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Feel the fire of Argentina
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CHIPS
A&E 5
LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
October 10, 2013
Vol. 135, No. 5
Welcome home
Sam Molzahn/Chips
Come on you Norse! The Luther community, including students and alumni, gather for the Homecoming game.
A weekend of activities brought 2,000 alumni back. Sam Molzahn
Staff Writer
Luther College celebrated its annual Homecoming Oct. 4-6, bringing back alumni as well as hosting events for current students. The festivities started Monday night with the annual Open Mic night in Marty’s and ran throughout the weekend, ending with the Homecoming concert Sunday afternoon. According to Executive Director
of Alumni Relations Sheri Alcock, around 2,000 alumni and guests registered on campus, with 12 class reunion receptions and six reunion lunches. The oldest alum was Selmer Norland (‘38). Other events included the dedication of the David E. G. and Patricia Miller Natatorium and the 100th season of football at Luther. The Norse defeated Loras 41-7 in the Homecoming game in front of a packed Carlson Stadium. Alumni representatives all the way back to the class of 1938 showed up and reunion events were held all over the Decorah area. The class of 2003 had a reunion “huddle” during the Homecoming
football game. “Everything feels smaller,” Alex Martinson (‘03) said. “This is the first time back on campus in about ten years. The union is very different, very nice. It’s great to see so much the same and it’s great to see everything different. Everything brings back memories.” Martinson and his wife Katie (‘03) live in the Chicago area with their five children. “I swam at the alumni meet and had a good time reconnecting with people I haven’t seen in a long time,” Martinson said. “I’m glad to Homecoming continued on page 4
Please Recycle
Since 1884
Weston Noble back in Decorah Brita Moore
News Editor
After a month in a Seoul hospital, previous Luther choir director Weston Noble (‘43) is resting at the Eastern Star care facility in Decorah. Noble flew into Detroit and then to Minneapolis on Oct. 5. He has received several visitors so far, including Director of Choral Activities Allen Hightower. Noble was not able to participate in any Homecoming activities, but Hightower said at the Homecoming concert that Noble’s “spirit was present.” According to Ryan Goessl’s (‘04) posts on the “Weston Noble in Korea” Facebook page, Noble’s two friends George and Kathy Gentes went to Seoul to help bring him home, and the two flights went smoothly. Goessl’s father drove Noble to Decorah from Minneapolis. Noble’s friends Dean (‘62) and Barbara Nelson have also visited him since his return. “He’s doing very well,” Barbara Nelson said. “He has a lovely sunny room with lots of windows. He is in good hands there (at Eastern Star). We just need to continue praying for Weston–for complete healing and God’s peace and joy.” Noble was in South Korea guest conducting the National Chorus of Korea when he slipped and fractured his pelvis. He has not needed surgery and has received notes of support from hundreds of people via Facebook, email and mail. The Facebook page currently has 957 “likes.” A concern for Noble’s continued improvement is having enough funds for the treatment. The Weston Noble Alumni Choir is leading the fundraising effort, with a goal of $50,000 by Dec. 1. Those interested in contributing can visit http://www. youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/bring-westonhome/89044.
Changes made for J-term
college requirements, then students might have trouble completing all of these requirements and graduating on time. However, Victoria Turner (‘17) did not feel concerned As of this January, 185-level courses for first-years will no longer count toward all-college requirements such as that the restructuring will interfere with her ability to complete her education. quantitative and lab courses. “I’m on the fence about it,” Turner In previous years, 185 courses said. “I’m happy that [the courses] were needed in and of themselves as don’t count because that kind of all-college requirements, but they makes you branch out a bit.” used to satisfy other requirements as The dean said that J-Term well. According to Vice President seminars were introduced only for Academic Affairs and Dean of a few years ago. At that time, the College Kevin Kraus, there were questions came up about whether important reasons for the restructuring. those courses should fulfill general “There are faculty who feel like -Victoria Turner (‘17) education requirements. Back then, J-Term is too short a time to be able to the Academic Planning Committee do justice to topics in a way that they made a compromise: it would be feel it will have satisfied an all-college allowed, but the committee would review the decision requirement the way it should,” Kraus said. Kraus also said that some of the faculty pointed out J-term the problem that if 185 courses no longer satisfied allcontinued on page 4
Britta Thompson
Staff Writer
“I’m happy that [the courses] don’t count because that kind of makes you branch out a bit.”
Photo courtesy of Luther Archives
Another homecoming. Beloved conductor Weston Noble (‘43) is back in Decorah.