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The Kid stays in the picture
Jackson
FEBRUARY 29, 2008 — A recent Star Tribune story about Darren Jackson '94 (half of the group Kid Dakota) says the performer "still packs an icy punch" after spending the past few years engineering and producing other artists' music. Now he's writing songs for a new album with John Hermanson '93.

St. Olaf to present Latin play Mostellaria
FEBRUARY 29, 2008 — The Latin play that St. Olaf College will present this year has a plot full of elements many fun-loving young people can relate to: a house party, a frivolous use of money and a little fibbing to a parent.

Bly named Minnesota poet laureate
FEBRUARY 28, 2008 — Minnesota author Robert Bly, who attended St. Olaf for a year in his younger days, has been named the state's first poet laureate. "If it doesn't involve any work, I'll do it," the 81-year-old Bly told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

St. Olaf Theatre to present House Arrest
FEBRUARY 28, 2008 — What does it mean to be American? This proverbial question is at the heart of the upcoming St. Olaf Theatre production of House Arrest: A Search for American Character in and Around the White House, Past and Present.

Film expert, archivist to speak at St. Olaf
Basinger
FEBRUARY 28, 2008 — Those who heard film expert and archivist Jeanine Basinger speak at St. Olaf College several years ago know that audience members at her upcoming appearance on the Hill are in for a wealth of up-close-and-personal anecdotes about Hollywood.

St. Olaf announces faculty promotions, tenure
FEBRUARY 28, 2008 — St. Olaf Provost and Dean of the College Jim May has announced that 10 St. Olaf faculty members have been promoted to professor or associate professor, and five have been granted tenure.

Dance performance will explore 'rhythms of life'
FEBRUARY 27, 2008 — The Rhythm Project performance will not only feature everything from break-dancing to tap dancing, but will encourage audience members to put on their dancing shoes for part of the show as well.

Regents Hall makes EC&M
FEBRUARY 27, 2008 — In case you missed the January issue of Electrical Construction & Maintenance magazine, check out their recent story on the new Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. "Virtually every material, system and process was fully evaluated with the intention of achieving the highest level of sustainability that was practical," Assistant Vice President for Facilities Pete Sandberg told the publication.

Campus events will examine issues of war
FEBRUARY 27, 2008 — A series of campus events that range from a military draft simulation to discussions with peace activists and war veterans aims to prompt members of the St. Olaf College community to think critically about their personal role in times of war.

Spoken word artist Gemineye to perform on campus Thursday
Gemineye
FEBRUARY 26, 2008 — Christopher Kuretich, a spoken word artist better known as "Gemineye" who has appeared on HBO's Def Poetry series, will perform at St. Olaf College on Thursday, Feb. 28.

Alumna to perform with New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players
Smith
FEBRUARY 26, 2008 — Angela Smith '96 will perform the role of "Little Buttercup" in a production of H.M.S. Pinafore at Orchestra Hall Tuesday, after she returns to her hometown of Sauk Centre, where she'll perform and talk with high school students about her career.

Student's artwork featured in Minneapolis' Central Library
FEBRUARY 26, 2008 — Rather than throwing away the unused science books she came across while working in the library at St. Olaf, Laura Olson '08 turned them into art and found a new home for them in an exhibit at the Central Library in Minneapolis. Her work will remain on display there through March 29.

Women honored for contributions to athletics
FEBRUARY 25, 2008 — Tammy Metcalf-Filzen '83 along with St. Olaf faculty members Cindy Book and Chris Daymont were honored recently in recognition of their contributions to women's sport. The event was part of the MIAC's ongoing 25 Years of Women's Athletics celebration.

World-class organ virtuoso to perform at St. Olaf
FEBRUARY 25, 2008 — Bradley Welch has turned his childhood intrigue with the organ into a talent that led The American Organist to describe him as a "world-class virtuoso." He will showcase his musical skills in an organ performance at St. Olaf College on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Scholar, presidential adviser to speak at St. Olaf Thursday
Galston
FEBRUARY 25, 2008 — Political philosopher William Galston, a former adviser to President Clinton, will discuss civic engagement during a presentation Thursday as part of this semester's ongoing academic theme, "Civic Engagement in the Liberal Arts."

Recipients of annual Alumni Awards announced
FEBRUARY 22, 2008 — This year's winners of the annual Alumni Awards range from an internationally recognized sculptor to the caretaker of one of the country's most important collection of rare books to an award-winning teacher.

Greetings from the Hill!
Soland
FEBRUARY 21, 2008 — As St. Olaf students immerse themselves in the coursework and community service of second semester, Interim Director of Alumni and Parent Relations Nathan Soland '04 notes that this year's Alumni Award winners prove that "stellar performances and humble service don't end on graduation day."

