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CHIPS LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.” Vol. 134, No. 15
March 1, 2012
Poster damaged, message questioned Ingrid Baudler
Please Recycle
Since 1884
Coffee concerns Visit from Starbucks rep brews ethics debate
News Editor
Vandalism of a Gospel Sunday poster has spurred a large response in College Ministries, the Diversity Center and Luther community. A picture of guest preacher Professor Emeritus Dr. Lawrence Williams was cut out of the poster during J-term break and again the weekend of Feb. 18 and 19. The Diversity Center is addressing the vandalism for a few reasons. “We took it seriously because there were two separate incidents … we invited Professor Williams here to give the Gospel Sunday lecture there have been other incidents in the past and we just want people to understand that what to you may seem harmless or fun or a prank may be hurtful to someone else,” Executive Director of the Diversity Center Sheila Radford-Hill said. an African-American. Another Gospel Sunday poster and a poster of President Barack Obama in a residence hall were also damaged last year. The perpetrator’s intent is uncertain, but according to Campus Pastor Mike Blair, it sends a racist message. “We have tons of posters on campus and I can’t think of any posters with a white person’s image being removed,” Blair said. “When you Michael Crowe/Chips
Vandalism
continued on page 3 Sip sustainably. Voices on campus have called Starbucks’ growing and trading practices into question. painted Starbucks as an ideal sustainability and environmental Ashley Matthys News Editor business which was taking every stewardship. initiative to improve.” Dining Services made the A recent visit to campus by a The visit was instigated by switch to Starbucks coffee at the Starbucks representative left a members of Dining Services beginning of the current school poor impression on individuals in response to student and year. concerned about the company’s staff concern about the lack Energy and Waste Steward Eric commitment to selling ethically Holthaus stated that the campus grown and traded coffee. most coffee served on campus. community had expressed a “There was no attempt taken desire to have only Fair Tradeby the representative to humbly organization that puts its label state any problems or concerns on goods that are produced a standard not currently being met with Starbucks coffee practices,” according to set standards in the by Starbucks. Environmental Concerns categories of empowerment (such Courtesy of Sheila Radford-Hill Poster defaced. Profesor Emeritus Lawrence Williams’ photo Organization (ECO) leader Tina as management transparency), Starbucks continued on page 10 Yates (‘13) said. “Instead, she economic development, social was removed from this Gospel Sunday display in the Union.
Luther Sustainability awarded Cargill grant Josh Hoffman
Staff Writer
Luther was recently awarded a $383,612 grant by the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation to further promote sustainability-related technologies and education throughout the Luther community. “Receiving this grant will have a large impact on the number of opportunities students have to get involved with helping Luther College and the Decorah area become more sustainable,” Sustainability Coordinator Dan Bellrichard said. $250,000 of the grant is being allocated to an endowment that is used to fund long-term sustainability and environmental education programs.
“The $133,000 that is being spent immediately will be used to fund sustainability interns, and environmental education programs,” Bellrichard said. Sustainability-related summer internships being funded from the grant money include the following: Biodiesel Production and Campus Energy, Discovery Camp Student Teaching, Luther Land Stewardship, Sustainability Decorah, Winneshiek Energy District Energy Corps, Decorah Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Foods internships. “The money will be used for a variety of programs, but the largest chunk will go to support student internships related to sustainability,” Associate
Professor of Philosophy Jon Jensen said. “This allows us to provide greater support for ongoing programs like the land stewards as well as to develop new internships … [involving] the city of Decorah and local businesses.” Many of the internships funded by the grant will take place during summer 2012. “The grant will also provide funds for a new sustainability [representative] program in the dorms, general
into their courses,” Jenson said. “The size of this grant allows us to support many initiatives rather than just one or two.”
Sustainability grant continued on page 10
of sustainability and funding for a program to help faculty incorporate Courtesy of Luther Sustainability sustainability Sift ‘n sort. Volunteers sort redeemables on the Winnesheik Energy Volunteer day.
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
News
2
March 1, 2012
Local streams take center stage in Olsterholm lecture Brita Moore
Staff Writer past and restoration work in nearby watersheds can have
Waukon Native Michael Osterholm (‘75) showed Decorah residents the importance of local geology in a lecture entitled, “A Perspective on the Future of Coldwater Stream Restoration in the Driftless Area.” “Very few people understand how unique this area is,” Osterholm said. “This is the only area in the world in which the native tallgrass prairies and oak savannas are located in a karst region with a bunch of coldwater streams.” Osterholm bought a large amount of property just south of the Minnesota border on Waterloo Creek. The subject of his lecture was his restoration work on that property after years of damage from agriculture. “We think we know what our roots are geographically and from a historical perspective,” Osterholm said. “But is a very different area than it was 150 years ago. That’s mainly because of agriculture.” The area on which Osterholm has done the most restoration work is Brook Creek, a coldwater trout stream in Allamakee County. He has also worked with Waterloo Creek and Duck Creek. “He basically put a stream back into its stream bed that had been ditched by a farmer years and years ago,” Professor of Biology Kirk Larsen said. “He’s been working with Trout Unlimited and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and they’ve stocked that stream with brook trout, which is the only native species of trout in the state of Iowa.” Many area residents found Osterholm’s presentation relatable to their lives. Luther and the Decorah
“We’re doing a lot of things over and over again as it relates to coldwater stream restoration,” Osterholm said. “We don’t have a clue what it really does, we just do it.” While Osterholm’s restoration work has been quite extensive, it is not his career focus. After graduating from Luther, Osterholm went on to study epidemiology in graduate school and is now the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, where he is also a professor
at the medical school. “He is a world expert on infectious diseases – things Osterholm also supports Luther student researchers during the summer and brings them to his property, where they research contents of the stream. He teaches some Luther graduates in his lab at the U of M, and he praises Luther for its well-rounded curriculum. “I continue to say time and time again that my very best graduates are liberal arts educated students who come in with an understanding about the world, about a molecule, about a gene,” Osterholm said.
Walker Nyenhuis/Chips
Captivating the audience. Michael Osterholm (‘75) shares his restoration efforts with a group in Valders.
Social work students visit legislators The event, which was held Feb. 14, is put on each year for social work students through Iowa-PACE (Political Action for Candidate Election). Participants are able to practice lobbying bills with current Iowa legislators and learn about social policy. This trip was The students began preparations for the event in January. Each student chose a current bill to research and created a fact sheet to give to legislators. The social work students also learned how to give an “elevator pitch,” which is a one-minute speech that lists the most important facts
Photo submitted by Craig Mosher
Learning to lobby. Class members and mentors from the community pose with Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm (right) in the Senate Chamber at the State Capitol.
Jayne Cole
included bills about nuclear power, gun control and energy bills. Taylor Thoreson (‘13) lobbied for a bill that would grant money to social workers to repay student loans. She compiled statistics of the average loan debt of social work students at Luther and other colleges. Thoreson thought the experience was important because the bill would directly affect her if it passed, and enjoyed putting the tactics they learned about in class to use in real life.
They attended workshops in the morning
Staff Writer to learn lobbying skills and talk about students think because we are the next
Nine Luther social work students traveled to Des Moines recently to attend Legislative Day, an event that promotes political activism among social work students. The students attended Legislative Day for a social policy class, taught by Associate Professor of Social Work Craig Mosher.
current issues and met with legislators in the afternoon. Mosher also arranged a private meeting for the class with local representatives Roger Thomas of Elkader, Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco and Bob Hager of Dorchester. “With a small state like Iowa, we can talk to legislators face to face,” Mosher said.
generation and the ones who will vote,” Thoreson said. “They have to take into account what we have to say because we are the voice.” Thoreson was surprised at how personable the legislators were and thought it was important for the legislators to hear a student’s opinion.
