The Yellow Sheet for October 30October 30, 2008 | Volume 41, Number 9

Volume 41, Number 9

• News & Announcements
• Campus Happenings
• Off-Campus Events
• Extraordinary People
• Births
• Position Openings
• New Faces
• Congregational Outreach
• Funding Opps
• In the Media
• Telecommunications Updates
• Plugs
• Calendar of Events
• Submit an Item Online

News & Announcements

'Multicultural Day'... The Admission Office is hosting "Multicultural Day" on Saturday, Nov. 1. There will be about 200 prospective students and their families visiting the campus. If you see visitors looking lost or hesitant, make them feel welcome with a smile or hello, and offer any assistance they may need as they navigate campus.

Recycle Your Batteries... At the request of the Greens, the campus is now collecting used rechargeable batteries and cell phones from the Gustavus community for recycling. The service is being offered through Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) out of Atlanta, Ga. RBRC supplies collection boxes free of charge and even pays for shipping. Batteries that can be accepted for recycling are as follows: Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion, Small Sealed Lead. All batteries must weigh less than 2 lbs. Cell phones are also accepted. To have your battery or cell phone recycled, go to one of the collection stations that have been set up, at the Book Mark in the Jackson Campus Center or at GTS on the first floor of Olin Hall. Place your battery or cell phone into a clear plastic bag (located at the stations), seal the bag, and deposit it into the collection box. Student Safety and Security workers will be managing the collection stations weekly. If you have further questions regarding the recycling program, please send an e-mail to jstratma@gustavus.edu or eoctigan@gustavus.edu.

Conversations about High-Risk Drinking... In response to the national call for discussion and debate about a culture of high-risk drinking on college and university campuses known as the Amethyst Initiative, conversations will be initiated soon at Gustavus and within the St. Peter community. The conversations will focus less on the ways and degree to which high-risk drinking among some students gives rise to negative results but rather will focus more intently on realistically assessing and enhancing strategies for reducing or eliminating the high-risk consumption of alcohol in our community.
     Although about a quarter of Gustavus students don't consume alcohol (ACHA Survey, 2006) and many others who do do so responsibly, an increasing number of students in recent years have engaged in alcohol use that is dangerous and is often accompanied with other negative consequences (sexual assault, physical injury, etc.). Beginning in November and extending through February, a core group of Gustavus students, faculty, and staff will host “listening sessions” on campus and within St. Peter to discuss high-risk behaviors with alcohol evident among a subset of our student population, to critically examine and evaluate various strategies currently used in response to these behaviors, and to consider whether and how strategic changes might contribute to greater success in addressing the problem. The Office of the Dean of Students encourages you to participate in these conversations according to your interests and as your schedules permit.

Vacation Donations Being Accepted... Employees who would like to donate vacation hours for a Gustavus employee who will be on an approved FMLA leave and will run out of paid-time benefits should complete and sign a request for transfer of vacation hours available at the Office of Human Resources (x7304).

Ushers Wanted... Ushers are needed for Christmas in Christ Chapel services (for any or all of five services: Friday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 6, 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 7, 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.). Those who volunteer are asked to be at Christ Chapel 90 minutes before the service starts and may stay or leave after the service begins. To volunteer, contact Dana (x7550 or dlamb@gustavus.edu) at your earliest convenience.

Campus Happenings

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:

• Friday, Oct. 31 - Reformation Hymn Festival
• Sunday, Nov. 2 - All Saints' Sunday: Chaplain Rachel Larson
• Monday, Nov. 3 - GACAC Service Awards
• Tuesday, Nov. 4 - Will Freiert (classics)
• Wednesday, Nov. 5 - Morning Praise
• Thursday, Nov. 6 - Student Senate Installation: Luke Garrison & Shawn Grygo
• Friday, Nov. 7 - International Day

