The Yellow Sheet for Sept. 15, 2005September 15, 2005 | Volume 38, Number 2

News & Announcements

A Hurricane Katrina Teach-in will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 in Alumni Hall. This teach-in, organized by Barbara Fister and Peg O'Connor, is supported by the Office of the President, the Office of the Chaplains, and the Center for Vocational Reflection. It gives the Gustavus community an opportunity to discuss some of the many questions that have been asked about the hurricane, its terrible and tragic after-effects, and its short- and long-term implications.

The schedule for the teach-in is:

• 9 a.m. -- Karen Larson (interdisciplinary studies) "Katrina Renders America Unto Itself"
  
• 9:15 a.m. -- Mark Bjelland (geography) "Natural Hazards and the Big Easy"
  
• 9:30 a.m. -- Kate Wittenstein (history) "The Federal Government, Race, and Katrina"
• 10 a.m. -- Chapel break
  
• 10:30 a.m. -- Russell Shapiro (geology) "Natural Hazard, not Disaster: The Meaning of Hurricanes"
  
• 10:45 a.m. -- Jeff Jeremiason (environmental studies) "Did Global Warming Contribute to Katrina"
• 11 a.m. -- Bob Douglas (geography) "Geography of New Orleans: Why the French got it Right"
• 11:30 a.m. -- Chris Gilbert (political science) "The Politics of FEMA"
• 11:45 a.m. -- Casey Elledge (religion) "Natural Disasters and Apocalypticism"
• 12 p.m. -- Andy Vaughn (religion) "The Role of the Church in Presenting Hope"
• 12:30 p.m. -- Mary Gaebler (religion) "Compassion Alone is not Enough"
• 12:45 p.m. -- Jill Locke (political science) "Race, Poverty, and the Hurricane"
• 1 p.m. -- John Lammert (biology) "Don't Drink the Water"
• 1:30 p.m. -- Ben Laabs (geology) "What Happened to the Wetlands?"
• 1:45 p.m. -- Deborah Goodwin (religion) "Christianity and Faith-based Politics"
• 2:30 p.m. -- Lisa Heldke (philosophy) "Food and Agriculture"
• 2:45 p.m. -- Terry Morrow (communication studies) "Federalism: What we can Expect From the Federal Government"
• 3 p.m. -- Alisa Rosenthal (political science) "Left Behind: Evacuation, Poverty, and the Hurricane"
  

Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increases... Between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2005, the standard business mileage rate will be 48.5 cents per mile (from 40.5 cents). Click here for more information.

Gribly Deadline Wednesday... Individuals who wish to have their photograph and/or home telephone number excluded from the 2005-06 Gribly but have not already indicated their wishes must complete the bright orange form titled "Directory Information," available from the Department of Human Resources, by Wednesday, Sept. 21.

The 2004-2005 Honor Roll of Donors is now available online at gustavus.edu/giving/honorroll. The Honor Roll of Donors recognizes those who made gifts to Gustavus between June 1, 2004 and May 31, 2005. To find your name or to check out your class results, point and click from your home or office computer. To have your name included in the 2005-2006 Honor Roll of Donors, go to https://secure.gac.edu/giving/giving.cfm to make a gift online.

Personnel Committee Announces Tenure Candidates... Tenure review for five faculty (listed below) are being conducted this fall. All tenured members of a candidate's department are expected to write letters addressing the criteria for tenure as stated in the Faculty Manual. Non-tenured members of the candidate's department may also submit a letter. These letters will be available to the candidate, the Personnel Committee, Dean Eric Eliason, and the President. The letters should be addressed to Dean Eric Eliason and will be placed in the candidate's file. Tenure files close at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30.

Jeffrey Dahlseid (biology and chemistry)
June Kloubec (health and exercise science)
Jillian Locke (political science)
Rebecca Taylor (English)
Barbara Zust (nursing)

Staff Reclassification Committee to Meet... The next meeting of the Staff Reclassification Committee to evaluate requests for grade changes for support staff positions will be held Wednesday, Oct. 5. In order to be considered at this meeting, a complete request for position review must be received in the Office of Human Resources by Friday, Sept. 30.

