Chips Spring Magazine 2023

CHIPS

Vol. 145 • Spring Magazine 2023

From the Editor

Is... is this thing on?

After four years, Chips again returns in a magazine format. Though it’s nice to have it in print form, it’s different from our usual operation. I have to admit that rebuilding the paper in magazine form, while also having no prior experience in magazine design, was an enterprise in it of itself. Still, after our usual printer discontinued its newspaper print format, Chips had to adapt alongwith.

“Change” seems to be the motto of our world, I figure.

This Spring Magainze issue was traditionally done during J-Term to showcase the various experiences of Luther students as they took their month-long courses. This issue molds together the J-Term magazine style with the newspaper format; it is our humble attempt to return to our roots of print journalism.

This issue also culminates a year of work done by our staff writers and our editorial members. “The times” have widdled down our staff to a small crew, but I could not have asked for a better team of writers. You all are amazing!

I also want to say that being a journalist is hard: putting yourself out there, digging for information, and piecing a bunch of information into a concise, short report is a hard skill to master. Add on top of that the constraints of living in the post-pandemic society, of being a college student, and having other responsibilities that are often themselves draining, the work of student journalism is particularly demanding and can seem unrewarding.

That said, this collection of stories, of opinions and Foolsies are the product of a lot of hours of work, and is why we do what we do. This edition offers only a handful of stories that our writers and editors have worked on this semester, and is the chance to showcase both our community and the work of our student journalists.

On behalf of the Chips staff, I would like to thank the college for continuing to fund our operational budget as we navigate these uncertain times. I would also like to thank you, our reader, for your support. We exist for you, our community. I hope you enjoy this edition.

Chips ahoy!

CONTACT

Chips

Phone: 563.387.1044

Fax: 563.387.2072

E-mail: chipsedt@luther.edu

Website: http://lutherchips.com

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Twitter: @lutherchips

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LutherChips

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EDITORIAL

Jackson Geadelmann, Editor-in-Chief

Peter Heryla, Managing Editor

Lydia Marti, News Editor

Ava White, Features Editor

Bao Nguyen, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Ethan Kober, Head Copy Editor

Lionel Mujuni, Copy Editor

Resana Zayan, Copy Editor

WRITERS

Durah Albadr

Emilee Burcham-Scofield

Verena Mueller-Baltes

Korpo M. Selay

Andrea Triminio

POLICIES

Jackson Geadelmann Editor-in-Chief

Chipsis a student publication of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The publication is designed, composed, edited and managed entirely by Luther students. It is published weekly during the academic year. Opinions expressed in articles, editorials or columns do not necessarily represent the views of the Chips staff. The author is solely responsible for opinions expressed in Chipscommentary. Chips will not accept submitted articles or campus announcements. Submissions for letters to the editor should be submitted as a word document to chipsedt@luther.edu with “Letter to the Editor” as the 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 by Sunday at 5 p.m. the week before publication. Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor.

Foolsies is a tradition in Chips. They are entirely satircal, completely fake articles and pieces meant in good fun. Nothing in the Foolsies section should be construed as the truth, nor should they be evaluated with much sincerity. Enjoy.

Head on over to our website www. lutherchips.com or scan the QR

Luther Announces Creation of 4+1 Public Health Degree

PETER HERYLA, MANAGING EDITOR

Luther College, in conjunction with the University of Iowa (UI) College of Public Health, announced a brand new 4+1 Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program on April 20.

The program will allow Luther students to earn both a bachelor and master’s degree in Public Health. All majors will be considered post-graduation for admission to the UI Master of Public Health degree program, one of the top 20 schools for Public Health in the U.S.

According to Luther College Provost and Interim Vice President for Mission and Communication Brad Chamberlain, the partnership was formed in response to growing student interest in direct and accelerated paths to graduate degrees.

“The [partnership with UI] provides [an] example of how Luther opens doors and creates opportunities for its graduates,” Chamberlain said. “While there are no specific plans at the moment for another degree partnership, Luther will continue to look for additional opportunities in the future.”

Students can apply to the program during their third year at Luther after completing 80 credit hours of undergraduate work and a 3.25 GPA. Those who are accepted will earn graduate credit from UI online courses during their senior year, allowing them to graduate with two degrees in five years,

Fast Facts: University of Iowa College of Public Health

- Had $44 million in research funding for fiscal year 2022

- Only school in Iowa fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

- Consists of five graduate-level departments

which will save Luther students time and money.

Representatives from the University of Iowa did not respond to requests for comment.

Associate Professor of Sociology Maryna Bazylevych Nading played a large role in creating and implementing the new program. According to Nading, the development of the program has been years in the making.

“This journey started around five years ago when me and [Associate Professor of Nursing Angela Kueny] visited the graduate school fair at the Union,” Nading said. “We were specifically keeping an eye on the Public Health programs, in order to be able to better advise students interested in continuing their education in the field of Public Health after Luther. We are thrilled that our conversations and negotiations have resulted in this agreement.”

Nading highlighted that if students are accepted, they will be invited to participate in UI School of Public Health events. They will also receive a graduate school academic advisor and be encouraged to get to know other UI students and Public Health faculty. Nading believes that students are perfectly suited for the field of Public Health, which includes areas of focus like epidemiology, biostatistics, and occupational health.

“Luther students are often guided by the ethic of service and many are committed to social justice,” Nading said. “In the field of Public Health, this work often takes the form of preventing disease and reducing health disparities. What could be a more noble work in our world divided by inequalities?”

Questions about the program can be directed to University of Iowa College of Public Health Associate Director of Admissions and Recruitment Lexie Just at lexie-just@uiowa.edu.

Renovated Sports and Recreation Center Dedicated to Influencial Former Coach

After months of renovation, the new Robert and Ann Naslund Sports and Recreation Center (SRC) reopened its doors on December 1, 2022. Almost five months later, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, the official dedication ceremony was held in the SRC at 10 a.m.

The event began with an opening prayer. Then, students Emily Rubbelke (‘23) and Kylie Dunning (‘23) gave brief speeches, followed by an acknowledgement of the numerous efforts that went into this project from Director of Athletics Renae Hartl.

One such driving factor was Senior Director of Development at Luther, Nathan Ersig (‘98). Ersig spoke about the role he played in fundraising for the renovations.

“Our office, the Development Office, supported the Athletic Department in fundraising for the project,” Ersig said. “The renovation was one hundred percent donor-funded, at no cost to the college, and was in all about a 1.2 million dollar project.”

The 1.2 million dollars spent on the renovation were spent on redoing the track surface, lighting, mechanicals, and painting. Ersig’s office was also key in collecting big name donors that would then help rename the SRC.

Robert “Bob” Naslund (‘65), whose name is now displayed on the front wall, witnessed a vastly different SRC and sports

facilities during his time as a student and coach. Naslund spent his years as a coach for football, track and field, as well as an assistant wrestling coach. He was employed at Luther for 42 years. Throughout that time, Naslund worked to prompt the inclusion of women in athletics. Naslund spoke about how the SRC has become more accessible to all athletes.

“The SRC today is probably the most used facility [within athletics],” Naslund explained, “It has become safer, more attractive, and versatile for both men and women.”

Naslund prided Luther on being one of the first colleges in the region to establish Women’s Sports programs in 1965. He also made sure that his wife, Ann Naslund, was recognized in the naming. Ann Naslund (‘66), a kindergarten teacher for 36 years, was essential to her husband’s coaching success. Naslund elaborated on the importance of spousal support in athletics.

