LUTHER COLLEGE
CHIPS Vol. 139 • Special Issue 2017
January Travels:
reconciling a desire to see more with the value of immersion
Also in this issue: • International Students Share their views of Luther • A peek into three Education January Term Courses
Luther grad discusses the importance of community from D.C. Learning how to Live a Good Life The interior of the Cathedral and Metropolitical church of St. Peter, also known and the York Minster, in York, England
Table of Contents 4 6 8 14
CURRENT
A note from “The Swamp” Researching Racial Parity and the Role of the Police
FEATURES
Welcome to the Good Life: Slow life down with the students in Jon Jensen’s J-term course, “The Good Life.” The Countdown Begins: On the doorstep of graduation, four seniors set out to make the most of their “lasts.”
PERSPECTIVES
18 J-term abroad and the issue of place: studying in Germany 20 What it is really like to Study Abroad to the U.S. 21 Future Educators of Luther College: three years of J-term courses
REVIEW
25 B.A. Burrito: Big a** or big pass? 26 Pouring over Decorah’s Coffee 28 Reviewing Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
ON THE COVER Students explore York Minster, in York, England. Photo by Danny May (‘17)
2017 Current
Anna Jeide (‘16) and co-workers stand outside La Clinica del Pueblo on Latino HIV Awareness Day
A note from “The Swamp” Luther alum Anna Jeide (‘16) discusses diversity in D.C. and beyond while encouraging Luther students to better their community. About eight months ago I walked across a stage and received my diploma. That piece of paper closed my time at Luther College and gave way to the next chapter: a year of service with Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Since August 2016 I have been serving as a case worker at La Clínica del Pueblo in Washington D.C. A good friend recently asked if this new chapter is anything like I imagined. As with most new experiences, things rarely turn out the way we imagine. From the brief job description I was given, I knew I would be working with Latinxs (gender neutral term) living with HIV. My primary task would be to assist in connecting them with various medical and social services. The clinic I work at today was started by a doctor from El Salvador in the
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1980s who had a vision for improving access to quality health care within his community in DC. The Clinic has since grown into a multisite organization that provides medical and social services specifically for Latinxs, LGBTQ Latinxs, and Latinx immigrant youth. It has been a great blessing to work at a clinic with such a vision and I have learned so much these past six months. Prior to coming to D.C., I tried to prepare myself for this new chapter. As a graduate with majors in English literature and Spanish, I had a lot to learn when it came to working at a clinic. I practiced my Spanish more. I read about Medicare policies. I tried to learn more about the Latinx community in D.C. and what issues are important to them
Seeing the reality of D.C. Despite my efforts, there were some things I could not have prepared for. Waking up to a changed world on November 9th was one of those things. Before anyone decides to put down this magazine due to political differences, I ask that you listen to the perspective I offer from the reality I experience every day. My perspective is only my own, and does not represent La Clínica del Pueblo, Lutheran Volunteer Corps, or any other organization. I was not prepared for Trump to become our next President. I was not prepared to go to work, to meet the faces of my clients and my coworkers. La Clínica’s mission is to “build a healthy Latino community through culturally Photo courtesy of Anna Jeide (‘16)
CURRENT 2017 appropriate health services, focusing on those most in need.” For those of us who believe healthcare is a basic human right recognizing that those deemed “illegals” and “aliens” are also human, President Donald Trump threatens to dismantle our efforts by calling for an immediate repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as the deportation of immigrants. For me, it was, and still is, demoralizing that a man who cannot see past his own whims and selfish pursuits, governs our country. For someone living with HIV, access to health care is a matter of life and death. Now that I live in D.C., I struggle to wrap my head around this new political reality. How can it be that President Trump moved to D.C., a place that considers itself a sanctuary city for immigrants? How can it be that Congress is taking steps to repeal the ACA in a city where we have a locally funded health insurance designed for those who are 200% below the federal poverty line and do not have citizenship. How is it that I paid tribute to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on MLK day, only a stone’s throw away from where Trump was inaugurated? Now that I live in D.C., I am beginning to put my finger on the paradoxes of American society. When people think of D.C. they think of “the swamp.” They may think of a place of corruption, a federal government that overextends its reach. They might think of people of power, wearing suits, buying expensive food and drinks. The D.C. I see every day is very different. It is incredibly diverse in terms of race, language, culture, religion and economic status. One quarter of D.C. residents speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau report 2011). According to the 2014 “Hunger and Homelessness” survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, D.C. now has the highest rate of homelessness among the 32 cities compared, including Los Angeles, Boston and Dallas. They don’t tell you that on the news, do they? Beyond the Luther bubble For me, the talk about “Washington” symbolizes how society has trained us to see reality with a certain gaze that blinds us to other realities. I say “us” to acknowledge that we are all influenced in some way by the dominant narratives of society, at the
expense of those who are marginalized. The juxtaposition of these two worlds prompts me to ask myself, am I blind to my neighbor? Which communities have I not seen? These are not just questions worth asking in Washington. Members of the Luther community, we must also ask ourselves: where does this invisibility exist on our own campus? Perhaps the dissonance is not quite so distinct, but it is there. Especially now as an alumni, these questions become more important to me as I wonder what direction Luther College will take in coming years. When I was a student at Luther, I struggled because I felt that I was living in a homogenous bubble. I wanted to take action, but at times thought I had no recourse. In Bryan Stevenson’s spring 2016 lecture, he described how we develop empathy for one another when we are in proximity. I remember discussing my frustration with a friend after that lecture asking, “but what if you don’t have proximity?” I realize now that was the wrong question, because there is always proximity. Even at Luther College, we delude ourselves when we think we are distant from the issues and that our voices our irrelevant. I realize that I am writing this article from the heart of the nation’s capitol, but you do not need to move to a big city in order to have proximity, to engage with people who are different from you or to see another perspective. Perhaps you are interested in the perspective of someone who is “on the ground” or “close to the action” (and yes, sometimes I feel a little too close to the action), but you at Luther College are close to the action, too, and you are not as homogenous as you might think. When I was a student I had options of being in proximity, but often opted for distance because it was comfortable. I wish I had done differently. Each of you has the power, and I would argue, responsibility, to take ownership over the kind of community you want Luther College to be. I have spent a lot of time thinking about how this election is a wake up call for me as a white person. Clearly Americans are still in the depths of dealing with our own racist, xenophobic history. Trump’s election makes perfect sense given where we come from historically. We do well to remind ourselves that the views that Trump represents have been instilled into the foundation of our country since it was first “discovered.” I say this not to minimize the threat of such views, but
