April 16th Issue

Author Patrick Hicks presents novel on campus A&E 5

Freya competes at sectionals

SPORTS 12

LUTHER COLLEGE

“Let the chips fall where they may.”

CHIPS

APRIL 17, 2014

Serving the Luther College community since 1884.

VOLUME 136, NO. 21

Dancing for the kids SOLI DM GLORIA. Luther students raised money and danced for the Children’s Miracle Network on April 12.

Executive board members deemed the event successful.

Aaron Zauner / Photo Bureau

Luther’s first Dance Marathon raised $38,612.01.

SAM MOLZAHN STAFF WRITER After two years of planning, Luther College held its first ever Dance Marathon event on April 12 from noon until midnight. Over $38,000 was raised to aid patients and families treated at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital through the Children’s Miracle Network. The

University of Iowa started Dance Marathon in 1994 and now Luther has its own.

With an executive board and over 25 morale captains, the student organization worked to recruit dancers, gather pledges and help children and families in need of medical care and support.

“Since we’re in our first year it’s kind of hard to get the message across without anyone actually attending an event,” Family Relations Co-Chair Jordan Jensen (‘14) said. “Here we try to make it clear that we’re dancing for the kids with all the FTK chants and all the family stories that are being

shared it’s kind of the perfect way to get it across.”

Jensen helped contact families to get them involved, working through the Winneshiek Medical Center and sending out notes to the community.

Running for 12 hours, the event had a schedule to keep participants awake and moving the entire time.

“During that time we heard from families and they shared their stories for us, different groups from around campus performed and morale captains did a dance at the top of every hour,” Morale Captain Tyler DANCE MARATHON, PAGE 4

Lightning hits Brandt Hall BRITA MOORE NEWS EDITOR

When Brandt Hall RA John Doorenbos (‘16) stepped out of his building April 12 for a walk, he was in for a shock. Lightning struck the hall around 11 p.m. that night, knocking several shingles off the roof on the west side of the hall.

“There was this huge, earth-shattering clap of thunder, the loudest I’ve ever heard,” Doorenbos said. “I saw sparks coming off the building, and I could smell the smoke, too.”

One of the shingles was driven three inches into the ground by the force of the strike. So far, no internal damage has been discovered in the building. Security was called to the scene.

“We determined there were no injuries or fire and contacted Facilities Services,” Director of Campus Safety and Security Bob Harri said.

Doorenbos checked around several spots outside and inside the building. The building is currently being repaired.

“I went up to fourth floor to check in with the folks that lived there, but they weren’t home,” Doorenbos said. “There were no signs of leakages or anything like that.”

THUNDERSTRUCK. Lightning hit this part of the roof on the west side of Brandt Hall.

Brita Moore / Chips

Congressman Braley visits Luther along campaign trail

FROM CAPITOL HILL. Congressman Bruce Braley talked with students such as Paul Esker (‘14) on April 14.

Casey DeLima / Chips MAGGIE STEINBERG A&E EDITOR On Monday, April 14, Congressman Bruce Braley held an open forum for students in the Mott Room of the Union. Braley currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives but is campaigning for a seat in the U.S. Senate in the upcoming elections. There were around 30 students in attendance. The meet and greet was sponsored by Luther College Democrats.

Braley was born in Grinnell, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University. He has served as a representative of Iowa’s 1st District, which includes Decorah, in the House of Representatives since 2007.

“We were very proud to host Congressman Braley,” LC Democrats Co-President Charlie Weathers (‘15) said. “He was adamant about student-focused issues like raising minimum wage and making college affordable.”

Braley opened the session by encouraging college students to vote in the upcoming midterm elections.

“Your futures are what are at stake in the next election,” Braley said. “Student turnout in non-presidential elections goes down drastically.”

Braley then opened up the floor for questions. Marlon Henriquez (‘15) asked about immigration reform, on the progress of certain legislation that would help children of undocumented immigrants get access to higher education, military experience and a quicker route to citizenship. Braley supports the legislation and signed on as a co-sponsor to the DREAM Act. James Cochrane (‘14) asked Braley about job opportunities for recent graduates.

“It’s easier to find your dream job when you have a job,” Braley said. “[Getting graduates to work] helps expand our economy. I want you all to enjoy gainful employment.”

BRALEY, PAGE 4

NEWS

PAGE 2 APRIL 17, 2014

NEWS EDITORS: WALKER NYENHUIS & BRITA MOORE

Speech and Debate team attends national tournament MEREDITH BRUSTER STAFF WRITER Luther’s Speech and Debate team placed fourth in the Novice Nationals tournament hosted by the National Forensics Association (NFA) in Dekalb, Ill. over March 14-16.

Members of the team that competed nationally included Jordy Barry (‘15), Jake Putnam (‘15), Jason Leuthold (‘16), Sarah Sturm (‘17), Zach Schroeder (‘17), Mike Peterson (‘14), Ruonan Zheng (‘15), Shelly Yao (‘15) and Lyndsey Wycoff (‘17).

Barry took first place in the “Extemporaneous Speaking” and “Impromptu Speaking” categories, making her the first Luther student to place in a speaking category. Barry also received second place prizes in “Parliamentary Debate” both individually and as performed with Sturm.

Leuthold and Putnam earned third and fourth place in “Program Oral Interpretation,” respectively.

On Thursday, April 17, Barry will compete in the “Extemporaneous Speaking” category at the NFA National Championship in Ypsilanti, Mich.

While in Michigan, Barry plans to watch other teams to learn more about coaching techniques and continue networking with debate coaches.

In 2012, Barry revitalized the Speech and Debate program, which had been inactive for many years.

“I joined so many organizations freshman year trying to fill that void, but nothing quite matched

what I was looking for,” Barry said. “So then [the Speech and Debate team] was founded and now we have a competitive team at Luther.”

During the fall of 2012, Barry began recruiting students. Now, three semesters later, the team has competed in many competitions throughout the Midwest.

Speech and Debate offers people an opportunity to be a part of a team while still pursuing personal goals, according to Sturm.

“It’s great, because you all compete individually, but you all support each other,” Sturm said.

The Speech and Debate team practices weekly for around an hour in addition to independent practice time.

“It’s not a huge time commitment, but you definitely have to put time in,” Leuthold said.

Barry, the president of the team, coaches and manages administrative duties such as booking tournaments.

Putnam assists with coaching and additional management responsibilities as Vice President.

According to Barry, Luther’s Speech and Debate team is “the only college debate program in the entire country that is student-run.”

Having completed team competitions for the year, the team is planning for the future.

“We’re just kind of starting out,” Leuthold said. “If you are interested in public speaking or performance or debating, then you should definitely look into us for next year.”

“It’s great, because you all compete individually, but you all support each other.”

- Sarah Sturm (‘17)

Senate

HANNAH BUTLER STAFF WRITER

TEAM SPEAK. Jordy Barry (‘15) and Sarah Sturm (‘17) competed together in the “Parliamentary Debate” category.

Photo courtesy of Jordy Barry

clarifies proposal process

Conversations revolving around topics like co-ed housing in Baker Village have drawn recent attention to Student Senate, but details of how the Senate handles proposals may be little-known or misunderstood by the student body.

Student Senate Vice President Luke Hanson (‘14) describes the Baker Village co-ed housing proposal’s current path, noting that the route it has taken is the most common for Senate proposals.

