100 YEARS OF BROADWAY
A&E 5 FIRST YEAR IMMERSION PROGRAMS RETURN
FEATURES 6
LUTHER COLLEGE
“Let the chips fall where they may.”
CHIPS
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015
Serving the Luther College community since 1884.
VOLUME 138, NO. 1
Henríquez speaks on “Unknown Americans”
WHAT MAKES US HUMAN? Cristina Henríquez addresses the college at opening convocation as part of the Paideia curriculum. LAURA PROESCHOLDT STAFF WRITER Author of “The Book of Unknown Americans” Cristina Henríquez posited that it is not thumbs, the use of tools, or walking on two feet that make us human, but rather the unique capacity to tell stories, in her convocation lecture on Thursday, Sept. 4. Storytelling, according to Henríquez, is the key to empathy and compassion. “Of all of the challenges facing us, one of the ones that is most critical is how little stock we put in imagination,” Henríquez said. Henríquez challenged Luther students, faculty and staff to develop their “empathetic imaginations” by abandoning stereotypes and instead learning the stories of their peers. Assistant Professor of English and Paideia Instructor Lindsey Row-Heyveld felt this was an apt message. “I think that idea—imagination as an instrument of justice—was great, and very much in keeping with what we do in Paideia and
at Luther generally,” Row-Heyveld said. “I thought that was a great fit and really a good way to contextualize and begin the semester.” In her speech, Henríquez shared the story of her father coming from Panama to the United States in the late 1970s. She connected his experience to that of Luther students making a new home on campus. Derah Egbuna (‘16) found this anecdote easy to relate to. “The story about her dad was really interesting,” Egbuna said. “I liked how she later on referenced it when she was talking to the first-years because, the truth of the matter is, there are a lot of international freshmen who are in the same position.” Henríquez also offered observations on the quality and character of the connections people make with one another through technology. “We’re connected broadly but not deeply,” Henríquez said. “We accumulate, but we don’t investigate. We gather, but we don’t grow.”
Luther College Dining Services implemented changes as to how and where items containing nut products will be prepared and served, over the summer. Rumors have circulated that the cafeteria will no longer serve any items containing nut products, including peanut butter, but according to General Manager of Dining Services Wayne Tudor and Student Work Coordinator and Food Service Manager Leah McCrea, the rumors are not true. “There have been some changes made, but most of them you won’t notice,” Tudor said.
DANNY MAY STAFF WRITER
for the entire place,” Tudor said. “So, we developed some signage to put up just to alert people that do have these allergies that there could be trace amounts in [items from the bakery].” Dining Services staff members have made an effort to accommodate students with and without allergies. “We don’t want to make everybody else go without,” McCrea said. The change has altered how the Dining Services staff functions on a day-to-day basis, according to Tudor. “That’s really what it’s all about. We’re continually trying to adjust things to NUTS, PAGE 4
ALCOHOL POLICY, PAGE 4
CONVOCATION, PAGE 4
According to Tudor, these changes are being made due to more students coming in this year that have very severe peanut or tree-nut allergies. The changes include moving the peanut butter grinding operation, and a change of location for peanut butter and jelly sandwich making. One change that students may have already noticed is that there are no longer items containing nuts in the dessert line in the cafeteria, but desserts containing nuts can still be purchased at Marty’s, Nordic Brew, Oneota and Sunnyside. It is important for those with allergies to note that there are still nut products being used and made in the bakery. “We didn’t want to ban production
Alcohol, Drug policy revised Student Life has made changes to the Luther Alcohol and Drug Policy for the 2015-16 academic year. A new points system has been implemented, replacing the previous tier system. The Luther College website contains a list of all possible violations, each of which is accompanied by a points rating; greater offenses carry more points. There are accumulated points benchmarks occurring at the two and four to 10 point marks. For example, when a student accumulates two points, a $50 fee is issued and an educational sanction is enforced. The penalties increase as the student accumulates more points. The previous policy contained tiers outlining first, second, third and fourth offenses, according to Assistant Dean of Student Life Jane Hildebrand (‘74). Hildebrand stated that the new system aims to be easier to understand than the previous one. “My understanding is that there was lack of clarity [with the previous policy],” Hildebrand said. “This is black and white.” The changes were spurred by requests from students, according to Vice President and Dean of Student Life Corey Landstrom. “The change was not necessary; the former system could have remained,” Landstrom said. “Simply, the change was made in response to conversations with
Dining Services adjusts for nut allergies ELIZABETH STAY STAFF WRITER
Laura Proescholdt / Chips