ARCHIVE

< December 2006
February 2007 >


Mbele to co-edit Tanzanian language project
Mbele
JANUARY 29, 2007 — Associate Professor of English Joseph Mbele recently was appointed one of the editors for the University of Dar es Salaam's Languages of Tanzania project. Mbele will edit Oral Literatures publications, which will include studies and collections of folklore.

Student volunteers honored during Timberwolves game
JANUARY 29, 2007 — Basketball legend and volunteer advocate Bill Russell recently honored a number of Minnesota volunteers, including two St. Olaf students who co-coordinate the college's Study Buddies program. "I think that mentoring goes unrecognized too often," says sophomore Elisabeth Vickers.

College provost publishes on classics
May
JANUARY 29, 2007 — James M. May, provost and dean of St. Olaf and professor of classics, recently has published two articles in important volumes dedicated to teaching and scholarship in classics.

Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow chosen for 2007
JANUARY 28, 2007 — International banking official Gretchen Handwerger has been chosen as St. Olaf's 2007 Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow in Residence. Professor of Psychology, Howard Thorsheim, campus coordinator of the Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow program, describes Handwergervas "committed to students" and a proponent of the liberal arts.

A new style of dance
JANUARY 26, 2007 — An informal performance of human and technologically mediated dance and music created by St. Olaf students enrolled in the Interim courses, "Dancing with the Computer" taught by Anthony Roberts, and "Music in the Electronic Medium" taught by Justin Merritt, will be presented at 7 p.m. in Dittmann Center, Wagner/Bundgaard Studio One.

Achberger presents at conferences in Germany, U.S.
Achberger
JANUARY 26, 2007 — Last fall St. Olaf Professor of German Karen R. Achberger presented at numerous conferences in the United States and abroad.

USA Today notes St. Olaf wind turbine
JANUARY 25, 2007 — In a story about the new Sustainable Endowments Institute report on green initiatives in higher education, USA Today cites the St. Olaf wind turbine as a leading example for educational institutions.

Chinese Christian artist to give presentation
JANUARY 25, 2007 — Artist He Qi will present "Look Toward the Heavens" at 1 p.m. in Viking Theater, Buntrock Commons.

Faculty awarded grant to retrace 1838 Minnesota expedition
Nicollet
JANUARY 25, 2007 — Three St. Olaf faculty members -- representing art, biology and chemistry -- have been awarded a $40,000 grant to study how the landscape of southern Minnesota has changed since explorer Joseph Nicholas Nicollet traveled through the region in 1838. "The devotion and energy [Nicollet] put into his project will be an inspiration and keep us engaged as we work on ours," says Meg Ojala.

'Surreal' homecoming for St. Olaf Choir member
Frye
JANUARY 24, 2007 — St. Olaf Choir member Laura Frye '08 had a "surreal day" recently when she found herself at her Massachusetts high school as part of a workshop led by the ensemble.

Lyric Theatre presents second opera of 2006-07 season
JANUARY 24, 2007 — The new and permanent three-production Lyric Theatre season presents its second offering, the world-premiere of the jazz opera Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum at 8:15 p.m. in Christiansen Hall of Music, Urness Recital Hall. This production is free and open to the public.

Jazz opera makes its world debut
JANUARY 23, 2007 — "Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum," a story of misdirected love by composer and St. Olaf music faculty member James McKeel, will make its world premier on Jan. 24 and 25 at 8:15 p.m. in Christiansen Hall of Music, Urness Recital Hall. Set in the 1920s, when flappers, gangsters and prohibition was part of the everyday scenery, this unique jazz opera, based on the poetry of Wallace Irwin with music and libretto by McKeel, is presented as part of the St. Olaf Music Department's three-production Lyric Theatre season. For more information, call 507-646-3180.

Multimedia exhibit to feature culture of peace
JANUARY 21, 2007 — Throughout February, St. Olaf College will host "Building a Culture of Peace for the Children of the World." The multimedia exhibit, created and sponsored by Soka Gakkai International, was first shown at the United Nations World Headquarters and supports the UN Culture of Peace program. This exhibit is open to the public in the Tostrud Recreation Center and Skoglund Athletic Center lobbies beginning Feb. 5.

Biofuels basics
JANUARY 18, 2007 — With the effects of global warming evident all around us, exploring alternative energy sources is more urgent than ever before. Dr. Jason Hill, a faculty member in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota, studies corn and grass-based ethanol and soy biodiesel production. He has coauthored recent papers published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and in Science magazine. Tonight, at 7 p.m. in Science Center 282, Hill will discuss "Biofuels Basics: Energetics, Expectations, Environment and Economics." The lecture, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the student-led St. Olaf Environmental Coalition, the St. Olaf Department of Environmental Studies, the Northfield League of Women Voters of Northfield and the Cannon River Watershed Partnership.

