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Page 12 April 10, 2014 — Vol. 92, Issue 13
Loras’ digital design program faces new future by MARY AGNOLI| co-executive editor
On Monday, Mar. 31, Loras’ Academic Council came to the conclusion that Art and Digital design would no longer be offered as a major on campus. Although this may seem like a sudden decision to the student body, in actuality this is the result of a long-term discussion as well as several attempts to reform the program as a whole. “These are not rushed decisions,” said Dr. Cheryl Jacobsen, provost and academic dean. “Because there are a lot of lives that are affected. It’s not a fast process.” “All programs, majors in other words, go under periodic program review,” said Jacobsen. “And generally it’s on a seven year cycle; we try to keep it fairly regular.” Several results can occur due to these reviews. “Usually it’s a revision to a curriculum,” said Jacobsen. “So it is more timely, up to date, or more appealing to students.” The Art and Digital Design major, previously known as Integrated Visual Arts, underwent one other program review and two curricular revisions during its 10 year presence at Loras. From its creation, the major was meant to
retain the traditional art major, while integrating it with emerging technology as well as graphic arts. Across the board, Loras faculty and staff worked to pull all of these components together into a single major. “Hypothetically, this all should have worked,” said Jacobsen. “But what was becoming clear, unfortunately, for some time now…is that while there were pretty good initial enrollments, for whatever reason students didn’t persist in the major.” However, there are current majors in this discipline who were upset to learn of the fate of their program. “It has provided us with the skills to be graphic designers and creative leaders in our respective organizations, and has promoted a different outlook of how we can excite and inspire others with the talents we’ve been given,” said senior art and digital design major Brie Pumilia. “I think that this will be a great loss to Loras College.” For Jacobsen and the Academic Council, though, the question was not that the skills cultivated in the major were invaluable. “The question was, ‘what if anything, can be done to make it a viable program,’” said Jacobsen. Due to the consistently decreasing gradu-
ating class sizes and the lack of courses that overlap with other disciplines or fall under general education requirements, this viability has fallen short. “There are other majors on campus which graduate in small numbers,” said Jacobsen. “For example, chemistry, computer science, or mathematics, but the difference is that for all of those areas, they have large classes… because they are fully in general education or they are courses that serve multiple disciplines ... It’s always a balancing thing for a major; it’s like a scale. If you’re heavier on the major you may be lighter on general education courses, or vice versa.” The program review, which was initiated last October, was meant to access these issues. However, the resulting proposition from the faculty did not address all of the previously stated issues. “They proposed another revision to the major, but in conversation there wasn’t any surety,” said Jacobsen. “Some of the same problems were still there.” However, Jacobsen and the Academic Council are optimistic about the retainment of the skills found in the Art and Digital Design major. In fact, they look forward to combining it into another creative major:
‘Don’t Get Robbed’ talks reflect tone of Lenten season Last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, Loras hosted a series of Lenten reflections delivered by faith leaders on campus “How many of you are in love?” asked spiritual life intern Nathaniel Gee to a crowd of intrigued college students last Wednesday night in Christ the King Chapel. A fair amount raised their hands, not without hesitation. Gee then proceeded to point out the fact that some students’ hands were not raised. “Now, we often associated the word with romantic love,” Gee said. “But it’s more than that. We often miss the deeper loves.” He then explained the aspect of familial love, love between friends, and most of all: God’s love for us. “Now, let me ask again,” Gee said. “How many of you are in love?” Nearly everyone raised their hand. Love was the topic of one of three spiritual talks for the Don’t Get Robbed nights last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This Lenten Mission was an opportunity to reflect on three different topics: life, love, and peace. After each presentation of the night, there was a spiritual event: praise and worship Adoration on Tuesday, Mass on Wednesday, and Reconciliation on Thursday. They were all opportunities for spiritual renewal, which is perfect for the Lenten season of reflection and prayer. The “Don’t Get Robbed of Life” talk was given by Mary Vercollone and Shaun Clyncke, two FOCUS missionaries at Loras College.
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We come to know God more deeply through prayer, so we come to know ourselves.
