ST. PETER, Minn. (May 8, 2001) – The Swedish house at Gustavus Adolphus College was recently named the Barbro Osher Svenska Huset. Swedish-born Barbro Osher is the honorary Consul General for Sweden in San Francisco and owner/publisher of the Swedish-American newspaper Vestkusten.
The naming is "in appreciation for her [Osher's] friendship toward and her generous support of Gustavus, as well as her longtime work to strengthen the relations between the U.S. and Sweden and to provide opportunities for the citizens of the two countries to learn more about each other, and her tireless work to foster a mutual understanding of the best that Sweden and the United States have to offer each other and the world," according to the Jan. 22 Gustavus Board of Trustees' resolution.
Barbro Osher Svenska Huset and the adjoining Curtis and Arleen Carlson International Center opened in September 2000 to support the college's mission of bringing an international dimension to a Gustavus education. Established at Gustavus in 1974 for students wanting to immerse themselves in Swedish culture and language, it's served as a home to as many as 10 students per year -- often including Swedish international students -- and a place for cultural and social events. The previous blue and yellow Swedish House was destroyed by a tornado in March 1998.
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college in St. Peter, Minn., that prepares 2,500 undergraduates for lives of leadership, service, and lifelong learning. The oldest Lutheran college in Minnesota, Gustavus was founded in 1862 by Swedish immigrants and named for Swedish King Gustav II Adolf. Fully accredited and known for its strong science, writing, music, athletics, study-abroad, and service-learning programs, Gustavus hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and is internationally recognized for its annual Nobel Conference.
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