The Yellow Sheet for Dec. 1, 2005December 1, 2005 | Volume 38, Number 12

News & Announcements

Christmas in Christ Chapel Notes...

• Excitement was high last Sunday evening at the opening rehearsal of Christmas in Christ Chapel 2005: Ageless Visions of a Timeless Moment. It is anticipated that nearly 5,000 guests will visit campus this weekend for this annual event. Complimentary tickets for Gustavus staff and students are still available for the 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 finale. Contact the Office of Special Events (x7520) or stop by the office in the Carlson Administration Building.
• The Lund parking lot will be closed Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3 due to Christmas in Christ Chapel. With the exception of the visitor lots, which are always closed to employees and students, all parking lots will be considered "open parking." Vehicles may be parked in any red, yellow or green parking space without regard to permit color on these days. If questions, contact Safety and Security (x8809).

Newsletter Break... Due to the Christmas recess, The Yellow Sheet will not be published Dec. 15, Dec. 22, or Dec. 29. Publication will resume Jan. 5.

Twelve Days of Wellness Program... To help survive the holidays, Gustavus Health Promotion is offering a 12 Days of Wellness Challenge. For the challenge, participants will be given a calendar which will include several wellness activities to complete Dec. 1-12. For registering on time and completing the program, participants will be given a present from Santa. To register, pick up a packet from the Red Desk in Lund Center or contact Kari Eckheart (keckhear@gustavus.edu) and a packet will be sent via campus mail. This program is available to all Gustavus employees and spouses. Register through Monday, Dec. 5.

Donate to St. Peter Food Shelf... In conjunction with the support staff holiday luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 21, a table will be set up in the lobby of Alumni Hall for the St. Peter Food Shelf. Support staff are encouraged to bring an item or items to donate to the food shelf.

Book Drive... Alpha Phi Omega is collecting used text books for Better World Books, a nonprofit organization that supplies books to educational programs in third-world countries. As part of the drive, faculty members are encouraged to let their students know about the drive as an alternative for their used text books. There will be collection boxes at the Book Mark, the Information Center, and outside the library. Click here to find out more about Better World Books. If questions, e-mail Nicole Soper Gorden (nsopergo@gustavus.edu).

Chapel Services Now Podcast... Gustavus’ Daily Chapel services are now available online as a podcast, a series of audio files delivered via a syndicated feed (RSS). By subscribing to the podcast "feed," files are downloaded automatically to a computer, iPod, or other digital music player and listened to at any time. Files may also be individually downloaded as well. While a podcast could consist of almost any audio (lectures, concerts, meetings, etc.), Chapel services are the College’s first venture with this new distribution method. The podcasts can most easily be found through online services such as Apple's iTunes (iTunes.com), PodcastAlley.com, and Podcast.net. The direct feed can be accessed at gustavus.edu/xml/podcasts/chapel/. Contact webmaster@gustavus.edu with technical questions.

Phonathon Most Successful in History... The 2005 Student Phonathon, "Putting the FUN into FUNdraising," ran Nov. 1-17 and set a record as the most successful Student Phonathon in the program’s three-year history. More than 350 students from various campus groups spoke with more than 3,500 alumni. These efforts resulted in more than 1,400 pledges worth $213,199 -- more than doubling the total from the previous year. Student Phonathon is an important part of the advancement of Gustavus, as it helps to provide unrestricted dollars to the general operating budget of the College, as well as educates current students and alumni to the importance of philanthropy and giving. These unrestricted gifts to the Alumni Fund are distributed across campus, helping each and every student experience a Gustavus education.

Join the Gospel Choir... A student-led Gospel Choir has formed on campus and has received requests to perform for events on- and off-campus. All administrators, faculty members, support staff, and students are invited to join, regardless of experience. If interested, contact Adryane Calloway (acallowa@gustavus.edu or 507/469-8620).

