ANNOUNCEMENTS

COLLEGE OPERATIONS

Spring Break Hours

Legends Fitness Center
March 21: Closed at 5pm
March 22-23: Closed
March 24-28: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
March 29-30: Closed

Preus Library
March 21: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 21-23: Closed
March 24-28: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
March 29: Closed
March 30: 6 p.m.-midnight

Luther lighting and HVAC study

Luther College has contracted with Michaels Energy to conduct a campus wide room by room study of our lighting and HVAC infrastructure. Luther students have been trained to conduct this analysis and may ask individuals brief questions about the lighting and HVAC conditions in their office. This study is an important piece of Luther's ongoing attempt to reduce both energy costs and carbon footprint. For questions contact Stratis at <gianst01> or 387-1809.

Admissions request for faculty help

In an effort to reach the institutional goal of enrolling 700 new students this fall, the admissions staff is asking for help from faculty in reaching out to prospective students. Research strongly suggests that prospective students are swayed by interaction with faculty members. Admissions is looking for faculty members willing to call students believed to benefit from the contact.

There are several Sundays left for this project, March 30, April 6 and April 13. Faculty who are willing to sign up for one or more evenings and receive a complimentary dinner click here. An admissions staff member will be in touch with more details at a later date for those who fill out the form. Contact Scot with questions at <schasc01>.

Ricoh request for feedback

Ricoh is requesting feedback to help improve processes on campus. Ricoh staffs the document center, mail center and manages a large portion of the printers and copiers on campus. Those wishing to help may submit feedback through a short survey found here. The survey will be available until March 21. For questions or problems, contact Kim at <bohrki01> or 387-1013.  

Reminder for flexible spending claims

Claims for flexible spending account dollars used through March 15 must be submitted to Midwest Group Benefits by March 31. Claim forms are available in human resources and on the HR website at https://www2.luther.edu/hr/common-forms/. Select Flexible Benefit Claim form and mail it to Midwest Group Benefits, PO Box 408, Decorah, IA 52101, or fax to 382-9613.

2014 yearbook work study application

2014 yearbook work study applications are now available online. The 2014-15 yearbook will be completely online. Those interested should apply today. Applications are due March 18. For more information, contact <maleka02>.

Digital Media Center open house today

Check out the new Digital Media Center on the lower level of the library from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, during the open house. See the Multimedia Studio and Multimedia Lab in action and enjoy good food and conversation. There will be demonstrations of the interactive classroom, greenscreen video recording and editing, speed drawing, KATIE video conversions and more. All faculty, staff and students are welcome.

Book Shop spring sale

Need a "Spring Break?" Grab some friends and stop by the Book Shop this week to get a photo taken in a tropical setting complete with props. Draw a discount from the beach bag and get great deals, including an extra 25 percent off clearance items. Get out of the winter doldrums and find some sunshine in the Book Shop!

Wii bowl off

Everyone is invited to attend the 2014 Wii bowl off in the Book Shop at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 20. The top two teams will bowl for the championship title, other awards will be presented and kettle corn and root beer will be served. Come root for the finalists!

Massage therapist available

Just a reminder that Luther's massage therapist is available from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, in Health Services. Call 387-1045 for an appointment.

walkLuther coming soon

walkLuther is a six week program beginning Monday, March 31, to help people get more active this spring. There will be informational meetings from 10-10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 20 and 27 in Mott. For more information contact Greg Lonning at <lonningr>.

Peep diorama contest

With the arrival of spring comes the annual Peep diorama contest. Everyone is invited to create a display using Peeps and props. Bring it to the Book Shop no later than Thursday, April 3. Group and individual entries are accepted. Vote for your favorite display Friday, April 4. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. that day.

C-Store

Stop by the C-Store and purchase an unlimited semester cokemug for only $19.99. The free style coke machine offers more than pop. Stop by and check it out.

Wellness, Sustainability and the Health Care Council are offering up to 150 Luther College faculty and staff households a 50 percent reimbursement, up to $100, on vegetable CSA shares. For the garden enthusiast, or wannabe garden enthusiast, there is also an opportunity to subscribe for a garden membership. The deadline for signing up is May 1, but early sign up is encouraged to secure a spot. Click here for more information.