Pick up Nobel Conference Tickets... Complimentary Nobel Conference tickets are now available for Gustavus employees and students. Students may pick up their tickets at the SAO ticket center with their student ID. Employees may request a ticket by contacting Dana Lamb in the Office of Marketing and Public Relations (dlamb@gustavus.edu or x7520). Tickets for the Sept. 28th Nobel Banquet are also available in marketing and public relations for $25.

For information about this year's conference, go to http://gustavus.edu/events/nobel/2005/.

President's Corner

Welcome back – to all of us! As we get into the new academic year, classes are getting into full swing, new daily/weekly routines are becoming familiar, anticipation and expectations build, and the campus is becoming fully alive once again. It’s a good feeling!

I’ve mentioned in a number of venues already, some of the things we hope to accomplish this year. We will finalize plans and build momentum in a number of important areas for the College. The faculty and interim deans will articulate the academic direction we will move the next several years. We will focus on enhancing our revenue base and the vital roles that we all play in helping to do that – be they traditional or possibly unconventional. Decisions and timelines will be set in place for developing wind power on the campus, and the football stadium and athletic fields project will move forward. Comprehensive reviews of each of the College’s divisions will also be completed.

Over the summer two in-depth studies were begun, one focused on the church-related aspects of our campus including the Chaplains’ Office, Center for Vocational Reflection, Church Relations, and related areas; and another on non-traditional education opportunities for the College to pursue or continue. Initial ideas from the latter project, led by Steve Griffith, have been presented and several campus work groups will fully explore a number of these in coming weeks. The task force reviewing our church-related programs and offices, led by former interim president Dennis Johnson, will finish its work in the coming weeks as well and make recommendations as to how Gustavus lives out its relationship(s) with the Church into the future.

There are so many important things to accomplish this year. These are but a few. I am expecting a very good and productive year, in classrooms and labs, on athletic fields, in offices, in performance spaces, and other areas across the campus. Again, I welcome you back and look forward to our work together.

Jim

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Talk Shop Friday... Marie Walker (psychology) will present the first Faculty Shop Talk of the 2005-06 academic year. Her talk, titled "Vocational Identity Development in College Students: Cross-sectional and Preliminary Longitudinal Evidence for a Theoretical Model," will be presented at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 in the Interpretive Center. Feel free to arrive any time after 4:15 p.m. The abstract for this and future talks may be viewed at http://gustavus.edu/events/shoptalks/.

Einstein Lecture Friday... In advance of this year's Nobel Conference, Arthur Fine from the University of Washington Department of Philosophy, will present a lecture, titled "What Was He Thinking? Einstein and the Quantum," at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16 in Olin Hall, room 103. Fine is the author of The Shaky Game: Einstein, Realism and the Quantum Theory, and editor of Bohemian Mechanics and Quantum Theory: An Appraisal. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Maria Jette Joins Jorgensen and Wang Saturday... Renowned Minneapolis soprano Maria Jette and faculty members Michael Jorgensen, baritone, and pianist Esther Wang will present the "Songs of Celius Dougherty" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 in Jussi Björling Recital Hall.

The Minnesota-born Dougherty was a sought-after pianist who performed with some of the best known musicians of the mid-20th century while pursuing a solo and two-piano career. His work as a composer includes a children's opera, a piano concerto, a string quartet, and several sonatas; however, he was particularly well-known for his production of over 200 works for voice. "Songs of Celius Dougherty" was first performed as a collaboration by Jette, Jorgensen, and Wang in June as part of the St. Paul Summer Song Festival at the Landmark Center. It includes a assortment of sea chanties, English and American folk songs, Irish reels, and compositions.

Jette's career includes performances with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the New York Chamber Symphony, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra. A regular performer with Philip Brunelle and VocalEssence, Jette's resume includes performances around the globe, which range from concerts with Conductor Helmuth Rilling to appearances on "A Prairie Home Companion." She has appeared on stage several times with Jorgensen, but this is the first collaboration with Wang.

The performance is free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception in the recital hall lobby.

Faculty Recital Sunday... 'Cellist Adriana La Rosa Ransom will present a faculty recital with pianist Jason Alfred at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18 in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. Ransom has performed with many distinguished artists and recently was selected to perform an Armenian work with Yo-Yo Ma in connection with the Silk Road project. In addition to her work at Gustavus, Ransom continues to teach at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis and is the assistant principal 'cello in the Minnesota Opera Orchestra.