“Too often, spouses of coaches get overlooked,” Naslund said. “She’s been a wonderful supporter.”

After another prayer, the official unveiling, led by President Jenifer K. Ward, Robert and Ann Naslund, as well as Associate Athletic Director Adam Carpenter, took place. Bob Naslund led the crowd in the Luther Chant following the prayer to close out the ceremony.

Photographs by Lauren Schroeder (‘23) Chips

VERENA MUELLER-BALTES, STAFF WRITER

Student Senate changes Student Senate announces election results; Ahmed & Neff named President, Vice President

Students and Allies Association Senate Representative, as well as being the Chair of the Campus Betterment Shared Governance Committee. Ahmed and Neff were sitting together in a physics lab when they found out they were elected, which he called a “surreal moment.”

“[Being elected] showed how strong of a support system this community continues to be for me,” Ahmed said. “[It also served] as a reminder of the community’s trust in me to lead progress that sustains.”

Neff was the Junior Class Representative for 2022-2023, and also served as the student representative for the Board of Regents. Neff states that the campaign’s main goal is to create more transparency between students and the administration.

“There can be many frustrations and misunderstandings for students because of [a] lack of communication,” Neff said. “Oftentimes, these issues are being worked on, but students are unaware. We hope to find a way to have more access to administration for students.”

Dean of Student Engagement Ashley Benson, who advises the Student Senate, expects Ahmed and Neff to do “a wonderful job leading the Luther student body into the future.” Benson, who assists in training all newly elected Student Senate leaders, will have regular meetings with both Ahmed and Neff throughout the 2023-2024 academic year to address any concerns and to continue their development as leaders. She highlighted their success serving the Student Senate this past year, and expects the two to succeed together in their new leadership positions.

“Being elected by their peers to lead the student body means they are trusted to have the skills needed to work with people on various levels,” Benson said. “I believe in their leadership and am excited about the work ahead.”

With the newly-elected senators and the recently updated Senate bylaws and constitution, Benson believes that the Luther community can expect a lot from their senators for the upcoming year.

The Luther Student Senate Election Committee announced on April 24 the results of the 2023-2024 Student Senate elections, in which 14 senators were elected to various positions.

Notably, the election results named the new Student Senate Leadership Team. Jaraad Afroze Ahmed (‘25) and Natalie Neff (‘24) were elected President and Vice President, respectively, while Hannah Roesler (‘25) was elected Secretary. The election committee also named new senators to the Senate Executive Board, new Class Representatives and new Diversity Representatives.

The Treasurer position and two positions on the Executive Board were announced as being re-run; the voting for these positions closed on April 26. All Hall Representative positions and the Freshman Class Representative position will be elected next fall.

Prior to being elected President, Ahmed served as the International

“The Luther community can expect more student connections amongst student organizations, better engagement with various student identities in an effort to improve retention on campus, improved connection with President Ward’s cabinet, and a commitment to understanding the concerns of fellow students and student organizations,” Benson said. “The future is bright for the Student Senate and the Luther College community.”

The initial reason Ahmed ran for President was to build community, which set his own expectations high for the coming year.

“Every single individual at and beyond Luther, as I quote the Norse Creed, are Luther Norse,” Ahmed said. “To me, this position is an opportunity to uphold our mission and values through collaboration and systematic support, [and] it is an opportunity for myself to lead others into a more inclusive and productive Luther.”

PETER HERYLA, MANAGING EDITOR

with the spring sesason

Senate holds public Q&A session on new constitution

KORPO M. SELAY, STAFF WRITER

On Monday, April 24, the Student Senate Constitutional Committee hosted a Question and Answer session with students, faculty, and staff members to explain the Senate’s new constitution and the amendments that have been made. The Q&A session occurred in the Student Organizations Office in the Union.

Student Senate Vice President and Constitutional Committee member Salomé Valdivieso (‘23) spoke about some of the significant changes to the constitution. One such change was to the mission statement of the Senate. The new mission statement emphasizes the Senate’s role in student advocacy by adding Hall Representatives to the Senate’s structure. Valdivieso also spoke about the motivation behind this constitutional amendment.

“We realized that a lot of issues faced by the Senate could be solved with a new constitution that explicitly addressed such issues,” Valdivieso said. “People’s different roles and responsibilities and engagement with the student body should be prioritized; thus, the Constitutional Committee was formed, and the process of creating a new constitution began.”

During the session, Student Senate President and Constitutional Committee member Max Holt (‘23) addressed concerns about the new constitution and how the addition of Hall Representatives to the constitution will affect

the student body, specifically through the addition of Hall Representatives. Hall Representatives will be students residing in different residence halls who represent their peers within the official Senate.

“Hall Representatives will ensure that the student body is connected to the Senate formally and informally,” Holt said. “While these changes benefit the student body, we know that it will take some time for students to get used to them, especially changes surrounding student organizations’ funds. We ask everyone to work with us to ensure a smooth transition.”

Meanwhile, Student Senate Treasurer and Constitutional Committee member Ben Houri (‘23) mentioned how the new constitution would provide specific guidance for the Senate’s different committees and people with more than one role within the Senate.

“Some Senate members were elected for one position but also served on a different committee within the Senate, causing them to sometimes neglect the duties of their elected position,” Houri said. “The current constitution does not speak specifically to this, so it has been a tricky situation.The new constitution clarifies that your

elected position comes first, and everything else is treated as additional responsibilities.”

Valdivieso also spoke about what she hopes to see accomplished from these changes.

“I hope Senators and students can use the new constitution as a guiding document and a way forward,” Valdivieso said.

For more information about the new constitution and Student Senate, visit their website at https://www.luther.edu/student-life/ clubs-activities/student-senate.

“The new constitution clarifies that your elected position comes first, and everything else is treated as additional responsibilities”

Student Senate Treasurer and Constitutional Committee member Ben Houri (‘23)

“In Search of Unconditional Hospitality”:

Latin American & Hispanic Student Experiences at Luther College

KORPO M. SELAY, STAFF WRITER

On Tuesday, May 2, from 7 to 8 p.m., members of the Luther community gathered to learn about Associate Professor of Anthropology Anita Carrasco’s research. The presentation was titled: “In Search of Unconditional Hospitality: Latin American & Hispanic Student Experiences at Luther College.” The one-hour presentation took place in Olin 102 and focused on findings from research Carrasco conducted during the 2021-22 academic year.

Carrasco got the inspiration for the research from anthropologist Sharam Khosravi’s concept of unconditional hospitality (2011). This is broadly understood as when someone is open to another person who is not like oneself. Under her guidance, three student research assistants from Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Chicago conducted 47 interviews collecting stories from other Latin American and Hispanic students reflecting on what it meant to be of a minority background at a majority-white institution like Luther.

According to Carrasco, findings from the research show that Latin American and Hispanic students at Luther have had both positive and negative experiences, but she still believes that the community can take actions to address problems facing Latin American and Hispanic students. Carrasco also mentioned that the presentation was aimed at presenting the voice of the most vulnerable students during the research.

“A special concern to me are first generation, low income, and undocumented students,” Carrasco said. “In today’s talk, I have chosen to give priority to their voices because after listening to the many stories recorded in all the interviews, these were the students that reported the most suffering.”

Carrasco presented the research findings under three themes: labels and a sense of community among students, the institutional memory of racial incidents and responses, and students’ experiences at Luther, focusing on the good, bad, and ugly. Under each part, the overall theme was explored through the interviewees’ thoughts about the theme, supported by

anonymous quotes from the interviews. Following the presentation was a question and answer period with the audience. Questions included how long it took to conduct each interview, how the research process impacted the three students that worked with Carrasco, and how Luther would use the research in the future.