“Right now the Student Life Committee is working on revisions to the policy to make Baker Village optional co-ed, and once we finish that policy we’ll take it to one of those faculty-staff committees, and then to the vice presidents of the college,” Hanson said. “The hope is that in the near future, groups of males and females alike will be able to live in Baker together, and the purpose of course is to provide better comfort for LGBT students.”

The proposal was rejected last year, and it remains unclear where in the process it was stopped. Student Senate President Paul Esker (‘14) explains how a policy might not make it all the way through the process.

“It takes a lot of student support and work on the part of student senators to properly research an issue and bring it

FRONT AND SENATOR. Student Senate meets every Thursday in Loyalty Hall to discuss issues on campus and review committee reports.

Hannah Butler / Chips before the Senate, so it is rare that a matter comes to the Senate fully vetted and is then stopped,” Esker said. “More often, if an issue is ‘stopped’ by the Senate, this happens while the matter is being discussed and researched within a committee. Issues stop if there is not broad student support, or if they are found to be unfeasible or contrary to the mission of the college.”

Sophomore Representative and Communication Chair in the Senate Ashley Kappers (‘16) explains that these committees vary for different proposals.

“There are a couple of different doors that proposals need to go through in different committees,” Kappers said.

One of these “doors” often leads to the Board of Regents. Hanson explains that the Board of Regents largely influences the final decision for proposals that would generate significant change, unlike other policies that do not require the board’s approval.

“The Board of Regents ultimately signs off on

a lot of our policies,” Hanson said.

Creating new policies as well as changing existing codes requires many steps within the Senate and corresponding committees, according to representatives. Kappers believes this process can get frustrating but ultimately works well.

“As with anything, there’s going to be progress and is going to take time,” Kappers said. “It is sometimes kind of frustrating, but, in the end, results are good and the time was well spent.”

In the past year, Student Senate achieved more funding for student organizations and created a leadership committee, resulting in “Happiness Week.”

Alongside the gender-neutral Baker Village proposal, the Senate is currently addressing the medical amnesty policy and the room draw process.

To gather further understanding of Student Senate’s work or suggest proposal ideas, representatives encourage students to attend Senate meetings, which are open to the public and held every Thursday from 9:45 - 10:30 a.m. in Loyalty Hall.

NEWS

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NEWS EDITORS: WALKER NYENHUIS & BRITA MOORE THURSDAY

Seven-Day Forecast

APRIL 17, 2014 FRIDAY

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Students prepare for Earth Day activism

SPRING CLEANING. To celebrate Earth Day, Annie Zylstra (‘15) (above) is organizing trash pick-up teams around Decorah. Zylstra’s experience in a zero-waste eco-village helped inspire the event.

Photo courtesy of Annie Zylstra BAILEY MULHOLLAND STAFF WRITER Luther College’s commitment to sustainability will receive a boost this Earth Day through a number of educational and activism opportunities both on and off campus.

On Monday, April 22 students can travel with Environmental Concerns Organization (ECO) to the University of WisconsinMadison for the eighth annual Nelson Earth Day Conference, this year themed “Ecology, Economy and Justice in a Rapidly Changing World.”

“People often only have one idea of how to be sustainable,” ECO coleader Emily Dufford (‘16) said. “The hope is that students [who attend the conference] will learn something and get new perspectives about Earth Day and sustainability.”

For Dufford, new perspectives are refreshing and can “build your energy” to achieve more.

Speakers at the event include a diverse mix of celebrities, authors, activists, scientists and professors. Registration for the event is $15, and those interested should contact Dufford.

In Decorah, Annie Zylstra (‘15) is spearheading an Earth Day initiative with multiple campus and community groups.

“It’s basically an effort to launch a clean-up project,” Zylstra said. “A day of heightened consciousness about the trash we experience on a daily basis.”

She emphasized that everyone is encouraged to participate by picking up trash they see throughout the day, recycling and repurposing when possible.

Around 16 organizations have committed to the “daylong, community-wide celebration,” four of which are Luther student groups. ECO is among the four and plans to continue the project after Earth Day. The Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center has been prepping the community beforehand. On Thursday, April 10 and Tuesday, April 15 they organized public showings of the documentary “Trashed” in the hopes of inspiring action.

In an event hosted by the center on Monday, April 22 at 7 p.m., Zylstra will share her experiences working in a zero-waste eco-village in India earlier this year.

Zylstra believes everyone should take responsibility for their own part. Although the long-term goal is a cleaner and more sustainable world, she hopes a good start can be “a litter-free Decorah for Easter.”

“People often only have one idea of how to be sustainable.

The hope is that students will learn something, and get new perspectives about Earth Day and sustainability.”

- Emily Dufford (‘16)

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Life Outside Luther Ukraine struggles as east slips out of its control Over the past 10 days, more than a dozen government offices in eastern Ukraine have been taken over by pro-Russian forces, with most of the seizures following the same pattern. Aggressive gangs, sometimes carrying firearms and wearing military fatigues, storm the buildings. The Ukrainian flag is replaced with a Russian one. Then local men move in to hold them. Those capturing the buildings insist they are carrying out the will of the people and have demanded a referendum on autonomy for the eastern Donetsk region.

Kansas shooting suspect had no record of violence Never one to keep his hatred to himself, Frazier Glenn Cross for decades sought out any soapbox to espouse his white-supremacist beliefs, twice running for federal office with campaigns steeped in antiSemitism. Yet there’s scant evidence the Army veteran and retired trucker with Ku Klux Klan links ever resorted to violence before Sunday, when authorities say he opened fire with a shotgun and pistol outside a Jewish community center and retirement complex near Kansas City.

Robotic submarine deployed in search for plane Search crews sent a robotic submarine deep into the Indian Ocean on Monday to begin scouring the seabed for the missing Malaysian airliner after failing for six days to detect any signal. Meanwhile, officials were investigating an oil slick about 5,500 meters (3.4 miles) from the area where the last underwater sounds were detected, Angus Houston, the head of a joint agency coordinating the search off Australia’s west coast, said. Crews have collected an oil sample and are sending it back to Australia for analysis, a process that will take several days. Houston said it does not appear to be from any of the ships in the area, but cautioned against jumping to conclusions about its source.

Olympic great Michael Phelps ending retirement Michael Phelps is coming out of retirement, lured back into the pool by the fun of it and the possibility of swimming at a fifth Olympics in Rio in 2016. The 22-time Olympic medalist will compete for the first time since the 2012 London Games at a meet in Mesa, Ariz., on April 24-26. spouse A quick candy bar may stave off more than hunger.

It could prevent major fights between husbands and wives, at least if a new study that used voodoo dolls is right. The researchers studied 107 married couples for three weeks. Each night, they measured their levels of the blood sugar glucose and asked each participant to stick pins in a voodoo doll representing his or her spouse. That indicated levels of aggressive feelings. People with the lowest scores pushed in twice as many pins as those with the highest blood sugar levels, the researchers said.

Compiled from: www.ap.org

NEWS

PAGE 4 APRIL 17, 2014

Braley talks about platform with students

NEWS EDITORS: WALKER NYENHUIS & BRITA MOORE

DM raises $38k

BRALEY, PAGE 1 Other questions included queries about the Affordable Care Act, infrastructure in Iowa and Braley’s recent controversial comment to a senator that he was “a farmer from Iowa who never went to law school.” Braley has since apologized and advised students to be conscious of their actions and own up to their mistakes.

