ANNOUNCEMENTS 

'Beyond the Bubble' program

Please encourage all students to take advantage of "Beyond the Bubble: Building Skills for Life and Work." The program has two tracks: professional development and personal development. The professional development seminars are open to all students but also linked to work-study positions. If you supervise students, be aware that they can attend up to two of these seminars each semester and, with your permission, enter this time on their timecards as job training. More information is available at luther.edu/careers/beyond-the-bubble/.

COLLEGE OPERATIONS

J-term break hours

Health Service
Feb. 4: Nurse available from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Feb. 5: Regular semester hours resume

Dahl Centennial Union and Welcome Center
Feb. 4: 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
Feb. 5: Regular semester hours resume

Book Shop
Feb. 4: 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
Feb. 5: Regular semester hours resume

Mail Center
Feb. 4: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 5: Regular semester hours resume

Cafeteria
Feb. 4: Brunch 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Dinner 5-7 p.m.
Feb. 5: Regular semester hours resume

Oneota
Feb. 4: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Feb. 5: Regular semester hours resume

C-Store, Marty's and Nordic Brew
Feb. 4: Closed
Feb. 5: Regular semester hours resume

Preus Library
Feb. 4: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Feb. 5: Regular semester hours resume

'Fight Brain Freeze' winners

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the library's J-term program "Fight Brain Freeze" by reading banned books from our display in honor of Fahrenheit 451 and the upcoming Center Stage performance. Congratulations to grand prize winners Thando May ($30 gift certificate for the Luther Book Shop) and Claude Mertzenich (two tickets to Center Stage). Stay tuned to the library’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PreusLibrary) this spring for other opportunities to engage the mind.

Book discussion on "Fahrenheit 451"

As a preview to the Center Stage theatrical performance of Ray Bradbury's novel "Fahrenheit 451" by Aquila Theatre, Jennifer Rian will lead a discussion of the book for students, staff and faculty at noon Thursday, Feb. 20.  For more about the novel and the stage adaptation please visit http://www2.luther.edu/news?story_id=528600.  Workshop participants will receive a copy of the novel. To register, go to: http://www.luther.edu/academics/dean/events/?event_id=528749&date=2014-02-20. 

'Up to Us' competition

Luther has been selected to participate in the "Up to Us" competition, a nationwide campaign to educate students and the community about the national debt. Help Luther win by liking our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/uptousluther and taking the one minute, five question quiz (the link is under the "about me" section). Two people will be drawn each week to win $25 gift certificates to the place of their choosing by simply liking the Facebook page. We will draw one person who took the quiz to win a 32GB Microsoft Surface tablet.

Health plan offers incentive credit

The Luther health plan offers incentive credit to employees to encourage self-auditing of eligible medical bills to ensure the amount billed by provider accurately reflects services/supplies received by employee/dependent. When employee's self-audit results in elimination/reduction of charges, 25 percent of amount eliminated or reduced will be paid to employee, $10 minimum savings, provided the savings are accurately documented. Submit copy of incorrect bill and corrected billing with reduction in charges to Lora Steil, Main 29. $500/calendar year credit limit.

2014 health risk assessment

"Benefit Fusion," the 2014 health risk assessment reporting tool is now active on the website: https://www.mybenefitfusion.com/. Employees should enter their last name in the username box, then enter their last four social security digits in the password box (passwords may be changed once inside the website). 

Employees may add spouses covered on the Luther health plan by clicking the "My Profile" button that appears on the lower right side of the home page. From there, they may also change the password and make other edits. If both spouses work at Luther, the employee that is primary on the plan will need to register their spouse. 

Employees are invited to explore the website. In addition to the completion of the health risk assessment and tracking the wellness blood panel results, there are links to track physical activities, diet tracking and healthy recipes.

Flexible benefit reimbursement

Flexible spending account dollars deducted from employee paychecks during 2013 may be used for eligible expenses through March 15, 2014. Claims for these dollars must be submitted to Midwest Group Benefits by March 31, 2014.

From LIS: KATIE Gradebook Changes

The gradebook report that students see will have two changes beginning start-of-term, 2014SP:

• The "Show Letters" setting will have a selection to show for the final grade only.

