ARCHIVE

< March 2008
May 2008 >


Interview with Siri Hustvedt '77
Hustvedt
APRIL 30, 2008 — Author and St. Olaf alumna '77 recently returned to campus to read from her new book, The Sorrows of an American. She set aside a few minutes during her visit to answer questions about book tours, living in New York and what advice she might have for students.

Hirst earns prestigious stats award
Hirst
APRIL 29, 2008 — "Brianna warned me when she first took one of my classes that she likes to ask a lot of questions," says Associate Professor of Statistics Julie Legler. "This trait has served her well."

Gant agrees to terms with Redskins
Gant
APRIL 29, 2008 — The Washington Redskins and St. Olaf wide receiver Horace Gant '08 have agreed to terms on a free agent contract, team officials announced Monday.

Event to examine lives affected by Vietnam War
APRIL 29, 2008 — On the 33rd anniversary of the day U.S. military forces withdrew from the Vietnam War, St. Olaf will host an event to examine how that conflict changed lives. The April 30 event will feature a discussion with community activist Yee Chang '93 and Northfield Human Rights Commission member Judy Dirks.

Science symposium to explore "Living in our Toxic World"
APRIL 28, 2008 — As part of the 10th annual Honors Day Science Symposium this Friday, May 2, three environmental experts from across the country will come together at St. Olaf College to consider what it means to thrive in a "toxic" world.

Samiha Peterson to deliver Honors Day address
Peterson
APRIL 28, 2008 — St. Olaf Professor of Sociology Samiha Sidhom Peterson will deliver the address during this year's Honors Day celebration Friday. The event, which recognizes academic accomplishments, will begin with a procession of faculty in academic regalia.

Getting to know Jerry Olszewski
APRIL 28, 2008 — The Northfield News recently sat down with Jerry Olszewski, St. Olaf's new football coach, to ask him about his recent move to St. Olaf.

Companydance Spring Concert opens May 1
APRIL 25, 2008 — The upcoming concert by Companydance will feature student solos and dances choreographed by guest artists. "It really is wonderful how different and amazing each concert turns out to be just by the makeup of the students and choreographers," says St. Olaf Professor of Dance Janice Roberts.

Author Marya Hornbacher to discuss Madness: A Bipolar Life
APRIL 25, 2008 — Author Marya Hornbacher has Type I rapid-cycle bipolar, which she recently told People Magazine causes "major mood swings, all day long. Drugs help, but I consider it a good year if I'm only hospitalized once." She'll talk about her new book on the topic at St. Olaf Wednesday.

Understanding the daily schedule of student life
Kneser
APRIL 24, 2008 — In a letter to parents, Dean of Students Greg Kneser notes that students returning home for the summer may very well keep different hours than the rest of the household. "Their day is nothing like yours and mine, and this might present a challenge as they move home," Kneser writes.

ALERT: On-campus power interruptions
APRIL 24, 2008 — The campus experienced periodic interruptions in electrical power Thursday. In order to correct the problem the Facilities staff will have to shut down campus-wide power.

Muir earns Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching award
Muir
APRIL 24, 2008 — St. Olaf Assistant Professor of Psychology Gary Muir has been named the recipient of the 2008 Minnesota Psychological Association (MPA) Walter D. Mink Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher Award.

Enhancing learning for all ages
APRIL 24, 2008 — Each year St. Olaf psychology students create fun-filled lesson plans for students at local elementary schools. It sounds simple, but these Oles know that it takes a deep and nuanced understanding of the subject to convey complex concepts to children.

Alumni authors sought for Celebration Weekend
APRIL 23, 2008 — The St. Olaf Bookstore is hosting an Alumni Author Event during this year's Celebration Weekend, and organizers are looking for published Oles to participate.

Greetings from the Hill
Soland
APRIL 23, 2008 — Interim Director of Alumni & Parent Relations Nathan Soland '04 encourages Oles to come back to the Hill May 23-25 for Celebration Weekend. "In the span of three days, the St. Olaf family gathers together to learn, reconnect, reminisce, worship, engage and enjoy each other's company," he writes.

Achberger chosen for selective seminar
Achberger
APRIL 23, 2008 — St. Olaf Professor of German Karen Achberger is one of 12 participants who have been accepted into a six-week seminar sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service.

Bon Appetit launches Low Carbon Diet
Abrahamson
APRIL 23, 2008 — St. Olaf College's food management company unveiled a new culinary program on Earth Day. "Connecting food with global warming has made me aware of how I can tread lightly on the planet," says Executive Chef Peter Abrahamson.