Journeys luncheon to feature David Anderson
JANUARY 18, 2007 — A Journeys luncheon with David R. Anderson '74, St. Olaf's 11th president, will be held at noon in the Valhalla Room.

Students work for peace, justice in U.S. and abroad
Groggel
JANUARY 17, 2007 — Four St. Olaf students have been awarded this year's Kloeck-Jenson Scholarship for Peace and Justice Internships. "I feel like I needed this opportunity to physically work for what I believe in," says Laura Groggel '08, who will spend Interim teaching in India.

Rolvaag Library to host eighth annual minigolf open
JANUARY 16, 2007 — The eighth annual Rolvaag Library Open is set to take place Saturday, Jan. 20, with tee times available every five minutes from 6-9 p.m. This unique miniature golf event will run throughout Rolvaag memorial library on the finest 18 holes St. Olaf campus has to offer.

St. Olaf honors Gelle with court dedication
Gelle
JANUARY 16, 2007 — Longtime St. Olaf men's basketball coach and hall of famer Bob Gelle was honored recently when the basketball floor at Skoglund Center was dedicated and named "Bob Gelle Court." The dedication was held prior to the Oles' men's and women's doubleheader against Carleton College.

St. Olaf to host events in honor of Martin Luther King
King
JANUARY 12, 2007 — In recognition of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, several events -- culminating with a celebration on King's birthday Jan. 15 -- will be held around the St. Olaf campus.

Lyric Theatre to premiere faculty member's jazz opera
McKeel
JANUARY 12, 2007 — Nearly 30 St. Olaf music majors will perform in The Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum, a jazz opera by Associate Professor James McKeel and the second production of the St. Olaf Music Department's initial lyric theatre season.

Go west, young band: tour will mirror 1909 trek
JANUARY 11, 2007 — When the St. Olaf Band embarks on this year's winter tour of the Pacific Northwest it will retrace the steps of the band tour of 1909, which the college dubbed the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Tour, a rough-and-tumble expedition from Northfield to Seattle.

Former faculty member to make ethanol presentation
JANUARY 10, 2007 — Former St. Olaf faculty member Jason Hill will speak about ethanol Thursday, Jan. 18, 7-8:30 p.m. in Science Center 282 at St. Olaf College.

Hospice care advocate Bergeson dies
JANUARY 9, 2007 — Rev. Robert Bergeson '49, a hospital chaplain who was instrumental in introducing hospice care to Minnesota, died Dec. 31 at age 81.

Former regent and DAA recipient dies
JANUARY 8, 2007 — Dr. Hovald K. Helseth '56, a former regent and St. Olaf Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, died on Jan. 3 at age 72.

Hofrenning asks: 'What if Ford had won?'
JANUARY 5, 2007 — In an opinion piece in the Star Tribune, Dan Hofrenning of the St. Olaf Political Science Department surmises about what might have happened had Gerald Ford won the presidency in 1976.

Ole volunteer group to be honored during Timberwolves game
JANUARY 4, 2007 — "Study Buddies," part of St. Olaf's Volunteer Network, has been selected as a winner for the 2006 Angel of Mentoring Award, presented by the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota.

Sigrid Johnson honored with F. Melius Christiansen Award
Johnson
JANUARY 4, 2007 — Sigrid Johnson, conductor of the St. Olaf Manitou Singers, received the F. Melius Christiansen Award this weekend. The award is the most prestigious honor given by the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota.

Broadcast Ellison's use of the Quran, says Hofrenning
JANUARY 4, 2007 — Ellison has been criticized for using the Quran in the ceremony. Associate Professor of Political Science Dan Hofrenning feels otherwise. "Rather than condemnation, we should broadcast Ellison's use of the Quran," says Hofrenning in a piece he read on Minnesota Public Radio.

Alumnus delivers antique Quran for incoming Congressman
Dimunation
JANUARY 4, 2007 — Mark Dimunation '74 is getting recognition as the Library of Congress rare books curator who is delivering Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Quran for the swearing in ceremony of Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison, the first Muslim legislator in Congress.

Alumnus discovers centuries-old cure for modern ailments
JANUARY 2, 2007 — Eric Buenz '99, who majored in chemistry and biology while at St. Olaf, is gaining attention for his research into centuries-old herbal medicine that has potential as a modern-day antibiotic.