Luther community garden plots

Flurries may still be flying, but gardening season is right around the corner. Whether a lifetime gardener looking for a new space, interested in growing some veggies for the first time or somewhere in-between, everyone is welcome at the community garden. We offer full (20'x20') plots for $30, half plots (20'x10') for $20 and student plots (10'x10') for $10. More information and the plot request form can be found here.

EVENTS

Events this week

March 18, SAC Guest Speaker, Miss Iowa, 7 p.m., Valders Hall of Science, Room 206

March 18, Religion Forum, Todd Green, 7 p.m., Franklin W. Olin Building, Room 102

March 18, Guest Lecturer, Os Guinness, 8 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Main Hall

March 19, Guest Lecturer, Os Guinness, 7 p.m., Valders Hall of Science, Room 206

March 20, Guest Recital, Richard Fuller, forte piano, 7 p.m., Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, Noble Recital Hall       

March 22–30, Symphony Orchestra Tour, Upper Midwest Area

Chapel this week

Miss Iowa presentation

Nicole Kelly, Miss Iowa 2013, will give a presentation about overcoming stereotypes Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. in Valders 206. Her inspiring presentation on "The Power of One" is sponsored by SAC Leadership and is open to the public with no charge for admission.

Religion Forum: Todd Green

Todd Green will address how the post-9/11 era has given rise to the creation and identification of "good Muslims" by Western politicians and journalists in his lecture "Do we really need 'good Muslims?' The dangers of Islamophilia for Islamophobia" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in Olin 102. The lecture is open to the public with no charge for admission.  

Woman's Club program

Philip Freeman presents the Luther College Woman's Club program "Who Was the Real St. Patrick?" at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in Peace Dining Room. All are welcome. Shuttle service from Decorah swimming pool parking lot available with a pick-up time of 1:10 p.m.

Os Guinness to give presentations

Os Guinness will deliver two presentations at Luther College. Guinness's first presentation, titled "The Global Public Square: Religious Liberty and the Making of a World Safe for Diversity," will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. The second, titled "A Free People's Suicide: Sustainable Freedom and the American Future,” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, in Valders 206.

Patrick Luber art display

An art exhibit of mixed media sculptures created by Patrick Luber will be on display March 19-April 24 in the Kristin Wigley-Fleming Gallery in the Center for the Arts. Luber will speak in chapel at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, in the Center for the Arts. A reception for the opening of the exhibit will be held at the Wigley-Fleming Gallery following chapel.

School Matinee Performance Series

Luther College invites the community to watch the stage production of "Stuart Little," the beloved children's story about a talking mouse born to a human family in New York City, presented by the Dallas Children's Theatre. Part of Luther's 2013-14 School Matinee Series, "Stuart Little" will be presented at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall.

Guest recitalist Richard Fuller

Concert performer, recording artist and music scholar Richard Fuller will perform a fortepiano concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20, in the Noble Recital Hall of the Jenson-Noble Music Hall. The performance is open to the public with no charge for admission.

Solar air heating workshop

James Dontje, director of the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation at Gustavus Adolphus College, will present a do-it-yourself workshop on solar air heating from 10-12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29, in Storre Theater. Attendees will learn how solar air heaters can reduce propane and natural gas bills and how an inexpensive solar air heater can be built with readily available materials. The workshop is open to the public with no cost to attend. For more information and to register, click here.

FAS: Kylie Toomer

Kylie Toomer will perform a soprano recital at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 30, in the Noble Recital Hall. The program will feature of the works of lesser-known 20th century composers such as Joseph Marx, Carlos Guastavino and Vítězslava Kaprálová, as well as popular composers such as Francis Poulenc, Charles Gounod and Tchaikovsky. The recital is open to the public with no charge for admission.

Women, Faith and Finance Seminar

Area women of all ages will have an opportunity to learn more about financial management, retirement and estate planning, and charitable giving at the 10th annual Women, Faith and Finance seminar Friday, April 4. Hosted by Luther College, the seminar will be presented from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah. The program is open to the public and coincides with Decorah's Women's Weekend Out.

The cost is $30. Attendees who bring a friend will each save $5. The first 75 paid registrants will receive their choice between two resource books. To register, click here or email <lovellje> for more information.

