Norsemen collaborate with Luren Singers
A&E 8 Free clinic provides aid and experience
FEATURES 6
LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
CHIPS
MAY 14, 2015
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VOLUME 137, NO. 24
Co-ed Baker proposal moves on to presidential decision MATT HELM STAFF WRITER President Carlson will view a proposal to approve co-ed housing in Baker Village in upcoming weeks. The proposal has seen four Student Senate Presidents in its time and has now made it to Carlson’s desk for consideration, where it will either be denied, approved or passed to the Board of Regents, according to Student Senate President Jesus Lucero (‘16) “We got the proposal up to President Carlson’s desk last year when it just vanished; we have no idea if she even got it,” Lucero said. “Somewhere along the line it keeps losing momentum and gets dropped. This time we know President Carlson has it. She will be making a decision soon.” The Student Senate proposal was drafted and then looked over by the executive board before it was seen by the general senate body. The proposal then went on to be discussed by the Campus Life Committee. “We either endorse a proposal or don't endorse, similar to the Congress,” Assistant Professor of Management and Chairperson of Campus Life Don Jones said. “We have supported the Baker Village proposal all along. It makes sense and is good for the college, which is something we take very seriously.” The current proposal calls for making Baker Village co-ed, but double rooms would have to be shared by members of the same sex. “Parents have concerns about men and women living together,” Lucero said. “It's a college, so it’s not like sex isn’t happening here. If a gay couple were to live together, nobody would say a thing. It does not make sense to me. We tried to factor in this idea of accountability into the proposal. I added an addendum, which is a contract that would keep students from switching rooms.” Current co-ed housing options on campus include a gender-neutral single room Farwell cluster, Norby House and Sustainability House. CO-ED PROPOSAL, PAGE 4
DISASTER RESPONSE. Nepalese students Dichha Rai (‘16), Sujana Shrestha (‘17), Abhineu Mathema (‘16) and Pema Lama (‘16) are working to raise funds for earthquake relief in Nepal, pictured here at the Ethnic Arts Festival. Photo courtesy of Pema Lama
Nepalese students head disaster relief efforts FRANCES STEVENSON STAFF WRITER Four Nepalese students at Luther are making efforts to raise money for their communities that were affected by the earthquakes in Nepal that took place on April 25. The four Nepalese students, Dichha Rai (‘16), Pema Lama (‘16), Sujana
Shrestha (‘17) and Abhineu Mathema (‘16) have been working in conjunction with College Ministries to raise money with the Lutheran Disaster Response. “Since the morning after earthquake, we’ve been asking people to pray and give to the Lutheran Disaster Response,” Amy Zalk Larsen said. “If you give to them—Nepal Earthquake Relief—100 percent goes directly to those impacted by the disaster. We’ve
been raising funds right away for that, asking people to give at worship services and we took a special offering at the Gospel Choir concert on May 2.” Like many other families in Nepal, Pema Lama’s family was displaced because of the earthquakes, along with the rest of their village. EARTHQUAKES, PAGE 4
Alum shares vocation of adventure KASI MISSELDINE STAFF WRITER Chuck Stark (‘06) shared his passion for adventure with an audience of students, faculty and Decorah community members in a lecture titled, “Exploring the World and Finding our Place” on Wednesday, May 6. Stark told stories from his backpacking, kayaking and rock climbing adventures throughout the U.S. and Central and South America, encouraging audience members to think about exploration in new ways. According to Stark, he was always been curious about the world around him. He described himself as a subject of his environment, wherever he happened to be. “My passion for exploring goes back to when I was a kid growing up in Storm Lake, Iowa,” Stark said. “There was a small section of woods where my friends and I would
spend the whole day. We just had this natural sense of exploration. Upon reflection, I realize it’s just a sense of curiosity about what’s around me.” Stark emphasized the important role his time at Luther played in developing this curiosity. As a student, he mountain-biked the Decorah trails, went backpacking for the first time in Patagonia and created his own interdisciplinary major, called environmental recreation. “Luther has this ‘What do you want to do? Let’s figure it out!’ attitude,” Stark said. “I had tons of support creating my major. Part of my major involved a semester abroad with the National Outdoor Leadership School, which really solidified my deep need to explore and introduced me to a world I had not previously known.” STARK LECTURE, PAGE 4
NEWS
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NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE
Students donate surplus Dining Dollars SARAH OWENS STAFF WRITER As the year comes to a close, students may be finding themselves with a large surplus of Dining Dollars, or even just a few cents left. Instead of letting them go unused or toward junk food, Launching Luther Leaders (L3) member Blaise Schaeffer (‘16) is offering an alternative. For his Change Project, Schaeffer has constructed a program called Dining Dollars for Decorah, through which a donation of any amount of students’ Dining Dollars can be given toward purchasing food for the local food pantry. Students can participate by going to the Dining Services office from May 13-19 and filling out a short form. “The people I talked to said it shouldn’t be too hard to get rolling,” Schaeffer said. “Even if we had each student donate a dollar, that’s about $2,500, and that would go really far at the food pantry.” S c h a e f f e r employed the help of several people, including Assistant Dean and L3 Adviser Jane Hildebrand (‘74) who has shown support for Schaeffer throughout his year of planning. “I think it goes back to our mission
statement for leadership,” Hildebrand said. “Leadership isn’t necessarily a hierarchical sense. All of us can be leaders in our own ways; it can be as simple as being a follower sometimes and an encourager in different things.” General Manager of Dining Services Wayne Tudor and Operations Manager Diane Narum (‘01) have also assisted Schaeffer in finalizing the details and figuring out which foods would be most suitable for the food pantry. “One of the things we determined early on, too, was that it would be most effective for us to purchase the food and give them the bulk food,” Tudor said. “Because of our purchasing power we’re able to buy pretty much everything wholesale, the dried beans and rice and pastas and that type of thing that will be repackaged into family-sized portions. It’s a lot more effective financially to purchase things in the larger quantities.” Schaeffer has an especially close connection to the First Lutheran Church food pantry. “It’s actually right across the street from my house,” Schaeffer said. “Every day they’re open it’s always packed. I think it’s really personal for me in the sense that I’ve seen it for a long time, and some people don’t understand
“Even if we had each student donate a dollar, that’s about $2,500, and that would go really far at the food pantry.” - Blaise Schaeffer (‘16)
DINING DOLLAR DONATIONS. Hannah Brosnahan (‘17) picks up her drinks at Nordic Brew, where a sign promoting Dining Dollars for Decorah is posted on the register. Sarah Owens / Chips that there are those in Decorah who maybe can’t afford to purchase enough food to feed themselves or their family. It’s a reality.” As Dining Dollars for Decorah approaches its culmination, Schaeffer reflected on how the Change Project has affected him. “One of my classes talks a lot about mental health and spirituality,” Schaeffer said. “I think this is a really spiritual aspect, being able to give back. It makes you feel better about yourself knowing that you’re helping somebody else. The power in doing something to help somebody else has really stuck out to me.”
Dining Services Marketing Intern Aaron Fargo (‘16) has been involved with Schaeffer’s project and is anticipating the effort that students put forth. “Last year I had about 100 Dining Dollars left that I was rushing to spend, and you don’t always spend them all,” Fargo said. “What better way to do something than being able to give what you have left to give back to other people in the community. Kyle Knoke (‘17) feels that the turnout by Luther students will be strong. “I think people genuinely care about others in that way,” Knoke said. “If the opportunity is there they’ll do it.”