'Dancing with the Profs'... "Dancing with the Profs 3" will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Based on the popular TV show Dancing with the Stars on ABC, “Profs” gives five teams of students and professors/staff just a few short weeks to learn a swing dance and perform it in front of a live audience. What is truly special about the show is that it is a benefit for the Saint Peter United Way. In 2007, the event raised more than $5,000 for the charity organization.
      This year's contestants are Andrea Gross (theatre & dance) and sophomore David Kreft, Brian Johnson (chaplains' office) and sophomore Kimberly Braun, Cassandra Nelson (student activities) and senior Kevin Horn, Jeff Rosoff (MCS) and senior Alicia Cameron, and Kyhl Thomson (Dining Service) and senior Marissa Schon.
     Tickets for this year’s event are $3 for students, faculty, and staff and $5 for other members of the community. Tickets are available Oct. 27-31, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the entrance to the Evelyn Young Dining Room, as well as at the door on the night of the show. A coin drive will also be taking place at the ticket sales table, and donations will also be accepted at the door. There is also a raffle with 15 prize packages valued between $20 and $55. Raffle tickets will be sold at the same time and location as tickets to the show and cost $2 each, 3 for $5, or 7 for $10. Winners will be drawn after the show and notified by e-mail. Dancing with the Profs is sponsored by CAB, GAC TV, and Gustavus Swing Club.

Association of Congregations Presents 2008 Service Awards... The Association of Congregations Service Award recognizes alumni and former students of Gustavus who have made distinctive commitments and contributions to the service of others. On Monday, Nov. 3, Mary Ellen (Tordsen) Kitundu '65 and Dr. Dennis Lofstrom '51 will receive this award during daily chapel at 10 a.m. Please come and help in honoring these two individuals.
     Kitundu is currently the president of International Health Partners (IHP) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Her career centered on practicing nursing and teaching, including in the Gustavus nursing department, and sharing her love of art both in nursing and in congregations. As president of IHP, she has developed three projects in the Nyakato Lutheran Hospital in Mwanza, a pediatric hospital working with victims of HIV/AIDS in Dar es Salaam, and worked with St. John's University Nursing School, Iowa. The scope and depth of her work far exceed her love of nursing, creatively including art as a tool for the exchange of knowledge and sharing of cultures. She and her husband Peter continue to live in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Dennis Lofstrom, M.D., is vice president and chief operations officer of IHP of the United States and Tanzania. He has worked at three hospitals in Tanzania, one of the poorest countries in the world. Most recently at Nyakato Health Center, he steers a project to create a self-sustaining health care system that will provide ongoing care of the best possible quality in this developing country. In a recent three-month period, he made 80 presentations and traveled over 12,000 miles working to raise funds for this project, and to selflessly bring the light of healing to a land that he loves. He lives in Tanzania with his wife, Paula.

Chill Out... The eighth annual Gustavus Chill Out and Wellness Fair is slated for Thursday, Nov. 6. Put on by the Center for Vocational Reflection and many other contributors, this event provides what every member of the Gustavus community needs half-way through a busy first semester: a chance to chill out. There will be as many as 100 vendors there offering everything from educating people on healthy relationships and sexual assault awareness to back massages, DDR, free food, and so much more. The fair runs all day in the Jackson Campus Center banquet rooms.

Ceramic Demonstration and Lecture... Holly Anderson Jorde, ceramic professor at UMD, will be on campus Thursday, Nov. 6, and will be demonstrating her art and speaking 1:30-4:30 p.m. in Schafer Fine Arts Building, Room 105. Her work is influenced by Scandinavian folk art and mid-century modern design. All are invited.

Award-Winning Author to Read on Campus... Acclaimed author Wang Ping will be on campus on Thursday, Nov. 6, to read from her works. The reading, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Melva Lind Interpretive Center, is open to the public without charge. Wang Ping, who was born in Shanghai and grew up on a small island in the East China Sea, is the author of the short story collection American Visa (1994); the novel Foreign Devil (1996); two poetry collections, Of Flesh & Spirit (1998) and The Magic Whip (2003); the cultural study Aching for Beauty: Footbinding in China (2000); and more recently Emperor Dragon (2006), a traditional Chinese folk tale, and The Last Communist Virgin (April 2007), a second collection of stories. She has received awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, the New York State Council for the Arts for her poetry, and the Minnesota State Arts Board for her fiction.