to point out that Trump’s views are not new, they are just being exposed to the light. Trump’s election prompts me to reconsider my role as a white, Christian, female, U.S. citizen. How am I demonstrating solidarity as a white ally? How can I participate in the creation of a better America? What does it really mean for me to follow Jesus, a refugee persecuted for his beliefs, subjected to statesanctioned torture, who implored us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?” I am called to be in solidarity at the same time that I am called to forgive. I wrestle with all of these questions daily. Despite the gloom, Trump’s election has ushered in a renewed sense of urgency for action. Communities are mobilizing. New coalitions are forming. People are being shaken from their complacency. These are the people making America great again. As strange as it is to say, Trump’s election may be a catalyst for change, and I am filled with tremendous hope for the realization of such change. I have realized for myself that there is no time to wallow when there is work to be done, especially for a white person. Rather than resign myself to despair, I choose to believe in a brighter future, remembering the words that I heard then-Senator Barack Obama speak in 2007: “It is much harder to be for something, than to be against something.” So, what am I for? What are you for? What are you doing for the betterment of your community? I can only imagine that there has been tension on campus, just as there has been everywhere since the election. Our country needs more people who can have dialogue, rather than debate. I hope that is why each of you chose to attend a liberal arts college, so that your views would be challenged and you could learn something from your neighbor. I have been open about sharing my views here, but I hope I am never so narrow-minded as to believe I have all the answers. We learned once in this country that a nation divided cannot stand. Once is enough, right? As for me, I’m going to keep wrestling with the big questions. I hope each of you will take the time consider such questions for yourself and take part in creating the Luther College that you hope for and dream of. Margaret Mead says it best: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
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2017 CURRENT
Research group explores racial parity and the role of police
The researchers present their plan to build a positive foundation between Grand Rapids Police Department and the black community
by Shasa Sartin (‘19) This Jauary I have been studying the shortcomings of the Grand Rapids Police Department for a Directed Research in the psychology department. I have developed two opposing understandings. My idealistic understanding of the police’s role is one of protection and advocacy in the face of injustices for their community members. My realistic understanding is that police maintain communities that are financially stable. They condemn the citizens who don’t meet those criteria. Policing in the southern United States stems from slave patrols. The people who are here to ‘protect and serve’ are operating underneath hundreds of years of oppression -driven objectives. If more people knew police history, they would understand the hesitancies communities of color and low income have toward police. The research was led by Professor of Psychology Dr. Loren Toussaint and his colleague Rev. Dr. Michael Barry. Barry lives in Michigan, where he works as the liaison between the NAACP chapter and the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD). Grand Rapids administrators have shifted the responsibility for a lack of racial parity onto the black citizens themselves. They claim there are not enough qualified black applicants. The notion that there are not enough qualified black applicants is ignoring the subjectivity of “qualified,” especially as it pertains to black Americans. It ignores the bruised trust black Americans have for their local law enforcement, and the fact that the bruising came from the police state. It ignores the lack
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of effort on behalf of the GRPD to show black children that being a police officer is something they have the right to yearn for. Barry’s work as the liaison between the GRPD and NAACP lead us to a project involving those two groups. Our original objective was to help the GRPD achieve racial parity, i.e. the police force representing the community it serves. According to a proposal written by Barry to GRPD, 20.4 percent of Grand Rapids citizens are black, and the GRPD is 4 percent black. The local NAACP chapter have expressed their grievances about this disparity with little headway made. My directed research project group wrote a proposal to the GRPD detailing why they should improve their relationship with the black community. We engaged in preliminary research about educational attainment levels of African-Americans in Grand Rapids, national satisfaction rates of police officers and literature on implicit bias. Through the research conducted we realized that racial parity was a secondary issue. Many unaddressed problems were submerged beneath it. How could we approach the issue of a misrepresented AfricanAmerican population on the police force without addressing the reason many African-Americans don’t want to be police officers in the first place? How could we approach that disinterest without considering the image of police officers in the eyes of all people of color? How could we analyze that image without digging through American history back to the slavery era to explain the basis of the police force? I felt angry as I found myself recognizing how many layers we were attempting to ignore. Nothing exists in isolation. History is constantly informing the present, and to ignore that is to only do a disservice to
yourselves and others. After discussing this and deeming all of these aspects to be important, we shifted our direction. We decided to focus on the primary problem the GRPD is facing, which is a underdeveloped and unsatisfactory relationship with the local black communities. The improvements encapsulate issues from implicit bias reduction to community outreach initiatives. Our goal was to aid the GRPD in taking steps to improve their relationships with the surrounding community members. We want them to feel moved to take action. Police relationships have been an incredibly negative aspect of the black experience since their implementation. We want the GRPD to take ownership for this reality and to make up for it. We modeled our project after the steps Iowa City has taken. They saw that blacks are culturally discouraged from being police officers. To address this discouragement, the local police department has curated educational summer programs for youth to learn more about police officers and gain comfort and familiarity. It targets junior high students because police have recognized that high school is too old to begin addressing these cultural beliefs. If there are enough police chiefs that believe they have a responsibility to acknowledge the nuances of racially driven issues in their communities, my idealistic view of police officers could replace my realistic view. There is just a lack of time and effort put into improvements at the GRPD. And as Officer Becki Sammons of the Iowa City Police Department said, “We work for the community. We want what the community wants. You have to recognize the community that you serve. What their interests are is what you should be protecting.” Photo courtesy of Shasa Sartin (‘19)
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Billy Jeide (‘18) and Lily Jensen sled down the frozen gravel road outside of Meadow Farm
FEATURE 2017
Welcome to the Good Life by Billy Jeide (‘18) Photographs courtesy of Annika Vande Krol (‘19) and Gracie Griffiths (‘19)
Slow life down with the students in Jon Jensen’s J-term course, “The Good Life.”
