UNIVERSIT Y OF NORTHWESTERN – ST. PAUL
EMPATHY: WALKING IN JESUS’ STEPS AND OTHERS’ SHOES
SPRING 2016
UNIVERSIT Y OF NORTHWES TERN – S T. PAUL
Cover photo: Josh Stokes
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DEPARTMENTS 4 FROM THE PRESIDENT 4 NORTHWESTERN NEWS 9 FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS 29 ALUMNI NEWS & FEATURES
10 Teaching the Art and Soul of Empathy It’s no head game. Having empathy requires heart and deep spiritual work, say these faculty members. 12 A Crisis of Refugees: How Will We Answer?
Two professors who are sensitive to the struggles and needs of vulnerable refugees want to
challenge others to follow the words and footsteps of Jesus.
and the NFL—About Kindness
14 Alum Teaches First Graders—
Students in alum Sarah Myhre’s classroom wrote letters to
Vikings kicker Blair Walsh after a devastating loss and got an unexpected visitor.
Sculptures for Good
16 Creating Snow
UNW junior Austin Bartz and his brothers Trevor and Connor created a massive
snow sculpture that garnered national attention and earned serious money to bring clean water to people in Haiti.
20 First You Listen Counseling Services fills a critical need on campus. Counselors are ready to listen and help students dealing with the big issues and personal struggles. 24 Act Six Scholars Enrich UNW Nine talented students are completing their first year on campus. Lisa Fredericks shares how she persevered through difficulty to bring her leadership gifts to Northwestern.
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PILOT is published by the Office of Marketing & Communications University of Northwestern – St. Paul 3003 Snelling Avenue North St. Paul, MN 55113-1598 651-631-5166, unwsp.edu/pilot Letters and comments may be sent to pilot@unwsp.edu.
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PILOT STAFF Managing Editor Marita Meinerts Albinson, M.A. Editor Shelly Barsuhn Graphic Design BARSUHN, Inc. Photography Josh Stokes Contributing Writers Amy Elizabeth Awasom, Kali Barlau, Shelly Barsuhn, Cayla (Yund ’14) Blucker, Jeff Lane ’09, Timothy Sawyer University MarComm Staff Marita Meinerts Albinson, Joan Ayotte, Colleen Bemis ’05, Cayla (Yund ’14) Blucker, Drew Elrick ’12, Jeff Lane ’09, Tess O’Connor, Eric Olson, Tammy Worrell ’04 Student Staff Benjamin Hait ’16, Sophia Perry ’18 Abby Phillips ’17 UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION President Alan S. Cureton, Ph.D. Sr. V.P. for Academic Affairs Janet B. Sommers, Ph.D. Sr. V.P. for Media Jason Sharp, M.A. V.P. for Student Life & Athletics Matt Hill ’89, Ed.D. V.P. for Institutional Advancement Jim K. Johnson ’94, M.A. V.P. for Enrollment Management Mike Moroney Chief Information Officer David Richert, MBA V.P. for Business/CFO Douglas R. Schroeder, CPA Associate V.P. of Human Resources Timothy A. Rich, PHR NORTHWESTERN MEDIA FM 98.5/AM 900 KTIS Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN FM 101.9/AM 1090 KNWS Waterloo, IA FM 97.9/AM 1200 KFNW Fargo, ND FM 96.5/AM 1270 KNWC Sioux Falls, SD FM 102.5/AM 1190 WNWC Madison, WI FM 97.3 KDNW/FM 90.5 KDNI Duluth, MN FM 107.1/FM 96.1 KNWI Des Moines, IA FM 88.5 KJNW Kansas City, MO AM 1290 WNWW Hartford, CT University of Northwestern – St. Paul does not discriminate with regard to national origin, race, color, age, sex or disability. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2016 PILOT
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
My sophomore roommate, Vince, and I had much in common: the same academic interests, a love of sports and deep faith in Jesus. But our life experiences differed dramatically. I came from the sheltered bubble of a quiet suburban upbringing. He hailed from “the projects” of Pittsburgh and had experienced racial bias, generational poverty and systemic injustice. Becoming friends with Vince awakened me to the privilege I enjoyed and to the profound challenges he confronted every day. It was painful but life changing to try to see the world through his eyes, as instructed by Jesus. At University of Northwestern, we want to open that window of insight for students. Empathy is active, so we will continue supporting and encouraging their efforts to reach out to others during their time here, whether to homeless individuals on the streets of Minneapolis, women caught in Empathy is a prostitution, fellow students on campus or decidedly Christpeople in poverty overseas. Many students— like characteristic like the UNW alum before them—will enter that enables ministries, careers and volunteerism that Scripture to bring them into contact with vulnerable penetrate our people in our culture. lives and hearts. The plight of the immigrant and refugee will surely touch our lives in the years ahead. As a member of the board of the National Association of Evangelicals, I’ve been privileged to join with other Christians concerned about the profound vulnerability of undocumented immigrants. How will we show empathy and open our hearts to the “aliens” of our society? How will we care for, feed and serve them as individuals made in the image of God? I am encouraged by the faculty, staff and students who are stepping out of their comfort zones and into the metaphoric shoes of others, and I pray that we realize the strength empathy gives us. If we are willing to drink from that well of opportunity, the lives of countless people— including our own—will be changed for good and for God.
Alan S. Cureton, Ph.D. President University of Northwestern – St Paul
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news
“My Second Major is Bible” Graduating with one major is an exciting accomplishment. Now, UNW students who take 30 credits in Bible—as required in the core curriculum—earn a second major, too. It’s like getting two majors for the price of one. (The state of Minnesota requires a minimum 30 credits for an academic major.) While the second major is not intended to stand alone, it does recognize the effort and training of UNW students in Bible courses. “The main benefit of the 30 credits and second major,“ said Randy Nelson, professor of New Testament studies, “is it promotes integration of faith and learning for all majors, no matter what professions our graduates enter.” The heavy concentration in Bible and theology courses gives students a rock solid foundation and flexibility. UNW’s emphasis on Bible, noted Mike Moroney, vice president for enrollment management, “is a legacy of our university—one of the things that’s part of our DNA.” Offering a second major is one more tangible value of the Northwestern experience.
Visit Campus in Your Pajamas The virtual tour on UNW’s website brings potential students and their families to campus. For students beginning their search for the university of their dreams, the tour of 34 campus locations makes things real. It’s an immersive experience that gives a 720-degree view of hot spots such as the Campus Green, athletics complex, Nazareth Chapel, Billy Graham Community Life Commons, classrooms and dorm rooms. Viewers can even stroll the shores of Lake Johanna. Students researching universities want as much information as they can get. The virtual tour option takes them beyond the brochure into an immersive experience. Come back to campus! See the virtual tour for yourself at unwsp.edu/campustour.
UNW Nursing Ranks High in Minnesota Northwestern’s nursing students excel! UNW ranked third in the Minnesota Board of Nursing results for the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). UNW’s passing rate of 96.15 percent surpassed the national average of 87.48 percent. Experienced and intensely committed faculty get much credit. “They care and know students on an individual basis,” said Ginger Wolgemuth, Ph.D., chief nurse administrator and assistant dean of the School of Nursing. “On any given day, you will see faculty spending extra time with students to review course content, go over an exam and pray.”
She also spoke glowingly of hardworking students. “We have been blessed with students who are making the sacrifice of putting life on hold to focus on succeeding in the School of Nursing.” A lot of effort goes into making an excellent nurse, according to Wolgemuth. “With over 900 hours in simulation labs and clinicals, including 96 hours of transcultural experiences, our nursing students have many opportunities to experience the various areas in which an RN can be employed.” Congratulations to the nursing students and faculty who continue to show that the UNW School of Nursing creates outstanding RNs.
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news An Accomplished PHOTO: SOFIA HILDER PHOTOGRAPHY
Harpist
Tackling the Cost of Textbooks Free textbooks? At Northwestern, students save serious bucks thanks to open textbooks. Although pricey printed textbooks aren’t yet relics of the past, they can sometimes be replaced by online texts that were licensed to be freely adapted and distributed. The University of Minnesota created the Open Textbook Library, a repository of open textbooks that have been written and reviewed by faculty. The library is situated within the Open Textbook Network, a consortium of higher education institutions committed to reducing textbook costs. Northwestern was one of nine early members of the network.
