DANILO PÉREZ IN THE CFL
A&E 8 RUGBY TEAMS SEEK NEW RECRUITS
SPORTS 12
LUTHER COLLEGE
CHIPS
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
OCTOBER 1, 2015
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VOLUME 138, NO. 4
Gender-neutral housing moves forward FRANCES STEVENSON STAFF WRITER Luther College Student Senate passed a resolution of support for the Black Student Union’s (BSU) hope to move forward with gender-neutral housing at their weekly meeting on Sept. 24. The BSU approached Student Senate two weeks ago hoping to gain more support, according to Student Senate President Jesus Lucero (‘16). The resolution also has support from Luther College Feminists, Luther College Pride and many other individuals who have expressed support in the past few weeks. “As a Senate, we like to move pretty quickly on things,” Lucero said. “If we can help one student feel a little bit more comfortable here, then we’re helping that one student, which is awesome.” The next step for BSU is to draft a letter of intent with the help of Student Senate. They started drafting this letter Sunday, Sept. 27, at the first BSU meeting after Senate passed its resolution of support. “Student Senate now has a direct hand in writing that letter of intent,” Lucero said. “We are now in solidarity with each other, trying to figure out how to best support each other.” The proposal for gender-neutral housing differs from the current proposal for co-ed housing in Baker Village, which has been in progress for four years. The difference between co-ed housing and gender neutral housing is the differentiaton between birth sex—a binary between male and female—and gender identification, resulting in more of a gray area. This creates issues for students who are “gender queer,” or do not feel that they fit into a gender binary.
IN SESSION. Student Senate members Ashley Meyers (‘16), Tyler Broadwell (‘16), Ashley Kappers (‘16) and Aaron Busch (‘15) discuss the possibility of gender-neutral housing on campus. Frances Stevenson / Chips “We saw Baker Village as an initial step in the right direction,” Lucero said. “But it still presents us with problems with excluding people.” Residence Life has yet to be involved with the co-ed Baker Village proposal or the gender-neutral housing idea
Trigger warnings prompt debate KATY ROETS VOLUNTEER WRITER Trigger warnings have become a hot topic on college campuses recently, and Luther College is included in the growing list of colleges struggling to decide where they stand on the topic, especially in terms of Paideia texts. Trigger warnings are an acknowledgment that a text may contain scenes of emotional or physical traumas which people may have experienced throughout their lives, and they are meant to protect those traumatized from further distressing reactions. “With trigger warnings, you don’t know what’s going to do it,” Assossiate Professor of Psychology Stephanie Travers said. “They are totally unpredictable if individuals have experienced trauma. It could be anything.” The last two Paideia summer reading assignments, “The Book of Unknown Americans” by Christina Heriquez and “Nineteen Eighty-Four” by George Orwell, have involved scenes of sexual
violence and other disturbing subjects, neither of which was assigned a trigger warning. Luther’s incoming Writing Director and Assistant Professor of English Mike Garcia will be working closely with the Paideia department. He, like many others, sees both benefit and detriment in utilizing such warnings. “Students may have this genuine trauma in their lives,” Garcia said. “You need to be aware that this is a perfectly legitimate thing to be concerned about. [However,] here are a couple of wellknown cases across the nation, though somewhat rare, of students exploiting the trigger warning. They walk into the classroom with a set of beliefs and they use the trigger warning as a way to avoid reading something that may upset those beliefs.” According to Garcia, trigger warnings are, in theory, a caring approach but can generate concern about how to actually put trigger warnings into practice in an academic setting. TRIGGER WARNINGS, PAGE 4
but supports what students want when it comes to housing, according to Assistant Dean for Student Life and Director of Residence Life Kris Franzen. GENDERED HOUSING, PAGE 4
Adam Carroll presents ‘Financial Wellness’ SIDNEY LARSEN STAFF WRITER Financial expert Adam Carroll presented a lecture titled “Financial Wellness” to Luther students about reducing student debt after college on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Carroll has visited more than 600 colleges in the past 10 years and recently gave two Ted Talks at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the London Business School. According to Carroll, the lecture was designed to calm anxiety about personal finances by preparing students with the knowledge they need to handle their money. Carroll feels that this is important because it is not something that students necessarily learn in college classes. “The idea behind [the lecture] is that most students are not taught personal finance in school,” Carroll said. “They’re taught business finance, economics, how businesses work, but are rarely taught how the fundamentals of personal finance works.” Carroll feels that it is important to use money to live life to the fullest, instead of buying expensive items. He expressed this through his “Build
a Bigger Life, not a Bigger Lifestyle” principle. SAC Leadership Co-chair Molly Jordan (‘16) found his lecture applicable to life after Luther. “He made a lot of really good points, but I think the whole life vs. lifestyle thing is pretty interesting, because it’s kind of a reality check,” Jordan said. “You don’t need to have the most expensive stuff, just build your life.” Carroll told students that living on a budget and using a large part of the household income to “blast away debt” for two years after college is one of the best ways to eliminate student loan debt. He said that it will be hard but beneficial in the long run. According to Zach Stekel (‘17), Carroll’s lecture gave him new perspective. “This lecture has opened my eyes to the possibility of really burning through all of my loans straight out of college,” Stekel said. “Before, I had thought that it was going to take years to get rid of debt from college, but after hearing his story, I am determined to pay off that debt as soon as possible.” FINANCIAL WELLNESS, PAGE 4
NEWS
PAGE 2 OCTOBER 1, 2015
NEWS EDITORS: ANNA JEIDE & KATIE NELSON
Inter-Greek council revises policies
MEET THE LADIES OF TAU DELTA GAMMA. The members of Tau Delta Gamma make up one of the sororities of the Inter-Greek Council . Photo courtesy of luther.edu HANNAH MICK AD REPRESENTATIVE With pledge month beginning in October, new pledges are preparing to join the Greek community at Luther College. Regulations for what can and can’t happen during pledging activities have changed due to recent review by the Luther Administration. According to Alpha Beta Psi president
Maya Hansen (‘16), Student Life and Greek Life are working together to create an official hazing-prevention policy for Luther College. The Inter-Greek Council is working to create a policy which would define hazing more clearly in order to prevent Greek organizations from organizing any activities that could conflict with Student Life policy. The new policy is designed to foster greater communication and common ground between the two
GREEK LEADERSHIP. Presidents of the various Greek organizations are represented through the Inter-Greek Council. Photo courtesy of luther.edu
councils. “There’s never been a really clearcut hazing policy,” Hansen said. “It’s very vague. Our Inter-Greek Council really wanted to help make the hazing policy better and more defined,” Hansen said. The new official policy will be finalized by this spring semester. Some changes have already been implemented to ensure that upcoming Greek events will align with the future policy. According to Chi Theta Ro president Alyssa Dutkanych (‘16), the sorority was asked to make a few changes last spring. “We didn’t realize that some of the stuff we did was actually a kind of hazing,” Dutkanych said. “It’s easy to overlook those things because they’ve always just been tradition.” According to Dutkanych, one of the pledge initiation activities involved blindfolding pledge students while they were picked up by other sorority members. “We don’t do that anymore because that’s something that could be seen as hazing since the pledge’s vision is impaired,” Dutkanych said. Besides making changes to certain Greek activities, the new policy will require an increase in communication between
each Greek organization and the college administration. According to Sigma Chi Omega president Blake Moen (‘16), every fraternity and sorority is given an academic adviser to discuss plans for their organization. Each Greek event is to be thoroughly described and turned into the adviser to be reviewed and approved before pledging even starts. “I will say, the biggest difference from last pledge month to this pledge month is that we have to spend a little extra time going through events, making sure that none of the events that we are going to do are going to violate any kind of honor system, hazing policy or anything along those lines,” Moen said. Along with more communication with advisers, there will also be more communication among Greek organizations. Dutkanych’s goal as president during pledge month is to make sure that all the pledges are welcomed and encouraged to notify her or any other sorority members if they feel uncomfortable. “I think it’s good to ask questions to make sure people are comfortable,” Dutkanych said. “It’s supposed to be a fun environment and it’s supposed to be like a family.”
