CHIPS September 15, 2016

SUMMER RESEARCH

FEATURES 6

A&E 8

LUTE PERFORMANCE

VOLLEYBALL STARTS SEASON

SPORTS 11

LUTHER COLLEGE

CHIPS

“Let the chips fall where they may.”

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Serving the Luther College community since 1884.

VOLUME 139, NO. 1

Flooding cuts first-year Bedbugs immersion trips short discovered

in Farwell ANA ITZEL LOPEZ STAFF WRITER

which was spending the night at the Decorah campground, had difficulties communicating with Assistant Director of Center for Sustainable Communities and Staff Instructor Emily Neal, who is in charge of coordinating the immersion trips.

“We had a satellite that could send messages to [Neal],” Mueller said. “We were trying to tell her that we were ok but the satellite didn’t work under the pavilion. You can’t go outside with the satellite when there’s lightning because it becomes a lightning rod.”

Bedbugs were reported to the Farwell Hall Residence Life staff on Sunday, Aug. 28.

Residence Life staff, Facilities Services and pest control have since located and eliminated the bedbugs.

An anonymous Farwell resident made the first report after displaying symptoms of bedbug bites. According to Assistant Dean for Student Life and Director of Residence Life Kris Franzen, there were no prior reports of bedbugs in the building.

“Before that Sunday morning report, we had 145 early arrival students living in Farwell with no reports of any suspicious bites or bugs,” Franzen said.

According to Franzen, later that night a second report was made to Farwell Area Coordinator Nicholas Lauer. A canine team trained to detect bedbugs was then brought into Farwell, leading to the location of the bedbugs.

Franzen said that after the discovery of the bedbugs, Residence Life barred students from staying in rooms on floors with bedbugs.

Students about to move in were also notified and temporarily placed in other residence halls.

“Phone calls were also placed to students that were on their way to campus to move into the suite,” Franzen said. “Residents of the affected suite were offered temporary housing in other locations until the suite could be fully inspected the next day.”

IMMERSION, PAGE 4

BEDBUGS, PAGE 4

Members of one of the Uper Iowa immersion trips cut short due to flooding float down the Upper Iowa River in their canoes.

Photo Courtesy of Jana Mueller (‘19) JACOB WAREHIME NEWS EDITOR Two of the seven first-year immersion trips were cut short this summer due to the flooding that took place on the night of Aug. 23.

Jana Mueller (‘19) was a student leader on one of the Upper Iowa immersion trips, which started at Old Bluffton and was scheduled to end at Canoe Creek, just north of Decorah. The group was spending the night at Pine Bluff 4-H camp when the flooding started. According to Mueller initially, no one was concerned by the rain because there were cabins at the campsite in which

they could seek shelter.

“It started to rain pretty heavily,” Mueller said. “But we were just playing games in the pavilion, eating s’mores and having a little campfire.

Our tents were three inches underwater so we were like, ‘let’s just sleep in the cabins tonight.’”

Mueller’s co-leader, Lucia Holte (‘17) said that the students enjoyed the situation at the time.

“It didn’t stop raining,” Holte said.

“But it wasn’t really a problem at that point. Actually, it was a lot of fun.”

However, as the storm got worse, conditions for the groups also worsened. Both the group staying at Pine Bluff and the other group,

FEMA advises Luther to raise levee BEN SELCKE STAFF WRITER Following a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) review of Decorah’s levee system, Luther College was told their levees did not meet standards and therefore are not accredited by the agency.

While FEMA does not require Luther to improve the levee system, Luther has moved forward with a plan to raise the height of the levee system--which includes Dike Road and the dike that sits between Gateway Prairie and the athletic fields--by roughly four feet.

Vice President for Finance and Administration Eric Runestad said that Luther is committed to providing sufficient protection to lower campus.

“We are looking at longer range plans to make some improvements to Regents Center,”

Runestad said. “We think it’s important to make sure that the levee is as strong as it can be. The FEMA standards are the standards we want to hold to as much as we can afford to.”

While the announcement to raise the levee coincides with the recent flooding, the decision to raise the height of the levee has been in the works for some time. Director of Facilities Services Jay Uthoff said Luther wanted to start this project since last year.

Uthoff also said that Luther is now in the early stages of project planning, which includes conducting engineering studies of the levee system.

Uthoff also added that Luther expects to have the project finished in the near future, potentially as early as next year.

LEVEE, PAGE 4

Dike Road, which runs through lower campus, is part of Luther’s levee system.

Ben Selcke (‘18) / Chips

NEWS

PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME

Nordic Choir to have three interim directors

First-years conduct joint service project

Nordic Choir performs at the end of last spring semester.

LIZZIE GARVIN STAFF WRITER & DANNY MAY NEWS EDITOR Luther’s Nordic Choir will have three interim directors for the 2016-2017 academic year. In this “Year of Artistic Partnership,” Visiting Professor of Music Ann Howard Jones, Guest Director Jeffrey Douma and Guest Director Kenneth Fulton will share duties as the college searches for a full-time director.

The three directors will split their tenure over fall semester, January Term, and spring semester. Howard Jones will direct Nordic Choir in the fall, Douma will direct over January Term and Fulton will direct in the spring.

Prior to her time at Luther, Howard Jones was the choral director for Boston University for 23 years, and prior to

that she was Robert Shaw’s assistant in leading the Atlanta Symphony Chorus for 15 years. Nordic Choir President Cecilia Shutt (‘17) attested to Howard Jones’s adeptness.

“I was nervous coming into the year with a new director, but it’s really been a seamless transition,” Shutt said. “Her rehearsal style makes complete sense and we have a good sound. She’s really personable and we really like her.”

Howard Jones’s familiarity with Luther reaches back to her days as a Dorian Music Festival participant in high school. She returns to the area as Luther’s first female conductor of Nordic Choir.

“I don’t think of myself different from any man [who] stands up in front of a choir and conducts” Howard Jones said. “It doesn’t have anything to do with gender. Nobody says you have to be a man to be a conductor. But certainly there aren’t very many

Visiting Professor of Music Ann Howard Jones conducts Nordic Choir’s rehearsal.

Lizzie Garvin / Chips

Annika Vande Krol / Photo Bureau [women who] are allowed this opportunity, so I feel flattered to be invited.”

Howard Jones will be coordinating with other music faculty for Christmas at Luther before returning to retirement when Douma leads Nordic Choir for January Term. Howard Jones will begin working on tour pieces this fall so the choir does not learn its entire tour in one month. Douma will be taking time off of his job teaching at Yale to take Nordic Choir on tour.

At January Term’s conclusion, Douma will resume his position at Yale and Fulton will direct Nordic Choir during the spring semester. Prior to retirement, he acted as Director of Choral Studies at Louisiana State. He was selected to direct Nordic Choir in the spring because they will perform Bach’s “Mass in B Minor,” which will include both Symphony Orchestra and Nordic Choir. Fulton has experience in directing works for both chorus and orchestra.