Photograph courtesy of Annika Vande Krol (‘19)
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2017 FEATURE
Billy Jeide (‘18) plays guitar at Meadow Farm while Loren Shellabarger (‘19) and Peder Hopkins (‘17) look on
As a junior at Luther, the hustle and bustle of college life has become something of second nature to me. Many students will likely tell you (or vent to you) about the monotonous habits ingrained in them by each subsequent semester of school. The natural tension produced from attempts to maximize one’s absorption of knowledge while also maintaining relationships, physical health and mental health seems inevitably overwhelming. While I have truly loved my college experience thus far, I find there is something inherently inhuman about a daily structure that orbits around values of efficiency, incessant productivity and optimizing results. From a young age, we are taught to strive for success and achievement without really spending the time necessary to cultivate a rich understanding of what “success” and “achievement” actually embody. Many people associate these words with academic and professional prosperity, manifested in a strong GPA
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and, eventually, a well-paying job. While these pursuits are admirable goals that I personally strive for, I certainly hope they are not the only aspects that constitute a “successful” or “good” life. It is this hope that brought me to Associate Professor of Philosophy and Environmental Studies Jon Jensen’s Meadow Farm through the January Term course, “The Good Life.” Every day for the last month, ten other Luther students and I have taken a van out to Meadow Farm, a 40-acre plot of land
with a quaint house that was purchased by Jensen and Rachel Sandhorst in July 2016. We arrive at the house around 10:00 a.m., immediately make tea and sit down to discuss the readings assigned the previous day. Readings have included Mark Bittman’s “Food Matters,” excerpts from David Brooks’ “The Road to Character,” and readings in philosophy from “The Good Life,” edited by Charles Guignon. After group discussion, we spend roughly an hour and a half doing handcraft work, which includes woodcarving, knitting and cooking. Photograph courtesy of Gracie Griffiths (‘19)
Once lunch is served, we eat around a table together, and when we are finished, we invite a community elder to talk to us about their path through life. Community elders have included people who are typically older than 60 years old, and have unique perspectives and experiences that inform what they believe to constitute a good life. Upon ending our questions and discussion with the community elder, we explore outside for about 30 to 45 minutes. Activities during this “environmental exploration” have included felling trees, chopping and cutting wood, cleaning deer for venison, identifying trees and bird species, exploring the river and learning about the privately maintained sustainable energy systems with which the farm is outfitted. The final part of our class day is a culminating group discussion to both cover the remaining material from the readings and to discuss questions sparked from the day’s activities. At about 3:00 p.m., we load the van again and depart, thus concluding the “class period.” So what exactly is the “good life,” and how does a class like this inform students on what that life might look like? I have found myself asking these
FEATURE 2017
“Good Life” students on the frozen river during the daily “environmental exploration” time
questions rather frequently over the course of our semester. While I cannot currently — and may never — say definitively what it means to live a good life, this class has given me a few ideas. We began the class by examining the modern homesteading movement, and the ethics and values associated with
The frozen gravel road outside of Meadow Farm
Photographs courtesy of Gracie Griffiths (‘19)
what many consider to be a ‘back-to-theland’ movement. Using the example of homesteaders Scott and Helen Nearing, along with a few others, we learned about the benefits and challenges associated with homesteading. We learned how some people have discovered a balance between reconciling their ethics of treading lightly on the earth with the limitations and challenges life often brings through relationships, finances and basic necessities. While much of the homesteading movement derives from a dissatisfaction with the economic status quo of modern living, much of the movement also comes from a desire to live a life of self-reliance that claims ownership over the intimate aspects of life often pervaded by modern technology. This discussion also applied homesteading to an urban context, in which we explored ideas on how to incorporate ethics surrounding food, consumption and simple living into a reality that does not require purchasing a plot of rural land like Jensen did. Author Mark Bittman argues that the ethics of mitigating one’s environmental impact and choosing to live more simply could be accomplished in an urban context. He centers his views of a good life around food, which is evident in his opening
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2017 FEATURE remarks: “Your personal food policy is more potent than anything else you can do in the realm of climate change, animal welfare, the environment in general, and certainly your own health.” The Good Life, however, does not stop at food or the environment. David Brooks, another author we studied, talks about the importance of vocation. Brooks challenges modern values by asserting the significance of what he calls ‘eulogy characteristics,’ — the things said of you posthumously. Brooks professes, “We live in a society that encourages us to think about how to have a great career but leaves many of us inarticulate about how to cultivate the inner life.” So what does it take to cultivate an inner life? How can I speak to the deep-seated yearnings of my heart? What is my vocation and where do I look to do the work necessary in finding it? Should I look internally to find who I am? Should I spend my days meticulously analyzing joy and all its components? Is it even enough to have joy? I do not yet know what it means
As part of the class, students also learned how to cook various dishes various dishes.
Lucia Holte (‘17) takes a breather on the ice .
to live a good life, but I do know how to carve a spoon. I know how to knit a hat. I know how to cook parmesan risotto with a side of squash. I know the impacts of my food choices. I know that living sustainably is not as hard as I thought. And with this knowledge, I am beginning to feel a certain “goodness”
in the path my life is taking me down. So hopefully, as the hustle and bustle begins to hum over me again, I can take the “good life” with me. In the words of the poet Mary Oliver, I hope this class enables me and my classmates to realize what it is we plan to do with our “one wild and precious life.” •
Jensen instructs students on how to craft their own utensils out of wood
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Photographs courtesy of Gracie Griffiths (‘19)
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The view of Luther College from a path near Pulpit Rock
FEATURE 2017
The Countdown Begins by Emily Crowe (‘17) Photographs by Emily Crowe
On the doorstep of graduation, four seniors set out to make the most of their “lasts.”
Photographs by Emily Crowe (‘17)
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2017 FEATURE
Bursting the Bubble: preparing for life after Luther College There is a large, steep hill down the side of the bluff near Pulpit Rock in Decorah, Iowa, near our own Luther College. This particular hill makes for a great sledding hill, especially when the snow is packed down and covered in ice. I learned this first-hand — sled-less, head first and laughing so hard that it was hard to breathe — with two of my very best friends, Julie Goulette ('17) and Rachel Shaffer ('17). Thankfully, the bottom of the hill is tree- and other obstacle-free, so the only physical reminder of the slippery trip are newly worn areas of the bottoms of our jeans. While we will likely forget just why those jeans are oddly faded, we will likely remember our adventure well. In fact, the happy memory of climbing up icy stairs and navigating precariously snowy paths (sorry, mom and dad!) to get to the top of the sledding hill are
happy, golden-hour memories I am sure I will treasure for the rest of my life. This moment was a little bittersweet, though: Rachel and Julie are graduating at the end of January Term (J-term), so our time to make these life-long memories is coming to a fast end. Julie’s early graduation date is the reason we were shuttling ourselves down an ice covered bluff in the first place. The day she receives her diploma and leaves the Luther Bubble for a “big kid job” in the dreaded “real world” is coming soon, and there is nothing we can do to stop or slow its arrival. So, we devised a plan to make this January the best last month of college and last month of living in the same town together it could be; to cram as many great memories into a month as humanly possible: we made a bucket list.