Alfred, an active soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician, completed his doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota with degrees from Ithaca College and the Cleveland Institute of Music. He continued his study at the Moscow Conservatory and has taught at the Riverside Academy of Music, the Cleveland Music School Settlement, the Aspen Music Festival, the Bravo! Chamber Music Festival and the Cleveland Opera.

This faculty recital is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in the recital hall lobby to allow the public to meet this new member of the music department faculty.

Democracy and Conflict Resolution to be Discussed Tuesday... The public is invited to "Sustaining Democracy Through Conflict Resolution," an informal exchange about ways in which democracy can be nourished through conflict resolution. The conversation will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 in the library on the first floor (north end) by Roisin McLaughlin, director of HECUA's Northern Ireland program Democracy and Social Change.

Upcoming Continuing Education Events... The public is invited to the following continuing education events:

• "On the Clock" (renamed Clockworks: Einstein Time), the play commissioned to celebrate this year's Nobel Conference, will be performed. Dinner and a presentation by Amy Seham (theatre and dance), who will share her insight into the production of the play, will precede the play at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 in the Heritage Banquet Room. The play will be performed at 7:45 p.m. in Anderson Theatre. Cost is $19 and includes dinner and the play.
• "Picturing the Prairie -- George Catlin's Artistic Adventures in 1830s Minnesota" will be presented by Gareth John, who will talk about artist and explorer George Catlin's travels along the upper Mississippi and Minnesota River at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 in the Interpretive Center. Cost is $5 and includes coffee and dessert.
  

Pre-registration is required at least one week in advance of an event at the office of St. Peter Community and Family Education, Suite 207, 600 S. Fifth St., St. Peter. Office hours are 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday or register online at www.stpetercommunityedonline.com. If questions, call 934-3048 and press zero for an operator. These events are Gustavus Adolphus College continuing education programs done in cooperation with the St. Peter Community and Family Education program.

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS OF INTEREST:

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE:

On Aug. 17, Literacy Minnesota presented a Certificate of Achievement to Bob Douglas, geography, and his World Regional Geography students over the last five years in honor and recognition of outstanding contributions as an Adult Basic Education Partner at the Lincoln Community Center in Mankato.

Mark Granquist, religion, published an article, titled "Conrad Bergendoff (1895-1997)" in the Summer 2005 issue of the Lutheran Quarterly. This article, edited by Granquist, is the first in a series of standard biographical articles on 20th century American Lutheran leaders. These articles will eventually be published in a single volume in the "Lutheran Quarterly Books" series published by W.B. Eerdmans and Company.

Jon Grinnell, biology, and students Julie McDevitt and Josie Thulien were featured in Nature Conservancy, for their work in the summer of 2004 with the bison on the Ordway prairie, Nature Conservancy property. The article was titled "Ordway Prairie: Gustavus Adolphus College Teams up on Bison Study." Grinnell and students Heidi Bulfer and Rachel Crane continued this project in the summer of 2005, analyzing the recordings and data brought back in 2004.

Horst Ludwig, modern languages, literatures, and cultures, is represented in the German haiku yearbook 2004 Der Lärm des Herzens (Heart's Noise), Tübingen, 2005 with two haiku and two haibun (prose pieces which at spots are so concentrated that these passages have the shape of haiku). Also, a German haiku by Ludwig and his German version of a Japanese haiku appeared in the most recent issue of HI (of Haiku International Association, Tokyo).

Don Scheese, English, presented a chapter from his current book project, "The Allure of the Anasazi: Representations of Ancestral Puebloans in Art & Literature," at the biennial conference of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment in June in Eugene, Ore. His presentation was "The Picturesque Amidst the Sublime: Anasazi Ruins in the Grand Canyon." Scheese also chaired a session at the conference. His review of David Roberts' The Pueblo Revolt (2004) will appear in a future issue of ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment.

OBITUARIES:

• Marie Mosbo, mother of John Mosbo (former Dean), died Friday, Sept. 9. Services were held Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Swedesburg Lutheran Church in Swedesburg, Iowa.