Community celebrates Bike to Work Week ERIKA STORVICK STAFF WRITER Students, faculty and the larger Decorah community are putting their tires to the pavement this week as part of Bike to Work Week. The weeklong event, sponsored by the Winneshiek Energy District and the local Green Iowa AmeriCorps, is part of an initiative to promote bicycle commuting and to encourage people to experience the benefits of biking. “My personal goal with the event is to get more people out on bikes, enjoying the town and realizing how practical biking to commute can be,” Green Iowa AmeriCorps Outreach Coordinator Nick Chill
said. The event is part of National Bike Month, which was established in 1956 to promote the benefits of both bike commuting and recreational riding. According to Chill, Green Iowa AmeriCorps has been coordinating Bike to Work Week since 2011. This year’s Bike to Work Week will wrap up on May 15, Bike to Work Day. In honor of Bike to Work Week, AmeriCorps members have enlisted Decorah businesses to give discounts to participating customers. Showing a helmet at Java Johns can earn patrons a dollar off their orders, and patrons presenting a helmet at Oneota River Cycles will receive a flat tire repair. Even T-Bock’s is participating with $1
off tap beer. In total, 22 Decorah businesses are offering discounts. “It’s not just about biking to WORK,” the Facebook event said. In addition to giving out discounts, AmeriCorps members and Decorah businesses are organizing group trail rides and other bike-related events. On the evening of Wednesday, May 13, Decorah Bicycles led several group off-road trail rides, for various experience levels and with discounted rental rates. “It’s a very simple way to give back and reward those who are making an effort out there,” Decorah Bicycles owner Travis Greentree said. For students who commute to campus, Bike to Work Week offers extra incentives to bike into town. Many Luther students living off
campus find biking in Decorah to be their preferred mode of transportation. “Everything is within biking distance, so it makes biking really convenient,” Sam Raiche (‘15) said. “If I want to go downtown, it’s a lot easier to find places to put your bike, and it takes about the same amount of time to bike downtown as it does to drive—it’s just really convenient.” Many students living closer to campus express the benefits of biking as well. For them, biking is both a mode of transportation and a hobby. “Admittedly, I don't really need to bike the harrowingly long journey from Baker to Sam Hoff, but I do because I'm both really lazy and really like biking,” Tyler Crowe (‘15)
said. “So that's mostly the reason I bike—it turns my commute into a hobby/activity I love.” With finals week approaching, some students have viewed this event as a great study break as well. “Biking is one of the greatest stress relievers in the world.” SPOKES President and Luther College Student Biking Liaison Katie Vorderbruggen (‘16) said. “You don't have to focus on anything except the path ahead of you, plus you get to enjoy the wonderful scenery in Decorah.”
For more information on businesses participating and discounts, check out the Facebook event: Bike To Work Week – Decorah at www. facebook.com, or scan the QR code below.
NEWS
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NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE THURSDAY
Seven-Day Forecast
MAY 14, 2015 FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
R NH O HH H 56/58
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Book Shop collects books for summer reading exchange
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Life Outside Luther
DANNY MAY STAFF WRITER The Luther College Book Shop has made arrangements to donate copies of the 2012 Paideia summer reading book to Gustavus Adolphus College’s summer reading program. In turn, Gustavus will also send books to Central College. The program was initiated by Gustavus Book Shop Manager Molly Yunkers, in collaboration with Luther Book Shop Director Deanna Casterton (‘91). As Casterton explained, Yunkers approached her at a conference with the proposal to begin donating books. The two agreed that Luther will collect and send copies of Luther’s 2012 summer reading book, Rebecca Skloot’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” “The more I thought about it and brought it to my staff, we were like, ‘what a great connection,’” Casterton said. “Maybe we can get some sort of tradition going.” The donation program serves several purposes. In addition to the primary goal of sharing books, the promotion flyers hung around campus state “recycle, repurpose, reuse,” adding a sustainability component. Additionally, as Casterton explained, there is a communal aspect. “We think [the motivation behind the program] is good will,” Casterton said. “As a college book store, we are always looking for ways to connect with the Luther community, and Molly is the same way at Gustavus. But we think, ‘what a great connection between colleges, through a book exchange.’” In an email to Casterton, Yunkers explained the success of the program thus far, and the Gustavus Adolphus students’ experience with the summer reading. “Our students, faculty and staff
Another deadly earthquake spreads fear and misery in Nepal A new earthquake killed dozens of people Tuesday and spread more fear and misery in Nepal, which is still struggling to recover from a devastating quake nearly three weeks ago that left more than 8,000 dead. Tuesday’s magnitude-7.3 quake, centered midway between Kathmandu and Mount Everest, struck hardest in the foothills of the Himalayas, triggering some landslides. It also shook the capital badly, sending thousands of terrified people into the streets. Additionally, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter carrying six Marines and two Nepalese soldiers was reported missing while delivering disaster aid in northeastern Nepal, U.S. officials said, although there have been no indications the aircraft crashed.
REUSING BOOKS. Luther Book Shop Director Deanna Casterton (‘91) holds the crate of collected books. Danny May / Chips have responded and brought in their copies to donate [to Central College],” Yunkers wrote. “Our students were engaged, and I look forward to a similar experience again this fall.” Casterton explained that, tentatively, the program will not run full circle; Central College will not send Luther any books for the summer of 2015. However, that may be a possibility in the future. “That dialogue has definitely started, so that we can keep in connection with who is reading what,” Casterton said. “If we can ever connect with the same books, we would love to continue the process.” Casterton said that expanding the program to include more than just the three schools is on the horizon,
explaining that she may reach out to Wartburg College to see if they are interested. “I would love it [if more schools were involved],” Casterton said. “I think it’d be great to get several colleges involved.” Seeing as this is the first year of the donation program, only a few copies have been collected at press time. In order to promote donations, Casterton explained, the book store is offering a 25 percent discount off of one item when students donate their books. “We hope the momentum has started,” Casterton said. Copies of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” must be donated before Friday, May 22 in order to receive the discount.
Senate Democrats block action on Obama’s trade agenda Senate Democrats have dealt President Barack Obama a stinging setback on trade by blocking efforts to begin full-blown debate on his initiatives. All but one Senate Democrat defied the president Tuesday by voting to prevent consideration of his request for “fast track” trade authority. Such authority would let Obama present trade agreements that Congress could ratify or reject, but not amend. Saudi-led airstrikes don’t slow in Yemen ahead of ceasefire Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition kept up their airstrikes in Yemen on Tuesday, targeting the positions of Shiite rebels and their allies just hours ahead of the scheduled start of a five-day humanitarian cease-fire. Iran’s state news agency also reported that the navy would protect an Iranian aid ship traveling to Yemen, prompting U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren in Washington to say Tehran’s use of a warship escort was not necessary. Scant progress evident as Kerry meets Russia’s Putin Despite a cordial atmosphere, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s meetings Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister produced little evidence of progress in easing tensions on Ukraine, Syria and other issues dividing the two powers. On his first trip to Russia since the Ukraine crisis began, Kerry held more than four hours of talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a hotel in the Black Sea resort of Sochi before seeing Putin at his presidential residence in the city. Putin is in Sochi meeting with Russian defense officials for a week. UVA dean sues Rolling Stone over debunked gang rape story A University of Virginia associate dean sued Rolling Stone magazine on Tuesday for more than $7.5 million, saying a debunked account of an alleged gang rape on campus cast her as the “chief villain.” Nicole Eramo, UVA’s top administrator dealing with sexual assaults, said the lengthy and graphic magazine piece about a student identified only as “Jackie” portrayed her as more concerned about protecting the elite university’s reputation than helping victims of sexual assault. Compiled from: www.ap.org
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NEWS EDITORS: MAKEDA BARKLEY & EMILY CROWE
Stark lectures on Luther students raise explorative learning money to aid Nepal STARK LECTURE, PAGE 1 Associate Professor of Philosophy Jon Jensen (‘89) was one of the professors who helped Stark design his major. He was excited to hear about Stark’s postLuther endeavors. “Chuck has had this passion for outdoor recreation and has known what he wanted to do for a long time,” Jensen said. “It’s fun for me to learn about what he’s done and where he’s gone.” Stark currently works for the REI Outdoor School in Chicago, where he leads hikes and kayaking trips for people with minimal outdoor experience. Both on the job and off, he loves taking people on new adventures. According to Stark, he believes that exploring can happen any time, anywhere. “An adventure is anything,” Stark said. “In Chicago, there’s so much to explore that’s equally as exciting as kayaking down the river. Inviting
someone to see an amazing musician is exploring. Good artists share things that people can take something from. It’s all about being curious about something and following your curiosity.” Brady Brinkmeyer (‘16) expressed how he was inspired by Stark’s lecture. “It was really personal to hear from a Luther grad who’s pursuing what he’s passionate about, which is also what I’m passionate about,” Brinkmeyer said. “It was great to hear his personal stories.” Jensen commented on the importance of Stark’s message, especially to Luther students. “For college students, the idea of exploration and adventure are really powerful things,” Jensen said. “It’s great to hear somebody who has traveled to blank spots on the map affirm that adventure can happen close to home, and that his own love for adventure was kindled in Decorah, mountain biking along the river valley.”
