Published for faculty and staff by the Luther College Public Information office • Copy deadline: Friday, 3 p.m., 75-word limit • Phone: (563) 387-1865 • Email: <tuesday>
Note: All campus telephone numbers are in the 563 area code, all campus email addresses end in @luther.edu • ©2010
What a weekend
Judy and I thank the campus for the wonderful Christmas at Luther celebration. It is a highlight of the year for so many people, and to have the weekend go off so flawlessly is a credit to the immense talent and dedication of scores of students, staff and faculty. What a joy to be part of this community. Thanks so much.
-Rick and Judy Torgerson
College Council update
In November and December, College Council met four times to develop the framework for the 2011-12 budget and to receive a report from the Faculty Interests Committee. This planning will result in a recommendation for the 2011-12 comprehensive fee increase that will be presented to the Regents for action in late December or early January.
College Council discussions have focused on:
1. Projecting the number of Revenue Equivalent students for 2011-12 based on current enrollment and the projected number of fall 2011 new students. The RE for the current year is projected at 2,280 based on 652 new students in fall 2010. For 2011-12 the RE number is projected to be 2,213 based on currently enrolled students and 660 estimated new students in Fall 2011.
2. Reviewing prior-year budget surpluses to determine the source of surpluses, the allocation of surplus funds, and to discern if a consistent pattern of surplus sources existed. No consistent pattern was found.
3. Developing three 2011-12 budget scenarios projecting 640, 660, and 680 new students. College Council has focused on the 660 new student scenario for the operational 2011-12 budget. Given a RE shortfall projection of 73 students for 2011-12 under the 660 new student scenario, College Council assessed 26 strategies to balance the 2011-12 budget. The strategies achieving consensus include: utilizing accumulated health care reserves, maintaining contingency and deferred maintenance at 2010-11 levels, directing retirement savings to overall operations, reducing allocations to campus computer refresh cycles, allocating excess endowment earnings to overall operations, delaying salary/compensation decisions until October 2011, selectively reducing financial aid, and allocating $200,000 of quasi endowment funds to overall operations. These actions/ strategies will cumulatively offset a projected deficit of $1.175 million based on the RE student projection of 2,213 for 2011-12.
After the 2011-12 comprehensive fee increase is announced campus forums for faculty and staff will be held in late January and early February to share information and respond to questions.
December staff gathering
This month's staff meeting is a Christmas party. Join Santa and his amazing elves Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 9 a.m. in Peace Dining Room. All are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the local food pantry. Monetary gifts will be donated to the Free Clinic.
Library books are due
Dec. 11 is the due date for books checked out from the main stacks by faculty and staff on or before Sunday, Dec. 5. Books may be renewed by emailing <library>. The new due date is May 13, the last day of classes for the spring semester. Books that have already been renewed three times (two years) will not be renewed again; rather you will need to bring these books in physically to the circulation desk to have them checked in and then out again to "re-start the clock." You may "View your account" online at library.luther.edu to see what you have checked out.
'Show Your NORSE' video contest
Luther alumni and students are invited to produce and enter a video in the "Show Your NORSE" video contest. Entries must be submitted by Jan. 1. Contest videos must be no more than 60 seconds in length and must "Show Your NORSE" spirit with a fun and creative display of the official Luther logos. For more information visit the Luther College Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Decorah-IA/Luther-College/23841092164).
Mental Health First Aid
MHFA is a 12-hour training course designed to educate laypeople on key skills needed to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis. Certified MHFA instructors Stu Johnston and Pam Torresdal will offer a course for faculty and staff on Jan. 7, 10, 12 and 14, 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. each day. Participants must attend all 12 hours. Class size: 15-25. No cost. To register, email Pam <torrespa>.
Marty's updates
Breakfast meal transfers in Marty's are extended to 9:55 a.m.
Beginning Jan. 1, Marty's will open at 9 a.m.
Holiday processing for flex checks
Schedule for processing flexible spending account checks over Christmas: Claims received at Midwest Group Benefits by noon Monday, Dec. 20 will be processed Tuesday, Dec. 21, with direct deposits made Thursday, Dec. 23.
MGB representatives on campus Dec. 7
Representatives from Midwest Group Benefits will be on campus Tuesday, Dec. 7, 9-10 a.m., in Peace Dining Room, Dahl Centennial Union to answer questions on flexible spending accounts and health care questions.
