Inside Gustavus October 29, 2009 | Volume 42, Number 9

President's Cabinet Summary

The President’s Cabinet met on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and discussed the following items:

• Scheduling Homecoming, Family Weekend, and Nobel Conference was discussed. Consensus was that on major institutional milestone occasions (inaugurations, historic institutional anniversaries, capital campaign launches, etc.) Homecoming, Nobel Conference, and Family Weekend activities will be held in an overlapping timeframe.  Otherwise, preferable timing (in order) for these three major events is as follows: Homecoming, Nobel Conference, Family Weekend.
  
  Fall 2010 Events:
  Homecoming Week - Sept. 19-25
  Nobel Conference - Oct. 3-6
  Family Weekend - Oct. 8-10
  
  Fall 2011 Events (beginning of Gustavus’s Sesquicentennial celebration):
  Homecoming Week - Sept. 25-Oct. 2
  Family Weekend - Sept. 30-Oct. 2
  Nobel Conference - Oct. 2-5
   
• Vice presidents were requested to prepare progress reports by the end of the calendar year on the Board-approved 2009-10 institutional goals, as presented to the campus community at the President’s Colloquium on Sept. 2.
• The agreed-upon enrollment goal for Fall 2010 is 700 incoming students (first-year and transfer). Discussion of this 40-student increase over 2009’s goal included continuing to engage the support of faculty, staff, and alumni to assist in reaching this goal.
• The spread of influenza-like illness (ILI) appears to be slowing on campus. Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, the Pandemic Advisory Committee will not meet this week.
• Discussion was held concerning a request for the College to consider offering childcare facilities and services on campus.  Given the availability of local childcare, limited space on campus, and other factors, it was decided that the College would not pursue this option at this time. However, President Ohle will continue to discuss this issue with the St. Peter Public Schools and City of St. Peter leaders.
• Preliminary discussions were held regarding the Music Showcase, a biennial Twin Cities concert of Gustavus’s main performing ensembles. Given considerations, including venue availability and timing, the Cabinet agreed to continue the discussion at an upcoming meeting.
• A Dining Service replacement position was approved.

News & Announcements

Staff and Faculty Awards Announced... Please join with other members of the College community for the award ceremony on Founders Day, Friday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. in Christ Chapel, when three colleagues will be recognized. The Augusta Carlson Schultz Award for the Outstanding Support Staff Employee of 2009 will be awarded to Chris Blaschko (physical plant), the Eric Norelius Award for the Outstanding Administrative Employee for 2009 will be given to Janet DeMars (athletics/tennis center), and the Faculty Service Award for 2009 will be given to Carolyn Dobler (MCS). A reception in Alumni Hall in honor of the recipients follows the award ceremony.

Remembrance Prayers Offered... All are welcome to attend the All Saints' Sunday service in Christ Chapel on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 10:30 a.m. If you would like to have your departed loved ones remembered in the prayers during the service, please submit their name(s) to Kathy Chalhoub in the Chaplains' Office (chalhoub@gustavus.edu) by Friday.

Ride to the Cities... Faculty, administrators, support staff, and students are all welcome to ride in the vanpool to/from the Twin Cities on an occasional basis. Cost is $10 per trip (i.e., each way). The van arrives at Gustavus at 8 a.m. every weekday and leaves Gustavus at 4:45 p.m. Drop-off at Mall of America or airport may be possible. Contact Eric Dugdale (classics) at edugdale@gustavus.edu for further details.

Faculty Luncheon with the President... Faculty members are invited to join President Ohle for a luncheon forum this fall. This event will provide an opportunity for interaction and a time for sharing ideas. The luncheon will be held on Friday, Nov. 13, at 11:30 a.m. in the Presidents Dining Room. RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 11, to the President's Office by calling Pat Leagjeld at x7538 or e-mailing her at pleagjel@gustavus.edu.

Passport Application and Renewal Services Offered... Did you know that U.S. Citizens now need to have a passport to travel to Canada and Mexico? Did you know that passport application and renewal services will be offered at the Semester and Year-Long Off-Campus (Study Abroad) Program Fair? From 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, representatives from the Nicollet County Recorder's Office (http://www.co.nicollet.mn.us/) will be accepting and processing passport applications (new and renewals). Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to stop by and use their services. They will be set up next door to the study-abroad fair in the St. Peter Room. Further information and passport applications can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html The County Recorder's office will be equipped to take passport photos at the fair (2 for $12.00), or you can get your passport photos done in Olin Hall Room 032 (2 for $5.00) beforehand and bring them with you.

Gustavus After Hours... On Monday, Nov. 30, at 5 p.m. in the atrium area of the Nobel Hall of Science, employees are invited to visit with President Ohle over refreshments at the close of the workday. This will be a casual social gathering. All are encouraged to come and enjoy one another's company. 

