The Staff Meeting Planning Committee invites all staff to this year's staff Christmas party: "Christmas Around the World." The annual Christmas party counts as our December staff meeting and begins at 9 a.m. in Peace Dining Room Wednesday, Dec. 11. Be ready for traditional Christmas food from around the world, Christmas trivia, prizes, singing and more.

Donations will be accepted at the door for ELCA Disaster Relief for the Philippines (monetary) and for the local Food Pantry (monetary or canned goods). Mark your calendars and be there with bells on.

Update on Olin, and a thank you 

Early Friday afternoon a fire sprinkler went off in an unoccupied office on the third floor of Olin Hall. The fire alarm was triggered by the sprinkler flow, which was discovered some time later and was reported to Campus Safety and Security. A significant portion of the north side on third floor of Olin had several inches of standing water, and some had run down to the second and first floors as well as the basement. Most heavily affected are several faculty offices, second floor north classrooms, student study lounge and restrooms. Campus Security, Facilities and LIS staff organized a flood recovery effort that included many Luther employees who gave up part of their holiday weekend to remove the water and get the dry-out started. Thanks to each and every one of you! The quick response and tireless efforts prevented a much more damaging situation.  This was a great example of the strong hands that protect this institution.

-Kevin Kraus

COLLEGE OPERATIONS

Finals prep week reminder

A campus programming reminder to all that Tuesday-Sunday, Dec. 9-14 is considered finals prep week and is intended to provide additional space for students to prepare for tests, papers and finals. These six days are set aside for academic preparation for finals, and Luther does not schedule public events during this time—including student led events. Exceptions include only athletic events, social gatherings, Christmas in the Union and Kwanzaa.

Please watch for upcoming 2014 wellness check-up information. As this is an even-numbered year, all health benefit participants need to do their blood panel, health risk assessment and physical in order to avoid the additional $25 monthly premium.

Book Shop events

All students are invited to enter the Book Shop's annual "Ugly Christmas Sweater" contest. Come to the Book Shop wearing your sweater anytime before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, when a photo will be taken. Vote for the ugliest sweater until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11. A style show of all the sweater entries and judging of the top five finalists will take place at 5:45 p.m. in the Book Shop.

Empowering Learners

Empowering Learners will be returning to Namibia this January term. Those who wish to support our efforts can bring donations of used laptops in good condition and roll aboard carry-on suitcases. Laptops should be no more than five years old and working well. We strip them, add basic office programs and Encyclopedia Britannica. These laptops will be delivered to the Ongenga and Oniipa Primary Schools in the North. We also need roll aboard to transport laptops as well as microscopes and calculators. If you have any questions, please call Ann Sponberg Peterson at x1510, or email <ann.peterson>. 

Christmas at Luther parking notice from Campus Safety and Security office

To accommodate the large number of visitors expected for Christmas at Luther we need to make adjustments in parking area designations. While we realize these adjustments will create some inconvenience for our personnel and students they are necessary for logistical reasons.

The Valders parking lot will be converted to a handicapped-only lot from 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 until 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Alternative staff parking includes the library lot, Farwell lot, Regents lot and the roadway from Valders out to College Drive. The lots adjacent the CFL will also be designated as handicapped-only for the performances but will be available for normal use during the day until 4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.

Student vehicles must be removed from the library, Jenson and city pool lots by 8 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, until after 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Alternative parking areas for these days include Regents lot, Farwell lot and the Dike Road.

Exception: commuter students, with the proper permit, may park in the commuter-designated row in the Library lot from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Dec. 5-6. Students may not park in faculty, staff or visitor areas during these nights. Regular parking regulations will go back into effect at 6:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9. Any vehicle parked out of compliance with this directive is subject to a $25 fine under the Luther College Parking Regulations. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Please direct any questions regarding this special event parking to Campus Security, 387-2111.

There is now a handicap accessible map of Luther College available at the information desk in Union as well as on www.luther.edu/disabilityservices.

Diversity Center 10 percent sale

The holiday season is fast approaching, so come and check out the international gifts at the Diversity Center. The center will sell fair trade gift items at 10 percent off from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5-6.

H drive changes coming in December

For improved data security, on Thursday, Dec. 26, LIS is limiting off-campus access to information on H drives—space for storing electronic files on Luther's servers. For more information, visit H drive Changes Coming.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Nobel Peace Prize Forum

This year's Nobel Peace Prize Forum will be held in Minneapolis March 1 honoring His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and March 8-9 featuring Nobel laureates Leymah Gbowee and Doctors without Borders. Tickets for the March 1 event are selling quickly and will be gone in a few weeks. Information and registration at nobelpeaceprizeforum.org. Carpooling is encouraged. For the March 8-9 events, Luther will charter a bus, with housing provided by Augsburg College students in their residence hall rooms. More details will follow in February. For now, interested persons should purchase tickets for the Forum using the link above because last year everything sold out. Questions? Contact Karen Martin-Schramm, <kms>.

Living Christmas gifts

Give the gift that will make the recipient smile all year long. Luther College Catering will sell Christmas cactus and Frosted Ferns beginning Dec. 5, for the affordable price of only $5 each. Stop by the Catering office and reserve one today.

Local chips available in C-Store

Pick up a bag of Sterzing's Potato Chips, made in Burlington, Iowa, in the C-Store. Sterzing's began operations in 1933. The company began shipping their chips to America's soldiers during the Vietnam War and Sterzing's still provides treats from home to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information go to: sterzingchips.com.

Edwards and McCaffrey book signing

The Luther College Book Shop will host book signing sessions with authors Dick Edwards and Jim McCaffrey from 10 a.m. to noon and 4-5 p.m. respectively, Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Luther College Book Shop in Dahl Centennial Union.

The book signings are open to the public with no charge for admission.

'Christmas in the Union'

Luther College invites the Decorah community to celebrate "Christmas in the Union" from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, in Luther's Dahl Centennial Union. Come for festive activities, a movie and pictures with Santa. A holiday dinner will be served in the cafeteria from 5-7:30 p.m. for a fee, all other "Christmas in the Union" events are open to the public with no charge for admission.

For sale: 2003 VW Westfalia Eurovan, 139,000 miles, runs well and in decent shape. This is the Weekender package, which has a pop up camper top and small hidden electric cooler. The rear seat folds flat to become a queen size bed, upper bed sleeps two. Seats 7. Call 419-0581 if interested.

Wanted: Looking to buy high quality used exercise bike in excellent working condition. Please email Chantel Olufsen at <olufch01>.

For sale: Nike Youth boys basketball shoes size 4.5. Worn one season and in good condition. $20. Email Kristin Bjerke at <bjerkr01>.

For rent: Two bedroom, one bath apartment near downtown. Garage stall, washer/dryer included. $650/month including utilities. Available Jan. 1. If interested, email <spruju01> or call (419) 806-2527.