“When you are constantly held up to a microscope, everything you say and do is scrutinized,” Braley said.

LC Democrats has two more events this semester, including a screening of the Sarah Palin biopic “Game Change” and a meet and greet with the Anesa Kajtazovic campaign.

FOR THE KIDS. Families supported by the program as well as Luther students attended Dance Marathon.

Aaron Zauner / Photo Bureau DANCE MARATHON, PAGE 1 Rinken (‘14) said. “Overall, the goal of the day was to create an atmosphere and environment that was very welcoming and very understanding of the fact of why we’re dancing and who we’re dancing for.”

Being in its first year, some participants didn’t know what was going to happen at Dance Marathon, but came out to support the cause.

“My friend told me it was ‘for the kids,’ and so I just came and signed up,” Blake Wragge (‘15) said. “I really didn’t know what to expect, to be

honest, but I showed up and it’s been so much fun. Everyone just having a great time and it’s all getting behind one cause, which is really nice to see.”

Late in the evening dancers were getting tired but continued to enjoy themselves and feed off the atmosphere.

“When you hear the stories and the speakers come, it’s really powerful and it keeps everyone motivated because everyone is dead tired now, but you keep dancing because you know it’s for a great cause,” Paul McKay (‘15) said. “Hands down, you have to do it, and that’s the great thing about it, because it’s the first year it’s been at Luther and now the reputation is just going to grow.”

The first Dance Marathon may be over, but participants are already looking ahead to future events.

“Just to see how far it’s come has been a simply amazing ride,” Rinken said. “It’s been a joyous day, it’s been a happy day and I’m looking forward to the future of Dance Marathon here at Luther College.”

K’uun awards scholarships MATT HELM STAFF WRITER

SPEAK UP. Congressman Bruce Braley, seated by LC Democrats Co-President Charlie Weathers (‘15), talked to students about how to make the best choices.

Casey DeLima / Chips

Upcoming Events Thursday, April 17 Student Senate Meeting 9:40 a.m., Loyalty 100 HHMI Education 9:40 a.m., Valders 206 Presentation Friday, April 18 - Easter Break Baseball vs. Simpson 1 p.m., baseball field College Saturday, April 19 - Easter Break Baseball vs. Simpson 1 p.m., baseball field College Sunday, April 20 - Easter Break Easter Sunday No campus events scheduled Monday, April 21 - Easter Break Baseball vs. St. Mary’s 1 p.m., baseball field University Tuesday, April 22 Documentary screening: 7:30 p.m., Olin 102 “After Tiller” Wednesday, April 23 Shakespeare’s 450th 4 p.m., Bentdahl Birthday Party Commons Brass Ensembles Concert 7 p.m., CFL Main Hall Thursday, April 24 Seder 5 p.m., Peace Dining Room Philharmonia Concert 7:30 p.m., CFL Main Hall Information from luther.edu/events

Bean Masters, the creators of the K’uun Coffee that is distributed on campus, has donated 5 percent of all coffee sales to Luther College to be used on scholarships for four Dining Services student workers.

“They will receive this scholarship because of their outstanding work and contribution to Luther College Dining Services,” Marketing Intern at Dining Services Natalie Sims (‘14) said. “Their supervisors nominated them because they possess a strong work ethic, prove to be reliable on the job and go above and beyond with each task. They are true examples of what all student workers should strive to be.”

April Taggs (‘16) from Sunnyside Café, Austen Perry (‘14) from Marty’s/Nordic Brew, Katie Berner (‘14) from Catering and Tony Dischinger (‘14) from the Cafeteria are the scholarship recipients. Each person will receive about $230.

“Honestly, I didn’t know I had been nominated until I got the email,” Taggs said. “It was kind of a surprise.”

Taggs works at Sunnyside Café in the Center for the Arts.

“I love working over at Sunnyside,” Taggs said. “It’s definitely more relaxed. It is student run so we like to have music playing. There’s always some accidental burning and dropping things, but we like to keep it fun and not as serious as some of the other places can be.”

If there’s one thing that keeps students coming back to Sunnyside, it’s the cinnamon rolls, according to Taggs.

“We are on the other side of the campus and recognize that it isn’t that convenient,” Taggs said.

“Sunnyside is different because people come to us and seek us out for our classic cinnamon rolls and our chai tea.”

Perry is a student manager at Nordic Brew, where she works the morning shift from 7 a.m.-9 a.m.

“I get to know the regular customers pretty well, I remember people’s orders,” Perry said. “I also supervise and train new staff members. Student managers attend meetings with Dining Services every month where we give feedback and express student worker concerns.”

Berner works as a student manager for catering. She supervises Peace Brunch every weekend along with various banquets and lunches throughout the year.

“I think that the core of catering is customer service,”

Berner said. “Every year we get about 20 or so firstyear students and I teach them the tricks of the trade and how to value the customer.”

This is Berner’s second year working as a student manager.

“Catering is the most rewarding thing I’ve done on campus during my four years at Luther,” Berner said.

“It’s taught me a lot about discipline.”

The students are thankful for the extra scholarship support.

“I’m very thankful, it’s nice to be appreciated,” Perry said. “And more scholarships for students is always a good thing.”

Dischinger could not be reached for comment.

MAKING COFFEE. Austen Perry (‘14) works at Nordic Brew. She earned a scholarship for her work.

Matt Helm / Chips

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 5

A&E EDITOR: MAGGIE STEINBERG

NAZI OCCUPATION.

APRIL 17, 2014

Photo courtesy of the College Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University

A reading to remember On April 10, Author Patrick Hicks read from his novel “The Commandant of Lubizec,” which chronicles the lives of people at a death camp in Nazi–occupied Poland.

ELIZABETH HURLEY STAFF WRITER The Center for Ethics and Public Life and the English department hosted Augustana College professor and author Patrick Hicks for a reading of his new historical fiction novel, “The Commandant of Lubizec,” Thursday, April 10.

“The Commandant of Lubizec” is a novel that tells the story of a fictional Nazi death camp in Poland.

Various viewpoints were portrayed from survivors, train drivers and the commandant.

The reading, which took place April 10 at 7 p.m. in Olin, consisted of readings from three different chapters, a question and answer discussion and a book signing.

The event was attended by students, faculty and community members.

The purpose of the event, according to Associate Professor of English Amy Weldon, was “to promote

continuing interest in writing and reading at Luther and to connect Luther’s writing students to a broader literary community.”

Marie Adam (‘16) said that one of the reasons she came to the reading was because she heard Hicks speak in her creative writing class.

“I was really intrigued by what a larger discussion would entail,” Adam said. “I also wanted to hear more excerpts from the book.”

Marley Crossland (‘15) also attended the event because of an interest in reading and writing.

“I like hearing the words come to life,” Crossland said. “It’s good to expose yourself to authors or books you might not know or normally pick up.”

Hicks’ visit helped to spark discussion about the Holocaust and the things that happened during World War II. One such program was Operation Reinhard, which was the German program to annihilate all the Jews in Occupied Poland.

“One of the reasons I wrote this book was with the hope of starting discussions about Operation Reinhard,” Hicks said.

Hicks’ novel also asks the reader to see beyond the numbers and statistics of the Holocaust.