St. Olaf College reaches science campaign goal, names building
FEBRUARY 21, 2008 — St. Olaf College Board of Regents Chair O. Jay Tomson '58 and President David R. Anderson '74 announced today that the college had met its goal of raising $33 million for new science and mathematics facilities.

Learning and serving in Nicaragua
Carlson
FEBRUARY 20, 2008 — Northfield resident Nancy Carlson '82 (at right) recently led a class of nine St. Olaf students to Nicaragua, where they worked to assess the health of rural residents. "The poverty overwhelmed me, especially when we met the children," says Kelsey Randel '10. "But at the same time, we met people who cared about their neighbors and wanted to improve their communities."

New regent provides 'great and recent understanding' of student experience
FEBRUARY 20, 2008 — It hasn't even been three years since Janine Wetzel '05 graduated from St. Olaf College, but already she is using an opportunity to serve on the Board of Regents to ensure that current Oles have as rewarding an experience as she had on the Hill.

Alcohol, spring break and St. Olaf
Kneser
FEBRUARY 20, 2008 — With spring break approaching, Dean of Students Greg Kneser describes how St. Olaf addresses the debate and data on student drinking. "I believe that when we focus solely on alcohol, we sometimes miss how alcohol actually becomes a high risk for students," he writes.

A piano performance that's twice as nice
FEBRUARY 19, 2008 — St. Olaf faculty member Julia Elkina and her identical twin sister, Irina, will demonstrate the kind of music 20 fingers can make during a piano performance at St. Olaf College Feb. 22.

Student filmmakers vie for Palm d'Ole Wednesday
FEBRUARY 18, 2008 — Eleven films written, directed, acted and produced by St. Olaf College students will compete Feb. 20 in the St. Olaf Interim Filmmaking Contest.

'Road less traveled leads to top'
FEBRUARY 18, 2008 — "Former St. Olaf coach Chris Meidt didn't exactly follow a beaten path to the NFL coaching ranks, using a connection to Redskins coach Jim Zorn that was about everything but football," writes Patrick Reusse in Sunday's Star Tribune.

Alumna opens new art supply store in Northfield
FEBRUARY 15, 2008 — Alumna April Ripka '99 recently opened The Sketchy Artist, a new art supply store in downtown Northfield. She says she will "carry a lot of what people are used to, while bringing in new items that are, hopefully, unique to many shoppers."

St. Olaf Choir to perform Sunday
FEBRUARY 14, 2008 — Conductor Anton Armstrong '78 will present a program that explores the legacies of the historic St. Olaf Choir and presents a diverse array of music that will delight choral music lovers.

St. Olaf to host conference on globalization and social responsibility
FEBRUARY 14, 2008 — What is work? How is it changing as a result of globalization? What kinds of labor relationships promote social justice? These are the questions at the heart of a conference at St. Olaf College Feb. 22-23 titled "Globalization and Social Responsibility: Working for the Common Good."

Visiting scholar will share experiences as activist, organizer
FEBRUARY 14, 2008 — Robert Muehlenkamp, who has been active in the social justice and trade union movements for more than 35 years, will share the lessons he's learned when he visits St. Olaf College the week of Feb. 18-22 as the 2008 Woodrow Wilson Visiting Scholar. He will deliver a lecture Feb. 19 and participate in a moderated discussion Feb. 22.

'First tragedy ever filmed' to be screened Monday
FEBRUARY 14, 2008 — In what has been called the first tragedy ever filmed, Broken Blossoms director D.W. Griffith tells the story of two broken people in London who attempt to make one another whole. The film is the second of the St. Olaf Classic American Film Festival.

St. Olaf Orchestra to perform 'Home Concert' tonight
FEBRUARY 14, 2008 — Called "one of the best college orchestras in the nation" by Time magazine's Richard Ostling, the St. Olaf Orchestra will perform works by Johann Strauss, Ravel, Bernstein and Prokofiev, in addition to featuring two student soloists and the premiere of a new piece by Conductor Steven Amundson.

St. Olaf student wins Norwegian essay contest
FEBRUARY 14, 2008 — The Norwegian Researchers and Teachers Association of North America has announced that St. Olaf student Alice Deden '09 has won their essay contest with her entry, "A Changing Norway, a Changing World."

Hofrenning on Almanac
Hofrenning
FEBRUARY 13, 2008 — St. Olaf Professor of Political Science Dan Hofrenning participated in the political science panel on the broadcast of Twin Cities Public Television's Almanac show Feb. 8.

'Meidt-y' news from the Hill
FEBRUARY 12, 2008 — News of St. Olaf Football Coach Chris Meidt's resignation Monday to begin working for the Washington Redskins Thursday has earned the attention of local and national media.

Meidt takes job with Redskins
FEBRUARY 12, 2008 — Chris Meidt has resigned as head football coach at St. Olaf to accept an offensive assistant position with the National Football League's Washington Redskins.

