Campus welcomes community sing
FEATURES 7
The OK Factor and General B and the Wiz return to Luther A&E 5
LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
CHIPS
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VOLUME 137, NO. 8
Students, faculty exhibit research
“INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE, BATS AND WIND ENERGY.” Admissions Coordinator of Diversity Recruitment Keith Lesmeister presented his research on non-fiction writing along with Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Dawn Reding at the Faculty Research Symposium on Saturday, Nov. 1. Jenna Nelson / Chips
Physics and chemistry students present at Midstates Consortium in St. Louis, Mo. LAURA HAYES STAFF WRITER Ten Luther students presented their research at the Midstates Consortium for Math and Science’s Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Physical Sciences, Math and Computer Science. The symposium took place at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. According to the Midstates Consortium’s website, the purpose of this symposium is to “provide undergraduates from the physical sciences, math and computer science fields with a venue to present their research projects and results to their peers and some faculty.” The symposium featured research from around 100 students from 13 colleges across
the United States, including Colorado College, Grinnell College and the University of Chicago. “I wish I had this opportunity when I was an undergraduate student,” Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics Elizabeth Golovatski said. “The students present their work to a group of their peers. This gives the students an opportunity not to be afraid to put their work out there.” Founded in 1988 by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Midstates Consortium strives to improve the education of mathematics and science undergraduate students. One of the ways that the Midstates Consortium accomplishes this is through research symposiums. STUDENT RESEARCH, PAGE 4
Professors share research at the second annual Faculty Research Symposium. JENNA NELSON STAFF WRITER Twenty-nine faculty members from 16 various departments presented their research at the second annual Faculty Research Symposium on Saturday, Nov. 1 in Valders Hall of Science and Olin. This annual event is the result of the initiative taken by committee members Associate Professor of English Amy Weldon, Associate Professor of Physics Todd Pedlar, Associate Professor of Art Benjamin Moore (‘02), Assistant Professor of Philosophy Holly Moore and Assistant Professor of English Andy Hageman. Each year, the members accept research abstracts from interested faculty, and group the
research topics into eight themed sessions. Many faculty see the symposium as a way to share their research passions beyond the classroom. “Students might not have any idea that you spent hours in the library, hours in a museum, hours in the field, working on a homework problem of your own that you find really interesting just because you want to know what the answer to that homework problem is,” Associate Dean and Director of Faculty Development Jeff Wilkerson said. Weldon agrees that the Faculty Research Symposium engages students with their professors in a new way. FACULTY RESEARCH, PAGE 4
Departments offer new programs MAGGIE STEINBERG STAFF WRITER
NORSE ABROAD. Kirsten Norderhaug (‘15) and Andrea Berkeland (‘15) visits the troll of Geiranger Fjord while studying in Norway. Photo courtesy of Andrea Berkeland
The newly revamped Nordic studies major, formerly called Scandinavian studies, has been implemented this year. The new major, which used to focus on Norway, Denmark and Sweden, now includes the study of Iceland, Finland and the Faroe Islands. “We wanted to include all Nordic countries to reflect a broader focus from what the United States usually views as Scandinavia,” Assistant Professor of Nordic studies Maren Johnson said. “We wanted to be panNordic.” The Nordic studies department hopes to see more students considering the major.
“Nordic studies can be your mark of distinction,” Johnson said. “Luther has structured its curriculum so that students can double major in so many things. Nordic studies complements many majors on campus.” Nordic studies and political science major Andrea Berkeland (‘15) has done just that. “I studied in Norway last fall and was able to learn a lot more about the culture and the country and travel to Sweden and Finland,” Berkeland said. “Nordic politics are really interesting. There are a lot of differences compared to America.” The major requires language skills and a semester abroad in a Nordic country. Many of the courses have also changed to be taught in English, to increase accessibility to students
throughout their time at Luther. Along with the new Nordic studies major, two minors were recently added to Luther’s program. Journalism and art history are now available for all Luther students. It took around nine years to create the journalism minor. “When it was initially proposed, there was some pushback,” Assistant Professor of Communications Studies Mark Johns said. “As a liberal arts college, some thought that journalism would be too much of a vocational preparation program that trained people for a particular career path.” Johns does not see that as the case. NEW PROGRAMS, PAGE 4
NEWS
PAGE 2 NOVEMBER 6, 2014
NEWS EDITORS: ANNA JEIDE & MARGARET YAPP
Barn sale offers bargains, diverts waste from landfill
WASTE NOT WANT NOT. Project Manager Travis Houle (‘15) at the most recent Jewel Barn Bargain sale, posing in front of the many items for sale to Luther students and community members. Abby Carpenter / Chips
ABBY CARPENTER STAFF WRITER Every year Luther sells old furniture, electronics and outdated or unneeded equipment at the Jewel Barn Bargain Sales. The most recent sale took place on Thursday, Oct. 30, and was open
to Luther students and the broader Decorah community. “If we can divert waste from going to the landfill, then it’s cheaper for Luther, it’s better for the environment and we can give it to somebody that wants it,” Project Manager Travis Houle (‘15) said. Over the past seven years, the
barn sales have helped to divert tons of waste from the landfill. “Luther throws away 500 tons a year,” Cargill Energy and Waste Fellow Jamie Stallman (‘14) said. “This sale diverts maybe two or three tons, and that really makes a dent into what we put into the landfill.”
Some of the items sold or given away at the barn sale include chairs, couches, TVs, printers, cabinets and blackboards. “We cater more toward the [Decorah] community, because a lot of the stuff comes from campus like chairs and desks, and students don’t really need any more of that stuff in their dorm,” Stallman said. Stallman was the project manager of the barn sale as a Luther student, and he realizes the impact these sales have for the Decorah community. “It’s really fun to see how successful this is,” Stallman said. “Last year I opened up the doors of the barn, and there were at least 100 people waiting outside. It is something that the Decorah community really values. People really like getting a little part of Luther.”
Associate Professor of Psychology Loren Toussaint and his wife Kim Toussaint came to the barn sale to buy some chairs for their daughters’ recreation room. “It seems to fit with Luther’s sustainability mission and the way we believe things should be used,” Toussaint said. For items that don’t sell at the barn sale, Houle reaches out to local businesses and organizations that may have a use for them. For example, several chairs were displaced after Luther bought new chairs for the Center for Faith and Life. “We’ve got 75 chairs that are all in great condition, so we’re trying to connect with some churches in town to give them those chairs, because otherwise we have to throw them away,” Houle said.
“If we can divert waste from going to the landfill, then it’s cheaper for Luther, it’s better for the environment and we can give it to somebody that wants it.” - Travis Houle (‘15)
Larsen renovations support on-campus cycling DANNY MAY VOLUNTEER WRITER As part of renovations initiated in part by students, the sidewalk between Larsen and Olson halls and Larsen’s east side bike rack have been replaced. “I heard that the sidewalk was being renovated,” Student Biking Liaison and Larsen resident Katie Vorderbruggen (‘16) said. “That allowed us to replace the bike rack at the same time.” The old east side bike rack supported bikes by their wheels, which made the bikes unstable and occasionally resulted in damage. “There were a lot of access issues,” Vorderbruggen said. “We’ve replaced the rack with the blue hoops.” The blue hoop bike racks are identical to those outside Valders and the Union. Vorderbruggen contacted numerous people regarding the bike
rack replacement before approaching Facilities Services with her proposal. “I started talking with my RA about trying to send out polls to east Larsen residents to get their opinions,” Vorderbruggen said. “Based off of the results from the polls, I came up with three different plans and presented them to Facilities.” The renovations are a continuation of cycling promotion on campus with which Vorderbruggen is tasked as biking liaison. “I’m so excited about it,” Vorderbruggen said. “I’m so happy for the people who gave feedback.” The recent completion of these renovations has left many students and faculty pleased. “It’s great that we have a new bike rack and sidewalk,” Larsen resident Jane Wilson (‘16) said. “The fact that the renovations were studentinitiated is awesome.” Interested students can contact Vorderbruggen at spokes@luther.edu for more information on SPOKES, Luther’s biking club.
