Inside Gustavus April 26, 2012 | Volume 44, Number 29

News & Announcements

Reception for Deans Kaiser and Byrne...The Gustavus community is cordially invited to attend a reception from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, May 14 in the Heritage Room to thank Barbara Kaiser and Kevin Byrne for their work as Deans in the Office of the Provost. After serving three years as Associate Provost and Dean of Academic Programs, Barbara will resume her role as professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Kevin will retire (again) after 41 years of service to the College, first as professor in the History Department and in this past year as Associate Provost and Dean of the Faculty. We hope you will stop by to wish them well in their future endeavors.

Benefits...Benefit enrollment deadline is Wednesday, May 9. As a reminder, if you do not enroll online by May 9, your benefits will default and you will be automatically enrolled in the same coverage you had during the 2011-12 benefit plan year for Medical, Dental, Voluntary Life Insurance, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment. You will not be enrolled in Medical Reimbursement, Dependent Care or Additional Retirement.

Accreditation Update...The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) site visit is finally less than one year away! The visit team will arrive on campus in 362 days (April 22-24, 2013). The final criterion to be covered in the College self-study is Criterion 5, Resources, Planning, and Institutional Effectiveness. The self-study will evaluate how well the College’s resources, structures, and processes allow us to fulfill our mission, improve the quality of our academic programs, and respond to future challenges; we must also address the ways in which we plan for the future and use information to systematically improve performance in all our operations. Full details about the Criterion 5 core components can be found on the HLC’s website. For more information on the accreditation process and the Gustavus self-study, contact co-chairs Carolyn Dobler (x7481) or Chris Gilbert (x6093) or e-mail us at hlc2013@gustavus.edu.

New Women's Basketball Coach Announced...Laurie Kelly was announced as the new women's basketball coach on Friday, April 20. Kelly is a 1993 graduate of the University of St. Thomas who has served as head coach of Division I Northern Arizona University for the past nine seasons.

Exchange Student Opportunity...Looking for families ot host a high school student from France for four weeks in July/August 2012 and/or host and participate in a direct exchange with a high school student from France. Contact Linda Dwyer at linda_dwyer@ymail.com or 507-720-7007

Campus Happenings

MAYDAY!...Celebrated Swedish journalist and author Dilsa Demirbag-Sten and award-winning Swedish novelist and playwright Jonas Hassen Khemiri will keynote the 32nd annual MAYDAY! Peace Conference at Gustavus Adolphus College on Wednesday, May 2. In honor of the College’s Sesquicentennial, this year’s conference is titled “Multicultural Sweden,” and will explore multiculturalism and social justice in our increasingly global society. Presenters will address expressions, challenges, and rewards of cultural diversity, with a focus on contemporary Sweden. More information is available online.

Our Place, In Place...Under the direction of internationally known and veteran director and choreographer Stephan Koplowitz, more than 150 Gustavus Adolphus College students and alumni will perform Our Place, In Place, a series of four site and theme-specific performances created in honor of the College’s Sesquicentennial, Wednesday, May 2 and Saturday, May 5. More information is available online.

Montecore Reading...A cast of Gustavus theatre and dance students and alumni, including Rob Berdahl '90 and Kim Braun '11, will present excerpts from the novel Montecore, by Swedish writer Jonas Hassen Khemiri, the College's 2012 Out of Scandinavia artist-in-residence. The performance will take place at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 in the Black Box of the Schaefer Fine Arts Center and is directed by Henry MacCarthy. Event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.

Take the Hill Tri...The Epsilon Pi Alpha Fraternity will host the annual Take the Hill Triathlon on Saturday, April 28. All proceeds go toward Insulindependence, a non-profit organization started by Gustavus alumnus Peter Nerothin '02, that helps type-1 diabetics live active and healthy lifestyles

Psychology Conference...The Gustavus Department of Psychology is hosting the annual Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28 in Beck Academic Hall. Undergraduate psychology students and faculty from across the state will present papers and posters on their most recent psychological research. Dr. Laurie Santos, Associate Professor of Psychology, Yale University is the keynote speaker for the conference and will present on "The Evolution of Irrationality: Insights from Monkeys."

Honors Day...On Saturday, May 5, Gustavus will host Honors Day, an annual event that recognizes the academic excellence and achievements of hundreds of its students. Highlights of the event include the announcement of inductees to Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honors fraternity; the selection of students to the Guild of St. Ansgar, named in honor of the first Christian missionary to Scandinavia; and the announcement of 15 female juniors to the Guild of St. Luica. The Honors Convocation will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Christ Chapel.