Faculty Shop Talk... Tom Huber (physics) will present the next Faculty Shop Talk of the 2008-09 academic year. His talk, titled "Vibration of Small Objects Using Ultrasound Radiation Force," will be presented on Friday, Nov. 7, at 4:30 p.m. 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/.

Hit Someone for a Good Cause... A charity fundraiser dodgeball tournament will take place in the Forum of Lund Center on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 3 to 6 p.m. This event, hosted by Amnesty International GAC, will send all proceeds to US Campaign for Burma to help stop the violations of human rights. Enter a 6-10 player team to have a chance to square off for great prizes! Prizes go to best dressed and the top three teams in the tournament. This tournament is a charity fundraiser, so each team is required a minimal entrance fee of $20, 100 percent of which goes to the charity. So, if you want to help a good cause while getting your game on, sign up for Dodgeball for Burma. Contact Dain or Angela with your team name and roster before Nov. 5, at dclausen@gustavus.edu or aallen@gustavus.edu.

Writer/Editor to Visit... Ellen Booraem, author of the new adolescent fantasy novel The Unnameables, will read from this work, as well as a forthcoming work, on Thursday, Nov. 13, in the Courtyard Café at 4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Copies of her book are available for purchase in the Book Mark, and may be borrowed from several St. Peter area shops, including The Tangled Skein, the St. Peter Food Coop, and The River Rock.

Off-Campus Events of Interest

Pleine Aire Paintings at Arts Center... The Arts Center of Saint Peter (315 S. Minnesota Ave.) is currently showing a series of pleine aire paintings from landscape impressionist Sara Leadholm in a vibrant exhibition titled "Landscape Impressions." Open through Dec. 1, 2008, the exhibition unveils Leadholm’s recent work exploring the landscapes of rural Minnesota and areas along the Pacific coast. The exhibition pursues the connection between nature and the mind. Leadholm began her studies under the instruction of Joe Paquet, a pleine aire landscape painter. She went on to serve as an arts director in the advertising industry in New York City and has taught in the Minnesota public school system as an art teacher. Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday and 1-8 p.m. on Thursdays. For further information contact David Goldstein '08, executive director, at 931-3630 or dgoldstein@artscentersp.org.

As If You Needed to be Reminded Again... Scandian Grove Lutheran Church, Norseland, Minn., will hold this year's edition of its annual Lutefisk Fall Supper on Saturday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Cost is $14 for adults, $6 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Scandian Grove is located 10 miles west of St. Peter on Hwy. 22 (take Co. Rd. 52 north and go about a half mile). Take-outs are available.

Extraordinary People

Doug Huff (philosophy) has recently published two articles: "Wittgenstein and the Lure of Mysticism," in Revisiting Mysticism (Cambridge Scholars Press), and "Wittgenstein and the Paradox of Consciousness," in Suvidya: Journal of Philosophy and Religion (June 2008).

Barbara Fister (library) moderated a panel on supporting undergraduate research at the Oberlin Group Library Directors annual meeting in Clinton, N.Y., on Oct. 17.

Helena Karlsson and Roland Thorstensson (both Scandinavian studies) recently attended the annual Conference for North American University Teachers of Swedish, this year held at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. Topics ranged from theories about second-language acquisition and teaching to the Swedish presence in Canada. The most thought-provoking discussion was led by Swedish writer Johan Tell, whose recent book on sustainability, "Moderation—100 Ways To Save the World," is a interdisciplinary study of what the average person can do "to save the world."

During the chapel service on Oct. 30, three members of the Gustavus community were honored with service awards. The Augusta Carlson Schultz Award for the Outstanding Support Staff Employee of 2008 was presented to Judy Waldhauser (admission). Virgil Jones (diversity development) received the Eric Norelius Award for the Outstanding Administrative Employee of 2008. And, the 2008 Faculty Service Award was given to Florence Amamoto (English).

