News

Former Luther College Director of Dining Services Warren Palm has put his name into the race for Winneshiek County District 2 Supervisor.

Palm, a Democrat and longtime resident of the county, will challenge Republican and 8-year incumbent John Logsdon for the seat November 2.

In preparation for the 150th anniversary of its founding, Luther seeks to raise $50 million. Running from January 2008–December 2012, the Sesquicentennial Funding Initiative looks to enhance the opportunities offered at Luther College.

Luther College and city officials are working together to construct a $1.75 million public sports complex north of U.S. Highway 52. The proposed complex would provide an athletic facility for the City of Decorah.

The warm spring sun hasn’t been the only thing heating up campus these past few weeks. Luther students and faculty have been busy maintaining Decorah’s biodiversity by setting the prairies on fire.

Anderson Prairie and Hickory Ridge, both located near Baker Village, as well as Gateway Prairie, the grassy area across the dike from the soccer fields, have all met the torch this spring.

Prairie burns are not unmonitored bonfires, but rather strategically planned events that encourage the recycling of nutrients and the stimulation of growth in Iowa’s once most-prominent ecosystem. Burning the existing grasses ensures that weeds won’t overtake plants in the prairies.

Biology professor Kirk Larsen plays a key role in organizing the burns and is the self-proclaimed “burn boss.”

Despite campus controversy regarding Sodexo, the company will provide Luther’s food for the 2010-2011 school year, as Luther renewed its contract with the company.

The decision to outsource to Sodexo has caused controversy all year with faculty, staff and students.

With graduation just around the corner, many seniors are finding themselves against the wall as they search for careers in an unsteady job market.

Regardless of major or desired profession, graduating seniors nationwide are feeling the strain of economic turbulence as they tirelessly seek out jobs.

“Practically every industry was impacted in some way by this economic recession,” Mark Peltz, assistant dean and Career Center director, said. “Over the past 18 months, health care and education have been hit particularly hard. Shock waves also made their way through the financial services industry.”

Ross Schultz (‘10), an economics and management double major, agrees.

After one year at Luther, General Manager of Sodexo Dining Services Donna Bauck has announced her plans to leave at the end of this semester.

During her year at Luther, Bauck has been faced with the task of transitioning the college from Luther College dining services to Sodexo.

Luther’s Paideia program is once again up for review. Unlike other departmental programs, Paideia is examined every five to seven years. Because Paideia incorporates a broader spectrum of information than the average course, it is important to determine how the program fits the college.

As part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, new textbook laws have been established to ensure that students receive an appropriate amount of information before choosing classes. The law’s effects will begin July 1.

The newly-passed health care reform bill carries a number of key changes for college students. While some changes will not directly affect Luther students, many institutions across the country will experience changes in their health care.

With 110 of 152 applicants approved to live off campus next year, the other 42 juniors have had to rethink next year’s living arrangements. Many juniors have been caught up in the rush to find a house and sign leases, even though Residence Life urges students not to sign a lease until they are approved to live off campus.

With 2010 only a few months old, the federal government is already gearing up for the decennial census. With over $200 billion in federal funding available nationwide from the census, Luther hopes for a 100 percent response rate from students.

With the last census conducted in 2000, no current student has ever had to fill out a census form for him or herself.

Since Luther was founded as a seminary for Lutheran ministers, Lutheranism has been an important part of the school’s identity. However, a changing student body is forcing campus leaders to reevaluate what it means to have a Lutheran identity. For the third consecutive year, Luther’s enrollment numbers tell a clear story: less than 50 percent of the student body is Lutheran.

In his sixth year of teaching at Luther College, Professor Philip Freeman, head of the classics department, continues to increase his knowledge of his subject.

Last summer, the Greek, classics and mythology professor received a $24,950 grant to begin a new course in classical literature. The National Endowment for the Humanities funded the grant to encourage colleges to teach classical literature written before the 20th century. Freeman’s submission was one of 154 humanities projects selected for funding last June.

March 5, students dining in the Cafeteria were fed some food for thought during Vegetarian Night, causing some frustrated Luther students to create the student group “Meat Eaters At Luther.”

As one of four themed nights put together by Luther Sustainability and ECO, the cafeteria served almost exclusively vegetarian options. The only exceptions were a fish dish offered in one main line and the cold meat served in the deli line.

Maren Stumme-Diers, assistant sustainability coordinator, worked closely with Sodexo and students to make the nights a reality.