The Yellow Sheet for Nov. 3, 2005November 3, 2005 | Volume 38, Number 9
Volume 38, Number 9
News & AnnouncementsMission Effectiveness Review... As the revision of the College's mission statement by members of the faculty and Board of Trustees approaches completion, the board's committee on mission effectiveness begins a new task. Each year, the committee will provide a report to the full board summarizing how the College has met the high expectations outlined in the mission statement for the previous year. Because of the complexity of such a task, the committee has decided to consider the various aspects of the mission on a rotational basis allowing better focus on each area and to acknowledge the often incremental progress on some initiatives. For this initial report, the concentration will be on how well the College prepares students for lives of leadership and service -- the lead assertion in the mission statement.Exploring how the various corners of the College already meet this objective should be a cause for reflection and discussion. A series of conversations will be scheduled over lunch and in the late afternoons in which faculty members, staff, students, and trustees will gather informally to discuss the opportunities for Gustavus students to be formed as leaders and servants. Anyone interested in participating in one of these gatherings should contact Jenifer Ward at jward@gustavus.edu. From the list of interested persons, the committee will select people who will help achieve a broad representation (generation, division, etc.) in each conversation. Given the importance of diversity at Gustavus, I would like to provide the first of several periodic reports to you on the work of the President's Advisory Committee on Diversity (PACD) and other diversity-related efforts. The charge I gave to the committee last winter when it first met was to ensure that diversity is present in all that Gustavus does. I also asked the committee to promote planning efforts that directly relate to diversity throughout campus and to build upon the many accomplishments already in place. These include the increasing number of courses that intentionally include or focus on some aspect of diversity, our continuing gradual success in recruiting diverse students, faculty, and staff to Gustavus, the especially good work of the Diversity Center, and the many important activities initiated by various student groups. Despite these developments, I recognize that the most effective and enduring effort to enhance diversity at Gustavus is a comprehensive one that is consistent, sustained, and invested with the commitment and resources of other mission-critical priorities of the College. This was a central finding of the May 2004 Report on the Presidential Task Force on Diversity, which is serving as a foundational document for the PACD and which was the result of the efforts of an ad hoc committee chaired by Hank Toutain. I encourage both those campus community members who are new to Gustavus since that report was disseminated and those who may not have read it recently to review it online. During this academic year, the PACD will complete its information-gathering conversations with divisions and programs across campus, begun last year with admission office and the academic deans' office. The committee will host a focused discussion on diversity at an upcoming faculty meeting and will be working in collaboration with the library to develop a diversity resource center. It will work with others to develop a website to highlight the progress of diversity planning, feature relevant campus developments, and the like. The committee will ensure that such efforts are reported to the campus community on a regular basis. The committee and I are grateful for, and heartened by, the level of interest expressed by many of you in our efforts, and we look forward to building upon that support in the coming months. Jim 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:
Talk Shop Friday... Mimi Gerstbauer (political science) will present the next Faculty Shop Talk of the 2005-06 academic year. Her talk, titled "The Quality of Mercy: Forgiveness in International Relations," will be presented at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 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 gustavus.edu/events/shoptalks/. Orchestra Concert Friday... The Gustavus Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras, led by Warren Friesen, will present their fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 in Christ Chapel. The philharmonic will perform John Rutter's Suite for Strings, in four movements. Rutter set four poems, "A-Roving," "I have a bonnet trimmed with blue," "O waly waly," and "Dashing away," in this work for chamber string orchestra. The symphony will then present Johannes Brahms' Tragic Overture, Op. 81, Music for Orchestra by Vaclav Nelhybel, and Brahms' Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80. The concert is free and open to the public. Student Voice Recital Saturday... Student vocalists Kirsten Dumke and Travis Michelson will present a recital at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov.5 in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. They will be accompanied by pianists Kate Ellingsen, Nathan Kahl, and Philip Williams, 'cellist Anna Blunk, harpsichordist Sam Eckberg, and a student vocal ensemble. Dumke, soprano, will open in duet with Michelson to perform Henry Purcell's Sound the Trumpet and will continue with solo works by Donizetti, Obradors, Schubert, Hahn, and Amy Beach. Michelson, tenor, will open his program with works by Haydn, Martini, and Durante, along with a set of solo works by Benjamin Britten including The Miller of Dee, The Last Rose of Summer, and the Foggy, Foggy Dew, accompanied by Kate Ellingsen. Then, Dumke and Michelson will present She Loves Me, What Is This Feeling, and For Good from the musical Wicked with the assistance of the vocal ensemble. A reception will follow in the recital hall lobby. The recital is free and open to the public. Cultural Benefit Saturday... Gustavus, in collaboration with Minnesota State University Mankato, will host a benefit for the victims of Hurricane Wilma and the earthquake of Southeast Asia (Pakistan and India) from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 in Alumni Hall. The event will feature cultural shows, finger food, raffle drawings, and a silent auction. Tickets are $3 for non-students and $2 for students and can be purchased at the door. This event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Office of International Education, Dining Service, Book Mark, and several student organizations. Student Recital Sunday... Alex Zupan will present his junior piano recital at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6 in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. He will perform Beethoven's Sonata in E Major, Op. 14, No, 1, the Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20 by Frederic Chopin, and George Gershwin's Preludes for Piano. He will be joined by a student string quartet for the fourth movement of Franz Schubert's "Trout" quintet, the Quintet for Piano and Strings in A Major, D. 667, Op. 114. A reception will follow in the recital hall lobby. The recital is free and open to the public. Claudia Stevens to Visit Sunday and Monday... Scholar, concert pianist, and playwright Claudia Stevens will visit Gustavus Adolphus College Nov. 6-7. The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Stevens' visit comes near the annual commemoration of Kristallnacht, "the night of broken glass." The public is invited to the following events:
All events are free and open to the public. Stevens' visit is co-sponsored by the Center for Vocational Reflection, Office of the Chaplains, Office of Diversity, Departments of History, Religion, Political Science, and Theatre and Dance, Women's Studies program, Peace Studies program, the Florence and Raymond Sponberg Chair in Ethics, and the First Term Seminar program. Cancer Support Meeting Wednesday... The campus cancer support group will meet at noon Wednesday, Nov. 9 in the Leadholm Room. Bring a lunch and join the conversation. This group is open to anyone on campus. Tuition Benefit Meeting Wednesday... There will be a tuition benefit meeting open to all employees from noon until 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9 in the Dive. Kirk Carlson (student financial assistance) and Owen Sammelson (administration) will present information about the tuition benefit and exchange options. Contact Kirk Carlson (kcarlson@gustavus.edu or x6362) if questions. Teachers Talking Nov. 10... Teachers Talking will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and again from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 in the Three Crowns Room. The topic will be academic planning. International Festival Nov. 11... The campus community is invited to the International Festival at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11 in Alumni Hall. Experience many cultures of the world with food, country displays, music, dancing, and a fashion show. Faculty Forum Nov. 15... Jill Locke (political science) will present "Unraveling Tocqueville's America: Marital virtue and the affairs of Andrew Jackson" Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the next Faculty Forum. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. in a banquet room in the Campus Center and the presentation will begin at 6 p.m. RSVP with a check for $5 to Jean Heidcamp. For more information, contact Russell Shapiro (rshapiro@gustavus.edu). Future forums will be held Feb. 21, March 14, and April 25. Off-campus Events of InterestLutefisk Supper Saturday... A lutefisk supper will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at Scandinavian Grove Lutheran Church, 10 miles west of St. Peter on Highway 22. All are welcome. Cost is $12 for adults; $5 for children 6-12; and free for children five and under.Talk About the Minnesota Twins Nov. 10... Join Jim Thielman, sports writer and author of Cool of the Evening: The 1965 Minnesota Twins, for a conversation about the baseball team and that pennant-winning season at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 at The Wilds of Sand Prairie (700 Knight St., St. Peter). This event is free and open to all, and hotdogs and chips will be provided. For further information, call x6017 or click here to view Thielman's website. This event is sponsored by the Book Mark and the St. Peter Public Library. Business After Hours Nov. 15... The St. Peter Area Chamber of Commerce Diplomats invite all faculty and staff to Business After Hours from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at First National Bank Minnesota. There will be complimentary hors d'ouevres and a cash bar. Call 934-3400 to make a reservation. Seussical the Musical Nov. 18... The theater department at St. Peter High School (SPHS) will present Seussical the Musical at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20 in the SPHS theater. Tickets are $5 and are reserved seating. Tickets may be purchased beginning Monday, Nov. 7 at the office of St. Peter Community and Family Education, Suite 207, 600 S. Fifth St., St. Peter. Office hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. All remaining tickets will be sold at the door. Several of the cast and crew members in the production are children of Gustavus employees. New FacesThe following people have recently joined the Gustavus community:
Jennifer McCabe, Dean of Faculty Carol Solberg, Dining Service Congregational OutreachRetreats... The Office of Church Relations will host a confirmation retreat Friday, Nov. 4-Sunday, Nov. 6 for St. Barnabas Lutheran Church from Plymouth; and a student retreat Saturday, Nov. 5 for First Lutheran Church from Longmont, Colo. Funding OppsThe Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations' weekly program or funding opportunity highlight:
In the MediaHere are some noteworthy Gustavus-related stories that recently appeared in print or broadcast media around the nation:
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). Telecommunications UpdatesThe following are changes and additions for the "Personnel Phone Directory 2005-06":
lmccabe@gustavus.edu). For Sale: 2000 Toro two-stage power shift snow thrower with a 28-inch clearing width; four-cycle, 10-horsepower Tecumseh engine; electric start; six speeds; light kit; and breaker bar. In excellent condition. Asking $800. If interested, call Michelle or Tyson (934-6748). Housing Wanted: Visiting professor and his family (spouse and three children) from Sweden are looking for a place to rent for the month of January. Would prefer a place within walking distance of campus. Anyone who knows of a place that may be available should contact Tim Kennedy (x7647). Calendar of EventsTo add or change items on the calendar, please fill out and submit a College Calendar event form. View the entire College Calendar online. The Yellow Sheet is a newsletter for Gustavus Adolphus College employees produced by the news and information staff in the Office of Marketing and Public Relations. It is published weekly during the academic year (except during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Touring, Spring/Easter breaks). Anyone may submit items by filling out an online submission form. While online, e-mail submissions are preferred, items may also be submitted typewritten on a letter-sized sheet of paper. Send "snail mail" items to: The Yellow Sheet, Office of Marketing and Public Relations. Items must reach the office no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before publication. The week of Nobel Conference the deadline is 4:30 p.m. Monday. For more information, contact Barb Booren (bbooren@gustavus.edu or x6213). Home | News & Info | Yellow Sheet Archives | Submit an Item Online |