“Our Inter-Greek Council really wanted to help make the hazing policy EHWWHU DQG PRUH GHĆQHG ” - Maya Hansen (‘16)
WELCOME TO ALPHA BETA PSI. Alpha Beta Psi members welcome the newest pledges to the sorority on last year’s Activation Day. Photo courtesy of Alpha Beta Psi
CORRECTIONS
In the Davis Peace Project story it was reported that êWKH DUW URRP ZDV ĆWWHG with an air conditioner, art tools, classroom chairs and desks, among other things.” 7KH URRP ZDV RQO\ ĆWWHG with desks and chairs, but there are plans to install the other components. On page 5, the photo of Driftwood Bones should have been credited to Jake Allen, not Will Heller.
NEWS
PAGE 3
NEWS EDITORS: ANNA JEIDE & KATIE NELSON THURSDAY
Seven-Day Forecast
OCTOBER 1, 2015 FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
B B B H B Q H 63/39
62/39
59/38
59/39
Sustainability and Facilities audit energy use, waste
64/44
65/49
65/47
Life Outside Luther
DANNY MAY STAFF WRITER
The Center for Sustainable Communities and Facilities Services are in the process of conducting energy audits to evaluate energy use on campus. As part of the audits, new energy-saving practices are being implemented on campus. According to both Facilities and Sustainability representatives, such practices include the implementation of light emitting diode (LED) lights, a room-by-room energy study and waste audits. LED lights are being introduced in the outdoor lighting system. According to Director of Facilities Services Jay Uthoff, a lamp fixture on Dike Road is now LED, along with two other fixtures in the Loyalty Hall parking lot. Uthoff stated that the LEDs are used for a few reasons. “Energy savings is one item,” Uthoff said. “Also, perceived light levels. The perceived light level is much greater with the whiter light [of an LED], but the actual light level is actually a lot less.” These LED lights are starting to take the place of the current high-pressure sodium lights found on the outdoor lamp posts around campus. According to Uthoff, the current 450-watt highpressure sodium lights are being replaced with approximately 250-watt LED lights. Additionally, Uthoff explained, indoor lighting is gradually switching from fluorescent to LEDs. The entire Facilities Services office is now lit by LEDs. The Center for Sustainable Communities has implemented other sustainable energy practices, such as the room-by-room energy study. Cargill Energy and Waste Fellow Sam Pollan explained that the study involved numerous students who participated in the audit to explore when day–light could be used as opposed to artificial light. The study also addressed a flickering light issue in Oneota Market.
German states lower housing standards amid migrant influx An Associated Press survey has found that several of Germany’s 16 states have waived the usual rules expected of communal housing. As a result, migrants in some parts of Germany are finding themselves living in cramped conditions that rights groups say are unfit for human habitation. “The situation is becoming dramatic,” Karl Kopp, an expert on refugee policy with the campaign group Pro Asyl, said. “If we put people up in undignified conditions then this will have long-term consequences for their health and their ability to integrate in the country.”
STUDENTS CONDUCT WASTE AUDIT. Students sort through waste to remove recyclable items from trash. Photo courtesy of Sam Pollan “A lot of students were working to see where day–light was appropriate,” Pollan said. “Also to see where automated controls [of lights] make sense. It was a really comprehensive study.” Controlling ventilation was an additional part of this room-by-room study, according to Uthoff. “We would also be helping to control the ventilation in those spaces,” Uthoff said. “Since they’re not occupied, we may try to minimize the amount of ventilation that’s happening.” Waste, in addition to lighting and indoor control, is another aspect of energy use that the Center for Sustainable Communities is analyzing. Pollan explained that conducting waste audits helps to determine how much waste a certain item makes up in weight. For example, according to Pollan, paper towels add up to about 25 percent of all building waste around campus. Additionally, recyclable materials make up
about another 25 percent of waste. “We basically just take apart a whole dumpster and sort through it,” Pollan said. “We found some really interesting results: paper towels are a huge source of waste.” According to Pollan, these waste audits are part of a zero-waste program to be finalized by the end of the semester. “We’re trying to get a baseline,” Pollan said. “It’s a pretty big priority. In order to really make substantial strides [with the program], you have to understand what it is you’re trying to divert.” Reducing waste and enacting more sustainable practices continues to be a goal for Facilities and the Center for Sustainable Communities. “Our easiest way to reduce consumption is to become more efficient,” Uthoff said.
New sanctions illustrate sprawling Islamic State network The U.S. government announced sanctions Tuesday, Sept. 29, against 25 people and five groups connected to the Islamic State, disclosing intelligence that depicts a sprawling international organization with tentacles across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The moves by the Treasury and State departments are aimed at disrupting the activities of Islamic State financial, logistical and recruiting operatives who may not be suitable targets of American bombs or drone strikes. Many of them reside outside of war in Iraq and Syria. “Can you hear me now?” Snowden joins Twitter The former National Security Agency worker who leaked classified documents about government surveillance started tweeting Tuesday, Sept. 29. He had more than 185,000 followers an hour after his first tweet, “Can you hear me now?” Six hours later, he was up to 625,000 followers. Complied from: www.ap.org
NEWS
PAGE 4 OCTOBER 1, 2015
NEWS EDITORS: ANNA JEIDE & KATIE NELSON
Strides made in gender-neutral housing GENDERED HOUSING, PAGE 1
“[Residence Life] was supportive of the idea four years ago when the [co-ed] cluster [in Farwell] was created,” Franzen said. “I’m sure they will continue to be supportive of meeting the needs of the students they represent.” According to BSU President Pharez Monney (‘17), there are several small liberal arts colleges in the Midwest that are also working toward, or already approving, gender-neutral housing, such as Macalester College and Grinnell College. “[It is important] to have space for people who are gender non-conforming or transgender to have the option to room with people who are also like them,” Monney said. According to Lucero, who also serves as the president of Pride at Luther, there are students who do not fit into the gender binary of male or female who are living on campus under their birth sex, when they would be better suited in a gender-neutral housing situation. “There are actually a lot of students who aren’t out, necessarily, because we don’t have the infrastructure to support their needs, which is really disheartening,” Lucero said. “There are a handful of students that I know [who are out], but I know that there are other students on campus that aren’t comfortable even talking about it because they’re not supported here. People don’t think that those people are on campus, but they are.” Student Senate is run primarily by students, but the Student Senate Faculty adviser, Vice President and Dean of Student Life Corey Landstrom is supportive of Student Senate’s involvement in BSU’s plan for gender-neutral housing. “I think it was a well-crafted statement and presents a reasoned approach to frame how they wish to support and engage in conversation and dialogue around important issues related to gender identity,” Landstrom said. “I commend their efforts and look forward to the ongoing work that will be taking place.” By Sept. 30, the letter was drafted and undersigned by various campus organizations in preparation for further advancements in the gender-neutral housing movement.