Board of Regents Student Committee seeks alumni opinion for new project
APRIL 23, 2008 — The Board of Regents Student Committee is seeking alumni opinion for a project on "The St. Olaf Feel." The committee is examining the values and traits that define the St. Olaf identity. Alumni input will aid us in describing the "St. Olaf Feel" and help ensure our ability to nurture these characteristics for the future.

Super delegate Donna Brazile to speak at St. Olaf
APRIL 22, 2008 — Veteran political strategist and commentator Donna Brazile is one of the 796 super delegates to this year's Democratic National Convention -- but she has yet to commit to a candidate. Hear her insight about America's political process.

Lecture to compare ancient globalism with current issues
APRIL 22, 2008 — Carol Thomas' lecture will look at the global situation from the early fifth century BCE into the Hellenistic Age, and she'll show how the commonalities and processes parallel contemporary issues.

Students make documentary about mascot dog
APRIL 22, 2008 — A recent Northfield News story notes two St. Olaf students, Stephanie Tanner '10 and Jessica Steinbach '08, who are researching the saga of Ytterboe, the campus mascott whose shooting death in 1957 sparked a near riot.

Biofuel researcher John McBride '01 to lecture
McBride
APRIL 22, 2008 — Research scientist John McBride '01 will talk about the role biofuels could play in a sustainable future during a lecture at St. Olaf College April 29 titled "Advanced Cellulosic Biofuels: Possibilities for Energy Production in a Sustainable World."

Agricultural economist to speak April 28
Pardey
APRIL 22, 2008 — "By 2050 we'll have at least another 2 billion people on top of the 6.2 billion we're currently attempting to feed. We have no alternative but to increase productivity dramatically," says Philip Pardey, an expert who will discuss agricultural research in the developing world during a lecture at St. Olaf April 28.

More than 100,000 pieces of St. Olaf history now online
APRIL 22, 2008 — Fram, an online database that includes pieces of St. Olaf history ranging from diaries to recordings to photos, reached a milestone when it surpassed 100,000 records this year. "Fram is one of the strongest finding tools in the country and a quick way to see what's available in the archives," says Associate College Archivist Jeff Sauve.

Zempel awarded Norwegian Order of Merit
APRIL 22, 2008 — St. Olaf Professor of Norwegian Solveig Zempel '69 recently was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit at a ceremony in Minneapolis.

Relay for Life participants to walk through the night
APRIL 21, 2008 — Participants in the fifth annual Northfield Relay for Life will walk from Friday night to Saturday morning. "This means more entertainment, more food, more community time and more focus on the fact that a cancer patient's battle with cancer is all day, every day," event co-chair Laura Hiller '08 says.

Siri Hustvedt '77 to read from new novel Friday
Hustvedt
APRIL 21, 2008 — A Publishers Weekly starred review notes that Siri Hustvedt's book, The Sorrows of An American, continues "with grace and aplomb, her exploration of family connectedness, loss, grief and art."

'Green' architecture expert to lecture
Fisher
APRIL 21, 2008 — Thomas Fisher, dean of the School of Design at the University of Minnesota, will talk about the role of architecture and sustainable design in the 21st century during a presentation at St. Olaf College April 23.

Early Music Singers and Collegium Musicum to perform
APRIL 21, 2008 — Music of the English Renaissance will be the focus of this year's Early Music Singers and Collegium Musicum concert, which will be held at St. Olaf College April 25. "This is the music that I love," says Gerald Hoekstra, director of Early Music Singers and the Collegium Musicum.

Test of RSS inclusion, or not
APRIL 18, 2008 — This is a test. Ignore this.

U of M expert to lecture on controlling water pollution
APRIL 18, 2008 — University of Minnesota Professor William Easter, who has spent years studying water, will lecture at St. Olaf April 21 on controlling toxic water pollution.

Senior art show now open
APRIL 18, 2008 — "Over the Hill," the first of two senior art shows this spring, will be on display until April 28. "The senior show is a time of celebration of what we have done and what we will do in the future," says studio art major Lisa Skildum '08.

St. Olaf to honor French computer scientist
Laborde
APRIL 17, 2008 — St. Olaf College will confer an honorary degree on French computer scientist Jean-Marie Laborde, creator of a software program used by more than 100 million people to study dynamic geometry -- a field that he helped create.

St. Olaf handbell choirs to perform Saturday
APRIL 17, 2008 — The St. Olaf Handbell Choir, the St. Olaf Chapel Ringers, and the Manitou Handbell Choir will perform their annual Spring Concert April 19. "I love how much of a group effort handbells is -- we each only have two notes at a time, and we depend on everyone being right on," says handbell ringer Megan Reishus '09.

