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Vol. 134, No. 19
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Doing good in another neighborhood Features 4
CHIPS LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
April 5, 2012
Since 1884
Search begins for new president Brita Moore
Staff Writer would be looking for in a president,” Smith will do interviews in Minneapolis next January
said. “I’m the young person on the committee, Luther has begun searching for College and I think they see the value in the students’ President Richard Torgerson’s successor by perspectives on the decision. I feel like I can forming a search committee and gathering give some valuable feedback.” input from the college community. The search will take close to a year to complete, with the Board of Regents candidates. Several weeks before that meeting, anticipating Feb. 22-23, 2013 as a possible a senior consultant with the Association of date for on-campus Governing Boards(AGB), interviews. It will Bruce Alton, will require the voices “We want as many come to campus and of students, faculty, people as possible gather feedback from staff and community concerned parties. He members to develop to weigh in because will speak at a town-hall meeting April 17, the best searches are style president. another opportunity for “We want as many where the process is contributions from the people as possible transparent.” community. to weigh in because “Out of these -Karen Martin-Schramm conversations will come a the best searches are where the process is transparent,” Assistant to the President and “In effect a ‘group voice’ of what Luther seeks search committee member Karen Martin- in [its] next president.” Schramm said. “Everyone knows what’s going on, and everyone feels free to contribute, approved by the Board of Regents, Alton because a lot of people care deeply about this will assist the committee during the summer institution.” to solicit applications. It will be posted on the One way in which students can voice website and will be available for the entire concerns is through the student representative Luther community. on the search committee, Austen Smith (‘13). “We’ll probably get around 60 applications,” “[My role] is to give a student’s perspective Martin-Schramm said. “And of those 60, the on some of the issues that we as a student body
Hague discusses future of reading Sarah King
of six to eight people and invite two to four to campus.” Some feel Luther’s campus climate will draw quality applicants. “Luther is in such a strong place right now,” Martin-Schramm said. “I’m really pleased that we’re looking for a new president from a position of strength and not looking for someone to help us out of trouble.” Smith articulated some potential qualities students are looking for. “A couple people have said that they appreciate how President Torgerson comes down to eat lunch in Oneota,” Smith said.“And you can say ‘hi’ to him as you’re there. He’s a busy guy but he’s willing to talk to you if you want to.” Alton has worked in two other presidential searches with Luther, helping bring President Jeffrey Baker – and later Torgerson – to campus. “Of all those searches [I have done],” Alton said. “There have been only two institutions who I believe truly make good on their promise of providing a comprehensive education for their students. One of those two is Luther.” The outlook for Luther College’s next presidential search looks promising. Students, faculty, staff and community members are strongly encouraged to attend the town hall meeting held April 17 at 4 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall.
Karlan presents Phi Beta Kappa lecture on adapting Constitution
Staff Writer
Luther alumnus Jon-David Hague (‘91) recently visited campus, presenting his lectures “A Publishing Future: How Will We Read and Learn?” and “The Changing Force of Psychology: An Integrated, Hub Science.” Hague is currently a publisher at California based Cengage Learning-Wadsworth, one of the largest publishers in the world. He recently published a new psychology textbook by John Cacioppo from the University of Chicago. Throughout each of his lectures, Hague used learning and psychology to explain how people can better their lives by incorporating aspects of each into everyday life. The lectures, held on March 28 and 29, were sponsored by the Psychology Department. He also offered possible answers to the question of how technology will affect people’s reading and learning in the future. “When you think about the choices here, I don’t think it’s a strict choice between the book and the technology,” Hague said. “We’ve been making books for hundreds of years. We’re really good at this. We’re not so good at [electronic books] yet. These [electronic readers] are going to get better.” What is most important, according to Hague, is not where you read the material, but what you do with it. Hague continued on page 10
John Freude/Chips
“Being faithful to the document.” Pamela S. Karlan speaks on the Constitution’s ability to change and our interpretation of it.
John Freude
Staff Writer
Pamela S. Karlan, professor of public interest law and co-director
of the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at Stanford Law School, presented Luther’s 2012 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Lecture. Karlan’s lecture, “Keeping Faith
with the Constitution,” addressed the enduring nature of the U.S. Constitution while attributing that nature to the ever-changing principles Americans have come to adopt over the years. Karlan’s lecture took a political role where she outlined a new way of interpreting the Constitution that is different from originalism yet still uses the text of the original document. “To be faithful is to interpret the Constitution’s words and meaning while being faithful to the document itself,” Karlan said. Instead of trying to determine the meaning the founders intended the text to have, also referred to argues that the Constitution is a living document that changes as our values and practices change over time. Karlan continued on page 10