The Yellow Sheet for Oct. 19, 2006October 19, 2006 | Volume 39, Number 7
Volume 39, Number 7
News & AnnouncementsGustavus a Leader... Gustavus is in good stead with its decision in May to adopt a test-optional admission practice. This week two more national liberal arts colleges, Gettysburg College and Union College, joined the growing list of top schools nationwide to make SAT and ACT test scores optional for high school seniors who apply for admission. There are now 27 schools from the U.S. News and World Report's 100 Best Liberal Arts Colleges list that have test-optional admission policies. Other schools include Bowdoin, Middlebury, Hamilton, Bates, Mount Holyoke, College of the Holy Cross, Connecticut, Bard, Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson, and Sarah Lawrence. Click here to read more about the Gustavus decision. Based on research, the best predictor of performance during a student's first year in college is their high school coursework and GPA. So far this year, application numbers are up at Gustavus and 13 percent have opted not to submit test scores. Stadium Construction Begins... Construction of the new football stadium will begin Saturday, Oct. 21. For four days, starting that day, the portion of Circle Drive between Campus Center Drive and the entrance to Collegeview/Swanson Tennis Center will be closed. The Campus Center Drive closure will enable asphalt to be removed and recycled prior to the construction. Once reopened, there will be a short detour of this road segment for approximately four weeks, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 24. During that timespan, access to the College's motor pool and the Physical Plant shops will be through the College View parking lot. A realignment of Circle Drive will be done to accommodate the stadium construction. Construction of the stadium is scheduled to continue steadily through the next nine or 10 months. The stadium is expected to be used for the opening football game of the 2007 season. A decommissioning of the current stadium will be held Saturday, Oct. 28 in conjunction with the final home game of the season. More Athletic Field News... With the new football stadium project, other athletic fields are moved or created. New collegiate baseball and practice football fields will occupy the two practice soccer and some intramural softball fields. Work to the west of these fields will be done to replace existing fields lost in this shuffle. This western portion (behind the President's House and west of the shop fields) will have four large fields for soccer, rugby, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, as well as other club and intramural sports, and summer programs and camps. It will also have intramural softball diamonds. And, as a result of longstanding "town-gown" relationships and numerous meetings between the College, the city, and the school district, the plan is to share these fields in the following ways: for Community Recreation activities primarily in the summer, for junior high and high school athletics principally in the fall, for city/community recreation sports in the spring and summer such as soccer and softball. Conversations are continuing on this sharing agreement, but according to Physical Plant Director Warren Wunderlich, the project may include fencing, some lighting to extend the hours of use, a parking lot, and access off of Broadway. These items, which were proposed and would be paid for by the other entities, are being discussed. Estimated completion time for this entire project is next fall. Nobel Conference Online... Click here to view the 2006 Nobel Conference lectures and question-and-answer sessions online in audio and video format. Support Staff Meetings... The support staff fall divisional meetings with Jim Peterson, Ken Westphal, and Kirk Beyer are scheduled as follows:
Dining Service Goes "Passionately Pink"... October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and "Passionately Pink for the Cure" is a new fundraising program from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The idea is to see pink everywhere, reminding everyone of the crucial need to eradicate breast cancer. The Dining Service has chosen Thursday, Oct. 26 as its day to go "Passionately Pink." To join in this fundraising effort, make a donation to the Komen Foundation and wear pink on Thursday, Oct. 26. To make a donation, contact Candy Witte in the Dining Service office (x7488). 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:
Ramadan Celebration Oct. 26... The campus community is invited to celebrate the end of the Fifth Annual Ramadan Celebration at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 in the Heritage Room. Omid Safi, assistant professor of Islamic Studies at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., will speak on "Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender, and Pluralism." This event is sponsored by Pan-Afrikan Student Organization, Crossroads, and the Campus Activities Board. Come for the lecture and ethnic food. RSVP by Thursday, Oct. 19 to Fatima-Zahra Elattir (x7449 or felattir@gustavus.edu). Darfur Lecture Oct. 26... "Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur: Perspectives from the Field" will be presented by Hugh Parmer, the president of the American Refugee Committee, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 in Wallenberg Auditorium. The American Refugee Committee, a Minnesota-based humanitarian aid agency, operates humanitarian relief operations in 12 countries around the world. Prior to moving to Minnesota, Parmer worked for the Clinton administration in Washington as assistant administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau for Humanitarian Response, where he led major U.S. humanitarian relief operations required by the war in Kosovo, Hurricane Mitch in Honduras and Nicaragua, and famine relief in Ethiopia and Eritrea. This lecture is sponsored by the Peace Studies program and is free and open to the public. Author Michael Perry Returns Oct. 27... As a part of the St. Peter Reads program, author Michael Perry will appear at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Peter. This event is free and open to the public. Perry, who presented his book "Population: 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time" in March 2006 in St. Peter, will share his latest book, "Truck: A Love Story." Like his former book, he delivers an account of his idiosyncratic life and times in the small Wisconsin town of New Auburn. He writes about how he restored his old pickup truck and, at the same time, fell in love with the woman who became his wife. There will also be a dinner with the author at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at Whiskey River. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Judy Schultz at the Book Mark (x6017). This event is sponsored by the Book Mark and endorsed by Unity in the Community -- St. Peter Reads. Faculty Piano and Guest 'Cellist Recital Oct. 29... A recital featuring guest artist and 'cellist David Carter and faculty pianist Esther Wang will be presented at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 in Jussi Bjorling Recital Hall. Works by Beethoven, Faure, and Tchaikovsky will be performed. The recital is free and open to the public. Why Read Lecture Nov. 1... Mark Edmundson will deliver the 2006-07 Lefler Lecture at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1 in Alumni Hall. Edmundson, Daniels Family Professor of English at the University of Virginia, is the author of "Why Read?," "Teacher: The One Who Made a Difference," and other books. In his lecture, Edmundson will explore the vital role that reading plays in the making of engaged citizens and will challenge the audience to understand why it is necessary to read. The event is free and open to the public. Lunch and Learn Nov. 3... The campus community is invited to the November Lunch and Learn at noon Friday, Nov. 3 in a banquet room in the Campus Center. Kelly Banyai, a health services coordinator from Life Line Screening, will explain what the risk factors are for a stroke and how many non-symptomatic diseases, such as carotid artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and osteoporosis can be prevented. Cost is $5; reservations can be made with Kari Eckheart (x6416). OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS OF INTEREST:Benefit Concert Sunday... First Lutheran Church in St. Peter will present a Music for Missions concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22. The guest pianist will be Nathan Knutson, a member of the adjunct faculty at Minnesota State University Mankato. The program will feature the Mephisto Waltz No. 1 by Franz Liszt, as well as works by Brahms and Poulenc. A free-will offering will benefit the Levi Selly family, whose home was destroyed by the August tornado. For more information, contact Chad Winterfeldt (934-3060).EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE:Laura Behling (English) has published "Politics and the Pandemic: HIV/AIDS, Africa, and the Discourse of Disability," in the Review of Disability Studies. The article appears in a special forum on "Disability and Deliverance in the Wake of Disaster."Julie Gilbert (library) presented a poster session, "Am I Dusting Those Shelves for Nothing? Reference Book Use in a Small Public Library," at the Minnesota Library Association Conference in September. Andy Vaughn (religion) recently published the following items:
New FacesThe following people have recently joined the Gustavus community:New Support Staff POSITION OPENINGS:
CONGREGATIONAL OUTREACH:Retreat... The Office of Church Relations will host a confirmation retreat Saturday, Oct. 21 for First Lutheran Church from Le Sueur. Student Visit... The Office of Church Relations will host the following church high school group with an interest in Lutheran higher education: Easter Lutheran Church from Eagan on Thursday, Oct. 19 and Friday, Oct. 20. FUNDING OPPS:The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations' weekly program or funding opportunity highlight:
IN THE MEDIA:Here 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 Media Relations Manager Jonathan Kraatz (x7510 or jkraatz@gustavus.edu). HOURS:Library Hours for Fall Break... 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21; noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22; 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23; and 8 a.m.-1 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24. For Sale: Two desks ($35 each); two office chairs ($35 each); gas grill with gas tank ($40); wing back chair ($30); old dresser ($5); wardrobe ($25); two white bookshelves ($30 each); six-foot fiberglass step ladder ($50); full-size mattress set ($200); work bench ($20); and TV stand/entertainment center ($25). Contact Andy (x7475 or avaughn@gustavus.edu). For Rent: New four-bedroom, two and one-half bath town home close to campus. Large living room, kitchen with island, dining area; master bedroom and three additional bedrooms located upstairs. Rooms are carpeted with exception of kitchen, bathrooms, and entry way. Spacious two plus car garage is located across from front door. Rent is $1,200 per month; rent does not include utilities or heat. No pets allowed. Call (952) 881-1198 (ask for Barb or Bob) to see the property or if questions.THANK YOUS:Cheri Brown (institutional advancement) thanks everyone who donated hours during her recovery. "I appreciated all of the kindness and support which made recovery much less stressful. Again, many thanks," she says. 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.
The Yellow Sheet is a newsletter for Gustavus Adolphus College employees produced by the Office of Marketing and Communication. It is published weekly during the academic year (except during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Touring, Spring, and 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 Communication. 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 |