Inside Gustavus March 4, 2010 | Volume 42, Number 23

President's Cabinet Summary

The President’s Cabinet met on Tuesday, March 2, and discussed the following topics:

• Earlier this academic year, students submitted to President Ohle 95 suggestions "to enhance the already well-established institution we [students] attend." As part of an annual feedback process, these student suggestions were reviewed, and the Cabinet will formally respond to student body leaders this spring.
• Conversation continued about the desirability for central planning and authority to manage constituent contact information input and retrieval through Datatel and related systems. A current staff member will be named to manage this database coordination of the information. Last week’s Cabinet Summary referred to this role as a chief information officer, but, in fact, this responsibility is most accurately described as a database coordinator.  
• A progress report was given on the state-funded and county-managed initiative to reduce tobacco use on campus. At an upcoming meeting, the Cabinet will review a draft campus survey on smoking cessation.
• The group was updated on Day at the Capitol registration, which has surpassed recent years. President Ohle will join the group to advocate for the State Grant program at the legislature.
• The Cabinet approved supplemental student fees for the 2010-2011 academic year.

News & Announcements

An Invitation to a Ball... The Campus Activities Board invites the entire Gustavus community to the 27th annual President's Ball. This year, President's Ball will be held on Saturday, March 20, at the International Market Square in Minneapolis. The evening will feature a catered meal by D'Amico Catering, the music of the Rockin' Hollywoods, and Gustavus's own Quintessence. Tickets are available for purchase for $30 each at www.gustavustickets.com.

Advertising Recognition... When this year's Educational Advertising Awards were announced in February, Gustavus earned recognition for three of its entries. The Office of Admission had entered four pieces: the new viewbook, the "travel piece" brochure, a brand video, and the new T-shirt design for visiting prospective students. The College was awarded a bronze award for both the travel piece and the T-shirt and a merit award for the video. Last year, Admission had received a gold award for the fine arts and athletics contact decks. More than 2,000 entries from more than 1,000 institutions were submitted this year; 218 received gold awards, 190 silver, and 170 bronze. Consultant BD&E, in addition to their work on the Gustavus pieces, received two additional silvers and one other merit award.

Progress Report of VP Search Committee... Committee chair Richard Leitch (poli. sci.) reports that the Search Committee for the Vice President for Enrollment Management met on Tuesday, Feb. 16, to review the process and time frame of the search and the responsibilities of the consultants, Academic Search Consultation Services. President Ohle presented the charge to the committee. Material and questions concerning the expectations of committee members were also reviewed. The next two meetings will focus on creating the objective criteria for the review of applications and the rating system and selecting candidates for interviews later in March.

Staff Reclassification Committee to Meet... The next meeting of the Staff Reclassification Committee will be held on March 25 to evaluate requests for grade changes for support staff positions. To be considered at this meeting, a complete request for position review must be received in the Office of Human Resources by March 19.

New Structure for Counseling Center... VP Jeff Stocco (student affairs) has announced a new leadership structure in the Counseling Center, effective February 15. Lisa Rinehart has agreed to serve as Counseling Center director, Stacey Gerken will continue to serve as clinical services coordinator, and Rachel Slater will retain her role as training coordinator. All three will serve in these capacities through the end of the 2010-11 academic year, at which time we will have selected a new vice president for student affairs/dean of students. Stocco states, "For the most part, if you have an established relationship with one staff member, continue to consult with that individual. If you are uncertain how to address a particular concern, I suggest that you start with Lisa Rinehart (lrinehar)." Please contact Stocco, if you have any questions about these changes.

'Gustavus After Hours'... The "Gustavus After Hours" announced at the last faculty meeting by President Ohle to be held on March 19 is rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. in Linner Lounge on March 22. Faculty and staff 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.  

Faculty Lunches with the President... President Ohle is pleased to invite faculty members to join him for luncheon forums this spring. These events will provide opportunities for regular interaction and a time for sharing ideas. The first forum is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17. The second luncheon forum will be held on Tuesday, April 6 (date change from April 22). Both lunches will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Presidents Dining Room. RSVP at least one week ahead to the President's Office by calling Pat Leagjeld at x7538 or e-mailing her at pleagjel@gustavus.edu.