RACKING UP RENOVATIONS. Blue hoop bike racks are now a feature available outside of east Larsen Hall. Danny May / Chips
Word of the day!
lackadaisical:
lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy. “Man ... I am feeling especially lackadaisical after that test.”
NEWS
PAGE 3
NEWS EDITORS: ANNA JEIDE & MARGARET YAPP THURSDAY
Seven-Day Forecast
NOVEMBER 6, 2014 FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
H H R H V H B 27/42
33/41
22/39
27/38
Luther Land Use Committee to restore Ylvisaker slope to oak savanna
19/36
17/29
17/34
Life Outside Luther Egypt, Gulf Arab allies eye anti-militant alliance Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are discussing the creation of a military pact to take on Islamic militants, with the possibility of a joint force to intervene around the Middle East, The Associated Press has learned. The alliance would also serve as a show of strength to counterbalance their traditional rival, Shiite-dominated Iran. Two countries are seen as potential theaters for the alliance to act, senior Egyptian military officials said: Libya, where Islamic militants have taken over several cities, and Yemen, where Shiite rebels suspected of links to Iran have seized control of the capital.
MAKE WAY FOR THE OAK SAVANNA. The shrub layer, fast-growing trees and other large trees will be removed to make room for the large oaks. Photo courtesy of the Land Use Committee ERIKA STORVICK STAFF WRITER The Luther Land Use Committee recently announced its intention to restore the Ylvisaker slope to its native oak savanna landscape. Starting this fall, they have been working to remove invasive species like buckthorn, box elder and honey-suckle from the area, as well as restoring native grasses and wildflowers.
“One of the really unique things about this [project] is that it brings restoration onto the central campus,” Assistant Professor in Biology and Natural Land Manager Molly McNicoll said. “That way, people will have a sense about what restoration entails and be able to walk past an oak savanna as they walk to class.” Oak savannas, found along the Upper Iowa River and throughout the Midwest, consist
ON THE SLOPE. Around 2.2 acres of land will be restored to oak savanna. Photo courtesy of the Land Use Committee
of open-grown oaks in addition to other lowlying vegetation. The 2.2acre Ylvi slope was once an oak savanna, but due to the steepness of the slope and the invasion of nonnative shrubs, it has lost much of its understory vegetation. This project is an attempt to restore that original landscape and that relationship with the larger community. “Oak savannas and oak woodlands used to be the dominant habitat type,” McNicoll said. “Right now, it’s a mess of invasive species. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see what it used to look like.” This project has two main components: the removal of invasive species and the restoration of the native species. For the first stage, there will be a contractor on campus this fall and winter to help cut down the buckthorn and honeysuckle. In addition, they will be cutting down the large non-native trees like box elder and red cedars. “It will look pretty destructive for a while,” Professor of Biology Kirk Larsen said. “People will think, ‘why are they cutting down all these trees?’ But there’s a whole bunch of big Burr oaks that are hard to see right
now, and [removing these trees] will open up the canopy to see these big Burr oaks.” The next step will be to add native species and wildflowers which will help control erosion and restore the native landscape. Low-intensity burns will also take place to combat invasive species. “This project will take a good five years to start to look good,” Larsen said. “As a campus community, we’re going to have to be patient during the process.” If students or student groups wish to be involved in the restoration process, they are encouraged to help spread the word, monitor the changes and to contact McNicoll if they wish to help to remove invasive species or participate in the burns. “Restoration takes time; it’s not going to happen o v e r n i g h t ,” McNicoll said. “But I think that, as an educational tool, it’s fantastic — people can understand t h a t restoration of native habitats is possible and worthwhile.”
Security contractor breach not detected for months A cyberattack similar to previous hacker intrusions from China penetrated computer networks for months at USIS, the government’s leading security clearance contractor, before the company noticed, officials told The Associated Press. The breach, first revealed by the company and government agencies in August, compromised the private records of at least 25,000 employees at the Homeland Security Department and cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars in lost government contracts. Russia boycotts nuclear meeting Russia has failed to show up to a meeting planning the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, U.S. and European officials said Monday, in a potentially serious blow to efforts by President Barack Obama to cement his legacy as leaving the world safer from nuclear terrorism than when he took office. The officials said it was not immediately clear whether Russia’s absence meant that Moscow meant to boycott the summit itself or if it was a temporary show of displeasure over Washington’s harsh condemnation of Moscow’s role in Ukraine unrest and its lead in orchestrating Western sanctions and other punitive measures in response. White House: Ferguson no-fly didn’t restrict press The White House said Monday a no-fly zone the U.S. government imposed over Ferguson, Mo., for nearly two weeks in August should not have restricted helicopters for news organizations that wanted to operate in the area to cover violent protests there. Audio recordings obtained by The Associated Press showed the Federal Aviation Administration working with local authorities to define a 37-square-mile flight restriction so that only police helicopters and commercial flights could fly through the area, following demonstrations over the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Compiled from: www.ap.org
NEWS
PAGE 4 NOVEMBER 6, 2014
NEWS EDITORS: ANNA JEIDE & MARGARET YAPP
New majors and minors available NEW PROGRAMS, PAGE 1 “I would look at [journalism] as a way of thinking about the world and collecting evidence, data and facts and trying to analyze them, which is what a liberal arts college trains people to do,” Johns said. The second pushback came from those who thought the field of journalism was dying out with the advent of the Internet. “I don’t think journalism is dying,” Johns said. “It’s transforming. We won’t have newspapers much longer, but we will have journalism. It’s essential to our democratic style of government.” The minor, intended to be interdisciplinary, is completed through several departments on campus such as communication studies, English, art and political science. Students are required to do two semesters of practicum at Luther. This
could include writing for Chips, preparing a news section at KWLC or working for the public information offices at Luther. Students also must do an internship at an off-campus news institution. The new art history minor also can be completed through various departments. “It’s a minor that draws from the art history program, critical theory and courses across the campus that deal with material culture,” Assistant Professor in Art History Kate Elliott said. Students can take classes from the classics, philosophy and history departments to complete the minor. “I’m hoping that it gives students another path to take courses in art,” Elliot said. “Art history is its own discipline that draws from many liberal arts components. It synthesizes the conversations that other courses like Paideia, religion, history and philosophy all have.”
Upcoming Events
Thursday, November 6 Volunteer/Non-profit Career Fair 10:00 a.m., Dahl Centennial Union, Main Lounge Zotero Workshop 7:00 p.m., Preus Library, Hovde Lounge Friday, November 7 Excellent Sheep Book Discussion 3:00 p.m., Dahl Centennial Union, Mott Room Guest Recital: Dorian Keyboard 7:30 p.m., Noble Recital Hall, Festival Jenson-Noble Hall of Music Saturday, November 8 Football- Loras College 1:00 p.m., Dubuque, Iowa Wrestling- Alumni/ Intrasquad 2:30 p.m., Home Sunday, November 9 Concert Band Concert 4:00 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall Monday, November 10 Veterans Day Chapel: Weston 10:30 a.m., Center for Faith and Noble Life, Main Hall Tuesday, November 11 Writing Your Resume and Cover 7:30 p.m., Olin 213 Letter Wednesday, November 12 Wind and Percussion/Varisty 7:00 p.m., Center for Faith and Band Concert Life, Main Hall Thursday, November 13 SAC Fall Fest 7:00 p.m., Marty’s Friday, November 14 Creative Arts Visit Day All day Saturday, November 15 Swimming and Diving- Roger Macalester College, St. Paul, Ahlman Invitational Minn., all day Cross Country- NCAA III Central 11:00 a.m., Central College, Pella, Region Championship Iowa Sunday, November 16 Symphony Orchestra Concert 4:00 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall
IMAGES OF THE PAST. Assistant Professor in Art History Kate Elliot examines donated artwork in class. Aaron Lurth / Photo Bureau
Students present at conference STUDENT RESEARCH, PAGE 1 Twice a year, Midstates Consortium hosts symposiums at the University of Chicago and Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. One conference is dedicated to biological sciences and psychology, while the other focuses on physical sciences, mathematics and computer sciences. A majority of the Luther students who attended the recent conference study chemistry and physics. During the conference, students can present their work with an oral presentation or during the poster session. Amanda Hayden (‘16) presented a poster about her research on electron capture. Hayden’s research focused on an electron orbiting a water molecule that would be captured by a highly charged ion projectile. Ryson Stuart (‘15) and his partner Zach Stottler (‘15) looked at the strong force interaction between quarks.