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. 30 - Founders Day: Mark Anderson (admission & fin. aid), homilist; President Ohle, awards presentation
• Sunday, Nov. 1 - All Saints' Sunday: Chaplain Brian Johnson
• Monday, Nov. 2 - "Sacred Steps" preview: Chaplain Rachel Larson, "Pilgrimage: Stories along the Way"
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 - David Johnson '84, 2009 Arnold Carlson Award recipient
• Wednesday, Nov. 4 - "Sacred Steps": Morning Praise with the Choir of Christ Chapel, "Waymarks and Resting Places"
• Thursday, Nov. 5 - "Sacred Steps": Taizé
• Friday, Nov. 6 - International Day

Astronomy Lecture... "Ices and Oceans in the Outer Solar System" is the topic of Robert Pappalardo, Ph.D., of the Planetary Science Section of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech, who will speak in Olin Hall #103 tonight (Thursday, Oct. 29) at 7:30 p.m. His visit was arranged through the Society of Physics Students. Refreshments will be served.

Trio of Plays Opens Theatre Season... The Department of Theatre and Dance opens its 2009-10 Anderson Theatre season with a trio of short but spellbinding plays: Caryl Churchill’s Far Away and Seven Jewish Children, and Deb Margolin’s Seven Palestinian Children. Performances of the plays, which are directed by Amy Seham (theatre & dance), will be held Oct. 30 and 31 and Nov. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m., with matinee performances on Nov. 1 and 7 at 2 p.m. Because of the provocative nature of the plays, talk-back sessions will be held after every performance with the director and cast, led by members of the Curriculum II theatre arts course in dramaturgy. Tickets are available through the Gustavus Ticket Center (507-933-7590) at $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens, with Gustavus students and staff able to obtain a ticket free of charge. Tickets not purchased in advance may be purchased at the Anderson Theatre Box Office beginning one hour prior to curtain. **NOTE: Ticket prices refer to Far Away only. In accordance with requirements set by playwrights Churchill and Margolin, admission to the two "children" plays is FREE. These plays will begin after a break approximately one hour after Far Away begins. Donations are requested to Medical Aid for Palestinians and to the One Israel Fund. 

Classroom Technology Is Topic of Next Faculty Shop Talk... Daniel Moos (education) will present the next Faculty Shop Talk of the 2009-10 academic year. His talk, titled "Technology in the Classroom: Frustration Meets Theory," will be presented on Friday, Oct. 30, 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/.

Art Lecture to Discuss Windmills, Wind Turbines... Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., curator of Northern Baroque Art at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., will be on campus to present a lecture on "The Windmill: Its Varied Functions and Symbolic Associations in Dutch Art" on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 3:30 p.m. in Wallenberg Auditorium, Nobel Hall of Science. His talk will consider the proliferation of images of windmills in Dutch art of the 17th century, allowing comparisons to be drawn with contemporary wind turbine artworks that are becoming more prevalent today as wind power is embraced as an important part of the solution to the global energy and climate crises. Wheelock's appearance is supported by the Lecture Series of the College and is presented in conjunction with the Hillstrom Museum of Art's current exhibition, "Winds of Inspiration, Winds of Change" (on view through Nov. 8), which explores wind turbines.

Pompeii: Fact vs. Film... Martin Winkler, Ph.D., University Professor of Classics at George Mason University and an internationally recognized expert in classics and film studies, will visit Gustavus to present a lecture titled "The Last Days of Pompeii: From Fact to Fiction to Film." His lecture is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, beginning at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Winkler's visit is part of the College's Lecture Series and is sponsored by the departments of Classics, Art and Art History, and Communication Studies; Curriculum II; and the film studies unit of the Department of English.

Medical Whistle-Blower Is Wallenberg Lecturer... The Fall 2009 Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Lecture will be held on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. in Knut Wallenberg Auditorium, Nobel Hall of Science. Steven H. Miles, M.D., of the University of Minnesota Medical School, will speak on "Oath Betrayed: America's Torture Doctors." Dr. Miles became an international figure when he spoke up about the complicity of medical professionals in the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. What surprised him most was that the doctors and nurses did not speak up about the abuse, but rather were co-opted into the process and became active participants. Miles will speak about his extensive investigation into America's use of torture and the violations of the medical profession's oath to do no harm. Miles is a professor of medicine and bioethics and also an affiliate faculty for the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the university. His lecture is sponsored by Peace Studies and is free and open to the public.