Wellness check-up reminder
Reminder to employees and spouses on the Luther College health care plan. The Wellness check-up form is due by Dec. 31 to Human Resources. You can access the form on the hr.luther.edu website. Failure to turn this in will result in a $25 monthly premium increase. Thank you if you have turned in the form. If you have any questions contact Greg Lonning, <lonningr> or 387-2075.
Flu vaccine available
Health Service is still offering flu vaccines to students, staff and faculty as well as staff/faculty spouses. Stop by Health Service Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Digital output cost adjustments
After continued review and study of our complex and changing use of digital output devices (document center, copiers, printers), Luther will adjust costs for digital output effective Jan. 1.
Full information is available at http://lis.luther.edu/digitaloutput/20101129memo. Please note a report to the community is published each month regarding our overall output and trends on the same website (http://lis.luther.edu/digitaloutput).
Chapel this week
Chapel is at 10:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
Tuesday, Dec. 7: Tuesday Devos, CRH, 9:40 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 8: Amy Zalk Larson
Thursday, Dec. 9: Advent morning prayer
Friday, Dec. 10: Sheila Radford-Hill, Kwanzaa chapel
No services on campus Dec. 17-Jan. 1
Friday, Dec. 17-Saturday, Jan. 1: No worship services on campus
Sunday, Jan. 2: Worship resumes with 9:30 p.m. Focus
Monday, Jan. 3: Chapel resumes
Events this week
Dec. 8, Christmas in the Union, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Dahl Centennial Union
Dec. 9, Fall Research Symposium, 9:40 a.m., Sampson-Hoffland and Valders concourses
Christmas in the Union
Christmas in the Union will be Wednesday, Dec. 8. Free games, cookie decorating, hot chocolate and cider, holiday movies, crafts and performances by a variety of Luther singing groups will take place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Santa will join the festivities about 5 p.m. The cafeteria is will host a holiday feast from 5-7 p.m. featuring turkey, ham, stuffing and fixings. At 5:30 p.m. students are invited to enter an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest for a chance to win a $75 Best Buy gift card.
Christmas in the Union Book Shop event
As part of 'Christmas in the Union,' the Book Shop will serve popcorn and have storewide discounts from 8:45 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Holiday movies will play all day.
Faculty, staff and students are invited to enter the annual gingerbread house contest. Participants may use any materials they find to create a miniature holiday-themed house. Entries are due Wednesday, Dec. 8 by 9 a.m. The public will vote from 9:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and the winner will be announced at 4 p.m.
Fall Science Research Symposium
Fall Science Research Symposium 9:40 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 9 in the Sampson-Hoffland and Valders concourses. This is a single unified event highlighting undergraduate student research in the sciences at Luther. The symposium will include at least 70 poster presentations by students from classes in biology, chemistry, math, nursing and psychology, as well as directed research student projects. All members of the Luther community-especially our friends in the humanities and social sciences-are invited to come and see what is going on in the sciences.
Mission Guatemala Winter Carnival
Mission Guatemala Winter Carnival will be held Saturday, Jan. 8, 9 a.m.-noon in the Regents Center. Escape the winter cold and join us for a morning of great family fun and learning. Inflatable rides—including an obstacle course—a spinning apple, and a super trampoline; lots of carnival games, face painting, prizes, and food; opportunities to learn fun facts about Guatemala. Tickets 50 cents each or $5 for a book of 11. Proceeds will benefit the Mission Guatemala Spring Break trip. Additional donations welcomed. Sponsored by Luther’s Office for College Ministries. For further information email Kaitlyn Holden, <holdka01>.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Lecture
Lawrence Williams, former Luther faculty member, will present the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Lecture at Luther Monday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Valders Hall of Science, Room 206. Part of the college’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Williams' lecture, titled "Another Look at Martin Luther King Jr." is open to the public with no charge for admission.
Sympathy
To Reg Laursen on the death of his father Carl. Carl lived in Eau Claire and was 95 years old.
Thank you
To Mark Peltz, director of Luther Career Services, who has made the decision to accept a new position as director of career services, at Grinnell College, in Grinnell, Iowa as of April 1. I know many in our community will join the student life staff in thanking him for his seven great years of service to Luther, our students and alums. We will miss him, and the school district will miss his wife Angie and their two sons. We wish him our very best.