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EARTHQUAKE, PAGE 1 “The way to my village is completely cut off, so I can’t really go back,” Lama said. “My whole village is gone. All of the people are fine, but all the houses are gone and with the houses, the food and other things. It would be more of a burden [to go home] than actually helping them.” Lama and the three other Nepalese students hope to reconnect with their communities and direct the money they raise to those from their home country and communities. “We are also planning on raising funds for Pema’s village next semester,” Rai said. The Nepalese students want to draw attention to the many relief organizations working in Nepal, particularly the Lutheran Disaster Response and other important organizations who give 100 percent of their proceeds to those affected by the earthquakes. “This is one time when people outside can actually help,” Mathema said. “It’s really nice since we have different ways we can help and there are many other organizations raising funds. It also helps to build a sense of community because there are students at Luther affected.”
The students hope to continue raising funds in the fall when they and other students are not distracted by finals and the end of the semester approaching, according to Larson. “[The Nepalese students] want to do more next fall,” Larson said. “They are really swamped with finals and everything. They were wondering if we could do more sustained fundraising in the fall, because that’s when its really helpful—post-media attention.” Each of the students has been affected in different ways by the earthquakes. Although they will not return to Nepal this summer, they hope to be with their families soon, according to Lama. “The winter season is starting in Nepal,” Lama said. “People have lost their houses … it is going to be so hard for them. Snow fall is going on, and without a house it will be very difficult for them.” The Nepalese students are grateful to the Luther community for their support and money that they have given, and their further support through this difficult issue, according to Mathema. “Not everyone can donate,” Mathema said. “But just spreading the word on Facebook and letting others know is helpful.”
“My whole village is gone. All of the people are fine, but all the houses are gone and with the houses, the food and other things. It would be more of a burden [to go home] than actually helping them.” -Pema Lama (‘16)
Carlson to review co-ed proposal Thursday, May 14 Faculty Recognition Dinner 5 p.m., Dahl Centennial Union Men’s Track and Field: UW-La 4 p.m., La Crosse, Wis. Crosse NCAA III Qualifier Women’s Track and Field: UW-La 4 p.m., La Crosse, Wis. Crosse NCAA III Qualifier Friday, May 15 Last day of classes All day Chapel: Vigil for Common Good
10:30 a.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall 7:00 p.m., Center for the Arts
Ultra Mega Mega: CFA Open House Saturday, May 16 Board of Regents Meeting All day Kool-Aid featuring Moo Mobile 11:30 a.m., Farwell Clearing Monday, May 18 Final Exams All day Tuesday, May 19 Final Exams All day Silent Meditation 5:15 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Melanchthon Interfaith Room Wednesday, May 20 Final Exams All day Thursday, May 21 Final Exams All day Senior Send-Off 5:00 p.m., Hotel Winneshiek Residence Halls closing for 7:00 p.m., Residence Halls students not participanting in Commencement Information from luther.edu/events
CO-ED PROPOSAL, PAGE 1 “As far as where co-ed housing is heading in the future, I think that is something we will be looking at for years to come,” Assistant Dean for Student Life and Director of Residence Life Kris Franzen said. “There has been a real push to add more co-ed housing on campus, but we frequently have trouble filling the locations we have already on campus. For example, we have only had one co-ed group application for Farwell in three years.” Lucero believes that the Baker
Village proposal is a small step in the right direction. “There are a lot of people who are upset that we aren't immediately jumping to gender-neutral housing and facilities, but I believe we will get to where we need to be with time,” Lucero said. Another area of concern is the lack of housing for transgender and non-binary students, according to Lucero. “I feel like there are zero options for transgender first -years, and a lot of transgender students are transferring from Luther for this specific reason,” Lucero said. “It is not until upper-class housing that they can begin to feel more comfortable. But even then, it is
not well advertised that you can talk about the problems you are facing with Residence Life. And single rooms in the Farwell cluster are expensive.” Student Life works one-onone with transgender students who have housing concerns. “I encourage students who do not believe their needs are currently being met or believe they can’t be met to meet with the appropriate college official,” Vice President and Dean of Student Life Corey Landstrom said. “Whether it is the Student Life Office, Residence Life, the Diversity Center or another office, college staff will work with students to identify possible options and to assist them to find a solution to their concern.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON
MAY 14, 2015
BRINGING MUSIC TO LIFE. Norsemen performed their annual concert with the Luren Singing Society and Decorah High School Senior Bass Clef 12 at Decorah Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 10. Cameron Meyferth / Chips
Norsemen perform with Decorah singers CAMERON MEYFERTH COPY EDITOR Community members filled the pews of Decorah Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 10 for the annual concert with Luther College’s Norsemen, directed by Assistant Professor of Music Andrew Last (‘97) the Luren Singers, a Decorah-based NorwegianAmerican singing society directed by Professor Emeritus David Judisch and Senior Bass Clef 12, a small men’s vocal ensemble from Decorah High School directed by Jason Rausch (‘98). According to Last, the concert was held earlier in the semester in years prior, but that timeline did not work for Norsemen this year. “It was always too early; we weren’t quite concert-ready yet, so this way we’ve had our [spring] concert [and] we know we’ll have music ready,” Last said. “I think it’s great for us to get a second shot at doing stuff that we’ve been working on. It’s not like Norsemen really gets to do a tour, so this is a great chance for them to get a second chance at doing some of
CHORAL COLLABORATION. In addition to the three ensembles, several guest musicians were featured, including Willie Leafblad (‘14) on oboe. Cameron Meyferth / Chips the literature that they’ve been working hard on all semester.” The three men’s ensembles performed a variety of vocal arrangements separately, ranging from lyrical ballads to Norwegian hymns, and even a sea shanty and a couple of folk songs. For the
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concert finale, the three groups merged and performed two pieces as one chorus. Norsemen member Lucas Wilson (‘18) expressed satisfaction with the Norsemen’s performance. “I love how the Norsemen has the flexibility to do the songs they sing, like ‘She Walks in Beauty’ and ‘When I Hear Her I Have Wings,’” Wilson said. “Beautiful pieces that are kind of slower paced, yet you can turn around and sing a song like ‘Johnny Schmoker’ where
CORRECTION In the May 7 issue of Chips, Professor of Music Daniel Baldwin ZDV PLVLGHQWLĆ HG as David Baldwin.
we’re doing actions and someone’s imitating a bagpipe, screaming at the top of his lungs.” While many Norsemen appreciated the opportunity for a second concert, Last also saw the concert as a valuable learning experience for his students. “In my view, it’s a chance that these guys could see that this can be a lifelong thing, like it doesn’t just have to stop after they leave Luther,” Last said. “So many of those guys that are up there with Luren in their 70s and 80s, I think that’s really cool, and it’s even better when we invite the Decorah High School guys to come in and do it with us; it stretches it out even further. Five of these Decorah guys are coming in to Luther next year, and it’s a great little funnel into Luther.” Luren Singers member and
Luther alum John Nelson (‘58) commented on his choral journey, having been involved in choir during his time at Luther. “I was living in Chicago and had a good friend who sang with a group called Normennenes, who I would say were the premiere Norwegian men’s group … so I started to see what was happening, singing with the club,” Nelson said. “Then I came back here, and I didn’t really know much about Luren other than the fact that it was here, and my brother was a member of Luren, so he asked, ‘Why don’t you come sing with us?’ I did that and started singing with them.” At the rehearsal immediately prior to the concert, Last reminded his students, “Remember: Sing, then preach, then pray, then shout.”