Julie Goulette ('17) clings to a fence on the way to Pulpit Rock
Emily Crowe ('17), Julie Goulette ('17) and Rachel Shaffer (’17) taste wine at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery
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Photographs by Emily Crowe ('17)
FEATURE 2017 Clay figurines painted at The Clay Studio in downtown Decorah - an activity on the bucket list
Frozen waterfall at Pulpit Rock
We ended up with a seemingly impossible- Roscoe’s Bar that allows inexpensive refills to-complete list of 31 restaurants, sites, for life. It was an exhausting, expensive, and activities we wanted to eat, drink and amazing week and weekend together. work our way through in the 24 short days of J-term. So, Julie, Jill Harstad ('17) and I Each item we checked off our bucket list started exactly as you would expect college had an implied “last” tacked onto it: the last seniors would — we headed to McCaffrey’s time we would go to the Decorah movie Dolce Vita, a theater together, the classy, cabin-like "This finality made us more last time we would go Italian restaurant play with the kitties where we ate intentional with the time we up for adoption at pasta and drank were spending together, and the North East Iowa wine surrounded Society, the reminded us to appreciate Humane by twinkly, white last time we would string lights. Then, our friendship and our time visit the Vesterheim we drove to Mabe’s together." museum together and devoured as students. This rich, gooey, half-Emily Crowe ('17) finality made us baked chocolate more intentional with chip cookies with ice cream, a hidden gem the time we were spending together, and I recommend you all try at the earliest reminded us to appreciate our friendship possible opportunity. And just like that — and our time together. two boxes checked off our list, 29 to go. I do not know how four years has flown By the end of the first weekend of J-term, by so fast. It seems like only yesterday Julie, Jill, Rachel and I had checked nine more items off our list: we painted pottery at The Clay Studio, had dinner and margaritas Emily Crowe ('17), at Don Jose Family Mexican Restaurant, Julie Goulette ('17) ordered Mabe’s pizza to Julie and Jill’s dorm and Rachel Shaffer room for game night, hiked the trail (and (’17) pose at the some of the snowy, frozen waterfalls around top of Pulpit Rock the trail) in Phelps Park, sipped fancy cocktails at La Rana Bistro, tasted a flight of wine at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, shared sushi at Koreana Japanese Restaurant, drank way too much coffee during brunch at Family Table Restaurant and purchased and used a “Scoe’s mug,” a beer stein from
that I was an excited and nervous firstyear, awkwardly trying to find my way to my first Paideia class while trying to hide how lost and confused I was. Now, one semester before graduation, I am finding myself saying goodbye to amazing friends, uncertain of when or if we will see each other again. I am immeasurably proud of my friends — traveling across the country or across the world, graduating early, beginning jobs and internships that will lead to life-long vocations—they are all doing incredible things with their lives and their educations, but watching as we slowly scatter farther away from our mutual home and school is also difficult and unlike any transition we have faced thus far. We might not have completed our bucket list, but I am thankful for the semester I have left and for the time spent with the aweinspiring and supportive people I have met at Luther before heading into the world to do what Luther has been preparing us to do since Paideia 111—pop the Luther Bubble. •
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2017
PERSPECTIVES
Students explore a beach in Dagbüll, Germany
J-Term abroad and the issue of place by Danny May (‘17) We need to get away from our desire for change and relocation, Wallace Stegner said, in order to really immerse ourselves in the environment. As Stegner stated in The Sense of Place, “Indifferent to, or contemptuous of, or afraid to commit ourselves to, our physical and social surroundings, always hopeful of something better, hooked on change, a lot of us have never stayed in one place long enough to learn it, or have learned it only to leave it.” Without spending ample time in a place, we cannot hope to really know its geography, culture, wildlife and seasonal changes, and as a result, we probably do not really care about what happens to it. In an environmental philosophy class at Luther this past fall, students gave a presentation outlining environmental concerns with study-abroad courses, in particular the three-week January term
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courses like the one I am currently taking locations, is developing a rooted sense of (Paideia II: Green Europe). The question place. We will not get to know the changing arises that, as privileged midwesterners, seasons in Berlin or London, nor the are we just using our destinations as a farmers of the German state of SchleswigHolstein, nor the chance to build around our own character "The question arises that, as wildlife York. We will not and base of knowledge instead privileged midwesterners, are interact with these in of learning the we just using our destinations environments the way that Stegner places themselves? I as a chance to build our describes, which surely do not really know Berlin, nor do own character and base of is essential to their I anticipate getting knowledge instead of learning existence as places. They will not be to know any of our places to us but other destinations the places themselves?" within the course. -Danny May ('17) rather just a stop along the way. An We are here to study the environmental sustainability models of alternative to this typical heavily-packed, Germany and the U.K., discussing policies time-sensitive January term course would and their ramifications within the energy, be to pick an area and remain there for three political and cultural sectors. But what weeks. Our final destination in the first half we are not doing, and what is completely of our course — Niebüll, Germany — is impossible in three weeks, even more so a quiet town with a population of about in the few days we spend in each of our 9,000 people and abundant wind farms just Photograph by Danny May (‘17)
PERSPECTIVES 2017 outside of it. Instead of taking the concept of sustainability models and applying it to our numerous destinations in Germany and the U.K., we could just as affordably study in Niebüll only, simultaneously learning the land, weather, people and culture. The German people, of course, embrace their places in such a way that Stegner would applaud. This is evident in the nearly unanimous public support (92-93 percent) for Germany’s plan to transition from fossil fuel energy to renewables. Germans recognize the threat of climate change and want to mitigate its effects on their places as much as possible. So although we as traveling students have little chance of getting to know these places abroad, we can take the reverence of the people in these
places and apply it to our own. In SchleswigHolstein, a large length of which borders the North Sea, inhabitants fully support dike building so as to protect farmland that would otherwise be washed away. Northern Germany farmland, in all its flat and windy splendor, has been embraced by the people who have spent generations living in it. Of course this embrace of the land also occurs in the United States, but we can try to scale this German attitude to the U.S., a country much larger than Germany in both population and land mass. We can start by turning to our own places and getting to know them. We can know Decorah not through reading the Chamber of Commerce brochure, but through walking it, swimming in its bodies of water and