“You have to be precise, be direct and be persuasive to get the legislators to talk to minutes or 10 seconds to talk to them.” Thoreson was able to present her research to Senator Amanda Ragan. “I was pleased to have students lobby to me about social worker loan legislation,” Ragan said. “The most impressive part was the research that had been completed before visiting with me. Taylor was very passionate about the bill as well.” Nick Clark (‘13) also felt the experience career. He lobbied for a bill that involved building a nuclear power plant. “I tried to think how the bills will affect people and then try to think of them from a social work perspective,” Clark said. Other students who participated are Annike Ellison (‘13), Alicia Findley (‘13), Susan Harlor (‘13), Trevor Ketterling (‘13), Sheila Sinha (‘13) and Sarah Stoltzmann (‘13). Mosher also got to do some lobbying himself. “I enjoy it every time I go,” Mosher said. “It was fascinating watching the but then got into it and came away thinking, ‘I can really do this.’ It was exciting to see The students will be able to see the results of their lobbying as the bills are put on the “It was a rewarding experience overall,” Craig said.
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
News
March 1, 2012
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New bike laws passed John Freude
Staff Writer
The Decorah City Council has given approval to revise the city’s bike ordinance. The vote came in early December to amend sections that had aroused debate. One section of the old ordinance required bikers to use “one or both hands,” while riding. The revised ordinance was changed to say bikers must be “under control.” Other sections of the ordinance
sign. “I had my headlight on and we checked to see if anyone was coming, but it was 10 o’clock at night and we didn’t really think about it,” Fye said. Fye and his three friends were then all four of them were given the same ticket. “They treated us with respect, but we were expecting a warning because none of us had even heard
about this ordinance,” Fye said. Fye and his friends were all given citations that totaled to $147.75 after court fees. “My biggest problem is that Decorah didn’t give us a heads up and we were totally unaware,” Fye said. To read the entire ordinance and stay updated on Decorah’s biking laws go to www.decorahnews.com and search “bike ordinance.”
Afghanistan turmoil won’t change US war plan The Obama administration is sticking determinedly to its stay-thecourse message in Afghanistan despite a week of anti-American riots, the point-blank killing of U.S. military advisers and growing electionyear demands to bring the troops home. In an echo of the Bush administration on continuing the unpopular war in Iraq, the White House and Pentagon insisted Monday that the wave of violence against Americans will not derail the war strategy in Afghanistan or speed up the calendar for bringing American forces home. *** Activist group: 144 dead across Syria A Syrian activist group reported Monday that 144 people have been killed across the country, scores of them in the embattled opposition
riding on the sidewalk and wearing Justin Ratzlaff (‘13), director of Flip’s Bike Shop on campus and president of Spokes, believes that the
the Syrian arm of the Red Cross delivered aid to one of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods after days of trying to reach the area. The activist group did not say whether all 144 died on Monday or were killed over the past few days. Many of the casualties were believed to be from the rebel-controlled Baba Amr neighborhood of Homs, which the Syrian Arab Red Crescent entered late Monday. Also in the neighborhood are two wounded foreign journalists along with the bodies of two of their colleagues who were killed last week.
“By doing this, Decorah is acknowledging biking as a big deal and needs to be treated as such,” Ratzlaff said. The increase in biking popularity in Decorah was the reason the
***
place. “There are a few who give us a bad name, but overall most bikers Ratzlaff said. However, not everyone is happy with the way the ordinance came out. Jordan Fye (‘13) was cited last October for failing to stop at a stop
Compiled by:
Ingrid Baudler News Editor
One dead, four wounded in Ohio high school shooting
John Freude/Chips
Rules of the road. From left: Nick Andresen (‘13), Marty Mitchell (‘13) and Matt Beniak (‘13) biking in Decorah.
Vandalism intent questionable Vandalism continued from page 1
Blair used Williams’ own Gospel Sunday sermon in his response. “In the message that Professor Williams shared with the community, he used the biblical story of coming out of the wilderness,” Blair said. “We can draw from that message that it’s well past time to come out of the wilderness of racism. It’s well past time to grow and move past that and those are choices we can make as a community.”
was intending racism in doing that or not, it casts a racist shadow.” Regardless of the reason for the vandalism, Radford-Hill is concerned about the reaction of the Luther community. “I don’t know what the intent was, ... I’m focused on the effect,” Radford-Hill said. “The effect is that some people can see this and feel unwelcome and threatened.” Blair feels even if the vandalism was done as a joke, it is insensitive. “The analogy that I would make is if a man comes into a group of women and tells a very sexist joke and says, ‘Hey I’m just kidding.’ The women would likely say, ‘Well, if you think of it from our perspective – being the butt of these jokes – it’s not funny,’” Blair said. To counteract these negative feelings, College Ministries and the Diversity Center are opening up discussions about this issue. “We are trying to create a community where even if we do have these challenges across differences we can reconcile them, because if we don’t learn to reconcile our differences, we can’t live together,” 130 West Water St. Radford-Hill said.
school Monday, killing one student and wounding four others before he was chased from the building by a teacher and captured a short distance away, authorities said. A student who saw the attack up close said it appeared that the gunman targeted a group of students sitting together and that the one who was killed was gunned down while trying to duck under the cafeteria table. McKenna said authorities “have a lot of homework to do yet” in their investigation of the shooting, which sent students screaming through the halls at the start of the school day at 1,100-student Chardon High. *** Police begin eviction of Occupy London camp Police and bailiffs began dismantling Occupy London’s campsite outside St. Paul’s Cathedral late Monday, clearing one of the longestsurviving encampments inspired by the New York protest against capitalist excess. The protesters said vans loaded with police arrived at the site before midnight. eviction was under way by bailiffs, backed by police. *** Fire forces Daytona 500 to pause with 40 laps left Journeyman driver Dave Blaney was leading when a problem with Juan Pablo Montoya’s car sent him spinning under caution into a safety truck. trucks rushed to the scene. The inferno raged on, and NASCAR red*** Hot tub installation on campus roof a mystery
Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. But a group of “creative” students are believed to be the culprits, Computer Science and Engineering building spokesman Steven Crang told AnnArbor.com on Friday. Initially reported by the Michigan Daily campus newspaper, the hot Life outside Luther compiled from: http://ap.org 563. 382. 5761
Features
4
March 1, 2012
Contraceptives spark controversy Recent healthcare reforms have prompted much debate about contraceptives at the national level – but how has this affected Luther? HANNAH LUND
STAFF WRITER
She had to have been anorexic—at least that’s what the doctors at Health Services thought. No one loses that many pounds in little over a month unless they are very ill. It was time for a serious talk. Yet, Calli Micale (‘12) was not ill. In fact, she felt better than ever: she’d recently given birth to her daughter, Lily. It was in the charts, but the doctor still sighed in relief that she didn’t have an eating disorder. Comforting—for the doctor, at least. For Micale, it was a sign of misunderstandings to come. “It didn’t even cross him as an option that I could [have just given birth],” she said, while fastening Lily’s ‘bibby’ to www.outcomemag.com
Saturday afternoon play-day with her 2-year-old. Puzzles, PlayLily toddled around. In the two years since giving birth to Lily, attitudes and assumptions directed toward Micale have changed. Lily’s grandma brags about her to her friends, and Micale and Lily play in the CFA whenever they can, students cooing whenever Lily asks for her mom. But it wasn’t always like that. “The man, he can walk down the street and no one can know he had sex,” Micale said. “People would say to me, ‘You’re such a smart girl. How could you let this happen?’ Well, I’m still a smart girl! It’s almost like I had to prove myself for two years, and I don’t think women should have to do that.” Proving herself, in Micale’s eyes, is part of an ongoing misunderstanding of what it means to have a child. But, more than that, it’s a piece of a larger puzzle that has perplexed the United States since early February, when President Obama announced new aspects to his proposed healthcare reform.