FEATURES
PAGE 6 MAY 14, 2015
FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER
Luther students volunteer at free clinic ELIZABETH BONIN STAFF WRITER On Thursday evenings, a group of Luther students convene at Decorah First Lutheran Church to volunteer at the free clinic. According to Erik Anderson (‘15), the free clinic began because there was a need in the community for those who have financial problems or no health care. “We can really make a difference in peoples’ lives and get them back to work,” Anderson said. According to volunteers, the majority of people that come to the clinic have a low income, which often affects their ability to seek medical attention. “Without the clinic, these are people who just go living their life with conditions that they shouldn’t have to live with,” volunteer Tyler Crowe (‘15) said. “It’s entirely treatable, but that treatment is inaccessible and it just has such a negative effect on the quality of life. For those people, that visit to the clinic can make a huge difference in the quality of life and their health for years.” However, the clinic is sometimes limited in what it can do. “The hardest part is when patients can’t get the care that they need because of cultural or financial reasons, or if we don’t have the facilities,” Anderson said. The clinic is funded mostly from donations. Because it is only a clinic, sometimes the volunteers can only refer patients to a hospital and hope for the best. The most rewarding part for Anderson is when they are able to help the patient. Although the clinic is a huge help, there are barriers, including language. A large number of patients come from Postville, which has many community members from Spanish-speaking countries. There are interpreters, but Elizabeth Hovden (‘15) feels that a lot can get lost in translation.
A HELPING HAND. Volunteers Tyler Crowe (‘15) and McKenna Campbell-Potter (‘16), students who are both CNAs and screeners at the clinic, demonstrate how to check blood pressure. Photo courtesy of Tyler Crowe “Although we have an interpreter, it’s still sometimes difficult to relay those questions and get a full understanding of what the patient’s complaint is,” Hovden said. “It’s difficult, too, for the patients to understand what the physicians are asking as well.” Despite the difficulties, the students enjoy the volunteer work, particularly working directly with the patients. “The stories they have are just amazing,” Crowe said. “You learn a certain level of cultural understanding. My favorite part
is interacting with the people because you get to see them in a different state.” Decorah First Lutheran also hosts a food pantry, open at the same times as the free clinic. Anderson says that the free clinic is looking for underclassmen to volunteer for roles that include screeners, interpreters, pharmacy technicians and secretaries. Any students interested in volunteering should contact the clinic at decorahfreeclinic@gmail.com.
Madame Caldwell retires after 44 years SAMANTHA PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER Professor of French Ruth Caldwell has shared her love of modern languages with Luther College since 1971. As the year draws to a close, so does Caldwell’s 44-year era teaching French, Italian and Paideia at Luther. “Favorite teaching moments for me have involved surprise, either for the students or for me,” Caldwell said. “There’s always the first time when students laugh in a beginning language class, not because of something seen but because they have understood the words in the foreign language.” When she first began her tenure at Luther, Caldwell assumed she would only stay for one year and then go on to find work elsewhere. She met the dean of the college in Paris and accepted the position as Instructor of French without ever seeing Luther before. Though she was initially taken aback by the quaintness of the school, she grew to love her new community and quickly called it home. Caldwell helped introduce courses in Italian for interdisciplinary purposes. Luther’s music department was very small when Caldwell first began, but as it grew, Caldwell identified a need for Italian to supplement the study of voice. “I pretty much put Italian on the map here,” Caldwell said. “As the music department grew, I knew that the singers were going to need that, so I went back to school and got a degree and developed courses.” In addition to teaching Italian and leading a few Paideia trips abroad, Caldwell’s main focus is on the
LUTHER LEGEND. Professor of French Ruth Caldwell works with students Hannah Dailey (‘16) and Meredith Bruster (‘17) in class. Samantha Phillips / Chips French language. “I’ve never written so much in my life,” Kurayi Mahachi (‘15) said. “It definitely was hard, but it paid off well … She drilled us like dogs.” Christine Morrow (‘16) also speaks of Caldwell’s intense teaching style. “Being in class with Madame Caldwell, you are held up to a high standard of work ethic and effort. She holds high expectations because she knows her students have the potential to reach them,” Morrow said. “It is undoubtedly clear how passionate Madame Caldwell is about the French culture and sharing it with students. All of this in mind, she is an exceptional professor who recognizes the capacity her students are able to attain as learners.” Assistant Professor of French Anne-Marine Feat has considered Caldwell a wonderful role model since the first day they met in the
Minneapolis-St. Paul airport in 2006. “I know students tend to be fairly intimidated of her before taking classes from her, because she is this living legend of modern languages at Luther,” Feat said. “But I think all of them say that once they actually get in her class, she is incredibly caring … She really wants students to do well. She is pushing them hard and she’s asking for a lot, but she really has faith that they’ll get better. And they do.” When Feat first came to Luther, she arrived without a driver’s license or an apartment. Caldwell picked her up from the airport and escorted Feat around Decorah to help her find a home. It is this kindness outside of the classroom that Feat believes makes Caldwell such an influential leader. “That’s the thing that she’s taught me—teaching at Luther is not just about being good in the classroom,
but it’s more about being a member of the community,” Feat said. “And I think that she and her husband have done that brilliantly for a number of years.” Caldwell believes that she and her students are mutual workers in the community of French learning. The most difficult part of her job is grading, since she considers her students to be far more than a letter grade. “I just feel very blessed that I have been able to do what I love as a job and share it with people” Caldwell said. “It’s a great privilege.” Though Caldwell believes her relationship with students to be just as strong as it was in the 1970’s, she has noticed some major changes in the college as a whole. “The educational enterprise at Luther has changed,” Caldwell said. “It has gotten more legalized and
corporatized. And I don’t think that that’s all that great for teaching and learning. I understand the reasons for some of the legalization, but I think it’s unfortunate.” That being said, she still believes in Luther’s mission and thinks it is “something special.” “One thing that’s great about a college like this is you can talk to people across disciplines,” Caldwell said. “You don’t just have to stay in your one department. You can work with people in other areas.” Caldwell looks forward to having more time for family, friends, thinking and writing during retirement. The modern languages department has found her replacement, but only for a one-year term. “She’s a tough act to follow,” Feat said. “She already has quite a legacy at Luther, and I’m sure that will continue.”
