The Yellow Sheet for May 19, 2005May 19, 2005 | Volume 37, Number 32

News & Announcements

Special Recognitions at Commencement... Andrew Bennett will be presented the R. John Van Deusen Award in recognition of his having attained a degree through unusual perseverance, courage, and effort in dealing with significant physical challenges. R. John Van Deusen ('61) overcame incredible odds for over a decade, battling dystonia, a rare neuromuscular disorder.

Al Annexstad, president and CEO of Federated Insurance Companies of Owatonna, Minn., and a member of the Board of Trustees, will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree recognizing his work with at-risk youth and the scholarship his foundation has established at Gustavus to help some of those youth earn a college degree.

Usher at Commencement... Ushers are needed for Commencement on Sunday, May 29. Ushers should be available at noon for the 2 p.m. ceremony and are welcome to leave after the ceremony begins. To sign up, contact Dana Lamb (dlamb@gustavus.edu or x7520).

Lightening Detection System Installed... Safety and Security has recently installed a lightening detection and warning system funded by a Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry grant. The system, installed on the roof of Lund Center, is designed to predict lightning strikes within a defined geographical area by analyzing the electrostatic field in the atmosphere. If a threat is detected, the system will activate a series of horns and strobe lights to warn those working or playing outside to immediately seek shelter inside a nearby building. Since the system is automated, it can provide advance warning even when there appears to be no evidence of lighting. The lightning detection will be operational daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Review of Church-Related Activities... This summer the College will begin a review that will explore and make recommendations on strengthening the relationship with the Church -- as a whole as well as with individual congregations. Dennis Johnson (former interim president and vice president) will lead these discussions, which will focus on areas of mutual interest: future directions for college ministries, both within and outside the campus, and potential for integration of personnel and resources. Most importantly, these ideas will help guide the College into the future. Initial participants in the discussion include representatives from the Office of the Chaplains, Office of Church Relations, Center for Vocational Reflection, Community Service Center, and the Department of Religion. Other representatives will be included as the discussion moves forward, and input will be welcomed from the community at large.

Summer Voice Mail Greeting... All are reminded to change their voice mail greeting to accommodate summer schedules if necessary. To record an extended absence greeting, do the following:

1. Call the system and enter your password
2. Press 4 -- Personal Options
3. Press 3 -- Greetings
4. Press 2 -- Extended Absence Greetings
5. Listen to the instructions
6. Press * to exit until you hear "good-bye"

This will enable callers to decide if they wish to leave a message. Anyone who has questions or needs assistance changing a message should call the telecommunications office (x6261).

Vicar Appointed for 2005-06... The Office of the Chaplains is pleased to announce the appointment of Callista Brown Isabelle as vicar for the 2005-06 academic year. Isabelle is a 2000 Gustavus graduate and is a 2005 graduate of Yale Divinity School where she has served as chapel minister, teaching assistant, research assistant, and multifaith council coordinator. Prior to attending Yale, she worked for two years at Holden Village near Chelan, Wash., as worship music coordinator and food service coordinator. She is affiliated with Luther Seminary and plans to seek ordination in the ELCA.

President's Corner

Another academic year now draws to a close – my second – for some of the honorees at a tonight's special dinner it's been 40 or more. Each year repeats the last in some ways. Major events from opening convocations through the Nobel Conference, Christmas in Christ Chapel, and Commencement happen each in its own season. On a daily basis classes happen, practices happen, rehearsals happen, chapel happens, dinner in the Marketplace happens. The year comes and suddenly goes.

It is my hope that each of you who works on this campus can look back with satisfaction on a year well spent. I hope you have accomplished what you set out to do. I hope you are deeply satisfied with the results of your work. And I certainly hope you look forward to next year and all that it might hold.

Things won't be stopping this summer however. On a daily basis grass will be mowed, funding will be sought, meals will be served, plans will be drawn, and books will be ordered. Athletic camps will come and go. New courses will be developed. Writing and research projects will be carried out. Some special projects will also move forward. Our budget committee will reconvene to look at longer-term financial planning. Steve Griffith will be working with others to think about our future regarding pre-college education programming, summer programs, and continuing education for lifelong learners. A number of people will be spending time this summer and into the fall imagining the future for our church relatedness. I've asked Dennis Johnson to come back (again) and help lead those discussions. Our new interim deans will be organizing their work and preparing for the new academic year. Members of our Board of Trustees will meet to discuss their ideas about the future and to further define their role in that future.

And so the academic year ends, but the work of Gustavus goes on – albeit in a different mode. Overall, I think this has been a very good year. I do expect our next academic year to be an even better one. And I expect the years beyond that to get brighter and brighter. Our challenges are formidable, but our talents, energy, and commitment to excellence are far more formidable. Thanks for all you do individually and for all you accomplish collectively.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Chapel Schedule... All are invited to the worship services at 10 a.m. weekdays and 10:30 a.m. Sundays in Christ Chapel. The upcoming schedule is as follows:

• May 20 -- Megan Wille, Romans 8: 26-28
  
• May 22 -- Holy Trinity Sunday, Kari Lipke
  
• May 23 -- Megan Barz, Matthew 28: 16-20
  
• May 24 -- Litany for Travelers
  

Commencement May 29... Five hundred eighty three students will graduate with bachelor of arts degrees from Gustavus during commencement exercises at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 29 on Hollingsworth Field (Lund Center if rain). Click here to view the commencement weekend schedule.

May Art Show... Artist Jackie Carlson ('55) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of her graduation with an art show, titled "fiber, metal, glass," this month in Linner Lounge. Carlson has studied bronze casting with Nick Legeros ('77). The show is free and open to the public.