NEW FACES:

New Administrators
Andy Hagen, Athletics
Jennifer Mead, Athletics


New Faculty
Michelle Grace, Library
Ryan Sheppard, Sociology and Anthropology

New Support Staff
Shawna Dwyer, Swanson Tennis Center
Jeanne Ogaard, Custodial

FUNDING OPPS:

• Alden B. Dow Creativity Fellowships Available for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities... The Alden B. Dow Creativity Center offers four Creativity Fellowships each summer to individuals in any field or profession, including the arts, sciences, and humanities, who wish to pursue an innovative project or creative idea. The applicant's project idea should be new and innovative, and have the potential for impact in its field. The 10-week residency is on the Midland, Mich., campus of Northwood University. Emphasis is placed on a totally creative learning experience independent of formal education interests. Awards include travel, room and board, and a $750 stipend. The deadline is Dec. 31, 2005. For more information, please see http://www.northwood.edu/abd/fellows/.
  

IN THE MEDIA:

• On Sept. 13, Inside Higher Ed: News published an article titled "Recovery from Disaster," referring to the March 29, 1998 tornado and included quotes by Ken Westphal (finance). View the article at http://insidehighered.com/news/2005/09/13/recovery.
  
• On Sept. 12, The Free Press of Mankato published the following:
  • "Wahlstrom Hall Concedes to the Future: More to Come," a front-page feature that included a color photograph of the demolition and quotes by Warren Wunderlich (physical plant) and Brenda Moore (institutional advancement)
  • "Forum discusses patriotism: Anniversary of 9/11 brings opportunity to share perspective," a front-page story that included quotes by Barbara Fister (library)
• On Sept. 11, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis listed one of the Hillstrom Museum of Art's current exhibitions, "Pressure Points," in its Fall Arts Preview article in the Arts section.
• On Sept. 9, The Free Press of Mankato included in the "Our View" column of the Opinions page a "thumbs up" to the College and other organizations that helped to build Central Square Apartments in St. Peter.
• On Sept. 9, The Free Press of Mankato did a feature, titled "Area Colleges to Offer Diverse Fall Performance Seasons: Voices, dance & instruments," that included quotes by Al Behrends (fine arts).
• On Sept. 8, The Free Press of Mankato included in its Exhibits section the works currently showing in the Hillstrom Museum of Art.
• On Sept. 8, the St. Peter Herald published the following:
  • "Gustie from New Orleans reeling over pictures" referring to student Alex Dunn, who was quoted in the story
    
  • "Moving on in: Residents of new Central Square Apartments 'excited' to enter" included a color photograph of student Anne Osthus
• On Sept. 5, The Free Press of Mankato published the following:
  • "College-bound students want high-tech," that appeared on the front page and included quotes by David Kogler (admission)
  • "Record year for Gustavus enrollment" on the front page of The Valley section
    
• The September 2005 Metro Lutheran published a page eight article titled "Swedish pastor with a dream bolstered Lutheranism in Minnesota 150 years ago: Eric Norelius was father of Vasa and First Lutheran Churches, Gustavus Adolphus College, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota." President Jim Peterson took part in the celebration.
• The August 2005 Twin Cities Business Monthly did a feature on "2005 Entrepreneurs of the Year" that included Michael Helgeson ('74). Helgeson was pictured on the front cover of the magazine and in two additional color photographs in the article.

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).

BOOK MARK BITS:

PLUGS:

For Rent: Room on College Avenue, close to campus. Quiet setting. No utilities. Includes internet, phone, cable. Fully furnished. Available immediately. Call 934-5054.

For Rent: Three-bedroom, two-bath home with attached double garage located on Highway 22 between Mankato and St. Peter. Rent is $1200/month plus utilities. No smoking, no pets. Includes dishwasher, washer and dryer, and air conditioning. Call 381-1930.

For Rent: Faribault lake home with two bedrooms, two baths, and large two-car garage. In excellent condition; has fireplace and lots of storage. Ready to rent anytime. Rent is $2,100/month and includes gas. Willing to discuss utilities. Call 507/333-4661 or 612/597-8170.

For Sale: Four-bedroom, two-bathroom, one-owner split-level home in a quiet, friendly neighborhood in upper North Mankato. (Located 12 miles from Gustavus at 1969 Valley View Dr.) Amenities in this 12-year-old home include all new flooring and paint throughout, a roomy yard, multi-level deck with screened in gazebo, chain-link fence, insulated shed with electricity, double-car garage, perennial gardens, and new appliances. For a showing, call Jim (507/340-1696).

THANK YOUS:

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.