The three interim directors each bring different conducting styles to the table.

“This is an opportunity to work with some of the best, most experienced, brightest choral musicians in the country,” Associate Professor of Music and College Organist Dr. Gregory Peterson (‘83) said. “I think it shows the different approaches [with] which choirs can be conducted. It’s not just one way or one style. For those students who want to become teachers and conductors, it’s an invaluable experience.”

First-years pose with the blankets.

Photo courtesy of Branna Elenz (‘17)

EMILY CROWE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

receive to the places that will really need them, both in and out of country depending on the need.”

The project was received well by the first-year students as well.

“I especially like that the project was for Lutheran World Relief because I know that they will do good things with the blankets,” Susie Wold (‘20) said. “It’s also cool to be a part of such a large group of giving people.”

According to Hilger, the project was selected because it allowed for many students to participate and because it created a high volume of blankets that can now be sent around the world.

“I liked doing the blankets over some other service projects I’ve done because I feel like blankets can provide a lot for the recipient and it will last for a long time,” Wold said.

“They can also be shared.”

This was the first year of orientation to include a full-class service project, but it won’t be the last, according to Elenz.

“It was our first year doing the project so I was a little worried going into the event, but overall it was a big success,” Elenz said. “We learned things as we went and by the end, the result was smooth and successful.”

The SAC Service co-chairs hope to do a service project with the incoming first-year students again next year, of which Wold approves.

“I hope they do a similar project again because it makes you feel good, and it’s cool to do it with so many other people in the same situation,” Wold said.

The entire first-year class participated in a service project on Tuesday, August 30, creating 118 blankets for Lutheran World Relief.

The Student Activities Council (SAC) Service group hosted the endeavor.

A part of the first-year orientation activities, the service project had been in the works since last year.

“Throughout the spring last year, [Director of Student Activities and the Union] Trish Neubauer, Jane Hildebrand (‘74) and I were bouncing around ideas,” SAC Service Co-Chair Brooke Hilger (‘17) said.

“We knew we wanted to work with Lutheran World Relief and finally settled on making tie blankets after many debates and meetings.”

SAC Service has always been a part of orientation week, but in the past the event has been a welcome dance.

Hilger said a service project was a better fit for the committee.

“We wanted to hold an event on orientation day that represented what our committee does,” Hilger said.

The project also allowed SAC Service to work with College Ministries.

“The goal of the project was to help first years get a good start to the year, and most importantly to show them that this is what Luther College is about: working together to help others,” SAC Service CoChair Branna Elenz (‘17) said. “And, Lutheran World Relief is just a great organization that does a good job of actually sending the items they

NEWS

PAGE 3

NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME THURSDAY

Seven-Day Forecast

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

H R H B B H H 63/75

58/74

53/74

59/75

Enrollment decreases again

60/78

57/74

54/72

Life Outside Luther Hillary Clinton comes down with illness After a sudden departure amidst a September 11 memorial ceremony on Sunday, Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton has been diagnosed with pneumonia. Republican opponent Donald Trump’s has been pressuring Clinton regarding her health and medical records.

Kerry creates agreement with Russia regarding Syria Secretary of State John Kerry struck a deal with Russia to reduce killing in Syria, increasing tension between Kerry and the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter is apprehensive about the United States working with Russia to decrease violence in the Middle East. Details of the deal include communication between the American military and Russian officials in Moscow regarding Islamic State targets in Syria.

The class of 2019 poses for a photo during Welcome Weekend last year.

SHASA SARTIN STAFF WRITER & DANNY MAY NEWS EDITOR Luther’s 2016-2017 first-year and transfer student enrollment has decreased from last year, following a trend of fluctuation since 2013.

Luther’s class of 2020 is comprised of 548 students, compared to 634 last year, which is a decrease of 86 students. Conversely, contending schools Carleton College and St. Olaf College have experienced enrollment increases over the last year. Vice President for Enrollment Management Scot Schaeffer explained that prior to 2014, Luther experienced three years of enrollment growth. Luther experienced a decrease in 2014, an increase in 2015, followed by this year’s decrease. This is one of the smallest classes at Luther in over 10 years.

“We took the hit this year,” Schaeffer said. “Our goal is to go back up.”

Schaeffer explained that there

is a smaller pool of students in the Midwest who are graduating high school and pursuing higher education, which has an impact on recruitment and enrollment numbers.

“We are in the second-most competitive market for recruiting college students,” Schaeffer said.

“We’re in an area of the country where there’s been high school graduate decline. The Northeast is worst, the Midwest is the second worst.”

Despite fluctuation in student enrollment in the past few years, Vice President and Dean for Student Life Corey Landstrom explained that Luther has performed well in student retention, keeping between 84 and 88 percent of students in the past few years, compared to the 2012 national persistent rate of 58 percent.

Smaller incoming classes affect the institution as a whole. As on-campus housing takes precedence over offcampus, students intending to live off-campus in their upperclassmen years are relegated to Luthersanctioned housing. “[A smaller entering class means] less money for the school,” Mallory

Will Heller / Photo Bureau Carr (‘17) said. “I knew sacrifices would likely have to be made across campus to make up for the enrollment deficit. Seniors get most affected by that shift since most have been patiently waiting for the opportunity to live in a place better suited for students about to be more responsible and independent living on their own after graduation.

Being excited for that chance for three years now, it was definitely disappointing to learn that I’d be forced to live in a dorm again.”

Landstrom acknowledged sentiments such as Carr’s on the effects of decreased enrollment, citing fewer triple rooms in Brandt Hall as an example of housing consequences.

“Perhaps the most direct effect on students when we have smaller classes is their housing,” Landstrom said. “As with the current senior class and those following, the opportunity to live off campus during the senior year is negatively impacted. This year, no students were released to live off campus and we anticipate this will continue into the foreseeable future.”

First-Year and Transfer Student Enrollment By Year

School/Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Carleton 531 535 529 522 494 522 Luther 667 680 668 595 634 548 St. Olaf 784 894 732 802 794 830

Graphic

by Danny May (‘17). Information courtesy of Carleton, Luther and St. Olaf Colleges. Accessed 09/12/16.

Average U.S. household income increases The median U.S. household’s income in 2015 increased by 5.2% from 2014, now sitting at $56,500 as poverty numbers also decreased. Health insurance coverage also spread across the nation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2015 numbers are the largest year-to-year increase since record keeping began in 1967.

Russian hackers unveil medical info on U.S. athletes Russian hackers infiltrated the World Anti-Doping Agency’s database and released detailed information of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams and Olympic Champion gymnast Simone Biles. The hackers revealed special medical exemptions for the star American athletes, including those for banned substances. These hacks were reportedly driven by revenge, as over 100 Russian athletes were banned from the 2016 Rio Olympic games last month.

Trump announces new familial policies Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump released new plans Tuesday night for the compensation of working parents, namely six weeks of mandatory paid maternity leave in addition to expanded tax credits to help pay for child care.