Carnegie Classification Changes... The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching released a new classification system for institutions of higher education. The new classifications describe five aspects of colleges and universities: instructional programs, enrollment profile, undergraduate demographics, size, and setting. The College's classification is Arts & Sciences plus Professions, indicating that 60 to 80 percent of Gustavus students complete a traditional liberal arts major such as political science, classics, or biology. This category, along with the designations small (under 3,000 students), exclusively undergraduate (no graduate students), four-year, highly residential, selective, and low transfer rate, complete the foundation's profile of Gustavus.

Submit Names for Scholars at the Capitol... Minnesota Private Scholars at the Capitol will be held March 9, 2006 and is a gathering of undergraduate scholars and faculty research mentors. Students will present research/creative works in a poster session, allowing legislators to see the breadth and depth of scholarship at Minnesota's private colleges. Gustavus has been invited to submit the names of two or three students with exceptional research/creative work. All disciplines are welcome. To nominate a student for consideration, contact Michelle Twait (mtwait@gustavus.edu or x7563) or Paschal Kyoore (paschal@gustavus.edu or x6078).

Maintenance Requests… All maintenance requests must be submitted to the physical plant office via physicalplant@gustavus.edu, x7504 (phone), x6007 (fax), or campus mail at least one working day in advance for projects requiring carpentry, plumbing, electrical, grounds, or moving crews. All work requests must be logged and tracked in the maintenance management database system. This ensures more timely and efficient responses. Contacting individual workers or calling the shops directly causes the system to be inefficient and ineffective. Emergencies should be reported to the physical plant (x7504) between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and to Safety and Security (x8888) all other times. Students should continue to submit work requests for residence halls through the appropriate CF and/or area coordinator. Contact Bob Petrich (rpetrich@gustavus.edu or x7574) with questions about maintenance requests.

New Admission Website... The Gustavus admission website will have a new look and content customized to individual prospective students beginning the week of Dec. 12. The new site will feature faculty members, students, staff, and alumni profiles that highlight specific academic, creative, or other interest. For example, a prospective student who is interested in majoring in music will receive spotlights on faculty members, students, and alumni who are (or were) involved in music. College staff in many areas, including Advancement, Admission, and Gustavus Technology Services, have been working diligently to implement this tool known as ActiveAdmission and will sign off on it Dec. 5. For more information, please contact Barb Larson Taylor (btaylor@gustavus.edu or x7515) or Stacia Senne (ssenne@gustavus.edu or x6395).

Access Employee Account... Gustavus employees can now view their account activity online. From the homepage, click on Campus Community, Online Services, WebAdvisor, Employees, Employee Account Summary. If questions, contact Barb Lundgren (blundgre@gustavus.edu or x7505).

President's Corner

Two weeks in Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai does not make one an expert by any measure but such time can open eyes and minds, broaden perspective, and hopefully open doors to new opportunities. Certainly my two weeks earlier this month in these places with other representatives from Minnesota private colleges did that. Though it’s only been a few years since my previous visit, change in that country is evident -­ and it’s huge. Here at Gustavus, we need to decide whether we want to create new connections there as part of what must be a continuous strengthening of international opportunities for our students.

With excellent planning and logistical support from the Minnesota Private College Council staff and others, our delegation of about a dozen visited with government officials (ours and theirs), financial and business leaders (both Chinese and American), education leaders, and others. We learned about current economic development and plans for the future in China and throughout Southeast Asia. We discussed some of the significant investments being made in education. We talked generally about opportunities and barriers -­ perceived and real -­ to the international flow of technology, trade, ideas, and people. And, of course, we explored mutual interests in the exchange of students and faculty.

Clearly, opportunities already abound in Southeast Asia for individual students wanting study abroad experiences. Our Office of International Education has information on many of those. But before leaving China, many of us agreed to pursue a couple of specific ideas together in some sort of collaborative effort. More on those later, but if they turn out to be viable we can fold them into our current planning processes and decide whether to actively pursue them or not. One of our great challenges, of course, will be to put opportunities like these into the context of ongoing programs and other good, new ideas for our future. That’s what makes our current planning work so important -- setting directions, making choices, and creating a shared vision for our future.