SENATE DISCUSSIONS. Zora Hurst (‘17) and Jesus Lucero (‘16) discuss gender-neutral housing at the Sept. 24 Student Senate meeting. Frances Stevenson / Chips
Carroll talks debt, Luther discusses money with students trigger warnings FINANCIAL WELLNESS, PAGE 1 In addition to its immediate usefulness to upperclassmen, this lecture is helpful to all students, because almost everyone will be in a position of student debt at some point in their lives, according to SAC Leadership co-chair Katie Blaser (‘16). “Most of the students are going to leave with debt,” Blaser said. “I believe it’s important to think of some strategies or learn about strategies that help us manage the debt and manage our money, because college is expensive.” Carroll is the author of two books on
personal finances and is about to launch a crowd-funded film on the student loan epidemic called “Broke, Busted and Disgusted.” Carroll distributed his book “Winning the Money Game: A Rule Book to Achieving Financial Success for Young People” to students after the lecture via funding from SAC Leadership. Blaser and SAC Leadership see this lecture as an event that would definitely benefit Luther College again in the future. “Everything financially is changing,” Blaser said. “There are always going to be a lot of new things to learn.”
PAIDEIA MOMENT. Paideia students from last year discuss “Ninteen Eighty-Four.” Maria da Silva / Photo Bureau TRIGGER WARNINGS, PAGE 1
STRETCH YOUR MONEY. Adam Carroll displays his book “Winning: The Money Game” at his lecture “Financial Wellness.” Sidney Larsen / Chips
Travers worries about the effect of leaving trigger warnings out of the classroom. “Where does free speech stop?” Travers said. “You have to be free in your classrooms. I think you have a responsibility to let students know up front that you will be dealing with sensitive topics over the course of the semester.” Miranda Gumpert (‘17) and Mileah Gumpert (‘17) agree that the use of trigger warnings can be circumstantial. For example, when students are not warned of explicit material present in a reading or film, it can create a potentially harmful or emotionally distressing environment. “Warnings can be important, but it definitely depends on the
situation,” Miranda Gumpert said. “They prepare students for big topics, but they also focus in on something maybe unnecessarily.” According to Travers, there is a concern that students may use a trigger warning as an explicit reason for missing class work and discussion. A general consensus among both faculty and students is the concern that tunnel vision about perspectives may halt critical discussion or further learning. “The mixed clarity about how many students actually exploit trigger warnings really puts teachers and programs like Paideia in a bind,” Garcia said. “We have to target and anticipate those moments that may be the most violent, and then allow students to put their heads down/leave the room if they feel the need to.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 5
A&E EDITOR: JENNA NELSON
OCTOBER 1, 2015
Collaborative compositions aired on MPR Student compositions performed by Sybarite5 in the fall of 2014 were played on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) on Sept. 1 and 10, 2015. LAURA PROESCHOLDT STAFF WRITER Few people can truthfully claim that a song they wrote has been played on the radio. However, six Luther students and alums can do exactly that after their compositions for string quintet Sybarite5 aired on Classical Minnesota Public Radio this September. Logan Larson (‘16), Jeremy Maas (‘16), Sam Milligan (‘15), Caleb Sander (‘15), Scott Senko (‘15) and Shafer Stromwall (‘15) each composed a piece for Sybarite5 in fall of 2014. Assistant Professor of Music and Composer-in-Residence Brooke Joyce and Director of Campus Programming Tanya Gertz tweaked Sybarite5’s existing project, a composition competition titled “New Music Idol,” to make it more collaborative. “We Luther-ized their other project,” Gertz said. Joyce felt that working with a group like Sybarite5 was a once-ina-lifetime learning opportunity for students. “Most undergraduate musicians collaborate with their peers, whether as players, singers or composers,” Joyce said. “This project gave Luther composition students the opportunity to work with topof-the-line professional musicians, who not only workshopped their pieces but also performed them in a public concert. Pedagogically and professionally, this was a wonderful opportunity for the students, and one which they’ll always remember.” The students’ work was featured
this fall on Sept. 1 and 10 in two installments of Classical MPR’s “Regional Spotlight,” which airs Thursday afternoons at 3:00 CDT. Gertz explains that because MPR is an educational partner, they keep tabs on quality art taking place at Luther College. “Luther is an MPR partner and MPR cares about great art happening both at Luther and in other places and telling the story of amazing artists,” Gertz said. Joyce feels that the features were a great way to honor the students’ work. “I think it is great publicity for the composers and a wonderful testament to their hard work,” Joyce said. “It also shows what a serious group Sybarite5 is—they gave our students the same professional treatment that a ‘famous’ composer would get. They are truly a class act.” To get a sense of the Sybarite5’s style and skill-level, the students began their compositions by listening to past works commissioned by the group. Maas and Larson each composed their pieces in about two weeks. “It was very overwhelming,” Maas said. “They can do all of these techniques, and I let them show off. I wanted to write something flashy, something that was up in the air— there are so many techniques you can use, so many notations you can write down—that I was just like, ‘Well, I’ll write what’s [in my head] first.’” According to Maas, his piece, “Smeared Incandescence,” is based on a work he had previously
WORKING WITH THE BEST. Jeremy Maas (‘16) presents his composition in collaboration with Sybarite5. Toby Ziemer / Photo Bureau composed for piano that explored a “dying friendship.” Maas hopes his piece provokes introspection for listeners. “I think I mainly want them to just kind of reflect on what does this mean to [them] and what could this have meant to the composer,” Maas said. “I’m not trying to particularly invoke some sort of image, I suppose. It’s fairly abstract in a sense.” Larson composed his piece, “A
Storm Strained Sky,” by envisioning a story. “I started writing it, and after a while I got stuck so I was like, ‘OK, I need to make a storyline out of this,’” Larson said. “So my friend and I found this farm-esque painting with a barn in the distance [for inspiration].” The piece follows a young boy as he runs toward a farmhouse to avoid an impending storm. Larson employed special string effects to symbolize rain and wind. “I’d never written for strings before, so this kind of was an interesting process for me to figure out what’s possible and try out different things,” Larson said. Larson estimates that he spent
about 50 hours composing the twominute piece. For Larson, having his composition played on the radio was extremely rewarding. “It was great. I think that’s been a dream of mine for a long time,” Larson said. “To have something of mine that I put a lot of hard work into—time, effort, thought—to have that out there for people to listen to and think about is something really exciting.” Joyce is proud of the student composers’ work. “Hearing them on the radio, as I did one afternoon, they don’t seem like ‘student’ compositions—they sound like fully-realized, mature works,” Joyce said.
Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm | Thursday 9am - 8pm
FASHION. FOR REAL LIFE. AFFORDABLE BOUTIQUE SHOPPING
COMING TOGETHER THROUGH MUSIC. Student composers Logan Larson (‘16), Jeremy Maas (‘16), Sam Milligan (‘15), Caleb Sander (‘15), Scott Senko (‘15) and Shafer Stromwall (‘15) debuted their works with Sybarite5 in the fall of 2014. Toby Ziemer / Photo Bureau
115 Winnebago Street | Decorah, Iowa | 563.382.3600
FEATURES
PAGE 6 OCTOBER 1, 2015
FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER
Mike Garcia to take over Luther’s Writing Center
WRITE ON. Writing tutor Emily Wick (‘17) works with Noel Banuelos (‘19) on his writing.
ELIZABETH HURLEY STAFF WRITER Big changes are coming for the Norse Writing Center. Assistant Professor of English Mike Garcia was hired as the new Director for the Writing Center. While he doesn’t officially take over the position until the end of the semester, current Writing Center Director and Professor of English Martin Klammer says Garcia is already making significant contributions in discussions for improving the writing center. Tucked in the back corner of the library, the Norse Writing Center was utilized by an average of 580 students in the fall of 2014 and 290 in the spring of 2015. Garcia’s main focus is to expand the current program. Currently, approximately 70 percent of the students who use the center are Paideia 111 students. “Right now it’s mostly Paideia students,” Garcia said. “The writing center is open to any student, but we’re just not getting as many from the other courses.” Garcia wants to reach students of other courses and disciplines who need help with their writing. By collecting data of which students are using the writing center and which students are not, the center can become aware of which disciplines they are lacking. The center can then teach tutors how to help students in writing for these different disciplines, such as math or science-specific writing.
One area that the center is already seeking to improve with tutoring is the number of students trained in English as a second language (ESL). “We don’t have a lot of tutors who are specifically trained in dealing with issues related to English as a second language,” Garcia said. “It would be nice if we had more of the tutors trained in that.” Along with improving the scope of services provided at the writing center, improved software can also lead to more efficient scheduling. This would allow the center to tailor its hours to better fit the needs of the students and allow the tutors to be utilized in areas outside the center, such as in the classroom on writing workshop days. All of Garcia’s improvements seek to expand conversations that are happening on campus about writing and how to teach it. Continually in conversations with the faculty about writing on campus, part of the director’s job is to discuss with faculty the best way to teach writing to students, both in Paideia and other disciplines. Because the Writing Center is in communication with professors when students come in, more students leads to more conversations about writing. In short, more demand can lead to more conversations between the center and faculty, and more conversations lead to further refinement of the Writing Center, allowing it to better serve the needs of the students.
“I’m excited for the changes, for the expansion,” Garcia said. “I think the Writing Center has room to grow. I think there’s more it can do, especially outside of Paideia. I’d like to connect more with faculty, with teaching and workshops— that would be nice to do that.” Though a large task, Garcia is ready to tackle the job. With a Ph.D. in English, Rhectoric and Composition from the University of New Hampshire, Garcia has worked with and in writing programs, including advising writing directors.
Emily Crowe / Chips
“I’ve always wanted to direct a Writing Center,” Garcia said. “I feel this fits me pretty well.” Klammer couldn’t agree more. “He’s very experienced, and he’s also savvy about what can be done and about what’s difficult to do,” Klammer said. “He also has a very strong background in composition research, which is understanding what works in the writing classroom and what works in terms of responding to writing papers.” While Garcia was hired to teach English courses and take over the
role as Director of the Writing Center, his wife, Assistant Professor of English Marie Drews, was also hired. According to Klammer, Luther is thrilled to have them. “I think we knew, to have the two of them was a very rich opportunity for us,” Klammer said. “They’re exactly what we were looking for.” The writing center is open from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Students are welcome to drop in or schedule an appointment with a tutor via the Luther Katie website.
READY TO TACKLE NEW CHANGES. Assistant Professor of English Mike Garcia teaches an English class. Elizabeth Hurley / Chips
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: ABBY CARPENTER
OCTOBER 1, 2015
Dec orah Coffeeshops JESSE ANDERSON STAFF WRITER Coffee-lovers looking for an offcampus fix can find their poison in downtown Decorah at three locations. Impact Coffee, Java John’s and Magpie Coffeehouse offer a variety of drinks to fuel conversation, learning and life, and each coffeehouse has something different to offer. Impact Coffee on Washington Street, formerly Ku’hn Coffee, has added a number of drinks to their menu, which now features the only nitro-brewed coffee in the region, according to owner Jeff Brown. Nitro-brewed coffee is nitrogen-infused coffee. “The nitro sets us apart,” Brown said. “We have cold brew on tap—it’s really quite a novel thing right now. Many people from larger cities have been in, and they’ve never seen anything like it or tasted anything like it.” Every drink at Impact is custom-made to order. “We do everything as ordered, so it’s ground and brewed per cup fresh,” Brown said. The change of ownership has allowed Impact to be more versatile in the coffees they are able to offer their customers. “We are now the roasters of the coffee, so we are now both roasting and brewing,” Brown said. “We are doing custom roasting, so that allows us to roast for anybody who wants something different than the norm. Impact’s focus is strictly coffee.” Impact Coffee is served in the Luther College cafeteria, at Nordic Brew and can be bought by the pound from the Luther C-Store. According to Brown, custom orders can be placed through Luther’s C-Store. In addition, Nordic Brew has a nitro cold brew on tap. Java John’s Coffee House is located on Water Street and is the closest coffeehouse to Luther College. According to assistant manager Mike Blevins, Java John’s is a favorite of Luther students and faculty. “I love to [do academic] work here because I like ambient noise and the
COFFEE BREAK. A mocha is one of the many drinks available at Java John’s. people here are interesting,” Assistant Professor of Philosophy Holly Moore said. “It doesn’t hurt that the coffee is tasty, and I love the pie.” Java John’s employs a number of Luther students and alums. “I like working here, it’s super fun,” Jennifer Schulz (‘13) said. “I like the environment; it’s like a home away from home.” Java John’s has recently added nighttime hours, during which they serve wine and beer. According to Blevins, this offers an alternative to the bars in town. During these hours, Java John’s offers a variety of live entertainment. Live entertainment event hours are typically 8 to 10 p.m. According to Blevins, all coffees at Java John’s are organic and fair-trade sourced.
CAFFEINE. Taylor Kinley (‘16) enjoys some caffeine with her homework at Java John’s.