Trump’s new proposals emphasize his efforts to attract the support of female voters of which he has thus far been deprived.

NCAA removes championships from North Carolina The National Collegiate Athletic Association announed that it will retract the seven championship events originally scheduled to take place in North Carolina this academic year as punishment for the state’s laws limiting the rights of gay and transgender people. The decision has caused uproar in the sportspassionate state.

Compiled from: nytimes.com

NEWS

PAGE 4

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

NEWS EDITORS: DANNY MAY & JACOB WAREHIME

Plans to raise levee move forward LEVEE, PAGE 1 “Most of the work hopefully will happen next summer, ideally all next summer, and then accreditation will happen into the fall,” Uthoff said. “[FEMA] tells us what we need to do, we build [the levee] to that level and then they come back and verify that it was done. Then it can get accredited.”

Although the planned improvements have been in the works for some time, lack of funding has kept the project from moving forward.

Associate Professor of Art Benjamin Moore (‘02) and a member of Luther’s faculty-run Land Use Committee said that Luther would have gone forward with the extension earlier if they had the means to do so.

“If [Luther] would have had enough money in the facilities budget they would have done it last summer,” Moore said. “There just wasn’t the funds.”

Moore also added that budgetary restrictions for projects such as the levee expansion are often complicated by lack of donations.

“That’s always the problem of fundraising,” Moore said. “It’s really easy to raise money for a baseball field or a room that has your name on it, but for project like [the levee construction] it’s really hard to raise money.”

According to Runestad, last year Luther was able to set aside enough money to fund the project, which is the why the project is finally moving forward.

“We have, with the Board of Trustees, designated some of last year’s year-end dollars to help pay for the project,” Runestad said. “So hopefully that will be sufficient. We’re estimating a cost in the range of about $350,000.”

As it currently stands, the college is hoping to have the project completed as early as next year.

Areas like the baseball diamonds will be better protected against flooding in the future with an improved levee system.

Photo Courtesy of Luther.edu

Flooding cuts trips short IMMERSION, PAGE 1 Students at the campsite in Pine Bluff spent the night in an on-site cabin while the students at Decorah Campground spent the night in a van before being evacuated to campus in the middle of the night.

Mueller said that when she and Holte woke up the next morning, they received word that their group was getting picked up immediately

due to the rising waters.

As a result of both the flooding and rapid evacuations, both groups had their canoes swept down the river as well as a few tents and some assorted personal items.

“The group staying at [Decorah campground] actually lost a majority of their gear because the river rose so fast,” Neal said.

In total, seven canoes were lost, three of which were rentals

David Peterson (‘20) and Tully Morrison (‘20) on the Upper Iowa River.

Photo Courtesy of Jana Muller (‘19)

from Hutchinson Farm Farm Campground.

Despite the inclement weather, both groups were able to make the best of their situations. After returning back to Luther, students visited areas in Decorah most affected by flooding and assisted community members whose houses had flooded.

Neal said that even though the two immersion trips were cut short, the students still had many of the same bonding experiences the trips are designed to foster.

“I think the students had a great time,” Neal said. “Even though their trips got flooded out and cut short, I think they found ways to bond. It’s always a bonding experience when you have to go through something that you don’t expect.”

Jessica Carpenter (‘20), a student who was part of the group which spent the night in Pine Bluff, says that even though her trip didn’t go as planned, she felt that she benefited from the experience.

“I wouldn’t change anything,” Carpenter said. “The memories are great. Like when we all had to crowd into the vans, it was kind of exciting. It gave me good relationships, good friends and good memories.”

Mueller echoed this sentiment, adding that the experience was reflective of the nature of college.

“I think it’s kind of symbolic of how college goes,” Mueller said.

“Things aren’t going to go how you plan, but I think it’s important to be able to think on your feet and to be able to keep a clear head in hard times. It was stressful, it was definitely stressful. But I loved it.”

Bedbugs found in Farwell BEDBUGS, PAGE 1

Farwell resident Abigail Mark (‘18) was one of the affected students. Mark was not allowed access to her belongings until the room was cleaned by pest control.

“It was a little stressful because I was here for orientation,” Mark said. “I had already been here a week. I was already all moved in and settled and all of a sudden I couldn’t use anything from my room.”

Mark was temporarily placed in Brandt Hall.

Mark said that Residence Life staff and other fellow students were helpful and kind during this period.

“I’m very glad that they had somewhere for me,” Mark said. “The staff was really helpful. They made sure I had everything I needed. I could tell it was stressful for the hall director and everyone involved in it so I really tried to stay positive.”

After students on the affected floors were relocated to other residence halls, Residence Life worked with a bedbug detection and control company to get rid of the bugs through a procedure which exposed the rooms to high temperatures for around four hours.

Mark, along with the other students displaced, moved back in to Farwell on Saturday Sept. 3.

According to Franzen, a total of three clusters in Farewell were affected, and 12 students were temporarily housed in other residence halls.

Franzen advises students to report any suspicion of bedbugs to Health Services and Residence Life and to take precautionary measures when sleeping at hotels or buying new furniture.

Farwell Area Coordinator Nicholas Lauer declined to comment.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 5

A&E EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Alumni art displayed in Preus Library

Elizabeth Glennon (‘19) observes artwork in Preus. A reception will be held for the alumni whose art is featured in the exhibit during Homecoming weekend. The gallery is on the first floor of Preus Library.

Katrina Meyer / Chips

The exhibit will be displayed in Preus Library on the first floor from Sept. 5 to Oct. 13.

KATRINA MEYER STAFF WRITER

The exhibit on the first floor on Preus Library recognizes alumni who are celebrating big reunions coming up this Homecoming.

Gallery Coordinator David Kamm selected the alumni who are invited to present their art. “[The artists in the exhibit] are alumni who already have work in the fine arts collection at Luther and are also celebrating reunion years,” Kamm said.

Associate Professor of Art History and Curator of Fine Arts Collection Kate Elliott explained the process of alumni getting their art into the collection.

“We collect artwork from art faculty here, and also alumni who have gone on to have professional art careers, not just any alumni, those that are working in studio art as their career,” Elliott said.

According to Kamm, Luther is presenting the art exhibit in a

place where many other alumni are expected to come during Homecoming, as Kamm explains.

“Around homecoming time, a lot of people wander back through the library because they’ve all had some experience there,” Kamm said. “It’s a place they know, and that they’re familiar with — where they want to see what’s going on.

There’s high visibility for the show in that space.”

This exhibit has a number of benefits for the Luther community. Professor of Art Richard Merritt noted that one of the main goals is for current art students to see the possibilities for their futures.

“It’s really fun,” Merritt said.

“You get to see the success stories.

It’s a big thing [for current art students] to get to see someone who has continued making work and is still actively engaged in the arts.”

Associate Professor of Art Benjamin Moore believes the most important message for the students is to keep making work.

