SECRETS OF THE PLANETARIUM Learn all about the history of Loras’ most unique building Page 7
BUMP, SET, SPIKE Men’s volleyball team riding a winning streak Page 12 April 11, 2018— Vol. 96, Issue 13
Is it Heaven? No, it’s the planetarium Dubuque County Farm Bureau teams up with honors group to reach for the stars is a great indication of the support we by Natalie Droeske | sports editor have, both on campus and in the greater On April 5, the Heitkamp Planetarium Dubuque community.” welcomed not only the Dubuque County As students and members of the comFarm Bureau but also a ghost to campus for munity began to arrive, they were greeted a showing of “Field of Dreams” and some by a ghost from the “Field of Dreams,” Lorhighlights of local farmers. as Director of Communications and MarFive honors students along with the staff keting John Sutter. Sutter spends many of the planetarium are working to replace summer nights in Dyersville as one of the the failing projector in the facility. As this ghost players that emerge from the corn, project has been ongoing throughout the and volunteered his costumed self for the year, word reached Brittany Menke, the Bureau’s event. Bureau’s community outreach chair, and “I’d be happy to put on my old-timey she reached out to the planetarium director White Sox uniform and come to the event,” in hope of procuring a partnership. Sutter said when the idea was initially proThe Dubuque County Farm Bureau posed. He says “Field of Dreams” is his fais celebrating its 100th anniversary this vorite movie. year. It has a colorful history of communiFitting with the theme, the Bureau proty connections. As a local grassroots orga- vided cheese and beef jerky snacks to eat nization, they do during the show. Once settled, more than serve following a brief presentation farmers; they from Menke about the roles the T he success of these movie are active supBureau plays in the community night fundraisers is a porters of educaand beyond, the attendees were tion, health care great indication of the shown two videos from the Buprograms and reau as “previews” that featured support we have, both on rural business local Dubuque farmers. The initiatives. Fur- campus and in the greater showing of Field of Dreams then thermore, they Dubuque community. had a realistic night sky backare dedicated ground from the planetarium’s Austin Kuchenbecker to their mission junior star projector, making for a full of creating a viviewing experience. brant future for The proceeds donated on beagriculture, farm half of the Dubuque County Farm families, and their communities. The April Bureau will benefit the project to replace 5 event was only one example of such com- the building’s projector. The planetarium munity support. staff was proud to give the Bureau’s cen“We had a great turnout and saw both tennial videos some exposure. Communifamiliar and new faces,” said honors group ty partnerships like this lie at the heart of student junior Austin Kuchenbecker. “The the planetarium’s projector replacement success of these movie night fundraisers project.
by Daniel charland | staff writer
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Loras professor wins award for life of service
photo by Natalie Droeske
John Sutter, director of communications and marketing, dons his “Field of Dreams” uniform while taking a photo wth Brittany Menke, of the Dubuque County Farm Bureau, as they celebrate a partnership in support of the Loras College Planetarium.
“Every night we host continues to be enjoyable for everyone involved, and brings us closer to our ultimate goal: procuring a new and functional projector that we can share with Loras and the greater Dubuque community,” said Kuckenbecker.
Holy Spirit: ‘Signed, Sealed and Delivered’
photo by Kayla thompson
Loras College Chaplain Fr. Dennis Miller lays his hands on first-year Hunter Schultz as he confers the sacrament of Confirmation. Schultz and sophomore Xavier Sanchez went through the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) this school year to become full members of Catholic Church. The Initiation Mass took place on April 8 in Christ the King Chapel, with a small reception following to congratulate the two newest members of the Church community.
Nancy Fett, an associate professor of Social Work at Loras for the past 22 years, has been honored with the Amate House Founder’s Award. The award ceremony won’t take place until April 21 at the Amate House’s annual benefit, but the honor of being the recipient matters more to Fett than the idea of having an award to display. Fett was a social work major at Loras who graduated in 1990. After graduation, she signed up for a year of service working at the Amate House, a domestic peace corps, living in the house with thirteen other people on the south side of Chicago. She says the Amate House Founder’s Award, rather than recognizing a particular action, recognizes all of her work over the 27 years since she left Amate in 1991. “My un(Fett) says derstanding the Amate of the FoundHouse ers Award is that it is for Founder’s someone who Award, left Amate — rather than which is a Latin word meaning recognizing a command a particular to love —and action, continued that work; someone recognizes who continued all of her their work in work over social justice, defense against the 27 years discrimination, since she etc. It’s not so left Amate much that I did something spein 1991. cific, but that I’ve continued to live the mission,” Fett said. At Amate House, volunteers worked in different areas and communities. Fett worked primarily with the “I Have a Dream Foundation,” striving to help the African-American community in Cabrini Green, a housing project known for its violence. “For me, that was really exciting,” she said. “It’s one of the reasons I really encourage students to do a year of service after they graduate, because sometimes you get opportunities and job offers that you get as a volunteer that you would never get your first year out of college. I never would have been hired, but because I was doing it as a volunteer, I had the opportunity.” The “I Have a Dream Foundation” wanted to help youth in the inner city graduate from high school. College scholarships for students were funded by the sponsors of the program. Fett worked with high school sophomores. “I learned a lot more from them than they ever learned from me,” Fett said. She then worked for another year as assistant director. Afterwards, she went on to grad school, then came back as the director of the “I Have a Dream Program.” Fett was nominated for this award by her former roommates at Loras. Finding life-long friends at Loras, she says, can enrich a person’s life. “A year of just being surrounded by those very good people, and knowing that you are doing good things, you’re fighting the fight together, was really powerful. I really believe that Amate House is what set me on my path to where I am today.”