“A lot of graduate school advisers and professors realized they were getting students coming into their programs and when asked to present [they] had no experience or background,” symposium presenter David Pfotenhauer (‘15) said. “I think this whole program was started for that fact. If undergrads are doing research, they wanted to provide a place where they could present in front of people.” The content for these presentations often comes from the research that students like Hayden, Stuart, Stottler and Pfotenhauer conduct with various professors. For example, Hayden began her work with Associate Professor of Physics James Perez at the end of May. “[Working with professors] is interesting because they come to expect more of you because they view you as a colleague instead of as a student,” Stuart said. Posters from the symposium will be in the physics hallway in Valders in coming weeks.
Faculty showcase research FACULTY RESEARCH, PAGE 1 “If a writer stops writing, she dies as a teacher,” Weldon said. “You’ve got to always be learning, you’ve always got to be working and the research symposium is a way for students to see what that looks like in faculty’s lives’.” Associate Professor of English Amy Weldon Weldon’s presentation focused on her recent completion of a non-fiction book manuscript titled “The Hands-On Life: How To Wake Yourself Up and Save the World.” “It’s sort of the book in which I put together everything I care about, as an artist, as a teacher, as a person, as an environmentalist, as a feminist,” Weldon said. Her book, directed at college-aged audiences, explores what it means to pay attention. “A solution to a surprising number of the political and social and ecological problems we’re facing as a species comes down to paying attention,” Weldon said. “It’s being able to analyze yourself and the paradigms you’re using to look at the world, and adjust those or re-adjust those.”
Associate Dean and Director of Faculty Development Jeff Wilkerson Wilkerson introduced the audience to M23, a section of our galaxy containing stars that Wilkerson and a team of 24 students have been observing for the past 14 years. “In short, what we’re trying to do is learn what you can learn if you sit on the same field of view, the same 1600 stars, and look at them every night, all night long, for as long as they are in the sky,” Wilkerson said. The 30-year research project focuses on discovering and measuring flare-like events, binary star systems and long-period pulsating variable stars, according to Wilkerson. Assistant Professor of Political Science Pedro dos Santos Dos Santos’ research revolves around his discussion of women’s roles in political science and the potential biases he might develop as a man. Dos Santos began conducting research in 2010, but has been interested in gender and politics since the age of 16 when his mother ran for office in his native Brazil. “I’m a man studying women’s elections in Brazil, and I inform my writing through feminist theory, so what does that mean?” dos Santos said. “When I go to a women in politics conferences and I am one of the only men, it’s a very interesting flip in terms of identity.” These are just a few samplings of what this year’s Faculty Research Symposium had to offer. In the future, committee and faculty members hope to see the annual event grow to include more community members.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 5
A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
Alum musicians return to campus SAC Spotlight will present “A Spotlight on Luther Alumni” on Saturday, Nov. 8, bringing General B & The Wiz and The OK Factor to Marty’s at 7:30 p.m. Chips caught up with both ensembles to discuss music, collaboration and life after Luther.
General B & The Wiz SPENCER HODGE STAFF WRITER General B & The Wiz is comprised of Quincy Voris (‘12), Seth Duin (‘12), Erik Wadman (‘12), Kai Brewster and Kevin Coughenour. Chips: How did General B & The Wiz start? Duin: Quincy and I were roommates and started playing some acoustic comedy covers. We won the home coming open mic night and kept that going for a while but eventually just wanted to be writing our own music. We drafted Erik Wadman, who introduced us to Kai Brewster. Then those two introduced us to Kevin Coughenour, who joined us in late 2011 at our first album release
show. Where did you play as students? Duin: When we were students, we primarily played at Club Pyramid, which is now no longer in existence. We also liked to play acoustic shows at Toppling Goliath; we did a couple shows at Americana, which is also no longer open; and we also played a number of times at Marty’s. Nowadays, we typically play at the Haymarket when we come to town. So you have played at Marty’s before? Duin: Yep. We’ve done open mic stuff there before. In fact, Quincy and I had our first show together there during the homecoming open mic. Brewster: The first show I ever
“We obviously love Decorah and therefore love to use these shows as an excuse to come back and see old friends.” - Seth Duin (‘12)
THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN. Originally formed at Luther, General B & the Wiz has risen to local and national fame, touring the country and releasing albums while keeping their day jobs. Photo courtesy of General B & The Wiz played was with Quincy and Eric at BOMB. It was a super fun experience. What have you been up to since you all left? Voris: Since graduation, we’ve all gotten our 9 - 5 jobs. A lot of us worked a non-profit just to pass the week. And then we all made a pact to keep all of our weekends available. For awhile, we all lived in a house together in St. Paul, practicing late into weeknights and hitting the road for shows on the weekend. Is it difficult to balance your careers with the band?
Duin: It’s pretty fun, balancing two careers. It really keeps you on your toes. We all have another day job to support us, but make sure to stay flexible enough to be able to keep traveling and playing out as much as we can. Kai is a church musician/director and Quincy and Kyle both work with elementary school children. Kevin works at a startup in South Minneapolis and I work with a nonprofit called College Possible. Is there anything you make sure to do when you’re back in Decorah? Duin: We obviously love
SONGS AND STRINGS. The OK Factor play original folk songs with jazz, rock, country and bluegrass influences. Photo courtesy of The OK Factor
The OK Factor The OK Factor features Olivia Hahn (‘13) on cello and Karla Dietmeyer (‘13) on violin. Chips: Where have you performed as OK Factor? Olivia Hahn (‘13): Our first performance was through the Water Street Music Series called “Cello Plus.” The show featured a classmate of ours who played alongside another’s narration. We played about eight songs that we had written with them. Since then, we’ve played at state fairs, music festivals, private parties, weddings, bars and coffee houses.