rebuilding it after a flood. We can think of Minneapolis not just as a place of abundant microbreweries and great cycling culture but also of natural areas such as Minnehaha Falls, Lake Calhoun and the Mississippi. Stegner said “a place is not a place until people have been born in it, have grown up in it, lived in it, known it, died in it,” which sounds anthropocentric but makes sense, as human perception is the only way in which we experience the world. Choosing a location in which to live should be a matter of staying in that place, and when traveling we should be mindful of how we are regarding those places we visit. As a result, significant change to those locations will strike us and spur further action, as we recognize them not just as ‘somewhere’ but as a place. The interior of York Minster in York, England
Photograph by Danny May (‘17)
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2017 PERSPECTIVES
International perspectives on college life in the United States As many students set out on study abroad adventures during J-term, it is important to remember that for some students, simply going to school at Luther is a study abroad experience. Four international students, Ana Lopez (‘19) from Mexico, Matija Nikolic (‘17) from Serbia, Vicky Torillas (‘17) from Uruguay and Jenny Woods (‘18) from Honduras, were asked how their expectations of life in America differ from what they have experienced here and how those experiences have shaped their lives in their home countries. Ana Lopez (‘19) Mexico Being born and raised in Mexico and having gone to high school in India, I was unsure of how I would be received, both in the Hispanic community and in the international student community at Luther. It seemed to me that being a Mexican international student, as opposed to a Mexican-American, would, in a way, separate me from the Hispanic community. At the same time, I thought that it would make me be a not-so-international international student. Although I have dealt with uncomfortable situations at Luther and dealing with my identity has become challenging sometimes, I have found acceptance and kindness in both the students and the faculty in general. I think that the media and other social interactions have made me differentiate between “being Mexican” and my perception of Mexico itself. Being Mexican in this country is quite a complex identity. For some, it is an insult. For first, second or even third generations it only means their ethnicity, the color of their skin. Some Mexicans have never even been to Mexico in their lives, but are still catalogued as such. My time at Luther has not changed my view of my country, where my family and all
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Vicky Torrillas (‘17)
Jenny Woods (‘18)
the places that are dear to me are. Rather, it has broadened it, making it much more complex. The Mexican nationality is complex and travels beyond its delimitation as a piece of land. Matija Nikolic (‘17) Serbia Coming to study at Luther after previously living in Europe and Asia was a well-calculated choice, so overall I would say that my realistic expectations did not produce a major cultural shock that foreign exchange students often have to deal with. Specifically, I think that the school administration has done a good job at accommodating people of foreign background and making us feel at home. However, I had to learn about some sociological differences on my own. I remember that it took me a while to fully cope with the
Ana Lopez (‘19)
Matija Nikolic (‘17)
fact that public transportation was almost non-existent. Abroad, it would be absurd for a family to own three or more cars but here it is justified since everything is so spaced out. Additionally, the way the two party political system here works is like nothing else in Europe, where in the vast majority of countries there is a multi-party system. At the same time, I was fortunate to find out that the bastion of free speech and civil discourse is still holding up. A variety of other stereotypes were proven to not be completely true, for example, despite being surrounded by a rural area, in the last four years I never saw anybody other than the police openly carrying a firearm. Even though a disproportionately large number of people engage in unhealthy eating habits, far less people have other negative habits such as smoking
Photographs courtesy of Luther.edu, Matija Nikolic, Vicky Torrillas and Jenny Woods
PERSPECTIVES and in general, people here tend to engage in sports more than anywhere else in the world. One similarity which I can draw between my home country and the U.S. is nationalism and so my comparisons were often frowned upon but my experience here has taught me that if a society/community wants to make itself great it needs to embrace virtues of merit, personal freedom, volunteerism and philanthropy. I did not yet completely have a chance to try and positively influence my home community with them but I hope to do so in the future. Vicky Torrillas (‘17) Uruguay Before coming to Luther, I was pretty starstruck with the United States. I grew up watching the typical American movies and thinking college would be like living on Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising. I had never heard of Iowa in my life, and did not do my research before coming, so when I arrived in Minneapolis I imagined I was coming to the promise land of malls and cinemas … kind of. I had lived in a pretty small town for two years and I was excited to move to a ‘big city’, but when I got to Decorah I realized I was dead wrong on what to expect. I think it took me a couple of weeks to feel like I could make this place my home, and my first semester was spent unraveling many, many stereotypes of
what Americans were like. As a senior, maybe I am being a bit nostalgic, but I grew to love this place, and although I’m ready to leave, it has made me more appreciative of where I come from and my culture. Luther has taught me that nature is not that bad and that biking the Trout Run trails can be a fun solo activity. I have spent many summers here now and I am grateful to see Decorah in such a different light — that is, not completely covered in snow and me avoiding going outside unless there is food involved. Being a Resident Assistant has also helped a lot — I met a lot of people that I wouldn’t know otherwise and learned a lot about the U.S. I joined a sorority (first year me would be horrified) and I have learned to love and appreciate my sisters, especially when I was away for a year in Nottingham. I will definitely miss the Luther community, the professors and the staff once I leave in May! Jenny Woods (‘18) Honduras Before arriving for the first time in the U.S., I thought I would see a lot of fat people all over the place, but when I arrived, that was not the case. The people who lived in the U.S. we’re normal just as everywhere else in the world. Because education is considered more developed in the U.S. than Honduras, I thought that school would be extremely hard, but once
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I finished my first year of classes at Newman Catholic High School, I realized that I was doing great compared to what I expected. I was one of the top students in my class of 2014. I also thought that there didn’t exist any poor people nor rundown houses here, but once I went on my first mission trip with the Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa, I realized that people with economic problems are found everywhere in the world, even in the richest country. The first time I experienced winter, I was not happy. Before arriving to the U.S., I expected winter to be as it is seen on television. During my first Winter, I literally cried from the cold and was very upset that the snow was cold. I didn't built my first snowman until three years later because I didnt know which was the right snow for building snowmen. When I went back home to Honduras for the summer, I was questioned so many times by islanders who found out that I was studying in the U.S. The questions were mostly all the same: Did you like it? Did you see any celebrities? Are the houses beautiful? Did you see Obama? How was the snow? Going back home, I learned to appreciate the Tropical, 90-degree climate of my country since I was not pleased with the first cold winter I experienced in the U.S. Overall, it was a hell of an experience which had its ups and down, but the ups overpowered the downs.