Jim

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Recognition Ceremony for Soccer Team and Hailey Harren Tonight... A program to honor junior Hailey Harren, who won the individual title at the NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championships, and the men's soccer team that finished national runner-up after losing 1-0 to defending national champion Messiah, will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 in Lund Center Forum. Championship cake will be served following the program. Congratulations to these fine students and coaches, and to all former athletes that participated in and developed these programs.

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:

• Dec. 2 -- Darrell Jodock, Romans 16: 25-27
  
• Dec. 4 -- Brian Beckstrom, Advent 2
  
• Dec. 5 -- Carolyn Dobler, Mark 1: 1-8
  
• Dec. 6 -- Winds of Christmas
  
• Dec. 7 -- Morning Praise
  
• Dec. 8 -- Festival of St. Lucia
  
• Dec. 9 -- Warren Friesen, Psalm 80: 1-7
  
• Dec. 11 -- Chaplain Brian Johnson, Third Sunday in Advent
  

Fair Trade Bazaar This Weekend... Students Helping Integrate Fair Trade (SHIFT) will sell items from around the world at a fair trade bazaar. The bazaar will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 and from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4 in the lower level of the Campus Center.

Religion Majors' Presentations Tuesday... Eight senior religion majors will give their fall semester poster presentations from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6 in the Heritage Banquet Room. Topics range from ministry for Generation Y to Candomble religion in Brazil. Refreshments will be served. This event is sponsored by the Department of Religion.

St. Lucia Celebration Dec. 8... During the 65th annual Festival of St. Lucia, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8, one sophomore and five classmates will serve as St. Lucia and the Lucia Court. Of the six sophomore women nominated by their peers, one will be crowned as St. Lucia by administrators, faculty members, support staff, and students. The nominees are: Emily Barnard, Alicia Blomquist, Barbara Guy, Kathleen LeBlanc, Carlie Mauss, and Lindsay Peak. The annual celebration also features early morning caroling by St. Lucia and her court, a traditional Scandinavian Smörgåsbord, and a holiday bake sale at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Peter. Tickets for the smorgasbord are sold out, but the 10 a.m. service in Christ Chapel is open to the public, as is the bake sale.

Evelyn Young Memorial Service Dec. 8... The campus community, friends, and alumni are invited to a memorial service celebrating the life of Evelyn Young, former dining service director at the College, at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 in Christ Chapel. The Rev. James Anderson will be the preacher and remembrances will be offered by friends and family. A reception will be held following the service in the Evelyn Young Dining Room.

Meet the Author Dec. 8... Faith Sullivan, author of The Cape Ann, a novel set in the fictitious town of Harvester (near St. Peter), will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at Trinity Lutheran Church (511 S. Fifth St., St. Peter). Sullivan will discuss her new novel, Gardenias, which was published this fall. Refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase. Call the Book Mark for further information (x6017). This event is sponsored by the Book Mark and the St. Peter Public Library and is free and open to the public.

Faculty and Administration Party Dec. 20... President Jim Peterson and Interim Deans Eric Eliason, Cindy Johnson-Groh, and Mariangela Maguire invite faculty members, faculty emeriti, administrators, and retired administrators and their spouses/partners to a holiday party from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20 in Alumni Hall. RSVP to Jennifer McCabe by Friday, Dec. 9 (x7675 or jmccabe@gustavus.edu).

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS OF INTEREST:

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE:

Student Hailey Harren won the NCAA Division III National Women's Cross Country Championship Saturday, Nov. 26. Harren also has been named Division III National Female Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Student Jonathan Peasley presented his paper, "Not Induction, But Terror: Wittgenstein on Religious Belief and Apologetics," at the 16th annual Undergraduate Philosophy and Religion Conference held Saturday, Nov. 12 at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo.

