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Students attend National Trumpet competition in Texas
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Luther hosts annual Ethnic Arts Festival
Women’s Softball starts season
COLLEGE
LUTHER “Let the chips fall where they may.”
VOLUME 140, NO. 14• EST. 1884
MARCH 8, 2018
Understanding others Luther responds to through storytelling
#NeverAgain EMMA BUSCH STAFF WRITER
Professor of Political Science Pedro dos Santos explains the refugee crisis in Syria. Piper Wood (‘21) I Chips PIPER WOOD STAFF WRITER Professor of Political Science Pedro dos Santos and Asha Aden (‘20) delivered the second of three lectures in the Paideia Lecture Series “Be the Change” on Feb. 27 in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. The lecture was titled “What is to be done? Humanizing the Refugee Crisis” and focused on issues stemming from the wake of mass refugee immigration all over the world. To begin the lecture, dos Santos spoke on the complexities of the Syrian refugee crisis. He explained basic information surrounding the Syrian civil war and refugee crisis. Dos Santos then analyzed the relationships between the United States, various militia groups, rebel groups, and government organizations in Syria, and how these forces combined to create the complicated conflict and refugee crisis. Dos Santos highlighted the importance of keeping the politics of the war separate from the humanitarian crisis caused by the large numbers of refugees fleeing Syria. “It is important to understand the complexity of issues, and
move away from the polarizing political dichotomies,” dos Santos said. “The Syrian conflict is one thing and helping the people affected by the conflict is a whole other thing.” Aden went on to explain how the politics of the refugee crisis leads to the dehumanization of refugees. According to Aden, both pro-refugee and anti-refugee movements can dehumanize. Anti-refugee movements do this by using stereotypes. “By emphasizing the differences and exploiting myths and lies about religious and cultural values of many of those fleeing conflict and natural disasters, those using this argument dehumanize refugees by positioning them as complete outsiders, unworthy of their help,” Aden said. She went on to explain the misguided intentions of the pro-refugee movement that views immigrants and refugees as “superhuman.” According to Aden, to be “superhuman” they somehow have to be better than normal humans to avoid blame and hate. Aden explored the dehumanization of the refugees through the consequence of presenting refugees as innocent humans in need of help.
On Feb. 26 Luther released a statement in support of high school students participating in the #NeverAgain movement. “Luther College applauds students’ expression of their beliefs and supports active citizenship,” the statement read. “We want to assure students that participating in peaceful protest does not jeopardize your admission to Luther College, even if you are disciplined or suspended. Our socially conscious community is fully committed to developing whole persons who are equipped to understand and confront a changing society.” The #NeverAgain movement began in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Shooting in Parkland, Florida which resulted in 17 deaths and 14 injuries after a former student opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle on Feb. 14. Since then, high school students have worked to nationally organize walkouts in support of gun control and in memory of the victims of mass shootings. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, over 250 other colleges around the country have expressed their support of the movement as well, including Harvard, Yale, and MIT, in the wake of many high schools threatening to discipline participating students. According to Vice President for Enrollment Management Scot Schaeffer, the statement was released to clarify Luther’s position for incoming students. “Following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, as students started planning peaceful protests, colleges across the country, including Luther, started receiving questions from prospective students,” Schaeffer said. “They were asking if the college’s offer of admissions would be rescinded if the student participated in a peaceful protest and was suspended by their high school.”
REFUGEES | PAGE 4
STATEMENT | PAGE 4
Asha Aden (‘20) demonstrates the power of storytelling. Piper Wood (‘21) I Chips
Neuroscience department receives grant GILLIAN KLEIN STAFF WRITER The neuroscience department received a Roy J. Carver charitable trust grant of $200,000 on Feb. 15. They will use the grant to buy equipment to further research opportunities. According to the Roy J. Carver Charitable website, from 1987 onwards, the Carver charitable trust has awarded $330 million in the form of 2,100 individual grants to educational and philanthropic institutions and organizations, specifically focused in the areas of biomedical and scientific research. The private philanthropic foundation was founded through the will of Roy J. Carver, former industrialist and philanthropist. Co-founder of the neuroscience program and
Professor of Biology Scott Carlson emphasized why this grant is crucial to his students’ educational experience. “I plan to use part of the grant for my electrophysiology classes,” Carlson said. “This field studies organisms at the small level, and up to this point it’s been purely theoretical. Now it’s going to come to life.” Neuroscience major Emily Turner (‘19) is excited about the grant. “Neuroscience is still a relatively new field in general and encompasses many areas of study,” Turner said. “Being a part of this major means lots of hands-on lab experience, especially since there is always something new to learn.” NEUROSCIENCE | PAGE 4
Linh Luong (‘20) (left) and Emily Fuller (‘19) (right) work with a microscope in a biology lab. Gillian Klein (‘20)I Chips