April 1999

Spring Greetings to You All:

Del and I just got home from a wonderful Elderhostel in Natchez and New Orleans with a Mississippi river boat trip between two cities on the American Queen so we now know all about “ya youall.” We have been gone most of this month―first to New Jersey to visit our son. It is great to be out of the car and in Minnesota again.

Sorry I missed some of you at the Gustavus Association of Congregations meeting last Saturday on campus. The program sounded wonderful and I’m sure it was nice for you to see what great strides in reconstruction have been made since the tornado tragedy one year ago.

This is my year-end letter and a reminder that the alumni fund gifts deadline is May 31. Many of you have given generously. If you have forgotten―or misplaced the information―or had a windfall since giving―take a minute and don’t miss the opportunity. Every gift is important and will make a difference.

I received a very nice letter from Perwin S. Knutson, 909 E. 14^th St., Apt. 103, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 last February―his first letter to me at my old Dunlap address was returned, but he persisted and called Gustavus for my new White Bear Lake address. Thank you Perwin, and I really appreciate your letter. I am sharing, as an enclosure to this letter, the newspaper clipping with all of you. It was such a touching story. The pictures were also special. I hope they reproduce well. I am certain others in our class have some tidbit to share for future letters. I am counting on it!

Campus News

On Thursday, February 25, 1999 the Environmental Studies (ES) Program at Gustavus officially opened its new home on campus with the four-rmoom addition to the Melva Lind Interpretive Center in the Arboretum. ES majors should find the space comfortable, quiet and welcoming. Don Scheese, associate professor of English and environmental studies, wrote in the newsletter to The Friends of Linneaus Arboretum that finally, students are moved by what they see as the greatest moral (and physical) challenge that the modern world confronts us with as the next millennium approaches: to live sustainably with the non-human environment. As Thoreau wrote in 1860, "what is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?"

March 29 marked the one-year anniversary of the tornadoes that swept through the campus and St. Peter community. Much has been accomplished in the recovery effort and the College extends appreciation to all alumni and friends who volunteered their time, energies and resources in the recovery effort. A commemoration service was held on campus the last day of classes before Spring break and Gustavus also hosted a community-wide ecumenical service in Christ Chapel on Sunday, March 28, which was followed by a public reception in Alumni Hall

Nobel Conference XXXV "Genetics in the new millennium" will be held October 5 & 6, 1999. Call the college’s Office of Public Affairs for information.

Reunion weekend is May 28 & 29. Remember all Friday and Saturday events for the 50 year club (we are now members) and the class of 1949, will be held on campus. We will be guests of the Alumni Association. Del and I plan to be there and look forward to seeing any and all of you that can make it. Make reservations immediately!! It should be fun to see many friends from the class of 1949 and earlier classes. Phil Knautz will be directing the alumni choir along with Gregory Aune. Del and I will probably attend the free golf clinic Saturday afternoon, if not too embarrassed. My game needs help!! The entire program sounds great and the dorms are all newly redecorated after the storm.

Thanks so very much for your generosity, support and commitment to our college, Gustavus Adolphus.

Sincerely,

Lorrie Johnson Leaf

1948 Class Agent