An educator’s education by Lily Kime (‘19) January Term is an optimal time for students to get off campus to explore new places and experience new things. For Luther education students, January is often used as a time to do this in real elementary and secondary school classroom environments. Luther College requires two practicum placements and at least two half-semesters of student teaching to complete the Teacher Education Program. In order to inform the rest of the Luther community on the work it takes to become a Luther graduate with an Ed degree, three students and a faculty member Photograph by Lily Kime (‘19)
gave their personal insight to this program. Teacher Certification Officer and Student Records Manager Jennifer Olufsen is a key part of the process that places students in schools for their Education-185, which is taken by first-year students, and Education215, which is taken by students that could not or did not take ED- 185 during their first year.. “The first placement is ED-185 or ED215, and that is the initial placement during January Term when the students are out in the schools Monday through Thursday,” Olufsen said. “This is to get the experience of walking in the shoes of a teacher. This can occur in either the first or second year [of a student’s time at Luther College]. We even have junior transfers who participate in this.” According to Olufsen, the education department has seen great merit in having Education students begin
practicum placements as first-years before they really start to dive into theory classes from the ed department. “The first placement has two very serious benefits,” Olufsen said. “The first is that you get to really try out the profession before you invest many semesters in it. The other benefit is that this gives you practical application to attach to theory when you take classwork. There are a lot of ‘aha’ moments when you’re in your theory classes, because you suddenly remember that practical end of it and can connect your learning to your experiences.” Elementary Education major Warsan Yusuf ('20) spent this January completing her ED-185 placement at Postville Elementary School. She was placed in a second grade classroom where she helped the teacher give lessons in subjects like math and reading. Yusuf’s experience was special for her because she got to work with
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2017 PERSPECTIVES kids from a background similar to her own. “My class has about twenty kids in it, and because I’m from Somalia, I was asked to go to a school with a high Somali population and kind of inspire the kids. It has really been an experience to see what it’s like from the teacher’s perspective. When I went there, the teachers were so happy to have me there. One of the teachers even approached me to ask if I would speak to the high school students because they think that I will be an inspiration to them to continue on to college. I’m not just doing subtraction with students, I might also inspire them to do whatever they want to do in their lives. I really love that.” While ED-185 placements can be a little bit of a challenge without prior classroom experience Yusuf has found they they also provide opportunities for breakthroughs and triumphs, like she experienced with her students during a subtraction lesson. “I was very happy last class when we were doing subtraction. The kids were using a specific method and as I was walking around I noticed that two kids didn’t understand. So I kept trying to show them and giving them more similar examples and in the end, although they didn’t completely understand it, they came a long way. It made me so happy.” Music education major Amanda Brobst (’19) had a similar positive Erik Mandsager (‘20) and David McVay focus hard during an Education-185/215 seminar
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Nathan Baldwin (‘19) practices teaching a lesson during an Education185/215 seminar class seminar
experience while fulfilling her ED215 practicum in Decorah Middle School. She sees these early practicums as a way to really make sure you are committed to becoming a teacher. “I think it’s a really good idea,” Brobst said. “It’s something to help you think about and solidify your decision on whether or not you want to be an education major before you get into the stuff that requires so much effort. Just having this opportunity to really be in a placement will make or break the deal for a lot of students.
It will ultimately give them more of an idea of what they want to do.” Olufsen noted that there are many steps, including courses and testing, required to complete an education degree, and that early practicum placements are important to make sure students are not wasting their time or money on a career that they might regret. “Becoming a teacher at Luther College requires you to commit a lot of time and energy,” Olufsen said. “To get into the Teacher Education Program, for example, you need to take a basic skills test, which is quite expensive, plus you need to complete the foundation coursework. Heading down this path without a pretty good idea of where you’re headed is, perhaps, a less efficient use of resources than if you waited and made a decision later on.” After taking ED-185 or ED-215, students move on to their second practicum, the methods practicum, which also happens in a J-term. This course is typically taken either during a student’s junior year or, if they will be completing a ninth semester, during their senior year. According to Olufsen, this experience provides a greater challenge for students, because they are given more responsibility in the classroom. “This practicum is more intense because you are in front of a class and teaching all or part of a unit, depending on what subject you’re in,” Olufsen said. Photographs courtesy of Lily Kime (‘19)
PERSPECTIVES 2017 Spanish major and education minor Anna Bauer ('17), who also has an English as a Second Language (ESL) endorsement, completed her methods placements this January at Elmwood Middle School and Elmwood High School in a suburb of Chicago. For her ED-215 placement, she was placed at Waukon High School and also did a placement in Postville for her ESL endorsement last fall. After several placements, Bauer has had the opportunity to witness both the positives and downsides of being a teacher. “I think a positive aspect of being in different placements is that I’ve been able to experience different teaching styles because every teacher that I’ve been with has had a very different style,” Bauer said. “Another benefit is networking. If I was looking for a summer job with ESL, I could ask one of the teachers that I am working with now, and they would have an idea of where I could go. On the other hand, I have seen a negative side of teaching, which is kind of depressing as a future educator. I have seen what standardized testing is doing to the system. They’re making kids take these tests to prove that the schools are good and it’s putting a lot of pressure on teachers and principals because the results are on the teacher’s evaluations.” The final practical requirement for future teachers is a semester of student teaching which, according to Olufsen, is typically broken down into two half-semester placements. Some students might have to complete more than two placements, however, if they have additional areas in which they need to be certified. Not only do practicum placements and student teaching help students get experience in the classroom, they may also help them see the world. According to Olufsen, the initial placement is the only one that must be completed in a local school, with the exception of students that travel to Gallup, NM, to complete this course. The methods placement can and is done by students in any school in the United States that a placement can be arranged, and student teaching can be done at any school in any country. With all of this opportunity to go new places, Luther education students have the ability to expand their knowledge of what a traditional classroom looks like. Photographs courtesy of Lily Kime (‘19)
Students in Education-185 and Education-215 meet together every Friday during January to reflect and present on their experiences
David McVay (‘18) and Aidan Spencer (‘18) give a powerpoint presentation to their Education185/215 seminar
Olufsen expressed her pride for the Luther educations students and the impact they have in schools wherever they are placed. “Every year, I am truly honored to hear commentary from friends of mine that are in the teaching profession about what excellent students we have
at Luther College,” Olufsen said. “Their disposition, their service and being of future value to young people in this world. It truly warms my heart, and I enjoy hearing about the wonderful experiences that my friends, who are teachers, have had with their Luther students.”