“Generally the artists that show in these are just artists who never stopped making work,” Moore said. “They’re not necessarily making specific pieces for this alumni show. They are still making work.”

Art minor Paige Putnam (‘18) is in charge of the exhibit. She

believes this exhibit could have an impact on her fellow students.

“It gives students something to look forward to in their future careers,” Putnam said.

Current students are not the only ones who gain from these exhibits. One of the alumni being featured in the exhibit is Ryan

Nord Kitchen (‘11). “[The exhibit]meant a lot to me,” Kitchen said. “Luther was a good time in my life, and I have a lot of respect for the art professors there, and if it weren’t for Ben Moore and Richard Merritt, I don’t think I would have even have chosen an art major.”

For current art students that are hoping to follow in Kitchen’s footsteps, he has some words of advice.

“Draw as much as you can,” Kitchen said. “Draw every day.

Just keep going, and if your work’s not where you want it to be, just keep working towards it.”

A piece by Derrick Gagliardi (‘91) that is on display in Preus Library for the Sept. 5-Oct. 13 exhibit.

Photo courtesy of Luther.edu

FEATURES

PAGE 6 SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

FEATURES EDITOR: FRAN STEVENSON

Students discuss summer research DMITRY VORONA STAFF WRITER More than 40 Luther students participated in eight-week research projects on campus this past summer. Research topics varied from pricing strategies for liberal arts colleges to assessment of stellar data collected from the telescope in Valders Hall of Science.

The research presented an opportunity to understand what graduate level research may look like.

According to Professor of Biology Kirk Larsen, research done over the course of the summer differs from the research done during the semester.

“During the school year students have limited amount of time.” Larsen said. “You have them do research projects in class but it is usually nowhere near as in depth as the type of research students do over the summer. Eight hours a day, five days a week can get a lot of work done over the summer.”

The implications of summer research go beyond the eight weeks in June and July.

“Only when you are doing research are you fully understanding science,” Associate Professor of Biology Eric Baack said. “Most graduate programs would ask ‘Have you done research?’ If

Professor of Biology Kirk Larsen works in the prairie with summer student researchers in the field.

Photo Courtsey of Nicole Powers (‘14) not, you need to do so before you apply.”

Physics and mathematics double majors, Erik Floden (‘18) and Kevin Honz (‘18), analyzed stellar data from the telescope in Valders this summer and recognized the intellectual potential of summer research.

“The amount of time you spend struggling to work

on research really helps to increase your passion about whatever it is,” Floden said. “I have really developed passion for these stars that I haven’t really cared about.”

Nevertheless, students who are not interested in graduate work can benefit from summer research.

“One valuable skill that students can take with

Matthew Peterson (‘17) doing Biology summer research.

them is understanding how to approach open-ended problems,” Associate Dean and Director of Faculty Development Jeffrey Wilkerson said. “No matter what you are going to do as a job, you are better at that job if you have the skill of being able to approach a problem that you don’t have an answer to.”

Economics major Linnea

Photo Courtesy of Kirk Larsen

Peterson (‘17) conducted research on modeling macroeconomic processes and attributes new skills she aquired to her summer research project.

“I have learned how to design a project and how to keep going with a project,” Peterson said. “A 300-hour long project is just so much bigger than everything else I have done and everything else that I have designed for myself. Planning a project in advance is mostly what I learned.”

Economics and management double major, Bethany Noltner (‘17) researched pricing strategies for liberal arts colleges and praises independent work as a learning experience.

“Professors pushed me out of the nest and made me fly on my own,” Noltner said. “They tried to give me a realistic [idea of the] workplace scenario of a job I could have after Luther.”

In order to do summer research and get funding, students must talk to their potential supervising professors and write a research proposal essay to the Dean’s Office.

FEATURES

PAGE 7

FEATURES EDITOR: FRAN STEVENSON

Pastor

Anne

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

joins

the

ministry

team

ELIZABETH WAGENSON will be the ones who benefit the most from a new pastor.

STAFF WRITER Luther College’s newest college pastor, Anne Edison-Albright, began her service to College Ministries on Aug. 15. She was hired to fill the position vacated

by Pastor Amy Larson who left Luther College Ministries last spring.

Edison-Albright was found through a year-long call process to fill the position. Faculty, staff and students were involved in the search. College Pastor Mike Blair commented on how the decision was made to hire Edison-Albright.

“It was really clear throughout the process … that there was a very strong student response and student energy around the possibility of calling her our pastor.” Blair said. “So when that offer was extended, we were really delighted when she said ‘yes’,” One of the students involved with the search and interview process was President of College Ministries Student Congressional Council Gifty Arthur (‘17). According to Arthur, the student perspective was an important piece of the search process because students

“As the questions went back and forth between faculty and students, her responses came naturally, and it felt [like] more of a conversation than an interview,” Arthur said. “I thought that was the atmosphere that most of the students at Luther College would be looking for in a pastor — that part of their pastoral work … is being approachable and being able to have discussions.”

Edison-Albright also hopes to get to know and connect to the community better and she believes discussions of social justice issues surrounding the community is an important part of that process.

“That was the heart and soul of our mission, and what enlivened our ministry is that we are children of God together in this place,” Edison-Albright said.

“To build relationships with our community and see what the needs are within our community, and to … actually work with groups within the community and build relationships so that we are meeting needs together.”

Edison-Albright addresses many aspects of how the ministry reaches important questions about social justice in

Pastor Anne Edison-Albright preaches at Wednesday Chapel in the Center for Faith and Life.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Wagenson

her sermons. Edison-Albright won the 2014 Beatitudes Society Brave Preacher Award for a sermon she gave while at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, WI, about economic justice and minimum wage.

“There’s just so much prejudice against people who are living in poverty in this country,” EdisonAlbright said. “[The sermon was

about] us as a congregation fac our bias, to acknowledge and to actively work against it and to call it out in ourselves. To start there and [recongize] the shared humanity of all people.”

Edison-Albright spoke on the issue of suicide for National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month at chapel Wednesday and at the first Focus service, a Sunday evening worship service

with comtemporary music.

Edison-Albright is available at College Ministries in the center for Faith and Life office and encourages students to come speak to her about faith or any other issues.

“Whatever questions about faith you might have, or about life [College Ministries is] a resource for you,” EdisonAlbright said.

Autumn activities: Decorah & Luther JULIA CURTIS STAFF WRITER

Autumn at Luther College means Homecoming weekend, scenic hiking, apple picking and pumpkin patches. Luther students spend time outside while the weather is still nice and they can be found lying out on Farwell Clearing or hiking at Seed Savers. There is no shortage of things to do before the snow comes.

These activities include kayaking and canoeing the Upper Iowa River, visiting the Farmer’s Market, hiking and biking on Trout Run Trail and any of the other dozens of trails throughout Decorah. A popular place for produce picking is Seed Savers, which is well known for its apple orchard and hiking areas in the vicinity of the orchard.