Karla Dietmeyer (‘13): Yeah, and we’ve played one corporate party. Are you still living and playing together? Dietmeyer: No. We toured throughout the Midwest over the past summer, but recently I moved to Colorado. I’ve been out here for a couple months now. We are a longdistance band if you will. Is the distance problematic? Hahn: As much as it stinks to not be together all the time, I think what we are finding is that it has its benefits. Other groups have to force themselves to continue writing without overplaying the same musical repertoire. We kind of have
Decorah and therefore love to use these shows as an excuse to come back and see old friends. I’d say in a typical stop, we always find some time for Toppling Goliath. Now and then we’re lucky enough to run into old professors or hit up Ede’s for a sandwich. In our past few trips we’ve visited the Cellar and Courtyard which have been rad. How would you describe your sound as a band? Duin: We usually book ourselves as a blend of indie blues and psych rock - sort of like if the Black Keys had a baby with Jim Morrison.
time to write built into the nature of our band. What kind of music do you write and perform? Dietmeyer: When we first started writing we were coming off a high of loving Eileen Ivers, who had been featured at Luther as part of the Center Stage Series. After the performance, Olivia went home and wrote a little tune. We got into the practice room and worked from it. Overall, I think our compositional style stems from folk music, but we’ve heard ourselves called a variety of genres like alternative folk and progressive folk. The music also has elements of jazz, rock, bluegrass and country. What kind of recordings do you have as a band? Hahn: Well, we are releasing a six-track live recorded EP of our last performance on Lake Michigan at a farmer’s market in Milwaukee called “Live at the Lake.” None of those tracks were featured on our previous debut album “Water Street,” so they both offer original music. Both CDs will be available at our show in Marty’s. The EPs will be $12 and the full length album will be $15. Are you excited to come back to Decorah? Hahn: We are definitely excited to be back on campus. It’s been too long. It’ll be good to see old friends, especially past orchestra members. We’ve spent lots of time with them during rehearsal and on tour. It’ll be awesome to see them again. And it will be great to be back in town. I mean, our first album is named after Water Street in Decorah. It’s always so fun to be back and see the people who played with us from the get-go and encouraged us to keep playing. You’ll also be holding a workshop on campus before the show. What will that be like? Dietmeyer: In our workshops we usually talk about our compositional style, elements of folk music and what it means to be a string player. We stress that [string players] don’t have to be stuck in a box just because of the instrument they play. All instruments are capable of a variety of genres. Tickets for “A Spotlight on Luther Alumni” can be purchased at tickets.luther.edu or at the door and are $5 or free with CAF.
FEATURES
PAGE 6 NOVEMBER 6, 2014
FEATURES EDITOR: CASEY DELIMA
Fall Fling supports Decorah Students helped out the Decorah community for Fall Fling on Nov. 1. EMILY CROWE STAFF WRITER Every year, Campus Ministries organizes Fall Fling to help community members with light household work ranging from raking leaves to clearing flowerbeds. This year, students in SHOC (Students Helping Our Community), APO and Campus Ministries, as well as students not involved in a student organization, signed up to work at homes and churches in Decorah on Saturday, Nov. 1. Volunteers could choose from two shifts. According to Campus Ministries, about 40 students helped during the morning, and about 35 more students volunteered in the afternoon. Before their respective shifts, students gathered in the Union for instructions and devotions before heading out. Deacon of Community Action Brett Blattner (‘17) acted as the student leader of Fall Fling, ensuring everyone knew where they were going and with whom they were working. “A lot of times, the people we work with are elderly, and it is kind of amazing for me to hear the stories from the kids who help out,” Blattner said. “It is a cool time for Luther students to connect with individuals in our community they probably wouldn’t know about otherwise.” Blattner hopes to utilize his position as Deacon of Community Action to inspire Luther students to volunteer in the local community with projects like Fall Fling. “A big idea for College Ministries for me is not just filling up worship on campus, but living out that ministry,” Blattner said. “We are becoming God’s hands and feet in the community and
WORKING HARD OR HARDLY WORKING? Leslie Brandt (‘17), Meredith Larson (‘16) and Professor Emerita Jane Kemp from Good Shepherd Church team up during Fall Fling. Emily Crowe / Chips spreading that ministry into the world.” Students were excited to be able to make an impact on the Decorah community. “It’s really exciting to get into the community and volunteer at places other than on campus,” APO member Maggie Homeier (‘16) said. “We get to show Decorah that Luther cares.” Homeier and the four other students in her group were assigned to go to the home of Marlin Bolson (‘49) who heard about Fall Fling by reading the weekly bulletin. Community members can sign up for assistance during Fall Fling online or by calling the Office for College Ministries.
While the community members who host student volunteers during Fall Fling are not required or expected to make a donation, they are welcome to, according to Campus Ministries. “All of the Fall Fling donations will go to Ebola Outbreak Response, which is through Lutheran Disaster Response, and to Pathway to Citizenship through Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice,” Campus Pastor Mike Blair said. “We like to have the opportunity to help people on the local and national level.” By working on the local level and helping Decorah residents, the student
“It is a cool time for Luther students to connect with individuals in our community they probably wouldn’t know about otherwise.” -Brett Blattner (‘17)
RAKING IN REWARDING WORK. Maggie Hoemeier (‘16) and Kalie Kampa (‘18) volunteer during Fall Fling by raking leaves.
volunteers were able to see the impact of their work. “The people we help are so thankful,” Anne Wermedal (‘16) said. “The person we helped told us how she had just lost her husband a couple months before and how it was really hard for her to get used to life without him. She expressed her gratitude for us for being able to help her out, and we were very happy to do that because it is just a few hours out of our day.” According to Wermedal, volunteering for Fall Fling benefits the community and serves as an excuse to go outside for a while. “I think Fall Fling is a great way to get to know the Decorah community better, to start that outreach and to make new friends since you are sent out in groups with each other,” Wermedal said. “It’s also a good break from school, the homework and tests; it’s just something completely different, and you get to see the results right away, so it is very rewarding.”
Emily Crowe / Chips
FEATURES
PAGE 7
FEATURES EDITOR: CASEY DELIMA
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
Community sings come to campus ALISON VUOLO STAFF WRITER It’s a Tuesday at 9:40 a.m. You just came from a gruelling 8 a.m. class. You’re tired, burnt out and you need some coffee. You walk into the Center for the Arts to get your caffeine fix at Sunnyside. As soon as you come through the door, you hear something different. There is singing. At first you think it’s a performance, but as you get closer you realize the circle of people you see are not performing at all. They are just singing for fun. Community “sings” began in Decorah in January 2012, led weekly by community member Liz Rog.This year, there is an additional sing held each week on campus on Tuesday
mornings. in the CFA. The sings present an opportunity for people to come together and sing in an informal and unconventional way. The sings were brought regularly to campus by Director of the Nena Amundsen Wellness Program Greg Lonning (‘83), who initially approached Rog after a community sing held at chapel. According to Rog, it fit into the wellness model at Luther. “It’s as important to wellness as exercise,” Rog said. “It’s so accessible.” The motivation to begin the sings came from Rog’s passion for celebrating the human voice. “I think that singing together is essential for our health — individually and communally,” Rog said. “So much of what happens in community is in the obligatory
realm. But if we can play together, we can build connections that cross borders of religion or politics or age. I am positive that we were born singing and born to sing. It is our ancestral birthright.” Many singing groups have auditions or work toward an upcoming performance, but\ community sings are for everyone, and there is no purpose other than to build community at that particular moment. This idea of singing just to sing is something unfamiliar at Luther, according to student attendees. Phil Hanson (‘16) has been to many of the sings, but his first impression was one of surprise. “At first it felt funky,” Hanson said. “You’re not used to just standing out
ONCE MORE WITH FEELING. Lis Athas (‘15), Meredith Bruster (‘17), Elyssa Eull (‘16) and Liz Rog gather together to sing in the CFA on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Alison Vuolo / Chips
in the open, singing. It’s liberating and rejuvenating to get together with people to sing without any specific purpose other than just to sing.” Solveig Orngard (‘16) has attended the community sings since they first came to campus this fall. “It’s more interactive,” Orngard said. “It’s not one person leading a choir, but it’s the choir leading the choir. It is interaction between everyone. A lot of times choirs are performing for an audience, but this is done entirely for the group of people singing.” As the official leader of the group, Rog works to make the experience as welcoming as possible. “I don’t care for performing,” Rog said. “It’s not what I’m here for. What I love the most about the sings is the participatory nature. We need to remember that we can do it ourselves.” According to Rog, one reason western culture has such difficulty with singing informally are the “singing wounds” that many people accumulate. “A singing wound is something that happened to someone to stop what they were born doing,” Rog said. “Our singing soul is so sacred; we can’t risk having it be squashed again, so we close down.” Off-Campus Programs Advisor Elizabeth Finanger (‘06) attends many Luther and Decorah sings.