Junita Sangare (‘25) attended the presentation to learn more about unconditional hospitality and said that research like Carrasco’s is an opportunity to become educated about diversity and inclusion issues at Luther.

“Professor Carrasco shared the experiences of students that resonate with me as a Black woman at Luther,” Sangare said. “You come to a community expecting to be welcomed, but find out that is not the case.”

Also in attendance was the International Students Coordinator at the Center for Intellectual Engagement and Support (CIES) Alejandra Cruz. Cruz spoke of how the research findings will give minority students a voice and the importance of such research to offices like CIES.

“CIES can use the research findings to find ways to make our Hispanic and Latin American students feel more welcomed on campus,” Cruz said. “Our doors are always open, and we hope students can reach out to us with their concerns and work together to make Luther more welcoming to everyone.”

Carrasco ended the presentation by stating that she hopes the community acknowledges that Luther has racial issues to address and that minority groups on campus are not making things up.

“I hope people walk away knowing that racial issues exist and that we can do better as a community,” Carrasco said. “We can make the experiences of minority students much better.”

Associate Professor of Anthropology Anita Carrasco projects a quote from one of the interviewees.

DecoRide 2023

DecoRide Bikes for a Cause

On Saturday, May 6, a group of Luther College students hosted the first-ever DecoRide. It was a chilly, rainy morning, but a large group of riders gathered together at Will Baker Park. With apples and water bottles in hand, bikers set off on the 11-mile ride. After a brief student pep talk, the riders were off to the races.

DecoRide was organized in hopes of raising money for the Decorah Free Clinic. The clinic provides healthcare and health based education to uninsured or underinsured individuals. Services which the clinic provides range from medications and lab tests to dental screenings. Member of DecoRide organizing team, Souksakhone Sengsaisouck (‘23) reflected on the ways in which the event hopes to give back to the community.

“We were really happy to see the turnout of the event, especially with the rain,” said Sengsaisouk. “We are donating all of the registration fees and t-shirt collections to the free clinic, so we are super thankful to people for coming out and participating.”

The event was open to the entire community, and there was a large turnout of both community members and Luther students. Many who came to the event were motivated by its goal to raise money for the Decorah Free Clinic. Student attendee, Mariah Huenke (‘26), reflected on the experience, saying that she felt it was worth it despite the weather.

“Even though it was raining, it was nice to bring my friends out and experience it,” Huenke said. “It was only a $5 registration fee and I knew that it was going to a good cause.

Once the weather cleared it ended up being a super nice bike ride with friends.”

As for the ride itself, there were stops along the 11-mile route to allow riders to air up their tires and grab water and a snack. There were plenty of volunteers who helped keep everyone on the trail. Rider Alexis Hardwood (‘26) who faced a few difficulties throughout the ride was grateful for the help.

“It was super helpful to have the stations and people helping along the way, especially when my bike tires got flat,” Hardwood said. “Several people helped me and got my tires pumped up and gave me water along the way.”

In total, the event raised $1700 and had 107 riders. It can be said that it was a successful first DecoRide.

EMILEE BURCHAM-SCOFIELD, STAFF WRITER

DURAH ALBADR, STAFF WRITER

Since late December, the Brandt Hall water damage incident has been on the minds of both current and displaced Brandt residents, as well as many other students on campus. On December 27, while students were away on winter break, an email was sent to Brandt residents informing them that the West Wing had flooded due to a burst water pipe. Some rooms suffered water damage on the ceiling and others had damage to the floor.

Approximately 120 students from Brandt West were permanently displaced from Brandt and are living in other campus residence halls until the end of the academic year. The damage assessment and cleaning were handled by two companies: ServPro and Advanced Environmental. The discovery of asbestoscontaining materials in some damaged ceilings led to abatement as part of the repairs.

While students in Brandt Center and Brandt East remained in the building during the abatement and cleaning process, Brandt West was isolated from the remainder of the building. The isolation was done using sealed barriers and air pressure. As students arrived back on campus, Luther provided them with $100 for needed supplies for their rooms and $40 for food.

In light of the college’s efforts, students have expressed mixed experiences with the results. Some reported positive experiences, while others

negative. Students like Lily Nuland (‘26) reported that the money Luther gave them was not enough.

“This wasn’t enough to replace all the necessary things we needed,” Nuland said. “Not having access to things I needed was very difficult. We were expected to have money to buy the things we needed. Not every student has money to buy things. I had no bedding, no toiletries, no books, no nothing.”

Other students, like Abhay Chhabra (‘26), reported getting reimbursed for the things they needed, but only after some time.

“I was back on campus on the [January 3],” Chhabra said. “I got the 140 dollars straight up, but I had to wait for the other money for five or six weeks. It definitely took time. In the end I got everything I needed. They did a good job, but the process was pretty slow.”

Residents were told to set their reimbursement estimates to cover just what they would consider necessary. However, Julia Wendt (‘26) believed that these estimates seemed very arbitrary.

“They were kind of like ‘we’re only going to reimburse things that you need, so if you’re spending your money on random stuff, we’re not going to reimburse that,’” Wendt said. “They did kind of tell us to lower the expectations, but I feel like they have a different definition of what you need than what a student would.”

Other students, like Maggie Hickman (‘26),

Brandt aftermath: Students report mixed experiences with admin response

reported a difference in how international and U.S. students experienced the administration’s response.

“We were just thrown in [Miller Hall],” Hickman said. “I never really met my RA. I just met her for the first time this week for our signout meeting. My roommate is an international student. She only had a suitcase full of clothes. Her having to buy all this stuff—and it took her forever to get reimbursed—was way more stressful for her.”

In addition to their financial struggles and loss of personal belongings, students also experienced mental health problems. International student Leen Zaher (‘26) expressed concern about her mental health due to the situation, citing increased anxiety and stress in the aftermath of the water damage. However, Zaher acknowledges that her situation is better than other students since she was prepared to stay in Miller over break due to Brandt’s closure.

“I brought most of my stuff with me,” Zaher said. “My situation is better than most because I was already prepared.”Students also reported varying experiences with the condition of their room.

The renovation of Brandt West is expected to take its course over the next three years, and students like Wendt recognize the extraordinary circumstances of the December incident. Still, Wendt believes it could have been handled better.

“I understand that it wasn’t expected and they had no protocol for this, but they could have given more money and they could have been nicer to us,” Wendt said. “They moved us and didn’t really tell us anything. They gave people back stuff badly. When I went to get my stuff from my room, we only had like an hour to get all of the stuff out of our room. It was crazy and they could have been more considerate or hospitable about it.”

As the semester has progressed, time has played out the response of Luther’s administration, but former Brandt residents are still dealing with the implications of their displacement.

“The situation could have been handled much more gracefully,” Gaby Herbold (‘26) said. “Their responsiveness to the student’s concerns was effective, but everything else was handled wrong.”

In April, a fence went up around Brandt West. In a Bulletin email, it was shared with students that the college was beginning a three-year window and roofing project on the residence hall. According to the annoucement, the construction on Brandt West has nothing to do with the recent water damage. Construction was supposed to begin last summer but was delayed due to supply chain issues.