“The narrator prods us to see the individuals,” Hicks said. “People died in these camps.”

With scenes portraying the contrast of everyday life against the horrors of the time, readers certainly can’t escape the fact that these fictional stories could have once belonged to a real person.

“I was really struck by the graphics of it,” Crossland said. “It’s a very difficult balance to strike and you have to really, really walk that thin line so that the reader isn’t repulsed by the work. His level of inclusion, while it was shocking, did walk that line successfully.”

Overall impressions of the event were positive.

“It’s obvious that he put a lot of thought into not only the work itself but the implications of it,” Crossland said. “The fact that he intentionally did this to start conversations has meaning beyond itself.”

Weldon enjoyed how Hicks interwove his research and writing process into the reading.

“I really appreciated the thoughtful questions and comments from students, faculty and community members that prompted a fruitful discussion with Patrick,” Weldon said. “All in all it was a great evening.”

“One of the reasons I wrote this book was with the hope of starting discussions about Operation Reinhard… people died in these camps.”

- Patrick Hicks

A NEW LOOK INTO THE PAST. Patrick Hicks signs books for those who attended his reading.

Elizabeth Hurley / Chips

WORDS BROUGHT TO LIFE. Patrick Hicks reads from his novel.

Elizabeth Hurley / Chips

FEATU

PAGE 6 APRIL 17, 2014

FEATURES EDITOR: CA

Hitting the trails Chips Staff Writer Spencer Hodge investigates the trails owned by Luther College.

SPENCER HODGE STAFF WRITER Many students and community members find spring in Decorah to be an excellent time to visit Luther College’s fivemile stretch of hiking trails beyond central campus.

After receiving a map from Assistant Professor of Biology and Luther College Natural Land Manager Molly McNicoll last Sunday, I was able to convince my four friends Dante De Grazia (‘17), Avery Mossman (‘17), Seamus St. Clair (‘17) and Prospective student Elly Williams to join me on a trip through the trails. Despite a consistent rainfall, we geared up with our water, snacks and makeshift rain gear, and left Brandt’s doors.

The group ultimately found the trip refreshing and informative.

“Long trips outside with your friends are great,” DeGrazia said. “Working toward a common goal like finishing a trail is a good way to bond. Plus it is nice to understand how much land Luther actually owns”.

Mossman also found that leaving campus was more fun with friends.

“Getting out on the trails really got people out of their comfort zones,” Mossman said.

“You really get to see your friends react to new things—like hours of pouring rain.”

Our first destination was Anderson Prairie and the adjacent Hickory Ridge Woods located near Baker Village. The prairie is one of the natural areas closest to central campus.

Mossman found the place simple, but aesthetically rewarding.

“I liked the vast expanse of varied prairie grass, the wide trails, the clearly marked intersections—it’s the cleanest of the trails for sure,” Mossman said. “And it is the

MAPPING THE JOURNEY. Chips Staff Writer Spencer Hodge used this map to navigate the Luther College trails.

Photo courtesy of Molly McNicoll most changing through the seasons. It can be lush, huge, green and full of flowers-and then sometimes it can be beautifully barren and dry.”

Among its wide, mowed trails, the prairie is a great place for a quick walk, a prolonged rest or, on a less rainy day, a good spot to catch some sun.

After spending our time wandering the prairie, we continued toward its back where the Hickory Ridge Woods begins.

The Hickory Ridge Woods is mixed of oak, hickory, hackberry and elm trees that

OUT ON THE TRAILS. Avery Mossman (‘17), Seamus St. Claire (‘17) and Dante DeGrazia (‘17) observe a stream in Flying Squirrel Forest.

Spencer Hodge / Chips

climb up a hill much more shaded than the prairie’s open fields. We crossed the wood’s bridge, and passed a few sitting benches before taking the trail’s wooded loop back across College Drive toward Lindeman Pond.

St. Clair found the change of scenery appealing.

“I think I prefer being inside the trees the most,” St. Clair said. “They create another world and keep you immersed inside of it.”

The hike through the loop lasted about 30 minutes so those without a whole lot of time would find this trail especially convenient for either a walk or a run.

Once we finished our walk and crossed College Drive, we were faced with one of the many alternative pathways on the trail system. At the left there is a pathway to Lindeman Pond and to the right there is a path that leads toward the northwest properties of Luther College—Hawk Hill, Flying Squirrel Forest, the Roslien Terraces and Spilde Woods. These choices offer a customizable experience on the trail fitting to any schedule.

Choosing to go right, we passed the athletic fields, a row of Japanese Oak trees and the Arugula yielding organic agriculture fields before entering the Hawk Hill woodlands.

Williams found this part of the woods the most challenging.

“The incline is the greatest near [Hawk Hill],” Williams said. “Trying to climb the muddy slope of the trail got tiring, but I got a second wind and the party had to keep going.”

Once we got through the inclined, wooded hill, the trees eventually created

an opening on the hill’s crest where we discovered a wooden shack and a few unique depressions in the soil that the rainwater ran towards.

Professor McNicoll explained these discoveries with a little history of the land’s use.

“Previously there was somebody that used to be a raptor specialist up there,” McNicoll said. “Hawks, eagles, owls—are all called raptors. And they actually used to work with them up there.”

The wooden structure we found was previously used for bird training.

“And the open area was originally a borrow pit where they took soils to use elsewhere,” McNicoll said. “[The holes] were mostly caused by the highway being built and stuff like that.”

We then walked down Hawk Hill and crossed Highway 52 into Flying Squirrel Forest.

“The name for Flying Squirrel is sort of a hope I guess,” McNicoll said. “At one point sometime back in the 70’s someone had said they’d seen a flying squirrel. That was a long time ago, but maybe if we restore the forest to what it was, maybe we’d see one.”

Though we didn’t find any flying squirrels, we did find a small creek carrying rainwater that led us to the Roslien Terraces, Spilde Woods and at last the Upper Iowa River where we met the end of our three hour long journey on a walk back to campus.

“I loved standing in the flowing waters that crossed our path,” St. Clair said.

“There is a point when you get so soaked that you don’t limit yourself from that [kind of] fun.”

URES

ASEY DELIMA

PAGE 7 APRIL 17, 2014

SASC to the rescue

STUDY BUDDIES. Halle Haedtke (‘17) (right) attends a tutoring session with her tutor, Lindsey Bohr (‘15).

Students continue to use the Student Academic Support Center as a resource.

ABBY CARPENTER STAFF WRITER The Student Academic Support Center (SASC), located on the first floor of the library, has been providing students with academic services since 1984.

“In the whole scheme of retention at Luther College, SASC is really important,” Director of SASC Gwen Van Gerpen (‘01) said. “More than anything I think it provides a sense of confidence in students.

They don’t have to be bad students, or

students who are struggling. Anybody can come here and get that sense of help and support.”

Last year, 814 students, equal to 32 percent of the student body benefited from SASC services.These services include individual and group tutoring, individualized study assessment and strategies, time management coaching and accommodations for students with disabilities.

SASC also manages the Academic Alert system, which allows faculty to report concerns about students in their classes.

The majority of students who take advantage of SASC attend tutoring sessions. Last year the tutoring program saw 512 participants, roughly 20 percent of the student body. The highest demand for tutoring is in 100-level courses, but participants range from first-year students to seniors.