Celebration of Creative Inquiry...This annual campus-wide forum to publicly share the creative inquiry of students will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 4 in the Heritage Banquet Room of the C. Charles Jackson Campus Center.

Origin Story...Director Cory Hinkle will bering Dan LeFranc's Origin Story to the Anderson Theatre stage May 3-6. The story begins in the town of Nowheresville where an older couple has been murdered and a comic book illustrated by the mysterious Pronoun may contain the only clue to solving the crime. Set in the energetic style of a graphic novel, Origin Story is a new play about learning to use art as a weapon against the curse of being born different. Tickets are available online at gustavustickets.com.

Mason Woods Dedication...Members of the Gustavus Community are invited to help the College dedicate the Linnaeus Arboretum's Deciduous Woods, which has been named in honor of Drs. Charles and Harriet Mason by the Board of Trustees, on Friday, May 11. The Arboretum staff will host informal tours starting at 4 p.m., with the dedication scheduled to begin in the Deciduous Woods at 5 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend a dinner following the event in the Three Crowns Room in the C. Charles Jackson Campus Center) at 6 p.m. Cost for dinner is $15 per person for Arboretum members and $17 for nonmembers. RSVPs are requested by Wednesday, May 2. Call or email Shirley at 507-933-6181 or shirley@gustavus.edu to register.

Physics and Music Intersect...Dr. Brian Holmes, Professor of Physics at San Jose State University will present the talk "The Physics of Brass Musical Instruments, or What Do Horn Players Do With Their Right Hands Anyway?" at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 3 in room 214 of the Schaefer Fine Arts Building. This humorous and engaging talk, with numerous demonstrations, will illustrate how sound is produced by brass instruments. During the course of his talk, Dr. Holmes will build a trumpet to show the acoustical significance of each part. Holmes is a horn player with the San Jose Symphony Orchestra and Opera San Jose; he will conclude his presentation with a performance of Beethoven’s Sonata in F for horn and piano Op. 17, played on a valveless horn like those in use when the music was written. This presentation is free and open to the public, and is co-sponsored by the Gustavus physics department and music departments.

Books in Bloom...For the second straight year, Gustavus Library Associates (GLA) will host Books in Bloom at the Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College. This year’s event will take place May 4-6 and is free and open to the public. Books in Bloom is a distinctive event that highlights books, media, and other resource material within the library through floral arrangements and artistic expression. More than 30 “blooms” will be on display – each of them sponsored by an individual or family and created by professional florists and flower enthusiasts – that represent and illustrate a book or other holding within the library. More information is available online.

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, April 27 - Janet DeMars
• Sunday, April 29 - Chaplain Rod Anderson, The Gustavus Choir
• Monday, April 30 - Chad Winterfeldt
• Tuesday, May 1 - Gwyneth Thompson '12
• Wednesday, May 2 - MAYDAY! Peace Conference
• Thursday, May 3 - Taize Contemplative Worship
• Friday, May 4 - Matt Panciera

Arboretum Treasure Hunt...Take a break on Arbor Day, Friday April 27, and search for hidden treasure throughout the Arboretum (then trade your treasure for fabulous prizes – candy bars, t-shirts, etc.) Pick up your treasure map and begin your adventure at the Arboretum Interpretive Center. Come anytime between 2-4 p.m., or between 5-7 p.m. Call 933-6181 for more information.

Quilts In Bloom...The Gustavus and St. Peter communities are invited to the opening of a new display, “Quilts in Bloom” in the Melva Lind Interpretive Center in the Linnaeus Arboretum. The 23 quilts from the members of the St. Peter Quilting Guild will be on display until mid-summer. The opening reception is Thursday, May 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Melva Lind Interpretive Center. Refreshments will be provided. Please join us in admiring these gorgeous quilts!

Accreditation Open Forums...All Gustavus employees are invited to participate in the third round of accreditation open forums covering the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) criteria for accreditation. Week three is focused on Criterion 3, Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support. Sessions will be held Tuesday, May 1 and Thursday, May 3 with two hour-long sessions (2:30 and 3:30) each day (this schedule is different this week only, so it does not conflict with MAYDAY! activities on May 2). HLC Self-Study Steering Committee representatives will review the criterion and evidence gathered thus far, followed by guided discussion of ways in which Gustavus meets or does not meet Criterion 3 requirements. Light refreshments will be provided. Anyone who cannot attend the open forums will still be able to comment via an online feedback form (URL will be posted on Gustavus-l next week). All open forums will be held in the Faculty-Staff Lounge in the Jackson Campus Center.