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2017 ADVERTISEMENT
Kielly and Turco at work installing their art show in the Dahl Centennial Union
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REVIEW 2017
B.A. Burrito: big a** or big pass? Luther students past and present weigh in on B.A. Burrito, a new gourmet burrito shop at 208 College Drive which opened on Nov. 29, 2016 in Decorah, IA. “It smelled horrible — it was the food. Not that the food tasted nearly as bad, but such an unfortunate smell.” –Spencer Hodge (‘17) “I like that they mix the contents of the burrito before wrapping it.” –Jill Harstad (‘17)
Would you reccommend B.A. Burrito to a friend?*
YES
NO
MAYBE
“I thought that most of the ingredients were pretty subpar and were of even lesser quality than the quality of ingredients that you would get at Marty’s.” –Helen Arneson (‘19) “They have a ton of options, and it’s delicious!” –Katherine Ollman (‘15)
“There was a lot of hype about B.A. Burrito, so I had really high expectations. I was really hoping for something similar to Chipotle, but it was definitely more along the lines of Marty’s.” –Julie Goulette (‘17)
“I was impressed with the relatively cheap prices of the burritos.” –Evan Stuart (‘19)
“The burritos are good if you are looking for a plain tasting burrito, and they have interesting and unique flavors for someone who is looking for something different.” –Evan Stuart (‘19)
“They could make more money if they stayed open longer.” –Emily Youel (‘19)
Average Rating*
*Information gathered from thirteen particicipants Graphics and survey by Emily Crowe and Lily Kime
“The most Americanized burrito around.” –Wyatt Anians (‘19)
“For what I got, I thought it was quite overpriced, especially compared to Don Jose where I can get more food for a very comparative [price]. Don Jose tastes a lot better.” –Alex Aakre (‘19) “There was bacon and impressive, but surprising, options.” –Wyatt Anians (‘19)
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2017 REVIEW
Pouring over Decorah’s Coffee
Coffee Lover Sidney Larsen ('17)
by Sidney Larsen ('17) After years of drinking nothing but frappuccinos and cappuccinos and getting called “not a real coffee drinker,” I made the jump and switched to black coffee. This ended up being extremely advantageous in my college years and is a habit that has stuck with me to this day. Having experienced and loved both sides of the coffee spectrum, when someone suggested that there was coffee in town that needed reviewing I immediately knew I was the perfect girl for the job. I took my study to four different coffee joints around town, and now I’m here to share the results with you. The first stop on my coffee quest was Java John’s. Java John's Coffee House As I walked into Java John’s I was engulfed by the smell of freshly baked muffins, and I was thankful I had blocked out a solid hour or so to spend there so that I could enjoy the aroma. I walked through the shop which had various seating options, including booths, tables, a couple of stools, a lovely little corner of comfortable arm chairs and a couch to the back where I could sit by myself and use my laptop. I looked around the coffee shop — the majority of the faces I could see represented the elderly population of Decorah. A couple of college students sat around with their laptops, deep in thought. The walls were freshly painted with mellow tones of reds, blues and greens covered with mirrors and photographs
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The half Mocha, half White Chocolate Mocha from Java John's Coffee House of nature — I felt immediately at ease. Smooth lit interior. The menu gets an 'A' because, along jazz playing in the background only added to with coffee, Java John’s also sells beer and wine the effect, and I was excited to go up and get my into the later hours of the day and features a drink. I crossed the worn hardwood floors and myriad of baked goods and oatmeals. Bonus approached the counter where a friendly guy points are also given because of the great greeted me. I asked for a recommendation. ‘Do selection of activities and music groups the shop you like sweet, do you not like sweet?’ he asked features on select days. Overall, averaging up the me. I said I liked sweet. He told me about a latte aspects of my Java John’s adventure, this coffee with one and a half pumps chocolate and one shop gets a 'B'. and a half pumps white chocolate. I said that sounds great, I’d like that a latte … (just kidding, Nordic Brew I didn’t say that). I paid $4.55 for the drink, which After I got some dinner to settle my stomach, seemed a little steep, but I was jazzed to try it out. I was somewhat recovered from my intense If it’s expensive, it’s got to be good right? Not so jitters and sugar high that I suffered from my much. I got my drink a few minutes later in a trip to Java John's and decided to move on and big white mug. It was pretty, I’ll have to admit, test out Nordic Brew. The convenience of this with one half white coffee shop gives it a and the other brown, I paid $4.55 for the drink, which special place in my chocolate and white seemed a little steep, but I was heart because it’s really chocolate just like he jazzed to try it out. If it’s expensive, a toss up if coffee is promised. I took a sip worth braving the and it was super bitter. it’s got to be good, right? outrageously low Where was the sweet January temperatures -Sidney Larsen (‘17) that I agreed to?! As I in Decorah. So I dived further into the drink the straight — up waltzed on over to the counter after exiting the — coffee — grounds flavor sweetened up only cafeteria and again asked for a recommendation. minorly (I figured I should finish it because hey, The sweet girl at the counter laughed and I dropped 5 bucks on this thing), until I got to admitted that she had only started working the bottom and got a big mouthful of sickeningly at Nordic a few hours prior to that moment, sweet, sludgy syrup. Gross. Upon reflection, I but that she knew the mochas were good. I give the drink a 'D+'. The atmosphere receives laughed too and decided to go with it. There a solid 'A-', with relaxing music and a warmly were obnoxious little heart-covered signs all over Photographs by Sideny Larsen and Emily Crowe
REVIEW 2017 advertising the Valentine’s Day themed version of an otherwise typical mocha: the Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Mocha. I cut my losses from my last coffee experience and ordered it, paid $3.50 and prayed that this one would taste okay. I sat down on the big squishy blue couch across from the counter and took in the environment. Besides the couch there is pretty much zip for seating, so you’re forced to get your drink to go in one of those paper to-go cups. At least they don’t give you the ones that lie to you with the starbucks logo anymore; the ones they use now are much more plain. Nothing much stands out or is particularly welcoming about the boring white facade of the shop, but what more could be expected from a college coffee store? I received my drink in a few minutes and was pleased and surprised to see such a cute result. Though it came in a boring beige paper cup, it was topped with pink whipped cream and a tiny orange candy heart that said "Crazy 4 U.” My heart nearly melted with mushy, gushy Valentine’s Day feels. I took the drink and bolted so that I could drink it in the comfort of my home because I had no intention of sitting on that blue couch by myself for any longer. When I finally got to drinking my mocha, it tasted super chocolatey with a hint of coffee. In the first couple sips there was a faint fruity twang like a raspberry chocolate you might get in a heart shaped box around V-Day, but the raspberry flavor disappeared after a few more
The Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Mocha from Nordic Brew , complete with candy heart
drinks. When I got down to the bottom of the cup I was incredibly sad to again get a mouthful of sickeningly sweet syrup. While this did have a negative effect on my opinion of the drink, for the most part it was tolerable, and my final thoughts on it were: "eh, not bad." Nordic Brew therefore gets a 'B' on their drink. The atmosphere of the place is probably the most disappointing part, as it features virtually no seating or ambiance and gets a 'D-'. The menu manages a 'B' because it not only features coffee drinks, but also shakes and ice cream. Overall, despite an incredibly cute and not-too-bad tasting drink, Nordic Brew comes in with a underwhelming 'C' average. At this point my stomach was not happy with me and I was shaking from caffeine overload so I decided to wait a day before jumping back into the coffee game. Impact After taking two coffee shop adventures solo, I decided to enlist some help. I mentioned to my friend Emily Alcock (‘17) that I needed to make a trip to Impact Coffee Bar and Roasters, and she graciously agreed to come along. We had to park a few blocks from the shop because it was a busy place around noon and there weren not any conveniently located parking lots. We walked in and immediately I was taken aback by the beauty of the space. It was clean and bright with beautiful architectural features and strategically placed strings of lights and hanging plants. I approached the counter with Emily and asked the cute bearded barista for a recommendation, and he listed off a few names of things that I should try if I was looking for a hot drink. The words ‘Almond Joy’ stuck out to me because the night before, after finding out about my coffee conquests, a friend had excitedly told me that I had to try the Almond Joy, so that’s what I picked. I handed over my
