Last year over 30 professors at St.Olaf took a sabbatical leave to study and rest in and out of Northfield's city limits. All of those familiar faces have returned refreshed, fulfilled and many are eager to share their experiences with students, faculty and staff.

Associate Professor of History Steve Blake attended a number of seminars at the University of Minnesota while finishing his book "Half the World: The Social Architecture of Safavid Isfahan, 1590-1722." Blake also began research for a new project while staying in the Twin Cities.

Music Librarian Beth Christensen stayed in Northfield and the Twin Cities, but also did research in New York City and at Yale University, the University of Illinois and Indiana University. Christensen divided her time into a series of smaller projects: some based on library and information science and others in music. She is currently involved in two new projects, both in collaboration with librarians at various locations across the U.S.

Professor of English Richard Durocher finished his manuscript "Milton Among the Romans" which was recently excepted for publication by Duquesne University Press. While spending the year in Northfield, Durocher also began a new book project on grief in the epic tradition entitled "The Tears of Odysseus".

Being relatively new to Minnesota, Professor of Music Peter Hamlin stayed at his home in St. Paul. During the year Hamlin had many music composition commissions, took part in a number of residencies at Middlebury College while writing a piece for them and studied and wrote about the music features on computers.

Edward Langerak stayed in Northfield where he worked on his book "Civil Disagreement: Personal Integrity in a Pluralistic Society". The book discusses the problem of how to be true to your own convictions while being civil toward those with whom you disagree. It is scheduled to be published next year by Georgetown University Press.

Associate Professor of Music James McKeel spent his sabbatical in Minnesota and Florida where he began several projects related to stage design and production research for St. Olaf Opera Workshop. In collaboration with children's author Salvatore Murdocca, McKeel also helped create a libretto in which he composed the music. Its production will premiere in Northfield during December 2000.

Naurine Lennox, Associate Professor of Social Work, spent the year in the Twin Cities, primarily at the National Resource Center for Service Learning in St. Paul. Lennox identified important factors that schools find essential when implementing service learning and compiled a resource bank of individuals and materials. She also talked with individuals and visited schools with well developed programs of service learning around the country.

While spending her sabbatical in Tennessee, Lauri Sammartano, Associate Professor of Biology, divided her time between teaching and researching high throughput analysis of human DNA and developing screening technologies for mutations in cystic fibrosis genes and tumor suppressing genes.

Myron Solid, Professor of Education and Director of Social Studies Education remained in Northfield during her five-month break working on the creation of a small text. Solid returns with new insight and enthusiasm.

"Offering professors sabbatical leaves on a regular basis is one of the most important things St. Olaf does for its professors," said Professor Naurine Lennox. "We are very fortunate to have this special opportunity to study and rest."