Building Projects and Financing Plans Presentation... In conjunction with the faculty luncheon forum on April 6 (see above), a presentation and discussion for faculty to review the building projects and financing plans will be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Heritage Room. The presentation and discussion will end by 12:30 p.m. for the luncheon forum.

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, March 5 - Carolyn Dobler (MCS)
• Sunday, March 7 - Mary Gaebler (religion)
• Monday, March 8 - Glenn Kranking (history)
• Tuesday, March 9 - Chaplain Brian Johnson
• Wednesday, March 10 - Lenten Liturgy
• Thursday, March 11 - "Building Bridges" co-chairs Mayanthi Jayawardena and Rebekah Schulz
• Friday, March 12 - Deborah Pitton (education) and members of her IEX class in Peru

Faculty Shop Talk... Amanda Nienow (chemistry) will present the next Faculty Shop Talk of the 2009-10 academic year. Her talk, titled "What happens to herbicides sprayed on Minnesota crops?" will be presented on Friday, March 5, 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/.

Moe Lecture Scheduled for April... Drucilla Barker, professor of women’s and gender studies and director of the Women’s and Gender Studies program at the University of South Carolina, will speak at this year’s Moe Lecture in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at Gustavus. Barker, co-author of the book Liberating Economics: Feminist Perspectives on Families, Work, and Globalization, which earned distinction as a Choice Outstanding Academic Title in 2005, will present a lecture titled "Caregivers and Other Dangerous Strangers: Rethinking the Paradox of Caring Labor" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 8, in Alumni Hall. Since its inaugural year in 1997, the Moe Lectureship, endowed by Robert and Karin Moe, has helped to bring top feminist scholars to campus from the fields of biology, English, nursing, philosophy, history, and theatre. For more information about this year’s Moe Lecture, contact Peg O’Connor (philosophy & GTS) at 507-933-7573 or poconnor@gustavus.edu.

Off-Campus Events of Interest

Saint Peter Choral Society Performs 'Elijah'... The Saint Peter Choral Society will present Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah, accompanied by organist David Fienen (provost), on Sunday, March 7, at 3 p.m. at First Lutheran Church. Michael Jorgensen (music) will sing the role of Elijah, and Gustavus graduate Roy Heilman '00 will be tenor soloist. Tickets are $8 in advance at Swedish Kontur, or $10 at the door. Students are admitted free of charge. The concert will be preceded at 2:50 p.m. by a performance of Mendelssohn's Sonata for Organ #6 by Chad Winterfeldt (music), associate organist at Christ Chapel.

Daddy-Daughter Dance... The first annual Daddy-Daughter Dance will be held on Saturday, March 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the St. Peter Community Center. Dads, uncles, grandpas, big brothers, cousins, and friends . . . bring that special "daughter" in your life for a night of adventure. "A Sweet Adventure" will feature Kern Brothers Entertainment for a night of dancing and activities, including a complimentary picture and door prizes. The night will also feature a cotton candy machine and a candy bar. Purchase your ticket at the St. Peter Recreation and Leisure Services Department in the Community Center. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, with each additional guest costing $5. If you have any questions, call the Recreation Department at 934-0667.

Give Where You Live... As part of the March Campaign, the St. Peter Food Co-op and Patrick’s on Third have joined forces to stage "Groovin' for Grub," an evening of music and good vibes to benefit the St. Peter Area Food Shelf. Enjoy the funky grooves of the New Primitives (high-energy rhythm & blues, ska, reggae, calypso, and world dance music) in the name of charity on Saturday, March 20, at 9 p.m. at Patrick’s. All proceeds received at the door will be donated to the St. Peter Area Food Shelf (recommended donation at the door is $5). More information will be available at the St. Peter Food Co-op and at www.themix.coop in the weeks to come. For more information on Minnesota FoodShare and the March Campaign, visit http://mnfoodshare.gmcc.org. For more information on Second Harvest, go to http://2harvest.org.