Mary Vercollone
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FOCUS missionary on campus
photo by KATHERINE EDWARDS
Spiritual Life intern, Nathaniel Gee, gave the second talk in the “Don’t Get Robbed” Lenten reflection on campus last week. His piece specifically focused on the topic of “love” and emphasized going beyond “romantic love” and to think of God’s love. They focused on how life is a gift given by God and how a true life is a relationship with Jesus. “We come to know God more deeply through prayer, so we come to know ourselves,” said Vercollone. The second talk, “Don’t Get Robbed of Love,” was given by Nathaniel Gee. He provided those who attended with quotes by Mother Teresa, Pope Francis, and St. John the Apostle, among others. “It is better to suffer from an empty stomach than an empty heart,” Gee said, quoting Mother Teresa. He reflected that while the popular belief that the opposite of love is hate, it is actually fear. It is not hate that caused Jesus’ followers to hesitate: it is fear. This is why the famous Bible verse, “Be not afraid,” is so powerful. Gee closed his talk with an original song he played on guitar. The final talk on the third day, “Don’t Get
Robbed of Peace,” was given by Fr. William Joensen and Fr. Robert Gross. They provided the crowd with the analogy of weeds and tares: anything that keeps us from attaining peace. There are several types of weeds, including having unrealistic expectations only to be disappointed, believing we are only worthy if we accomplish a certain task, and having certain expectations of God and being angry with Him when they are not fulfilled. The two priests then emphasized that the way we truly attain peace is to fully understand God. The three talks reflected the tone of the Lenten season and provided words of wisdom and comfort during this time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It was a powerful way to renew oneself in preparation for the Easter season.
media studies. “The intent is to start migrating content and skills into media studies as promptly as possible; we don’t want it lost,” said Jacobsen. “The difference between what was happening in media studies and the movement in art and digital design were becoming closer and closer together rather than being distinctive.” However, some students have qualms with this line of reasoning. “Both media studies and AAD majors learn to visually communicate stories, but in completely different ways,” said junior art and digital design major Julia Arth. “Graphic Design is not limited to a linear narrative and is more print based. This is just an example of how it differs from media studies.” Regardless of these fears and pending approval from the Board of Regents, Jacobsen and the Academic Council are confident that the skills and content of the major will only be strengthened through its integration with media studies. Current declared majors in this program will be able to complete their degree, but incoming students interested in this area of study will be pointed toward the soon-to-be more integrated media studies discipline as well as the still-existent studio arts minor.
Loras to receive grant
President Jim Collins (’84) announced today that William “Bill” (’64) Lynch has designated Loras College as the recipient of the William T. Lynch/Pella Corporation Scholarship. In recognition for his outstanding board service, the Pella Corporation Board of Directors, in conjunction with the Pella Rolscreen Foundation, agreed to fund the educational institution of his choice. Lynch selected Loras College. The $5,000 scholarship will be awarded annually for 10 years to a deserving Loras student. Lynch is a steering committee member of the $75 million Inspiring Lives and Leadership: The Loras Legacy campaign, the largest fundraising campaign in the 175-year history of the college. Launched on October 10, 2013, the campaign seeks to raise funds to support student aid and faculty/staff professional development in addition to building upon the launch of the MBA program and business analytics curricular focus. Lynch graduated from Loras College in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and earned his MBA from University of Iowa two years later. He began his career at Leo Burnett Advertising as a trainee and media buyer and moved through the ranks to become President and CEO of both Leo Burnett Company, Inc. and Leo Burnett Worldwide, Inc. After a successful 31 years in advertising with one of the largest advertising agencies in the world, Lynch retired in 1997 to assist numerous business, civic and charitable organization in the Chicagoland area including The Big Shoulders Fund. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievements and Contributions made to Loras College in 1992 and served on the Loras Board of Regents from 1993-2003. He chaired the Belief Unfolding campaign and funded a portion of the Lynch McCarthy Apartment Complex on campus. Lynch lives with his wife, Kathleen, in Prospect Heights, Ill. Their daughters Kelly and Maureen both graduated from Loras; Kelly in 1988 with a degree in marketing and English literature and Maureen in 1989 with a degree in business.