Inside Gustavus December 13, 2012 | Volume 45, Number 13

President's Cabinet Summary

The President's Cabinet met on Tuesday, Dec. 11 and discussed the following items:

• Professors John Cha and Mary Solberg, Faculty Senate Chair and Vice Chair respectively, gave a report on recent activities of the Faculty Senate, including three motions that will be sent to the faculty meeting. (1) Faculty Handbook amendment for the NWEST curriculum area, (2) Climate Commitment proposal, and (3) establishing a new standing faculty committee on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Discussion was held concerning agenda items for the Benefits Committee. Two issues discussed that will be submitted to the Committee were family health benefits and the College's pension contribution.
• Members approved the hiring of two full-time custodial positions.

News & Announcements

Nobel Conference 50...In October of 2014, Gustavus will host Nobel Conference 50 and we are planning something special. The theme will be recent advances in science and the speakers will be previous Nobel Conference panelists. We ask your help in identifying Nobel Conference speakers that we should invite back so that they can tell us what has changed since they were here last. Please click here to select up to five speakers that you believe the committee should consider. You will be taken to a Survey Monkey site with a list of previous speakers organized by year. If you have questions, please contact Chuck Niederriter (chuck@gustavus.edu). Thanks.

Milelage Rates...Mileage rates are being adjusted by the IRS. Starting Jan. 1, 2013 the College will reimburse personal vehicle mileage at a rate of 56.5 cents per mile for business miles accrued per IRS guidelines. Mileage accrued prior to Jan. 1, 2013 will be paid at the current rate of 55.5 cents per mile.

Survey...Student Anders Spidahl '13 is conducting a survey on Gustavus employees' greenhouse gas emissions due to driving to work each day. The survey will contribute to a larger effort in accounting for all of Gustavus's GHG emissions as part of the Gustavus Climate Action Plan. All information gathered in this survey will remain confidential. Only aggregate results will be used, and no identifying information will be released. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey. Please answer all questions on the survey. Some questions asking for a numerical amount will require an answer of "0" if they do not apply to you. Thanks for your participation!

Winter Pedestrian Safety...Now that winter has arrived, it's time to review some safety tips for campus pedestrians:

• Walking on snow or ice is especially treacherous and wearing proper footwear is essential. A pair of well insulated boots with good rubber treads is a must for walking during or after a winter storm. Keeping a pair of rubber over-shoes with good treads which fit over your street shoes is a good idea during the winter months.
• When walking on an icy or snow-covered walkway, take short steps and walk at a slower pace so you can react quickly to a change in traction.
• When walking on a sidewalk which has not been cleared and you must walk in the street, walk against the traffic and as close to the curb as you can.
• Be on the lookout for snow removal vehicles in parking lots and walkways. Make eye contact with the operator so they know you can see them. Be aware that approaching vehicles may not be able to stop at crosswalks or stopsigns.
• Avoid cellphone use and texting while walking on slippery walkways. Look ahead at your path of travel and use handrails on slippery steps.
• Be aware that snow can melt and refreeze overnight on walkways. Call Physical Plant at extension x7504 to report icy walkways and parking lots.

Campus Happenings

Firethorne Release Party...All are welcome to come support student writers and artists and celebrate the release of the Fall 2012 issue of Firethorne. Grab a copy, listen to readings, and enjoy some frost-your-owns and cider at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14 in the Courtyard Cafe.

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, Dec. 14 - Chaplain Sabina Koij and Cantor Mattias Ekstrom Koij
• Sunday, Dec. 16 - Chaplain Rachel Larson
• Monday, Dec. 17 - "Music by Heart", Chaplain Rachel Larson, Chad Winterfeldt
• Tuesday, Dec. 18 - Taize Contemplative Worship
• Wednesday, Dec. 19 - Morning Prayer
• Thursday, Dec. 20 - Litany for Travelers
• Friday, Dec. 21 - No Chapel

Obituaries

• Diane Kolander Loomer '62, who received an honorary doctorate at last spring's commencement, passed away on Monday, Dec. 10 at the age of 72. Loomer was founder and director of the Vancouver choral group Chor Leoni. Loomer's choral compositions were published and recorded internationally, and she frequently appeared on CBC national radio as a spokesperson for the classical arts. She was the first woman to conduct the National Youth Choir of Canada and received the Healey Willan Award in 1990 for her service to choral music in British Columbia. in 1994, she was named YWCA Vancouver's Woman of Distinction for Arts and Culture and in 2002 was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for her significant contribution to Canada's culture.

• Joseph Marolt, the father-in-law of Jeff Stocco (Center for Servant Leadership) passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the age of 92. Marolt was a Navy veteran of World War II and had been employed at the Pickands Mather Mine in Keewatin and Hibbing Tac as an electrician. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Dec. 8 in Hibbing.

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.

Facility Hours

Library Hours for Finals and Christmas Recess:

• Friday, Dec. 14 & Saturday, Dec. 15: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 16 through Wednesday, Dec. 19: 8 a.m. - 2 a.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 20 & Friday, Dec. 21: 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 22 through Tuesday, Jan. 1: Closed
• Wednesday, Jan. 2 through Friday, Jan. 4: 12 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 5 & Sunday, Jan. 6: Closed

Telecommunications Updates

Following are changes and additions for the "Personnel Phone Directory 2012-13."

• Kimberly Meyer, Midstates Consortium for Math and Science, Phone: x6180, E-mail: kmeyer4, Addition
• Paul Hanson, GTS, Phone: x7175, E-mail: phanson, Addition

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

Plugs

Looking For...Looking to rent a small covered space to store a car over the winter. Please call Marc Bachman 507-382-4078 or email mbachman@stpeterschools.org.

"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.



---

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).

Home | News & Info | Inside Gustavus Archives | Submit an Item Online