It's in the Genes... For the third time in 13 years, the St. Peter High School Academic Decathlon team, coached by SPHS French teacher Mary Pederson Behrends '77, has taken first place in state competition. This year's championship was held Feb. 28-March 1 at the Oak Ridge Conference Center in Chaska, where the St. Peter team earned the gold medal for top overall team score (36,646) as well as gold and bronze medals for individuals in the overall standings and a total of 36 medals in individual events. The win qualifies the team for the national championships in Omaha, April 21-24. As was the case with the 2001 state championship team, the winning 2010 academic decathlon team includes a number of students with connections to Gustavus: overall gold medalist Dan Obermiller is the son of David Obermiller (history); overall bronze medalist Devin Bjelland, son of Barbara (chaplains' office) and Mark Bjelland (geography); Maggie Morrow, daughter of Terry Morrow (comm. studies); Isaac Dontje Lindell, son of Jim Dontje (Johnson Center); Dillon LoFaro, son of Tom LoFaro (MCS); Kevin Saulnier, son of Paul Saulnier (physics); and Faith Dontje Lindell, daughter of Jim Dontje (Johnson Center).

Obituaries

• F. Dale Kaiser, father of Barbara Knight Kaiser (provost's office), died on Sunday, Feb. 28. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 13, in Marion, Ohio.
• Rita A. Jewison, mother of Donna Hewitt (GTS admin. info. systems), died Thursday, Feb. 25, at Pathstone Living in Mankato. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Feb. 28 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Marysburg, Minn. Memorials are preferred to Pathstone Living.
  

To inform the campus community of the death of a current student, employee, or trustee; an emeritus professor or trustee; or an immediate family member of a current employee, contact the Office of the President (x7538 or pleagjel@gustavus.edu). Death announcements and funeral notices for students, current and emeritus faculty and employees, and trustees will be sent to the community via written notice from the president, posted on community-l, the official campus-wide e-mail list, and published in the Inside Gustavus or Summer Scoop. Notices for immediate family members of current employees will be published in the Inside Gustavus or the Summer Scoop unless they occur during a publication break, in which case they will be posted on employee-l.

Congregational Outreach

Partners in Education... Presenters scheduled for Sunday, March 7, include Elizabeth Baer (English & GTS), who will be discussing teaching children about evil in a post-Holocaust world at 9:45 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna, Minn. 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 Little Falls and Deronda Lutheran Churches from Amery, Wis., on Friday, March 5, and a retreat for Jackson Lake and Faith Lutheran Churches from Amboy, Minn., on Friday-Saturday, March 5-6. The latter retreat will include programming provided by Gustavus Youth Outreach. In addition, Church Relations will host a retreat for Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church from Minneapolis on Friday-Sunday, March 5-7.

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

Plugs

Wanted... The Nienows—Aaron (MCS) and Amanda (chemistry)—are in need of a 5-drawer dresser for their growing son. If you (or anyone you know) are thinking of donating, selling, or otherwise getting rid of such an item, contact Amanda at anienow@gustavus.edu or 933-7327.

For Rent... Two-bedroom home on Lake Washington available for lease to a Gustavus staff member for the remainder of the 2009-10 academic year. The lease is for $800 per month. This includes heat, electricity, cable TV, trash service, and snow removal. Some of the amenities include washer, dryer, dishwasher, insulated garage with storage, and cul-de-sac living. E-mail mbiehn@comcast.net.

For Sale... Twin bed: white metal headboard with frame, box spring, and mattress, in very good condition. $60. Call x7548 or e-mail janine@gustavus.edu.

For Sale... New mocha patio umbrella. Powder-coated steel, crank handle, 9', super nice, comes with cover. Moved and no longer need it, used 1 month. $90. Contact Nicole at x7176 or e-mail nhoiland@gustavus.edu.

"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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