The Yellow Sheet for Jan. 12, 2006January 12, 2006 | Volume 38, Number 15

News & Announcements

The Interim Experience (formerly January Term) at Gustavus is an integral part of the curriculum. Each year a theme is selected, and this year vocation was chosen as the theme. Throughout the term, students will learn more about vocation through various activities both in and out of the classroom. Among the many classes offered, more than 30 are directly tied to the theme of vocation. Some of the classes offered include:

• Vocation and Information Professions
  
• Changing the World: Justice, Action, and the Meaning of Life
  
• Nonprofit Management
  

Each of these classes exemplifies vocation in a different way, so students have unique experiences along their journeys throughout the month.

There are many experiences away from the College during January as well. Two groups are taking part in the hurricane clean-up and rebuilding efforts along the Gulf of Mexico -- a group of 33 students will be in Ocean Springs, Miss., and another group of 46 students will be in Key West, Fla. Approximately 300 students are participating in an internship, and more than 300 students are participating in one of the many study-abroad experiences offered throughout the month. Although there are many students away from the campus, a full schedule of events is taking place at Gustavus.

The Diversity Center is sponsoring several events tied to vocation:

• Jan. 17 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. -- Women of Civil Rights
  
• Jan. 18 and 19 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. -­ Spoken word workshop session, "Pulse of the Twin Cities"
  

The Center for Vocational Reflection is also sponsoring several events:

• Jan. 17 -- Pre-health care event, "Calling of Professions"
  
• Jan. 23 -- Alumni author Kian Dwyer, Living Your Chosen Eulogy
  

This year's Interim Experience ends Friday, Jan. 27.

Wind Orchestra on Tour... The Gustavus Wind Orchestra will leave Saturday morning (Jan. 14) on its 2006 international concert tour to Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria. Click here to view the orchestra's tour schedule.

Health Screening... All Gustavus employees and spouses are invited to participate in the 2006 health screening at no charge. Screening is available from 6:30-8:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 30 through Friday, Feb. 3 and Monday, Feb. 6 through Friday, Feb. 11 at St. Peter Community Hospital. Thirty minutes of release time will be available for the screening, and participants will receive a Market Place coupon for a bagel at the time of the screening. To sign up, call the Department of Human Resources (x7304) 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 1:30-4:45 p.m. weekdays. Those who register will receive confirmation, via campus mail, of their screening date and time and information describing the procedures.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER:

It's been said that there is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about. I believe that's true. This is an invitation to the entire Gustavus community to gather and talk together about what it is that we care about.

Three years ago this entire college stopped all of its normal work for what was called a "community conversation." Students, faculty members, administrators, support staff, and others from all parts of the College met together for the better part of a day to talk about what kind of place Gustavus is and what it wants to become. Important ideas came out of that day. They were pursued further by special task forces on topics such as energy use and environmental issues, student campus employment issues, information dissemination, and efficient and effective use of the Market Place, Courtyard Cafe, and the Dive. The Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity was also created. All of this work made a difference. It created change, and there is more to do.

So we're going to gather again. On Monday, January 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Lund Forum, all members of the community are invited to a second community conversation. The primary purpose for the gathering is to talk to each other about what we care about -- what matters now and what matters as we plan our future. Prepared questions will help to frame the discussions. Moderators will help to guide them. I hope to see all of you, as well as the Board of Trustees, at this gathering. The Faculty Senate has encouraged all professors to attend with their students.

As we develop our long-range plans for the College, we need to imagine a "shared vision" of the future to provide direction and guidance. The first community conversation helped to do that. Ongoing planning work is helping to do that. A rapidly changing external environment will influence that also. Background information on all of those factors is available online and will be sent via campus mail to all employees. My hope is that this gathering will help to provide direction and guidance as well.

Welcome to this important conversation. I am very much looking forward to your participation.