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Tanya Grosz, Ph.D., dean of graduate, online, and adult learning, said that because these textbooks can be edited, “faculty can use their expertise to make their course material even more relevant and current while significantly reducing the cost barrier for students.” One chemistry class broke into grateful applause when the professor, Dr. Dan Crane, announced students would be using a free textbook instead of the $250 printed alternative. Open textbooks help keep higher education accessible and barrier-free. To browse textbooks available to the public, Google Open Textbook Library.
Hannah Flowers ’16 received a Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Next Step Fund grant of $5,000. The program—funded by The McKnight Foundation—is designed to help artists in the seven-county metropolitan region complete a project that will help them rise to the next level in their careers whether they are emerging artists or artists well established in their disciplines. One of only 36 recipients selected from 350 applicants, Flowers used her grant to study with Gaelic harp experts at the 2015 Summer School of Early Irish Harp in Kilkenny, Ireland. The school included workshops and lectures with acclaimed harpists. The capstone event was her “Harps of Éire” concert in January, presented at The Celtic Junction to a packed house. Flowers performs professionally, singing and playing ancient and modern Irish harp and songs. In May, Flowers graduates with a BFA in music. She leaves for Belfast in June, one of two Minnesotans selected to partner with The Saint Patrick Centre. Following decades of violence in Belfast, the centre helps foster awareness for cultural reconciliation. Her time there will include research, work placements and interviews.
Renovation and Renewal Beautiful changes are coming to the Totino Fine Arts Center. The 30-year-old performance space will soon include digital lighting, new seating, updated décor, acoustic treatment and a digital sound system. These improvements will greatly improve a space that Jim Johnson, M.A., vice president for institutional advancement, calls “the spiritual epicenter of our campus.” Renovations are scheduled for completion before the end of 2016.
In a first-of-its-kind event on February 4, the School of Theology and Ministry hosted a brilliant evening of presentations that demonstrated how application of biblical scholarship impacts faith and critical thought. Anyone who has seen a TED talk would be familiar with the evening’s format. Three UNW scholars took the stage to share knowledge and key lessons from their research: Edward Glenny, Ph.D., professor of New Testament studies and Greek; Michael Wise, Ph.D., professor of Hebrew Bible and ancient languages; and Walter Schultz, Ph.D., professor of philosophy. It was a packed house of students, alumni and individuals from local churches. “The mind itself is one of the things that God uses to better understand Him, better understand what He has done and to be able to best represent Him, His values and His truth to others—especially those who don’t know Him at all,” said Richard Thoman, Ed.D., dean for the College of Professional Studies, who emceed the event. “You don’t leave your intellect at the door when you come to faith.” The professors highlighted that scholarship impacts how everyone— believers and unbelievers—understands the Bible and the world around us. “It is never merely academic for me when I study these things,” said Wise. “It’s a privilege and it’s worship.” “Scholarship for me is exploration,” said Schultz. “What are [and] what could be the implications of the truth that God is acting according to His plan for His purposes in Christ Jesus, that all things are through and for Christ?” Schultz shared how his passion for integrating biblical truth and philosophy has given him opportunities to introduce Christ to academics who have never heard the Gospel expressed that way. You can view videos of the presentations at unwsp.edu/mind.
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Loving God With Your Mind
Representing UNW During the annual NCAA Convention in San Antonio in January, President Alan Cureton, Ph.D., provided divisional perspectives during a panel session. He is chair of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council and a member of the NCAA board of governors. Pictured, left to right, are Harris Pastides (president, University of South Carolina); Amanda Ingersoll (Division III SAAC, Stevens Institute of Technology); Alan Cureton (president, University of Northwestern); Dustin Page (Division I SAAC, Northern Illinois University); Kirk Schulz (president, Kansas State University); Mark Emmert (president, NCAA); Judy Bense (president, University of West Florida); and Roberto Baroniel (Division II SAAC, Nova Southeastern University). UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2016 PILOT
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news New Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering
Their names have been associated with Northwestern for over 30 years. It is time to bid farewell to two distinguished scholars in history and English.
Honoring the Aling Legacy
The long tenure of esteemed faculty members Charles Aling, Ph.D., professor of history, and Helen Aling, Ph.D., professor of English, will come to a close at the end of this school year when the couple retires. Charles came to Northwestern in 1985, when it was a college of fewer than 500 students. He created the history department and served as chair for 26 years. Helen joined Northwestern in 1986 as a professor of English, eventually chairing that department for six years. Their engagement with students and passion for their fields made them favorites on campus. The University of Northwestern community is indebted to the Alings for their academic excellence, spiritual vigor and steadfast devotion to God’s call as they shared their expertise with students and fellow faculty over many decades.
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In fall 2016, Northwestern will offer a bachelor of science in engineering with emphases in mechanical, electrical/computer and civil engineering. Students will complete eight semesters of coursework and design projects before graduating. For the past 15 years, Northwestern has offered the engineering dual degree program in partnership with the University of Minnesota. This program successfully accommodated Northwestern engineering students; however, Northwestern has been eagerly seeking to offer a Christ-centered engineering program within the institution. “Bringing an entire engineering program to Northwestern is why I came here five years ago,” said Matthew Hyre, Ph.D., department chair of Mathematics & Engineering, associate professor of mathematics. “The goal was always to give students the option to stay at Northwestern.” In early December 2015, the Board of Trustees approved offering the bachelor’s degree in engineering. The vote occurred only weeks before Northwestern unexpectedly received notice from the U of M announcing that the dual degree program with all partner institutions would be discontinued. There is an increasing demand for engineering professionals. High-tech and non-tech companies are seeking well-trained, intelligent employees with a passion for problem solving. “The future for engineers is that they will be hired in companies where their primary role isn’t engineering but rather consulting, sales, marketing or project management, just because of their skill set,” said Hyre. “They’ve survived their rigorous education which means they can work hard and think logically.” UNW’s engineering program will focus on its distinctives: success through community, personal relationships with professors and Christcentered education. “Wherever God is leading us,” said Hyre, “we are staying open to that and having a lot of fun in the process.”
faculty highlights
Steven Harthorn: Assessing Cooper’s Influence Steven Harthorn, Ph.D. (English & Literature), specializes in studying the influential early American author James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851). He serves as editor of The James Fenimore Cooper Society Journal and is working on a scholarly edition of Cooper’s final novel, The Ways of the Hour, establishing a definitive text, explanatory notes and historical introduction. Harthorn recently published an article on how Harry Castlemon, a popular late 19th-century children’s author, borrowed elements of Cooper’s fiction. In May he will present a paper at the American Literature Association Conference: “Illustrated Editions of Cooper’s The Spy: A Survey.”
Keith Jones: Researching Shakespeare’s Appeal Keith Jones, Ph.D. (English & Literature), delivered four lectures on Shakespeare at Vietnam National University, Hanoi: “A Dream in Hanoi: Shakespeare in Vietnam,” “What Happens in Hamlet when Hamlet Goes to Asia,” “Shakespeare: Globe to Globe and Back Again” and “Elizabethan England and the Life and Works of William Shakespeare.” His two book reviews were published in a recent issue of Shakespeare Quarterly. Jones delivered a lecture at the 2015 Great River Shakespeare Festival Symposium in Winona, Minnesota, and an address entitled “Shakespeare and the Christian Walk” in chapel at Northwestern. He is also the author behind Bardfilm: The Shakespeare and Film Microblog.
Richard Lange: Fostering Opportunities for Musicians Richard Lange, D.M.A. (Music), coordinator of piano studies and professor of music, recently performed in a Faculty Artist Series concert in Nazareth Chapel. Last fall, he took 11 University of Northwestern piano students on a four-day tour to Iowa, where students performed solos, duets and concerto movements for churches, schools and a nursing home. Lange also hosted and conducted several master classes this year in which pre-college and college students performed. In addition, he adjudicated competitions and exams for the Minnesota Music Teachers Association. Every year, Lange coordinates the UNW Piano Solo Festival (March) and the UNW Piano Institute (July).