On the national level As part of his proposed healthcare reform, President Obama issued a mandate that all women have free access to preventative services, which he said included contraceptive care. He gave faith-based healthcare institutions one year to decide where they stood. On Feb. 10, President Obama presented what he called a “compromise” for the mandate. In this compromise, he said that all women would have access to free contraceptive care, but that faith-based institutions or charities could defer payment responsibilities over to insurance companies. The faith-based institutions would still offer contraceptive care and services, as previously mandated. “This is an issue where people of good will on both sides of the debate have been sorting through some very complicated said in his Feb. 10 press release. However, the solution did not work as well as President Obama hoped. In a Feb. 10 press release, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement: “Today’s proposal continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governance of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions. We will therefore continue—with no less vigor, no less sense of urgency—our efforts to correct this problem through the other two branches of government.” It is this sense of urgency that has been rocking the political world since Obama’s aforementioned healthcare mandate. Though interacting with a debate stemming from the 1971 Roe v. Wade ruling, it seems the argument is far from being resolved.
On the community level “I don’t know why we don’t think that it’s a basic healthcare
Making history. President Barack Obama, along with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, announces the changes to his contraceptives policy during a Feb. 10 speech at the White House. service for females,” Decorah Family Planning Health Program Director Lori Egan said. “It is. We teach gun safety in [some] schools. Does that mean that every student is going to go out and shoot a gun? It doesn’t. It’s a matter of having those conversations as a family, on an individual level.” Through her work with Family Planning, Egan and her staff work to encourage such conversations. According to Egan, the center gets anywhere from 3,200-3,300 visits yearly. “We’re not talking about what’s going on behind the bedroom doors, we’re talking about how to stay healthy and the things you need to be aware of, whether it’s preventing pregnancy, STDs, or HIV infection,” Egan said.
At Luther However, having such conversations is not always as straightforward as Egan may hope. At Luther, Director of Student Health Services JoEllen Anderson works to talk to students about these very topics. “Students are a little reluctant to talk about their body functions, their ‘normal’ [body functions] and to touch their body,” Anderson said. “You really have to be comfortable with your own body before you invite someone else to your own body.” Through Health Services, students can receive consultations on various contraceptive methods, and even pick up condoms in the lobby, should they choose. For Anderson, it doesn’t matter if the mandate goes through as long as students know their bodies.
“I’d like to see people get as passionate about education toward their own bodies and how to take care of their body and their reproductive health and ‘normals’ as opposed to waiting until it really gets into the nitty-gritty of termination and abortion,” Anderson said. It is in this spirit of availability, education and public reactions that Peter Graffy (‘12) conducts his senior project. In his project, Graffy runs trials where groups or individuals hand out condoms outside of bars to gauge public reactions. Though his project focuses on how people act when being viewed, his research has raised issues of responsibility for him. “Sexual intercourse is an entirely mutual act,” Graffy said. “It’s not one person or another person, it’s two people coming together. So, why do we perceive that one person should have the responsibility of being safe or another person should be in charge?” Graffy believes that women should have access to contraceptive care. “All it takes is a condom, and if you make it accessible to people, then they should be able to take control of [their sexual health],” Graffy said. And yet, it may not be as easy as Graffy believes. Micale, through her time as a mother, does not have a comfortable relationship with contraceptives and is not sure if they should “Contraceptives, even though they may prevent you from becoming pregnant, don’t prevent everything,” she said. “You can’t just have non-committal sex. Human beings, we just don’t work like that.” For Micale, being a mother is the ultimate commitment. “I have always felt like, if you’re going to have sex, you should be prepared to be a parent,” she said as Lily prepared for her afternoon nap. The day has been a long one for Lily, who has explored as many toys and games as there are available in the living room. “I think it’s interesting when people talk about contraceptives as being protection,” Calli said as Lily asked her to help put together a puzzle. “I understand when it comes to a disease, but when it comes to being pregnant, is it really something we need to be protected from, or is it something that needs to be more accepted?” For Micale, deciding to raise Lily was never truly a choice. The moment she found out she was having a baby, she didn’t think anyone else could do a better job as a mother. Her decision is one she hopes will continue to become more accepted with time.
prepares her for her ‘beddy,’ the solution to contraceptives and sexual health remains unclear. Circumstances depending on individual situations, religious beliefs and www.lifemedicalassistance.blogspot.com contraceptive availability continue to heat debates every Little pill, big debate. Approximately 28% of day. U.S. women who use contraception claim that the Pill is their preferred method. too will the answer to contraceptive care in the United States. (Statistics from 2006-08, courtesy of guttmacher.org)
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
Features
March 1, 2012
5
Embracing the Blue Zone lifestyle Megan Creasey
“Power 9” behaviors
Staff Writer
In an effort to create a healthier and happier community, Decorah and Luther are digging into the Blue Zones Project, a part of Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative, which aims to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. As of 2010, Iowa ranked at #14, according to Forbes.com. To incorporate the project, Decorah created a “Power Nine” committee, which generates ideas and plans on how to adopt the aspects of a Blue Zone community. But what is a Blue Zone? “Blue Zones are places around the world where people live longer, happier, healthier lives,” College Archivist and Power Nine committee member Rachel Vagts said. Author and researcher Dan Buettner found Blue Zones all over the world, including Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan and Loma Linda, Calif. “People in these areas have life expectancies in the 90s, yet they aren’t withering in nursing homes,” Wellness Director and Power Nine committee member Greg Lonning said. “Obviously they were doing something to live longer, but not only that, they were thriving at that age.” The purpose of the Blue Zone study and project is to determine what commonalities the Blue Zones share that allow the community members to lead such long, happy lives, and then try to replicate it elsewhere. “This year Governor Branstad decided he would like to make Iowa the healthiest state in the United States,” Vagts said. “One of the ways to do that was to create Blue Zone demonstration sites.” Decorah was one of many Iowa communities
Getactivecr.com shares the actions that Blue Zone community members take to stay healthy
Megan Creasey/Chips
Staying happy and healthy. Beth Martens (‘14) and Tori LaCroix (‘14) enjoy each other’s company and drink fresh fruit smoothies at Java John’s.
that expressed interest in becoming a Blue Zone community, but it was not among the ten selected. “People running the program hadn’t considered all the small towns that wanted to be involved,” Vagts said. “They wanted to impact the most people, so they chose ten big cities.” Although Decorah was not chosen, it is still working toward becoming a Blue Zone community. A second selection of towns will happen in March. Lonning believes the college’s participation in the project is crucial. “The college has got to be a part of this. In order to create a true Blue Zone, we will want the students to adopt these lifestyle changes as well,” Lonning said. While living in a Blue Zone deals with health, Vagts explained that there are many other aspects involved. “It’s this really holistic look at lifestyle,” Vagts said. “It asks, ‘Do you have healthy relationships,’ ‘do you engage in a spiritual life?’ – things like that, along with physical health and good lifestyle choices,” Vagts said. People wanting to get involved can pledge to adopt changes at bluezonesproject.com. The changes are small, natural ones that hopefully become part of daily life. “What is interesting in the Blue Zones is that the people weren’t running marathons, but they built activity into their day and their diet was www.getactivecr.com very natural. That’s what we have to start to
do, is to try to infuse these changes slowly and have them be a natural part of our lifestyle so it’s sustainable,” Lonning said. Lonning believes that Luther and the Decorah community have embraced many of these changes already. One of the nine “lessons,” or the “Power Nine,” as Buettner calls them, is moving naturally; in other words, drive less, walk more. “Students are good models of that. They don’t bat an eye at walking downtown,” Lonning said. Luther has already made physical changes to the campus to allow for more natural movement, such as removing a road that used to run through the center of campus and creating a bike share program. Eating local produce was also a commonality among Blue Zones. “We’re already promoting more locally grown food and providing more vegetable dishes in the caf,” Lonning said. If Decorah had been selected as a Blue Zone, a group would have come through and changed the landscape of the community to make the changes easier to implement, such as requiring restaurants to serve more local food and changing parking policies. “We’re hoping we’re part of that next selection, but we’ve also decided that we don’t need to be told by any statewide organization to actually be a Blue Zone,” Vagts said.