According to Finanger, participating in the sings allows people to heal some of these wounds. “[It] takes the expectation of perfection out of it,” Finanger said. According to Rog, the sings cure more than singing wounds — they strengthen community. The name for this community sing movement is Ubuntu, a Zulu word which translates to “I am, because we are.” The ability of a sing to produce a feeling of community is apparent in the reactions of participants. “I loved being able to share a moment with people and create something together,” Finanger said. “It’s different from our normal ways of connecting. Being able to create music together is such a special way to connect with people. It brings different parts of campus together.” Along with benefits to the community, the sings provide benefits to individuals. “Last Tuesday I was having such a hard morning,” Orngard said. “But I came to community sing, and all my worries went away, and everyone was just smiling. It’s just such a positive atmosphere.” The sings happen each Tuesday morning from 9:45-10:45 a.m. in the CFA atrium, and Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in the Acupuncture Center in town. Rog encourages all to attend for however long they want.
Campus celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month MAKEDA BARKLEY STAFF WRITER HOLA-Enlaces, the Diversity Center and the Spanish department hosted the inaurgural Hispanic Heritage Reception on Thursday, Oct. 30, providing the opportunity to appreciate Latino heritage and foster conversation about issues concerning Latino populations. “We think of the growth of Latinos on campus and the idea of heritage celebrations as a way to include the entire campus in the cultural experience of other groups,” Diversity Center Executive Director Sheila Radford-Hill said. “We think that is a winning combination, and we further think that diversity and inclusion can happen when people come together and plan things.” Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and has been celebrated since the 1960s throughout the United States. This is the first time that Luther has celebrated the occasion. “The purpose is to bring awareness of the Latino community to Luther as a whole and have a celebration of that culture and what they bring to our campus and the perspectives that they bring,” Co-vice President of HOLAEnlaces Ryan Goos (‘16) said. The Diversity Center piloted the planning
of the event in partnership with the Spanish department, the biggest modern language department on campus, and HOLA-Enlaces organized the program for the event. Students, faculty and other community members conversed over Latino snacks and alcohol-free sangria and enjoyed a brief program put together by HOLA-Enlaces. Several excerpts from speeches given by famous Hispanic-Americans were read to begin the program, followed by a musical performance and the reading of a poem about the difficulties of being a kid growing up in a Latino household in the United States. “It’s a good way to shift the focus from a negative perspective,” Goos said. “It’s good to step back from that and realize that Hispanic is not just Mexican and includes every Spanishspeaking country and their differences because everyone just kind of puts them in a box.” In addition to the celebration and appreciation of Hispanic culture, Campus Pastor David Vásquez was recognized for his contributions and dedication to the Luther community. “Pastor Vásquez has helped us a lot with past events such as our immigration panel. In general he’s been a great
resource for the Luther community and HOLAEnlaces,” Co-President of HOLA-Enlaces Maia Pugh (‘15) said. “We really appreciate what he’s done.” With the Hispanic Heritage reception, HOLA-Enlaces, the Diversity Center and the Spanish department worked together to make an event that would appeal to people of any background or age to inspire active participation among groups of people. “We talk a lot about diversity, but we don’t talk enough about inclusion,” Radford-Hill said. “Inclusion is the intentional ongoing engagement with diversity. It’s not enough to just have some classmates ‘out there’ who are diverse. The idea is for us to learn from each other, and that takes some intention, and these programs help to push us together in a nice, fun way.” The number of Latino students at Luther is increasing steadily every year, with almost 80 students claiming Latino as their ethnicity in the 2014-15 school year. Attendees and sponsors emphasized the
importance of including and appreciating these students and what they can bring to the Luther community throughout the reception. “In different countries, people have different personalities, different characteristics and ways to express themselves,” Associate Professor of Spanish Alfredo Estenoz said. “We want to honor different Latinos that have had a life and a history in the U.S. and to create a welcoming space for Latino students and other students.” Students of both Hispanic heritage and nonHispanic heritage came together at the event, fulfilling the mission of the Diversity Center, HOLA-Enlaces and the Spanish department’s original idea for the event. “I really enjoyed getting to celebrate my heritage with other Hispanic Luther students and faculty members,” Natasha Walleser (‘17) said. “The group represented quite a few different Latin countries, which was awesome. It was also really nice to see how many Luther students and faculty members who aren’t of Hispanic descent showed up to celebrate with us.”
GRAB AN EMPANADA. Students enjoy a variety of Hispanic food during the Hispanic Heritage Month reception. Will Heller / Photo Bureau
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 8 NOVEMBER 6, 2014
A&E EDITOR: DYLAN HINTON
Anonymous 4 reimagines a cappella
MEDIEVAL TUNES. Renowned female a cappella quartet Anonymous 4 will showcase music from medieval France as well as American folk songs. Photo courtesy of allianceartistmanagement.com
MATT HELM STAFF WRITER The Center Stage Series will continue its 2014-15 season with a performance by the renowned female a cappella quartet Anonymous 4 on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. “I’ve been wanting to bring Anonymous 4 to Luther for awhile and they are an exceptional addition to our season as a whole,” Director of Campus Programming Tanya Gertz said. “The concert will be an indisputable classical experience from a major artist in voice for the last 30 years. We are lucky to have them at Luther, not only because of their high level, but also because this is their second to last tour ever.” The quartet will perform “Grace and Glory: Songs from Medieval France and Early America,” a concert that features their specialty for medieval a cappella as well as American folk hymns from the 19th century. “The interesting thing about medieval music is that it takes a lot of scholarship and imagination; a lot of music back then was not notated or written down,” Director of Luther’s early
music ensemble Collegium Musicum Kathryn Reed said. “It is music that we so rarely get the chance to hear. The concert will combine something that is very familiar to us, the a cappella ensemble, with a window into a historical period that we don’t get to hear performed as much.” Anonymous 4 will engage in a master class with Collegium Musicum and the first-year female choir Aurora on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 9:40 a.m. in the Noble Recital Hall. All students are welcome to attend. “A cappella is huge right now, even on Luther’s campus,” Reed said. “Anonymous 4 sets a great example for all of our a cappella ensembles, and groups like Beautiful Mess should definitely go hear them. It takes solid musicianship to hold your own as a group using just your voices. Anonymous 4 are authentic and have a lot to teach.” A community sing-along will take place in the CFL Recital Hall at 6:15 p.m. before the concert. “The Center Stage Series is being really intentional this year in trying to get audience members to actively engage with their inner artist,” Gertz said. “The goal of the community singing session before the concert is to get everybody together
to sing for joy before watching Anonymous 4.” This year more than 600 students have bought at least one ticket to a Center Stage Series event, and the Performing Arts Committee hopes to continue encouraging attendance with a wide variety of acts. “We try to get acts that vary. This show is a little more mature, but I think that is important,” Secretary of the Performing Arts Committee Lindsay Getschel (‘16) said. “They are very different from a group like the Pentatonix because Anonymous 4 sounds like one voice singing. This performance could be enlightening for people involved in music on campus and for people who enjoy a cappella in general.” Gertz encourages students to come see the show and experience something new. “I can’t imagine a life without the arts; we have to have them because they nourish our soul and give us joy,” Gertz said. “We offer students an opportunity to engage in something really beautiful that maybe they haven’t heard before. So, before you lay your head on your pillow Thursday night, after the stress of the day, come see Anonymous 4. See what beauty you can take from it.”