Human Resources update

"Caremark" (Caremark CVS) administers Luther's prescription drug plan. "Caremark" recently mailed reports to all participants that could annually save $50 or more by moving from 30-day to 90-day prescription(s). The report contains confidential information and is not shared with Human Resources or other Luther representatives. Participants may contact their pharmacy to request that their prescription(s) be changed to 90-day refills in order to realize the designated savings. Please call Human Resources with questions.

Heartsaver CPR/AED class

Participate in a heartsaver CPR/AED class at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 in the Regents Center. The cost is $52 and includes a manual and card. Certification is good for two years. Contact Vicky Jaeger at <jaegervi> to sign up.

Peace Brunch

Please join us for Peach Brunch at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, 16 and 23, in Peace Dining Room. Price is $13.50 for adults, $6.50 for children age 5-10 and $10 for Luther students. Call to make reservations 387-1514.

Resident Life staff selection

Are you interested in being a Resident Assistant? Do you know of someone who would be a good student leader on campus? Residence Life is beginning the staff selection process for 2014-15. Anyone interested in applying for a Resident Assistant position must attend one mandatory session. The information sessions are from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, and Tuesday, Feb. 11. Both sessions will be held in Valders 206. Contact the Residence Life office or email <reslife> with questions.

Color printing changes

Color print jobs from the library computer lab can be found at the color copier/printer next to the DVD shelves. Follow instructions there to find and release your job. The cost is 25 cents per side. GoPrint funds can no longer be spent on color printing. Recognized student organizations may print in color in the Student Organizational Suite in the Union. Color printing is also available in the Document Center in Main. Contact the LIS Technology Help Desk with questions.

Phishing alert

A phishing email was sent out on Saturday, Jan. 25, from a Luther student's account. The Technology Help Desk will never ask for your username or password via email. Any attempt to do so is a phishing scam and should be marked as spam. If you're ever unsure about whether a message is spam or not, contact the Tech Help Desk, <helpdesk> or 387-1000, before clicking on a link.

Summer read 2014

The Paideia 111-112 planning committee has chosen George Orwell’s "1984" for the 2014 summer read. In this classic dystopian novel, Orwell imagines what might happen if the "human addiction to power" were allowed free reign. We hope in an era of NSA spying and Twitter speak, that the novel will cause students to reflect on Orwell's post-WWII vision of the future, and our own internet saturated society.

Policies notice

College policies and procedures are listed under "Key Information" on the faculty and staff resources page. Employees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the topics covered there and to refer to the policy information while conducting college business.

EVENTS

Events this week

Feb. 5-March 21, Gallery Exhibit, Graphic design, Zane Vredenburg, Preus Library Gallery          

Feb. 7, Music Ensemble, Choral singing in Namibia and South Africa reflections, 7 p.m., Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, Noble Recital Hall

Feb. 7, SAC Spotlight, Michael Kent, comedian and magician, 8:30 p.m., Dahl Centennial Union, Marty's Cybercafé

Feb. 9, Dorian Orchestra Festival Concert, featuring Luther College Symphony Orchestra and faculty string trio, 7 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall          

Feb. 10, Dorian Orchestra Festival Grand Concert, featuring Luther College's Chamber Orchestra and Festival String Orchestra, 7 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall

Feb. 11, Music Ensemble, Nordic Choir Homecoming Concert, 7:30 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall

Chapel this week

Spring Convocation

Pulitzer Prize finalist Nicholas Carr will give the lecture "An Invitation to Learning: The Mind and the Internet" at the Luther College Spring Convocation at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. For those unable to attend, the convocation lecture will be streamed live online at:http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/lutheradmin.portal#.

Carr will also give the Farwell Distinguished Lecture "Is Google Making Us Stupid? How Technology Shapes Our Thoughts" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. Both events, held in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall, are open to the public with no charge for admission. A book signing will be held in the Center for Faith and Life lobby area following the evening lecture.