Move Naturally – We can get more physical activity naturally if we live in walkable communities, de-convenience our homes and grow gardens. Know Your Purpose – People who know why they wake up in the morning live up to seven years longer than those who don’t. Downshift – To reverse inflammation related to every major age-related disease, find time each day to meditate, nap, or pray. 80% Rule – It takes your stomach 20 minutes to tell your brain it is full, causing most people to accidentally overeat. So stop when you are 80% full. Plant Slant – Eat mostly a plantbased diet heavy on beans, nuts and green plants. Eat meat in small portions. Wine at 5 – If you have a healthy relationship with alcohol, one to two glasses of wine daily will add years to your life, especially when consumed during a plant-based meal. Family First – Living in a thriving family is worth a half dozen extra years of life expectancy. Invest time in your kids, nurture a monogamous relationship and keep your aging parents nearby. Belong – Recommit, reconnect or explore a new faith-based community. No matter which faith, studies found that people who show up to their faith community four times a month live an extra four to 14 years. Right Tribe – Your friends have a long-term impact on your well-being. Expanding your social circle to include healthy-minded, supportive people might be the most powerful thing you can do to add years to your life.
‘Decorah Reads!’ encourages readers of all ages Lisa Diviney
Staff Writer
The “Decorah Reads!” program is returning for the month of March, uniting community members and students through literature. A collaboration between Kris Lynch’s seventh grade reading class and the Decorah Public Library, the program matches adult volunteers with several seventh grade students. While the program is traditionally run by Marilyn Rue and Heidi Swets of the Decorah Public Library, Mark Whelan, also of the Decorah Public Library, is getting involved for “Although I’m fairly new to the program, it’s just been good fun all around,” Whelan said. The program begins with each seventh grade student writing a brief journal to be placed within the cover. The adult volunteers are then able to choose from among these books, basing their decision either on the book itself
or on the student’s journal inside. Volunteers make a committment to meet with students three times throughout the month to discuss their books and to share the reading journals that they have been keeping. The Decorah Public Library website claims that the program gives the students the opportunity to “receive encouragement from their adult partner” and helps volunteers “revisit childhood favorites” and “nourish their partners’ enjoyment of reading.”
For more information on upcoming sessions or to sign up as a volunteer for the month of March, call the Decorah Public Library at 563-382-3717.
meeting takes place at the Decorah Middle School. “At the very last meeting, the students get to keep their cookies,” Whelan said. The March session of Decorah Reads! is one of four sessions that happen throughout the year. Decorah Reads! during the month of March is still seeking one more volunteer to partner with a student. “The program is really open to anyone who wants to commit the time to it,” Whelan said.
www.decorah.lib.ia.us
Book buddies. A seventh grader discusses her chosen book with a “Decorah Reads!” volunteer.
LUTHER COLL
Arts & Enter
6
Luther’s got talent Charlie Parrish
response to a lot of the acts,” BSU
Staff Writer Secretary Nicole Woodson (‘12) said.
The crowd was electric at the Black Student Union talent show Saturday Feb. 25. It looked like an episode of “America’s Got Talent,” with music, dance, even some juggling and a crowd that was laughing, yelling and on their feet. “I loved the crowd’s
“The crowd was really great. They kept the excitement up and the acts really felt it.” Cecil Jones (‘14) and Curtis Burchfield (‘14) emceed the show and made transitions between acts run smoothly with their charismatic banter, danceoffs and singing. Jones also performed his own act of singing and dancing. “The show really worked out,” Woodson said. “The transitions worked really well and we are fortunate to have two sophomores who can emcee, so we can use them in the future.” Connor Jones (‘15), winner of the Brandt Open Mic Bar, got a standing ovation for his juggling. He showed his prowess by juggling
rings, bowling pins and five balls at a time. “The juggler was great,” Saheka Smith (‘13), president of BSU and Zeta Tau Psi, a service fraternity that volunteered to help with the show, said. “During his audition, I was sitting there like, ‘People aren’t gonna believe this.’ He put on a great show.” Each year the proceeds from Charlie Parrish/Chips the BSU talent show go toward a Still my guitar gently weeps. Jason cause. This year, it went toward the Lentz (‘13) jamming out on his guitar.
Charlie Parrish/Chips
J’ai Ho! Student led dance group Ethnic Beats jive to Bollywood music. scholarship fund in memory of Sylvia Gift Nabukeera (‘13). Drummer Adam Lapp (‘13) performed with his band consisting of Jason Lentz (‘13) on guitar and vocals, and Chelsea Hall (‘14), on vibraphone. “I thoroughly enjoyed each act,” Lapp said. “I liked how this talent show had a wide variety of acts, not just people dancing, or bands playing. The juggler this year was real crazy. It was cool that a lot of support was given for each act. It definitely gets me excited hearing the crowd yell. I was also happy to see a lot of people in the audience supporting Sylvia.” The talent show ended with a performance from the hip-hop dance
group, Eklipse, which got the crowd on their feet once more. “The performance was a lot of fun with lots of energy that I assume the audience enjoyed because of the standing ovation,” Nate Sikora (‘12) of Eklipse said. “Since I am a senior and it was my last BSU Talent Show, it was a good way to go out.” The talent show had something for everyone. From acts dancing to LMFAO, to singing Adele, to juggling, the crowd was sufficiently impressed. “The show went very well,” Smith said. “We had a great turn out and the crowd was excellent. The acts performed their hearts out and everyone had a lot of fun.”
Movies You Missed: Margin Call
Ethan Groothuis
Every so often, a movie is released that tries to push the boundries of a social issue currently plaguing the world. When it comes to the recent banking crisis, J.C. Candor tried to capture the frustration and chaos in the 2011 film “Margin Call.” The film stars a host of top actors, including Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto (“Heroes,” “Star Trek”), Stanley Tucci and Jeremy Irons (“The Mission,” “The Lion King”). Not only do they appear together, but they really work as a cohesive ensemble. When one character’s arc is done, another actor jumps in to take the strain of the dramatic tension. “Margin Call” starts with major layoffs in an unnamed Wall Street firm, in which Stanley Tucci is let go, despite being one of the senior members. When Quinto’s character tries to look over his final project late at night, he discovers that the company is set to lose more money than they have in assets. This sets off meetings up the chain of command in a panic that we now
know to the be the start of the 2007 financial crisis. The movie’s strongest point is the writing, for which J.C. Chandor was recently nominated for an Academy Award. Chandor really gives us a view
into the pains and hopes of all the characters, without treading into showy or obvious territory. Despite being about the overall banking crisis, this is truly a piece of human drama. “Margin Call” excels in trying to grasp what the nation is feeling currently, due to the actions of a few corporate heads. Even people who work for the company show the same sort of fears, like employment and care for their families, like their victims are soon to feel. One thing that I truly admire is that the company is never given a name, so the blame is not put on just one banking institution. It also does not put the blame solely on all people who work in stock/bank related industries, which could have been an easy cop out. This film is especially great for those people who are socially conscious and up to date on political news, although it is by no means a requirement to enjoy it. It is the Before the Door Productions strongest financial social justice piece since the 1987 Academy cheat.” - John Tuld (Jeremy Irons) Award winning “Wall Street.”
LEGE CHIPS
rtainment
March 1, 2012
7
Students play the game of love
Just bro-ing out.