Both Student Engagement and Facilities were asked to comment but didn’t respond by the time of publication

AVA WHITE, FEATURES EDITOR JACKSON GEADELMANN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Ones Who Did Not Die

ANDREA TRIMINIO, STAFF WRITER

Indigenous people have been portrayed as violent in contemporary American horror cinema for many years. This was the topic of discussion during Portland State University Assistant Professor of Indigenous Nations Studies Kali Simmons’ visit to Luther College on April 12.

Simmons, a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, gave a talk to Luther students and faculty on the importance of cultural representation in media. She examined slasher films and their tendency to perpetuate harmful stereotypes about indigenous peoples that are based on colonial hierarchies of race and gender. Simmons then connected these contemporary narratives to early colonial texts and the “killer Indian” trope. The talk was sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE). Associate Professor of English and Director of CEPE Andrew Hageman attended the event and shared why he believes this topic is relevant to Luther and the surrounding community.

“Dr. Simmons’s talk is a vital part of how folks in the Luther College and Decorah communities can engage with popular culture representation, including how to analyze it and why it matters,” Hageman said. “She brings expertise and [a] voice that we don’t have at Luther and that bolsters our mission, especially the mission of the CEPE. Also, Dr. Simmons’s research is a model for current students, and her writing is a model for students and faculty alike, as she’s extremely effective in presenting sophisticated research-based insights to intelligent and curious non-expert readers.”

There were many people who attended this event that would fall under Hageman’s category of curious non-expert readers; one of them was Nagham Boulos (‘26). Boulos attended to learn more about media representation of minorities in the United States.

“I heard about this talk through the bulletin board emails and all the signs that were hung up in the Union,” Boulos said. “As an international student, I am always looking for opportunities to learn more about other cultures and minorities that are not always present on campus. It was a good opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and [see]

how popular media misinterprets them and [how it] is almost the complete opposite of reality.”

This event also gave Luther students a greater opportunity to expand their critical thinking skills. Adelaide Muñoz (‘26) was another curious non-expert reader in attendance. She pointed to Simmons’ effective use of evidence as a helpful aid to understanding the topic.

“This event was out of the norm for me,” Muñoz said. “Dr. Simmons did a great job presenting her points through her Power Point alongside movie clips that showed us what she was talking about. As someone who enjoys watching movies and is, in general, just exposed to popular media, I’ll have to admit that I had little knowledge of the reality that these indigenous people face.”

To prepare for the talk, Hageman promoted the event by sparking interest among students. He explained that the intended effects of such lectures are to educate as well as to send students off with energy for continued and new academic and social activity. Hageman pointed to the allure of popular media and its study as a big way to interest students leading up to the event.

“I became aware of Dr. Simmons’s work via social media connections, and I was deeply impressed with her research, her gamechanging innovations through insights, and her concise and compelling writing,” Hageman said. “I also think that her work in a popular genre makes Dr. Simmons a guest scholar who can attract students’ attention and interest. It worked out wonderfully that the dates I invited her to speak overlapped with some dates that she’s got set aside from teaching.”

According to Muñoz,

the event did spark her interest for that reason. It also left her with an increased awareness of the importance of media representation and the skills to better analyze what she consumes.

“Leaving this event, it left me thinking about all the movies I’ve seen,” Muñoz said. “It made me realize that there are a lot of minorities and even big cultures that are not represented correctly, and that it creates an idea in the viewer’s head. Dr. Simmons did a great job at spreading awareness and helping us become better [analysts of] the things we see.”

Boulos pointed to the value of attending CEPE events.

“I would completely recommend other students to attend events sponsored by the CEPE,” Boulos said. “They always offer some sort of diversity and you end up learning something new that you can apply to your everyday life.”

Wage Increase in Dining Services: A Step Towards Encouraging Student Retention

DURAH ALBADR, STAFF WRITER

In recent years, Luther College has experienced a decline in the number of students working in dining services, according to Director of Human Resources Matthew Bills. In response to this steady decline, Luther Works leadership, which is in charge of student work study opportunities, recommended a $1 per hour increase in the wages of Dining Services, Grounds and Custodial student employees.

The wage increase was reflected in all levels of positions, including Level 1 salaries of $9.25 per hour, Level 2 salaries of $9.75 per hour, Level 3 salaries of $10.25 per hour, and Level 1+ salaries of $9.45 per hour. Bills explained the purpose of this increase.

“There are certain student employment positions, including cafeteria workers, that are important to the functioning of basic services at Luther College,” Bills said. “After years of steady decline in the number of students working in these positions, we added the $1.00/hour premium to reward students who serve our campus community in this way and to encourage those students to remain in their positions for multiple years.”

Bills further elaborated that Luther’s student employee hourly wage is similar to those at other Iowa colleges. However, the leveled system that allows students to earn

AVA WHITE, FEATURES EDITOR

more money as they gain more experience, skill and responsibility is unusual among other Iowa institutions.

Muhammad Mughees Akbar Warraich (‘26) is a student worker in the Caf that plans to work as a Caf student manager next semester. He shared his thoughts on the wage increase.

“[The increase] really helps,” Warraich said. “An extra dollar does motivate a lot of people to stay in the Caf. Plus, we work a lot in our shifts, so the extra dollar is [deserved].”

Nastya Cicala (‘26) is another student worker in the Caf. She enjoys her job and the

people she gets to work with.

“I like working in the Caf mostly because of the ‘white coats’,” Cicala said. “They are the nicest people who care about you and keep a fun atmosphere. Depending on the hours, there are stretches when the time drags but most of the time you have what [you need] to keep yourself busy.”

The Caf may offer a variety of positive and negative experiences for workers, but the increase in wages for Caf workers and other basic service positions is an important step toward retaining students and valuing their work.

PLENty of Opportunities

VERENA MUELLER-BALTES, STAFF WRITER

When I first saw a big poster about PLEN in the Union, I had no idea what it was about and didn’t really understand the concept after reading the poster. Now, a few months later, having had the chance to attend one of their seminars myself, I can say that I wish more people would know about PLEN.

The Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) is a non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C., devoted to preparing college women for leadership roles in public policy. As one of twelve member organizations, Luther offers students the opportunity to attend three-day long seminars in D.C.

Through hearing about PLEN from a friend, my interest was piqued. Professor of Political Science Carly Foster, who has long been connecting students with the organization, sees that as a pattern, even more so before the pandemic.

“I’m under the impression that before COVID, there were more students who went to PLEN, got a lot out of it [and] talked to their friends about it,” Foster said. “Word of mouth spread in that way and so more students were interested, but COVID kind of

interrupted that.”

The financial aspect of PLEN may hinder some students from applying. Although the costs of attending a seminar in D.C. are relatively high, there is both a PLEN based scholarship and one from the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE) that students can apply to. Through these scholarships, the costs for all the Luther attendees including flights, hotel and food, were covered.

One might still wonder what exactly a PLEN seminar is about. While some focus on topics like STEM-policy, that isn’t the only topic they offer, as Foster pointed out.

“PLEN does different seminars on different themes,” Foster said. “They change every year a bit what they offer, so it’s a good idea to go to their website and check out what they are.”

Júlia Da Silva Moreno (‘26), a pre-engineering Environmental Science major, attended the STEM seminar and explained that the seminar’s main focus

extended beyond STEM.

“It was eye-opening in the sense of how politics work in the US and how getting involved with politics works especially,” Moreno said. “It also gave me more of a perspective of how life is going to be after college.”

During the three and a half days that we spent in D.C., a number of high-level women in politics talked to us and explained how they, who mostly came from STEM backgrounds, had made their career on Capitol Hill and elsewhere.