Alumnus Receives Christian Ethics Award... The Arnold E. Carlson Award, an award relating Christian ethics to society, will be presented to Dr. David W. Johnson '84 on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Alumni Hall prior to his lecture on "Vocation in Today's World: God's Work, Our Hands." In 2008, Johnson, an opthalmologist, led a medical team of nine to Ilula Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania, where more than 700 patients were screened and 62 cataract surgeries performed. Following the public lecture, a reception will be held in Linner Lounge. Johnson will also be the Chapel homilist on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The following day he will visit with classes and meet with students interested in the health professions.

'Sacred Steps' Exhibition in Chapel... "Sacred Steps on the Camino," an exhibition of 39 photographs, paintings, and sketches by eight North American artists that collectively reflect on the experience of pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, opens on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel with readings, reflection, music, and viewing. Free and open to the public, the Sacred Steps exhibition can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily in Christ Chapel between its opening on Nov. 4 and Wednesday, Nov. 18. The Camino de Santiago de Compostela, known in English as the Way of St. James, is a vast network of pilgrimage routes that, in many cases, created the highways of medieval Europe. They all have as their final destination the cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (northwest Spain), purported home to the remains of St. James the Apostle. The cathedral has been one of Christianity’s premier pilgrimage sites for centuries. A series of events, including the opening devotional service, daily Chapel homilies, and a labyrinth walk, have been scheduled to complement the presence of Sacred Steps at the College and to provide the Gustavus and surrounding communities with opportunities to explore the many paths of personal and spiritual pilgrimage. A complete schedule of events can be found at http://gustavus.edu/go/sacredsteps/. Sacred Steps is an initiative created by medievalist professor George Greenia at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. The exhibition’s display on the Gustavus campus is made possible by support from the Program for Cultural Cooperation Between Spain’s Ministry for Culture and U. S. Universities; the Xunta de Galicia and its Xacobeo Foundation for pilgrimage studies; and by the Chaplains’ Office and the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Gustavus. The traveling exhibition, administered by the Spanish Embassy in Washington, D.C., opened two years ago at William and Mary.

Off-Campus Events of Interest

Annual Lutefisk Feed... Scandian Grove Lutheran Church (10 mi. NW of St. Peter on Hwy. 22) will host its annual Lutefisk Fall Supper on Saturday, Nov. 7. Come for lunch or dinner: serving times are 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.

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Awareness Event... On Friday, Oct. 30, a non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma awareness event in honor of Katrina siebels and Margaret Wenner will be held at Johnson Hall on the Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 6 p.m.-midnight. In addition to providing cancer awareness information, the event includes a cancer support gift shop with bracelets, T-shirts, etc.; a silent auction; activities for kids; a $10 pork dinner meal (pork sandwich, beans, chips, and bar; kids under 12 $5), and a cash bar. A DJ dance begins around 8 p.m.

Congregational Outreach

Retreats... The Office of Church Relations will host an on-campus confirmation retreat for Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of New Prague, Minn., on Oct. 30-31.

GACAC Service Award... The Association of Congregations' 2009 Service Award was presented to Susan J. Alexis '71 during Daily Chapel on Oct. 29 for her work as an interpreter for numerous medical mission groups serving in Nicaragua, Peru, Honduras, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uruguay, Guatemala, and Mexico. Alexis is the author of two books addressing taking health care to the poor and serving the disadvantaged through non-profit organizations across the globe.

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

Plugs

For Sale or Rent... Well-maintained, charming 1915 four-bedroom home with original oak woodwork, newer oversized 2-car garage with attached workshop and matching shed. Large yard, custom cedar fence with patio area. Remodeled kitchen with island and steel French-door refrigerator and breakfast porch. First floor features leaded glass windows in foyer, living room, and dining room with pocket doors with beveled glass. First-floor office or den. Finished basement with laundry (washer and dryer included) and complete bath. Second floor features four bedrooms, center hall with original maple built-in cabinetry, and family room with wood-burning stove. Walk-up attic with dormers. Walk to College, coffee, Co-op, pool, and more. Inquiries: e-mail jmsmith@gustavus.edu or call 507-469-9105. For pictures and more information see our page at: http://web.me.com/swjmsmith/House/details.html.

Part-time Nanny Wanted... Betsy and Eric Elias (biology) are looking for a responsible, caring individual to come to their home in New Ulm and nanny for their three children (Will - 4, Iris - 3, and June - 1). The position is for approximately 16 hours/week, and the schedule is regular. "We may have some flexibility regarding days/hours, but ideal hours would be M and W all day. Start date is immediate and runs through the school year. Negotiable, competitive pay." For more information, please call Eric or Betsy Elias at 507-382-3482 (cell) or 507-359-3331 (home).

"Plugs" is maintained as a forum by which members of the Gustavus community may offer goods and/or 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 or retailers, although from time to time such announcements may be published when deemed to be of particular interest to the community.

 



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Inside Gustavus 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: Inside Gustavus, 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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