Let’s play a love game. Chris Paulson (‘13) and
Margaret Yapp
“It’s reminiscent of ‘70s and ‘80s dating games,”
Staff Writer DePagter said, who decided along with Ellingson to bring
back The Dating Game for a second year after last year’s success. Valentine’s Day does not always live up to the “We had 400 to 500 students in attendance last year. It expectations of love declarations, romantic dinners and was so fast, easy and fun that we thought ‘why not do it lots of chocolate. SAC Special Events Co-chairs Sam again?’” DePagter (‘13) and Maria The event was hosted by Ellingson (‘14) have set out Luther improv troop Top to give all the disappointed Banana, who performed skits romantics a second chance between rounds. for love this February. “Top Banana makes the The Dating Game was held whole event even better,” Friday Feb. 24 in Marty’s DePagter said. for a full and giggly room. The group certainly had One bachelorette and two a calming presence on the bachelors took turns asking who seemed to be their three date contenders -Sam Weinberg (‘15) participants, nervous about their prospects personal and silly questions, eventually narrowing down “I don’t have high the pool to one winner. expectations, but I’m keeping an open mind,” bachelorette Making things even more exciting, each pair won gift
“I feel like this is an opportunity to put my heart
lucky lady who can tame the beast inside.”
you anywhere.” The two bachelors, Zac Pearson (‘14) and Sam Weinberg (‘15), had opposing views on the possibilities of the evening. When asked whether or not they were expecting true love, Pearson denied it. “No,” Pearson said bluntly. Weinberg, however, was more optimisitc. “I feel like this is an opportunity to put my heart out there inside,” Weinberg said. The questions they asked were very different as well. Pearson tried to shock his three contestants into showing their true colors while eating a sandwich, and Weinberg seemed to sincerely want to get to know his contestants. He asked deep questions about their favorite movies, where on earth Olson is and what cell organelle they would be. Whatever their approach, the two bachelors and one
T-Bocks and a new friend to third-wheel their date with a peanut butter burger.
International string sensation set to dazzle Bailey Mulholland
Such is the mentality of Brentano as they
Volunteer Writer merge the partial pieces with work by a is an intriguing one,” Associate Professor
of a genius – a sculpture, a novel, a theory, or a musical composition. Although some could consider it a shame the piece was never completed, others are inspired by the potential it represents, like the members of the Brentano String Quartet, for example. This award-winning, internationallyrecognized string ensemble will be performing their project “Fragments,” a collection of hybrid works by great composers both old and new, on March 3 as part of the Center Stage Series. Members Mark Steinberg, Serena Canin, Nina Lee and Misha Amory have attempted to peer into the minds of greats like Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Schoenberg and decipher the creative intentions embedded in compositions left incomplete. “When thinking about this project, I often think of the idea of going into a sculptor’s studio…and [seeing] sculptures that are just started,” violinist Mark Steinberg explained. “How wonderful it would be for another sculptor to come into the room and to see those and to start to wonder where that person was going with that sculpture.”
myriad of present day talents, taking creative license to develop innovative fusions of past and present styles. “The project they are bringing to Luther, that of having contemporary composers
of Music Eric Kutz said. “I would liken it to have been.’” Kutz actually studied with Brentano cellist Nina Lee, under Joel Krosnick at the Juilliard
School in New York during the 1990s. He is requiring his string students to attend the event, but believes that anyone who can should take advantage of the opportunity to hear the group. According to Kutz, “the Brentano Quartet is one of the premier string quartets in the country and [Center Stage Series] is lucky to have them on it.” The Brentano String Quartet boasts an impressive resume, having performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and the Sydney Opera House, as well as at music festivals in Edinburg, Aspen and at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara.
were honored in the U.K. with the Royal Philharmonic Award for Most Outstanding Debut. They have collaborated with and been commissioned by numerous renowned
Art Critical
No strings attached. A psychedelic performance by the Brentano String Quartet.
String Quartet at Princeton University where they perform at least once a semester and work with students in classes, lessons and workshops. The Brentano String Quartet will perform March 3 at 7:30 in the CFL.
8
Opinion
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 or 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 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.
Editorial: Michael Crowe (‘13)
Compromise vs. Self-Censorship
Three times in the past month I’ve been sitting in class when the discussion turns to the sensibility of our carefully cultivated mannerisms: the “Midwest-nice.” You know what I mean: doors held open for strangers, smiles exchanged in passing and most importantly, a great deal of self-censorship exercised in discussions. In my experience, nowhere is this more prevalent than Luther. Overall, I like to think of Luther as pretty pleasant collection of people, with a few exceptions (this guy, for example). Our perpetual niceties are fantastic – to a point. The line in my mind falls at self-censorship. Often times you can tell in a class discussion that multiple people disagree with what in the silence following. I’m guilty of this too. But we should speak up more often. Some would say this self-censorship – this intentional silence for the sake of everyone’s feelings – is admirable, especially in light of the
current political gridlock we’ve seen in recent years. Clinging mindlessly to one’s opinions is rarely conducive to getting anything done, as is glaringly evident by the lack of, well ... anything that gets done in our political system. I used to hear these attacks on our regional pleasantries and feel put-off. Iowa, born and raised. Can’t help it. After all, didn’t Mom teach us that if you don’t have anything nice to say, not to say anything at all? That might not be entirely true anymore, if it ever was. It’s important to note, there’s a distinct difference between being willing to compromise and just not standing behind your thoughts. We can tiptoe around other people’s opinions in search of the mythical perfect compromise, but unless we actually plant our feet, come out and say what we think, we’re just going to walk away feeling like we didn’t actually accomplish anything, because chances are, we didn’t. I read a “Calvin and Hobbes” cartoon a few
Associated Collegiate Press National Online Pacemaker Award 2011 lutherchips.com
speaking sagely from the frame, “A good compromise leaves everyone unhappy.” This doesn’t have to be the case. Let’s just air our grievances and get over it. President Obama seems to be just as fed up with beating around the bush as I am, saying in his speech at the United Auto Workers we should keep cutting taxes for those at the very top, for people like me – even though we don’t need it, just so they can keep paying lower tax rates than their secretaries. Well, let me tell it – they’re wrong.” It’s not often you hear Obama say something that bluntly, but maybe we should all take a page from his book. Let’s just all get mad already, and then get over it. Enough of this perpetual whisper-war. We can, should and must compromise, but let’s at least make our actual opinions heard along the way.
Bittersweet Senority by Danielle Koch (‘12)
Last Thursday, I had coffee with a close friend who I haven’t spoken sector. Most of these positions called for multiple years of experience. There were few entry level jobs to be found. And none that interested her. Together, we considered her options. She could sell out. Selling out here is not the same as “becoming
that adulthood means a separation from one’s house, decorated with dinosaurs or teddy bears or Spice Girls posters. Childhood homes can no longer be our permanent homes. Adulthood carries the burden of sustaining one’s own life, severed from our parents’ good will and open checkbooks. How do we become grownups if we are made to choose between our own values and survival? Should my friend take on the full weight of
Selling out is denying one’s core values in order to work for a company Out there, the bottom line is the only line between what’s acceptable
become short-changed for higher numbers in your bank account. Contact Chips My friend writhed when she considered advertising. Phone: 563.387.1044 “I can’t convince people to buy X,” she said. Whatever X is, be it toothpaste or Juicy Couture. Fax: 563.387.2072 It dawned on us. The solution: unpaid internships. Working for nothing E-mail: chipsedt@luther.edu allows newbie employees to gather experience before making a living. Advertising: chipsads@luther.edu But how does one make ends meet with a job that doesn’t pay website: http://lutherchips.com anything? “I’ve never had to worry about having money to eat,” my friend said, Spring 2012 Staff embarrassed because having enough food to eat growing up made her Editor-in-Chief................Melissa Erickson ‘pampered.’ Our parents usually take care of food expenses and assist Managing Editor.............................Michael Crowe their children with what they can. Soon she and I will have to do that all on our own. We have to deal News Editors........................Ingrid Baudler with what we never had to consider before: the basic tenants of survival. Ashley Matthys Entering the workforce also means that we will confront the assumption Features Editor......................Jessy Machon
A&E Editor.......................Ethan Groothuis Sports Editor......................Gunnar Halseth Staff Writers........................Brandon Boles Jayne Cole Megan Creasey Lisa Diviney John Freude Josh Hoffmann Sarah King Hannah Lund Lauren Maze Brita Moore Charlie Parrish Margaret Yapp Head Copy Editor...................Benj Cramer Copy Editors......................Martha Crippen Kirsten Hash Ad Representative.................Charlie Bruer Ad Accountant......................Jack McLeod Photography Coordinator.....Walker Nyenhuis Web Manager..........................Chelsea Hall Design Technician...................Noah Lange Illustrator..........................Michael Johnson Advisor.....................................David Faldet
March 1, 2012
herself and eat. If she takes an unpaid internship, she must also tap into a real source of income. Retail, waiting tables, bartending and Subway are some options. I see her punch her time card in and out during weekends and evenings, gritting her teeth for months, years. It will be hard, painful. But I imagine my friend as a real adult. What does it mean to be a real adult? It’s not making money for the sake of money. It’s not raising a family. It’s not getting married. It’s not renting a fabulous apartment in the city. The mark of adulthood is remaining true to your values with the mindset that there must be money for life to continue. Adulthood sets a higher standard for the self. And now I, my friend, and all of us will have to do the same.