“Our tutors do a fabulous job working with the individual needs and helping professors in a way too, so they don’t have the flood of students coming to office hours,” Van Gerpen said.

Megan Gelsinger (‘15) became a math tutor this year for SASC. She understands how working with a tutor can sometimes be more comfortable than asking a professor for help.

“While I have found professors on campus are welcome to aid students during office hours, I also understand there exists a certain intimidation factor when approaching the faculty for help for some people, and that is where SASC comes in,” Gelsinger said. “It allows qualified and enthusiastic students to help their peers in a friendly and supportive environment.”

The SASC tutors, like Gelsinger, truly enjoy helping students.

“By signing up for tutoring, students

Abby Carpenter / Chips

show how much they care about their grades, which makes me take my job very seriously,” Gelsinger said. “I love when what I teach them causes a breakthrough; the ‘aha moment.’ Both the student and I get so excited, and I feel like I have really made a difference in someone’s education.

It is an extremely rewarding job for me.”

SASC also provides help for students with disabilities and currently has 145 students receiving accommodations through Disability Services.

To get involved, students can visit the SASC office in the library to receive support from the services provided.

“I think that Luther students are very lucky to have the SASC program on campus,” Gelsinger said. “It provides students with the opportunity to improve their grades and understanding in almost any course in a very relaxed and safe environment.”

Student musicians hold recitals at Luther HANNAH GARRY STAFF WRITER & CASEY DELIMA FEATURES EDITOR Throughout the year, Luther students have the opportunity to attend the recitals of their friends and classmates. Students who are music majors are required to perform recitals, but many other student musicians also choose to hold recitals.

“Having a recital provides a great opportunity to showcase and share your own individual talent, potential and all the hard work and effort that you put into your program,” Grace Erie (‘14) said.

Erie performed her voice recital last Tuesday.

As a music major, Allison Vollinger (‘15) was required to perform a voice recital.

“It was definitely stressful,”

Vollinger said. “There was a lot of pressure that I put on myself in order to perform as best as I could. Getting out on stage and performing was definitely worth it, though.”

Willy Leafblad (‘14) has performed at two recitals during his years at Luther and commented that preparing for a recital is stressful and timeconsuming.

“Preparing for a recital is a lot of work,” Leafblad said. “If you’re a vocalist you’ll need to memorize the vast majority of your repertoire. Sometimes instrumentalists will memorize their pieces, but it’s more common with vocalists. If you’re giving an hour-long recital, all that memorization of words, entrances, rests, musicality and expression can really add up. You’ve also got to build your endurance. This is extremely similar in many

ways to running a marathon or preparing for some other type of athletic feat.”

Kelley Lokensgard (‘15) commented that despite the stress of preparing for her recital, performing helped affirm her decision to be a vocal performance major.

“There’s so much stress that goes into what we do as aspiring performers,” Lokensgard said.

“I think our recital clarifies for a lot of us that this is something that we love and want as a part of our life.”

For Lokensgard, recitals are an opportunity to not only perform but to support friends and classmates.

“I love going to everyone’s recitals because we only get to regularly hear the people sing that are in our seminars,” Lokensgard said. “It’s great to hear our friends and classmates’ progress. There’s

a lot of competition in the music programs, but it’s great to celebrate the work of others by supporting them at their recitals. Like the composer Bela Bartok said, ‘competition is for horses, not artists.’”

Leafblad encourages everyone

to attend recitals.

“If you know someone who is giving a recital, go and see them perform,” Leafblad said. “There’s nothing better than walking on stage for your recital and seeing a full house of friends, teachers and family.”

IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Eric Franks (‘15) and his accompinist Esme Wong (‘14) performed a recital on November 2, 2013.

Photo courtesy of Eric Franks

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 8 APRIL 17, 2014

A&E EDITOR: MAGGIE STEINBERG

Poetry slams into April

National Poetry Month will be celebrated by poets at Luther and in the community at the ArtHaus poetry slam April 25.

KATIE WOLTER STAFF WRITER

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Luther students will share their poetry with the community at the ArtHaus poetry slam on April 25.

ArtHaus hosts three poetry slams at the Elk’s Club in downtown Decorah over the course of the year.

Frequented by many Luther students, the ArtHaus poetry slams create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for community members to perform their poems.

The event is comprised of three parts: a featured artist, a competitive poetry slam in which poets compete against each other and an original voices portion in which anyone can share their written work.

“The slam is competitive, but everyone is super goodnatured and really supportive,” Marley Crossland (‘15) said.

Crossland has performed at the poetry slams three times before and has taken second place at one of the slams.

Three people are given the rating rackets and there is also an “applause o’meter” that gauges reactions from the audience.

“Random people are given these really old badminton rackets with rating cards on them and some of the ratings you can get are ‘smoking,’ ‘burning,’ ‘hmm,’ ‘interesting’ and the highest you can get is ‘uffdah,’” Crossland said.

Each performer gets four different scores that are added up and the performers compete for the highest score.

“You’re literally putting a piece of yourself out there in a way that I think is super unique,” Crossland said.

“Even if it’s not your story, those are your own words.

FEATURED ARTIST. Chelanga Langason (‘16) was a featured artist at the ArtHaus poetry slam last year.

Casey DeLima / Chips It’s a really vulnerable position to put yourself in, but everyone there is so open to that experience that you feel really welcomed and safe, even though you’re shaking.”

Another student poet, Chelanga Langason (‘16), has performed at four Poetry Slams and was one of ArtHaus’ featured artists last year.

“I used to try to make myself write every night– almost like a journal format–but a little more creatively,” Langason said. “What inspires me most is probably women and love, because I think what it all boils down to is that art is about love or hate or fear because those are such strong emotions. So when you get my work down to it, it’s about the cores: love, hate or fear.”

After winning two poetry slams, Langason was asked

to be a featured artist–an honor he gladly accepted.

As a featured artist, Langason got to share and perform fifteen minutes of his own original work.

“The hardest part is to figure out the rhythm that I want it read, the cadence, the contour … the shower actually is where I do a lot of reading to myself,” Langason said. “I just read it down until I find how best to express it.”

ArtHaus puts on three Poetry Slams a year, and the next one is on April 25. All are welcome to attend and encouraged to perform.

“Speaking in a room full of strangers is a really magnificent experience,” Langason said. “I’m probably more open with that room full of strangers than I am with some of my really good friends because it’s all coming from a really deep place.”

Silence

LAUGHTER ABOUNDS. Luther students frequently attend the ArtHaus poetry slams.

Photo courtesy of luther.edu

When I want to speak, I think thoughts larger than lips and tongue– like embers inside of me, hissing steam.

I am a kettle before it boils– silent and agreeable, but when I touch paper, it burns.

-Marley Crossland (‘15)

APPLAUSE O’METER. The contraption, worked by an audience member, is used to guage the reception of the poems by the audience.

Photo courtesy of luther.edu

Caf workers mistreated Letter to the Editor Dining Services here on campus is something that almost every student benefits from. They provide our food and dining experience, and Dining Services also provides jobs for hundreds of students each year.

However, the quality has diminished lately, mainly because of the lack of personnel needed to serve such a large group of people. Sodexo employees at Luther have worked tirelessly to provide a positive dining experience for Luther students and staff. However, the Sodexo Corporation has not been treating its employees with the fairness and respect they deserve.