'Choral Singing in Namibia and South Africa' homecoming concert

Luther students will share their January term experiences with the community through song and reflective journal readings at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, in the Noble Recital Hall. The homecoming concert will be presented by students who studied in the "Choral Singing in Namibia and South Africa" January term class led by Gregory Peterson and Andrew Last.

SAC presents Michael Kent

Faculty Artist Series: Benjamin Yates

Benjamin Yates will perform a trombone recital at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in the Noble Recital Hall. The recital is open to the public with no charge for admission. The varied program features works from the early 1800s to the present, representing composers from Germany, Croatia and Australia. 

Dorian Orchestra Festival

Luther will host the 43rd annual Dorian Orchestra Festival Feb. 9-10. The first festival concert, featuring the Luther College Symphony Orchestra, begins at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, followed by the Dorian Orchestra Festival Grand Concert at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10. Both concerts will be held in the Main Hall of the Center for Faith and Life and are open to the public with no charge for admission.

HHMI lecture

Christina Petersen, associate education specialist at the University of Minnesota, will deliver the Howard Hughes Medical Institute education lecture, "What Do We Know About How Learning Works? Principles to Inform Teaching in Higher Education," at 9:40 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, in Valders 206. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Center Stage Series

Simon Shaheen, famous for his melodic blend of traditional Arabic sounds with jazz and Western classical styles, is bringing his ensemble and a vocalist to perform in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13.

The Simon Shaheen performance is part of Luther's 2013-14 Center Stage Series. Tickets for the performance, sponsored by the Luther College Diversity Council, are available online at http://tickets.luther.edu.

Faculty Artist Series: Du Huang and Xiao Hu

The Unison Piano Duo featuring husband and wife team Du Huang and Xiao Hu, will present a piano recital at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, in the Noble Recital Hall. The program is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The first half of the program features Sixteen Waltzes for piano, four-hands Op. 39 by Brahms, "Time Seems to Pass" by James Romig and "Three Pieces for Two Pianos" by Michael Eckert. After an intermission, the duo will conclude the program with Suite No. 2 for two pianos Op. 17 by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The recital will be performed in part on Luther's recently rebuilt New York Steinway grand piano. The family of Weston Noble, professor emeritus of music, funded the project to rebuild this instrument.

Faculty Artist Series: Jessica Paul

Jessica Paul will perform a collaborative piano recital at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, in the Noble Recital Hall of the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music. The recital is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The program features Luther faculty and local musicians collaborating with Paul to perform a mix of instrumental and vocal music.

Paideia Text and Issues: 'Other from an Other Other'

Eric Baack and Andy Hageman will present the Paideia Text and Issues lecture titled "Other from an Other Other: Science and Fiction in Human-Alien Encounters" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the CFL Recital Hall. The lecture is open to the public with no charge for admission.

"Other from an Other Other" will use popular science fiction texts about encounters between humans and aliens as a basis for discussion on what these texts say about society as a whole from both a scientific and literary standpoint.

11th annual Black History Symposium

"Sports, Media and Race," the 11th annual Black History Symposium, will be held on the Luther campus Feb. 19-20. Participants will explore the popular perception of athletics, genes and cultural background predicting the advantages and disadvantages that athletes have in particular sports.

The symposium begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall with a Plenary Lecture, "Dangerous Dichotomies: Nature versus Nurture and Athleticism versus Intellect," by David Epstein, senior investigative reporter of Sports Illustrated magazine and author of "The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance." After the lecture, Epstein will sign copies of his book in the Center for Faith and Life lobby.

Click here for full schedule of events and information on registration.

COMMUNITY

Retirement

Dean Carolan, who has worked for Luther for more than 21 years, has announced his retirement effective March 6. We look forward to thanking Dean for his dedicated service to the college.

New employee

The Student Activities Office is pleased to announce that Kassandra Miller has accepted the temporary position of Coordinator of Student Organizations. Kassandra is a 2009 Luther graduate, and she will begin her new duties on Monday, Feb. 10.

UNCLASSIFIED ADS

Wanted: New Luther faculty looking for an apartment to rent, preferably two bedroom, starting in May. Please contact Gokhan at <gokhansavas> or (857) 389-7207.