Gustavus Employee Picnic June 1... The President's Office will host the annual employee picnic from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1. This annual event is intended to recognize and thank all College employees for their hard work and a successful year. All non-student employees are invited and the event will include food, games, and door prizes. RSVP to the President's Office by Friday, May 27.

Athletic Fundraiser June 20... The third annual women's athletics golf fundraiser will be held Monday, June 20 at the Le Sueur Country Club. Check-in is at 12:30 p.m. and the shotgun start is at 1 p.m. Lunch will be provided along with post-event appetizers. Proceeds will support all Gustavus women's athletic teams. Contact Barb Rodning (x7617) by Monday, June 13 to register .

NYSP Returns in July... This summer Gustavus will host the National Youth Sports Program for the second time. The free program provides day-long activities and meals for more than 200 youth ages 10 to 16 who meet the program's requirements. Sports activities will be accompanied by activities stressing healthy living, creativity, and academic enrichment. The five-week program will run from July 5 to Aug. 6. For more information, contact program coordinators Kathryn Bode (x7455) or Raj Sethuraju (x7448).

Off-campus Events of Interest

Fundraiser Saturday... Everyone (kids included) are invited to a fundraiser for an 11-year-old St. Peter boy, Aaron Landaas, who has brain cancer. The event will take place from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the Red Men Club social hall and back lot at 412 S. Third St., St. Peter. The menu is: a seasoned pork sandwich, baked beans, chips, and cookie for $6 and a hot dog, chips, and cookie for $3. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the Red Men Club will match the funds raised at this event. If questions, please call Ann Volk (931-5816).

Extraordinary People

Barbara Fister (library) was a panelist at a conference on Libraries and the Patriot Act held Monday, May 16 in St. Paul. Also, Fister presented a plenary address, titled "Smoke and Mirrors: Finding Order in a Chaotic World," at the 34th annual Workshop on Instruction in Library Use on held Thursday, May 19 at the University of Guelph, Ontario.

Gregory Mason (English) presented a paper, "Witness and Appropriation: Reflections on Some Literary Works by Writers Exposed to the Atomic Bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki," at a conference titled "Hirosima: Memories and Visions" held April 22-24 at Tufts University in Boston. The conference included a gathering of international scholars and media artists, together with five hibakusha, atom bomb survivors, who also spoke. Mason has also been selected to attend a five-day workshop, "Hiroshima and Nagasaki for College Teachers," June 27-July 2 at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Scott Newstok (English) has been awarded a fellowship from Yale University. The Special Collection Humanities Fellowship offers recent Ph.D. recipients an opportunity for in-depth research using the Yale Library's special and archival collections. Newstok will also teach in the English department at Yale for the two-year duration of the fellowship.

Position Openings

• Administrative Secretary/Billing Specialist, Health Service
• Assistant Director for the Gustavus Fund
• Circulation Manager, Library
• Collections Manager, Library
• Staff Psychologist, Counseling Center

In the Media

• On May 16, the Duluth News Tribune's Learning Notes included mention of Gustavus students who have been elected to Phi Beta Kappa; namely, David Baldes, Eric Boyum, Jolene Johnson, and Angela Rolle.
• On May 16, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis published a story, featuring Talkingpoint, a firm started by Phil Hotchkiss ('91), titled "Small Business: The other side of the dialogue."
• On May 16, The Free Press of Mankato published a story on senior Kimberly Assad who won the Donald G. Paterson Award. The story, titled "Gustavus student wins psychology award," appeared on page C3.
• On May 13, The Free Press of Mankato published the following stories on the band Gus Leavenbread:
  • A front-page story, titled "Gustie band campaigns for a Cosmic Break: Gus Leavenbread hopes to win slot on stage of 10,000 Lakes Festival," that included two photographs of the band and quotes by students Sammy Archbold and Gary Vu
  • A page A5 story, titled "Core of Gus Leavenbread played together in high school," and quotes by Archbold
• On May 13, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis published an obituary and announcement of the memorial service for Jack Clark (former professor of religion). The story included quotes by Ruth Lunde ('74) and Carol Hamrum Rutz ('71).

Anyone who has suggested additions for this list, suggestions for potential future media stories, or interest in being a media source should contact Director of News and Information Jonathan Kraatz (x7510 or jkraatz@gustavus.edu).

Hours

Library Hours for finals are: 8 a.m.-1 a.m. Thursday, May 19 and Friday, May 20; 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, May 21; 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Sunday, May 22; 8 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday, May 23.

Telecommunications Updates

• Becky Miller, academic dean, x7675 (delete)

PLUGS:

For Sale: Home at 407 W. Nassau in St. Peter. Four bedrooms, two baths, living room, dining room, laundry room, office or fifth bedroom, finished basement with 26 feet x 13 feet family room, central air, two-car garage; asking $149,900. Call Bruce Wells (934-2225).

For Sale: Campsite in Campground B and parking passes for the Winstock Country Music Festival June 3 and 4 in Winsted, Minn. Cost is $60. Contact Nancy Plamann (x7513 or nplamann@gustavus.edu).

For Sale: Baldwin Acrosonic Piano for $250. Buyer must move the piano. Contact Edi (x7554 or 934-2345).

Housing Sought: Visiting classics instructor Karen Dang is seeking housing for the next academic year. Dang is looking for one bedroom and subletting is desirable. She can be reached at ktdang@usc.edu or 213/745-4945.

Calendar of Events

To add or change items on the calendar, please fill out and submit a College Calendar event form. View the entire College Calendar online.