St. Olaf students present research to MPCA
APRIL 17, 2008 — Two St. Olaf students recently had the unique opportunity to present the results of their water-quality research to staff of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in St. Paul. "It is rare that as undergraduate students we get to test methods that are new and have the potential to change the way future studies are done," Eric Smith '08 told the Northfield News.

Students spend a day in the life of the homeless
APRIL 17, 2008 — A group of St. Olaf College students recently spent a day in a homeless immersion program in Minneapolis. "Though I've learned about poverty in the classroom, there is no way that a book can truly describe the pain and frustration of the homeless experience," says Monika Hartsel '09.

Civic engagement lecture Tuesday
APRIL 17, 2008 — As part of St. Olaf College's focus on global citizenship, University of Minnesota Professor of Political Science Elizabeth Beaumont will give a lecture titled "Educating Citizens."

Arianna String Quartet to perform tonight
APRIL 16, 2008 — The Arianna String Quartet, one of America's finest chamber ensembles, will perform at St. Olaf College April 18. The Chicago Tribune wrote that the ensemble "makes music with the tonal warmth, fastidious balance and heightened communication skills of groups many years its senior ... Quartet playing doesn't get much better than this."

Oles lead local event for National Healthcare Decisions Day
Carlsen
APRIL 16, 2008 — A local event highlighting National Healthcare Decisions Day was led by St. Olaf alumni and instructors who have expertise in putting healthcare wishes into writing. "Our goal is to increase the number of people who pay attention to this issue," says Professor of Social Work Mary Carlsen '79.

St. Olaf Band to perform Spring Concert Saturday
Pesola
APRIL 15, 2008 — The St. Olaf Band will perform its annual Spring Concert on Saturday under the baton of guest conductor Russell Pesola '61. The performance will be streamed online.

USA Today columnists to seek political common ground in PAC debate
APRIL 15, 2008 — Bob Beckel and Cal Thomas take on issues that divide America along partisan lines and aim to find areas where both sides can agree. They'll be debating some of those issues during a visit to St. Olaf College April 17.

St. Olaf Department of Social Work sponsoring National Healthcare Decisions Day
Carlsen
APRIL 14, 2008 — Local organizations will provide information and tools for the public to talk about advance healthcare decision-making April 16. "Making our wishes known is a great gift to our loved ones," says St. Olaf Professor of Social Work Mary Carlsen '79.

Scaling new depths in opera
APRIL 14, 2008 — Since she was trying to protect her voice, the Star Tribune recently sent a set of interview questions to opera singer Kelly Kaduce '96 via e-mail. "If you would have told me as a child that I would be a traveling opera singer, I would have been excited beyond belief," she wrote in response to one question.

Scholar to lecture on rise of China, India
Duara
APRIL 14, 2008 — To celebrate St. Olaf's newly revised Asian Conversations Program, University of Chicago Professor Prasenjit Duara will give a lecture on campus April 16 titled "Visions of History, Trajectories of Power: China and India since De-colonization."

New York's Saint Thomas Choir to sing in Boe Chapel
APRIL 14, 2008 — The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, a choral ensemble from New York that has performed at Westminster Abbey and received a papal audience at the Vatican, will perform at St. Olaf April 22.

Andrew Carter Festival to be held Sunday
Carter
APRIL 14, 2008 — Last year BBC Magazine called Andrew Carter's CD of carols one of the "10 best ever" Christmas CDs. This week the noted English composer will lead four St. Olaf ensembles in a performance of his music.

'E-Week' will feature speakers, competition
Sian Muir
APRIL 11, 2008 — St. Olaf's sixth annual Entrepreneurship Week will be held April 15-18. The event will "showcase the variety of ways that innovation and creativity can add value and change lives," says Sian Muir, associate director of entrepreneurial studies at St. Olaf.

Norwegian ambassador to visit St. Olaf
Strommen
APRIL 10, 2008 — As part of his upcoming visit to St. Olaf College, Norwegian Ambassador Wegger Strommen will deliver a lecture titled "Norway and the United States in the Next Century: Working Together in our Changing World."

Journalist to discuss his critique of economic theory
Hadas
APRIL 10, 2008 — Journalist and former financial analyst Edward Hadas will discuss why he thinks modern economic theory is incomplete during a lecture at St. Olaf Monday, April 14, titled "Human Goods, Economic Evils: A Moral Approach to the Dismal Science."

