Letters to the Editor

Even authority can be bootlegged. Greg Lonning and the CCAC are doing a grand job of it. Webster’s Dictionary describes bootlegging as “Producing, selling, or distributing, illicitly or without approval.” Illicit is defined as “Not permitted, improper, or unlawful.” Extortion is further explained as “The taking of anything from a person by illegal use of fear,” and coercion as “To refrain, restrain, or repress by illegal authority.” An extortionist then could be one (or many) who produce and distribute “authority” through illegal or improper practices such as extortion and coercion, to further take away from a person or group of people through fear.

For the past 28 years, Pi Sigma Omicron has held an annual event called “Trout Fry.” For 14 of those years, Chimney Rock has hosted the event. I have worked in cooperation with local authorities and officials, even Greg Lonning, to ensure the safety of all attending. Contrary to what Greg Lonning and the CCAC are telling you, the amount of people attending has increased while the amount of drinking has been declining. The Pi Sigs have treated me with respect and have shown me they are a well-organized group of young men. As a Luther grad with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, I have always viewed Trout Fry as “a lesson in responsible behavior.” Most important, I have left the decision-making to the young adults directly involved.

Greg Lonning told me he doesn’t feel that the cooperative measures in years past “have gotten us anywhere.” He further states that he “doesn’t have the confidence” in me and my “ability to safely secure this event.” He further laments on how he would “hate to see anyone get in trouble, fined, or have buses stopped and cited for traffic violations.” He says there is a “community of people that would like to see Trout Fry cease.” I asked him then if I were to run Trout Fry in exactly the way he was dictating, then would he support it? His answer was still a resounding “No!” All the while reiterating to me that this is an event that Luther College does not support or have any affiliation with.

On April 7, 2009, Luther College hosted a noon luncheon for a community of people, on Luther College time, paid for with Luther College funds, specifically to discuss Trout Fry. Greg Lonning has admittedly called local businesses and told them Luther College will cease to do business with them. He has bullied at least one sorority on campus by telling them that if they sell hot dogs as a fundraiser at Trout Fry, Luther College will not renew their charter. He has sent emails across campus, especially to the Greek Council, calling the Pi Sigs “Drunken alcoholics, unorganized, and decreasing in numbers.” He has called and harassed me about using my private bus to transport students, which, by the way, has been officially approved by an office of the Department of Transportation and local law enforcement. He specifically perjured himself in a previous issue of CHIPS by saying, “Nothing has ever been done about [Trout Fry] that I know of.” He sat on and mediated a meeting with law enforcement officials, Jewel’s Skate Country, the city attorney, the county attorney, the Pi Sigs, and myself, just three years ago at City Hall!! All the while reiterating to everyone that “This is an event that Luther College does not support or have any affiliation with.”

Now, I am not a rocket scientist, just a Luther grad, but all of these facts certainly indicate support and affiliation in the most negative, illegal, improper, and exploitive way. Greg Lonning and the CCAC have specifically taken away the decision for an adult to decide for oneself what truly responsible behavior is. Drinking beer is neither illegal nor uncommon with college-age adults. Teaching them how to drink responsibly (by using buses or having a designated driver or not to drink at all) is as responsible as it gets. Greg Lonning and the CCAC have merely opened a can of worms that I hope they are prepared to address. The weather outlook is awesome for the upcoming weekend (75 and sunny), and I encourage each and every one in the student body to take a ride on the bus in support of “a truly fine Trout Fry 2009!!”

-Deb Keefe, Owner- Chimney Rock Campground

When leaving the caf the other day, I stopped for a moment to look at the Student Senate poster. It was very nicely made, including pictures of all the members and the positions held. After a bit of examination, I learned that there are 26 voting members of Student Senate. We have an environmental rep., which I thought was nice. There are representatives voted in from every class, as well as two faculty advisers. The Inter-Greek Council has a representative, as well as the Student Activities Council. Then I counted something very interesting: there are five Diversity Center representatives on Student Senate. That is nearly 20 percent of the voting members specifically representing the Diversity Center. Moreover, these are not positions that are voted in like the president, treasurer or class representatives. They are simply given a spot, because they are considered diverse. I began thinking about other organizations on campus and their voting power in Senate. Luther athletes—a huge group of students here at Luther—do not have a single vote in Senate. Musicians—a group that includes nearly half of all students on campus—do not have a single vote. Neither do any of the art, political, social or educational groups here at Luther. The truth is, the Diversity Center has more, and in most cases more than double, the votes of any other group, organization, special interest or grade level represented on student senate, including the faculty. Most of us know where the Diversity Center is: a small office on the main floor of the Union that is at capacity when the five representatives all happen to be there at the same time. Does anyone else think this is nuts?!? Have we let society and the desire to be politically correct and accepting push us so far the other way that we are disenfranchising the vast majority of the students here? There is no reason I can possibly fathom, and I would be interested to hear anyone shed some light on why there need to be five Diversity Center reps. Do I consider diversity on campus important? Absolutely. I know, and I think most will agree, that it is vital to this college. But I do have a problem with the gross misrepresentation of the student body in the Senate. I just sincerely hope those reading this realize that we need to take steps to include everyone, and allow for a voice to speak out for the special interests. But we have let it go much too far.

- John Nelson (‘09)