-Ann Highum
Todd Pedlar spent Nov. 14-21 in Japan, where he presented a research talk and was formally ratified as a member of the Belle and Belle II collaborations, two international groups of elementary particle physicists that collaborate on experimental research at the KEK-B accelerator facility at KEK, the Japanese National Laboratory for High Energy Physics in Tsukuba. Belle took data from 1999-2010, while Belle II is expected to begin taking data in 2014. Pedlar is working on the design of a new subdetector to be built and installed at KEK before data taking begins. He expects that research students working with him in the coming years will contribute both to this design project and to analysis of Belle data.
Wanda Deifelt delivered a lecture titled "Justification, Baptism, and Faith: a Lutheran Perspective" at the annual meeting of the Bilateral Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue Committee, in Regensburg, Germany, Oct. 23-28.
Wrestling traveled to Simpson for a double dual against the Storm and no. 13 Williams College. The Norse lost to Williams, 16-23, and defeated Simpson, 28-15. Winning in both duals for the Norse were Jarid Groth '14, who picked up a fall in 6:09 and a decision, 6-5, and Garret Bonte '14, who scored two major decisions for the Norse, 11-1 and 13-3.
Men's swimming and diving sent four swimmers to the top eight of the UW-River Falls Falcon Invitational Dec. 3-4: Tim Cutler '13 placed second in the breaststroke and fourth in the 200 IM, Alex Case '11 finished sixth in the 100 backstroke and eighth in the 200 backstroke, Tanner O'Brien '13 placed seventh in the 100 breaststroke and Eric Hild '13 placed seventh in the 100 butterfly.
Women's swimming and diving swam well at the Falcon Invitational. Erin Mykleby '12 set a new school record in the 100 butterfly, 59.49, won the 200 freestyle and placed second in the 200 backstroke. Rachel Bruns '12 posted an NCAA III B-Cut qualifying mark in the 100 freestyle, won the 50 freestyle and placed second in the 200 freestyle. Kari Kolsrud '11 won the 200 IM, placed second in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 breaststroke and placed third in the 400 IM. Erin Connolly '14 won the 100 breaststroke and finished third in the 200 breaststroke. Bruns, Connolly, Amelia Ladd '13 and Mykleby won the 200 medley relay, and Bruns, Addison Choi '11, Kolsrud and Mykleby won the 400 medley relay.
Women's basketball lost to Loras Dec. 4, 55-67. Sam Jewell '11 scored 22 points.
Men's basketball defeated Loras, 49-45. Jacy Dillahunty '11 led scoring for the Norse with 9 points.
Home events this week:
Come to Luther men's basketball's next home game Friday, Dec. 10 against Northwestern-the second Norse Pack the Stands Night. SAAC and Pizza Ranch are partnering to sponsor Norse Pack the Stands Night; free Pizza Ranch pizza will be distributed. The game begins at 7 p.m.
Swimming and Diving hosts St. Mary's Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Caroling at Aase Haugen
Looking for a way to spice up the holidays and create some local cheer? Join College Ministries for caroling at Aase Haugen retirement home in Decorah-just a few blocks from campus. Meet Thursday, Dec. 9 in front of the CFL at 5:15 p.m. and be back on campus by 6:30 p.m. Email Andrea Norland at <norlan01> with questions or if you have a vehicle and would be willing to drive.
Jack Kent Cooke scholarship
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation offers a scholarship of up to $50,000 for graduate study in the performing or visual arts or creative writing. Candidates must be nominated by Luther so applications are due Jan. 31 for evaluation by our Honors Committee. Information about the foundation and the scholarship at www.jkcf.org. Campus contact: Terry Sparkes, Union 262E.
McElroy Fellowships
Graduating seniors intending to pursue a Ph.D. in any field may apply for a McElroy Fellowship which grants a $30,000 stipend over a three-year period. Luther may nominate only one candidate, but only 10 colleges may submit nominees for the two annual awards. Contact Terry Sparkes, 387-2165 or <sparkete> for further information and application materials. Applications due Jan. 31.
Message from HR
Winneshiek Medical Center hosts monthly HERway Conversations-a casual, educational community health talk series for women of any age.
December's HERway Conversation is "Enjoy the thrill of the holidays by Avoiding the Agony of De-Feet!" Tuesday, Dec. 7 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the medical center lower level conference rooms.
Thomas Marquardt, podiatrist with Decorah Clinic Physicians-Mayo Health System, will present on foot health, solutions for ailments and how to choose better shoes. Bring a pair of shoes for a free evaluation.