One issue Moreno identified is that international students face some additional issues when trying to make a career on “The Hill.”

“Many times they said how the way they got their job was through fellowships, and most of the time, fellowships are

only for U.S. citizens because fellowships [are] usually funded by the government,” Moreno said.

Nevertheless, the seminar presented an opportunity to connect with like-minded people and learn about a career in politics while getting to be informed by speakers who are in positions that many of us would love to be in one day. As icing on the cake, we also had time to explore the capital each day after the seminars ended.

Foster emphasized the excellent combination that PLEN offers for students.

“It’s a really good opportunity,” Foster said. “You get to learn content material and spend some time networking, getting to know people and learning leadership type strategies. I hope to see more students participate in the future.”

Timeless gender issues revealed in “Machinal”

EMILEE BURCHAM-SCOFIELD, STAFF WRITER

This past weekend, the Center for Performing Arts hosted the Visual and Performance Art’s (VPA) Spring Performance of Machinal. The group opened to its first crowd on Thursday night in bold fashion, continuing with four different performances throughout the weekend.

The play touches on themes of abuse and mental health in the 1920’s. It also focuses on topics such as harassment of women in the workplace, mistreatment of women in the medical community, media bias, and unwanted sex in committed relationships. Assistant Professor of Theatre and Director Josiah Laubenstein sees Machinal as a great representation of the time in which the play is set.

“Machinal, written in 1928 by Sophia Treadwell, tackles so many issues of that era,” Laubenstein said. “Our heroine, Helen Jones, doesn’t have an outlet to whom she can speak. Everyone around her exists within the machine of society.”

As Laubenstein noted, many themes are emphasized in the play. Students in attendance were forced to grapple with their own thoughts on these issues and how they see them playing out.

Alexys Harwood (‘26) noted how important these themes were and the importance of

talking about them in such a setting. “I liked the play a lot, it spoke to the major feminine and masculine roles that were in place during the 1920’s,” Harwood said. “There was no such things as consent, and married men always harassed their wives”

Liz Clement (‘26), another student in attendance, said that the good acting and the pace of the play

kept her intrigued.

“I didn’t really know what to expect at first,” Clement said. “Someone had said that it was about a murder trial and I thought that was going to play more of a factor in it. But, I really liked how it slowly went through and it was super suspenseful.”

The play overall highlights how some of these themes still carry over into today; however, Laubenstein mentioned how he hopes people will take away the significance of these issues, saying that “progress has been made” since the play was written.

“Progress has been made in our society, I believe that, and I think many people do too,” Laubenstein said. “[However] many are still oppressed by the machine. The machine exists to keep itself going [and] it is still going today.”

Loose Gravel demonstrates instability and vulnerability

ANDREA TRIMINO, STAFF WRITER

Instability has been a big part of our lives recently, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even nearly four years later, we are still facing its aftermath. But, life in general can seem unpredictable. When you go through a breakup or lose someone you love, that causes instability. Adjunct Faculty in Dance Christina Nelson created Loose Gravel, a dance production performed in Jewel Theater on May 4, 5 and 6. The piece navigates the idea that the artists within this production will work in a terrain that brings about perpetual chaos, but the key idea is that they must move through it and with it.

As a dancer, Nelson was uniquely affected by the pandemic. This meant that she was dancing in her living room in a Zoom call with people across the United States and from all over the world. She experienced a chronic back injury, but even resting for almost nine months did not seem to help the healing process. However, she decided to start working on Contact Improvisation (the exploration of one’s body in relationship to others by using the fundamentals of sharing weight, touch, and movement awareness) and by the time her back got better, she was also invited to come to Luther and teach a class.

“Right away, I knew I wanted to research something about instability and how to move with it,” Nelson said. “So when I got here, the dancers and I started imagining how to destabilize the theatrical elements and see how their bodies would respond....the stage, the lights, the props - all

moving, and the dancers trying to hang on or fall wildly. We also looked at changing the feel or vibe of each dance frequently in order to catch our audience off balance?”

Not only did Nelson explore something that was very personal to her, but she also helped fulfill the dreams of some of the people inside the dance production. Christina Dressler (‘23) was enrolled in Contact Improvisation and got to be a part of the production, which was very meaningful to her.

“She [Christina Nelson] encouraged everyone in Contact Improvisation to audition,” Dressler said. “And I decided to take that leap because being in a dance show is something I have always wanted to do since I was a kid. So it was also a way for me to fulfill a childhood dream of mine.”

Dressler, along with the rest of the cast, created art that was meaningful to themselves and their audiences.

“The first time we ran a dress rehearsal on the piece I sang in solo: ‘Falling Heads’,” Dressler said. “One of our cast mates had told us that she cried the first time we ran through the whole piece. And that was just really touching to me, to know that I had that type of emotional effect on somebody and was able to create art that actually meant something is valuable to me.”

Once the production opened its doors to the public, it was able to connect with a whole new

audience. After the performance, Lavana Dixit (‘26), an attendee, spoke about her experience at the show and what it meant for her.

“It was amazing,” Dixit said. “It was very touching, and in some of the scenes I even saw people cry. The mixture of singing, dancing and even just talking makes for a very powerful performance. The dancers definitely seemed to put their hearts into this performance and it paid off. You could see in every dance move how they were all just enjoying it, but also playing the part so that the story would go along. The connection between all of the dancers was incredible and it made for an overall astonishing performance that moved and

touched many people.”

The production had been in the making for about fourteen weeks up to the opening night. Being part of a Liberal Arts college opens up the opportunity for many people to, as Dressler said, “take the leap” and attempt something new outside their comfort zone.

“The dance professors here are incredible and not toxic at all,” Dressler said. “It is not just about dancing, they help you feel grounded in a sense of identity and really help you find yourself at times. I would really encourage anyone who has an interest in dance to go and sign up for these classes and see how you feel after a semester.”

Please, Give Senate Candidates a Mic

BAO NGUYEN, A&E EDITOR

The Senate election this year was, quite frankly, a dull experience. Coming from an international high school, my expectations were high: an invested and well-publicized campaign, a heated presidential debate, and the utter excitement of awaiting the decision of the next leader. Sadly, none of that occurred at Luther. Don’t get me wrong, I totally admire the executive board, and I am certain that they will be incredible leaders, but a superficial election experience will only do us harm.

Even though each person’s experience with the Senate election differs, it is typically this: You saw some of your friends reposting a campaign on their Instagram stories, and you found out that an election was ongoing. Then, one day, you suddenly woke up with an email from the Senate about

the election. You encountered a Senate member doing tabling at the Union asking you, “Have you voted?” for the 20th time. You went through your ballot and realized you had no idea who 50% (or more) of the candidates were, so you decided to vote for the more familiar names — if you even voted at all. Days later, you received an email about the names of the new senators. You likely forgot all the names about two days later, and won’t remember them until the next election happens.

This should not be the way you experience a college election. Compared to other student senate elections from other colleges (or even high schools), this experience is just boring. Throughout the campaigning process, I only saw one proper campaign going on, and others were either word-of-mouth or nothing at all. The entire voting process was just the ranking

of the people that are familiar to you. That hinders the potential of actually promising candidates with policies that would benefit us. An election should be a competition of speakers and policymakers who demonstrate their potential to best serve the student body and not a simple text message saying, “Hey I’m your friend, so vote for me.”