CSS presents Philip Glass

Join Luther College for a rare and wonderful opportunity to experience renowned contemporary composer Philip Glass at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 4, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall. Tickets for the show are $30 for adults, $28 for seniors age 65 and up and $15 for youth ages 4-18, and are available online at https://tickets.luther.edu.

COMMUNITY

Recent graduate internship: The Center for Global Learning is seeking a highly motivated, globally minded 2014 Luther graduate to serve for one academic year as the CGL intern. The internship is designed to provide an in-depth experience in international admissions and off-campus programs advising/administration to a recent Luther graduate. The CGL intern will serve in this paid internship for one nine-and-a-half month academic year. In addition to responsibilities in the CGL, the intern will also serve as the Norby Global house manager. For complete details and application instructions please access CareerConnection on Luther Career Center page: https://www.luther.edu/careers/students/career-connection/.

Retirement

Linda Skoda, who has worked at Luther for more than 31 years, has announced her retirement effective April 30. In the weeks ahead we look forward to thanking Linda for her dedicated service to the college.

Sympathy

To the family of William "Bill" Dessel, 89, who passed away March 7. Bill was the father-in-law of Paul Frana.  

To Ruth Kath on the death of her father, Randolph Robert, of Dublin, Ohio. Services were held on Saturday, March 15, at St. Patrick’s Church in Dublin, Ohio.

Thank you

-Dean Carolan

UNCLASSIFIED ADS

Wanted: Young man with summer internship in Decorah seeks an apartment sublet or spare room to rent from June 1 to August 15. Contact Ellen at <modeel01>.

For rent: First floor of remodeled home for rent at 104 Crescent Ave., close to Luther, swimming pool and downtown. Remodeled with laundry and three bedrooms, also a one car garage available. Rent is $750, not including utilities, garbage removal and other needs. No pets. Available April 1. One year lease required. Send inquiries to [email protected] or 382-3105.

For rent: Basement of remodeled home for rent at 104 Crescent Ave., close to Luther, swimming pool and downtown. Rental is two bedrooms remodeled with laundry facility. Separate private entrance available. Rent is $700 not including utilities, garbage removal and other needs. No pets. One year lease required, with one month advance deposit required. Send inquiries to [email protected] or 382-3105.

For hire: Responsible, caring, trustworthy Luther nursing student looking for house-sitting position in Decorah for the summer. Available for hire May to early August. Contact Krista Anderson at <andekr09> or (319) 573-9924.

Wanted: Youth soccer coach. Decorah United Soccer Club is looking for coaches for this spring season. Please contact Chris Garcia-Prats at <garcch01> for more details on the position.

For sale: 42-inch LCD television in perfect condition. Asking $200. Contact Gokhan at <gokhansavas> or (857) 389-7207.

For sale: King-size mattress rarely used, one year old. Asking $150. Contact Gokhan at <gokhansavas> or (857) 389-7207.

For sale: Sectional sofa in great condition. Asking $450. Contact Gokhan at <gokhansavas> or (857) 389-7207.

Wanted: A Verizon phone that does not require a data plan. If you have recently upgraded to a smart phone and would like to get rid of a current "non-smart" phone, contact Lane at <schwla01>.

For sale: Teal blue recliner, in good condition. Asking $20. Contact Marcia at 419-4969 or <bullerma>.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

LIS tip of the week

The Technology Help Desk will never ask for a username or password via email. Any attempt to do so is a phishing scam and should be marked as spam. Questions? Visit www.luther.edu/helpdesk/tips.

And finally...

The first day of spring is Thursday, March 20. Here are some interesting spring facts: 

Spring fever is real and commonly occurs when a sudden warm spell follows a long cold period. When the temperature rises, there's a dilation or expansion of the blood vessels so that blood can be carried to the body surface where heat can be lost quickly. Some people experience an energetic feeling to this reaction.

If you stand at the equator on the first day of spring, you will see the sun pass directly over head. This is only true two times a year; the first day of spring and the first day of autumn.

Spring cleaning often accompanies spring fever. And with the warmer weather windows and doors can be open which allows ventilation for dusting and the fumes of cleaning products. It has been suggested that spring cleaning dates back to the Persian New Year where they practice "Khoneh Tekouni" which means "Shaking the house." Another possibility of the origin can be traced to the ancient Jewish of cleansing the home in anticipation of passover.

Find more fun facts here. Happy spring!