Magpie Coffeehouse on Water Street offers a variety of coffee drinks, as well as a lunch menu. Magpie Coffeehouse is extensively decorated and offers a space for conversation, studying, lunch and, of course, coffee. According to Halle Owecke (‘15), Magpie’s selection and decorations make it a unique place that fits into the Decorah community well. Everything is house-made and served fresh, according to the Magpie’s website. “The space is bright and open— it’s a great place to study,” Christine Skogen (‘17) said. “[They offer] a ton of awesome baked goods and really good coffee.” Annie Weinberg (‘19) enoys Magpie’s decor, which includes pennis decorating the floor, walls, and tables.
Jesse Anderson / Chips
Jesse Anderson / Chips “I like the atmosphere, the coins, the chalk board tables, and the coffee is a bit creamier,” Weinberg said. The countertops in the front of the building are reclaimed chalkboards from East Side Elementary. Students looking for an off-campus caffeine boost can visit downtown Decorah at Impact, Java John’s or Magpie.
NITRO BREW. Impact coffee offers the only Nitro coffee in town. Jesse Anderson / Chips
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8 OCTOBER 1, 2015
A&E EDITOR: JENNA NELSON
Pérez to visit Luther campus ALL THAT JAZZ. Internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Danilo Pérez to perfom Oct. 2. BEN JERKE VOLUNTEER WRITER Danilo Pérez, a jazz pianist from Panama, will be performing live as the leader of his own quintet this Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life. This will be the second act of this year’s Center Stage Series. On Thursday, Oct. 1 Pérez will also be conducting a masterclass with the Luther College Jazz Orchestra at 2:30 p.m. He will then host an open jam session onstage in Marty’s with Luther student musicians at 7:30 p.m. Pérez started his journey into the world of music at age three. Pérez honed his talent with guidance from his father, who led a band of his own. At age 10, Pérez studied classical piano at Panama’s National Conservatory. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Pérez traveled to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he began to play professionally. At age 24, he found himself touring and recording with established jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis and Tito Puente. Pérez then set out to make his mark as a composer. This resulted in Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations for three albums, as well as commissions from famous groups and artists such as the Imani Winds, who will be
Photo courtesy of International Music Network
performing at Luther this spring. His most recent project, “Panama 500,” celebrates the 500th anniversary of European explorers crossing the Panamanian isthmus to see the eastern shore of the Pacific Ocean. In addition to his contributions as a musician, Pérez has served in various humanitarian roles. He currently serves as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Artist for Peace, and through his own Danilo Pérez Foundation has backed the building of a magnet school for young musicians in Panama City. Excitement for the events is building among members of the jazz community at Luther. Jazz Orchestra trombonist Sam Thrun (‘16) fondly recalled past experiences with musicians on campus in anticipation of the event. “I jammed with the Hot Sardines last year when they came to campus, and now I’m Facebook friends with them,” Thrun said. “A lot of people in jazz at Luther have expressed the desire to have more musicians come and do stuff like what [Pérez is] doing on Thursday. It’s a great opportunity.” Over the course of his life, Pérez has developed a unique perspective on the role of music in developing a sense of community among musicians. Pérez is also the Artistic Director at the Berklee College of Music’s Global
Jazz Institute, where he teaches the value of music in community. “When I teach, I talk a lot about values,” Pérez said. “For example, you can learn the meaning of democracy by understanding the individual parts of a groove. Community values can only be expressed when we listen to each other. With technology, it’s amazing that you can experience music by yourself, but there’s a certain isolation within that experience that challenges the idea of community.” Pérez strives to share his appreciation of the ability of music to bring people together with his students. “Once my students understand the power of music, passion creeps in—the passion to survive [and] to fight for happiness,” Pérez said. “A lot of my students have gone on to have great careers. The really successful ones have learned their mission in life; they see their music as a fingerprint of their lives. Once they figure out that life comes first, nothing can stop them.” This sense of community and passion that will be expressed musically when Pérez’s quintet takes the stage. The perfomance is Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $24 or free for students with the Co-curricular Activities Fee (CAF). Visit www.tickets.luther.edu for more information.
Album Review: Chvrches, ‘Every Open Eye’ ALEX BRANDT KWLC MUSIC LIBRARIAN Chvrches (pronounced ‘churches’) began in 2011 when university friends Iain Cook and Martin “Dok” Doherty asked Lauren Mayberry to sing on a few demos they were putting together. After the sessions proved more successful than expected, they decided to form a new electronic group. Chvrches—spelled with a “v” to aid in Google searches—was born. Chvrches’ debut album, “The Bones of What You Believe,” launched them from the local music scene in Glasgow, Scotland, to being the new face of synthpop. With “Every Open Eye,” Chvrches has delivered a powerful
sophomore album anchored on Lauren Mayberry’s crystal-clear vocals and their trademark synths. “Every Open Eye” begins with the upbeat “Never Ending Circles,” which sets the tone for the rest of the album with its cascading synths and buoyant vocals. It continues with the singles “Leave a Trace” and “Clearest Blue,” two of the album’s most danceable and catchy songs. The album slows down a bit about halfway through with “High Enough to Carry You Over,” the only song where Doherty replaces Mayberry as lead vocalist. With Chvrches’ rapid rise to fame in 2013 came a torrent of harmful emails, Facebook messages and rape and death threats directed toward
Mayberry. Mayberry has become vocal about the misogyny directed toward famous women in the age of the internet, writing op-eds for The Guardian and giving several interviews on her experiences. She said speaking out against the attacks has only made things worse. “We probably get more trolls now because people think we painted a target on our backs,” Mayberry said. With this backdrop in mind, it’s easy to see why “Every Open Eye” is centered on overcoming, moving on and rising above, whether it’s a relationship or online abuse. The track “Bury It” pretty much sums it up with its refrain: “You bury it and rise above.” 4 stars out of 5.
Photo courtesy of www.chvrch.es 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: CAMERON MEYFERTH
OCTOBER 1, 2015
Peanut butter shakes ‘privilege,’ not ‘right’ Letter to the Editor Upon reading last week’s opinion article on the lack of peanut butter shakes at Nordic Brew, I was taken aback by the amount of privilege and lack of basic understanding of how food allergies work. In light of this peanut butter tragedy, it is important that we step back and examine the difference between “rights� and “privileges,� the concept of anaphylaxis and food allergies and basic compassion and empathy. I, like many students at Luther, find great enjoyment in eating peanut butter. I, also like many other students, enjoy a shake containing peanut ingredients from time to time. However, despite statements made in last week’s article, enjoying a peanut butter shake from Nordic Brew does not fall under the category of my “rights.� Ordering a peanut butter shake is, in reality, a privilege allowed us by modern technology and Luther College Dining Services. In the case of a peanut butter shake emergency, this treat can be found at multiple other locations around Decorah which are not educational institutions trying to make their students’ (including those with dangerous allergies)
The Norse Poll
“It makes sense that they stopped serving peanut butter ‌ why would we serve something that could kill some students here?â€? Averie Manke (‘18)
dining experiences enjoyable and safe. On another note, a severe misunderstanding of the concept of food allergies is present here as well. According to Food Allergy Research & Education, “Trace amounts of peanut can cause an allergic reaction. Casual contact with peanuts, such as touching peanuts or peanut butter residue, is less likely to trigger a severe reaction. Casual contact becomes a concern if the area that comes into contact with peanuts then comes into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth (for example, a child with peanut allergy gets peanut butter on her fingers, and then rubs her eyes).� Therefore, consuming the residue of ground peanuts that results from making peanut butter shakes is in fact quite different from being exposed to open containers of nuts. While it is a frustrating inconsistency that dining services still offers Butterfingers, Reese’s and nuts as shake options, it is important to keep in mind that removing peanut butter is an attempt to help protect students with serious allergies. Finally, I wonder how it is possible to justify the opinion that it is not the responsibility of the masses to help protect the few? By this rationale, there would be no cancer research or funding, no refugee
or natural disaster relief, many students with special needs would be lacking quality educations and it’s quite possible we would still be living in caves. It is a fundamental responsibility of us as human beings to care for and respect one another, whether or not some members of our society have conditions that inconvenience a small part of our lives. No person with a food allergy wants their allergy to affect the lives of their peers. Believe it or not, their allergy is inconvenient to them as well. Many people suffering from peanut allergies wish that they too could enjoy a peanut butter shake. The discomfort of stabbing themselves with an EPI pen (a needle made thick enough to go through jeans) is just not worth that luxury. This tragedy taking place on Luther’s campus is a small gesture for the students whose serious allergies already restrict their dining options on campus greatly. This precaution is neither ridiculous nor unreasonable. Ridiculous is complaining about something instead of trying to see both sides or work toward a fair compromise.