Art exhibit will contemplate the 'multiple'
FEBRUARY 12, 2008 — With sources of inspiration ranging from the inside of a cactus to the shadows captured on a spiral notebook, five Twin Cities-area artists will display their work as part of an exhibit opening Feb. 15 at St. Olaf College titled "Prints in Time: Contemplations of the Multiple."

Debate champ tackles toughest foe
FEBRUARY 11, 2008 — "Minnesota Lincoln-Douglas debate champion Akshar Rambachan can tackle a wide range of issues," writes St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter Bao Ong in Monday's paper, "unless he has to face mom and dad."

St. Olaf to kick off Classic Film Series Monday
FEBRUARY 8, 2008 — St. Olaf College will kick off its Classic American Film Series Feb. 11 with a documentary that presents a mini-history of American film, from the early days of silent movies through the stylish black and white of film noir and the dazzling visual palettes of movies like The Godfather.

Students to share experiences from global warming summit
FEBRUARY 7, 2008 — A group of Oles who joined more than 6,000 high school and college students at Powershift, the largest national youth summit on global climate change, will share the lessons they learned Feb. 13.

Atzinger publishes Debut CD
Atzinger
FEBRUARY 7, 2008 — "The aggressive march in F Major has Atzinger throwing sparks, glitter, and occasional thunderbolts," writes an online reviewer about St. Olaf faculty member Christopher Atzinger's new Debut CD.

St. Olaf to host discussion on 'what's hot' in business world
Sian Muir
FEBRUARY 7, 2008 — A group of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs who will speak at St. Olaf College Feb. 12 will point to areas in their fields that are hot despite an American economy that has gone cold. "Start-ups and smaller ventures can be nimble in tough economic times," says event organizer Sian Muir, associate director of the Finstad Program for Entrepreneurial Studies at St. Olaf.

Memories of race
FEBRUARY 6, 2008 — "I was the only white person sitting in the Montgomery bus station waiting for the Trailways bus to Tuskegee," writes the Rev. W. Thomas Holmes '70 in the Forest Park Review about his experiences as an exchange student at the Tuskegee Institute in 1968. "It was then that it hit me that I would be in the minority for the next four months."

Ole to perform solo handbell concert
FEBRUARY 6, 2008 — Barb Otheim Brocker '67, who has spent the past decade honing her ability to deliver solo handbell performances using a "bell tree," will showcase her skills in a unique concert at St. Olaf College on Feb. 9.

Oles earn top honors in singing competition
FEBRUARY 6, 2008 — Three St. Olaf College students earned top honors at the annual Minnesota National Association of Teachers of Singing competition.

Spring break service
FEBRUARY 6, 2008 — Like lots of U.S. college students, Victor Wong '08 enjoys heading south for spring break. But he doesn't hang out on a beach. By the time Wong graduates he will have spent three spring breaks cleaning up after Hurricane Katrina. "It really is a service trip and not a vacation, but we still have a lot of fun," he recently told the Associated Press.

A perfect night out
FEBRUARY 4, 2008 — St. Olaf is offering the perfect Valentine's Day event this year: a special dinner served in the Kings' Dining Room, followed by the St. Olaf Orchestra Home Concert.

St. Olaf Theatre to present Life is a Dream
FEBRUARY 4, 2008 — The St. Olaf Theatre Department will soon open its production of Life is a Dream, a Spanish tale of Polish succession that questions our concept of reality and asks the question "Where does life stop and dreaming begin?"

View Sundance film, meet artists
FEBRUARY 4, 2008 — Kick off this weekend by meeting with and viewing the work of a filmmaker whose work was shown at the Sundance Film Festival, followed by great food, art and conversation at a closing party for the "Space or Place" exhibit.

Alumnus coins name for academic ailment
FEBRUARY 1, 2008 — Denver Brunsman '97 writes in Inside Higher Ed about his struggle with S.A.D. -- Sabbatical Anxiety Disorder -- as he works on his book while dealing with the closely-spaced deaths of his father and a colleague.

Still 9 after all these years
FEBRUARY 1, 2008 — Caldecott Medal-winner Christopher Raschka '81 recently told The Lutheran that the key to successfully writing a book is not to talk down to readers. "I hope I'm still connected to my interior self as a 9-year-old. I'm always going back to my childhood and trying to please myself at that age."

ELCA names alumnus interim New York bishop
FEBRUARY 1, 2008 — David Olson '60 has emerged from retirement to serve as interim bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. "This is an exciting opportunity, and I'm very honored to be invited to serve as interim bishop," he says. "It's a blessing for me."

Local children invited to paper airplane fly-in
FEBRUARY 1, 2008 — It's a bird ... it's a plane ... it's a swarm of paper airplanes created by local kids! All Northfield-area youth in grades K-5 are invited to a paper airplane "fly-in" at St. Olaf College Feb. 9.