Sodexo employees have had their hours dramatically cut, which means that almost all of them are now considered part-time employees in Sodexo’s eyes. This means that Sodexo no longer needs to offer benefits of any kind; no health insurance, no vacation time and no sick leave. For many of

these workers, this is how they make a living, and Sodexo has made it harder and harder to do so.

A full-time employee, according to Sodexo, is someone who works 1,520 hours in a year. This is made nearly impossible when considering that each employee takes anywhere from nine to 11 weeks off in a year for summer, fall and spring break, as well as holidays. When you add in the fact that most employees are now only working, on average, 32.5 hours a week, being a full-time employee for Sodexo is not possible.

These workers have given countless hours of their lives to a company that is showing less and less loyalty to their employees and expecting more and more in return.

On top of that, most of the Sodexo employees are afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation. In the past three weeks, four chefs have quit, and more are actively looking for work elsewhere. This causes a shortage of personnel to do the same amount of work required for the approximately 2,600 students on campus. Cutting hours, cutting benefits, losing workers and raising expectations does not make sense.

Sodexo has said that they are making cuts in hours because of a budget problem. However, considering that Sodexo makes billions of dollars in profits each year, I fail to see where the problem is.

Taking care of your employees should be a main concern of any company. I understand that a company needs to grow, and it needs to make profit to do so, but when money becomes more of a concern than taking care of the people working to earn that money for you, then that company needs to step back and seriously consider its moral obligations.

To show your support and say thanks for all the hard work the Sodexo Dining Services employees do here on campus, write an e-mail to Food Council, Student Senate or the vice presidents of the college.

Sodexo has mistreated their employees, and we need to let them know that we do not support their actions and will not tolerate them at our college.

college student who is sick of everyone complaining about every little thing that they do not like via the Internet.

The reason that I am writing this piece is because I recently found out that one of my friends was being cyberbullied on the Luther Confessions page. When I defended her for writing the opinion piece in Chips on the Luther College Confessions page, I was banned. I didn’t necessarily agree with what she wrote, but she had the right to be published in the opinion pages of Chips, just like I am doing now. It is such a coincidence, since the Luther Confession page is not only a confession page, but an opinion page as well that tells several students’ opinions. The definition of opinion according to the dictionary is that it is a personal view, attitude or appraisal. The opinion in Chips should have been

published, just as the confessions on the page should be posted.

However, the bullying has taken the page out of hand.You, students, need to realize that everything on the Luther College Confession page has turned into a bunch of stupid opinions and negative comments. Think before you start posting things on the wall of Luther College Confessions about anyone or anything. I am sure if you were to find one about yourself, you would be angry. As for my being blocked from the Luther College Confessions page, thank you. It is starting to get a little ridiculous and out of hand. People are misusing it, and the admin seems to be promoting cyber bullying.

“Sodexo has said that they are making cuts in hours because of a budget problem.

However, considering that Sodexo makes billions of dollars see where the problem is.”

- Shane Smith (‘15)

-Shane Smith (‘15)

Luther College Confessions and Chips

Letter to the Editor In the past weeks, some of the Luther College students have been using the Luther Confessions Facebook page as an outlet when they are going through rough times or talking about “what’s what.” This conversation included frustrating thoughts an the opinion piece published last week. I want to first remind all of you that this piece is in the opinion page of Chips. Opinion meaning: “I can say what I’m thinking and write down anything that I want.” I do not want to sound ignorant, but I am just one “normal”

with what she wrote, but she had the right to be published in the opinion pages of Chips, - Jessica Edgar (‘15)

- Jessica Edgar (‘15)

Student Senate calls students to vote A Sit-Down with Senate It has been an exciting few weeks for Student Senate.

Every year without fail, elections sneak up on us, and we are suddenly faced with a new set of campus leadership.

We could not be more excited to welcome seniors Libby Logsden (‘15) and Maggie Steinberg (‘15) to lead a new fearless batch of Luther’s finest- and we want you to join them in choosing next year’s Senate.

With the presidential election behind us, we are faced with the task of electing an entirely new body of senators. All of us on Senate want the best possible

senators next year. Throughout the year we’ve been working on incredibly varied policies, ranging from a medical amnesty program, to co-ed Baker housing, to giving student organizations the funds they need to make our campus flourish.

How can we make all of this happen? That’s where you come in. Applications were due on April 16, and we are excited to see the type of community that Senate will be next year! While the presidential election was significant, the community that will surround Libby and Maggie next year are truly what will make senate successful.

Campaigning starts today, so we encourage you to talk to your acquaintances, peers and friends who have chosen to run, and ask them why. Did they run because they want to diversify the face of senate? Do they feel passionately about the biodiesel production on campus?

Do they want more bike racks? Whatever their reason, I’m sure the answers will be varied and important when it comes time to vote on April 24.

If you feel as though Student Senate hasn’t done much around campus, it is your responsibility to the

Luther community to elect students who will make a difference.

Voting is the easiest and quickest way to change.

While one vote may seem insignificant, your vote matters. We had the biggest voter turnout yet for the presidential election this year, but the unfortunate fact remains: less than half of the student body voted in the presidential race. Luther College can do better than that, and we should all strive to beat that record. Our students care more. We are a community so uniquely passionate about our campus, and that makes Luther an incredible place.

This year’s Senate has been a phenomenal group of students to work with, and we want to keep our momentum going. The students who sit on s enate next fall are the students who will shape and serve the student body, and there is huge power in your ballot on April 24. Make sure to check your email.

Vote for change. Vote for community. Vote for Luther.

-Clara Lind (‘14)

OPINION

PAGE 10 APRIL 17, 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 Spring 2014 Staff Editor-in-Chief: Managing Editor: News Editors:

Ingrid Baudler Jayne Cole Walker Nyenhuis Brita Moore Features Editor: Casey DeLima A&E Editor: Maggie Steinberg Sports Editor: Julia Joseph Staff Writers: Meredith Bruster Hannah Butler Abby Carpenter Hannah Garry Matt Helm Spencer Hodge Elizabeth Hurley Zora Hurst Anna Jeide Nils Johnson Maddy Kofoed Luke Manderfeld Sam Molzahn Bailey Mulholland Jenna Nelson Katie Wolter Head Copy Editor: Cameron Meyferth Copy Editors: Emily Crowe Bethany Seavers Templeton Ad Representative: Lauren Meintsma Ad Accountant: Sam Matheson Photography Coordinator: Casey DeLima Photographers: Abby Carpenter Bjorn Myhre Design Technician: Bjorn Myhre Web Manager: Isaac Davis Social Media Director: Alex Catena Circulation Manager: Tess Wilson Adviser: David Faldet

MANAGING EDITOR: JAYNE COLE

Counseling confidentiality Letter to the Editor To the editor: The Counseling Service would like to make an important clarification to the article “Counseling Service gains popularity” by Hannah Butler in the April 10 edition of Chips. The article identifies and

quotes two students in regard to their experiences with the Counseling Service. We want to make absolutely clear that the Counseling Service did not provide the names of these students to Ms. Butler. In keeping with our confidentiality policy and with legal and ethical guidelines, without the written consent of the client, we do not release information to anyone outside our office about a client’s involvement in counseling or anything a client discloses to us. The only exceptions to this general rule concern such things as life threatening emergencies, reports of child or dependent adult abuse and court orders.