Mountain biking is also popular with students in the fall, when the temperatures are cooler and trails are in better condition.

“I enjoy mountain biking the Van Peenen trails in the fall because the woods are really beautiful then,” Blake Heeren (‘17) said. “it’s also a great way to get away from the stress of classes and just relax.”

Other popular choices include visiting Pinter’s, which offers traditional Autumn activities like getting lost in a corn maze, taking a wagon ride and jumping on the inground trampoline. Pinter’s is also a place for pumpkin picking. Closer to Halloween, Pinter’s haunted house, Dead Shed, opens.

Students may be walking down to The Whippy Dip or Sugar Bowl, Decorah’s two ice cream parlors.

“Walking to the Whippy Dip or Sugar Bowl is a must,” said Penelope Barbour (‘17).

Students often sit outside to enjoy the cooler temperatures and admire the changing fall colors.

Reading or doing homework outside are popular activities, as well as throwing a Frisbee with friends and watching or playing football. Many students also enjoy studying, napping, or just hanging out in hammocks around campus.

“Reading outside and doing homework are … really

Maxwell Eness (‘20), relaxes in a hammock outside the Dahl Centennial Union.

Julia Curtis / Chips

good ways to enjoy the cooler weather,” Barbour said.

If the weather continues to be rainy, go to Magpie Coffeehouse where they offer pumpkin spice lattes with caramel and other warm drinks.

Visting the Vesterheim musuem is another rainy day activity. The musuem is hosting two exhibits this fall. One of them, “Skal,” is about drinking in Norway and the other is a collection of Norwegian folk art.

Admission to the Vesterheim is free for Luther students with a student ID.

Luther’s upcoming Homecoming includes the football game and the revamped Flamingo Ball. One aspect to Luther’s homecoming is the free Norse-themed gift in the cafeteria.

“If you don’t have a meal plan,” Barbour said. “You might want to consider asking an underclassmen to get the gift.”

With students and professors settled in on campus, Fall is a time to reunite with friends to enjoy the cooler weather and all the many amenities Decorah offers.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 8 SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

A&E EDITOR: ELIZABETH BONIN

Peter Lingen Performs Lute Concert Luther Teaching Associate in Music Peter Lingen played a diverse 8-course lute recital on Sept. 8 in the Noble Recital Hall.

SPENCER HODGE STAFF WRITER The pieces spanned across Europe’s history of lute composition.

Lingen played songs from composers such as Byrd, Dowland and Galilei. In the 16th century, lute songs accompanied Renaissance era dances. According to Lingen, these dances were crucial in entertainment for the contemporary of the composers.

“Like today, [musicians] were expected to provide music for people to enjoy and dance,” Lingen said. “The volte was pretty cool. It was in three beats and the male would at some point pick up the woman, spin her around, and then drop her back down at the first beat.”

Dances like these are still practiced in small dancing communities and used in historical motion pictures.

Besides the dance songs, Lingen also performed religiously oriented songs, called fantasias created by composers such as Milano, who worked for Pope Leo X. “[Milano] was interested in music that was made for spiritual contemplation as part of worship,” Lingen said. “[It] sounds more like choral music. He was able to use three

Teaching Associate of Music Peter Lingen performs on a 16th century craft replica of a tenor lute. or four voices, like when you hear a choir sing the entry of the sopranos, the altos and so forth.”

Lingen discovered this year that lute composition was played not only in the papacy, but also by players in the Reformation era.

“In 2017 we are going to be recognizing the 500th year of

the reformation, so I looked up every Martin Luther hymn and found they all fit the lute perfectly,” Lingen said. “Luther was apparently a good lute player. I think [he] definitely wrote the [hymnal] melodies.

I’m going to be trying to find early manuscripts of his next year to see what else I can find.”

However, the music is

Lingen’s lute is made of thin wood, sheep gut string and hoof glue.

Spencer Hodge/Chips

interesting even for those with little experience with the instrument, according to Alyssica Burge (‘20).

“I’ve never heard of the lute before,” Bunge said. “I actually didn’t know what it was. It was a new experience for me.”

Other students that attended, such as Mitchell Stevens (‘17) had more experience with 16th century musicianship.

“I’m a huge fan of Renaissance music,” Stevens said. “I play harpsichord and I’m part of Collegium Musicum. It is nice to hear this style of music played at Luther College.”

Lingen currently instructs one student in playing the lute.

Cameron Cornish (‘17) has played the lute for three years.

Spencer Hodge / Chips Lingen offered Cornish lessons because he discovered he had background in playing the guitar.

“I thought to myself ‘when am I ever going to get the chance to learn this instrument?’” Cornish said. “If you ever get the chance to learn an unusual instrument like the lute, I say do it.”

As Cornish finishes up his senior year, Lingen is seeking others who are interested in taking lessons. According to Lingen, the American Lute Society has a reasonable lute rental program.

“If I suddenly got five students that wanted to learn the lute, we could get instruments of high quality in their hands. We could revive the movement.”

OPINION

PAGE 9

MANAGING EDITOR: MAKEDA BARKLEY

Luther College Chips Chips is a student publication of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The paper is designed, composed edited and managed entirely by Luther students.

It is published weekly during the academic year, excluding the month of January.

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 5:00 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 Instagram: @LutherCollegeChips

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Big shoes to fill as Editor-in-Chief EMILY CROWE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF My name is Emily Crowe (‘17) and I am an English and Nordic Studies major. I have been on the Chips staff since my first year at Luther and found my home with the staff. I believe that Chips does hard, important work for the community and for the college—not for us. As we begin this semester with our first issue of Chips, I wanted to take a moment to explain a little bit about what we at Chips aspire to do.

As this semester’s Editor-in-Chief of Chips, I often have members of the Luther community question me about our name. I understand where the confusion comes from: the name doesn’t, at face value, seem to have anything to do with news or printing. However, the metaphor behind the name holds meaning for the Chips staff in how we serve the community and how we perform our jobs.

The name Chips comes from an old wood-chipping metaphor. The idea is that the woodcutter should focus on their task—cutting wood. If they were to focus on where each and every chip of wood fell while they chopped the logs, they would never finish their

The Norse Poll

Features Editor: A&E Editor: Sports Editor: Staff Writers:

Head Copy Editor: Copy Editors: Ad Representatives: Web Content Manager: Social Media Director: Distribution Manager: Adviser:

Emily Crowe Makeda Barkley Danny May Jacob Warehime Fran Stevenson Elizabeth Bonin Sidney Larsen Julia Curtis Elizabeth Garvin Spencer Hodge Lily Kime Ana Lopez Katrina Meyer David Peterson Shasa Sartin Ben Selcke Dmitry Vorona Elizabeth Wagenson Olivia Benson Elyse Grothaus Sarah Owens Tyler Hovery Madeline Petellin Michael Vann Elyse Grothaus Sarah Owens David Faldet

Signed, Emily Crowe (‘17)

What do you think about the bell recording that plays from the top of Main?