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Walking in someone else’s metaphorical shoes means beginning the journey of treading where Jesus walked—alongside others in pain.
TEACHINGTHE ART AND
SOUL OF EMPATHY BY SHELLY BARSUHN
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EMPATHY
W
e try to express the concept of empathy in metaphors: putting on someone else’s shoes; seeing through another’s eyes; or, as Atticus Finch famously explained to his daughter, Scout, in To Kill a Mockingbird: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view […] until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” But the metaphors are just hints for us, invitations that can trace only the faintest outline. When we finally experience empathy, we realize its power. Some of our comfort in the world seems to fray. We begin walking in shoes that have sharp stones in them because we feel the pain of others. We can’t rest. We experience Christ. UNW professors think about this ability that is core to the Christian life. How do they awaken their students to greater expressions of empathy in their lives and world?
TAYLOR DEETJEN, HEAD COACH, WOMEN’S LACROSSE
“Empathy is important to physical education and athletics in so many ways because these fields can be very overwhelming atmospheres. Students are vulnerable and try new activities that they may not have tried under any other circumstance. The results are visible. It isn’t like taking a math test and receiving the grade later. In sports and athletics, the assessment is immediate and on display for peers to see. Showing empathy not only affects the one involved but observers as well. There is a lot of value that comes from teaching empathy and teaching with empathy. Now more than ever, teachers are not only teaching content, but shaping the next generation. Empathy is a crucial skill that impacts lives.”
YING W. SHEN, PH.D., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION
“Jesus is the best role model for us, showing great empathy in His teaching and in leading His disciples. While empathy may not be taught in all classes at UNW, it should be reflected in our classes and interactions between faculty, students and staff. Students in my instructional technology class collaborate with students from other cultural backgrounds. During orientation and reflection, we have a conversation about understanding people from different cultures. I hope the experience of working collaboratively fosters their understanding. Having empathy changes our thinking about others and the world around us, enabling us to see our world from different angles and connect with people.”
JOEL LIGHT, PH.D., SCIENCE ASSOCIATE
“In my field, biology and biochemistry, empathy is a key component in how we engage the issues of pollution, climate change and species loss. It helps us think about how our choices affect the natural world and impact others. The environmental ethic is undergirded by social justice, a huge part of the Bible—loving our neighbors as ourselves, caring for those who are
voiceless, marginalized and suffering. In the classroom, I use stories and case studies to help students act on empathy to bring about change, expanding outward to the global community we are part of. I hope students come away with this idea that there’s an inner connection between us, other people and the natural world. Part of living in an empathetic way is understanding our impact on others in that system and network of connection. Other people live here as well. How do we serve them, love them and understand them?”
RICK LOVE, MFA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ART & DESIGN
“Every great artist has some form of empathy— in process, subject matter, or something. Empathy is the highest calling of love. An empathetic act is not self-serving, and serving does not mean bombarding someone with your notions or attitudes. It’s finding out their genuine needs. Taking time. Self-awareness is a key component, noticing when you’re being judgmental. If you’re judgmental of yourself, you might be judging others. You could be storming through life and not even know you’re doing it. If you don’t love yourself, you more than likely will not love your neighbor. I believe that without empathy, students are just students, not learners. True teaching involves empathy and understanding.” University of Northwestern professors demonstrate that taking off your own metaphorical shoes and putting on someone else’s is step one. Empathy is a long journey that replaces sympathy with action. It’s a soul thing, God with us and in us. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2016 PILOT
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EMPATHY
A Crisis of Refugees:
HOW WILL WE ANSWER? BY JEFF LANE ’09
Growing struggle The U.N. estimates that there are now 15.1 million refugees around the world—a 20-year high. “A refugee, according to the legal definition of the U.N., is someone who—because of persecution, war or oppression for fear of their life—is forced to flee their home and cross international borders,” said David Fenrick, Ph.D., director of the Center for Global Reconciliation and Cultural Education (C-GRACE). “In addition, there are millions of internally displaced people who fled their homes to another city or part of the country, so in a sense they are refugees even though they don’t fit the legal definition.” “Refugees are not here by choice,” said Garry Morgan, Ph.D., director of Global Initiatives. “Empathy should be an important part of our response and part of our motivation as Christians because many of them have seen relatives killed right in front of them or have endured horrible things in the process of becoming refugees.” 12
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“It’s first important to remember that our spiritual story is one of being refugees,” said Fenrick. “Jesus had to flee Bethlehem for fear of His own life, He and His family, to go to another country. They were refugees in Egypt.” The Bible is filled with accounts of persecution and believers fleeing for their lives. God made provisions for how Israel should treat the foreigner in their land, reminding them that they, too, were once foreigners in Egypt (Leviticus 19:34). Empathy in action With a significant number of students coming from refugee families, Northwestern has strong ties to the refugee community. This diverse community on campus provides the seeds of empathy that can produce the fruit of love in action. “When you hear someone’s story, that transforms someone’s life,” said Fenrick. “‘This is my friend and the story of their life and the pain and struggle they have.’ That becomes part of my story too.”
For some Northwestern students, the call of Christ to care for refugees and immigrants becomes their professional focus and personal mission.
Some Northwestern students are working with resettlement groups such as Arrive Ministries in the Twin Cities to reach out to refugee families and provide assistance. One program is called Somali Adult Literacy Training (SALT). College students volunteer to tutor adults and youth in the Somali community. “Partnerships with local churches are critical,” said Fenrick, “because resettlement organizations cannot do it all on their own.” Jesus identified with people who were helpless and in need—those who were hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick and imprisoned. And He provided the ultimate motivation for followers. “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40).
PHOTO: T. ALBINSON / IAFR
Politicians talk about policy. News channels and Facebook friends share images of dangerous, deadly voyages and overcrowded camps. But after all the conversation about refugees, we are left with this question: How do we move from feeling bad about a situation to showing love to individuals who are suffering?
An Advocate for Refugees After Grace Rolloff ’16 interned with Arrive Ministries—an organization that addresses the unique needs of refugees and immigrants in Minnesota—she was hooked. “My eyes were opened to the everyday trials refugee families face,” said Rolloff. “It breaks my heart that refugees are forced to flee their home countries only to live in run-down refugee camps. Then [if they] finally come to freedom, they must work much harder than natural-born U.S. citizens to survive and provide for their families.” During her internship in the summer of 2015, Rolloff supported immigrant families with administrative needs related to citizenship. Currently, she volunteers with Arrive Ministries’ Refugee Life Ministries department and serves as president of UNW’s Fellowship of Reconciling Cultures Everywhere (FORCE). “Many refugees have either seen or experienced it all,” said Rolloff. “War, loss of a loved one, famine or worse. We need to exemplify the fruit of the Spirit in every way to this population.” According to the United Nations, less than one percent of refugees get resettled. Those who do, face a long, difficult road acclimating to life in an unfamiliar country. Rolloff, a nonprofit administration major, hopes to continue working with refugees and eventually the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to improve the immigration system on a larger scale. Rolloff is passionate. “The Bible says to invite the stranger in, leave our doors open to the traveler and have mercy on our neighbors.”