For sale: Personalized heart shaped cake from the Norse Bakery. Need a Valentine for that special person? Stop by Marty's on Valentines Day and get a personalized heart shaped red velvet or white cake from the Norse Bakery. They are $8 each. Sales start at 10:30 a.m. and go until the cakes are gone.

For sale: Twin bed with headboard, footboard, and frame in pecan wood color. Includes mattress and box spring. Nice condition. Smoke-free home. Asking $175 or best offer. Contact Heather at <freyheat> or 380-2401.

For sale: PlayStation 3 for $85, like new condition. Two controllers. Plays Blu-rays movies. 500GB hard drive. Contact Travis, <huintr01> or 387-1417.

For sale: Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure for PlayStation 3. Includes portal of power and 12 toy figures. Selling for $60. Contact Travis, <huintr01> or 387-1417.

For sale: 1990 Nissan Maxima, four-door, keyless lock entry, runs well but has high mileage. Daughter bought her own car for moving cross country so selling this great vehicle for town, work or college. Contact Keith, 380-7453 or <chriskei>. Asking $1,150.

Free: We have three older house cats that need a home. The person who had them has passed on, and we are looking for a good home for their cats. Contact Judy, <hageju01> or 532-9803.

For sale: A 1999 Mazda Protege LX sedan, four door, manual transmission, mechanically sound, tires good, exhaust good, brakes good and battery good. 230,000 miles, but runs great. Good fuel efficiency, gets 40 mpg on the road. Well-used but extremely reliable. Asking $1,000 or best offer. Contact Pat at 382-3829 or <johnsonp>. 

For sale: Fifth generation blue 32 GB iPod Touch in pristine condition. This iPod was just sent to me by apple and is brand new. I am in the market for a different model. If you are interested in purchasing this device it will come with a brand new USB cord and protective case/cover. I am asking $200 or best offer. Contact Steve at <liebst01> to place your offer.

Wanted: Used cross-country skis and gear. Need boots size 8-8.5 (European size 39), skis approximately 188 length, and approximately 135 pole length. Interested in any portion of a set. Contact Holly at <moorho01>.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

LIS tip of the week

Want your voicemail by email? Use Luther's desktop messaging to send your voicemail messages straight to your email inbox. Questions? Visit  www.luther.edu/helpdesk/tips.

And finally...

Sunday, Feb. 2 was Groundhog Day and according to Punxsutawney Phil's prediction, there will be six more weeks of winter. Here are five things you may not have known about this quirky holiday: 

1. The origins of the holiday date back to ancient Europe when people turned to badgers or bears for their winter weather predictions. It was adopted in the U.S. in 1887 after Clymer H. Freas, the editor of the local paper "Punxsutawney Spirit," began promoting the town's groundhog as the official "Groundhog Day meteorologist."

2. We all know Phil's prediction is determined by whether or not he sees his shadow. According to the Inner Circle VP Mike Johnston, however, Phil uses a "chirp and a click and a wink of an eye" to inform the president of the Inner Circle about his vision. 

3. According to Stormfax, Phil's accuracy is only 39 percent. Wonder if a bear or badger might be more accurate?

4. Phil's predictions are routinely recorded in the Congressional Record, in case you're wondering about years past. 

5. After the 1993 movie "Groundhog Day" was released, tens of thousands of people began to flock to Punxsutawney, Penn. to see Phil give his forecast in person.

Source: Hollywood Life - http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/01/31/groundhog-day-trivia-2014-february-2-facts/.

Last week's brain teaser answers:

1. Billie was born on Dec. 28, yet her birthday always falls in the summer. How is this possible? Billie lives in the southern hemisphere.

2. In British Columbia you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not? You can't take a picture with a wooden leg. You need a camera (or iPad or cell phone) to take a picture.

3. If you were running a race and you passed the person in second place, what place would you be in now? You would be in second place. You passed the person in second place, not first.

4. Which is correct to say, "The yolk of the eggs is white" or "The yolk of the eggs are white?" Neither. Egg yolks are yellow.

5. A farmer has five haystacks in one field and four haystacks in another. How many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in one field?  One. If he combines all his haystacks, they all become one big stack.