Barbara Fister (library) has been asked to serve on the advisory group for a research project, titled "Informing Literacy, Libraries, and Students' Experience of Learning in HE: Review of Research Literature," based at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. Fister is the only U.S. member of the international group.

Mark Granquist (religion) presented "Between Pietism, Revivalism, and Modernity: Samuel Simon Schmucker and American Lutheranism in the Early Nineteenth Century" at "Pietism, Revivalism and Modernity 1650-1850: an International Conference" held Nov. 17-18 at Umea University in Umea, Sweden. While in Sweden, Granquist also delivered a lecture, titled "Expected and Unexpected Changes: Religion and the New Immigration to America," at Vaxjo University.

Brian Johnson (chaplains) and Carolyn O'Grady (education) have edited a book, "The Spirit of Service: Exploring Faith, Service, and Social Justice in Higher Education." All contributions are from Gustavus authors. The book will be published in the spring of 2006 by Anker Press.

Terry Morrow (communication studies) presented a day-long seminar on legal argumentation and ethics for Minnesota Continuing Legal Education. Morrow also presented a lecture on ethics and legal argumentation for the Minnesota County Attorneys Association.

Garrett Paul (religion) presented a lecture, titled "Can there be a Christian Politics today?," sponsored by the Henry Institute at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he also was a guest in a political science senior seminar.

Katy Stenger (political science) had her paper, titled "The Underrepresentation of Liberal Christians: Mobilization Strategies of Religious Interest Groups," published in The Social Science Journal, 42, 391-403.

Barbara Zust (nursing) presented "The Long term Impact of an International Service Project " at the second annual caring research conference of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Oct. 14 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

OBITUARIES:

• Bernice Olmanson, mother of Ann Friederichs (counseling center), died Wednesday, Nov. 16. A memorial service was held Monday, Nov. 21 at Norseland Lutheran Church.
• J. Gordon McCabe, father-in-law of Laura McCabe (telecommunications), passed away Saturday, Nov. 19. His funeral service was Wednesday, Nov. 23 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Le Center.

NEW FACES:

New Support Staff
Rachel Kronlokken, Dining Service

POSITION OPENINGS:

• Counselor or Assistant Director, Admission
• Officer, Safety and Security
• Unit Director, Administrative Information Systems

CONGREGATIONAL OUTREACH:

Preaching in Congregations... Mark Granquist (religion) will preach Sunday, Dec. 4 at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Butternut and at Faith Lutheran Church in Madelia. This program is coordinated by the Office of Church Relations.

Retreats... The Office of Church Relations will host a confirmation retreat Saturday, Dec. 3 for St. James Lutheran Church from Burnsville.

FUNDING OPPS:

• Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship... The National Institute of Standards and Technology offers the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program (NIST-SURF) for students majoring in physics, materials science, chemistry, applied mathematics, computer science, or engineering. There may be research opportunities for students with other majors. Students participate in one of seven laboratories and receive a $4,000 stipend for 12 weeks or $3,000 for nine weeks. The deadline is Feb. 15, 2006. This proposal includes a portion completed by an institutional representative (see below) and a set of materials provided by each student applicant. As a point of information, Gustavus students have secured NIST-SURF grants for four of the last five summers. Bob Weisenfeld serves as the institutional representative and is available to assist students in proposal preparation. For more information about the NIST-SURF program, please refer to http://www.surf.nist.gov/surf2.htm.