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EMPATHY
Kindness Alum Teaches First Graders—and the NFL—About
By Kali Barlau and Jeff Lane ’09
V
ikings kicker Blair Walsh faced a barrage of criticism after missing the game-winning field goal on the final play of the 2015 NFC playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. By all accounts, it was an “easy” kick that Walsh had made hundreds of times before. The miss left players stunned in disbelief and caused a flurry of disappointment and finger-pointing from fans and commentators. But alum Sarah Myhre ’14, a first-grade teacher at Northpoint Elementary School in Blaine, thought, “There’s another way.” She, along with the other first-grade teachers, seized the opportunity to teach their impressionable young students what it looks like to show empathy and—even tougher to exemplify—grace. As students returned to school the day after the game, Myhre saw the bitter disappointment in her classroom over the crushing Vikings loss. “They were starting to pick up on what fans were saying, like, ‘Oh, he should be fired.’” Myhre quickly decided to channel the conversation in an uplifting direction. Myhre believes we all “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and that we are called to treat one another with the same, pure love, grace, and empathy that Jesus extends to us. Although she knew her
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students did not all share her specific religious beliefs, the Golden Rule to treat others the way you would like to be treated rings true for many. Myhre was able to sway the atmosphere more positively with a fitting assignment: Write a letter that shows empathy and encouragement to Blair Walsh. The students created colorful letters addressed to Walsh and expressed tender sentiments such as “You can do it,” “We still love you,” “Everybody makes mistakes” and “Don’t worry about it, you will get it next time!” A timely teaching moment turned into a whole lot more than anyone could have expected. WCCO-TV picked up on the touching gesture, creating a video of the students reading their letters aloud, and that garnered much Internet attention. Other media outlets soon followed with stories of their own, including the StarTribune, ESPN, the NFL and the Minnesota Vikings. The story even became Facebook’s top trending topic. But perhaps the greatest result was that Walsh, moved by the students’ displays of empathy, decided to show up in Myhre’s classroom. “The students were in awe,” she said. “Their faces lit up and they were captivated by every word he spoke to them.” It was clear that Walsh was a role model to
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them, and a humble, kindhearted one at that. “I’m here to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Seriously, that cheered me up a lot,” Walsh told the students. He talked with the kids, signed autographs and even tossed a football around. “I’ll remember this forever,” Walsh said in a video on Vikings.com, which brings to mind another valuable lesson: Kindness has a long-lasting impact. What started as a lesson for a classroom of first graders became a valuable reminder broadcast to the entire country. For a moment, the children’s expressions of empathy outshined the game and the billion-dollar professional football industry. Myhre recalled, “It was amazing for the kids to see the impact that one small act of kindness had on Blair and so many people. Christ calls us to love, no matter what. That’s what these kids did in the most simple and beautiful way.”
PHOTOS: MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The children in Sarah Myhre’s first-grade class learned about empathy after Blair Walsh’s missed kick. Their caring letters brought a very important visitor to their school and showed them the power of understanding.
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EMPATHY
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BY SHELLY BARSUHN
hree labor-intensive weeks over Christmas break and plenty of snow. That’s what it took for the Bartz brothers of New Brighton, Minnesota, to raise $17,262 for charity. Months after the adventure, Austin Bartz ’17, a marketing major at Northwestern, relayed the story of the enormous sculpture they built in the front yard of their family home. Octavius the snow octopus had long ago melted into oblivion, but the money Austin and his brothers raised was on its way to help bring clean water to Haiti.
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A low-tech childhood Austin (21), Trevor (20) and Connor (18, a UNW PSEO student) are snow experts, having spent a good part of their childhood building snow forts. In 2011, they advanced to the creation of a giant puffer fish, and the neighbors exulted over the spiky creation. Cars slowed down as they passed on the street. Encouraged, they built a bigger sculpture the next year—a walrus. The year after that, a shark. Then a turtle. Finally, in 2015, they pulled out the stops. This year’s creature, they decided, would be the biggest and most elaborate so far.
PHOTOS: BARTZ SNOW SCULPTURES
Funds for One Day’s Wages Adding to their excitement was the decision to raise funds through a donation box and Facebook page (Bartz Snow Sculptures). Austin had been bowled over by a Northwestern chapel presentation about One Day’s Wages, a grassroots movement to help alleviate extreme global poverty. According to ODW, “3.2 million people die of water-related diseases every year.” That struck Austin. The money they raised would contribute to an international fund and a project in Haiti to build sanitation systems and wells. A process of perseverance In November, snow was scant. Then it happened. Downfall! The guys set to work. After using the snow in their own yard and the neighbors’, the guys collected snow from the golf course a half-mile from the house, shoveling snow into a trailer. They warmed each load with heaters in the garage. Then they hauled the snow outside again, layering it onto the sculpture and letting it freeze. Every day they started work around 9 a.m. and labored until midnight or later. “We ran shifts,” explained Bartz. “We went inside, warmed up and took breaks, but only while the snow was in the garage warming up.” After 500 hours of labor, Octavius was almost 20 feet high and 35 feet wide. It had eight
enormous tentacles that stretched over the front stairs and a small stairway for children to climb. In the news Carloads and busloads of people drove by for a look. Local and national news stations came out. There was a six-hour live broadcast by the Weather Channel from their front yard. Appreciative viewers could contribute to the Haiti cause online or via the donation box in the front yard. Austin, Trevor and Connor spent hours sorting dollar bills into stacks and depositing the funds into the bank. They exceeded their own $10,000 goal and almost single-handedly funded One Day’s Wages’ entire Haiti goal ($25,000). Countdown to winter Giving up your entire Christmas break isn’t easy, said Austin, but he, Connor and Trevor are already planning next year’s design. All they need is the snow.
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WHEREVER EMPATHY LEADS BY AMY ELIZABETH AWASOM
God’s love is alive in these three Eagle alums who represent the thousands of Northwestern graduates helping others around the world.
Rebekah: “Find your brand of empathy and focus your energy there.”
Empathy leads us to our kingdom purpose As a nine-year-old, Rebekah Wilder ’11 felt a tether in her heart for the orphans of China. “What were these kids thinking and feeling? I could imagine them going through life asking questions. ‘Why didn’t anyone want me?’ ‘What is my purpose in this world?’ ‘Who is going to help me with my homework tonight?’ It was unacceptable.” Rebekah’s imagination and sense of God’s calling came alive in a plan to start an orphanage in China. As she pursued her degree in intercultural studies at Northwestern, she embarked on an internship trip overseas where she met local believer Sara Zhou. The women worked together to cast a vision for Hope Station. Launched last summer, Hope Station is now home to 40 orphans in Chengdu, China, in partnership with the government. Rebekah’s nonprofit organization serves goals beyond care, partnering with other orphanages to raise the level of care, advocating for adoption and the reduction of institutionalized children in China, and educating the Chinese about orphans in their midst. After a season of traveling between the U.S. and China, Rebekah settled permanently at Hope Station for full-time ministry to the orphans and the government staff nannies who care for them. “Everyone cares about something, but no one can care about everything,” said Rebekah. “That’s the great thing about the diversity God created among the human race. God gives each person a different capacity for empathy when it comes to opportunity for action. He gave me a special capacity for empathy for orphans. And I want to act on that, for His glory.” (hsorphans.org) Empathy leads us to start and commit Years before he began the MBA program at Northwestern, Kwasi Twumasi ’16 was at home in Ghana when he learned that his sister had HIV. She had lost her husband to AIDS. While his sister survived with the help of medicine, Kwasi imagined what would have happened if his nieces and nephews were young and had lost both of their parents. Kwasi had an idea. “I decided to build an orphanage in the small village where I come from, so that in case anybody finds themselves in this kind of situation at least their children can be cared for.” Kwasi began saving $2,000–3,000 each year while working in the U.S. as an engineer at Cummins. Whenever he saved enough money, he initiated a phase of the project, starting with the foundation and slowly working his way up. “It’s not necessarily having money—that’s just a desire,” said Kwasi. “The
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willingness to commit yourself to the cause is far greater than the money that we have.” In September Kwasi plans to commission Dormaa Children’s Home, which will house and provide education for up to 50 orphans, including children with disabilities in the local area who might otherwise be excluded from going to school. In the middle of the project he even initiated a separate effort to raise money that would purchase beds, mattresses, linens and pillows for 35 orphans in India who were sleeping on bare concrete. Kwasi is getting his MBA, serving as deacon at his church, working full time and caring for his family, but he doesn’t believe in waiting for the opportune time. He advocates just getting started. “People should not be afraid,” said Kwasi. “When it’s on God’s heart, you’ll get to a point where God will even take it out of your own hands. God uses little things to do great things.” (dormaachildrenshome.org)
Sarah: “While you trust God for ‘big things,’ let empathy draw you to people here and now.”
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Kwasi: “Don’t wait for more time and more money. Start now.”