“I had no idea it was recorded. It’s kind of disappointing that it’s recorded but they do sound very believable.”

Fall 2016 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors:

job. Instead, they should “let the chips fall where they may.”

We at Chips take this to mean that we should focus on reporting unbiased and well-rounded news without focusing on the potential consequences of the news.

This cliché instructs us as news staffers to hold others accountable for their actions, to celebrate the good deeds done in our community and to tell the facts and only the facts.

This is not to say that we take the job of deciding what news is “fit to print” lightly. Rather, we understand that not all news will make everyone happy. In the case that one of our stories stirs you, we hope you will consider writing a letter to the editor to continue the community discussion.

I hope that you will find that Chips is a platform for you—the Luther community—to express your opinions and ideas, and a place to find accurate and timely news.

Send your story ideas, feedback and opinion articles to chipsedt@luther.edu. I look forward to hearing from you!

Blake Heeren (‘17)

Letter to the Editor Jan Heikes, Democratic candidte for Iowa Senate in District 28, says “Creating Strong Communities” will be her goal as she represents us in Des Moines the next four years. Her career and her slogan witness to the kind of conscientious public servant we all desire.

I have known Jan for nearly thirty years. We first met when she capably led a community youth activity, and since then I have witnessed and participated many times in positive programs with her leadership. Now I am grateful for her willingness to place her name on the ballot this November. I will enthusiastically vote for her because of her personal integrity, the wisdom and good judgment she consistently exhibits, the good humor and cheer that are evident in her every contact, the understanding and sensitivity with which she meets challenges, and the breadth of her experience in strengthening our community. I look

“The recording sounds really flat.”

Luigi Enriquez (‘17)

forward to her expanding the reach with a large segment of the population of her skills to the Statehouse on our and has worked to ensure opportunity and stability for some of our most behalf.

Through the years we’ve known vulnerable citizens. For many years now each other Jan and I have worked she has held positions with the county together in church and community and the state, gaining wide respect by endeavors. Most notably we have initiating and administering programs both been active in Sister Parish, Inc. that indeed strengthen individuals locally, an organization which connects and therefore our community. She acts compassionately folks in North America with “She acts compassionately and with local residents of conviction, with conviction, communicating Central American and c o m m u n i t i e s . communicating personally personally and We have both effectively with and effectively with all all whom she been involved in exchanges whom she meets. I have meets.

I have between the heard people say, literally, heard people communities say, literally, “Jan saved my life.’” saved my life.” and have been ‘Jan deeply affected join -Barbara Dale Please by the common me in voting humanity and Nov. 8 for Jan similar challenges Heikes to be that all people experience. our state senator. She will make our Jan has spent her adult life Northeast Iowa community stronger strengthening and enhancing life by representing us and voting for for the entire community around education, adequate health services, her. She and her family have been and support for small businesses. Her instrumental in meeting people’s character and experience make her needs in the Decorah, Luther College well-qualified for elective office. and Winneshiek County communities through work, advocacy and example. Signed, As a social worker she has been in touch Barbara Dale

OPINION

PAGE 10 SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

MANAGING EDITOR: MAKEDA BARKLEY

Dakota Access Pipeline calls for national activism MAKEDA BARKLEY MANAGING EDITOR

History repeats itself. That is the haunting echo of The Dakota Access Pipeline controversy taking place in North Dakota right now.

This story is one of sickening familiarity to past wrong-doings against indigenous peoples through conquest.

Protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline has been taking place since its announcement in 2014 but has only surfaced in mainstream media in the past several months.

Members of Native American tribes from all over the United States have traveled to Cannon Ball, ND to show their support for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe there whose cultural artifacts are being threatened by the 1,172 mile pipeline. Meanwhile, much of the country remains silent.

Last week, a federal judge denied the tribe’s request to halt the construction, simultaneously perpetuating both patterns of dishonesty and fraudulent

promises. In turn, the Obama the safety and culture of the Native administration momentarily American people.

The land in question also has a blocked the construction in the higher profile areas of the history of re-possession by the U.S. pipeline that crosses federal land government in the past, like all in response to the outrage over the land that was originally inhabited

by Native American tribes before judge’s ruling.

The threat the pipeline poses to their forced removal from the both the cultural sites belonging territory. According to an article in The Atlantic, to the Standing Rock Sioux “The U.S. government’s “the committee that oversees as well as the shameful history of h i s t o r i c water supply along the blatant disrespect and p r e s e r v a t i o n behalf entirety of the revocation of promises to on of Congress pipeline should be reason for Native American tribes e x p l i c i t l y that the permanent deserves examination in decrees c a n c e l l a t i o n light of this continuation ‘ r e g u l a t i o n s require Federal of the pipeline to c o n s t r u c t i o n . of endangering the safety agencies with The U.S. and culture of the Native consult Indian tribes g o v e r n m e n t ’s American people.” s h a m e f u l when they -Makeda Barkley (‘17 ) attach religious h i s t o r y and cultural of blatant disrespect and revocation of significance to a historic property promises to Native American tribes regardless of the location of that deserves examination in light of property,’”. However, much like the this continuation of endangering incitation of the Great Sioux War

and “renegotiation” of the land rights in North Dakota, the Dakota Access Pipeline is threatening the rights of the Standing Rock Sioux once again, under the protection of oil corporations.

With this being said, it is the responsibility of the citizens of the U.S. to voice their disapproval with this blatant violation of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Within the same realm as the Black Lives Matter movement, the Flint, Michigan demonstrations and other human rights activism, this issue deserves priority status on the agenda of Americans.

Not unlike the Flint, MI disaster (which could also have been avoided), the Dakota Access Pipeline is chasing money at the cost of the potential safety of the human beings who are going to be affected. The only way we can avoid this impending disaster for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe is to voice our objection to the violation of their rights taking place by Energy Transfer Partners and the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Building, ringing the familiar Westminster chime. Twice daily, we might also hear hymn tunes, played with a certain expression that we have come to recognize from our musical and faith traditions at Luther.

But what we’re hearing aren’t bells, nor is a person involved in making those sounds. We are hearing a synthetic electronic sound, intended to replicate the acoustic experience of both a carillon and a carillonneur.

The sources of these sounds are a laptop computer and a set of outdoor loudspeakers.

It wasn’t always this way. For nearly 50 years, Luther College owned an electronic instrument called a Carillon Americana. It was not an acoustic carillon (which will be defined in a subsequent article), but it was often played by a musician and used for ceremonial purposes. Several individuals invested large sums of money to make this instrument a part The first installment in a series of letters of Luther’s campus life. The peculiar sound of this instrument, as well as by Associate Professor of Music and the fact that it wasn’t a “real” carillon, was a source of puzzlement to some.

