News

Luther alumna Hoa Nguyen (‘03) was released after nearly nine weeks in the custody of International Customs Enforcement while awaiting a possible deportation to her homeland of Vietnam.

Nguyen, who was teaching at the University of Minnesota, was incarcerated in August after she failed to show up for a court date to discuss a change in her student visa status.

Luther’s sustainability initiatives recently received two national recognitions: a Rocky Mountain Institute grant of $45,000 and an “A-” grade on the College Sustainability Report Card.

The Rocky Mountain Institute awarded Luther the grant in late July. The Institute invited Luther, among 12 other schools, to attend a conference in Colorado, to discuss energy conservation efforts and plans. After the conference, Luther submitted a grant proposal that contained plans for a major campaign on campus for student-initiated energy conservation. The proposal was accepted, and the institute is now in the process of allocating grant funds.

“Beautiful,” “Fun,” “A great place to live.” These are just a few comments made by new Norby House residents and visitors who attended Norby’s open house Saturday, Oct. 24.

In Oelwein, Iowa, just 50 miles from Decorah, a tragic and unique story has stepped into the national spotlight through Nick Reding’s “Methland.” Three of the book’s featured figures appeared at Luther Oct. 22 to share how their collaboration is combating the disastrous effects of methamphetamine on their community.

Oelwein Mayor Larry Murphy, assistant Fayette County prosecutor and Luther alumnus Nathan Lein (‘98) and Dr. Clay Hallberg spoke to students, staff and faculty as well as community members and officials. Decorah Chief of Police Tom Courtney attended the lecture along with members of “Moms off Meth” and area healthcare and social workers.

“Methland” tells the story of what the author calls “the all-American drug,” methamphetamine, and the effects it has on communities throughout the country. Oelwein is one of several towns examined in the book and is used as a prime example of rural meth infestation.

“Oelwein was looking at the grave,” Murphy said. “We knew that we were dying.”

Methamphetamine, more commonly known as meth, is an illegal drug that has infiltrated rural communities with easy availability, low cost and highly addictive effects.

Hoa Nguyen (‘03) was alone in the Minneapolis home she shares with her husband Dan Hanson (‘03) Aug. 14 when four immigration officers forcibly detained her for failing to attend a court date where she was to discuss a change in her student visa status.

Though the Sampson-Hoffland Laboratory building is less than one year old, its surroundings have already received a facelift. Three construction projects are taking place around Luther’s newest building— a rain garden, an oak savanna and a new greenhouse.

Health Services received a suspicious phone call at 9:55 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Though the exact conversation remains unknown, sometime during the call a miscommunication occurred, sparking a flurry of response from Luther and the Decorah community.

With more high schools administering college credit courses through local community colleges, the number of students bringing in high numbers of credits is increasing—and worrying professors.

Preus Library lost power Wednesday Sept. 23 at 7:40 a.m. due to a high voltage cable fault in a conduit that feeds to the library. The library was officially closed for the day, although some help desk staff continued to help students and staff still in great need of library resources.

The Union Art Gallery will now display more than simply stand-alone senior projects from art majors. Any student with an art show idea can contact art department head Jeff Dintaman with a proposal. If deemed worthy for display, it will appear in the gallery.

With its largest incoming class in years, Luther’s enrollment of students of color and international students has also risen. The class of 2013 contains the most students of color since 1971 and the most international students since 2001.

Baker Village residents have taken issue with Luther’s parking system. Baker residents pay the same $100 for parking passes as other on-campus students, but their parking privileges are not the same.

Did you know that these people are Luther graduates?

Thorbjorn N. Mohn (1870)-- First president of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota

Herbjørn Gausta (1872)-- American artist best known for his landscape paintings

Ingebrikt Grose (1885)-- first president of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota

Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus (1903)-- 20th governor of Minnesota

Luther’s Dining Services have changed a lot in the past 38 years under Warren Palm (‘71) but never as significantly as this summer. As Luther begins its partnership with Sodexo, big business is in and dining services’ former leader is out.