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February 2005 >


Sharing information and fellowship planned for Community Day
JANUARY 31, 2005 — A special program is being offered to all members of the college community on Wednesday, Feb. 2 in celebration of the spring semester Community Day. The day begins with complimentary breakfast in Stav Hall from 7:30 to 8:25 a.m. The program begins with remarks from Provost and Dean of the College Jim May in Boe Chapel at 8:30 a.m. followed by three 50-minute break-out sessions.

Focus of workshop at St. Olaf to be career and life work during unbalanced times
JANUARY 28, 2005 — The workshop titled "Making Your Career and Life Work: Strategies for Unbalanced Times" will be offered Friday, Jan. 28, in the Sun Room of the Buntrock Commons. The workshop format will include time for small- and large-group dialogue and for individual reflection and action planning.

Space is limited, so registration is recommended. The cost is $295 per person. Call 507-646-3043 or 800-726-6523 for registration.

Trumpet and piano to be featured in faculty recital
JANUARY 26, 2005 — St. Olaf music faculty members Martin Hodel, trumpet, and Kent McWilliams, piano, will present a recital on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in Christiansen Hall of Music, Urness Recital Hall. The program will include "Concerto in G minor," by Handel, "Desperate Measures" by Muczynski and feature Peter Hamlin's "Revelation of the Seven Trumpets." This event is free and open to the public.

St. Olaf Men and Women swim into the Top 10
JANUARY 25, 2005 — An intensive week-long training session in Florida and 6:30 a.m. daily practices have finally paid off as the St. Olaf Men and Women's Swimming and Diving team claim the No. 4 and No. 7 slots respectively in Division III rankings. Having recently returned from the UW-Stevens Point (Wisconsin) Invite, the 53-member team looks forward to three more weeks of the swim season, with two dual meets remaining against St. Thomas and Carleton colleges. On Feb. 17 the top 17 St. Olaf swimmers and top three divers will go on to the Division III Conference at the University of Minnesota.

Alumnus named executive director of Lutheran Volunteer Corps
Wilker
JANUARY 25, 2005 — The Lutheran Volunteer Corps Board of Directors recently announced that Michael Wilker '86 has been named executive director of the organization. "Mike...will move LVC closer to being a more inclusive and effective community of faith that unites people to work for peace with justice," says the Rev. Doris Warrell.

'Showcase St. Olaf' to hit the road in Minnesota and northern Iowa
JANUARY 24, 2005 — St. Olaf College will soon make special visits to four cities in the next few weeks in conjunction with the St. Olaf winter choir tour. The idea is to utilize music tours and athletic events around the country to highlight the college's many strengths.

Guest recital by Betsy Husby, cello, to be Russian Extravaganza
JANUARY 24, 2005 — Betsy Husby, principal cellist with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra will present a Russian Extravaganza at 8:15 p.m. in Urness Recital Hall in Christiansen Hall of Music on Jan. 24. Husby is also on the faculty of the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin and the College of St. Scholastica. Accompanying Husby will be Alexander Chernyshev, pianist and music faculty member from UMD, who earned his music degree from St. Petersburg Conservatory. The program will include "Adagio from the ballet, The Lady and the Hooligan" and a "Sonata for cello and piano, Op. 40" by Shostakovich and "Sonata for cello and piano in G Minor, Op. 19," by Rachmaninoff. The recital is free and open to the public.

Poet Charles Martin to give Leraas Lecture
JANUARY 24, 2005 — Award-winning poet and translator Charles Martin will present the Leraas Lecture on Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m., in Holland Hall, room 501, about Ovid's "Metamorphoses."

Martin was named co-winner with Anselm Hollo by the Academy of American Poets, the 2004 Harold Morton Landon Translation Award winner, for their respective translations. Martin's other books of poems include "Steal the Bacon" and "What the Darkness Proposes," were both nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Student-run chamber orchestra to perform second annual family-friendly concert
JANUARY 21, 2005 — The Really Good Chamber Ensemble, a student-run chamber orchestra, conducted by St. Olaf students Christopher Noel '05 and Matthew Peterson '06, will present its second annual family-friendly concert of classical and modern music on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m., in Christiansen Hall of Music, Urness Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

Class of 2004 satisfied with St. Olaf experience
JANUARY 21, 2005 — St. Olaf conducted a survey last spring asking how our seniors perceive their St. Olaf experience. Results show that 96 percent of the graduating class were satisfied with their time at St. Olaf.