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER
MAY 14, 2014
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Laura Proescholdt / Chips
Luther seniors seek outdoor experiences LAURA PROESCHOLDT STAFF WRITER Annie Schlaefer (‘15), Robbie Helgason (‘15), and Jayne Pearson (‘15) are using their upcoming graduation as an opportunity to get outside. Over the next year, Schlaefer will hike hundreds of miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, Helgason will fight forest fires, and Pearson will travel to different organic farms in Latin America. Annie Schlaefer For Schlaefer, what she learned in the classroom is a driving force behind her desire to get outdoors, explore and use what she finds to leave her mark on the world. “At Luther I’ve learned a lot of stuff that I’m passionate about but have been really frustrated because I am a full-time student just selfishly learning for my own gain; it kind of bugs me,” Schlaefer said. “I feel like those passions are pent up, and I’m really ready to go and actually do something to make it better instead of just discussing it.” Schlaefer plans to hike portions of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a 2,650-mile long wilderness trail that runs through California, Oregon and Washington from the Mexican to the Canadian border over the next several months. Her plan is to hike 10-12 miles a day through this summer and possibly into the fall. Her mom, her aunt and one of her best friends will join her on certain segments of the trail. The idea of hiking the PCT has been in the back of Schlaefer’s mind since her sophomore year, when she met a woman at Holden Village in Washington who had recently finished hiking the entire trail. “It was always kind of a really out-there dream, but I just kind of kept saying that I was going to do it,” Schlaefer said. To prepare for her adventure, Schlaefer has been avidly reading guidebooks, hiking around Decorah with 50 pounds of rocks in her backpack and running daily. Despite the preparation, a few things about her
trip make her a little nervous, including finding water sources and the lack of fresh vegetables, saying of her food, “It’s going to be mushy.” Schlaefer isn’t worried about “crazy people and bears trying to eat you.” Her grandpa suggested that she bring a gun for those things—she’s not. Instead, Schlaefer fears “crazy amounts of alone time—not nature-y stuff that you think you’d be scared of.” Schlaefer is hoping that being outside each day will provide her with some insights into life. “I really seem to come to terms with things when I’m out in nature—even for just 30 minutes,” Schlaefer said. “So I feel like if I were to spend days and days [outside], it’s only going to get clearer, you know?” Robbie Helgason For the next seven months, Helgason plans to work for the U.S. Forest Service as a Type 2 wildland firefighter. He will be based near Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. After five years working in a bike shop, Helgason is ready to get outside. “The main thing is I am done working inside working for customers and retail,” Helgason said. “I’ve done that too long. I’m just trying to expand my horizons.” Helgason is excited for the constant access to wilderness. “I’m mostly looking forward to having my office be over many millions of acres of public land,” Helgason said. He got a taste of this outdoor work last summer when he worked on a trail crew with the Iowa DNR. “I have had such good experiences in the natural resources field,” Helgason said. “I just kind of want to go for that for a while and see where that takes me.” Weeklong training and a fitness test kick off Helgason’s stint as a firefighter this summer. After that, he will drive or fly to bigger fires that need attention, camping on a bulldozed patch of land at a safe distance from the flames. Helgason is well aware of the risks that come with his job. “It’s not as accident-prone as a lot of other jobs—
logging is way more dangerous—but I guess the main reason I’m concerned is I just saw this thing today about someone who was working in the unit that I’m going to work for and he died,” Helgason said. “I think that risk kind of goes with the territory. You are always going to be as safe as you can be, but it’s just an inherently riskprone job.” After four years of studying indoors, Helgason looks forward to the physicality of the job. “It’s nice to work with your hands and actually do stuff that you can see is physically manifest,” Helgason said. Jayne Pearson A study abroad experience in Costa Rica inspired Pearson to prepare for eight months of traveling throughout South America with her little brother. “I thought, ‘I need to keep traveling,’” Pearson said. “There’s a lot I want to see, and I want to keep speaking Spanish. It just took off from there. [My brother and I] both latched on to the idea.” Pearson plans to spend most of the trip “WWOOFing,” which stands for Worldwide Opportunities in Organic Farming, an organization that connects organic farmers around the globe to willing volunteers. “I guess I’ve always been intrigued with the way food is grown,” Pearson said. “Farms in general have always been an intrigue for me since I’m from the city and I love spending time in nature and I love gardening.” As these seniors—along with many others—embark on their post-grad adventures, they have some advice for other students. Schlaefer emphasizes that the plan itself isn’t necessarily what matters. “I feel like no matter what, it’s a big adventure—even if it is just taking this new job in the Cities,” Schlaefer said. “It’s a huge transition no matter what.” Helgason’s advice for underclassmen:“Be a firefighter.” Pearson advises underclassmen to take chances. “Find something that you love to do, get inspired and go after it,” Pearson said. “It may be the right choice and it may not be, but you’ll figure it out. You’re not deciding the rest of your life.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8 MAY 14, 2015
A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON
Recital honors composition students EMMA DEIHL STAFF WRITER Luther composition students presented a semester’s worth of work at their final Composition Recital on Monday, May 11. The recital featured the pieces of select students enrolled in Music 338: Composition this semester. With the guidance of Associate Professor of Music and Composer-InResidence Brooke Joyce, students explored new composition techniques this year and expanded their individual creativity, according to Joyce. “This recital does not fulfill any particular degree requirement; it is simply a venue for students to share their work publicly,” Joyce said. According to Joyce, the number of students interested in music composition at Luther has increased over the past year. This increase presented challenges to the department regarding scheduling, but the department has remained flexible, according to Joyce. “There are a total of 15 students studying composition, which is more than we’ve ever had,” Joyce said. “What we’ve done is alternate private lessons with group lessons, which gives the students more opportunities to interact and learn from each other.” Composition students have the opportunity to use the composition studio, located in Jenson-Noble Hall of Music. “The composition studio is sort of like this center of thinking about new music, so it’s really important for the livelihood and the forward thinking of the music department,” Sam Milligan (‘15) said. According to Joyce, most music departments and conservatories or schools of music at colleges have composition studios, but most only open the studios to composition majors. “At Luther, we have an open door policy across the music department,” Joyce said. “We try to accommodate anyone who wants private instruction on an instrument, or singing or composition.” When the students composed pieces for the May 11 recital, Joyce emphasized the importance of creative freedom to compose their own music. “Each project is unique to the particular student,” Joyce said. “At the beginning of the
A COMPOSITIONAL CULMINATION. Sam Milligan (‘15) performed his piece “Spiral Miniatures” with Caleb Sander (‘15) at the Student Composition Recital on Monday, May 11. Emma Deihl / Chips semester, we jointly establish goals and decide on the scope of whatever project will be the focus of the student’s work.” According to Caleb Sander (‘15), Joyce’s approach to teaching composition is both challenging and encouraging. “I can’t imagine being a composition professor because what you’re working with are the thoughts of a student,” Sander said. “The music they’re writing comes from who they are, so it’s probably hard to give advice in a positive way. Dr. Joyce has been an awesome professor in that regard. He knows when to give advice and when to step back and let us follow our instincts, and he knows how to challenge us as well.” Joyce also encouraged the students to collaborate with their fellow composition
students as well as other Luther musicians. Milligan wrote a duet featuring himself on string bass and Sander on the piano. Milligan challenged himself to write his composition in a single day. “I knew that it would be another level of intrigue if I could [compose my piece] in a day … to give myself another limitation,” Milligan said. “I think that working with limitations really pushes your creative process forward.” Sander also wrote his composition to challenge himself as a solo pianist. “The piece itself is based on trill themes, so lots of trills will be present throughout the piece. As a pianist, I’ve always struggled with trills, so I wanted to challenge myself and overcome that shortcoming,” Sander said. According to audience member Hunter
Pruger (‘18), the recital spurred his musical growth as well. “Having started this year in the composition workshop – the prerequisite to be in the studio– with two of these students, it’s been really fun being able to see how much they’ve grown in just one year,” Pruger said. According to Milligan, the recital represented a culmination of much of his music education at Luther and encouraged him to consider what role music composition may play in his future. “Working [as a music composition student] has really helped me draw connections from everything I’m interested in, and it’s just sort of made my thinking a lot more cohesive,” Milligan said. “It feels like some sort of arrival, like maybe this is something I should keep doing—it’s pretty fulfilling for me, at least.”
KWLC Retrospective:
The little basement that rocks PETER JARZYNA KWLC PROGRAM DIRECTOR At the end of this past summer, I sat down with KWLC Station Manager Carl Bates to discuss our goals for what would be our final year with Luther College’s
student-run radio station. Throughout our time at Luther, the “little basement that rocks” had brought us many great experiences and memories, and we wanted to be sure to leave it in a better place than we had found it. If there was one thing we wanted to change about KWLC, it was our role within the wider campus community. For too long, it had seemed as though our activity remained bound to the basement, and we were ready to become a more integral aspect of student culture. In a number of ways, I think this goal was met. Non-commercial college radio is a medium that thrives
on a passion for sharing. Every semester we assemble a programming schedule that showcases the unique tastes and interests of more than 50 different disc jockeys, all excited to share cutting-edge music of a variety of genres and formats. Our efforts to give exposure to these programs come from a sincere desire to share with our audience in the discovery that makes broadcasting music so rewarding to begin with. In addition to our standard music programming, the coming school year will bring the expansion of our news programming, in addition to the continuation of talk shows such
as Luther Spotlight and This Week at KWLC. Our recent Block Party was a culmination of sorts, bringing the year to a close with a sunny day of live music and good vibes, giving KWLC on-campus presence like never before. This is an event that is sure to return and grow, and we may even see a sister festival develop for the Fall
semester. While it has been a successful year, what KWLC can be is only beginning to take shape. Looking forward, Carl and I are happy to leave the station in great hands. Under the leadership of General Manager David Grouws, the KWLC team will continue to serve the Luther community in new and innovative ways.