An Almond Joy from Impact Coffee
Photographs by Sidney Larsen and Emily Crowe
card and payed $3.96 for the drink, so, hey it was still cheaper than Java John’s. We sat down at a little table and booth combination in the back and the barista brought out our drinks. They were as gorgeous as the shop itself. 'It had to be too good to be true,' I thought to myself. 'There’s no way it could taste good.' The drink was served in a generous brown mug and the drink itself featured a swirling pattern of brown and foamy white on top, almost too pretty to ruin. It smelled exactly like an Almond Joy bar with all of its creamy, chocolatey, coconutty goodness and when I took the first sip it tasted just like one too! There was a subtle undertone of coffee flavor, but the Almond Joy deliciousness took front and center in the most perfect way possible. The drinks were also served with a delicate little sliver of almond biscotti, which was a perfect accent when dipped in the drink. We sat and enjoyed ourselves for a while — coffee and conversation blending together in the most lovely way. There was indie music on the radio giving the space a very upbeat vibe, compared to the relaxing atmosphere of Java John's smooth jazz. I soon reached the bottom of my cup and to my sweet surprise there was absolutely no concentration of sugary sludge assaulting my face. The greatest triumph yet of my coffee adventures! Therefore, I have to give the drink a most deserved 'A'. This grade is echoed by my rating of the atmosphere with its bright and open, yet cozy, layout, which adds to the stunning beauty and simplicity of the place. Finally the menu, which features a wide variety of drinks including the ever popular cold-brew and an assortment of bakery snacks finished with an 'A-'. Overall, Impact Coffee receives a solid 'A' grade from me, a very satisfied customer! Magpie To conclude my cafe escapades, I headed over to Magpie Coffeehouse for lunch at the request of a lovely friend, Marlene Jones (‘17). We parked on Water Street, again with no convenient parking lot to use. We headed in and the place was busy! There was an even mixture of Luther students and Decorah residents scattered throughout the place in the many tables and booths down the length of the very long and lean shop. One table was placed in the light of the front window and the rest in the cozier back area. The floor by the entry was covered with pennies giving it a very quaint vibe as soon as I walked in. We chose a table towards the back, set our jackets and bags down and approached the counter. A very pleasant woman was there to help us as we both ordered sandwiches, and
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2017 REVIEW
Marlene Jones ('17) poses with her Magpie buys
she was not shy when recommending the house brewed chai for my drink. I happily agreed (being a chai lover) and took her recommendation. I paid $3.48 for the drink and around $13 in total, adding the sandwich and chips. I picked up my chai at the end of the counter and walked back to our table to wait for the sandwiches. I sipped on the chai, which was presented in a to-go paper cup, despite our dining in, and it was the perfect blend of flavorful and creamy. The chai flavor was subtle yet delicious and the girl at the counter had told me that they brew their chai in house so they don’t use any syrups (yes!). I was very pleased with the drink even down to the last drop, and the sandwiches hit the spot. We sat and laughed and ate and sipped on our drinks for nearly two hours in the comfortable red and yellow painted cafe. I give the chai an A,
loving the perfect blend of cream and tea flavor. The atmosphere also gets an A, featuring cute coffee quotes painted everywhere you turn and artsy photos actually taken inside the shop. The menu gets an A++ due to their many drinks and awesome sandwiches, wraps and paninis. Overall, Magpie scores at the top of its class with the most concrete A I could give. In recap, if delicious drinks are what you seek, hit up Magpie or Impact. As far as atmosphere goes, Java John’s, Impact and Magpie would all be a good choice. When it comes to menu variety, no one in town beats Magpie, as they serve both coffee and a whole selection of food, but Impact, Nordic Brew and Java John’s all have something special to offer. And so concludes my coffee adventures. I hope they were as insightful for you as they were fun for me. Now go forth and treat yourself.
Born To Run: a read you won’t regret by Emma Busch ('20) I would like to preface this review with the following information: I am a huge Bruce Springsteen fan and, despite my best efforts, this may turn into an embarrassingly reverent and gushy love–fest. You have been warned. Back in October, Bruce Springsteen did an interview with National Public Radio’s Terry Gross about his autobiography, “Born to Run”. After absorbing everything I heard within that 44 minute time period, I decided rather impulsively that I could not live in peace until I owned this book and hopped online to buy it. My copy came within a couple days, though I found myself unable to begin reading immediately because of classes. Instead, I settled for carrying the book everywhere I went, itching for the opportunity to finally discover what Springsteen wanted to share with the world in 510 pages. I also read as many reviews as I could. Many critics, almost all of them self-identified super-fans, compared the autobiography to one of his concerts, for good reasons as well as bad. Some find Springsteen’s story enthralling, others feel as if they have heard it all before. The latter group may feel this way because they’ve attended a minimum of twodozen of his performances. I, however, am at least forty years younger than those critics and have not had that same privilege. I loved this book and give it a 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5. Though multiple biographies about Springsteen exist, “Born to Run” is the first time the musician has set out to tell his life story in his own words, with the goal of supplying an answer
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to the frequently asked fan question, “How do you do it?”. The autobiography provides deeper, intimate insights into his childhood, career and struggles with mental illness than the previous books were able to offer, largely because Springsteen wrote at his own pace over a period of seven years. His end product has an engaging, song-like quality about it that I venture to guess only a seasoned songwriter can bring to a book. As is the tendency in his songs, he writes of himself and others through archetypes like the heroic loner or the downtrodden blue-collar worker while also making a careful effort to explore the nuances of these characters, especially his father. Their relationship is among one of the most interesting topics of the autobiography and the profound effect on every aspect of Springsteen’s life — his songs, his romantic relationships and his desire for control, to name a few. Also fascinating is how Springsteen is able to speak as candidly as possible without making the reader absolutely despise him by the end, a depressingly common circumstance that accompanies many documentaries and books about musicians of his time. Springsteen reveals himself to have been a shy, anxious child that grew to be a self-proclaimed teenage loser searching for solace in music. He wasn’t a guitar virtuoso. He wasn’t a great singer and admits he still isn’t one now. His first album, “Greetings from Asbury Park”, was not a commercial success. There is no sense that he wants the reader to believe he was born to be a star, but rather that his success grew out of his unwavering dedication to his passions and the
need to challenge himself. Springsteen first and foremost wants to be known as a human being, which makes him easier to love as a rock star. The book is accessible for fans of all levels of devotion, as well as curious readers who don’t necessarily care for his music. The only type of person I would discourage from reading this work are those who may be bothered by the musician’s admittedly excessive use of ellipses, capital letters and tendency to-write-using-dashes-betweenwords-like-this, but these are only minor grievances that I find endearing. “Born to Run” is a fascinating and engrossing exploration of one of rock and roll’s greatest artists — pick it up in Preus Library whenever you get the chance.
Photographs by Sidney Larsen and courtesy of Emma Busch
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LUTHER COLLEGE
CHIPS Vol. 139• Special Issue 2017