The meetings are free and a $5 boxed meal is available by calling in advance to 387-3113.
Winneshiek Energy District assistance
Thinking about how to make your home less drafty and more energy-efficient? The newly established Winneshiek Energy District can help you make wise decisions and save you up to $2,000 on improvements to your home. We also offer a direct install program, and the opportunity to purchase LOCAL emissions reductions for your family or as a gift. Visit http://energydistrict.org, or contact Joel Zook, 382-4207 or [email protected], to learn more.
Hymn writing contest
Luther's Sesquicentennial celebrations include a hymn writing contest and the opportunity to purchase a Transformed by the Journey bike. For more information, check the Sesquicentennial website: http://www2.luther.edu/150.
Ethnic Arts recipe request
Please share with us a favorite 'finger-food' recipe from your cultural background or a traditional festive food. Recipes chosen will be showcased at the 2011 Ethnic Arts Festival on Friday, March 4. Please email your recipes to <fosmarda> or bring to the Diversity Center before Jan. 7. Recipe needs to include all ingredients, measurements of ingredients, thorough directions for preparing the dish and the country it is representing (including the U.S.). We also invite contributors and friends to help in the preparation to assure it will be authentic. Any and all recipes are welcome.
For sale: All natural lamb raised on certified organic pasture and hay. Will deliver to locker. You arrange desired cuts with locker. Limited number available now through March. Various weights available. $4.75-$6.25 per carcass lb. depending on weight and locker distance. Email [email protected] or call Lyle, 562-3897.
House-sitter available: Heading out for the holidays and need someone to walk Fido? Looking for a house-sitter over the holidays? Need an occasional baby-sitter? 2010 Luther grad will be back in the area and would like to help out. Grad has lots of house/pet/plant/baby-sitting experience and can provide references upon request. Dependable, tidy and has a positive disposition. Rates are reasonable and negotiable. Contact Kirstin at <roblki01> or at [email protected]. Available for work on or after Dec. 13 through late January.
For sale: Green matching loveseat and couch-both are recliners, $125; multi-colored couch in tans, greens and blues, $50; and green Lazyboy recliner, $50. Call 382-5914 after 5 p.m. or 387-1440, daytime.
Snow removal available: Luther student snow removal service, I have plowed driveways in Decorah and Des Moines for four years and I would like to do yours. Flat rate of $10 for Luther faculty and staff, and $15 for non-Luther clients. I’m fully licensed, insured and have an excellent reputation for client satisfaction. Cleared by 7 a.m. or it’s free. Contracts and on-call services are available. Tell your friends. Contact Erik, (515) 205-0791 or <erik>.
For sale: Homemade peanut brittle, made-to-order from family recipe. Comes in seasonal packaging-perfect to give as gifts-or to treat yourself. Contact Julie, 387-1865 or <shocju01> to order or for more information.
Wanted: Weekly or bi-weekly cleaning jobs. Have references. Minimum of three hours. Call 382-6022 and leave message.
For sale: Christmas trees-cut your own. Nothing says Christmas like going to the country to cut your own tree. Oneota Slopes-Andy Johnson and Emily Young Johnson and their three girls, also the elder generation Pat and Paul-welcomes you weekends (weekdays self-serve). Visit www.oneotaslopes.org or call Andy, 380-6648, for more information.
For sale: 18-cubic-foot Sears Kenmore freezer. Purchased new, downsizing, best offer. Call 387-1564 or <huinda01>.
House sitter available: Jaci Wilkinson, Decorah native and junior at Luther is available for housesitting and animal care over the holidays. She'll be around the whole holiday season. She has transportation. Contact Jaci at <wilkja03> or 379-2525.
Sustainability tip
Tips for a sustainable holiday season:
Wrap your gifts with newspaper (comics work great) or cloth that can be reused or wrapping paper made with recycled content. Save and re-use ribbon from year to year. If every family reused two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet. If every American family wrapped just three presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
Use holiday lights in moderation. If buying new, buy LED lights that use 1/10 the energy of conventional holiday lights and last much longer. Turn holiday lights off during daylight hours and after most people in your neighborhood are in for the night.
For more ideas, visit the AASHE website at: http://www.aashe.org/blog/13-tips-sustainable-holiday-season.
And finally…
There are only three things you need to let go of: judging, controlling, and being right. Release these three and you will have the whole mind and twinkly heart of a child.
-Hugh Prather