Industry review:
“I’m sick of genre names” ROBBIE HELGASON VOLUNTEER WRITER I’m sick of genre names. “Stoner Rock.” “Acid Jazz.” As if the drugs themselves were a band. “‘Hi, I’m Molly, and this is my friend Mary Jane – we call this one “Happy Trees.’” “Chillwave,” “dreampop” and “shoegaze” are all genres that describe the same thing. Now, I’m sure I’ll get some sort of linguistic expert saying, “Robbie, northern natives of North America have 14 distinct words for snow that all mean different things. You’re being insensitive to the capabilities of language.” I’m actually being extremely sensitive; any given song is never played the same way twice. No two sounds are exactly the same (well, unless you’re Foxygen ripping off Todd Rundgren). You can’t make the same combinations of soundwaves
repeat in exactly the same fashion, because sonic technology isn’t that precise (you can get close, though). I know someone’s going to get pissed at me for discounting genres like classical, rock ’n’ roll, etc. I don’t discredit those, though. They were based in time and space, in a specific culture and people. Nowadays, fashions change almost spontaneously, creating a cultureless black hole on the Internet, sucking in all same bearded white
dudes with Macklemore hair at all the shows I go to (I think I’m turning into one ... spooky). Want to become a skater? Post some old Emerica ads to your Tumblr. Want to be rockabilly? Get the “greaser” look. Now that true genre and culture has been outsourced and untethered like a balloon floating off into The Cloud, we are left with nearly empty cranial cavities. Music and culture are no longer
for the brain to sit and ponder them for a while, but for the gut – food to be digested and excreted on a daily cycle. 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.
Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm | Thursday 9am - 8pm
FASHION. FOR REAL LIFE. AFFORDABLE BOUTIQUE SHOPPING
115 Winnebago Street | Decorah, Iowa | 563.382.3600
Opinion
Page 9
managing editor: sarah king
november 6, 2014
Accepting odd invitations Letter to the Editor This past year while studying abroad, I spent 10 days WWOOFing (volunteering through World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) with a permaculturist in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. In my time there, I lived in a small trailer with no running water and kept myself warm with only a wood-burning stove. Needless to say it was an incredible experience, meeting amazing people and exploring the beautiful, rugged Scottish countryside. However, on one Easter afternoon I spent the day with one of the most interesting people. This story begins as I was enjoying a well-deserved dinner after a full day of work. As my host and his family enjoyed cozy chitchat by the fire I noticed an emerging silhouette in the dark of the kitchen window. The shadow approached further and the light illuminated a bearded man of slight stature with long, straight, grey hair. Naturally, I felt a
little startled. In most of my experience, old bearded men shouldn’t just show up at night. However, with great relief my host James turned and exclaimed, “Jake! Come in!” In through the door came this little Scottish man wearing a greasy coverall and smiling a toothy (with some exceptions) grin. Jake was the neighbor. He lived over the hill in the middle of a pine tree plantation and was locally and colloquially known as “the last hermit in Scotland.” Immediately, Jake’s uniqueness made an impression on me. He spoke in a quaint and raspy Scottish accent while emitting warmth and a touch of shyness. He spoke of everything from biking to geology lectures and film festivals, all while his long gray beard flapped in the breeze. He was a character. After a bottle of elderflower wine, Jake moved to conclude his visit. Before excusing himself, he turned to me and with a raise of the eyebrows inquired about my Easter plans. I stated that I didn’t have any. He then rumbled through his beard, “If you’d like, you could stop over at my place for the afternoon.” Normally, I would have offered up a non-committal polite Midwestern “Oh, we’ll see,” or “Yeah, that may be nice,” but out of some sort of brashness I accepted and told Jake I would be over. On Easter day after a filling brunch, I borrowed a bike
and traversed up and down some craggy hills to Jake’s home. I was worried about being lost but managed to find it all right. My host’s most helpful suggestion was “look for the place with all the bits and bobs lying about.” I arrived at Jakes croft-shed-garage building and looked around. It took me a second to find him, because he was in a caravan sitting conveniently atop a tree. He said to climb up the ladder leading toward the top and after the summit we sat down for a fresh cup of instant coffee. Afterwards he showed me around; we looked at his garden, talked about Hank Williams and then enjoyed a cider straight out of the “fridge” which was just a cool, quick stream babbling by his garden. Jake and I shared another good chat before dark, and he pointed me toward my host’s home. It was a lovely afternoon. After spending my Easter with Jake I learned a bit of something. Once in a while it’s important to spend time with a stranger who is entirely different from yourself. You don’t need to walk a mile in their shoes or detect any change in the greenness of grass represented in a metaphorical point of view. Just say yes to the odd invitation once in a while, because it may change you a little, which never hurts.
“Once in a while it’s important to spend time with a stranger who is entirely different from yourself.” - John Werner (‘15)
John Werner (‘15)
Against “DTRing” and labels in general sarah king managing editor I frequently invite my friends over for tea. No, I am not mad nor am I a hatter (please excuse my painfully bad joke; I just couldn’t resist), I just love tea. I have been drinking tea since I can remember. Although I do not know the exact date my grandma and I began having tea parties, I distinctly remember sitting cross-legged on her cushy carpeted living room floor in front of her coffee table, her across from me on her brown and orange floral couch. When Grandma King and I had tea parties, we had tea parties. I mean real tea parties. We didn’t
mess around with water like other lesser children did. We drank real tea, albeit from tiny floral tea cups and a tea pot smaller than my palm is today. No, my grandma taught me right and had me drinking tea from at least the age of five, maybe younger. Perhaps some people might frown upon that kind of caffeine consumption for such a young child, but I think drinking tea has had far less of a negative impact on my health than, oh, I don’t know, drinking soda perhaps? Because of my grandma, tea drinking and enjoying another person’s company has been instilled in me for most of my life. This is why I still do it today.
Recently, I had a friend over for tea. We did the usual things friends do. We complained about homework, debated which art class to take for J-term, debated the meaning of life for a bit and caught up on each other’s lives. In the midst of this, the subject of DTR came up. Sadly, I must admit that I do know what this term means. For those of you who do not, I will enlighten you of this relatively newly trending phrase. “DTR” stands for the phrase “define the relationship.” It is often used when two people decide together what kind of relationship they are in so that they can tell others “what they are.” I often overhear
conversations in which one person counsels another friend that they “need to, like, totally DTR soon” or else their relationship will “never go anywhere.” I find the entire notion of DTR to be ridiculous. Perhaps, once upon a time, defining a relationship was helpful for couples who wanted to have open communication between each other about each other’s intentions and feelings. It still can be, I suppose, though I would be loath to call it “DTR.” It seems to me, however, that DTR is most often used in conjunction with public demand rather than healthy communication, a phrase used by friends and society to pressure others into sharing what is going on in a their relationship rather than advocating healthy relationship practices. Social media outlets are guilty of perpetuating a new era of over-sharing in our current society. Facebook encourages users to publish their personal relationship status so that their friends can comment or like it, and because the opportunity is available, many people assume it is a requirement. Any choice to do otherwise is deemed a sign of an unhealthy or deficient relationship. It is ridiculous to place such unnecessary pressure on couples to fulfill the overwhelmingly growing nosiness of society. Labeling does not make anything any more real. The act of labeling others is to make them different from others, perpetuating stereotypes, limiting people to labels they most likely did not even choose for themselves and hindering individuality. It also makes people forget how similar we as human beings actually are, dividing us into our labeled groups and leaving our many similarities, sadly, forgotten. Relationships are deeply personal and private. Only those involved have the right to decide when, if ever, to “DTR.” The choice to do so or not does not reflect their relationship. It is merely personal choice.