Philosopher, boxer and professor reflects on legacy of Jack Johnson
JANUARY 20, 2005 — "If people were likened to natural wonders," Jack Johnson -- the first black heavyweight champion in the United States -- "would be up there with the Grand Canyon," writes Professor of Philosophy (and boxer and coach) Gordon Marino, in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

St. Olaf Faculty present jazz concert
JANUARY 20, 2005 — A faculty jazz performance tonight (Thursday) at 8 p.m. in the Pause, located in Buntrock Commons will feature David Hagedorn, vibes; Martin Hodel, trumpet; Dan Cavanaugh, piano; Kevin Clements, bass; and Eric Hanson, drums. The recital is free and open to the public.

St. Olaf names next year's Lilly Teaching Fellows
JANUARY 19, 2005 — Bruce Dalgaard, executive director of the St. Olaf Center for Experiential Learning, announced yesterday that six St. Olaf faculty members have been named Lilly Teaching Fellows for the 2005-06 academic year: Professor of English Rich DuRocher, Associate Professor of Political Science Dan Hofrenning, Assistant Professor of Psychology Donna McMillan, Professor of Religion Barbara Reed, Associate Professor of Art and Art History Matt Rohn, and Associate Professor of Theater Director of Media Studies Bill Sonnega. The Lilly Teaching Fellows receive one course-release to develop or revise a course so that it incorporates the topic of vocation.

The St. Olaf College Lilly Grant Program, Lives of Worth and Service, seeks to help the college's students, faculty, staff and alumni discern and reflect on their own personal vocations through retreats, workshops, internships and other opportunities made possible by a five year, nearly $2 million grant from the Lilly Endowment's Program on the Theological Exploration of Vocation.

Annual mini golf tournament attracts 150 participants
JANUARY 18, 2005 — On Saturday, about 150 golfers negotiated stairways, ramps, the elevator and even a water trap during the annual St. Olaf College miniature golf tournament in Rolvaag Memorial Library.

St. Olaf and USA Today team up to deliver free papers to students
JANUARY 17, 2005 — In an effort to make daily news even more accessible for St. Olaf students, the college has established a one-month trial program with the USA Today Collegiate Readership Program that currently provides USA Today newspapers to some 200 college campuses across the country.

Campus visitor to give lecture on peace building and dialogue in the Balkans
JANUARY 17, 2005 — Steinar Bryn, director of the peace building and dialogue project at the Fritjof Nansen Academy in Lillehammer, Norway, will give a lecture at 7 p.m. in Buntrock Commons, Room 143 on Jan. 17. The title of his lecture will be "Peacebuilding and Dialogue in the Balkans." Bryn has taught courses on the role of communication in the development and management of human conflict and recently worked to foster dialogue among ethnic groups in the Balkan states. His work has also included seminars in Bethlehem and Jerusalem and training programs in the Middle East, South Africa and Northern Ireland. The lecture is free and open to the public.

St. Olaf to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., with speeches and song
Mentor
JANUARY 17, 2005 — Nationally known classical baritone and gospel singer Phillip Mentor will perform today during the 10:10 a.m. chapel service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. And tonight, at 7 p.m., History and American Studies Professor Jim Farrell will be the keynote speaker at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day celebration in Northfield. All events are free and open to the public.

Steven Miles '72 named 'Minnesotan of the Year'
Miles
JANUARY 17, 2005 — Minnesota Monthly magazine has named Steven Miles '72 "Minnesotan of the Year," for his lifelong work that includes improving care for elderly patients, working with refugees and investigating the ethical issues of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.

Baritone performer, Phillip Mentor, to present a Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday concert
JANUARY 16, 2005 — St. Olaf College will celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with two performances by baritone performer, Phillip Mentor. The first event is a concert on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the Christiansen Hall of Music, Urness Recital Hall.

Mentor will perform again during the daily chapel service on Monday, Jan. 17 at 10:10 a.m. Receptions will follow both performances. These events are free and open to the public.

Applications are steady and strong for Class of 2009
JANUARY 16, 2005 — High school students are applying to multiple colleges these days, making it hard for admissions officers to assess how serious applicants are about their colleges. At St. Olaf, however, Vice President and Dean of Enrollment Michael Kyle is confident about attracting a strong first-year class.

Erik Cleven to present lecture
JANUARY 15, 2005 — Erik Cleven of the Fritjof Nansen Academy in Lillehammer, Norway, an interim visiting faculty member at St. Olaf College, will give a lecture titled "What's Happening in Norway Today? The New Multiculturalism" on Saturday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. in the Valhalla Room of the Buntrock Commons.