Lead legal counsel for World Bank to lecture
APRIL 8, 2008 — Mohammed Bekhechi, lead legal counsel for the World Bank, will deliver a lecture titled "The World Bank and the Environment: From Doing No Harm to Doing Good" at St. Olaf College April 10.

MPR profiles Ole voter
APRIL 8, 2008 — According to a recent Minnesota Public Radio story, "John McCain won St. Olaf senior Andrew Foxwell's vote with the help of an online quiz." Foxwell needed to figure out whose camp he'd support during a political science excursion to New Hampshire.

Annual Veselica concert will showcase dances from around the world
APRIL 7, 2008 — Veselica, a student dance company with a global perspective that strives to spread awareness of dance forms from around the world, will present its annual concert April 11-13. The concert will feature dances from countries ranging from Costa Rica to Uzbekistan.

Swimmer Westby qualifies for Olympic trials
Westby
APRIL 7, 2008 — Just weeks after a trio of top three finishes at the NCAA swimming championships -- including his second straight national title in the 200 Individual Medley -- St. Olaf student Nelson Westby '09 met another career milestone Saturday when he qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Third annual Day of Service to be held April 19
APRIL 7, 2008 — "The National Day of Service focuses the attention of the entire St. Olaf family on our duty to use the gifts we have been given in the service of others and gives us the opportunity to serve together, as a community," says President David R. Anderson '74.

Postlethwaite reviews new Lahiri title in Star Tribune
Postlethwaite
APRIL 7, 2008 — "If you've read Jhumpa Lahiri's previous books (Pulitzer Prize-winning Interpreter of Maladies, movie-adapted The Namesake), all I need tell you is that Unaccustomed Earth is her best yet," writes Professor of English Diana Postlethwaite in the Star Tribune.

Lecture to examine social justice in health care
APRIL 7, 2008 — Is health care a right or a privilege? Minnesota State University-Mankato Professor of Nursing Sue Ellen Bell will examine these questions and others during a lecture at St. Olaf College April 9 that will focus on social justice and the health-care industry.

Rambachan to meet with pope
APRIL 4, 2008 — St. Olaf Professor of Religion Anantanand Rambachan will meet with Pope Benedict XVI April 17 during the pontiff's current U.S. tour. The meeting comes just a week after Rambachan met with the archbishop of Canterbury to present the annual Lambeth Lecture.

St. Olaf Theatre to present Les Belles-Soeurs
APRIL 4, 2008 — The St. Olaf Theatre Department's production of Les Belles-Soeurs will explore what happens when 15 brassy, greedy women are within reach of a fortune. "The play brings up issues about competition and the ills of comparing ourselves too closely to those around us," director Dona Freeman '80 says.

His art could save forests
APRIL 4, 2008 — "In the semester before his college graduation in 1992, St. Olaf art major Jim Proctor wasn't sure what role art would play in his adult life," notes a recent City Pages story about Jim Proctor '92. Then one day in his studio a piece of earth ended up on his canvas ...

Leading authority on economic growth to lecture
APRIL 4, 2008 — Barbara Fraumeni, a leading authority on economic growth and productivity, will discuss the current state of the American economy during a pair of lectures she will deliver at St. Olaf College April 7-8.

Ole Spring Relief III -- the interview
Wong
APRIL 3, 2008 — Victor Wong '08, a co-organizer of this year's Ole Spring Relief III trip to Biloxi, Miss., recently was interviewed by local radio station KYMN. Listen to what he had to say about the experience ...

St. Olaf senior earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
Swanson
APRIL 3, 2008 — St. Olaf senior men's cross country and track runner David Swanson recently received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The $7,500 one-time grant honors student-athletes who excel academically and athletically.

New clarinet ensembles to perform Tuesday
APRIL 3, 2008 — Two new ensembles -- the St. Olaf Youth Clarinet Ensemble and St. Olaf Virtuosi Chamber Winds -- will perform with the St. Olaf Clarinet Choir April 8. "Though the members from the three groups are at different levels, they all love and enjoy playing music together," director Jun Qian says.

Cantorei to perform its home concert Monday
APRIL 3, 2008 — Cantorei's April 7 concert will mark the ensemble's return from a weekend tour to Chicago. "We are excited for the opportunity to apply what we've learned this year into a single worship event," choir member Frieda von Qualen '08 says.

St. Olaf student awarded Goldwater scholarship
APRIL 1, 2008 — St. Olaf student Paul Nichol '09 is among the 321 undergraduate sophomores and juniors nationwide who were recently awarded prestigious Barry M. Goldwater scholarships for 2008-09. St. Olaf junior Emily Segar '09 was recognized with an honorable mention.