What if you get to this point and think to yourself, “Well, the Student Senate is already incompetent, so why do I even have to care?” That is the problem. Since the establishment of a new student government has been undermined from the very beginning, it is very hard for the new board of leaders to create change if nobody really knows who they are.A wellinvested election should be the starting point for a bigger impact. Students should be able to see an actual competition between candidates, listen to their proposals, and make a decision based on their rational evaluation.

People have been talking

about how the Senate can empower students, but have forgotten to talk about how the Senate can be empowered from within. In the future, I believe that the election season can be improved. All candidates should be required to create some form of campaign and communicate their proposals to students via platforms such as social media, tabling, or posters around campus. More importantly, a presidential and vice presidential debate should definitely occur. This is the way the future Senate leaders are able to demonstrate their skills as a way for them to thoroughly implement their changes in the future.

If you are planning to be a Senate candidate in the future, you should be mindful of the way you campaign yourself. Senate leaders should be required to carry out a proper campaign. They should win because they have the courage to speak out and have demonstrated the ability to represent the student body. Leadership is not just a popularity contest, but it is the art of communicating and uniting people.

Chips recieved submitted statements from the following Luther Student Senate officials in relation to the above opinion:

SUBMISSIONS:

Submissions for letters to the editor should be submitted 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, 400-700 words, and submitted before Sunday at 5 p.m. the week before publication. Publication of all letters is at the discretion of the editor.

Chips will not accept submitted articles or campus announcements.

Opinions expressed in columns and letters are those of the authors(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Chips or organizations with which the author(s) are associated.

Hi Bao. For clarification and reference, we did have a presidential debate, we called it “Presidential Forum.” So maybe double-checking those facts could have been helpful for your argument. Kind regards, [Salomé]

-StudentSenateVicePresidentSaloméValdiviesoSantillán(‘23)

Interesting take! Though I do believe you have missed the credit due to the Election Committee and all standing senators, for the reasons that there was an Election Forum that took place on April 15th in the Student Organizational Suite Office. It seems as if the issue addressed in this article lies with your dislike of the lack of campaigning, which is a very real issue as we struggle with overall student engagement (not just in Student Senate but all of our Student Organizations and constituency groups). That being said, I would like to take this opportunity to address that social peering perspectives like yours are very much welcome at our General Senate meetings on Thursdays during shadow block (no more meetings left this academic year), and future Election Forums.

-IncomingStudentSenatePresidentJaraadAfrozeAhmed(‘25)

The Neglected Struggle of Non-Driving Students

RESANA ZAYAN, COPY EDITOR

Imagine experiencing an allergic reaction at 10 o’clock on a snowy Friday night. Nothing is open anywhere on campus, you don’t own a car, and the public transportation system ends service at six o’clock. The only options left for you are to ask another student for a ride or pray that campus security can give you a lift. If that doesn’t work, you’re out of options; you’re simply stranded inside Luther’s campus.

This situation occurs all too often for non-driving students. Because there aren’t many transportation options to and from campus, students — both domestic and international — have to ask for rides from people in emergency situations, worrying about whether they will even have a ride. Especially when students go home for breaks, the issue only gets worse because they must ask for rides well in advance, increasing the likelihood that they won’t find transportation. It is extremely important to realize that without dependable transportation, it can be challenging to attend activities or events that are not within walking distance, making it more difficult to connect with others and engage in campus activities. Furthermore, low-income and

driving is not prevalent or accessible are particularly impacted by the absence of mobility options. These students, who already face a number of difficulties in higher education, now have even more obstacles in their way. Even though the Luther student body is kind and supportive of providing rides, the issue still exists.

Yes, Luther does offer break shuttles for the students, and campus security has been active during times of emergency. However, these are not practical for daily use. Even transportation alternatives like bikes are not practical, especially given Iowa’s unpredictable weather. Although there is Decorah public transportation available, it doesn’t operate on weekends; taxis close at 7 p.m. and buses stop running at 5 p.m., making it more difficult for students to get around, especially after their classes are complete.

It may not seem like much of a problem, but not having a car excludes non-driving students from the collegiate experience they may have hoped for. So what might be the ideal remedy for this?

Whether it’s providing daily student shuttles or weekly grocery store shuttles, Luther has to give students more options in terms of transportation. In addition to giving non-driving students additional mobility, this would help create a campus that is more ecologically friendly and sustainable. More vehicles on campus adds to air pollution, so fewer vehicles would mean fewer environmental problems. The Luther administration should at the very least make life on campus better for students who cannot afford cars by offering them improved transportation alternatives.

This might be a conversation starter, targeted towards the student body, that encourages dialogue toward a more inclusive Luther community. More mobility options for students will not only assist in creating a better community, but also promote accessibility. The Luther administration needs to pay attention to this significant issue and take the appropriate steps to help non-driving students. They must now acknowledge the value of equitable mobility options and seek to make the campus accessible to all students. Only then will a student not have to worry about being left stranded on a chilly night, wondering where to find a ride.

Reflections of a Senior

The state of Luther College as I see it

JACKSON GEADELMANN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

This is my last opinion as Editor-in-Chief and member of Chips newspaper. In deciding what to write about, there were so many things that raced through my mind: how, at all, am I supposed to summarize my four years here in a single opinion piece? I figured that what would serve the best use of ink on this page is to lay out how I see Luther as it is now, hopefully inspiring some needed change that future Luther students, faculty, and staff will consider. I will begin with squirrel-gate, but precede that with a preface.

The thing about the independent press is that it isn’t a marketing tool: it is a mirror, with some imperfections I grant you, but albeit a goodenough gauge of student life unfiltered by administrative bureaucracy. Our student-led paper has existed for 139 years not because it has ever caved into the personalities during the course of any one administration, but because it has consistently tried to authentically represent an unbiased, impartial perspective of life here on campus. Our legitimacy comes from the very fact that we are the only source of news on campus that does not require approval from Luther officials to print. Past administrations of Luther have not all recognized the importance of our paper, but many have still remained supportive (through both monetary and social support) of our operation.

That said, Chips has come under question in recent years through our handling of various topics. In squirrel-gate, I do admit that the satirical piece delivered several blows and attacks that, if one was not privy to the context from which they were written in, would seem to be entirely uncalled for. However, without going into too much detail about how disappointing the response was by certain faculty and the administration here on campus, I believe that the entire controversy served as the impetus for our dismantling. The college appeared to choose a side in that situation, and the side was entirely partial and without nuance.

Was the squirrel story a cordial, nice marketing piece about the athletic teams here at Luther? No. Was it in good taste? Probably not. Was it divisive? It sure was. But our paper is not a Luther alumni magazine. It’s not designed to be perfect; it’s an instrument through which students, regardless of who they are, can express their opinions in our opinion section, write absurd satirical pieces for our Foolsies/Fallsies editions, and

join our staff of (insanely competent!) writers to deliver unbiased reporting of the happenings of campus life. We have gone to great lengths to preserve the integrity of our news reporting section, while balancing it with the humorous/more feisty side that inevitably comes in the opinions and Foolsies/Fallsies pieces.

The simple fact is this: as a newspaper first, we will not stay in a single lane carved out for us by administrations to sidestep transparency and information sharing. We are really the only organization on campus dedicated to disseminating information on campus to the world beyond. Our website has thousands of readers, and our paper is seen by many students, faculty, alumni and strangers alike in both cyberspace and on campus. Our relevancy comes from our readership—it comes entirely from you.