OPINION
PAGE 10 NOVEMBER 6, 2014
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 2014 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors:
Walker Nyenhuis Sarah King Anna Jeide Margaret Yapp Features Editor: Casey DeLima A&E Editor: Dylan Hinton Sports Editor: Julia Joseph Staff Writers: Makeda Barkley Abby Carpenter Emily Crowe Laura Hayes Matt Helm Spencer Hodge Nils Johnson Noah Langholz Jenna Nelson Katie Nelson Maggie Steinberg Erika Storvick Bailey Mulholland Alison Vuolo Rachel Williams Head Copy Editor: Katie Hale Copy Editors: Cameron Meyferth Bethany Seavers Templeton Ad Representative: Alex Brandt Sam Ward Ad Accountant: Tyler Hovey Photography Coordinator: Casey DeLima Photographers: Abby Carpenter Bjorn Myhre Design Technician: Bjorn Myhre Web Manager: Isaac Davis Promotions Director: Zora Hurst Distribution Manager: Elizabeth Hurley Adviser: David Faldet
MANAGING EDITOR: SARAH KING
The sexualization of breast cancer
LAURA HAYES STAFF WRITER In April 2012, pornography website Pornhub and adult film star Bree Olson rolled into New York City on the Boob Bus. Participants could board the bus and learn how to “feel boobs … the right way” to check for breast cancer. After all, according to the Pornhub website, “Pornhub cares about your greatest assets.” October was National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which meant that campaigns like Pornhub’s Boob Bus were out in all of their pink glory. These days, everyone has a relative who has been touched by the deadly disease. For me, that day came in 2008 when my family found out that my aunt had been diagnosed with breast cancer. My aunt got lucky, that is, if chemotherapy and a mastectomy can be considered “lucky.” But she was pronounced to be in remission nonetheless and
my family was able to breathe a little bit easier. As my aunt later told me, her breast cancer had never been about “saving her boobies” or “caring about her greatest assets;” breast cancer was a matter of life or death. So why is a deadly disease sexualized? For example, the current “Feel Your Boobies” campaign features a faceless woman grabbing at her chest with the slogan “are you doing it?” attached. In its essence, “feeling your boobies” is an essential part of breast cancer prevention. Through self-examinations, women can notice changes in their breasts (such as lumps inside the breasts or in the under arm area, or nipple discharge). Women and men are encouraged to see a health care provider if they experience any of the symptoms. However, despite raising awareness, this campaign sexualizes breast cancer by placing emphasis on women’s “boobies” instead of on the person. The Breast Cancer Action, an association whose mission is to “achieve health justice for all women at risk of and living with breast cancer,” argues that because breasts are linked to sexuality, attractiveness and femininity, “breast cancer is a highly sexualized and gendered disease.” For example, the campaign “Save Second Base” focuses on the loss of breast’s sexual association by its
name alone. It’s no longer a matter of a woman’s life; instead breast cancer has become a loss of sexual pleasure. One of the most relevant examples of this sexualization of breast cancer took place on May 14, 2013, when actress Angelina Jolie wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times discussing her decision to get a preventative double mastectomy. Jolie, whose mother died at age 56 from cancer, was estimated to be 87% at risk for breast cancer and 50% at risk for ovarian cancer. By having a double mastectomy, Jolie was able to drop her chances for developing breast cancer from 87% to 5%. However, following the release of this article, the Internet reacted. The website xoJane compiled a list of tweets and Facebook posts about Jolie’s decision. Reactions ranged from, “Please tell me they didn’t throw away Angelina Jolie’s old boobs. PLEASE,” to “Why has Angelina Jolie lobbed her tits off ? She hasn’t got breast cancer so why do it. Attention-seeking slut.” Through campaigns like “Feel the Boobies” and “Save Second Base,” society has become normalized to believe that when a woman loses a breast to cancer she becomes less of a sexual being. Her breasts are intrinsically tied to her sexuality. She becomes less of a woman. Instead, why don’t we remember that there are human beings attached to the end of that boobie?
Student Senate seeks to improve communication with campus A Senate Sit-Down The Student Senate Communications Committee is ready to start informing you of all things Senate! This year, the committee is focusing on various ways for the Luther College student body to become informed of what Senate’s agenda is and events that we will be having for students to get to know their senators. After much discussion, we as a committee have decided that the best way to get the campus informed is through social media. The committee has set up Luther College Student Senate Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to keep the student body informed at any time. Throughout meetings, members of the Communications Committee will be live tweeting and posting status and photo updates to make those who follow these sources know that we are actively working for the student body. Along with “Meet Your Senator” events that occur in the caf, we have also brought back “Senate Spotlight” on the bulletin board by Marty’s. Check it out each week as two senators will be in the “spotlight.” By each face there are questions and
answers that the senators have answered so the students can put a senator’s face to their name. Photos of the senators in their committees have also been posted. We believe that visibility is key for students to feel comfortable with approaching Senate with questions, problems, concerns and ideas to make Luther College the best for everyone. Not only is communication important with the student body, but it is also vital with faculty, administration and staff. The Communications Committee, along with the rest of the Senate body, attended a “Campus Connections” event that was held during regular Senate time on Thursday, Oct. 30. Various members of Luther’s administration, faculty and staff met with us to discuss what they thought made Luther so special, why they chose Luther and how they see Luther looking in the future. We also answered questions, which created great conversations and insights on what Luther meant to each of us. This event created a bridge for us as Senators and those with whom we met to approach them for help or questions on various issues or ideas on campus. This is important because we are able to think bigger and create more for the students of Luther College. To connect with Student Senate, like us on Facebook under “Luther College Student Senate,” follow us on Twitter @ LCStudentSenate and on Instagram at lcstudentsenate. We look forward to hearing from you! Ashley Kappers (‘16) Junior Class Representative Communications Committee Chair
SPORTS
PAGE 11
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH
Swimmers dive into new season
JUMPING INTO COMPETITION. Luther men’s swim team competes against UW-Whitewater in their season opener on Saturday, Nov. 1. Noah Langholz / Chips
NOAH LANGHOLZ STAFF WRITER Luther College swimming and diving is gearing up for what the team hopes will be an exciting and successful year. The team hosted their first meet of the season against UW-Whitewater on Saturday, Nov. 1. Luther lost the meet with a score of 61-176. “[Meets] are going to be exciting; it’s going to be an exciting atmosphere,” Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming Coach Lance Huber said. “We don’t look at times as much; we look closer at how they execute their races.” Some swimmers say that a combination of experienced swimmers and new talent will provide a strong base of athleticism for the team. “Last year, as a men’s team, we only graduated one senior, and we have a very
Norse of the Week JULIA JOSEPH SPORTS EDITOR Lauren Thormodsgard (‘17) made eight saves in the women’s soccer team’s quarterfinal game of the IIAC Tournament against Loras on Saturday, Nov. 1. Thormodsgard has come back from injury and made an impact in advancing the team to the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Chips: Is there anything you would change about the last
strong first-year class this year,” Captain Sam Weinberg (‘15) said. “Having almost all of the guys back and adding a very strong first year foundation is exciting. We have six new men and seven new women. It is a fairly sizeable class.” Swimmers highlighted challenging everyone to improve at their events as one of their goals for the season. “I’ve gone through three full seasons, and just being able to share the experience with the younger guys is really fun,” Weinberg said. “Having more of a grasp of what it means to be the best you can be in and out of the
pool and to be able to share and facilitate with the younger guys is important.” The team puts emphasis on creating a positive atmosphere at all times. “We’re in the pool giving it our all, but when we’re not in the pool we’re out on the deck having a good time,” Weinberg said. The team prides itself on its support of one another during competition. “You’re definitely going to know that we’re really close and all cheering for each other,” Elizabeth Reed (‘15) said. “Hopefully we’re going to blow away the competition.”