Beyond the Looking Glass by Hannah Lund (‘12)
There’s a gigantic void in the middle of the world. It neither grows nor shrinks, but neither
I’ve tried everything: more writing projects, obsessions over British actors, hours at coffee shops strung out on caffeine, manic pleas to the darkness that it won’t close-in because I have too much to do. Still, the void waits. What more can I do? Time marches on. One minute, I’m thinking about what kind of soup to try and make, the next, lamenting the empty container in the sink. I’m in Main doodling during class, then in my bed, rubbing my eyes to prepare for a test that I just swear was weeks away. It’s like someone has taken my timeline and crumpled it up like an accordion. I’m racing along the ridges, wondering where all the inbetween times have gone. All the while, there are the burning questions the void that I know is there all this while: Who am I, really? Where am I going? How do I know? I never have an answer. I hate not having an answer. It’s the problem of the void: the realization that the future is as dark as the dot of a question
mark, and there’s nothing we can do about it. People ask me all the time what I’m going to do after I graduate. Sure, there are tons of theoretical things I’d like to do, but when it comes down to it, I’m just treading water to make waves. I say something that has all the I want to do is run screaming from the room and dive into the path of forgotten yesterdays. I don’t want to face the void. I don’t want to dip into the murky waters, not knowing if my toes will scrape the sand. Most the darkness when I’ve grown accustomed to the light. It’s like when there was a recent snowstorm in Decorah over January. I remember leaving my house with a sense of purpose, as though I was going. Then, without warning, I ended up The snow glittered in the moonlight and was so unbroken, I could still see the layers of snowsheets from where the wind had sliced through it earlier. I was alone in a world of new things. In a moment, all of the brash jokes I wanted to laugh about disappeared, until it was just
me and the untouched silence. I looked into the stars, but I didn’t have one of those allencompassing moments of cosmic unity. I was too cold for that. Instead, I was wrapped in stillness, pure stillness. The world was new, taking its breath before whispering possibilities in the air. Of course, I ruined it when I went home and made a pan of brownies, but still the “lack of” in That’s when it hit me: we will never avoid the void, because we are living it every day. Every day that we step out of bed, not sure what we will do during the day, every evening when we close our eyes, not sure what our dreams will tell us on our waking eyelids. Every time that we make a plan and watch it crumble before our of tomorrow with a new idea, a new way to say “hello” to the lurching emptiness of the “what if?” What if we hung up all of our fears, took a blind leap into the darkness, and realized that the “I don’t know” isn’t as lonesome as it sounds? Would it be beautiful? Would it be terrible? with new legs?
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
Opinion
March 1, 2012
9
Le moine et le voyou by Charlie Parrish (‘13)
Editor’s note: The title for this column comes from the nickname for French composer Francis Poulenc. Translated idiomatically, the phrase means “Half Monk, Half Delinquent.” “It is in the desert of loneliness and emptiness that the fear of death
cafeteria at school. It was not until I grew to understand the value of
are seen to be illusory. When this is faced, then anguish is not necessarily overcome, but it can be accepted and understood. Thus, in the heart of anguish are found the gifts of peace and understanding: not simply in personal illumination and liberation, but by commitment and empathy, for the contemplative must assume the universal anguish and the inescapable condition of mortal man. The solitary, far from enclosing himself in himself, becomes every man. He dwells in the solitude, the poverty, the indigence of every man.” -Thomas Merton This week I want to talk about Lent, about asceticism, about giving things up. In the churches I grew up going to, Lent was not observed in any formal way. I thought of it
the value in Lent. Lent, as widely practiced today, is one of the clearest examples of
sandwiches more than usual in the
Missing the point. Lent is about more than lo
Fridays and advertisements from McDonald’s about their Filet-OFish, we don’t really know the point of it or the value of it. If we do not
.
Editorial: Kirsten Hash (‘13)
Can Dorian meal scheduling be improved?
The Dorians are coming! The Dorians are coming! Four times a year, campus suddenly seems overly crowded with people wearing letter jackets. The Dorian Band, Keyboard, Orchestra and Vocal Festivals bring in high school students to make music with other students, get some pointers from faculty and see what music at Luther is all about. This is a great program that high school directors bring students to year after year. Many current Luther students first heard about Luther through Dorian, or their experiences convinced them Luther was the place to be. Most Luther students, however, cringe at the mention of Dorians. While most of the complaints are about things that cannot be changed, a few can be legitimately addressed. I understand Dorian is Luther’s number one recruiting event and I hope the program continues to flourish, but
there are a few ways to make one aspect of the Dorian invasion less of a hassle for the students who actually go here—do something about the crowded caf. One crowd-alleviating action would be to have the Dorians eat in shifts. If this is impractical, then Dorians should pay for their meals when they first arrive on campus and get the little cards prospective students use, instead of holding up the line to pay with cash. Another significant action would be to publicize Dorian mealtimes. This will allow Luther students to plan accordingly and not end up in a huge line 20 minutes before class. This will also help the poor caf workers who cannot keep up with the demand for grilled cheese. One last, possibly unrealistic, option would be for Dorians to all eat in Peace Dining Room. Any of these options would make the festivals easier for Luther students, faculty/ staff and the Dorians themselves.
image from public display has a troubling history — not only in the broader social context, but
At Luther College we seek to build community around values of trust, welcome and mutual respect. When acts of vandalism intentionally or carelessly cast the shadow of racism, a community response is necessary. The College Ministries bulletin board in the Union was vandalized in a way that raises concerns beyond the damage to property and disrespect for community. Over J-term break, a picture of Professor Emeritus Lawrence Williams was cut out from a large poster announcing this year’s Gospel Sunday, where Dr. Williams was the preacher. The poster was reprinted and posted anew. Dr. Williams’ picture was cut out a second time the weekend of Feb. 18-19. The removal of an individual’s
that depicted the likeness of an individual of African descent was met with a community outcry in 2000. Last year, the removal of an image of President Barack Obama along with other black historical residence hall also raised concern. Given our society’s history of exclusion and marginalization of of vandalism represents an act of symbolic violence and cannot be treated as merely a prank. Because of the history of racial incidents on college campuses across the U.S., and because of Luther’s history of defacing posters, the cutting of Dr. Williams’ image is hurtful and mean-spirited regardless of the perpetrator’s intent. College Ministries and the Diversity Center strongly condemn these actions and call on the community to act together to seek ways to
address not only this particular action, but unhealthy divisions in our community that can fester when we ignore hurtful actions and bear grievances in silence, making forgiveness impossible. Let’s be clear: whoever took a razor blade or scissors to the poster that advertised Gospel Sunday behaved irresponsibly. The person or persons responsible should admit wrongdoing and apologize to the community. If they lack the courage, those who may have witnessed their actions should come forward to report what happened. You may the Luther College Conduct and or contacting College Ministries, the Diversity Center, or Campus Security. Stop by or write a short note and leave it after hours. Our intent is to share an apology with the community without sharing any information about who was involved.