But to many students, faculty and staff, the instrument was an important Composer-In-Residence Brooke Joyce part of their experience of Luther College. The individuals who played the instrument were important fixtures in the campus community and As we walk around the Luther College campus, we appreciate both the from the beginning, the instrument was woven into the worship life of the natural and landscaped beauty of the area. Mature hardwoods combine college. with carefully tended lawns and meticulously weeded flowerbeds. The In 2016, as we contemplate the future of the Lutheran church in light façades of Luther’s buildings are inviting and well maintained. Visually, of the 500th anniversary of the it is a pleasant and peaceful Reformation, the future of Luther “...The time seems right to begin a wider College, and more immediately, the environment.

Now pay attention to the sounds conversation about the role of sound in our proposed remodel and expansion we hear. In the spring, summer of Mawin, the time seems right to and fall bird song envelops us. In outdoor spaces at Luther, and about how a public begin a wider conversation about the late summer, cicadas sing in rising instrument, such as an acoustic carillon, might role of sound in our outdoor spaces and falling waves. In the winter, enhance and enrich our community.” at Luther, and about how a public the sound is muted, but if we listen -Brooke Joyce instrument, such as an acoustic carefully, we can hear the crack carillon, might enhance and enrich of ice, or the dripping of a slowly our community. Over the course of melting icicle. Occasionally we are distracted by the hum of an HVAC the next few articles, I’ll explore the role of sound in public spaces, the unit or a truck on Highway 52, but for the most part, the natural world history of the carillon as a public instrument, the particular history of the rules our sonic landscape. When amplified music or a noisy outdoor event Carillon Americana at Luther, and how we might move the conversation adds sound to the environment, we understand these to be aberrations, if forward. not intrusions.

If we happen to be outside on the Luther campus on the hour, in any Signed, season, we’ll hear what seem to be bells, coming from the rooftop of Main Associate Professor of Music and Composer-In-Residence Brooke Joyce

Letter to the Editor

SPORTS

PAGE 11

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

SPORTS EDITOR: SIDNEY LARSEN

Volleyball starts season at home LILY KIME STAFF WRITER The Luther volleyball team competed in their first home game of the season against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Eagles on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

After starting the game with a two-set lead for the Norse, with scores of 25-22 and 25-21, UW-La Crosse came from behind with a three-set streak that secured them the victory. The scores of the last three games were 23-25, 15-25, and 12-15.

Luther lost to UW-La Crosse with a final score of 3-2, giving Luther a record of 2-3 overall.

Although they were not victorious, the Norse tallied many successful plays against the Eagles. Outside hitter Jamie Sindlinger (‘20) led the Norse in kills at 14, while Anna Larson (‘19) had 11 kills and five aced serves. Defensive specialist Taylor Gaide (‘18) added 22 digs to her record and setter Samantha Sixta (‘20) delivered 32 assists and aced four serves.

Although this marked the first home game of the

Anna Larson (‘19) bumps the ball to setter Samantha Sixta (‘20).

year, the Norse have been preparing for the season since Aug. 20. According to Head Volleyball Coach and HPE Instructor Danielle Lynch, they practiced twice a day for a week and then decreased practices to once a day before classes began.

“Unlike the spring sports, who get the whole fall semester to bond, we get two and a half weeks,” Lynch said.

“So it’s like, ‘Boom! You’ve never played with each other before? Let’s go compete,’ and they have done such good job with that.”

As a part of preseason

Lily Kime / Chips

practice, Upper Iowa University came to scrimmage the Norse went to Winona, MN, to begin the regular season with a tournament on Sept. 2 and 3. On the first day of the tournament, the team faced Carroll University and St. Catherine University. The Norse won both matches, with scores of 3-1 and 3-0 respectively. On the second day, Luther lost to both St. Mary’s University (0-3) and UW-Stevens Point (1-3).

Although the second-day losses were difficult for the team, the players are using that experience to grow as a team, according to team cocaptain Molly Wettach (‘17).

“We’re really pushing ourselves mentally,” Wettach said. “We have been since those two tough losses on Saturday. We’re trying to really make ourselves better every day in practices and get better as a team and working together.”

On Aug. 24, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) released a preseason poll predicting the outcomes of this volleyball season. According to the poll, Luther College volleyball is projected to finish fourth in the conference. After the release of these polls, Lynch expressed that the polls are simply a prediction and do

not dictate the results of the season.

“You never know,” Lynch said. “Based on where we left off last season, yes, [fourth place] is accurate. But you never know who’s going to show up.”

A new season means changes in the conference.

Along with a new class of first-year players, a new team is being introduced to the IIAC conference: Nebraska Wesleyan University. With all of these factors into play, anything could happen this season, according to cocaptain Alexandria Erickson (‘17). She is optimistic about these variables and Luther’s chances in the conference this year.

“We definitely have a really good chance at making the conference tournament, if not winning it,” Erickson said. “During the preseason, I’ve seen a lot of things that I haven’t seen in my past three years, like freshmen stepping up and how everyone plays together … I think we could definitely win a lot of conference games and make an appearance at the tournament in Cedar Rapids, if not go further.”

The Norse will play next in the Wartburg Knights Classic in Waverly, Iowa on Sept. 16 and 17.

Norse of the Week SIDNEY LARSEN SPORTS EDITOR Fullback Christian Moore (‘17) is now two games into his fourth and final Norse football season. Moore led the team in both rushing and scoring last year, with 1039 net yards rushed and 14 touchdowns, and he is off to a strong start this season. In the Norse’s game on Sept. 3 against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Moore again led the Norse in rushing with 69 yards off of 17 carries. He also rushed a career high of 185 yards on Sept. 10 against St. Olaf, scoring three touchdowns, including the game winner in double overtime.

Chips: What have you been doing to prepare for your final season with the Norse?

Moore: In the off-season, the whole football team

Christian Moore (‘17) holds the ball during a game.

Photo courtesy of Tyler Rinken

works very hard to improve strength, speed, and agility.

The fact that this is my last season made it much easier to work hard in order to have a great senior season.

After the team’s game with UW-La Crosse, what does the team plan to do moving forward?

We lost to a very good football team. La Crosse played hard and did some things that we didn’t prepare for. We learned a lot and got better from analyzing film. However, I don’t think we need to change much going forward but instead continue to play with intensity and we will have success.

Do you have any especially memorable plays from your seasons with the Norse? Which one is your favorite?

Everybody remembers their first college touchdown. Mine happened to be against Wheaton College my freshman year on a 55 yard run.

What are your goals, personally and as a team, for this season?

As a team, everyone’s goal is to win conference and get the opportunity to play in the playoffs. To do this we must focus on the process each week of getting better and learning from our mistakes. Personally, my goal is to make the team better every day. Our team’s leadership and focus gets better every day as we work to accomplish these goals.

What are your pre-game rituals?

I’m pretty boring with my pre-game rituals. I don’t have anything that stands out or is out of the ordinary. I would say that I try to stay very calm and collected in the locker room and save my energy for the game.

