Gustavus Adolphus College gustavus.edu alumni@gustavus.edu
From Home to Home, April 2000
To the best bunch of top-notch Gustie retiree, circa 1938…
My dear and cherished compatriots, each one significant:
A Biblical writer intoned, "Pride goes before destruction, " but I say, "Pride goes after construction." To elaborate, you ought to see what has happened on campus two years after the tornado destruction buffeted our pride in the castle on the hill.
Only this, a multi-million dollar construction named the C. Charles Jackson Campus Center. Thereby hangs a tale told in the booklet of its dedication on April 8 in sunny, chilly and windy out-of-doors.
"The most expensive facility in the College’s history," this fantastic building replaces and expands the former center of student activities: dining hall, post office, book store, "Three Crowns Room," class rooms, mechanical areas, etc.
President Steuer wrote, "Today we dedicate a building that almost daily serves every member of the Gustavus family and that warmly welcomes many thousands of campus visitors each year, including prospective students, members of the Saint Peter community, and foreign dignitaries. None-the-less, the overriding purpose of the new Campus Center is to serve students better."
Talk about class all the way! The huge upper level features the Evelyn Young Dining Room seating 900, food service areas, banquet rooms, various offices and the administrative offices.
The lower level features the Book Mark and a huge art gallery, plus a variety of campus offices like that of Diversity Development and Multicultural Programs and also Residential Life, all of which center on student needs and interests. Holy Moses, in our day the only student needs and interests we had centered in dorms, the cafeteria and the gym. Now departments are needed, I suppose for our grandchildren, God bless’em.
The future art gallery is of special interest to us ’38ers. Our suave classmate Rick Hillstrom, noted art collector and curator of Lutheran Brotherhood’s art collection, is donating scores of paintings, drawings and prints for the gallery which will be dedicated at this fall’s homecoming ceremonies. Including also generous funding by Rick, he leaves a noteworthy heritage to Gustavus unmatched by the rest of us to date. We thank him profusely for his generosity. May some of us follow in his steps.
Dr. Steuer also wrote, "We thank God for his happy occasion and for the special friends whose beneficence made possible this structure of steel, stone, and glass that will serve to showcase the Gustavus spirit for the world." What a testimony!
What a thrill it is to be a Gustie, seeing our 1930’s campus steadily expanding to better serve the 2500 lucky students present and future. Our Annual Giving Fund has and still does play an important part in making the campus a more serviceable facility to the benefit of all.
Therefore, let us re-examine our annual giving and enlarge it by May 31.
Thanks to the goodly number who have given! Let the non-givers rethink their obligation as sons and daughters of Gustavus to be among the grateful givers.
Outside of this centered report, the college keeps on accumulating evidence of its superiority in academics, music, sports, student successes, campus beauty, long-range planning and the like, all solid reasons for us to be "humbly proud" of dear old G.A.C.
Now for some other news from the campus:
International House Being Built - Ground was broken during the first week in March for the new international house. The residence hall will house Crossroads, the Swedish House, and the Office of International Education. This new facility will support the mission of bringing an international perspective to the curriculum and preparing students to communicate and compete in the new millennium. The 80-bed, 30,000 square-foot facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2000. The $5.4 million building is going up west of Olin Hall.
Reunion Weekend for the 50 Year Club (including The War Years), Class of 1950, and V-12/5 is May 26 & 27. A schedule of events and registration material will be sent in mid-April. Homecoming 2000, September 29 & 30, will feature gatherings for anniversary classes from 1955-2000. Class reunions will be in the Twin Cities Friday evening, and events will return to campus on Saturday. A schedule of events and registration material will be mailed in August.
Everyone is invited to an hors d’oeuvres supper and tribute to retiring Chaplain Richard Q. Elvee on Tuesday, May 16, 5:30 p.m. at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington. A program will begin at 7:00 p.m. The cost of the event is $25 per person. RSVP to the Alumni Office by May 12, 800-487-8437, e-mail alumni@gustavus.edu, or in Alumni Events at gustavus.edu.
Eckhoff Memorial Sculpture – ORBISC, a Granlund sculpture in memory of Emeritus Vice President for Alumni Affairs Cecil F. Eckhoff ’56, will be dedicated on campus, Saturday, May 27, 3:30 p.m. near Hello Walk.
Forensics Team Earns International Awards ? The College speech and debate team captured two championships and six other awards at the recent International Forensics Association tournament in Paris, France. Both Gustavus debate teams compiled a 3-1win-loss record. The team's strong overall performance earned Gustavus a fourth-place Sweepstakes Award. Gustavus attends international forensic competitions every other year.
Men’s swimming and diving team completed its most successful season in Gustavus history finishing undefeated in both non-conference meets, with a record of 7-0, and conference meets, at 6-0. At the MIAC Championships, Gustavus placed first for the first time since 1960. They beat conference power St. Olaf, who had won 20 consecutive MIAC titles before this year. Earlier in the year, the Gusties also handed the Oles their first conference dual meet loss since 1981, breaking an Ole streak of 96 straight wins. Please read the Spring Quarterly for complete winter sports recaps or visit the athletics site at gustavus.edu.
Upcoming campus and Alumni Association events:
MAYDAY! Conference/"Vietnam: 25 Years On," April 26, Campus
Arbor Day Celebration, April 28, Campus
Chicago Chapter, May 6, Chicago Cubs baseball game and barbecue picnic
Tribute to Richard Q. Elvee, May 16, Hotel Sofitel, Bloomington, 5:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. program
ORBISC dedication, a Granlund sculpture in memory of Cecil Eckhoff, May 27, 3:30 p.m., Campus
Reunion Weekend for 50-Year Club, Class of 1950, War Years, V-12/5, May 26 & 27, all events held on campus
Homecoming/Reunion Weekend for Anniversary Class 1955-2000, September 29 & 30, Friday night events at the Hotel Sofitel, Bloomington, Saturday events on campus
Gusties in Volunteer Endeavors, October 7, Twin Cities and national chapter locations
For more information contact the Alumni Office at 800-487-8437, e-mail at alumni@gustavus.edu, or gustavus.edu.
Members of the New Millenium: Knowing that we are in a technological age, we want to encourage all alumni to get involved and get online. If you have access to a computer and the Internet, we hope you will check out the Gustavus Alumni Association homepage regularly. We publish information about upcoming events, post class letters, provide information about the Alumni Office, list e-mail addresses of alumni and more. Check us out under the alumni section at gustavus.edu.
Until another time, God-willing (sounds like an oldie person, right?), a hearty God-speed to each of you so-important classmates!
I greeted a Mount Olivet Church pastor after one of the four services and thanked him for his good ministry, hoping to encourage him as I passed along. With tongue-in-cheek, he simply said, "Send money!" So I say for the good of Gustavus and our own good feelings. Fare thee well!
And I say to each, "God blesses!"
Tom Wersell
1938 Class Agent
5124 Tifton Drive
Edina, MN 55439