Co-sponsored by the Northfield Chapter of Nordmanns-Forbundet and the St. Olaf Norwegian Department, the stimulating lecture, morning coffee, and thought-provoking discussion, is open to the public.

Sports moralizers have a field day with Moss, professor writes
JANUARY 14, 2005 — Minnesota Vikings all-pro wide receiver Randy Moss has been the focus of the sports media for two weeks. First for leaving the field with two seconds left in the game, then the following week for his post-touchdown celebration. Gordon Marino add his comments about Moss.

Belgum lecture focus to be on connecting science to experience
JANUARY 12, 2005 — The Belgum Lecture Series "On Seeing and Measuring: connecting science to experience" will be delivered by Bas van Fraassen, McCosh Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University, in Holland Hall, room 501 at 3:30 p.m. Bas van Fraassen will give a second talk on Thursday, Jan. 13, 3:30 p.m., in Holland Hall, room 501, titled "Visible and Invisible World." These lectures are free and open to the public.

Workshop to focus on making career and life work during unbalanced times
JANUARY 11, 2005 — St. Olaf Center for Lifelong Learning is offering a workshop entitled "Making Your Career and Life Work: Strategies for Unbalanced Times." The workshop will help participants assess values and priorities, identify career and life goals and develop strategies to achieve them. The daylong workshop will be offered on Friday, Jan. 28.

St. Olaf leads four-year colleges in international studies participation
JANUARY 10, 2005 — St. Olaf College sent a higher percentage of its students abroad in 2002-03 than any other baccalaureate institution in the nation, according to Open Doors 2004, the annual report on international education. St. Olaf has held that top spot since the mid-1990s.

Paul Niemisto to be joined by Finnish American Brass Ensemble in recital
JANUARY 9, 2005 — A recital of brass music will be presented by Paul Niemisto and the Finnish American Brass Ensemble "Ameriikan Poujat" on Sunday, Jan. 9 at 3:15 p.m., in the Urness Recital Hall, Christiansen Hall of Music. The program will include works for brass trombone and piano by Schumann, Henry and Spillman. Northfield pianist Anne Mayer will join Niemisto for these works.

Princeton philosopher to present two public lectures at St. Olaf
JANUARY 9, 2005 — Princeton University philosopher Bas C. van Fraassen will present two public lectures at St. Olaf on Jan. 12 and 13 on the topic "Seeing and Measuring: Connecting Science to Experience." Professor van Fraassen is the author of numerous books and journal articles, including "The Peculiar Effects of Love and Desire." His talks are free and open to the public.

Pianist Stephanie Wendt to perform 'Clara's Visitor' in Northfield
JANUARY 9, 2005 — Award-winning pianist and public-radio music host Stephanie Wendt will perform her one-woman play, "Clara's Visitor," in Northfield on Sunday, Jan. 9, at 3 p.m. A benefit for the Northfield Historical Society, the play centers on the life of Clara Schumann, wife of the famed composer Robert Schumann but also a gifted concert pianist in her own right. Wendt will perform on a Bosendorfer piano at the historic First United Church of Christ (300 Union Street, Northfield). A coffee-and-dessert reception will follow the play, which is being co-sponsored by St. Olaf and Carleton colleges. For tickets ($20), call the Northfield Historical Society at 507-645-9268.

'Clara's Visitor' performance will feature Stephanie Wendt on Bosendorfer piano
Wendt
JANUARY 7, 2005 — Accomplished pianist and former WCAL announcer Stephanie Wendt will perform a one-woman play about Clara Schumann as a benefit for the Northfield Historical Society. St. Olaf and Carleton are sponsoring the event this Sunday at 3 p.m.

World-renowned science philosopher to deliver lectures at St. Olaf College
JANUARY 6, 2005 — Princeton University Professor Bastiaan van Fraassen enjoys rock climbing and the trapeze. But on Wednesday and Thursday he will lecture at St. Olaf about "Connecting Science to Experience." His two lectures, written for a general audience, are open to the public.

Tsunami tragedy hits alumna, campus relief efforts mobilized
JANUARY 5, 2005 — While St. Olaf students organize relief efforts for areas affected by the recent tsunami, Eranthie Mendis '04 mourns the loss of her mother.

Senator Ellen Anderson to speak at energy policy forum at St. Olaf College
JANUARY 4, 2005 — Minnesota State Senator Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul) will speak on "Creating Opportunities for Energy Independence" at an energy policy forum at St. Olaf College on Thursday, Jan. 6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Black Room of Buntrock Commons. The forum will also feature a panel to discuss state energy policy, featuring representatives of St. Olaf and Carleton colleges. The event is free and open to the public.