Jim

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:

• Jan. 13 -- Taizé Worship
  
• Jan. 15 -- Second Sunday in Epiphany, Vicar Callista Isabelle
  
• Jan. 16 -- Olivia Washington, Martin Luther King Day
  
• Jan. 17 -- The Rev. Dean Wolf, Ephesians 4: 1-6
  
• Jan. 18 -- Morning Praise
  
• Jan.19 -- The Rev. Todd Buegler, John 13: 1-15
  
• Jan. 20 -- The Rev. Phil Schotzko, Acts. 1: 12-14
  
• Jan. 22 -- Third Sunday in Epiphany, Chaplain Brian Johnson
  
  

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS OF INTEREST:

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE:

The Advent/Christmas 2005 issue of The Cresset included an essay by Lisa Heldke (philosophy) titled "Robert Maynard Hutchins, John Dewey, and the nature of the liberal arts," which was based on her remarks made at the 2005 Gustavus commencement exercises.

Doug Huff (philosophy) gave an invited talk on his play, "Emil's Enemies," at Oxford University's International Conference on Dietrich Bonhoeffer held Jan. 4-6 at Harris-Manchester College. The play was also given a staged reading at the conference.

OBITUARIES:

• Ruth Haukoos, mother-in-law of Nadine Haukoos (human resources), died Saturday, Jan. 7. Services were held Wednesday, Jan. 11 at United Lutheran Church in Walters, Minn.

POSITION OPENINGS:

• Operating Engineer, Physical Plant/Heating Plant

FUNDING OPPS:

• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships... National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships provide opportunities for individuals to pursue advanced work in the humanities that contributes to scholarly knowledge or to the general public's understanding of the humanities. Fellowships support both projects that can be completed during the tenure of the award and work that is part of a long-term endeavor. Tenure normally covers an uninterrupted period lasting from six to 12 months. In 2005, stipends were $40,000 for nine to 12 months or $24,000 for six to eight months. The deadline is May 1, 2006. For more information, click here. *Note that guidelines for the 2006 competition will be posted in February.
  

IN THE MEDIA:

• On Jan. 10, The Free Press of Mankato ran a story in the Best Bets column titled "Lao weaving lecture Wednesday at Gustavus."
• On Jan. 8, The Free Press of Mankato published the following stories that ran on the front page of The Valley section:
  January Term
  • "Weaving 101," a feature on Edi Thorstensson's January Interim Experience weaving class that included color photographs of students Molly Faricy, Nick Schreiber, and Ann Solinger and Thorstensson
  • "Author coming to St. Peter: Residents are reading Perry's 'Population' book" (as part of the St. Peter Reads program) that included quotes by Judy Schultz (Book Mark)
• On Jan. 7, The Free Press of Mankato published a story on students traveling to help victims of Hurricane Wilma. The article, titled "Students taking road trip for good cause: Some Gusties using January Term to help out," was published on the front page of The Valley section.
• On Jan. 5, the St. Peter Herald ran a story on an upcoming illustrated lecture by a Laotian weaver. The page 3A story was titled "Lao weaving arts and textiles lecture Jan. 11."
• On Jan. 5, The Free Press of Mankato featured the following:
  • "Retracing steps" and "On the orchestra trip: Architecture, music, tourism," front-page stories on the Gustavus Wind Orchestra's trip to Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Austria, which included quotes by students Erin Crimmins and Aaron Hanson, Al Behrends (fine arts), and Doug Nimmo (music) and three color photographs.
  • "Spring theatrics: Colleges Prepare for Busy Theater Season," where Gustavus was one of the colleges featured for upcoming productions, including "Bat Boy" in February and "Electra" in May.
• On Jan. 4, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis did a feature on Eric Butorac ('03) that appeared on page C2 of the Sports section.
• On Dec. 29, the St. Peter Herald included the demolition of Wahlstrom Hall and construction of Southwest Hall in the newspaper's Year in Review.

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:

• Old Main Academic (including Classics, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion), phone x7548 (change)

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

• Janine Genelin, Old Main Academic (including Classics, Philosophy, Political Science, and Religion) phone x7548 (department change only)
  

PLUGS:

For Rent: New, spacious two-bedroom apartment available Feb. 1. Eat-in kitchen and large dining room. Heated underground parking, low utilities, view of park, close to Gustavus and downtown. Quiet, secure building with laundry on same floor, a community/party room, and a small exercise room. Contact Megan McCready (megmccready@gmail.com) for photos or if questions.

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.