“We’re in the pool giving it our all, but when we’re not in the pool, we’re out on the deck having a good time.” - Sam Weinberg (‘15)
game? Thormodsgard: Yes, definitely the first two goals. I feel like when goals happen there’s always something I think that I could change that replays in my head that I could have done better. Even situations that did go in my favor still could go better. I’m really proud about how our team played and even when we were down 2-0 they continued to fight and we came up on top. How long have you been playing soccer? Since I was eight years old. Why did you start playing goalie? Usually the story is how you can’t play in the field so you get stuck in goal. I was 11
and I wanted to play goalie. I played forward and liked it but I had more of a role and impact being in goal. What’s been the highlight of the season so far? Beating Loras. What’s been the biggest challenge for you individually or the team overall? Individually I had some health issues during preseason so I was out, and then I was able to get back into it. Then I had a concussion and was out again, then got back into it. It’s hard on your body to get back into it then out of it again. As a team we’re really strong on and off the field. Loras beating us the first time was hard on us and we lost some of our
The synergy of the team at all levels of talent is also something the team is proud of and will continue to develop as the season progresses. “Regardless of your place on the team, [Huber] is working with you just the same as anyone else,” Weinberg said. “We’ve got a national champion and the average Joe, but there is no preferential treatment.” According to Huber, from a coaching standpoint, the goal is to form relationships with the swimmers and encourage as much athletic improvement as possible. “My philosophy with freshmen is really nothing more than learning them as a swimmer, from technique to what motivates them to what pushes their buttons,” Huber said. “It’s a matter of keeping them out of the comfortable bubble so they can still have the work ethic to keep pushing themselves, rather than be complacent.”
momentum. The fact that we were able to come back and beat Loras again was a huge victory for us. Now that you do penalty kicks in conference games, do you do anything to get ready for that aspect? We’ve been working on penalty kicks for the girls that have asked to take kicks on us. It just comes down to whether or not you can make the save. You can’t really practice for that. A lot of goalies have different strategies for it. Some just guess where they’re going or watch where their hips are facing or where their eyes go or where they plant their foot. But it comes down to your reaction or if you guess right.
GOAL SAVER. Lauren Thormodsgard (‘17) helped advance the team to semifinals. Photo courtesy of Luther sports. If you could play for the World Cup, which team would you be on? The U.S.A team.
SPORTS
PAGE 12
SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
Cross country runs at IIAC tournament
Weekly Standings Men’s Soccer #8 Loras #23 Wartburg Luther Dubuque Simpson Central Coe Buena Vista
IIAC 7-0 5-1-1 5-2 4-2-1 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-7
Overall 14-2-1 11-3-4 16-2-1 7-8-3 12-9 5-13 4-14 4-13-1
Recent Scores
Nov. 1 IIAC Tournament Quarterfinals vs. Central W 3-1
Upcoming Schedule
Nov. 5 @ Wartburg IIAC Tournament Semifinals 7 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
MOVING FORWARD. (Left to right) Isaac Jensen (‘17), Tyler Broadwell (‘16) Trever Schwichtenberg (‘17) and Scott Mittman (‘14) stay focused during the 8k. Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore NILS JOHNSON STAFF WRITER Luther runners put together strong performances in the IIAC Cross Country Conference Championships held at Simpson College on Saturday, Nov. 1. The Luther women secured second place behind Wartburg College, while the men took third behind Loras and Central. Among the scoring runners for the women’s 6k was Tricia Serres (‘16), who claimed her second meet title of the season and continues her six-meet streak of topten finishes. Serres’ time of 21:57.7 was followed by Kaia Bierman (‘18) at 23:24.0, Lauren Mordini (‘16) 23:31.2, McKenzie Carney (‘18) 23:33.0, Kara Maloney (‘16) 23:53.4 and Hannah Wright (‘18) 23:59.6. In the men’s 8K race, Tyler Broadwell (‘16) led the Luther pack, finishing eighth overall with a time of 25:58.5. The four successive scoring runners, Scott Mittman (‘14) 26:14.5, Isaac Jensen (‘17) 26:17.4, Trever Schwichtenberg (‘17) 26:22.0 and Clare Brandt (‘16) 26:26.0 closed behind Broadwell, all finishing within the top 25. The runners attribute this weekend’s success to the team’s philosophy of conservative, efficient running. “We knew teams like Central and Loras were going to go out fast,” Greg Scott (‘15) said. “We focused on going out conservatively, reeling in runners over the
course of eight kilometers.” The Luther team was also aided by course conditions similar to their training environment. “It was a great course for us,” seventh scoring runner Kurt Hellmann (‘16) said. “It was full of hills, just what we’re used to.” Being a difficult venue, other runners claim the conference meet provided a morale boost. “It was a tough course,” Matthew Gausmann (‘16) said. “Running well was a big confidence booster for the coming meets.” Strong performances from both the men and women represent the beginning of what the runners and coaches call “Championship Season.” Hellmann explains how both teams are settling into their best performances. “Many of the first meets are developmental,” Hellmann said. “[They’re] intended to gain experience and get a feel for competing, In these final meets we’re reaching the pinnacle of our running fitness and are pushing ourselves the hardest.” Following the conference meet, the Luther teams will break up into JV and varsity squads, competing at the JV
Cup and the Regional Championships, respectively. Despite this division, the runners maintain that team cohesiveness and competitiveness. The JV Cup, held annually on Luther’s home course, will take place Friday, Nov. 7. “There are several other top-notch JV teams coming,” Scott said. “Runners from our school and the visiting schools are fighting for varsity spots. There’s sure to be good competition.” The top seven runners from the men’s and women’s squads will be traveling to the Regional Championships in Pella, Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 15. In pursuit of a spot at the National Championship, Luther runners intend to rely on their conservative philosophy to bring about solid individual performances. “That’s always the plan,” Associate Head Coach Yarrow Pasche said. “We’re always focused on working into a strong finish and picking off runners along the way.” Accompanying the season-long strategy, many of Luther’s team members who are not racing will travel to support the school’s representatives at the regional meet. “It’s one of the great things about Luther cross,” Hellmann said. “Support is always available from all of your teammates.”
Dubuque Central Loras Wartburg Coe Luther Buena Vista Simpson
IIAC 6-1 5-1-1 5-2 4-2-1 3-4 3-4 0-6-1 0-6-1
Overall 15-4 10-4-3 11-8 10-5-4 9-10 14-4 3-12-3 2-16-1
Recent Scores
Nov. 1 IIAC Tournament Quarterfinals W 4-3 OT
Upcoming Schedule
Nov. 5 @ Central IIAC Tournament Semifinals 2 p.m.
Football
#6 Wartburg Central Buena Vista Coe Dubuque Luther Loras Simpson
IIAC 5-0 4-1 4-1 3-2 2-3 1-4 1-4 0-5
Recent Scores
Overall 8-0 6-2 5-3 4-4 3-5 4-4 2-6 3-5
Nov. 1 vs. Coe College L 14-35
Upcoming Schedule
Nov. 8 @ Loras College 1 p.m.
Men’s Swimming Loras Simpson Luther Coe
IIAC 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-1
Overall 2-0 0-0 0-1 0-1
Recent Scores
Nov. 1 vs. UW-Whitewater L 61-176
Upcoming Schedule
Nov. 8 @ Grinnell College 1 p.m.
Women’s Swimming Loras Simpson Luther Coe
IIAC 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-1
Overall 2-0 0-0 0-1 0-1
Recent Scores
Nov. 1 vs. UW-Whitewater L 99-144
RUNNING THE SHOW. (From left) Sarah Owens (‘17) and Kara Maloney (‘16) lead the pack during the conference meet. Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore
Upcoming Schedule
Nov. 8 @ Grinnell College 1 p.m.