“It is a fundamental responsibility of us as human beings to care for and respect one another, whether or not some members of our society have conditions that inconvenience a small part of our lives.� - Makeda Barkley (‘17)
Makeda Barkley (‘17)
What do you think about Nordic Brew’s decision to stop serving peanut butter shakes?
“I’m not really a peanut butter fan, so I am not really affected by it. I feel sad for those who unfortunately have to deal with [peanut allergies].� Chima Azih (‘18)
“The reason we removed [peanut butter] was because it gets stuck in the shake machine; it has nothing to do ZLWK DOOHUJLHV $QG HYHQ LI LW GLG ZH KDYH %XWWHUĆQJHUV and Snickers. We also make peanut butter in the back, VR WKHUH LV GHĆQLWHO\ WKH SRVVLELOLW\ RI FRQWDPLQDWLRQ The whole thing is just because it gets stuck in the machine and then it doesn’t work properly.� Shantell Heins (‘17)
I would go to chapel if it was on time BETHANY SEAVERS TEMPLETON HEAD COPY EDITOR My first year at Luther, I was excited about the various worship opportunities on campus. Growing up, I attended church regularly. It was a place where I felt good and loved, so I was looking forward to finding that community here. I thought it was great that I could go to chapel every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as a midday break with other like-minded people. I was excited about attending FOCUS every Sunday with other girls from my floor. Slowly, my excitement dwindled. I noticed that while chapel was scheduled to end around 10:45 or 10:50 to allow us enough time to run to our 11:00 class, many speakers would spill over their time, and chapel would go until 10:55 or so. I eventually stopped going to chapel because the Center for Faith and Life and
Koren are not close by each other, and my class’s attendance policy made it clear that we were not to be late. I was unable to get anything of value out of being in chapel because I was constantly watching the clock and figuring out when a good time to duck out would be. That is not the feeling that should be associated with a worship space. Now when my choir is scheduled to sing in chapel, I get a sinking feeling of dread and stress. When I am there for choir, I do not have the option of ducking out early because the choir often sings at the end of chapel. When the speaker does
not pay attention to the time limitation, I have two classes conflicting with each other. I cannot miss a choir performance, but I also cannot miss the class that will be incredibly formative in my future career that happens to start at 11:00. I run meetings during Shadow Block on some Thursdays, and it was heavily emphasized to me that I need to dismiss the meeting by 10:45 so that everyone has time to get to their 11:00 classes, which is something I completely understand. It shows a level of respect to give all of us the time we need to
“It shows a level of respect to give all of us the time we need to transition to class. This respect seems to be lacking in many chapel talks.� - Bethany Seavers Templeton (‘16)
transition to class. This respect seems to be lacking in many chapel talks. In fact, none of the chapels I have attended in the last calendar year as a member of choir have gotten out on time, which is entirely frustrating. In chapel on Monday, Sept. 28, the speaker made a comment in passing about wanting to have a higher attendance in weekday chapels. While I absolutely understand their position, they need to change the way chapel is run in order for that to happen. It should not be a question about if students who choose to attend will get to class on time. It should be a given. Speakers need to abide by the time limit given to them, and that timing needs to be more enforced. Admittedly, I do not know how to do that, but until I start to feel like the chapel speakers respect my time, I will continue to only go on days when my choir is singing.
OPINION
PAGE 10 OCTOBER 1, 2015
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
Fall 2015 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors:
Emily Crowe Cameron Meyferth Anna Jeide Katie Nelson Features Editor: Abby Carpenter A&E Editor: Jenna Nelson Sports Editor: Steve Peterson Staff Writers: Jesse Anderson Cody Arndtson Samantha Ea Elyse Grothaus Elizabeth Hurley Sidney Larsen Danny May Matija Nikolic Laura Proescholdt Elizabeth Stay Frances Stevenson Jacob Warehime Head Copy Editor: Bethany Seavers Templeton Copy Editors: Olivia Benson Erika Storvick Ad Representatives: Alex Brandt Hannah Mick Ad Accountant: Tyler Hovey Photography Coordinator: Abby Carpenter Photographer: Cody Arndtson Web Manager: Michael Spear Social Media Director: Britany Thorpe Distribution Manager: Elizabeth Hurley Adviser: Laura Fuller
MANAGING EDITOR: CAMERON MEYFERTH
Letting go of ‘Anne Hathaway Syndrome’ KATIE NELSON NEWS EDITOR While trawling my Facebook news feed the other day, I was reeled in by a Buzzfeed link (I know, I know) to read an article titled “The Problem with Anne Hathaway Syndrome.” For years now Hathaway has been a successful actress with an impressive career. Many of us grew up cherishing Hathaway’s breakout film “The Princess Diaries.” So why is it that so many people hate Anne Hathaway? Many people seem to dislike her because she doesn’t fit the “cool girl” mold of other actresses like Jennifer Lawrence, who entertainment media like to put up as a foil to Hathaway. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with Lawrence. The two of them are women at the top of their game and fit the mold of being good role models for young women. But just because she talks about eating pizza, trips up the stairs and has other relatable, “normal girl,” everyday problems, why does that mean we should reject the different “kind” of women that Hathaway represents? The reason many people cling to Jennifer Lawrence is her selfdeprecation. She makes fun of
herself and tells the media about her flaws. Which is great. It’s real, it’s refreshing, it’s fun. It’s what gives her this general likeability. The thing is, the fact that Hathaway isn’t doing this same thing makes the general public rage against her all the more. Yes, we should all have an ounce of humility in life; we should know our flaws and learn to accept them, too. But on the other hand, what is wrong with being confident and self-loving? Absolutely nothing. The problem here is that the world seems to push women to think that there is something wrong with this kind of perspective. If a woman accepts herself for who she is, she’s seen as stuck up. If she feels great about her life and she’s happy with her decisions, she’s presumably blind to reality. And if she feels satisfied with her career and accomplishments, then she doesn’t have enough going on in her personal life and is urged to work on that.