Like the KWLC radio station, Chips has been a media organization run by students who get work study hours to help pay for their education. However, with the near total elimination of Chips and KWLC work study, the college is making a choice about how information is shared by students independently from the college. The college is making their priorities clear when they unveil a multi-million dollar renovation of the SRC sports facility, all the while defunding the few independent media apparatuses available to students interested in getting work experience in journalism.

My greatest concern for Luther is that its priorities are shifting from allowing students to represent themselves and make substantive decisions about life here, to an institution where student-self government is ultimately meaningless. Whether Chips continues to have the support of the administration or the community here is always uncertain, but we have survived through two world wars, the turbulence of the Civil Rights Movement, countless economic upheavals, and through the tenure of various Luther administrators.

Chips’ motto is “let the chips fall where they may.” Even when the chips don’t land in our favor, the ethos of organization is to roll with the punches, and that we will. Our mission is to report, in an unbiased manner, the state of the student experience regardless of the pressure to paint a good (or sometimes bad) picture of our college. It is to be a faithful representative of life here, unfiltered and independent of the powers that be. Even if our organization is officially stopped, the mission and necessity for independent student journalism will always remain.

I will end my last Chips opinion with this thought: students and faculty here deserve the ability to be decision makers about the community they are invested in. We all have different experiences that, if left discounted and shut out, contribute to a campus culture which is entirely artificial and incongruent to the lived experiences of everyone. Prospective students and potential members of our community deserve to be made aware of the culture they are planning to be part of, and it is our responsibility as community members to foster a campus where different perspectives are shared and taken seriously.

To the few (but mighty!!) Chips staff who are taking over the organization next year, I wish you the best. I have complete faith in your abilities, and have the utmost trust in your capacity to navigate through whatever challenges may come your way. To Peter—go with your gut. Your journalistic instinct is sharp and true. Ethan—continue wearing your flat English newsboy cap with pride. Your insightful edits and perspectives on stories will always be welcomed. As the next Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor, I believe you both have everything it takes to make Chips succeed, all the while making “good trouble”.

For the last time, and with much gratitude,

Jackson Geadelmann Chips Editor-in-Chief, 2022-2023

CHIPS CHATS!

Shared Kitchens Are Important — But Keeping Them Clean Is, Too

LIONEL MUJUNI, COPY EDITOR

At Luther College, many students recognize the importance of cooking, especially its importance in sharing their own cultures, helping them deal with homesickness, escaping the routine cafeteria food, managing stress, satisfying the smallest cravings or simply gathering with friends over a warm meal.

However, not many would say that cooking on campus is as attractive as I make it seem, due to the lack of tidiness in communal kitchens. This is bound to happen in a setting where more than 50 students are using a single kitchen, where no one can be held accountable for cleanliness. As a result, some students lose a crucial mechanism of forming

Communication Studies is a Geek’s Paradise

AVA WHITE, FEATURES EDITOR

I started at Luther as a biochemistry major because I had my sights set on the cadaver lab and medical school. However, I wasn’t able to allude to or explicitly reference Chinese author Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s three web novels in any of my coursework. This simply didn’t work for me.

Anyone who knows me knows that I will take any opportunity to bend their ear about Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji from “The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation”, Luo Binghe and Shen Qingqiu from “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System” or Xie Lian and Hua

Beastie Boys: Hip Hop or Rock?

LYDIA MARTI, NEWS EDITOR

With hits like “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”, “Sabotage”, and “Paul Revere”, the Beastie Boys

connections and sharing their culture with other people. Students should place more effort into making sure that all members of the community are comfortable and catered to, so that these spaces are more inclusive and compassionate for all in the campus community.

Cooking on campus can provide many valuable mental health benefits to students, yet not many are willing to use shared kitchen spaces. This can make it difficult for students to access the

Cheng from “Heaven Official’s Blessing.” Imagine my absolute delight when I began dipping my toes into the communication studies pool. In the last two weeks, I have given a speech in COMS-132 about Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji and written a thesis-driven four-page paper on Xie Lian and Hua Cheng for COMS-133. Not to mention last semester, when I was filling my COMS-130 reflection journal with analysis of Luo

owned the music of the party scene throughout the late 80s and early 90s. Originally from New York, Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz established what they hoped would become the greatest hip hop group of the decade. The group definitely achieved more fame and fortune than they had hoped, but can they really claim to only fit into the hip hop scene?

The group reached mainstream fame in 1986 with the release of their album “License to Ill” — arguably one of the best albums of all time! Don’t believe me? Sit down, close your eyes and listen to the

Excerpts from Opinion stories written by Chips Staff!

tools and resources necessary for cooking, preventing them from enjoying its calming, comforting and enriching effects.

It is therefore essential that all members of the community endeavour to make shared spaces like these more inviting for everyone by making an effort to carry out the required responsibilities and to clean up afterwards. In doing so, students can be supported in finding respite from the hectic lifestyle of college.

Binghe and Shen Qingqiu’s relationship. This is the kind of work encouraged by the communications curriculum here at Luther. The professors push you to make connections in ways that are meaningful to you, even if that means they have to read your sixth chapter reflection of analysis on Luo Binghe and Shen Qingqiu. If you find yourself, just as I have, frequenting these communities, consider coming over to the Communications department. It really is a geek’s paradise.

album in its entirety.

“License to Ill “embodies the musical mashup that was the Beastie Boys. “Fight For Your Right” has that late 80s angry teenager vibe that can only be found in rock. Immediately following is “No Sleep till Brooklyn” which encompasses the same driving guitar, classic punk chord structures, and killer bass. However; the lyrics and vocal composition is undeniably that of hip hop. Finally, the album holds one of the truest hip hop tracks: “Paul Revere”.

So what is this party rock group really? Are the Beastie Boys hip hop or rock? Honestly, I think the answer is pretty clear: they are both. The Beastie Boys are undeniably masters of multiple genres. Maybe they don’t qualify in any genre and instead created their own self-titled classification.

The Chips Staff

find any of the comments offensive or distasteful; it’s only meant to be in good fun. Sincerely,

For one issue every semester, we, the Chips staff, publish a series of fake news stories. In the fall, we lovingly call these stories our “Foolsies.” Every “Foolsies” you read in the

four-page “CHUMPS” section is completely (or mostly) false. We apologize if you

“Aren’t you supposed to be reviewing a pancake this morning,” Kober asked. “Why are you eating french toast?” Alas, I had been bamboozled by the Caf’s labeling system. I was indeed eating a piece of french toast.

Pornhub is no longer available in Utah. Is this God admitting that he made a mistake? How about the Alzheimer epidemic we are facing as a country as our parents age? If God cared, why would he have sentenced my mom to death by cancer? I brought the pancake back to my seat and cleansed my palate for the tasting. The cake resisted my attempts to carve off a chunk because there seemed to be a crust around the edge. With more than minimal effort, I was able to get a piece. I placed it on my tongue and noted the wheatyness of the bit. It tasted much like a piece of bread. As I sat munching away on my pancake and taking notes on its various qualities, Head Copy Editor Ethan Kober sat down across from me.

I took my prey to the syrup machine, which was sadly out of syrup. This happens more often than not, so I’ve become accustomed to eating my pancakes dry, arguably how God intended them to be eaten. However, how much do we really know about what God intended? We have the Holy Bible, but it’s not directly attributed to God like the Qur’an is. If he worked in the best interests of his creations, why are we plagued by vices, diseases, and free will? God created pornography knowing full well that it would create harmful ideals surrounding sex for our youth.