Empathy leads us to faithfully serve God now Sarah Sola ’95 wanted a bag to go with her dress for Easter one year, so she sewed it herself. Friends at church asked if she could make more. Over the next few years, her skill for sewing and knack for pattern and color came together in a handmade handbag business, Sarah Sola Sews. “It took me a long time to recognize this is a gift from the Lord and if I don’t use it, I’m kind of not being thankful for it,” Sarah remembered. As her business grew, so did her knowledge of human trafficking. Sarah began donating a small portion of her profit to United1Front, a team of people who train caregivers for human trafficking victims. Sarah now sells customizable bags, offering a variety of dyed leathers and printed fabrics to choose from. Customers come back for more because the bags are beautiful, made to last and designed for function. Eventually she would like to use her business as a way to train and employ women who have emerged from human trafficking. Sarah explained her dream. “They could either work with me or leave after a period of time with a résumé and new references and hopefully set off onto the dream of their own.” Sarah has wondered why things seem to be moving slowly. She feels an urgency to move beyond donations. But she knows God will eventually open opportunities that use her skills and drive. “It’s easy to want to be involved in the big things that have big results or big names or big problems,” said Sarah, “but if we simply put the Lord first in everything we do, then we will do what He wants us to do, big or small. A byproduct of that will be touching the lives of others.” (sarahsolasews.com)
EMPATHY
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EMPATHY
Personal struggle
FIRST
Fear & isolation
YOU LISTEN
Reaching out for help
BY CAYLA (YUND ’14) BLUCKER
Connecting with Counseling Services Sharing the story; learning new skills Ongoing journey
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As she sets out along the well-worn path of pain and suffering, fear sets in—the fear of being misunderstood, of judgment and of hopelessness. But many students before her have traveled this path, which gives her hope to take the first step.
A One-Stop for... Service
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For many Northwestern students, counseling services become an essential part of their journey through college. Each student’s story is unique but has a common core—healing in the midst of difficulty and even despair. Through UNW Counseling Services, students are able to experience the deep mercy of God. Danette Wilfahrt, M.A., LP, director of Counseling Services, said she and her team of counselors are available to listen and help in profound ways. “We want students to experience the grace and love of Christ, no matter what their issue is. We believe in the power of a healing relationship.” A diminished stigma Last year was Counseling Services’ busiest year to date. More than 300 students—20 percent of the traditional undergraduate student population—benefitted from counseling. Students sought either individual or group counseling. Each Northwestern student who seeks counseling has access to 15 sessions per academic year, which often breaks down to biweekly meetings with their counselor. The number of students who seek assistance is increasing. With education, stigma has diminished. Students now feel very comfortable pursuing help to deal with personal struggles. Many times students seek counseling on their own—without referrals or recommendations. Pressures and pain The most common issue the Counseling Services staff deals with is anxiety, closely followed by depression. For many students, the transition into college becomes overwhelming. They feel extreme academic and societal
pressures. Students may have family issues, self-esteem/identity issues, eating disorders, relationship issues, a desire for personal growth, dating concerns or addictive and compulsive behaviors. Some students have suicidal thoughts. Others are struggling with selfmutilation impulses such as cutting. “All of these issues are pretty typical of a college population— Christian or not Christian,” said Wilfahrt. Vulnerability builds community There are many barriers that are unique to a Christian university, however. For many students, everyone around them looks like they have it together, that they are thriving with little struggle. This façade—sometimes unintentionally displayed—builds walls to inhibit authentic community. “Vulnerability builds community,” reflected Wilfahrt, “and it’s hard to be vulnerable when you think everyone has it together.” Many times, the Counseling Services office will see a surge of visitors after a chapel talk that deeply affects students. “We sometimes say that we are one chapel away from being overloaded.” A path worth traveling Wilfahrt recognizes her limitations as a human and a counselor. “It’s my job to walk alongside students in their pain and suffering—not to remove it from them. So much good can happen from them experiencing it.” And in the wait, God meets with every student through the grace and love of Wilfahrt and her colleagues. Along the path of pain and suffering, she is there listening and empathizing with students in difficulty, helping them know that the journey through pain is worth traveling.
Ah, university life: fun, fulfilling and, sometimes, baffling. How do UNW students find their way through the barrage of forms, requirements and policies? The Depot. This one-stop destination located in the Billy Graham Community Life Commons is in its first year of operation. A concierge for students seeking information, forms and more, The Depot ends the hunt for the right office or phone number. Assistants have the answers. “How can I change my meal plan?”; “When is the bookstore doing textbook buy-backs?”; “When is my student account bill due?”; “What time does the registration window open?”; “Can I check out the paddles for the canoes?” “Students are so used to a high level of customer service and ease,” said Paul Bradley, M.A., senior dean of Student Life. “The better we serve them, the more likely they are to want to stay here.” The Depot is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, delivering solutions with a smile. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2016 PILOT
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EMPATHY
Do You See Me?
Disability wasn’t personal for Biblical & Theological Studies major Zachary Fields ’18 until his junior year of high school. He’d been plagued by anxiety for years, with occasional overwhelming flashbacks and panic attacks that would temporarily impair him. The episodes gained a label when Zachary was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Zachary had endured childhood abuse, a jostle through social services and upheaval on his way to safety. When his resulting trauma was acknowledged as a condition that impaired him, he began to “take disability to heart. My eyes were opened to those around me. I began to realize that I had friends who had circumstances that made challenges to their daily lives.” A distorted view Disability is more common than we realize. In 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau found that 18.7 percent of Americans—one of every 5 or 6 people—live with at least one kind of disability—physical, intellectual, learning, or psychiatric. With such diverse challenges in so many lives around us, we can examine our response to people with disabilities. Leading voices representing people with disability have revealed five red flag responses: • Contempt – Looking down on someone because of their disability • Avoidance – Distancing yourself from someone when you notice their disability • Ignorance – Misunderstanding or making assumptions about someone because of their disability • Pity – Feeling sorry for someone because of their disability • Accolade – Praising someone merely because they have a disability (“You’re an inspiration!”) The one common pitfall in all these responses: When we think first and foremost about the disability, we reduce the person to their disability. A tale of two responses When people see Zachary, they cannot tell he has PTSD—until he has an attack. One attack during his first few weeks on campus at Northwestern drew an insensitive response. 22
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BY AMY ELIZABETH AWASOM
“I met a group of people that I thought I was becoming friends with, and I ended up having a panic attack—I think just from the stress of not sleeping and not eating well. One person said, ‘You don’t need to help him because he’s just doing it for attention. He just wants friends.’” Zachary didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t expected this to happen on a Christian campus. Fortunately the same year, two of Zachary’s hall mates were there for him during his worst PTSD attack yet. “I had [temporary] memory loss,” he said. “I didn’t know where I was, I didn’t know who these people were around me.” They took care of him, offering reassurance and staying up while he slept. A friendship resulted. Zachary’s friends offered what all people need: “Having compassion, being friends, understanding that life is messy—things happen— and this isn’t a defining moment, this is a bump in the road.” Seeing beyond disability Followers of Christ can lead culture by choosing to see people with disabilities. One of our greatest challenges is stumbling over what we see with our eyes and forgetting the weightier, unseen substance of a person that can only be understood through relationship. Zachary has a few tips for building a relationship from there: • Remember that people with disabilities desire friendship, joy, laughter and love—like you. • If you feel discomfort or awkwardness, acknowledge it so you can move on. • Give your friends with a disability space to set their own boundaries and ask for help if they need it. • Decide to be vulnerable and respect the vulnerability that comes with disability.
When meeting someone with a disability will we see the whole person?
First steps Seeing with an empathetic heart begins with education. Everyone can easily access primary sources—the blogs, TED talks and books of a wide range of people who experience disability. Christians who are willing to push against the barriers of inaccurate assumptions and their own comfort zones will find beauty, friendship and a deeper understanding of their fellow humans.
springboard 2016 The talented class of 2016 is ready to launch! Get to know four passionate UNW graduates who have dreams, empathy for others and a desire to serve God in their world and communities. Jennifer Mayorga Erik Holm Music Performance Hometown: Marshfield, WI. Six words that describe you: Creative, loving, determined, thinker, adventurous, faithful. Most important thing you learned at UNW: I can push myself to new levels of potential. Dream career/ministry: Professional musician who influences the lives of kids and adults through the powerful blessing of music. What you’d like to accomplish in life: I have dreams to travel, and I hope that involves music. I want to inspire, create, love and serve the Lord. Plans after graduation: I’ll be working at a summer camp, then returning to the Twin Cities to work and teach as a freelance musician while applying to grad school.