Pam Torresdal (‘74) Director of Counseling

In defense of opinions Letter to the Editor To the editor: In last week’s issue, an article called “Meet the Candidates” was published, giving objective information about the four sets of candidates running for Student Senate President and Vice President.

The problem that some people seem to have with the last issue, though, is that Editor-in-Chief Ingrid Baudler (‘14) wrote an opinion article (called “Student Senate elections”) in support of Libby Logsden (‘15) and Maggie Steinberg (‘15). Let it be known, however, that the people who are upset have only expressed their concern through an anonymous confessions page on Facebook and not in any outlet that matters.

I think the people complaining don’t understand what an opinion section is. Baudler laid out the major factors she bases her decisions on and gave a recommendation of who to vote for based on those opinions. I thought her points were valid (it seemed to me she was listing facts about each candidate), but that is for you to decide. After all, it’s an opinion.

People—even editors-in-chief—are allowed to do this.

She was not given special treatment. She clearly stated she was not representing anyone else’s opinion but her own and was not trying to write an objective article. You are allowed to write an opinion article, too! Literally any of the candidates could have written an opinion article in support of their positions.

Journalism is objective. Opinions are not. Do not mix the two up.

As a student concerned with journalistic ethics, it baffles me how people don’t comment on newspapers until they do something that is slightly controversial (naming names, giving an opinion). In the journalism world, an opinion article in support of a certain candidate is normal, even expected. Sometimes, the entire editorial staff writes an article if they agree on the candidate. That’s called an editorial.

(For the record, I don’t usually interact with Baudler or any of the candidates at all. None of them asked me to write this. I am merely interested in journalism and ethics.)

Trust me, I know better than to expect any sort of intelligent discussion or opinions on the confessions page, and I hardly read it. But the “confessions” have all been so misinformed—perhaps they’re all from the same person?— that there had to be some clarification.

And for those who thought the article might hurt Logsden and Steinberg’s campaign: clearly, it didn’t. It may have even helped. See how powerful an opinion article can be?

-Katherine Mohr (‘14)

Senate opinion discredits candidates Letter to the Editor I appreciate Chips for many of its articles, as many of them are finely written on appropriate topics with strong journalistic ethics. The exception to this are the regular “drug bust” articles, which although unbiased, provide the person’s name to the entire student body, essentially wringing them out to dry for no clear reason at all. Surely, that is the right of the press, but the right to do something does not warrant the necessity to do it. That, however, is a topic of discussion for another day.

The issue at hand is the recent article on Student Senate elections, written by Ingrid Baudler (‘14). I am familiar with the concept of an opinion piece, and yes, Ingrid had every right to share hers. However, when this opinion is based on factors that have little to nothing to do with the candidates’ actual platforms, and when these factors are border-line slanderous, something must be said.

In fact, not once did Ingrid actually mention anything

relevant to the campaigns of the hopefuls. Sam Olson (‘15), a transfer to Luther, was discredited simply because of his status as a transfer student. The other candidates, aside from the author’s close friends Libby Logsden (‘15) and Maggie Steinberg (‘15), were discredited for not regularly attending Senate meetings, even though they are not members of the Student Senate. Although Baudler makes an accurate observation that any Luther student can attend Senate meetings, this is not and has never been required of Student Body President candidates. If this had proven an issue in the past, would elections still be open to candidates outside of Senate? And to say that Maggie and Libby (both of whom I adore, don’t get me wrong) are the “most involved” and therefore the “most capable” is not only inaccurate, but also completely untrue. Any Luther student with a passion for the betterment of the student body, a strong work ethic and a solid platform is capable of performing well as student body president. This is, plain and simple, highly biased journalism.

The fact that this article was written by the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Baudler, accentuates the misdoing.

I really enjoy a lot of what I read in Chips, and as I said, for the most part respect this newspaper greatly.

However, uninformative, favoritist articles like this should be stopped before they reach the press and certainly not be written by the head of the editorial staff.

- Ryan Castelaz (‘15)

SPORTS

New

PAGE 11

stadium

proposed

LUKE MANDERFELD STAFF WRITER The Luther College Development office has recently announced a new softball and baseball stadium project. The design would put in new stadium seating, backstops and press boxes. The building dates are still to be determined but estimated to be the summer of 2014 or 2015. They will be built over the current fields.

The assessment of the project puts the price at around $1 million or more, between both fields. Most of the money to fund the stadiums will be coming in through past student athlete alums and their parents who have connections to both of the teams.

“In this situation we have a very specific group of people we are trying to get to donate,” Vice President for Development Keith Christensen (‘80) said. “Getting only baseball and softball alums to donate to this big project is a tough task.”

The plan has been in the works for a few years, with the baseball and softball coaches discussing an enhancement to their current fields. It was only until last year that Luther College officially recognized the new plan, putting aside $25,000 to get the project started.

The big selling point for the project is the recruiting aspect of it. With a new stadium comes a good visual appeal for incoming student athletes.

“If you’re going to attract quality student athletes, you need a complex to convince them of your school over others they may be looking at,” Head Baseball Coach Alex Smith (‘03) said. “You would hope that they aren’t making their decision on the nice seating, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE. Wartburg.

have a comparable or better venue than other schools.”

There have been some skeptics of the fields being built since student athletes are the minority at Luther College and baseball and softball athletes an even smaller amount.

“To be honest, the project hasn’t gone well with other sports and other students,” Christensen said. “They ask, ‘Why are we raising money for athletics?’ Of course music is a big deal on campus, but athletics are about 20-25 percent of our incoming students, which is a substantial amount.

There aren’t any academic buildings that need to be fixed or built, so we aren’t ignoring anybody or anything.”

Luther baseball is the oldest organized sport at Luther College, with their first game played in 1891 against St.

COMING SOON. The design plan for the new baseball/softball stadium will feature press boxes.

Photo courtesy of Teri Olson

Football

Luke Manderfeld / Chips

wins

Olaf, winning 9-4. They have won 14 conference titles and appeared in the Division III tournament four times. 75 players have won 124 All-American honors over Luther baseball’s storied history.

Luther softball was established in 1969, and has had 40 of their 44 seasons with a winning record. In its history, the team has had only two head coaches: Betty Hoff (‘60) for 32 years and Renae Hartl for 12 years. The team won the IIAC conference last year and made a great run at the national title, finishing fifth in the nation.

For more information or if you would like to help fund the project, visit Luther College's website and click on the “Giving” tab to find the softball and baseball stadiums link.

FUTURE PLANS. New stadium seating that the design will offer picutred in proposal .

Photo courtesy of Teri Olson

all-sport

relay

JAYNE COLE MANAGING EDITOR Four representatives from the football team repeated as champions in the all-sport relay. The event was held during the Norse Relays on Saturday, April 12.

Five teams competed in the event. Representatives from the men’s basketball, wrestling, men’s and women’s swimming and the Clarke University throwers participated in the 4x100m relay.

The foursome of Robby Jewell (‘14), Del Ciucci (‘14), Alex Peterson (‘14) and Rich Vickers (‘14) repeated as champions for the third year.

“There was a year in there that we lost to four recently graduated track alums,” Vickers said. “I've ran in it three of the four years, but the football team has always had a team.”

Peterson and Ciucci have also ran in the relay three years.