For the best in new independent music, tune in to KWLC Radio Monday through Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. KWLC can be found at 1240AM on the radio dial or online at kwlc.luther.edu
OPINION
PAGE 9
MANAGING EDITOR: SARAH KING
MAY 14, 2015
Student seeks better campus aid for Nepal Letter to the Editor The Nepal earthquake wouldn’t mean much to me if it weren’t for my friend who’s from Nepal. It’s a hard truth, but if a disaster happened in a country I had never heard of, I would probably give it a moment of sympathy then think about my summer plans or what’s for dinner. I can’t do that this time. I stopped by her room a few days after the earthquake. After chatting a bit about my homework question she apologetically asked if she could vent. She had started organizing aid efforts using gofundme.com but it wasn’t the success she had hoped for. She asked me, “Why isn’t anyone doing anything? Nepal needs help right now.” We looked
online for videos to encourage people to donate. As we watched videos of the destruction in Nepal she casually pointed out her old dance studio and the pool she had swam in as a child. I told her I was sorry, but I couldn’t really feel what she must have felt or picture her walking down that street. When Hurricane Katrina happened, everyone rushed to help. That’s because it hit close to home. How have we forgotten what it’s like to feel helpless or hurt? How can we push aside Nepal’s pain as if it doesn’t matter? Dorje Gurung, a recent speaker from Nepal, said, “I believe in seeing the world through others’ eyes, empathising with fellow humans, being kind, being generous and being benevolent.” I think we shouldn’t just care about ourselves and our own disasters. We are in a position to make a difference in our world, so let’s make the most of it. No one has the money or time to solve all the world’s problems, but
if we could just do something, even something as small as a $1 donation and sharing a link on Facebook, I wish we would. Anna DeHerder (‘16)
To contribute to this gofundme. com account and help raise funds for Nepal relief, scan this QR code with your smartphone.
Professor calls for moments of silence in honor of fallen officers Letter to the Editor Members of the Luther community have been meeting daily at Bentdahl Commons to hold a moment of silence for “victims of police violence.” It is certainly proper to call attention to incidents in which police have acted improperly and to call for an end to racism in all forms, especially in official agencies. These moments are being held through May 14. Yet members of the community would also do well to gather for a moment of silence on May 15 – the day designated by Congress as Peace Officers Memorial Day. This moment would remember the 42 federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have died in the
line of duty through the first week in May of this year, and the 127 officers killed in 2014. The Fraternal Order of Police reports that, on average over recent decades, one law enforcement officer dies in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 53 hours. At least a few each year are killed by someone who was “unarmed.” Many of these fallen officers are also of African American, Latino or Native American descent. However, regardless of race, they died doing a difficult job that few wish to undertake. Statistically, an officer is far, far more likely to die on duty than any citizen, of any race, is likely to die at the hands of an officer. As a volunteer police chaplain for 24 years I met many officers. Sadly, some may have racial biases, and a few may abuse their authority. All sometimes make mistakes. The vast majority will never fire a weapon in an on-duty incident. But all leave their families every day to risk their lives to protect you and your community, and some do not return home. Mark D. Johns Associate Professor of Communication Studies
#NorseAware: Awareness does not stop now Letter to the Editor When our class first started thinking about how to promote discussion on the subject of sexual assault, we didn’t know where to start. At first it was tempting to take the standard route and simply give tips to women about how to protect themselves from sexual assault. The more we discussed the issue, the more we realized that we didn’t want to perpetuate the idea that it is a woman’s responsibility to protect herself. Rather, it’s on
all of us to make sure that we create a climate wherein all people feel safe and are safe. It’s easy to fall into the mentality that sexual assault isn’t our problem if it isn’t happening to us, but it is a problem for all of us. So when we sought to involve the rest of campus in our discussion, we wanted to make sure we included the idea that all of us need to work to create a safer environment for people but not sacrifice providing them with information that can help them protect themselves while we work to address the larger issue. We are very proud of how the student body has engaged with our #NorseAware campaign and have demonstrated an understanding of the complexities behind
sexual assault. Seeing all of the progress toward fostering a more complete discussion about sexual assault leaves us hopeful that even as our class ends, the student body will continue to address this issue in a more nuanced way – one that doesn’t put prevention solely on women and also addresses some of the structural issues that allow for sexual assault to be as prevalent as it is. We thank you for being a part of our ongoing discussion as we all continue to change the way we combat and understand sexual assault. Let’s keep the conversation going. #NorseAware Jack Hubbard (‘16) and Sarah Sturm (‘16)
Faults found with Paideia class, lectures LUANNA GERDEMANN COLUMNIST Hello, yes, here I am again with my social activism, but some of you may enjoy this because it’s about the class we all know and love: Paideia. Throughout this year’s course, we discussed two enduring questions: what does it mean to be human, and what can we know and how can we know our understanding is reliable? While I think these are important questions to ponder, not once did a discussion question explore more pressing questions related to today’s society about race, discrimination, gender or sexuality. Paideia is a discussion class, or so I thought. As defined by the Paideia reader, the Paideia course for first-year students is “committed to developing students’ abilities as critical readers, writers, informed speakers and researchers.” While this is all important academic curriculum, Paideia fails to comment on the social ills of today’s society. Paideia’s curriculum is stuck in the context of the text that’s being read and confined to answering the enduring question. Paideia fails to bridge the gap between the texts and how they relate to today’s society. This spring semester, we read the story “In a Grove.” The story is about a murder that occurred, in which each person involved has a different version of the event. This story also involves rape. The murder was the focus throughout the case, when really, there were two instances of foul play – sexual assault and murder. There was absolutely no discussion about rape or sexual assault; the fact that a rape occurred was completely ignored by the Paideia curriculum. The disgusting way the woman was treated after she was raped was not discussed. The wife was portrayed as hysterically emotional and manipulative, filling the mold of a stereotypical female character. The movie accompanying it, “Rashomon,” was repulsive in the way it treated the female character. There was no discussion of the movie or story’s problematic nature. While knowing that information needs to be reliable and credible, there are bigger issues to address in “In a Grove.” Paideia is a class for “seeking wisdom in community,” but only the academic kind. What does it mean to be human? According to Paideia, it means to have empathy, to love, to make emotional connections, based off of the humanlike characteristics that Frankenstein’s monster had. Here’s society’s answer to that question: to be human means not gunning someone down because of their race, accepting people’s sexuality, not blaming the victim in a case of sexual assault, treating people equally and seeing everyone as human. Paideia does not focus on contemporary social issues but the academic questions posed about the text that is being read. It has made me question if I really go to a liberal arts school. Although the Paideia course explores a variety of literature from past to present, from ocean to ocean, it fails to address the issues staring down our society in the present.
OPINION
PAGE 10 MAY 14, 2015
MANAGING EDITOR: SARAH KING
What’s in a name?
Luther College Chips
Editorial
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. The opinion section is designed to provide a forum for Chips, its staff members and the Luther community. Opinions expressed in articles, editorials and columns do not necessarily represent the views of the Chips staff. The author is solely responsible for opinions expressed in Chips commentary. Chips will not accept submitted articles or campus announcements. Submissions for letters to the editor should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document 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, 300-400 words and submitted before Sunday at 5 p.m. the week before production. Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor. Contact Chips: Phone: 563-387-1044 Fax: 563-387-2072 Email: chipsedt@luther.edu Advertising: chipsads@luther.edu Website: lutherchips.com Facebook: facebook.com/LutherChips Twitter: @LutherChips
Readers and staffers alike often ask about the name of our publication. Explaining one’s work with Chips on resumes and in conversation with extended family almost always includes disclaimers such “the student newspaper” or an equally illuminating description. While it lends to many puns for the headers of our biannual “Follies” issues, the name Chips does not explicitly label us as a news source. So, you may find yourself asking, why use it? As reporters of news, features and diverse opinions, we strive to let the chips fall where they may – a phrase hearkening to the late 19th century and the process of chopping wood, according to a 2009 post on the Chips Facebook page. A Latin
equivalent – “valeat quantum valere potest” or “let it pass for what it is worth” – used to appear in every issue. While the processes of writing and editing articles may not be as physically aggressive as woodworking, the metaphor is accurate: we meticulously chip through interviews and several drafts of each article in order to present our readers with the truth as we understand it. There are many ways to stylize the name Chips. The editorial staff uses an italicized spelling that only capitalizes the “C,” while faculty adviser David Faldet (‘79) and the current header employ an all-capital, non-italicized spelling. A 1989 staff handbook written by Professor Emeritus of English Mark Muggli capitalizes and italicizes the name before referring to the publication’s history and its “number of variant titles.” Even among those who work closely with the newspaper, there
The Norse Poll
isn’t much of a consensus when it comes to the publication’s name. Fortunately, the lack of consensus we see in the name’s history does not extend to our ongoing mission as a newspaper staff; we have always been a student-run publication with education at the heart of everything we do. From reporting relevant events and issues to hosting a public forum for our readers and helping staffers to practice their written, spoken and visual communication, Chips remains an invaluable, irreplaceable resource for the college and its community. Regardless of how one refers to our publication, we at Chips strive to provide factual, timely information that provokes further conversation across campus. It’s not the typical gazette, inquirer or times you might expect from a newspaper, but it’s still our name; it’s here to stay and we’ll keep letting the chips fall where they may.