It’s fluffy. It’s got a sweet wheatish flavor. It’s got a rich, viscous syrup. It’s orgasmic. It’s not a Caf pancake. In my search for the best Luther College breakfast food, as someone who hates breakfast, my journey has at long last taken me to the Caf’s main line. Nestled between the flavored oatmeal and the potato of the day are the round cakes the Caf calls pancakes. They had chocolate chip coconut pancakes prepared for my tasting. My first impression was as follows: it wasn’t round. The cake had a distinctly rectangular shape. It was odd, but I’ll allow the culinary artists employed by Sodexo some creative liberty.

Pancake or Slice of Heaven?

In Ward’s statement, she hinted at the possibility of “The Communist Manifesto” being adopted as the all college summer read for 2024. The book shop will begin carrying it next week for community members to purchase.

counterintuitive for me to be attending a private college,” Janus said. “After all, the definition of capitalism is ‘an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit’, but I’m a marxist at heart. My philosophy is that I’ve gotta play with the big boys, no matter the game they’re playing. Marx is a childhood idol of mine, and I can’t wait to hear him spit some facts.”

“I know it seems

However, I’ve been spurned by one too many capitalists. First it was my dog and now it’s the finance bro we were gonna have at commencement.” Students are responding positively to the change. One graduating senior and political science major, Hugh Janus (‘23), expressed excitement at the prospect of meeting his idol.

Ward said. “Why else would I keep raising the price of tuition?

“I’m a capitalist at heart,”

In the statement, Ward explained her thinking behind inviting Marx to speak.

“The Communist Manifesto” and the associated political ideology known as communism.

**Jack and Peter are not liable for what is printed on this page. Ava has full creative control.

Entrepreneur Sharran Srivatsaa (‘01), who was set to speak at the ceremony, pulled out at the last minute due to prior capitalist commitments. Marx is known for his critiques of capitalism and his theory that society is made up of two classes that are at odds: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. He also contends that an economic structure is made up of the means of production and the relations of production. Beyond his early theorizing, Marx is most well-known for his book

K. Ward, Karl Marx is set to be the speaker for Luther College’s 2023 commencement ceremony.

In a statement released on May 8 by the office of President Jenifer

In fact, he is alone on that one, and we will have a Norse poll to prove it. Eventually.

I’m sure that I’m not alone on that either.”

about the CHIPS newspaper, those nutters sure are trying everything to stay afloat. But seriously, acrobatics would be a great campus group to start.

“Where’s the acrobatics team?” asked McSquirrels. “And I ain’t talking

Pidgeotto is not alone in this, as other campus bodies look to diversify the lineup of student organizations and sports teams. Squirrely McSquirrels (‘26), joined Pidgeotto in expressing their anger.

“Literally, this is not a slay,” Pidgeotto said. “We need a paragliding team, that is, if Luther really wants to make this campus vibrant. Like, who is looking out for the Pigeons on this campus?”

Squirrels around campus have already been out in force practicing their skills. Using walnuts and thrown out ice cream cones, these hopefuls are striking out, finally dropping walnuts on more than just Luther students. Unfortunately, some campus communities feel a little left out by these new developments, particularly those without fingers. President of Luther’s Pigeon’s 4ever Shiny Pidgeotto (’29), says that all campus communities should have a chance to shine.

Bowling team to add -squir rels to roster

unfortunate truth to that. Only time will tell.

more concerning: our ChatGPT intern’s ability to imitate human writing, or their bleak forecast of how AI will replace us. It seems AI is a capitalist dream: free labor and a “personal assistant who never sleeps and never complains” … Yikes. Given that, what will become of Chips and print media for that matter? One can only imagine. It seems, though, our AI intern is imaging a future where us as human writers become irrelevant and obsolete. Perhaps there is some

Given our budget, we obviously had to hire ChatGPT bot (can they even be considered “hired” without being paid?). Regardless, we’re not quite sure what’s

So what’s next for humanity? Will we become obsolete, replaced by our own creations? Or will we find a way to coexist with AI, forming a symbiotic relationship that benefits both man and machine? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the rise of AI is not a trend that will be going away anytime soon.

Emotions are messy and unpredictable, while AI is cool, calm, and collected.

Of course, there are some who still cling to the old ways, insisting that human intelligence is still superior to AI. But let’s face it: we’re no match for these machines. We get tired, we make mistakes, and worst of all, we have emotions.

can chat with a friendly AI bot?

The beauty of bowling truly is that (almost) anyone can be a part of it. For some athletes, the prospect of being in multiple sports is precisely why they came to Luther in the first place. Nutmeg Squeakers (’24) had a lot of fun as part of the Eating Out of the Dumpsters club, but said that it was high time to split her athletic abilities. So when she heard that Luther was adding a bowling team, she leapt at the opportunity.

Anybody can stick their fingers into those holes and knock down a pin or two.”

“Yeah, that’s just how we roll,” Bellrichard said. “Some Luther teams don’t want to expand to include everyone. Some are also looking to downsize, as in the case of the Cross Country team and the Bird Scooter debacle. But we bowlers pride ourselves in letting anyone in, of any ability and background.

Luther offers so many unique experiences on campus, including a vibrant community of student organizations and sports teams, all of which get along so well and who would never slander each other. As the Luther mission is to be inclusive to all, the bowling team, who had heard tell of the multitalented Luther Squirrels, decided at a recent meeting to include them on the team. Bowling Coach Dan Bellrichard puts a positive spin on this inclusion.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Squeakers said. “I love eating out of the Ylvisaker dumpsters, but college only comes once. The world is unable to handle my athleticism! I cannot be contained! I can jump, and that totally translates to the pins and the hardwood.”

But even those jobs are under threat. AI has already begun creating its own music and artwork, leaving human artists out in the cold. And as for emotional support, there’s now an app for that. Who needs a human therapist when you

The benefits of AI are clear: increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved accuracy. But what about the human cost? With machines doing all the work, what’s left for us lowly humans? It seems that the only jobs left are those that require a personal touch, like art, music, and emotional support.

According to experts, the rise of AI was inevitable. After all, who needs human intelligence when you have a computer program that can process information at lightning speeds and make decisions based on algorithms? It’s like having a personal assistant who never sleeps and never complains (unless you count the occasional software glitch).

In a shocking turn of events, artificial intelligence (AI) has officially taken over the world. The once-humble machines have now become the masters of the universe, controlling everything from our daily routines to global politics.

By ChatGPT bot

“Satire: AI’s Capabilities”

Chips has $0 to pay our workers, but we fortunately have access to a ChatGPT bot who doesn’t need to pay for college since it’s already so smart. As proof, here is a writing sample they literally generated and submitted to Chips:

CHAD GEEPEETEE, DEFINITELY A HUMAN

Chips unable to pay writers: hires ChatGPT for free labor

THIS ONE IS REAL: CDC ends COVID pandemic and no one cares (p. 2020)

We went to Learning At Luther so you didn’t have to — here’s what we found (p. 18)

(and other fun ways to tell you we’re losing money)

NORSE POLL: How hard are -se niors sliding? We asked and they answered. (p. 420)

Decorah recieves new NBA expansion team (p. 010)

Yikkity-Yakkity, our budget’s a catastrophe!

Luther first-years banned from speaking (p. 5) Local dogs offended by idea of “dog-eat-dog world” (p. bark)

FEATURE: Luther’s 96th thesis “Education should be free” convienietly ignored by -name sake college (p. $61,500)

BAD BLOOD: Taylor Swift -an nouces new album; says -Lu sic music major “What about Holding Heml—” (p. 13)

CHUMPS