Interdisciplinary Studies (Political Communication) Hometown: Worthington, MN. Six words that describe you: Honest, driven, outgoing, visionary, passionate, independent. Most important thing you learned at UNW: Leadership means more than titles or recognition. God sees you and will use you with or without a leadership title. Dream career/ministry: First Latina U.S. senator of Minnesota. I want to use public policy to better the lives of all Americans, bring integrity and hard work to the field of policymaking, solve problems and unify groups of people around shared values. Plans after graduation: I will be working with Teach For America as an ESL teacher in the Twin Cities.
Alissa Dahlke Kinesiology and Bible (Dual Major) Hometown: Glencoe, MN. Six words that describe you: Inquisitive, relatable, passionate, driven, open-minded, energized. Most important thing you learned at UNW: Northwestern taught me to set my standards high, be vulnerable and prioritize my time. Dream career/ministry: I hope to hold a management position in business or health care. What you’d like to accomplish in life: It’s hard to say! I have many, many interests. Whatever I do, I want to serve others, whether through my job, music or ministry. Eventually I’d like to go into short-term or long-term missions. Plans after graduation: I'll be working as a project coordinator at Pairnomix, a genetic research company. I want to travel, learn photo and video editing and pick up piano and guitar again.
Joseph Sutton Electronic Media Communications Hometown: Minneapolis, MN. Six words that describe you: Funny, honest, loyal, handsome (LOL), entertaining, ambitious. Most important thing you learned at UNW: The importance of community. Dream career/ministry: I’d like a job in comedy or as an arena host or full-time mascot for a basketball, baseball or football team. What you’d like to accomplish in life: I want to be the best at my dream job and the light of Christ in everything I do. Plans after graduation: I will be working full time as an on-field manager and public announcer assistant for the Minnesota Twins. (My advice: Pursue your dreams and never give up. God has placed gifts in all of us for a reason.) UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2016 PILOT
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Josias Bruce ’19 (Criminal Justice)
Kristina Myankova ’19 (Marketing)
Lisa Fredericks ’19 (Undecided)
Ruth Norman ’19 (Public Relations and Theatre)
Yaritza Montriel ’19 (Pre-Med/Biology)
Act Six Schola
BY CAYLA (YUND ’14) BLUCKER “As a little girl, I loved to plan,” said Lisa Fredericks, one of nine Act Six scholars finishing up her freshman year at Northwestern. “I had planned which high school I was going to go to, because I wanted to be like my sister—but that unexpectedly changed. All of a sudden I felt like my life couldn’t be like other students.” Lisa was only 11 years old when both of her parents unexpectedly left her family—forcing Lisa and the six youngest siblings into foster care. For a long time, she felt limited by her circumstances. Jason and MayKao Fredericks heard about her family’s situation and decided to take them to the zoo. “Now they say that that’s the day they fell in love with us,” reflected Lisa. “They knew we would be their kids.” The Fredericks eventually became their foster parents and—in 2012—adopted all of the children. The circumstances of Lisa’s life evolved from being a hindrance to a motivator—challenging Lisa to use her strengths and experiences. When she applied for a highly competitive Act Six scholarship, her gift of leadership helped earn her a spot in the first group of Act Six scholars at Northwestern. In the same way, each Act Six scholar has overcome his or her circumstances to embrace a calling of leadership.
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A competitive process Launched in 2002 by the Northwest Leadership Foundation, Act Six seeks to develop urban and community leaders to be agents of transformation on campus and in their home communities. Since the program’s inception, more than 650 ethnically diverse, mostly first-generation, low-income Act Six scholars have enrolled at twelve participating colleges and universities from seven cities across the U.S. In fall of 2015, nine Act Six scholars came to the Northwestern campus— selected after a rigorous process that started with more than 300 students. Even after the selection process—including interviews, writing exercises and group activities—these talented young people went through a sixmonth training program that prepared them to be change agents on their college campus. They received a full-tuition scholarship and a need-based scholarship for room and board.
Change agents Northwestern has benefited greatly from their contributions to academic and community life. “They help dispel a lot of the stereotypes or misunderstandings,” said David Fenrick, Ph.D., director of the Center for Global Reconciliation and Cultural Education (C-GRACE). “They help the rest of us learn about the communities they come from.” The students bring their gifts, skills and talents. They pray and seek “where God is going to call them to service,” said Fenrick. “I meet with them on a regular basis. At one of our first meetings we prayed together to see where God wanted them to be involved. These students just know that [service and leadership] are part of their calling.” For Lisa, that calling of leadership has played out in various ways at Northwestern—starting and leading Asian Focus Fellowship, president of Women’s Chorale, leading within Act Six and becoming an R.A. on campus next year. “I may be leading others but ultimately I am being led by God,” said Lisa. “The expectations of being an Act Six scholar have been a lot, but I know that I’m being upheld to a higher standard.”
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Shania Castillo ’19 (Urban Intercultural Studies)
Aliyah Basuil ’19 (Youth and Urban Studies)
Yosief Temnewo ’19 (Kinesiology)
Joshua Gillespie ’19 (Engineering)
ars Enrich UNW
More than a scholarship As Act Six scholars at Northwestern, these students have challenged and supported one other throughout their first year. They describe themselves as a family—creating a space to be understood. “They just allow me to be me,” said Lisa. “I can show them my heart.” This year’s Act Six scholars’ mission is to use multiple cultural perspectives to show others who God is, teaching them about the power of unity within the body of Christ. As leaders, they strive to not only spread awareness of diversity but also the love of Christ. “Act Six is more than a scholarship,” said Lisa. “Other scholarships just give you money. But this program has invested in me and given me the training that I need in order to fulfill the mission of leadership. It pushes me to ask myself: what does it mean for me to be a scholar? How can I use my education, this scholarship and the mission of Act Six and take it back to my community? How can I glorify God with it all?” UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2016 PILOT
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Public Relations Program is
One -of-aKind
In startclass.com’s online listing, the public relations program at UNW recently ranked in the top 100 for quality. Kent Kaiser, Ph.D., APR, associate professor of communications and public relations, said that true distinctive qualities make the major stand out. “We require two internships,” he noted, “which helps to build students’ network.” Most go on to do a third. Unique course requirements— political communications and event management & planning— offer a strategic edge. Grads learn to handle everything from a press conference to a full-blown convention. The program has grown quickly. “We’re in the top 100 for size, pretty remarkable for a school of our size. So many companies come to us for graduates. That’s rewarding.”
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Dream Team, Dream Career BY SHELLY BARSUHN
Growing up, Lindsey Young loved bonding with her dad over pro sports. When he watched the Twins, Timberwolves or Vikings on TV, she crawled up next to him on the couch, absorbing his coaching on players’ names and strategies. Every year, they attended one or two games together at Target Center or the Metrodome. When she landed an internship with the Minnesota Timberwolves while a student at Northwestern, Young’s desire to go into sports journalism was confirmed. With her B.A. degree in hand (English with a writing emphasis), she went looking for jobs. They were scarcer than she expected. She redoubled her effort. While holding down a full-time job at Northwestern and a part-time job as a restaurant server, she wrote for a handful of platforms, including a Vikings blog, and freelanced for the Timberwolves. “I was contributing content to anywhere from two to four venues at once,” she said, “keeping my hands in a lot of different projects, trying to build a portfolio and résumé and constantly keeping my eye out for jobs.” For years, she “never lost sight of working in the sports journalism field.”
PHOTO: JOE LEMKE
A voracious sports fan and prolific writer, Lindsey Young ’10 scored big when the Minnesota Vikings offered her the dream job of full-time assistant editor/staff writer.
Adrenaline rush Her break came last year when—after a highly competitive interview process—Young was invited to join the Vikings’ writing team just a few weeks before playoffs. “I hit the ground running,” she said. “It was overwhelming in a sense, but so fun because it was the peak of activity.” The challenges of working in a traditionally male-dominated industry were real, but she felt encouraged and welcomed, even if she was sometimes the only female in the locker room. “Mentally, I make sure that I am very well versed,” Young said. “If I make a factual mistake, people [online] can be ruthless. It sometimes feels like you’re under a larger magnifying glass by readers as a woman in the sports field. That’s more of a motivator for me. It makes me want to be sure that I’m writing well.”
