News

After massive flooding infiltrated the Oneota Valley two summers ago, Luther applied for and received a perpetual lease to restore and maintain land as natural prairies. Not only will this project help prevent flooding in the future, but the federal government will pay Luther roughly half a million dollars for doing so.

From outdated ramps to a safe and sturdy bridge, from yellowed tiles to a new mosaic and from a rarely-used study lounge to a new study hotspot, the changes in Valders Hall of Science have garnered much attention this year. Coming just one year after the completion of the new Sampson-Hoffland Laboratories, this renovation realizes a 79,600 square ft, $10.3 million project.

Walking advocate and host of PBS’s “America’s Walking” Mark Fenton will give a presentation in the Center for Faith Life on Wed, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.

Fenton will speak on the health benefits of walking and how community efforts can encourage healthy behaviors.

In an attempt to spark sales and compete with online retailers, the Luther Book Shop offered a new incentive to students this fall: buy from them and receive bonus bucks.

As shown in the following excerpts, the recent changes to Luther’s definition of sexual consent are not dissimilar to those used by peer institutions. Luther’s full definition of sexual consent can be found in the student handbook.

Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

Luther students and faculty were challenged to look at music theory in a new light, when Assistant Professor of Music Brooke Joyce presented his lecture, “Music and Sexuality: Was Schubert Gay, and Does that Matter?”

When seniors Maria Carr, Anna Wicks and Katie Haller attended the Real Foods Summit in Fairfield, Ill. last spring, their focus wasn’t sustainable housing, but they came away with an ambitious idea that is quickly becoming a reality— a sustainable living space on campus for green-spirited students.

Weeks of preparation and worry have come to a head at Luther as three students were officially diagnosed with the H1N1 strain of influenza, commonly called swine flu. The diagnoses came amidst a flurry of activity within Luther’s administration and health services to inform the Luther community of the situation and set a carefully prepared emergency plan in motion.

A June 26 Board of Regents committee decision appointed David M. Meyer to the Luther Board of Regents.

Meyer, a graduate of Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., has two sons who have graduated from Luther and one son currently enrolled. Meyer is also a graduate of the Mayo Graduate School where he earned a Masters of
Science degree.

For most Luther students, quarters and laundry go hand-in-hand. This year, however, Miller and Dieseth residents are adjusting from quarters to cards.

New card readers were installed on about 80 percent of Towers’ laundry machines after Student Senate proposed the idea last year.

Luther College was granted a conditional use permit Tuesday, Sept. 8, for a piece of land that could be the home to a new energy resource for the campus. Luther plans to use the land to construct a wind turbine that could be seen outside the cafeteria window by this summer.

A new system designed to regulate printing and reduce paper waste has been instituted at Luther and is now serving students’ printing needs across campus.

According to Luther Information Services, the new system, called GoPrint, will help Luther achieve its sustainability goals by cutting costs and paper waste.

First year students are not the only ones having a hard time finding their way around the cafeteria this fall. Upperclassmen are also finding themselves disoriented in a cafeteria displaying new faces, foods and functionality.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted by a five-percent margin to allow men and women in committed same-sex relationships to become ordained ministers Aug. 21. The former rule allowed homosexual people to become ordained only if they took vows of celibacy.