News

Luther College promotes numerous initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint. The cafeteria composts waste, lawn mowers are powered by fuel made from the school’s used vegetable oil, some maintenance vehicles use electric motors and recycling bins have been placed in nearly every classroom.

As the Red River continued to overtake projected crest levels and threaten the cities of Fargo, N.D. and Moorhead, Minn., members of the Luther community watched with bated breath to see what effects the river would have on the community.

As showcased in last year’s elections, the country’s youth are becoming more involved with their communities. That trend continued March 25 in Waverly, Iowa as Wartburg College students staged a campus-wide walkout.

As a part of the $410 billion omnibus spending bill recently passed by the U.S. Senate, Luther College will receive a $951,500 grant to help pay for the Valders Hall renovation project currently taking place.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley visited a Paideia classroom last Monday, April 6 to answer students’ and observers’ questions about topics ranging from education to Cuba to healthcare.

Grassley, who has served in the Senate since 1980, visited the classroom of Joseph Needham, assistant professor of history, as part of his annual tour of all 99 counties in Iowa.

On gay marriage

Luther’s sesquicentennial strategic plan, “Transformed by the Journey,” heralds the college’s 2011 sesquicentennial. Implemented in 2008, the plan focuses on bringing people together to work through local and global issues, including sustainability and connecting faith and learning.

The word “change” means different things to many people. To some Luther College faculty members, “change” is the word that describes their near future. This year Luther bids farewell to some educators as they retire or go forward to pursue other goals.

Dorms on campus this year have had a number of tricky run-ins between police officers and students, leaving many wondering about their rights and responsibilities regarding officers in the dorm. In almost all senses, students’ relationships with the law and officers on campus is no different than any other citizen outside of Luther’s grounds.

A unique competition between Luther and Wartburg took place in February. The Energy Evolution contest results have been calculated and the outcome is a tie.

Throughout the month, both schools were challenged to decrease their energy use, using the long-standing rivalry as motivation to reach their sustainability goals.

The sixth Dieseth door to be broken this year was kicked in Friday, March 13. Justin Kaspryk (‘12) claimed responsibility for breaking the door and sustained a foot injury from the glass.

Luther and the Decorah Police have not issued charges for the incident.

The Higher Learning Commission, the institution that grants accreditation to colleges and universities in the broad north central region, will visit Luther April 6-8. While on campus, they will evaluate Luther’s strategic plan, offer their suggestions and-in all likelihood- grant Luther a renewal accreditation.

As the popularity of SAC Cinema’s Viking Theater Student Night grows along with the length of the line outside the theater, Viking’s business and SAC Cinema’s influence at the theater are also increasing.

Luther’s mission statement says its affiliation with the church helps it remain committed to seeking truth, examining faith and caring for God’s people. Currently, many within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are doing the same.