IN THE MEDIA:

• In the December issue of The Lutheran, a story was published about Christian and Jewish leaders who visited Israel and the Palestinian territories. Darrell Jodock (religion) represented the ELCA on the trip.
• On Nov. 26, The Free Press of Mankato published "Two exhibits at the Hillstrom Gallery" in the newspaper's Best Bet section.
• On Nov. 22, The Free Press of Mankato featured Michael Klimesh (economics and management), his managerial accounting class, and their virtual bicycle production company. The feature, titled "Students Use Company Management Game to Compete, Learn: Education simulation," on the front page of the Currents section, includes two color photographs -- one of Klimesh and one of three students -- as well as quotes by Klimesh and students David Hoenk and Josh Sorenson.
• On Nov. 21, The Free Press of Mankato published the following:
  
  • "A different senior class eyed by Gustavus: College looks into retirement housing," a front-page story indicating that the College is in the earliest stages of looking at retirement housing on campus, that included quotes by Ken Westphal (finance) as well as a photograph of him
    
  • "Reception today for Hillstrom exhibits" on page A2 in the Best Bet section
• On Nov. 20, The Free Press of Mankato published a story, "Gusties' Harren wins national title," referring to student Hailey Harren. See Extraordinary People for more information.
• On Nov. 19, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis published a calendar item on the Faith and Values page on a presentation, "Children's Literature in a Post-holocaust World," by Elizabeth Baer (English) Sunday, Nov. 20 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul.
• On Nov. 19, The Free Press of Mankato ran a brief on the presentation of the play Children's Hour.
• On Nov. 17, The Free Press of Mankato published the following:
  • "Gustavus professor running for state house," referring to Terry Morrow (communication studies), which ran on the front page of The Valley section
  • "Secrets and Lies: Gustavus puts on Lillian Hellman's Children's Hour" quoted student Emily Coussens and Rob Gardner (theatre and dance), a color photograph of Coussens and students Tasha Carlson and Jessica Lockner-Kotek, and mention of student Kristen Heider, which ran on the front page of the Currents section
• On Nov. 17, the St. Peter Herald ran the following:
  • "Johnson's dusk; Morrow's dawn," referring to Terry Morrow's announcement that he will run for the state house seat currently held by Ruth Johnson (former associate dean of students)
  • "Two exhibitions opening at Hillstrom" with two color photographs
  • "Gustavus Adolphus hosting several events," which included announcement of the play Children's Hour, "Poverty Simulation," "Faith and Poverty: Concert and Conversation," the Gustavus Jazz Lab Band and Adolphus Jazz Ensemble concert, and the Gustavus Wind Orchestra concert
• On Nov. 16, The Free Press of Mankato ran the following:
  • "Homeless project wrapping up" in the newspaper's Best Bet section.
  • "Media expert to speak at GA" on the front page of The Valley section
• On Nov. 14, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis ran a story on the Open Doors 2005 report in which Gustavus ranked seventh among Minnesota baccalaureate institutions in the number of students who studied abroad in 2003-04.
• On Nov. 12, the St. Paul Pioneer Press published "Talk on fall colors in Minnesota," about a slide show presented by Jim Gilbert (Linnaeus Arboretum) at the Raptor Center in Falcon Heights.
• On Nov. 12, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis did a feature on "Campus religion revives," that included quotes by and information from David Menk (institutional research).

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 UPDATES:

• ChYLI Program, x7198 (addition)

The following are changes and additions for the "Personnel Phone Directory 2005-06":

• Evelyn Carrasco, ChYLI Program, x7197, ecarrasc@gustavus.edu (addition)
• Robert DeCorsey, Athletics, x7037 (addition)
  
• Karin Steckman, Dining Service, x7608 (delete)

PLUGS:

For Sale: Nicely updated three bedroom, two and one-half bath multi-level home located at 518 Inverness Lane in St. Peter. Open floor plan, new den area, new furnace in November 2005, sauna in lower-level, and oversized garage with access to lower level of home. Immediate occupancy. If interested, contact Jim Isaak (x7073) or Carolyn Isaak (x7063) or at home (934-7087) .

Babysitters Needed... Looking for babysitters to call when needed in home near campus for an 18-month-old child. Must be 16 years of age or older and have experience. Ride can be provided if needed. If interested, call Aimee or Brian (934-6776).

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.