What do you think of the name Chips?
Spring 2015 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors: Features Editor: A&E Editor: Sports Editor: Staff Writers:
Head Copy Editor: Copy Editors: Ad Representatives: Ad Accountant: Photographer: Design Technician: Web Manager: Social Media Director: Distribution Manager: Adviser:
Walker Nyenhuis Sarah King Makeda Barkley Emily Crowe Abby Carpenter Dylan Hinton Julia Joseph Cody Arndtson Elizabeth Bonin Erin Danielson Emma Deihl Matt Helm Danny May Kasi Misseldine Sarah Owens Steve Peterson Samantha Phillips Laura Proescholdt Colin Robinson Frances Stevenson Erika Storvick Elizabeth Tabaka Margaret Yapp Katie Hale Cameron Meyferth Bethany Seavers Templeton Alex Brandt Hannah Mick Tyler Hovey Cody Arndtson Samantha Ea Michael Spear Britany Thorpe Elizabeth Hurley David Faldet
“I think it could be better ... it’s a little bit old. I think we could use something newer, hip.” Jake Sund (‘17)
“It’s a catchy name ... It’s something you will remember.” Claudia Calderon (‘15)
“I’ve always thought of a bag of FKLSV <RX Ć QG VRPHWKLQJ GLIIHUHQW every time you look through it.” Tim Walch (‘16)
Dear Street Harasser LAURA PROESCHOLDT STAFF WRITER On Friday night I was walking to Whippy Dip with my friends. I wanted ice cream, maybe a hot fudge sundae or something with sprinkles. You and your friends drove past, pouring out of the windows of a white 12-passenger van. You opened a door and yelled, “Nice legs!” You asked me, “What time do they open?” Your friends laughed. You laughed. I didn’t laugh. I felt degraded and angry. I felt small and vulnerable. I was actually surprised by the ferocity of my feelings. I was surprised that my skinny frame didn’t achieve Hulk status. It was just a harmless joke, right? There’s no harm in a few slightly intoxicated college kids yelling at women on the sidewalk. Here’s the thing, though. I felt hurt because I respected you, dear Street Harasser, and I thought that you respected me, too. I understand that you feel pressure to impress your friends, that you want to fit in and be happy and do the things you think you feel you need to do to be a cool dude. Peer pressure is heady stuff, and it’s not easy to be an insecure human who just wants to be accepted. I know because I feel that pressure, too. It can compel people to do things that hurt other people. I just want you to understand, dear Street Harasser, what it’s like to be a woman. I feel afraid to walk alone at night. I don’t go places because I’m worried I will be assaulted or raped. I have to plan things out ahead of time, to tell people where I’m going to be. I tell myself to move past this fear, to grow beyond it, and I try. But then vans drive past, my friends tell me about situations that made them uncomfortable and email alerts are sent to us all (again) detailing the latest suspicious drink incident. The fear bubbles up again. That fear comes from somewhere. It comes from people who don’t realize how much power they have and that they get it by taking it from others. It comes from people
belittling other people and disrespecting them. It comes from knowing too many women who have been hurt by street harassment, sexual assault or rape. One day I might have to fear for my daughter or my niece, but I hope that is not the case. I hope that you will stand with me. I hope that all of us at Luther will stand together and change the culture of belittlement and fear. Rape culture must go. Victim blaming must go. We need to take responsibility for our capacity to promote these things and understand that we have the ability to eradicate them. This requires action from all of us as individuals. It also requires leadership from our institutions. On Friday, May 8, a safety alert was sent to the Luther College campus regarding a suspicious alcoholic beverage that caused a student to experience memory loss. This is not the first we have received about incidents like this; the last was sent on Friday, February 27. An opinion piece published in Chips on March 5 pointed out that the organization of the previous safety alert “was offensive and problematic, and emphasized victim blaming.” The writer argued that the email should have instead emphasized the danger and illegality of drugging a drink and pointed out, “The best way to avoid consuming a drugged drink is for a person to not drug the drink in the first place.” Despite these compelling arguments, there was little change in the structure of the alert sent on May 8. All of us here at Luther College are responsible for changing the culture, for creating an environment in which it is never OK to degrade another person or to put another person in danger. This is true at the institutional level as well as the level of the individual. Dear Street Harasser, we can refuse to bend to peer pressure when our friends encourage us to say or do something demeaning. We can stand up for someone when they have been put down. We can empower one another. Campaigns like It’s On Us and #NorseAware are helping us to do just that. I encourage you to check them out so that together we can make the world a better place for everyone.
SPORTS
PAGE 11
MAY 14, 2015
SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH
Football team to play in Norway STEVE PETERSON STAFF WRITER Soon after finals are over, the Luther College football team will travel across the Atlantic to play an exhibition game with the Norwegian national football team. The game stems from a partnership with Global Football. The trip, scheduled for May 26-June 3, will include 40 players, five coaches and 15 parents. Players for the Norwegian team have been selected from various club teams that compete in the Norwegian American Football Federation, and will make up the first national team that Norway has put together in about 15 years. “They’ve been playing football there for a while,” Head Coach Aaron Hafner said. “They haven’t had a team in a while, so how they’ll [play] is a little bit of an unknown.” According to Hafner, the teams plan to exchange some game film in order to better gauge what style of football the other plays. “Before every regular game we watch film of our opponents and we usually have a pretty good idea of what we are going to see,” offensive lineman Tyler Moon (‘16) said. “[So far] it’s just a little different not knowing who their key players are, or what defense/offense they’re going to run.” In preparation for their game, the Norse have had several practices in recent weeks. “The Norwegian team is going to try really hard to win, so we need to be ready to play,” defensive back Cody Berger (‘16) said. “This is a going to be a good way to prepare for our season.” Luther’s deep connection to Norway also provides special excitement for a lot of the players, according to Moon. Many of the athletes took a seven-week course on Norwegian culture to expand their knowledge of the country before they travel. “I, like many of the guys on the team, have Norwegian roots,” Moon said. “It’ll be cool to go back to the ‘homeland.’”
FOOTBALL ON FOREIGN SOIL. Luther’s football team will play the Norwegian national football team on their trip to Norway May 26-June 3. Bre Pierce / Photo Bureau Aside from football, part of the trip’s focus is to expand Luther athletes’ cultural knowledge and experiences, according to Hafner. The trip will include visits to the Roskilde and Viking Ship museums as well as an excursion into the Norwegian fjords. Before heading to Oslo, however, the team will fly into Copenhagen for a few days to experience the Danish culture, working on a service project and having practices as a team. The Norse team also plans to conduct clinics with the Danish Football Federation and Norway American Football Federation. “We’re going to be showing them some drills,” Hafner said. “It’ll be a good opportunity for them to learn a bit more about
American football.” After the game, the two teams will join together for a celebration of sport and culture. Despite the two teams’ differences, players don’t seem to be worried about not being able to connect with the other athletes. “Sports can cut through language and cultural barriers,” Moon said. Even with all of the other plans, the main purpose for this trip is football, and coaches and players alike are focused on the sport they love. “Even though this game won’t go on our record, it’s still important to us to play hard and represent Luther and American football in the most positive way,” Moon said.