Magnuson Awards...The Paul Magnuson Leadership and Service Award reception will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 9 in the Heritage Room. This event highlights outstanding Gustavus students, organizations, and events. These outstanding students and student organizations are nominated by fellow students, faculty, and staff for recognition, and a selection committee assembled by the Dean of Students Office reviews nominations and determines honorees.

Writer's Workshop...Gustavus Library Associates will host its first "writer's workshop" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10 in the Melva Lind Interpretive Center. The workshop will be led by Associate Professor of English Rebecca Fremo and will include a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception. Cost is $25 and you can register online at gustavustickets.com.

Off-Campus Events of Interest

Cycling Event...The Gustavus Environmental Studies Program and Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation, along with the Greater Mankato Bike and Walk Advocates, invite you to get outside and enjoy the Kasota Prairie on Sunday, April 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. Cyclists will start at the St. Peter Food Coop and ride to and from the Kasota Prairie (12 miles round trip). At the Kasota Prairie, walkers can join them (parking at the prairie entrance) for a stroll around the prairie. More details (including route information) can be found online. This event is free and open to the public. Helmets required for bike riders. Contact James Dontje with questions: 507-933-7206 or jdontje@gustavus.edu. To help us plan for a great day, let us know if you plan to join us: Call: 507-933-7206, email to: bikeride@gustavus.edu or like the ride on facebook: facebook.com/KasotaPrairieRideAndWalk.

An Afternoon with Alice...The Sibley County Historical Society and the Joseph R. Brown Society will present "An Afternoon with Alice" at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6 at the Minnesota New Country School in Henderson, Minn. The program will feature the songs of Alice Tegner, much loved Swedish song writer from the mid-twentieth centure, performed by Swedish children who entertain with puppets, dancing, singing and acting out songs in Swedish and English. Refreshments will be served following the performance which is free and open to the public.

St. Peter Book Festival...St. Peter Reads is hosting the first St. Peter Book Festival highlighting local authors. This will be a fun, festive occasion to meet many talented authors from the St. Peter area. In addition, two panels are scheduled, one with three Mankato authors writing for the young adult audience, and the second featuring Gustavus authors Barbara Fister and Roger McKnight. Books will be available for purchase and drawings for prizes will be held throughout the afternoon. The event is free and open to all.

Obituaries

• Cheryle Ann Emerson, the sister of Joanne Derner (Custodial), passed away on Thursday, April 19 at the age of 59. A funeral was held on Tuesday, April 24 at First Presbyterian Church of Kasota. Cheryle was born on March 17, 1953 in St. Peter to Walter and Veleta (Johnson) Mutch and was a graduate of St. Peter High School. She is survived by children Melinda and Derek; grandchildren Courtney and Gracie White; mother Veleta Bartlett; longtime companion Steve Sprenger; siblings Linda (Dana) Skroch, Joanne (Joe) Derner, Janis (friend Roger Schultz) Bartlett, Lorrie Zacharias and Susan (Bob) Allen; Cheryl (Cliff) Hickson, Laurie (Mark) Preston, and Cindy (Steve) Skostad; and many other friends and relatives.

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 jolene@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...The presenter for this week is Leila Brammer (Communication Studies). Leila will be speaking at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Circle Pines, Minn., at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 29. She will be speaking on the topic, "Telling the Truth in a Lying Culture." Partners in Education is a program sponsored by Church Relations that allows participating faculty and staff to go to congregations and speak on topics that are relevant to today's church, culture, and society.

Confirmation Retreats...Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Hastings, Minn., will be here April 27-28. They will have a group of about 50 ninth graders. The confirmation retreats program gives churches a chance to bring their youth here to experience a weekend of fun, friends, and faith. This program is sponsored by Church Relations.

Gustavus Chaplain and Director of Church Relations Grady St. Dennis will preach at Vasa Lutheran Church in Welch, Minn., this Sunday, April 29. The Gustavus Choir of Christ Chapel will also be performing that morning.



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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. For more information, contact Matt Thomas (mthomas@gustavus.edu or x7510).

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