Political Science
Santos, Betsy the Diversity Carly Foster.
Ana López (‘19) | Chips
Power and Privilege
ANA LÓPEZ STAFF WRITER The Black Student Union, Diversity Council, and the President’s Office sponsored a campus dialogue titled “On Power and Privilege” on March 15. The dialogue covered topics of institutional response to issues of inclusion and diversity on campus. Approximately 70 students and faculty attended the event. The members of the panel included student leaders from various organizations, faculty members, and President Paula Carlson. The discussion was led by Associate
Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Diversity Council Carly Foster. To begin, each of the panelists introduced themselves and gave a short statement about their interest in matters of inclusion and diversity as well as personal experiences and reflections on the topic. Following the introductions, Foster opened the panel for comments and questions from the audience. A common theme in the discussion was finding institutional ways to create a more inclusive campus. Audience members mentioned ideas that involved training for professors
that would help them address cases of discrimination in the classroom. Other proposals focused on students. The participants at the panel discussed including diversity awareness as part of the Paideia program, as well as holding different workshops related to acceptance and diversity. President Paula Carlson mentioned during the panel that she and the members of the Strategic Planning Committee will seriously consider the content of the dialogue, as well as being communicated to the new Dean for Equity and Inclusion. PANEL | PAGE 4
Carlson establishes temporary response team in wake of revised executive order BEN SELCKE STAFF WRITER In response to continued uncertainty surrounding the revised executive order on travel and immigration to the U.S. from Muslim majority countries, Luther College formed the Coordinated Campus Response Team, whose job is to respond if a ban were to be put in place. The team has already begun developing responses and will continue to assist students who may be affected through the summer. The response team consists of Dean for Institutional
Planning and Mission Terry Sparkes, Vice President and Dean for Student Life Corey Landstrom, International Student Coordinator in the Diversity Center Amy Webber, College Pastor Anne Edison-Albright and Assistant Professor of Political Science Pedro dos Santos. With the complexities and uncertainties currently surrounding immigration, the college directed the response team to stay up to date with the changing situation. “Things are changing all the time so part of our work as a team is to stay on top of that,” Edison-Albright said.
“We’re keeping on top of how things are changing for our students.” The team, which consists of a diverse group of individuals occupying different roles on campus, was chosen specifically because of their existing proximities and experiences in this field. “This group comes with knowledge and experience and can get to work immediately,” President Paula Carlson said. “They are very well connected across campus, so they bring knowledge of their own and knowledge of who on campus can help with specific questions.”
The response team has already started to prepare for the immediate effects of the ban. “We’re anticipating that a number of students who might have otherwise chosen to travel this summer might choose not to,” Edison-Albright said. “So knowing that there may be more students staying on campus than in previous years, how can we help make that more possible for students?” There are also long-term benefits that could come from the response team, according to Sparkes. RESPONSE TEAM| PAGE 4
A number of concerns regarding Former Executive Director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs at the University of Florida (UF) Lloren Foster’s candidacy for Luther College’s new position, Dean for Equity and Inclusion, arose after all Luther students, staff, and faculty members received an email from President Paula Carlson on March 23., referencing allegations against Foster. Lloren Foster The email also contained Foster’s decision to decline the deanship. “Dr. Foster’s decision to decline the offer to become the Dean for Equity and Inclusion is complicated,” Vice President for Communications and Marketing Rob Larson said. “President Carlson felt it was important to share the circumstances surrounding this decision with students, faculty, and staff and that is the basis for the email she sent when this decision was communicated to Luther.” President Carlson declined to comment. According to “The Independent Florida Alligator,” the UF newspaper, “Documents … show Foster was fired for multiple reasons, including lack of leadership, failure to meet deadlines and inappropriate communication — including him asking someone if they were having sex. ‘Sex helps your skin look clear,’ Foster said, according to the [Human Resources] document.” However, according to the email from Carlson, “the college has investigated the allegations and found them to be without merit.” Foster also denies the legitimacy of the allegations. “I declined the position for personal reasons, none of which have anything to do with the allegations which were proved false and inaccurate,” Foster said. “The Independent Florida Alligator’s” Editor Martin Vassolo could not be reached for comment at the time of printing. However, the logistics of the investigation’s timeline has raised questions. Professor of Religion Guy Nave expressed confusion toward the language in Carlson’s email. “If, as the email claims, the allegations did not come to the attention of the President and the paid search consultant until after the offer had been made, how is it that Luther College was able to conduct an “investigation” between March 17 when her first email went out to the Luther community and March 23 when her second email went out?” Nave said. “Is President Carlson really trying to suggest that within six days Luther College invested in both time and legal expertise to determine the allegations “to be without merit?”
FOSTER | PAGE 4