During the offseason, she spends time researching and creating content such as off-field stories and NFL draft prospect profiles. During the season, she attends events and games, takes in press conferences, works on game programs and edits publications. “When players are around, I spend time talking one-on-one with them after a practice or game or in the locker room,” she said. She thrives on the hectic pace and variety. “I might not leave the stadium until 2 a.m. after evening games, and I’m back in the office at 8:30 a.m. on Monday. As soon as I walk in, I don’t feel tired. If there’s a win, there’s excitement and energy. If there was a loss, there’s motivation to do better.” Young continues to look for “new and creative ways to put out content that the fans will really enjoy.” Like the players she profiles, she is passionate about the work and the game.
Day-to-day joy The majority of Young’s work involves creating content for Vikings.com. She’s interviewed Bud Grant, Chad Greenway and Warren Moon, to name a few. She’s a pro at getting the story behind the story.
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BY TIMOTHY SAWYER
One of the classes that fascinated me most when I was in college was about the Holocaust. Growing up in South America, I had never heard about this tragic chapter in history. I wanted to know more. On numerous choir tours, I visited several Nazi concentration camps, including AuschwitzBirkenau (Poland), Buchenwald, Dachau (Germany) and Terezín (Czech Republic). At Terezín, I was drawn deeply into the story of hundreds of Jewish artists, musicians, composers and actors imprisoned in the idyllic Czech countryside. It was there that Nazis showcased artists performing Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Verdi’s Requiem and used the film as propaganda to cover up the atrocities taking place within. Most of those artists died there or were transferred to other camps where they lost their lives. Meeting a lost composer My fascination came full circle when I was invited to participate in the January 2016 world premiere performances and recording of two full-length Latin masses by Marcel Tyberg (1893–1944), an Austrian composer of Jewish descent Marcel Tyberg whose name and work I had never heard. Virtually unknown in the musical world, his works included three full symphonies, two piano 28
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sonatas, chamber music and more than thirty solo songs, all written in the decade or so before he died at the hands of the Nazis at Auschwitz in 1944 at the age of 51. His masses are breathtaking, full of well-crafted and singable melodies, deep theology, rich text painting and amazing organ writing. Historic performances The South Dakota Chorale, a professional chamber choir with which I regularly perform, would bring these masses to life—pieces never before performed in a public setting. Only a few of Tyberg’s friends had ever heard them. In early 1944 he gathered them together in an Italian church to hear him play. Preserved by a family friend, Tyberg’s musical scores were brought to the United States for safekeeping. They landed in Buffalo, New York, where they had been in storage for more than 60 years. Our performances would be for live audiences in Sioux Falls, Minneapolis and Lincoln, Nebraska, where we would also spend three days recording them together with a nationally known organist playing one of the largest pipe organs in the country. Requiem Ebraico—a work by fellow Austrian Jew Erich Zeisl— rounded out the program with a traditional Hebrew flavor. Music as a response to evil What a thrill it was to hear these pieces and participate in their resurrection. I am struck by how sometimes singing is the best revenge
when responding to the evil and confusion in the world around us. It’s a sentiment eloquently expressed by American composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein who wrote in response to the assassination of JFK in 1963: We musicians, like everyone else, are numb with sorrow at this murder, and with rage at the senselessness of the crime. But this sorrow and rage will not inflame us to seek retribution; rather they will inflame our art. Our music will never again be quite the same. This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before. Being part of this endeavor to bring Tyberg’s music out of the shadows of a dark history has been a privilege, an act of hope that honors his talent and testifies to God’s goodness in the world. Timothy Sawyer, M.M.—director of choral activities, associate professor of music and conductor of the Northwestern Choir and Men’s Chorus—is a widely known conductor and educator. He is a Grammy Award-winning veteran of many professional choirs, among them the South Dakota Chorale, Dale Warland Singers, Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and others. Active as a choral clinician and festival conductor throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, Sawyer is also a member of the board of Music in World Cultures, an international faith-based organization using music as a strategic tool in developing cross-cultural relationships.
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Echoes from Auschwitz: Sacred Music from Beyond the Grave
alumni Hey, alumni!
What’s up? Did you get married,
attain a degree, have a baby or go skydiving?
Stay in touch with your alma mater and your fellow alumni by sending the details and a photo so we can share your update in Pilot. (This includes you, 1970s and 1980s alum!) Submit information to alumni@unwsp.edu or update your alumni profile at unwsp.edu/alumni.
THROUGH THE YEARS 1960s
1990s
Norman Anderson ’62, a retired pastor and former district executive minister, wrote and selfpublished his third book, “What Has Happened To My Church?” A Challenge to the 21st Century Churches (November 2015).
David Cross ’94 is vice president of information technologies for Pioneers in Orlando, FL. He graduated with a master’s in linguistics from University of North Dakota (typology of modern South Arabian languages of Oman and Yemen). He was interviewed for a feature in Mission Network News.
Tammy (Nodland ’67) Morgan writes that she and her husband “were married in the Naz Chapel in 1978. Our oldest daughter followed suit 26 years and two days later in 2004. In October, our youngest will walk the same aisle. We call that a pretty fun family tradition!”
Christopher Smalley ’94 (BS), ’14 (MA) plans to self-publish his first book for teens. He has also officially launched his new ministry to teens, Smalley Productions.
enrollment management. They have three children: David (13), Mikayla (10) and Alayna (6).
Jay ’97 and Joan (Hegner ’98) Safford moved back to Winterset, IA. Jay was ordained on October 18, 2015 and serves as associate pastor of youth and worship at New Bridge Church. Jay and Joan have four children. Jason ’01 and Justine (Lanktree ’99) Pucker welcomed Nora Elizabeth on February 27, 2016. She joined big brother Remy (2 ½).
2000s Michael ’00 and Kathleen (Price ’96) Murphy moved to Mechanicsburg, PA. Michael is participating in the growth of a new business, Emerge Education, LLC, serving as the vice president for student enrollment for
Sam Sundberg ’01 lives in Elk Grove, CA and has been an executive at Apple for just over a decade. He has also “built a pretty unique business from the ground up, dealing with live reptile pets.” Kyle ’03 and Sarah (Moulton ’04) Spaeth write, “After serving in Russia for about a year and a half as missionaries, we have returned to America for a short time of support raising for the construction work Kyle is doing. We are working to build a ministry facility campground just south of Moscow.”
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EAGLE
TERRY ESAU ’78 SUBMITTED PHOTO
FOR LIFE
Major: Music Education Career: Founder and executive director of Free Bikes 4 Kidz, writer and speaker Hometown: Mountain Lake, MN Current home: Orono, MN Family: Wife: Mary (Soholt ’76); Children: Brianna Gray (33), Lauren Larson (30), Taylor Strelinger (27). An invitation to adventure Terry Esau believes the “Christian life is an invitation to adventure.” His most memorable adventure at Northwestern was spotting his future wife, Mary, in the tunnel connecting Riley Hall to Nazareth Hall. He used his connections in student government to find out the name of the “beautiful girl from the tunnel.” Even after being rejected twice, his motivation didn’t waver. Esau is a man of persistence who has been successful in a wide variety of careers. Jingles and books Esau—the “Jingle King of Minneapolis”—began his career as a jingle writer for television spots, advertising everything from Pepsi to Harley-Davidson. He composed and produced music for over 2,000 TV commercials. Today, he travels extensively speaking on the concepts in his books, Blue Collar God/ White Collar God, Surprise Me: a 30-Day Faith Experiment and Be the Surprise. Giving kids a chance Always a bike lover, Esau founded Free Bikes 4 Kidz. The mission: help all kids ride into a happier, healthier childhood by providing bikes to those in need. Used bikes are donated, refurbished and given away. The nonprofit gives away 5,000–6,000 bikes every year. Last year, the organization set a Guinness World Record by collecting 5,512 in seven hours. Each day, Esau wakes up and prays, “Surprise me, God.” For Esau, that prayer serves as a reminder: even small things can end up being an adventure.