What songs do you listen to in order to get you pumped up for a game?

Fullback Christian Moore (‘17) runs the ball during a game against UW-La Crosse at home on Sept. 3.

Brandon Whitish / Photo Bureau This depends on the day. I listen to anything from rap to country. It completely depends on my mood that day.

Do you plan to continue your involvement with football after you graduate?

My current plan is to be a football strength and conditioning coach. This will keep me involved with the sport and I will get a chance to make people really strong.

SPORTS

PAGE 12

SPORTS EDITOR: SIDNEY LARSEN

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Summer flooding hits athletic fields

Men’s Soccer

DAVID PETERSON STAFF WRITER

Dubuque Central Nebraska Wes. Luther Simpson Wartburg Loras Buena Vista Coe

&

SIDNEY LARSEN SPORTS EDITOR Decorah received over 7.5 inches of rain resulting in the flooding of numerous athletic fields and facilities on Aug. 24.

The flooding happened during many teams’ preseason practices, and many fall sports teams felt the effects of the flooding, according to Associate Director of Athletics Operations and Facilities Alex Smith (‘03).

“I think at that time it stands out to me that most of our fall teams or all of our fall teams were affected,” Smith said. “All were heavily influenced [by the flooding].”

Head Football Coach Aaron Hafner described the large amount of water that was left on the football practice fields.

“We woke up to our practice field being underwater,” Hafner said. “We had probably two to three feet of water on the practice fields.”

The Norse golf team’s home course, located at the Oneota Country Club, suffered significant damage and will not be fully operational for some time, according to Smith. The women’s golf team has had to relocate the conference meet that they were scheduled to host this year.

Smith noted that the crosscountry trails might have sustained the most long-term damage out of all the Luther facilities.

“The only potential for permanent damage is the River Trail for cross country,” Smith said. “A lot of that washed away in the flood so we’re going to have to look at doing some things to put that back together or reroute the course.”

Despite the widespread damage, the morale of the athletes and coaches was not affected as they took the day off of practice to help the local

Weekly Standings IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Recent Scores

Overall 4-0 4-1 3-0-2 3-0-1 3-1-1 3-1-1 3-1 2-3 0-4

Sept. 10 vs. Knox College University W 2-1 Sept. 11 vs. St. John’s University 4-4 2OT

Upcoming Schedule

Sept. 16 @ Webster University Sept. 18 @ Washington University

Women’s Soccer

The football practice fields were submerged during the flooding.

Photo courtesy of Luther.edu community sandbag and clean out flooded homes, according to Hafner.

Almost all of the teams and some extracurricular groups that were on campus during the flood came out and helped.

“The teams that had reported for preseason camp were all around town doing things,” Hafner said. “The day we did all of the sandbagging was probably the best teambuilding experience we had during camp.”

Hafner also praised how fast facilities workers were able to deal with the flooding.

“Our facilities people were amazing,” Hafner said. “We left for a scrimmage in Stevens Point, Wisconsin at 6 a.m. and our practice fields were completely under water.

We got back at 6 p.m. that night and there was no water on the field at all.”

Luther sports teams did not let the flooding hinder their preseason activities. Many teams moved their practices to the indoor Sports and Recreation Center (SRC) facilities.

The football and soccer teams found outdoor practice locations on higher ground, such as the community pool lot.

The Luther cross country course may have suffered permanent damage as a result of the flood.

Photo courtesy of Luther.edu

“Our soccer programs went to our upper campus, north of the community pool and used that space,” Smith said. “They were fortunate to get a lot more time there.”

Soccer player Elizabeth DePrenger (‘20) commented on the positives of sharing the pool field with both the men’s and women’s soccer teams.

“It was an adjustment, but I think it shows that we are a more versatile team that is able to adapt to change,” DePrenger said.

According to Hafner, the football team utilized the football stadium as well as the SRC. “We practiced on our game field a little bit because the game field wasn’t underwater, so we got a little bit of practice time there,” Hafner said. “But primarily, we practiced right here in the SRC. We just made positives out of everything.”

Other schools have been helpful in allowing games to be held in neutral locations, as well as letting Luther’s teams utilize their practice facilities, according to Smith.

“Local golf courses were willing to work with us because the Oneota golf course had significant damage,” Smith said. “Upper Iowa University took us on and allowed us to use their soccer fields. St. Mary’s was willing to let us play a neutral site game with Hamline in men’s soccer. We went to RCTC up in Rochester for a day for a scrimmage. Just neighbors being neighbors there and people taking good care of us in our time of need.”

Another round of heavy rainstorms occurred on Sept. 10 causing further accumulation of water. The effects of the renewed flooding are unknown, but Hafner explained that it is important to focus on the positives of situations like these.

“You have a couple choices in life,” Hafner said. “You can sit around and mope with the hand you’re dealt or go do something to have an impact on trying to find positive things that you can pull out of it, and that's what we decided to do. It was a pretty simple decision.”

Loras Wartburg Central Coe Nebraska Wes. Dubuque Luther Buena Vista Simpson

IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Overall 4-1 3-0-1 3-1-1 3-3 3-3 2-3 1-0-1 1-1-1 0-3-2

Recent Scores

Sept. 10 @ St. Mary’s University W 2-1 Sept. 6 vs. College of St. Benedict 1-1 2OT

Upcoming Schedule

Sept. 17 @ UW-Eau Claire Sept. 21 @ UW-La Crosse

Volleyball

Wartburg Buena Vista Nebraska Wes. Dubuque Coe Loras Luther Simpson Central

IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Overall 4-2 6-3 5-3 4-3 5-4 5-4 5-4 4-4 2-6

Recent Scores

Sept. 10 vs. Marian University W 3-0 Sept. 10 vs. Hamline University W 3-0

Upcoming Schedule

Sept. 16-17 Wartburg Knight’s Classic Sept. 23-24 IIAC/NACC Crossover Tournament

Football

Central Coe Dubuque Luther Nebraska Wes. Simpson Wartburg Buena Vista Loras

IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

Overall 2-0 2-0 2-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-1 0-2 0-2

Recent Scores

Sept. 3 vs. UW-La Crosse L 14-45 Sept. 10 @ St. Olaf, L 46-40 2OT

Upcoming Schedule

Sept. 24 vs. Dubuque @ 1:00 PM Oct. 1 vs. Nebraska Wes. (Homecoming)

Women’s Tennis Coe Luther Dubuque Loras Central Simpson Nebraska Wes. Wartburg Buena Vista

IIAC 2-0 2-0 2-0 1-0 1-1 1-1 1-3 0-2 0-3

Overall 4-0 4-1 3-1 4-1 3-1 4-2 1-4 0-3 0-5

Recent Scores

Sept. 11 vs. Wartburg W 7-2 Sept. 13 @ Dubuque W 6-3

Upcoming Schedule

Sept. 17 vs. Simpson, 3:00 PM Sept. 18 @ Coe