Reidar Dittmann '47, professor emeritus of art and Norwegian and the first director of International Studies at St. Olaf, died while in hospice care in Minneapolis December 29.

In his latest book, The Nature of College, St. Olaf Professor of History James Farrell explores how nature — and conceptions about what is natural — are formed through students’ everyday routines.

Three St. Olaf students recently earned high marks in the annual Associated Colleges of the Midwest Off-Campus Study Photo Contest, including grand prize for Anna Carlson Schattauer '11 and honorable mentions for Anna Lehn '11 and Katherine Todd '11.

"Chick Corea and Gary Burton suddenly have competition," writes the Star Tribune's Tom Surowicz in a review of a new recording by Artist in Residence Dave Hagedorn (at left) and his former student, Dan Cavanagh '01. "There's a new piano and vibes duo in jazz, far less famous yet just as sublime."

A Star Tribune story takes a look at St. Olaf's newly opened Tomson Hall that — once all the moving is done — will house the Education and language departments, Admissions, the Center for Experiential Learning, and more.

For the first time in more than 11 years, St. Olaf students will travel to Israel in January for a program that will explore such ancient locales as Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethlehem, and Galilee. Professor Jim Hanson ’83 will lead the group.

The Lion's Pause student hangout hosted a new clientele recently as St. Olaf faculty and staff brought their dogs to Paws for Finals. The event allowed students in the midst of finals to relieve a little stress by consorting with canines.

Interest in the student knit-to-serve group Stitches for Peace has exploded this year, meaning Oles are generating more scarves and sweaters that benefit international humanitarian organizations.

Somewhere between building boats and leading wilderness tours, Matt Nienow '05 found the time to nurture a poetry career that recently earned him a $25,000 fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. He shares how boat building and poetry have more in common than meets the eye and why the money isn't the best part of his NEA award.

Anyone can handle class outside in the spring, but standing around an outdoor chalkboard in mid-December? “Absolutely fantastic,” says Ben Perez ‘14, one of the students in Assistant Professor of Classics Chris Brunelle’s Greek course.

The Association of American Colleges and Universities has cited St. Olaf's "Don't just check off all those requirements" page on the college's web site as a notable example of how American colleges can help "ensure that all students graduate prepared for the challenges of the new global century."

The study of psychology almost exclusively examines American thinking and behavior, and is rarely part of international study programs. Professor of Psychology Dana Gross, armed with a new grant, is looking to change that.

Of the six grants the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources awarded this year, two went to St. Olaf faculty members. Steve Freedberg received one for his project on smooth softshell turtles, while Pat Ceas and Jean Porterfield got one for their study on longear sunfish.

St. Olaf's newly resurrected student-run Cooking Club recently gathered for a chance to learn holiday cooking tips from Bon Appétit Executive Chef Matthew Fogarty and Pastry Chef Richard Hayes.

The St. Olaf Philosophy Department is keeping inquiry into the nature of contemporary life alive in two recently published books by faculty members Gordon Marino and Charles Taliaferro.