College Ministries Luther Diversity Center
then there is no value to it. This lackadaisical acknowledgment of the forty days preceding Easter shows an example of what Soren Kierkegaard calls the “misfortune of Christendom.” “All became as simple as thrusting a foot into the stocking. And quite naturally, because in that way Christianity became Paganism,” Kierkegaard says, “…all pith and vigor was distilled out of Christianity; the tension of the paradox was relaxed, one became a Christian without even noticing it, and without in the least noticing the possibility of offense.” If the individual does not make the choice to accept the paradox, the offense of faith in Christ, then it is not faith at all. It becomes more about eating Filet-O-Fishes, instead of our usual Big Mac, at McDonald’s than believing the unknowable that God in perfect freedom, chose to reveal God’s-self to us as a man, who
performed miracles and befriended prostitutes and tax collectors, was Faith in Christ requires more mindfulness about who Christ actually was, and less about turning traditions into meaningless obligations. loneliness and emptiness,” where the season of Lent should be faced. Lent is a confrontation with sin, anguish and death. Jesus fasted and prayed in the desert for forty days and forty nights. During this time, the devil tempted him with power, security and wealth. Lent is a time of entering the things that we hold close, we are confronted with ourselves and the sin and anguish that comes with ourselves, but “in the heart of anguish are found the gifts of peace and understanding: not simply in personal illumination and liberation, but by commitment and empathy.”
Contraception act explained by Chelsea Weiss (‘13)
Care Act. While debate is healthy for any discussion, the political rhetoric and mud-slinging tends to muddle the actual facts being debated. To set the record What the ACA will do:
including complete coverage of contraceptives, mammograms and prenatal care with no co-pays or deductibles the same coverage pre-existing medical conditions (such as breast cancer)
contraceptive coverage
assist in adjustment to the new policy
versus not covering contraceptive costs (National Business Group on Health estimate) What the ACA will not do:
his belief in strict limitations of federal funding for abortions. No federal tax dollars are used for elective abortions.
Par for the Norse
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
News
10
March 1, 2012
Starbucks’ ethical standards called into question Starbucks continued from page 1
Starbucks representative Kathy Bell stated that Starbucks meets requirements for ethically traded coffee under its Shared Planet program. The company’s approach is grounded in Coffee and Farmer Equity (CAFÉ) practices, which are a “comprehensive set of social, economic, environmental and quality guidelines,” according to the company’s website. “We are now the largest Coffees in the world,” Bell said. “That said, it still is only 8% of our total purchases. We follow the CAFÉ practices and use our term Shared Planet to convey the message to consumers that most of our coffees,
Bell noted that an important factor that Starbucks considers when purchasing coffee is bean quality. represents only about 5% of global coffee production and does not have any coffee quality Bell said. Campus Pastor David Vasquez found one example posed by the representative to be particularly problematic. In an effort to express the company’s commitment to creating a relationship with coffee-growing communities without imposing on that community’s culture, Bell stated that allowing children to assist on coffee farms was a cultural norm that Starbucks was not trying to change. V a s q u e z , who grew up in Vasquez Guatemala, felt that this equated to child labor, a practice he argued is not a cultural norm. “Children working in coffee
“Children working in Guatemala than cultural -David
third party.” Sodexo Marketing Director Alli Brenny outlined the concern over the different labels placed on coffee on campus. “We have one coffee in Marty’s the others are purchased under Starbucks’ ethical purchasing standards,” Brenny said. “Attendees were concerned with the difference between Fair Trade‘ethically sourcing’ coffee beans.”
necessity and are forced to do so by poverty, rather than cultural preference,” Vasquez said. Bell stated that this was not her intention when making the claim. “My association was to liken a coffee-growing family to an Iowa farm family; children are often there beside their parents helping Bell said. “I certainly regret that the assumption was concluded
A message for consumers. differently.” Another issue addressed at the meeting was the inability to compost Starbucks cups. Bell stated that a new type of compostable cup will be available shortly, but Holthaus didn’t feel that the new cups were a solution. “To compost [the new cups], it will require a commercial-grade composter,” Holthaus said. “I told her that Luther – along with most communities across the US – will not be able to recycle or compost them, and there was no further discussion.” Vasquez felt that the meetings the concerns he has about Starbucks coffee. “Unfortunately, those of us
present at the conversation didn’t feel as if the deeper questions about the commitments of the company to ensuring certain labor practices [were answered],” Vasquez said. “I didn’t feel we could move into a more complex, more nuanced conversation about what it means for [Starbucks] to claim that 100% of their product is ethically produced.” Yates was glad to have the opportunity to discuss her concerns, but feels that members of Dining Services may want to rethink using Starbucks as Luther’s coffee supplier. “The Norse Culinary Team is really open to what the Luther community wants and that is why they brought this representative
to campus,” Yates said. “Coffee production is a complex industry with quite the carbon footprint and it does seem that Starbucks will continue to improve [their practices], however if Luther is able to purchase a locally roasted Fair Trade coffee, I think we would win in improving the taste and sustainability of our coffee.” Brenny stated that at this time Dining Services has no intention of changing coffee suppliers for the 2012-2013 school year, but General Manager of Dining Services Wayne Tudor plans to follow up with Starbucks about company’s standards.
ethical
purchasing
Grant will fund biodiesel production, education Sustainability grant continued from page 1
than just one or two.” The grant was awarded to Luther because of the college’s commitment to sustainability and environmental studies. “Unlike most grants where you apply for a specific project, in this case the foundation researched schools they found to be doing good stuff and awarded grants to support that work without insisting on a detailed proposal beforehand,” Jenson said. Founded in 2006, The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation is a one of the top
25 largest philanthropic foundations in the U.S. Among the many causes the foundation supports, it also focuses its giving around environmental, disaster relief, elder care and minority concerns. “Luther is especially excited to receive grant support from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation because it is a new grant maker,” Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and Campaign
Co-Director Jeanie Lovel said. “While we don’t know exactly how the foundation learned about L u t h e r ’ s environmental studies and sustainability efforts, we are honored to be among the -Jeanie Lovel first round of grant recipients selected by the foundation.” Luther was among numerous colleges
BREAKFAST ALL DAY!
and organizations to receive grant support from this foundation. “Given the large size of this private foundation, there is also huge potential for future grant opportunities,” Lovel said. In addition to this most recent grant, Luther also received a five-year $50,000 grant from the foundation in 2009. “The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation is also an impressive example of women’s philanthropy,” Lovel said. “The foundation is supporting projects and programs which reflect issues that were most important to Margaret during her lifetime.”
d the r of o
W
M t W th F s Su
“Nothing fancy, just good food” 817 Mechanic St. Decorah 52101
Week evanesce
\ev-uh-nes\ verb 1.to disappear gradually; vanish; fade away. Each day Chuck’s alarm beeped at 5 a.m., Edgar felt his fondness for his roommate begin to evanesce.
LUTHER COLLEGE CHIPS
Sports
March 1, 2012
11
Men’s tennis off to strong start Brandon Boles
Staff Writer
Despite falling 3-6 to DePauw University and 2-7 to Carnegie Mellon on Feb. 25, the Norse men’s tennis team is off to a solid 6-3 start. “This past weekend was a great challenge for us,” Head Coach Adam Strand (‘04) said. “Getting a chance to face top 20 competition is always great. This was our toughest weekend of the season. ”The program has entered a new era as Strand, replaces former coach Brian Huinker, who resigned for personal reasons. Despite a new coach, the team has seen continued success. “It has been an adjustment for everyone, but I think Adam has transitioned well into our program,” Sundstrom said. “He has added some new insights and I think he will continue the strong tennis tradition we have here.” The success from Huinker’s tenure has carried over to Strand’s first season taking over the tennis programs. Strand will look to continue Luther’s recent success of five straight conference championships. “I think our success has been our dedication day in and day out to improve,” Scott Sundstrom (‘12) said. “Working hard each week in practice and putting time in the gym has led to good results.”