Of course, issues of show business don’t matter much to us in the bigger picture. Actresses and Hollywood should be low on our priority list of things to be angry about, but the fact that they are so public still inherently makes them visible and important, no matter how banal one may or may not think it all is. Because of this, perhaps we can learn from them. If all the Hathahaters in the world look into why they hate her, they may see something r e f l e c t e d back about themselves. It is important for us to look deeper into what we don’t like about other people in our world. We may not find the answers to bigger questions, but at least it can help us understand how better to view one another and treat the human beings around us. We must all look into our hatred for those people in our lives, and think about why we have issues with them. It may be more reflective than you imagine.
“Yes, we should all have an ounce of humility in life … but on the other hand, what is wrong with EHLQJ FRQĆ GHQW and self-loving? Absolutely nothing.” - Katie Nelson (‘16)
Snowden is a patriot, not a terrorist or a traitor CAMERON MEYFERTH MANAGING EDITOR Ever since he first blew the whistle on the U.S. National Security Agency by leaking documents in 2013, Edward Snowden has remained a prevalent figure in the news. Between the U.S. government’s attempts to extradite him and Snowden’s own search for a safe haven, he has still made time to speak out against governmental efforts to control the internet. After Snowden recently published his first tweet, which attracted media attention and hundreds of thousands of followers to his Twitter account, Snowden’s vocal opponents were also quick to react. George Pataki, former New York governor and Republican presidential hopeful with a less than slim chance of winning the nomination, tweeted that Twitter “should not give a platform to terrorists or traitors,” asking Co-founder and
CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey to delete Snowden’s Twitter account. I think the tweet was aptly summarized and ridiculed by Glenn Greenwald, one of the journalists who received and published reports on the leaked documents back in 2013, when he tweeted, “Hi, I’m running for President. My support in all polls is an asterisk. And I’m here to say who should and shouldn’t be allowed on Twitter.” However, I think this whole debacle goes beyond one political has-been trying to get in on the Republic presidential nomination clown show and not understanding how the Internet works. There’s a place in democracy for whistleblowers. It’s our right as the American populace to know what our government is up to. Without the media, the supposed watchdogs of the government, what would stop the government from trampling our rights? Who would hold the government accountable to its actions? Whistleblowers fall under this same category. They let the public know when something is wrong and when the government has done wrong. When figures in government view whistleblowers as traitors, that is a sure sign that something is wrong. Someone who views privacy as a right should be seen as a patriot who protects the American ideal, not as a terrorist intent on destroying government interests.
“Without the media, the supposed watchdogs of the government, what would stop the government from trampling our rights?” - Cameron Meyferth (‘16)
SPORTS
PAGE 11
OCTOBER 1, 2015
SPORTS EDITOR : STEVE PETERSON
Novian Whitsitt: A passion for athletics and academia JACOB WAREHIME STAFF WRITER Professor of Africana Studies and English Novian Whitsitt knows a thing or two about the world of athletics. From playing basketball at Stanford University to spending almost 20 years in the world of professional cycling, he’s seen his fair share of competitive sports.
RIDE ON. Novian Whitsitt heads out to one of Decorah’s trails after class. Photo courtesy of Novian Whitsitt
STEVE PETERSON SPORTS EDITOR Golfer Meggie Acker (‘18) put forth a strong performance during the Norse women’s first place finish in the Luther Invitational Golf Tournament at the Oneota Golf Club on Sept. 25-26. Acker shot 82 on the first day and 81 on the second day for a combined stroke count of 163 which was good enough to put her at second overall in the five team tournament. Chips: How did you expect to play going into this tournament? Acker: This weekend was the tournament that not only I, but the whole team was really looking forward to. Oneota, being our home course, gave us a large confidence boost. With
Now he reflects on the effects sports have had on his life, what it means to be a student-athlete and the driving passion behind his physicality. Whitsitt, who grew up riding bikes with his father and brother in the harbor of San Pedro in the port of Los Angeles, says that from an early age the desire to compete was instilled within him. “The love for the bike begins with my dad,� Whitsitt said. “He would get us excited and enthused. But it was fun. The bottom line was that [biking] was something that was fun.� Whitsitt also grew up playing basketball and says it was something that he and his brother approached more aggressively. “Basketball was something that was serious in our family. We woke early every day before school and practiced hard. The biking was more for fun. It was [my dad’s] way to keep things light.� However, the two sports soon collided. “I played ball all the way through high school and college,� Whitsitt said. “When [basketball] came to an end, I remember going out after my last game and buying a bike.� According to Whitsitt, he first went to biking as an outlet. “I needed some way to channel my competitive aggression now that ball was over. And cycling was the natural choice for me. I associated it with fun. It was competitive and exciting.� After graduating Stanford with a degree in International Relations with a focus in the humanities, Whitsitt went back to grad school at UCLA and studied African literature. However, being a student and being an athlete were not mutually exclusive for Whitsitt. “One hand washed the other, for sure.� Whitsitt said. “The beauty of sport for me, is an understanding of commitment, dedication and hard work. You develop a work ethic pretty quickly. And those lessons transferred over very well into academia.� According to Whitsitt, these lessons have also transferred to his life as a teacher. “What connects them together for me is being driven by passion,� Whitsitt said. “I’m a teacher because I love to be in a school environment. I love to sit in a classroom and discuss literature and ideas. I love to
the course being in great shape and having perfect weather, I had high hopes for my team and myself this weekend. We finished in first place. While I was only three strokes away from being the top medalist of the tourney, I am very happy with how I played and that I finished second this weekend. My main goal was just to go out there and compete as well as I could. That is exactly what I did. How did you gauge your performance? The first day I played really consistently in my game. The start of day two was a complete roller coaster. The first four holes were tough and I was concerned for how the day might end up. I am very proud with my outcome, as I worked really hard to come back on
the remaining 14 holes. All that I can ask of my teammates and myself is to give it all they have, and leave it all out on the course. Do you have any specific part of your game you are looking to improve as the season continues? With only two weeks left of our season, I plan on focusing on my approach shots at 10050 yards. If I can become more accurate with those, I can help leave myself shorter putts. How do you think the team will play as the season progresses? Any concerns? Our team is a very close-knit group. Numbers four through seven spots are usually only separated by a couple strokes. This makes the competition for top five very competitive. That competitiveness is what we need. The motivation to really work hard to secure your spot makes you not only a better golfer, but a better teammate as you cheer on the rest of your team. What’s your individual goal for this season? I have been reaching my individual goal this year at every tournament. My continuing goal is to compete at my highest potential, regardless of the conditions in
see students light up and share their opinions. I love to do research. My life has been driven by passion, and when you have passion, it’s easy to want to work hard. [Cycling and teaching] are very similar in where I find my motivation: they’re both rooted in passion.� Whitsitt went on to say that the mentality that helped him excel in athletics is now one that he applies to his teaching. “If you’re not constantly trying to challenge yourself, push yourself, make yourself uncomfortable, then your ability to connect to students will be limited,� Whitsitt said. “That’s how you keep your mind active, sharp and alert. [Cycling and teaching], for me, are two sides of the same coin.� Whitsitt also has some words of advice for students who are trying to balance both sports and academics at Luther. “Never think that you can’t do it all,� Whitsitt said. “What I mean by that is don’t offer yourself excuses about why you can’t be proficient at one because the other is taking up too much time. There is a way to be truly successful at multiple activities in your life. I think students—the student-athlete in particular— always runs the risk of pulling up a little bit short in class because they start to over identify with their athletic responsibilities.� According to Whitsitt, this sentiment applies to everyone—not just student athletes. “There are other students that are balancing multiple responsibilities as well, whether it be a love for music or a love for other passions in their lives,� Whitsitt said. “We all have passions, but we can’t let them get in the way of what happens in the classroom. Don’t get too invested in the game, whatever it may be.� Perspective, Whitsitt says, is key. “College will end, your life will move forward, and hopefully you’ll have developed a passion for physicality that will translate into some other activity and be a part of your life until you die,� Whitsitt said. “Never lose that passion. But the sport itself ? It’s really just a game.� Ultimately, Whitsitt says, his point boils down to this: “It’s about learning to get your butt up in the morning and get after it.�
LONG BALL. 0HJJLH $FNHU ç FKHFNV KHU UDQJHĆQGHU WR GHWHUPLQH WKH length to the green in the Luther Invite. Will Heller / Photo Bureau place. Are there any superstitions you hold surrounding your game? I am actually a very superstitious athlete; I never play the same ball in
one tournament that I have already played before (unless it is a practice round), I also listen to the same song before every first tee off I have at a tournament, and I always label my golf balls the same way.