Mark Bjelland (geography) presented a paper, titled "Incorporating Watershed Studies into the Gustavus Environmental Studies Curriculum," at the Geological Society of America's annual meeting, held on Oct. 9, 2008, in Houston, Texas. Bjelland's paper drew upon the work of Gustavus colleagues Jeff Jeremiason, Joel Carlin, and Laura Triplett and students Laura Pierce, Linda Kanne, and Katherine Ladig. Back at home, Bjelland also led a workshop studying the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's social statement on the environment. The workshop was part of a retreat held at Gustavus for a men's reading group from Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minn.

Athletics Director Al Molde will be inducted into the Western Michigan University Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 31, in Grand Rapids, Mich. Molde, a 1966 graduate of Gustavus, was the head football coach at Western Michigan from 1987 until 1996. During his time at WMU, he earned the fifth-best overall winning percentage (.568) in program history among coaches with at least five years in the position. Molde is tied with WMU Athletic Hall of Famer William Spaulding for most wins by a coach (62) and coached 22 of the 100 players on WMU’s All-Century team. He led the Broncos to the program’s only outright MAC title and a berth in the California Bowl in 1988. That same year he was named MAC Coach of the Year. Molde is the 13th WMU coach to be inducted into their Hall of Fame. More background may be found in a story that appeared on a Western Michigan area website:
www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2008/10/hall_of_fame_molde_on_cutting.html.

Births

• Lydia Susan was born on Oct. 29 to Jill Fischer (international & cultural education) and John Paul.

Position Openings

• Graphic designer/production manager (marketing & communication)

For more information on the aforementioned position(s), call Human Resources (x7304).

New Faces

The following people have recently joined the Gustavus community:

    New Administrators

• William Johnson, assistant vice president for institutional advancement and director of development (institutional advancement)

Congregational Outreach

Partners in Education... Presenters scheduled for this week include Amy Pehrson, who will be giving her talk, "Honoring the Sabbath: A Lay Perspective," at 11 a.m. at Mount Carmel Lutheran Church in Minneapolis this Sunday, Nov. 2. Partners in Education is a program coordinated by the Office of Church Relations in which participating faculty and staff members prepare topical presentations for adult forums, workshops, and seminars in congregations of the ELCA.

Retreats... The Office of Church Relations will host a confirmation retreat for Central Lutheran Church from Minneapolis this Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2.

Music in Worship... Any Gustavus music ensemble or soloist is welcome to perform in congregations. For more information, contact Marilyn Beyer (x7001).

Funding Opps

The Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations' weekly program or funding opportunity highlight:

• Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI)... The National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, and to foster the integration of research and education by providing shared instrumentation for research-intensive learning environments. This program assists in the acquisition or development of major research instrumentation that is, in general, too costly for support through other NSF programs. The maintenance and technical support associated with these instruments is also supported. Awards for instrumentation range from $100,000 to $4 million. Proposals requesting less than $100,000 will be considered only from non-Ph.D. granting institutions, and from the disciplines of mathematical science or social, behavioral, and economic science at any eligible institution. Proposals requesting more than $2 million only support the acquisition of a single instrument. The next deadline for this annual competition is January 22, 2009. For more information, please see http://nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf09502.

For more information on grants or proposal preparation, contact Bob Weisenfeld in the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (x7049 or bweis@gustavus.edu).

In the Media

Here are some noteworthy Gustavus-related stories that recently appeared in print or broadcast media locally, regionally, or around the nation:

• StarTribune.com posted an editorial on Tuesday, Oct. 21, about college policies regarding allowing political speakers on campus. Gustavus was featured in the story and Hank Toutain (student affairs) was quoted.
• The Mankato Free Press printed a front page story on Tuesday, Oct. 21, about polar explorer Ann Bancroft’s appearance on campus.
• The Shoreview Press printed a column about the Nobel Conference in its Tuesday, Oct. 21, edition.
• KEYC-TV ran a story about Ann Bancroft’s visit to Gustavus on its Tuesday, Oct. 21, newscasts.
• The Mankato Free Press printed a story about the theatre department's production of Topsy Turvy Mouse in its Thursday, Oct. 23, Currents section.
• The Star Tribune printed a story on Thursday, Oct. 23, about college policies regarding allowing political speakers on campus. Hank Toutain (student affairs) was quoted in the story.
• The St. Peter Herald printed a story about Ann Bancroft’s appearance on campus in its Thursday, Oct. 23, edition.
• The St. Peter Herald printed a story about Hall of Fame inductee Milt Brostrom (MCS, emeritus) in its Thursday, Oct. 23, edition. Brostom is a 1949 graduate of Gustavus.
• The St. Peter Herald printed a story about Gustavus being selected to host the state high school speech tournament in its Thursday, Oct. 23, edition. Kris Kracht (communication studies & forensics) was quoted in the story.
• The St. Peter Herald printed a news brief about the Nobel laureate Leon Lederman's lecture on Oct. 24 in its Thursday, Oct. 23, edition.
• The St. Peter Herald printed a story about Gustavus Greeks who would be collecting food and books on Oct. 30 in its Thursday, Oct. 23, edition.
• The St. Peter Herald printed a story about men’s tennis player John Kauss winning the ITA Division III singles championship in its Thursday, Oct. 23, edition.
• The Times and the Herald, two South African newspapers, printed stories about Curtis Marean’s appearance at the Nobel Conference.
• The Mankato Free Press printed a story about the football team’s 34-31 victory over Augsburg in its Sunday, Oct. 26, Sports section. Senior Ray Wilson and head coach Jay Schoenebeck were quoted in the story.

Anyone who has suggested additions for this list, suggestions for potential future media stories, or interest in being a media source should contact Marketing and Communication (x7520 or ga_news@gustavus.edu).

Telecommunications Updates

The following are changes and additions for the "Personnel Phone Directory 2008-09"

• William Johnson, institutional advancement, phone: x7543, e-mail: wjohnson (addition)
• Sandra Volk, Dining Service, phone: x7608 (deletion)

For further information or corrections, contact Laura McCabe in telecommunications (x6261 or lmccabe@gustavus.edu).

Plugs

House for Rent Starting January 2009: Three-bedroom home 1/2 block from Gustavus and South Elementary. Fireplace, office, three-season porch, open kitchen/living area, family room, lots of storage. Great yard, great views from the top of the valley. Responsible renters only; references required; six-month lease okay. Contact sstevens@gustavus.edu or Sharon at 507-351-8637.

Home for Sale or Rent: Main floor finished: large master bedroom with walk-in closet and walk-through study/reading room/nursery; stainless appliances and Silestone countertops in kitchen; modern bathroom; spacious living/dining room with vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors; lots of windows; two porches. Basement unfinished: wired and framed for two additional bedrooms; full bathroom; utilities/laundry; ample storage; huge family room; in-floor heat. Orchard and garden outside; city-maintained walking paths across the street. Very close to campus. If interested, e-mail klipke@gustavus.edu or call 507-327-2802.

Lake Home for Rent... Unique, custom-designed home built on the point of Tomahawk Point, with more than 500 feet of shoreline on West Lake Jefferson. Living room with floor-to-ceiling Kasota stone fireplace, wrap-around two-level deck, family room, two bedrooms plus office/rec room/third bedroom area. Attached double garage, dock. Prefer faculty or staff member. Available Dec. 1, 2008, at $1,500/month plus utilities (one-year lease). Call Barb at 507-340-5699.

"Plugs" is maintained as a forum by which members of the Gustavus community may offer goods and services to others in the community, or seek the same from them. It is not meant to accommodate ads or announcements from area businesses such as real estate agents and retailers, although from time to time such announcements may be published when deemed to be of particular interest to the community.

 



To add or change items on the calendar, please fill out and submit a College Calendar event form. View the entire College Calendar online.

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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 the week of Thanksgiving, the Christmas break, Touring Week, and the Spring and Easter breaks). Anyone may submit items by filling out an online submission form. While online 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 Steve Waldhauser (waldo@gustavus.edu or x6413).

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