Sundstrom and Ramesh Karki (‘14) have provided a solid one-two punch for the singles rotation for the Norse, a key to the early success the program has had this year. “We have a great group of guys in the team and I think that it is early into the season and they are pumped and excited to play and win matches,” Karki said. “We have been conditioning hard, working on our fitness a lot this year.” One thing the program has been working on is finding a rotation for doubles play in matches. Coach Strand has used multiple pairings and is continuing to play with the doubles pairs. “It’s a work in progress, but we’ve been improving on it,” Strand said. Sundstrom agreed that doubles play has been a part of the game the team is looking to improve during the season. “We have been struggling a little bit in that arena, but everyone is getting used to playing with a different partner,” Sundstrom said. “Over time, I think we will get better.” So far, the team has continued to hit its stride, as it looks for yet another conference championship and a potential national ranking. “We have a great group of guys who are very dedicated to the team, and who all work extremely hard,” Karki said.
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced the Wrestling All-Time Team that will be recognized in conjunction with the
sports.luther.edu
Honored. The WIAC named O’Gara to the All-Time Team for their centennial.
Football player protests for cause Gunnar halseth
sports editor
Politicians, athletes, and fans have long understood the relationship between politics and sport. Examples abound from throughout history, with the most notable being the seemingly inevitable instances of protest, tragedy, and triumph, which characterize nearly every Olympic games. What sometimes seems rare, however, are instances in which athletes take it upon themselves to make a stand for a political cause. This is exactly what University of Virginia football player Joseph Williams has done. In response to unfair wages paid to many of the University of Virginia’s employees, Williams and many other students have recently engaged in a hungerstrike lasting over a week for some student-protestors. For Williams, the cause is personal. As one of four children who was raised by a single mother, Williams moved over thirty times in his childhood and saw the effects of unfair wages on the lives of underpaid
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Serve’s up. Scott Sundstrom (‘12) practices his service game.
O’Gara named to WIAC All-Time Team Sports Information
Opinion:
conference’s upcoming Centennial Celebration. All-Time Teams are being selected in those men’s and women’s sports that have been classified as “championship” sports at some point during the conference’s 100-year history. Luther College assistant coach Jeff O’Gara was one of 26 wrestlers named to this distinguished team. O’Gara, who wrestled for UW-La Crosse from 1992-96, is tied for 10th in career wins for the Eagles with a record of 111-14. He earned three career NCAA Division III All-American honors at 118 pounds, including winning the national championship in 1996. O’Gara was third in 1993 and second in 1994. He won conference titles in 1994 and 1996. O’Gara has been lead assistant to Luther head coach Dave Mitchell since 1996. During this time span, the Norse have posted top-10 finishes at the NCAA III National Championship nine times, had 45 All-Americans, eight national champions, four national runner-ups, 33 Scholar AllAmericans, two NCAA Postgraduate Scholars and four CoSIDA Scholar AllAmericans. WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner remarked that this has been an extremely difficult process given the 100 year span and success the conference has experienced in most of its sports. Karner noted that in some sports, even achieving
All-American status didn’t necessarily guarantee an athlete a spot on the team. All-Time Team members will receive certificates from the conference and it is hoped that most, if not all, of the recipients will be in attendance or represented at the WIAC Centennial Banquet to be held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison on August 4, 2012. More information on the activities and events associated with the WIAC Centennial can be accessed via the WIAC website at www.wiacsports.com.
In a time and place where athletes are mostly known for drug-abuse scandals, reality-television marriages, and lifestyles of wealth and excess, it is both refreshing and encouraging to see a promising young athlete impress both on
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Williams during the Living Wage protest.
Sports
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Norse swimming and diving sweeps LAC
March 1, 2012 Weekly Standings Men’s Basketball Coe Buena Vista Dubuque Central Luther Simpson Wartburg Loras Cornell
IIAC 12-4 11-5 11-5 10-6 10-6 8-8 5-11 4-12 1-15
Overall 19-8 17-10 17-9 18-8 17-9 12-14 11-14 7-18 3-22
Recent scores: -Feb. 21 vs. Central W 63-60 -Feb. 23 @ Coe L 57-67
Men’s Tennis Coe Luther Dubuque Cornell Buena Vista Central Simpson Loras Wartburg
Lauren Maze
Staff Writer
Despite the tough competition at the Liberal Arts Championships, both the women’s and men’s swim
respectively. The women won their sixth straight LAC title with a total of 802 points, well ahead of second place Lindenwood’s 682 points. “We prepared for this meet all season, starting with captain’s practices in October,” Amelia Ladd (‘13) said. “We had high expectations for ourselves going into the meet and I think we The 200 and 400 medley relay teams, consisting of Erin Mykleby (‘12), Stephanie Drewes (‘12), Ladd and Erin Connolly (‘14) set school, meet and pool records with 1:48.23 and 3:58.0, respectively. “I don’t think we were surprised that we broke the meet records because the records were held by our relay teams from the past,” Ladd said. “It was implied that if we dropped time we were going to break the records. It was just an added
for the women included the 200 freestyle relay, Elizabeth Reed (‘15) in the 500 freestyle, Drewes in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and Mykleby in the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke, where she set school and Liberal Arts records.
IIAC 3-0 2-0 1-0 1-1 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-2 0-3
Overall 8-2 6-3 6-1 4-4 3-4 4-3 2-6 0-6 3-4
Recent scores: -Feb. 25 vs. DePauw L 3-6 -Feb. 25 vs. Carnegie Mellon L 2-7 Upcoming schedule: -Mar. 3 vs. Simpson -Mar. 3 vs. Central
Men’s Swimming Dive in Although the women had a number of top performances, their championship victory came down to their depth. “This year, our depth is what won the meet,” Head Coach Lance Huber said. “It was really the girls that got third, fourth, place that won it for us.” Drewes is the only Norse who will compete at the national championships on Mar. 21-24 in for nationals back in December in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, but will also swim the 200 IM. “I’m nervous for Nationals, but I am really excited as well,” Drewes said. “I have worked hard and I know all of that will pay off there. I have to trust myself.” In addition to the women’s above their predicted place and worked their way up from a fourth place standing on day
one to a second place tie with Illinois Tech with 521 points. The champion, Lindenwood points. “We weren’t picked even to get fourth this year,” Huber said. “It was expected that Lindenwood would walk away with the title because they’re a big scholarship school and most of their guys become Olympians, but to see the way our guys stepped up next to them was phenomenal.” The men had a number of stand-out performances, especially by Nathan Maloney (‘14). Maloney placed third and set school records in the 200 IM and 400 IM and was a member of the second place 400 medley relay team with Tim Cutler (‘13), Eric Hild (‘13) and Zach Kuntz (‘14) which just missed the nationals cut. “The 400 medley relay was the event most of us were
looking forward too,” Kuntz said. “We all swam great times and getting second was really just a bonus.” Other top performances for the men included third place relay, 800 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay and Kuntz’s freestyle. “We swam better than we thought we would,” Tanner O’Brien (‘13) said. “We were think everyone came back with personal bests.” Although the season is just wrapping up, the Norse are already thinking ahead to next year. “They’ve already got that season,” Huber said. “If you can leave a season and have them ambitious for the next season, that shows a good quality of a team.”
Luther Loras Simpson Coe
IIAC 3-0 2-1 1-2 0-3
Overall 6-2 6-2 1-4 0-7
Recent scores: -Feb. 16-18 Liberal Arts Championships T2 of 10 Upcoming schedule: -Mar. 21 NCAA III National Championships
Women’s Swimming Luther Coe Loras Simpson
IIAC 3-0 2-1 1-2 0-3
Overall 7-1 4-3 6-3 2-4
Recent scores: -Feb. 16-18 Liberal Arts Championships 1 of 12 Upcoming schedule: -Mar. 21 NCAA III National Championships
Wrestling Wartburg Coe Cornell Luther Dubuque Central Loras Simpson Buena Vista
IIAC 8-0 6-1 6-2 5-3 4-4 3-5 2-5 1-7 0-8
Overall 19-1 11-3 11-4 13-5 5-6 13-11 5-18 6-14 4-11
Recent scores: -Feb. 24 IIAC Championships 3 of 9 Upcoming schedule: -Mar. 9 NCAA III National Championships
#One team.