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Kata Herman
Paul and Liza (Schoomesters ’04) Johnson announced that Caleb John was born on May 26, 2015 and “joined our family via adoption.” Laura Newby ’04 lives in Cornelius, NC with her husband Gordon and son Asher. She is currently a senior team leader at Wildtree Herbs, Inc. She writes, “In 2014, I cofounded Underground Seminary, an alternative seminary in the Twin Cities that aims to decolonize Christian leadership through character formation, a rigorous post-colonial reading of the Bible and critique of our present systems, and nurturing healthy intentional Christian community.” Lauren (Gilkerson ’04) Quintus married Nathanael Quintus ’05 in 2005. She is a stay-at-home mom with five children: Evelina (8), Rosina (7), Ian (5), Gianna (3) and Carmela (1).
Greg ’06 and Emily (Heyer ’06) Herman are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of Kata Ruth (pronounced “kate-ah”). “Kata means pure in Greek. She came into the world (quickly!) on April 29, 2016 at 8:01 a.m. She weighs 6 pounds, 13 ounces and is 20.5" long.”
Mabel Anderson
Elijah Buckles
Philip ’09 and Katie (Wellumson ’08) Buckles welcomed their second child, Elijah Philip, on December 31, 2015 at 11:49 p.m. Ryan Thomas ’08 is the newest host on Faith Radio AM900 KTIS with his show, On The Road, which “takes a fresh and earnest look at how God is using His people.”
Jeff Freeman ’09 writes, “After I completed my undergraduate degree (psychology), I completed my master’s at Central Seminary. Recently I started my first full-time ministry position as a correctional chaplain at the adult correctional facility in Plymouth, MN. My undergraduate degree from Northwestern was, and is, a big help!”
2010s
Emily Seppala ’10 and John Kastamo were married on January 2, 2016 in Hancock, MI where they now reside.
Tyler ’07 and Heidi (Stoltz ’10) Anderson welcomed Mabel Lee on March 16, 2016. She joins big brother Oscar Tyler. Joshua ’10 and Brittany (Werner ’11) Citizen made a move across country from Eden Prairie, MN to Portland, OR.
On-campus visits beat out brochures
Andrew Voigt ’10 designed a card game called Perspective that was recently published by Minion Games. A Kickstarter campaign raised over $11,000 in 10 days to fund production. “The game is now on a boat from manufacturing in China, on its way to the U.S.” Andrew lives in Minneapolis.
High school students thinking about college get a true sense of UNW once they step on campus. Fun dorms. Warm students. Beautiful lake. Wise professors. There’s something about being here, and there’s a calendar full of opportunities for curious students. - During a personalized visit, parents and students customize their tour based on interests. They’ll meet professors, tour the buildings and experience what makes Northwestern unique among universities. - For a taste of the place, parents and students are also invited to fun, on-campus events: Football Frenzy, Fall Preview Days, Hoops Hysteria, Five16 Film Festival and more!
Sure, take the virtual tour at unwsp.edu/campustour— then come to campus for a better-than-brochures experience. For more information call 651-631-5111 or go to unwsp.edu/visit. UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2016 PILOT
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New online business management degree:
The most convenient option yet? UNW developed a new degree program for adults who—between their jobs and busy families—don’t have time. Adults take classes online and can earn a business management degree in less than two years. Benefits of the online UNW program include: • Professors with real-world business experience • Flexible online classes • No textbook costs for most courses • Dedicated support staff to help students achieve their goals The online business management degree program is designed for professionals who wish to advance in their careers.
For more information, call 651-631-5200 or 888-362-8715 or visit unwsp.edu/nwbusiness
Oliver Niedermayer
Joshua ’11 and Mara (Erickson ’11) Niedermayer are happy to announce the birth of Oliver Alexander. He was born at 12:55 p.m. on Sunday, May 1, 2016, at 7 pounds, 7 ounces and 20" long. Bernice Fernandes ’13 is studying international business at Pepperdine University, working toward her master’s degree. Last fall she had an international internship and studied at the prestigious Universität Mannheim (University of Mannheim) in Germany. She was the recipient of an Excellence in Leadership Award following her first year at PU. Jonathan Palsma ’13 lives in Grovetown, GA with his wife Laura and their four children: Ally, Aiden, Ayeya and Asher. He works as a language analyst for the United States Air Force.
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PILOT SPRING 2016 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN
Ryan and Lauryn (Zawerschnik ’13) Mattila welcomed Lydia Christine on January 15, 2016.
Isaac Schultz
Isaac Schultz ’13 was named the 2016 Minnesota State Auctioneers Association Champion Auctioneer on January 14, 2016.
Don’t miss out on UNW news or events! Update your alumni profile at unwsp.edu/alumni. (Choose “Stay Connected” then “Update Your Profile”.) If you include your email you’ll receive our monthly Alumni E-news in addition to Pilot. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
EAGLE IN MEMORY The Northwestern community offers condolences to the families of alumni who have lost loved ones. Phyllis Hendrickson ’54 passed away on December 6, 2015. Her memorial service was held at South Garland Baptist Church in Garland, TX. Crystal (Schumacher ’05) Glewwe of Ham Lake, MN passed away in a bus accident in Jamaica on January 14, 2016. She is survived by her husband, Rick, and four children. Eric C. Lindberg ’13 passed away on February 13, 2016. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Miller ’13) Lindberg and two children: Bingham and William. Eric served as youth pastor at Rock Valley Chapel in Beloit, WI.
FOR LIFE
JODI WHITWORTH ’13 SUBMITTED PHOTO
Benji Fernandes ’14 is part of a dual degree program—an MBA at Stanford University and an M.A. in public policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was awarded the African Leadership Scholarship, a very competitive scholarship providing full tuition to Stanford.
Major: Electronic Media Communications Career: Television news reporter and anchor Hometown: Woodbury, MN Current home: Des Moines, IA Prepped for her dream future Jodi Whitworth was originally looking for a bigger public institution in which to pursue her education in broadcasting. But after her father (Dick Whitworth) took a job at University of Northwestern, she warmed to the idea of a small private school. Broadcasting was somewhat of a family business, with her father and brother both in radio. She knew she wanted to work in television. Humanity in journalism After graduation, Whitworth worked as a multimedia journalist, shooting, reporting and editing stories for WHO-HD, the NBC affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa. She was promoted to reporter and, more recently, weekend anchor. “When I get into work I get assigned a story and have a little less than eight hours to put together a 90-second story,” Whitworth said. “Some days it’s a lot of work just to get a little piece of content on the air, but it’s all worth it, thanks to the people I get to meet and tell their stories.” Jodi’s time at UNW prepared her in ways that she didn’t immediately see. “I don’t think I realized how God was using me at Northwestern until many months after I left,” she said. “The university gave me a solid foundation and confidence in my faith that I will cherish forever.” Her work in television journalism takes her into difficult situations where people are hurting. She has found opportunities to encourage and even pray with these individuals. She said it’s important to remember that she is a fellow human being first and a journalist second.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2016 PILOT
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Then&
Bring back memories? In this shot from the 1970s, the hallway on the second floor of Nazareth Hall was a quiet place to study. The jeans were flared, the books were printed on paper, computers were a rare commodity and the first draft of your paper was probably written out longhand with a pen (later to be painstakingly typed). If you needed a phone, you’d have to beg to use one in an office down the hall or walk back to your dorm. But the sense of warmth, belonging and community was strong! 34
PILOT SPRING 2016 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN
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o w Hello, 2016! The historic wallpaper and striped couches are no more. Your syllabi, some coursework and even some classes are online. You can research the topic of your choice on your iPhone or send a text to your prof. TheROCK site keeps you informed of events, email addresses and campus news. You can listen to chapel presentations there, too, via audio podcast. You probably follow UNW on Twitter and Instagram and write your papers on a laptop in Word or on Google Docs. But the best part of UNW life is friends! UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN SPRING 2016 PILOT
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During the campus-wide Day of Prayer and Service on April 21, the women’s soccer team collaborated on a service project for Sole Hope. They helped create shoes for children in Uganda to protect their feet from jigger fleas, a burrowing parasite.
University of Northwestern – St. Paul: Equipping Christ-centered learners and leaders to invest in others and impact the world. Learn. Lead. Invest. Impact.