SPORTS
PAGE 12
SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE PETERSON
OCTOBER 1, 2015
Rugby teams look to recruit more players
Weekly Standings Football
#6 Wartburg Central Luther Buena Vista Coe Dubuque Loras Simpson
IIAC 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Recent Scores
Overall 3-0 2-1 2-1 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2
Sept. 19 @ Grinnell, W 56-0
Upcoming Schedule
Oct. 3 @ Dubuque, 1:00 PM Oct. 10 @ Central, 1:00 PM
Women’s Soccer ALL SMILES. The women’s team after a match against River Falls on Sept. 19.
MATIJA NIKOLIC STAFF WRITER The men’s and women’s rugby teams are gearing up for their new season and each team is looking for more players this year. This year’s teams continue the 40 yearlong tradition of rugby at Luther. More than just a team, rugby offers students the social aspect of a club, too. Men’s captain Tim Walch (‘16) is convinced that the men’s team is on the right track toward expanding their recruitment. “I started when I was a freshman and I believe that everyone should come and join because it’s a really fun group,” Walch said. “We hang out after practices and matches so we often become close with each other.” According to Walch, the ability to play against other schools as a club team also has a big appeal. “We travel and play against schools in the area, but mostly in Minnesota against St. Olaf, Carleton, Macalester and St. John’s.” Walch said. “Therefore, it’s a great way to make new friendships both at Luther and at other institutions.” The team will take athletes from any background who want to play. According to Walch, there are a lot of students who aren’t sure if they want to continue playing a sport in college, but he encourages them to
come try something new. Regardless of recruitment, the lack of numbers does not present an obstacle for the team’s quality of play but could definitely make a difference, according to current players. “We are pretty competitive against all teams because we hold our ground,” Walch said. “The last two years we went to the division championship, and this year we actually have a big emphasis on recruitment because we had a big graduating class last year. We welcome everyone, no experience necessary.” Walch also pointed out that rugby is similar to American football which makes adaptation easy for new players. “We see rugby as American football’s faster-paced cousin,” Walch said. “It’s also consistent play which means that we spend a lot more time actually playing rather than waiting for the action.” Despite their current record, the women’s rugby team is also filled with a positive atmosphere for the new season according to captain Rachel Shaffer (‘17). “We’ve had one tournament, the All-Minnesota tournament in Elk River, Minnesota, as well as games against UW-River Falls and Carleton,” Shaffer said. “While we haven’t had a win so far, we are seeing daily improvements through putting
“Everyone’s friendly, until, of course, it comes to tackling.” -Tim Walch (‘16)
Photo courtesy of Savannah Dreesman emphasis on rucking, tackling form and increased communication on the pitch, all of which are essential for the game.” Recruitment has also been an issue for the women. “At the beginning of the season we were recruiting through posters, activities fair and an info meeting,” Shaffer said. “However, we will continue to welcome girls onto the team throughout the season. All they need to do is come practice down at the rugby pitch at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. We also have a spring season, which is a great time for new members to join.” Ultimately, Shaffer says that the best reason for joining is being a member of a competitive team. “Rugby is an intensely physical and aggressive sport, and sharing that experience with a group of girls builds friendships that last a lifetime,” Shaffer said. According to Katherine Johnson (‘16), another reason to join is a chance to take initiative toward career goals. “There is a lot of potential for leadership because every year we elect two people to be captains and lead practices. Along with captains there is a match secretary who contacts other teams to plan our games and tournaments,” Johnson said. Above all, these players said they have fun playing rugby with their friends. “You rarely see any fights breaking out,” Walch said. “Everyone’s friendly until, of course, it comes to tackling.”
Luther Wartburg Loras Central Coe Dubuque Buena Vista Simpson
IIAC 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1
Overall 8-1 7-2-1 6-2-1 5-3 9-1-1 6-2-1 3-7 2-6
Recent Scores
Sept. 23 vs. UW-Plateville, W 4-1 Sept. 26 vs. Coe, W 2-0
Upcoming Schedule
Oct. 3 vs. Buena Vista, 1:00 PM Oct. 4 vs. Carleton, 2:00 PM
Men’s Soccer Luther Loras Dubuque Central Wartburg Simpson Buena Vista Coe
IIAC 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1
Overall 6-2-2 5-2-1 5-2-1 4-6 5-3-1 4-5-1 4-6 1-6-1
Recent Scores
Sept. 26 vs. Coe, W 6-2 Sept. 27 @ Knox College, T 0-0 2OT
Upcoming Schedule
Oct. 3 vs. Buena Vista, 3:00 PM
Women’s Tennis Coe Central Luther Wartburg Simpson Loras Buena Vista Dubuque
IIAC 6-0 4-1 4-1 2-1 3-2 1-4 0-5 0-6
Overall 6-1 6-1 6-1 3-3 5-3 1-8 0-5 0-9
Recent Scores
Sept. 20 vs. Coe, L 3-6
Upcoming Schedule
Oct. 3 @ Central and Simpson, 10:00 AM, 3:00 PM
Women’s Tennis Luther Wartburg Coe Central Buena Vista Loras Dubuque Simpson
IIAC 2-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-2
Overall 11-6 13-3 13-6 10-6 11-7 10-8 9-8 9-8
Upcoming Schedule
Oct. 2 vs. Buena Vista, 7:30 PM