Norse of the Week
JULIA JOSEPH SPORTS EDITOR Anna Burke (‘15) won the heptathlon at the IIAC Championships May 7-9. Burke also received the ‘Most Valuable Field Events Performer,’ an award that the coaches from each team in the Conference vote on after the meet. Burke will compete in the NCAA Div. III Outdoor National Championships May 21-23. Chips: What performance are you most proud of from Conference? Burke: Probably the high jump. That was a huge personal record (PR) for me, and I’m really happy about it. The whole weekend in general I PR’d in the hep by a lot so I guess the hep, but I’m most proud of Anna Lampe (‘15) for winning the 400 hurdles. If you could re-do one event, which would you choose and why? I didn’t throw very well in the javelin or the shot put. I’d probably re-do the javelin before the shot put. If you could take out one event in the hep and switch it with something else, what would it be? I would take out the 200 and put in the 400 hurdles. Will you do anything different in your training for Nationals? I’m going to follow Coach’s plan. We’ll probably do more technique stuff. If it’s
NATIONALS-BOUND. Anna Burke (‘15) competing in the 400 hurdles after winning the heptathlon at the Conference Championships May 7-9. Photo courtesy of Erin Ellefsen working, don’t change it, I say. Whatever Coach Wettach writes out, I’m happy to do, but I’m not sure what that’ll be. How do the coaches help you throughout each event? The coaches are the best part of Luther track & field. Coach Wettach knows what to tell me technique-wise. Particulary in the jumping events, he gives me little things to tweak to get to that next level of competition. He’s such an awesome coach that you completely trust in what he’s telling you to do. Doug knows what to say to make you calm down. Vaughn is the emotional coach. They work together; I can’t tell you how great they are while you’re competing.
How do you make track & field more of a team sport? The best part of track & field is that there are so many events. It’s so diverse that you can take a step back and say, ‘dang, they’re doing something that I can’t do or better than I can do it and that’s amazing.’ If you have awe for your teammates, you’re going to be a better teammate. Just being thankful to have so many teammates and so many laughs and memories is another big thing that makes it great. Do you have any pre-meet rituals you do? I have my Norse clippy that I wear before every meet. I have the same sports bra that I
wear on day one and the same sports bra for day two. I have my warm-ups, but I tweak them depending on how I’m feeling that day so it depends on the day. What is the biggest challenge doing multi-events? You have to focus on the event that you’re doing and not think about the events you’ll have to do later. Having the mental endurance to stay focused and the drive to do your best in the event and being able to switch to the next event. If you do bad in one event and dwell on that, then you’re done. Every event is important. Staying mentally in the game for two days straight is a challenge. Why did you first decide to do the multievents? Coach Wettach brought it up to me when I was a prospy. I thought it sounded cool, and I’d done all the events except javelin at least once or twice in high school. What will you miss most about track & field? Anna Lampe and Leah [Broderick (‘15)]. They’re the best part of track & field. They’re the best teammates ever. None of us would be as good without the rest of us pushing each other in practice and also joking around. They’re amazing people. Track practice is the best part of the day and I, for one, don’t want to leave. The coaches are fine too, but I can’t describe how great those two are. What has been the highlight of the season? Honestly, seeing Leah’s face when we drove out there and surprised her at Nationals. I didn’t know I could surprise someone like that, and it was fun watching her compete. I love practices. Every single day it’s the only place I want to be, and I hate leaving at the end. The whole season has been a highlight. Other than being injured, this has been the perfect season.
SPORTS
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Luther competes at Conference
Weekly Standings Softball
#4 Luther #16 Central Simpson Coe Buena Vista Dubuque Loras Wartburg
IIAC 12-0 9-3 8-6 7-7 6-8 5-9 4-10 3-11
Recent Scores
Overall 38-6 34-10 31-12 24-16 18-20-1 15-27 19-19 22-17
May 10 vs. Linfield L 0-8, 2-4 May 9 vs. St. Thomas W 3-2
LEADING THE PACK. /HIW 7ULFLD 6HUUHV ç ZRQ WKH ZLWK D WLPH RI DQG WKH . ZLWK D WLPH RI DW 6LPSVRQ &ROOHJH Photo courtesy of Erin Ellefsen ERIN DANIELSON STAFF WRITER Lutherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s baseball and track & field teams competed in their respective Iowa Conference Tournaments May 7-9. The tournaments were the culmination of the baseball season, but a few members of the track & field team will compete in the NCAA III Outdoor National Championships May 21-23. Baseball The Luther baseball team ended their season placing fifth and scoring a spot in the IIAC Championships. The team beat Buena Vista 5-0, lost to Wartburg 6-7 and finished their season after losing to Loras 0-2 on Friday, May 9. The team ended the season 15-16 in conference play. Head Baseball Coach Bryan Nikkel said the depth of the team this season, with a roster of 50 players, helped to create a well-rounded squad. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a lot of seniors that play, so they are pretty hungry for this,â&#x20AC;? Nikkel said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is the first time being in the tournament since they were freshmen, so they really wanted to get back into this tournament. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always fun when you have a group like that, that really wants it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking forward to seeing what they can do.â&#x20AC;? Coming into Nikkelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first season as head coach, the team was ranked eighth in the conference. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before we started conference, our coach gave us a sheet and it had us dead last in the IIAC projections,â&#x20AC;? pitcher Teddy Klingsporn (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17) said â&#x20AC;&#x153;We took that as motivation. It started in the fall with him [Nikkel] coming in with a new coaching style, and it was just a lot more intense, and we had a sense of urgency throughout the whole year, but I think the sheet gave
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us a lot of motivation to make a run.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Luther has had a rich history of success in all of its athletics,â&#x20AC;? Nikkel said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once you get in that tournament, basically anything can happen. That was a big goal of ours, to be in the top six at the end of the year.â&#x20AC;? Track & Field The menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s track & field teams traveled to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa to compete in the IIAC Championships. The teams finished seventh and third, respectively, clenching four conference titles in the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heptathlon, 1500, 5K and 400 hurdles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been here, this is the most competitive that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been,â&#x20AC;? sprinter Peter Krumm (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16) said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just really exciting to see us as we are, knowing where we were in January and how out-of-shape we were. Just to see the progression that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made over these last several months and the way weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown as a team and individually as athletes.â&#x20AC;? Head Track & Field Coach Jeff Wettach (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;79) attributes much of the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success and growth this season to the studentathletes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Across the board, our student-athletes at Luther are so coachable,â&#x20AC;? Wettach said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They are intelligent and they understand that this is good stuff. If they follow the plan, great things can happen, and the
leadership on the team this year has just been amazing.â&#x20AC;? Along with being a team that is excited to learn and improve, the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s track teams are known for having some of the largest rosters in the conference. The pure size of the team helps to cultivate a friendly but competitive group of athletes, according to Krumm. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ever since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been at Luther Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve felt that the team is really close,â&#x20AC;? Krumm said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can be really competitive when we want to be, but we can also be a group of friends. We all have similar goals and at the same time have these individual goals that drive us.â&#x20AC;? To help the athletes achieve their goals, Wettach uses a quote or phrase every practice for his athletes to keep in mind as they step on the track. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My phrase I used this weekend was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dance with the one that brung yaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which essentially means, keep doing the things that got you here,â&#x20AC;? Wettach said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These athletes have done some great things to get to this point, so even though itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a championship meet and they are keeping score, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still a 400 meter track, the shot put circle is still 7 feet across, the long jump board is still 8 inches wide, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put pressure on to have to do more. I just wanted them to keep doing the things that they do well.â&#x20AC;?
Baseball
#14 Wartburg Coe Central Buena Vista Luther Loras Simpson Dubuque
IIAC 20-8 17-11 16-12 15-13 14-14 13-15 10-18 7-21
Recent Scores
Overall 32-12 31-12 25-16 25-16 20-23 21-22 14-25 12-28
May 8 IIAC Tournament vs. Loras L 0-2 May 7 vs. Wartburg L 6-7
Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tennis #36 Coe Luther Central Wartburg Dubuque Buena Vista Simpson Loras
IIAC 7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-7
Recent Scores
Overall 21-7 15-12 8-9 9-15 7-14 4-15 4-16 0-15
May 1-2 IIAC NCAA Qualifier Tournament Runner-Up
Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tennis #36 Coe Luther Wartburg Central Loras Simpson Dubuque Buena Vista
NEVER STOP SWINGING. Joe Silversmith (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17) and the baseball WHDP ORVW LQ WKH Ä&#x2020; UVW JDPH DJDLQVW :DUWEXUJ EXW FDPH EDFN WR ZLQ RQ $SULO Will Heller / Photo Bureau
IIAC 7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-7
Overall 21-7 15-10 11-10 11-8 7-10 6-15 4-9 0-10