“The only year we came up short of victory was my sophomore year,” Peterson said. “It was rough for us since this is an event we don't have a history of losing.”

The teams must provide their own uniform and baton for the relay. Notable attire from last Saturday included flippers, a bumblebee costume and a dinosaur costume.

“It’s been an event that we look forward to every year, trying to look as goofy as possible,” Peterson said.

Because of the shortage of participants, the men’s and women’s relays were combined into one event. This did not change the winners’ strategy.

"Our main strategy has always been to lull our competitors into a false sense of security by making them think of us as a joke, but once the gun goes off we're all business,” Vickers said.

The intense rivalry between the wrestlers and football players also fueled their motivation to defend their championship title.

“They like to think they can beat us but usually are around 8 seconds slower which

RELAY FUN. The second runners prepare for their handoff and chance to run their leg of the 4x100.

Photo courtesy of Ally Fillmore gives us bragging rights for another year,” Peterson said.

The relay provides a fun opportunity to compete against other athletes at Luther.

“I ran the last leg of the relay and came dangerously close to having a heart attack.

I have n't ran that far since football season,” Vickers said. “We compete in the all -sport relay for two reasons: to impress girls and to beat the wrestlers, mercilessly.”

SPORTS

PAGE 12

SPORTS EDITOR: JULIA JOSEPH

APRIL 17, 2014

Freya loses 9-10 in close final match NILS JOHNSON STAFF WRITER As the spring season blooms, another perennial object has taken to the skies: the white discs of Ultimate Frisbee.

Despite the turn in weather that has only recently brought sunshine, the women of Freya rounded out the regular season and competed in sectionals the weekend of April 12 for a bid at the national tournament.

The hopes were high for Freya players after coming off a series of wins on Saturday at the sectional tournament in Northfield, Minn., hosted by Carleton College.

On Saturday, Freya walked away with a record of 4-1 and a key win over Macalester with a score of 13-12. As a result of these wins, the team advanced to the second day of competition.

Sunday’s play brought tough matches resulting in two losses including a close 9-10 contest with Drake University.

The results of sectionals put a bid for this year’s nationals just out of reach for Freya.

The players indicate that Freya’s success has been an ongoing trend this year and shows future promise.

“There’s a lot of new young talent this year,” said Freya player Kat Huska (‘15). “As a team, we’ve been doing significantly better than in the past.”

Accompanying some valuable additions of former high school standouts, the program as a whole has seen improvement this year.

“They’re a good team that works their tushes off,” said LUFDA player Will Harren (‘14).

Accompanying the recent success, Freya players stress the flexible and enjoyable environment that the team provides. Many players are able to participate in Frisbee while still being active in other campus activities.

“Its not just one type of person that plays Frisbee,” Huska said. “Other players are active in Student Senate and sports teams at the same time.”

Freya player Annie Waniger (‘16) is involved in groups such as Nordic Choir and expressed similar notions.

“It’s intense enough that people are

Weekly Standings Men’s Tennis Coo Central Luther Wartburg Buena Vista Simpson Dubuque Loras

IIAC 7-0 3-1 2-1 2-1 3-4 2-3 1-4 0-6

Overall 21-6 11-6 18-5 5-7 4-12 7-10 2-9 1-11

Recent Scores

April 11 @ Winona, Minn. vs. UW-Eau Claire W 6-3

Upcoming Schedule

April 23 vs. University of Dubuque 4 p.m.

April 23 @ Waverly, Iowa vs. Wartburg 5 p.m.

GETTING AIR. Claire Anderson (‘14) helps Freya advance.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Feltault.

committed to it but flexible enough that scheduling conflicts aren’t a problem.”

With new talent, experience and a strong program, the team hopes to advance further next year.

Women’s Tennis Coe Luther Wartburg Central Loras Buena Vista Simpson Dubuque

IIAC 7-0 6-1 5-2 4-3 3-4 2-5 1-6 0-7

Overall 16-5 13-6 7-6 10-3 4-8 5-10 1-15 4-11

Recent Scores

April 11 @ Winona, Minn. vs. UW-Eau Claire L 3-6

Upcoming Schedule

April 17 @ Northfield, Minn. vs. Carleton 4 p.m.

April 18 @ Winona, Minn. vs Winona State 1 p.m.

Baseball

CELEBRATION TIME. Freya celebrates their four wins on Saturday to advance to day two of the tournament on April 12-13.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Feltault

Norse of the Week

JULIA JOSEPH SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Appel (‘17) and James Ayer (‘14) won at number two doubles against Coe on April 5. They won 8-5 in that match. Ayer went on to win his singles match that day completing the only two victories the team had over Coe. This season the team has gone 18-5 overall.

Chips: How do your tactics change when playing a doubles match as opposed to singles?

Kyle Appel: I’m a much more comfortable singles player than doubles player. I like to stay at the baseline and hit forehands. In doubles, I have to get out of my comfort zone and get up to the net when I can.

Doubles is all about dominating the net. If you and your partner can take over the net, you'll be successful.

How were you matched up with doubles partners this season?

I was originally paired with Ramesh Karki (‘14) at two doubles. After a few meets, coach decided to put Jimmy and I together and it turned out to be a great decision.

What is the best type of racket?

Babolat is the best racket brand.

Babolat Aero Pure Drive is the best racket.

What is the biggest challenge starting to play outside?

Adjusting to the conditions such as the wind and the sun. After five months of not seeing the sun while serving makes it a little tough on the eyes to adjust.

What is your favorite pre-match food?

I really like blueberry bagels before and during tennis meets.

Would you rather play a singles or doubles match?

Doubles simply because it's more fun, and I enjoy sharing the experience with someone rather than by myself.

I believe I'm better at singles than doubles, but I would still rather play doubles.

If you could pick any professional tennis player as a doubles partner, who would you pick and why?

I would pick John Isner because he has a huge serve, and he's American.

Buena Vista Wartburg Loras Central Coe Dubuque Simpson Luther

IIAC 12-4 12-4 11-5 8-8 7-11 6-10 6-12 4-12

Recent Scores

Overall 23-5 18-10 13-10 16-11 10-15 10-17 13-15 10-16

April 12 @ Central L 0-4, L 5-6 April 11@ Central W 4-1, L 0-10

Upcoming Schedule

April 18 vs. Simpson 1 p.m.

April 21 vs. St. Mary’s University 1 p.m.

Softball

#9 Coe #11 Central Simpson Buena Vista #8 Luther Dubuque Wartburg Loras

NEW FACE. Kyle Appel (‘17) helps lead the team to victory.

Photo courtesy of Luther Sports.

What match are you most excited for this season?

Playing Coe again. They provide great competition, and we are even more motivated due to our loss to them.

What is a highlight of the season so far?

Getting to know all the guys and sharing the wins and the losses with them. We’ve all become very close, which makes every meet fun, even if we lose.

IIAC 6-2 6-2 5-3 5-3 4-4 4-4 1-7 1-7

Overall 26-5 26-6 18-12 13-13 21-6 17-11 17-13 13-15

Recent Scores

April 13 @ Northfield vs. St. Olaf W 10-0, W 13-0 April 12 vs. Coe W 8-6, W 3-2

Upcoming Schedule

April 19 @ Waverly vs. Wartburg 2 p.m.

April 22 vs. Loras 3 p.m.