Peace Prize Laureate urges world aid
Muhammad Yunus cites capitalism as potential tool to combat world poverty; 60 locals travel to Minnesota to attend 2008 forum
By Stephanie Johnson
Mirror Copy Editor March 13, 2008
Social business, women’s education and grassroots level sustainable aid—three remedies that have succeeded in combating world poverty. At the 20th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum on March 7-8, at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., guests listened to speakers Muhammad Yunus, Greg Mortenson and others to understand what individuals can do to at the community level to combat poverty and restore peace in the world.
Under the forum’s theme, “Striving for Peace: Investing in Community,” 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and professor Yunus spoke of how the principles of capitalism can be put to work to help the world’s poor. His social business theory prompted him to found Grameen Bank in 1983, a micro-lending institution designed to provide low-cost loans to the poor.
“There’s only one concept of business: Business to make a profit,” Yunus said. “Poverty is created by the system we’ve built, the institutions, the businesses. I feel that the people that built this theory have a one-dimensional view of human beings.”
Area bands perform with pros at Jazz Fest
Clinicians Jeff Jarvis, Patrick Pfeiffer work with area teens; new piece commissioned for Northlanders jazz ensemble
By Nakita Podhradsky
Mirror Staff Writer March 7, 2008
Last Monday and Tuesday, around 1,000 middle and high school students representing 43 schools from four states gathered at Augustana to carry on a 34-year-old tradition of jazz.
The Jazz on the Upper Great Plains Festival offered students a chance to perform for and receive feedback from leading jazz musicians, as well as hear Augustana’s Northlander’s Jazz Band.
“It’s great having high schoolers hear what they can accomplish by continuing to play in college,” junior music education major and Northlander’s Jazz Band member Christine Anderson said.
“It really seems like students and directors leave refreshed and inspired to continue to create jazz music in their own ensembles and communities,” former festival co-chair and lead alto saxophonist for Northlander’s Jazz Band senior Nathan Sletten said.
Guest musicians and clinicians Patrick Pfeiffer and Jeff Jarvis provided feedback for the bands and joined the Northlanders in their performance.
UBG ups ante over January
Attendance for activities achieves notable increase during interim; governors hope to continue trend
By Nathan Elg
Mirror Staff Writer February 29, 2008
Union Board of Governors (UBG) unveiled a new logo and struck a partnership with Lifelight alongside a one-third attendance increase from last year’s interim.
UBG is hoping this will swing them into spring with well-attended, quality events.
UBG already drew more than 200 students to the movie Enchanted earlier this month in the Back Alley, requiring every piece of furniture in the Commons main level to be moved to the Back Alley.
Fifty more students attended sexual assault speaker Steve Thompson and hundreds more attended the Johnny Holm Band in the Back Alley a week ago.
“It’s so hard to pinpoint what it is that is bringing more people to UBG events,” senior UBG head governor senior Amy Weber said. “But there definitely have been more frequent and diverse events happening.”
Activities director Jeff Venekamp attributes the attendance increase to their frequent Wednesday-night programming. He says UBG has held an event every Wednesday except two during this academic year.
New Ole unveiled
Campus officials release image of redesigned mascot following months-long ad campaigns
By Nathan Elg
Mirror Staff Writer February 22, 2008
The Commons building flickered to black at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 21, and the “invasion” began.
The new Ole the Viking logo was unveiled in the Commons dining hall, bearing little resemblance to the 35-year-old Ole, and now has fully emerged on Augustana’s apparel, Web site and city billboards.
“The timing was just right,” vice president for marketing and communications Bob Preloger said. “We now have a new momentum with our conference change and new stadium, and we’re trying to take advantage of that.”
Incidents spur questioning of harassment code
By Nathan Elg
Mirror Staff Writer January 25, 2008
Sexual harassment is here at Augustana College.
Last fall, Augustana had three sexual harassment incidents reported to the administration, according to Dean of Students Jim Bies and Vice President for Human Resources Jane Kuper.
One report involved a student and former Augustana professor who resigned two weeks after the student told administrators.
“What you have is a student who alleges someone sexually harassed her and someone who elected to resign,” President Rob Oliver said. “Those are the facts.”
Man cited for explicit photography at Elmen
By Lori Veurink
Mirror Staff Writer January 25, 2008
On December 12, thanks to some select Augustana students, a man who had visited various locker rooms and had taken inappropriate photos was stopped.
“Our student body should feel proud that they actually stood up and stopped this guy,” said Rick Tupper, director of campus life.
Students in the locker room noticed a man who was not a regular but didn’t given him much thought until they returned from practice to find him still there.
Suspicions were further aroused when the man was seen showering with a group, then heading into the sauna with another group and showering with a third group. The students reported this incident to Campus Safety, who called the police.
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Christmas Treelighting
Freshmen Kim Hibma (left) and Jamie Martin are joined in song by fellow choir members at the Augustana Christmas Treelighting ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 29, in front of the Morisson Commons. The ceremony included a poetry reading, singing from the Augustana choirs and a performance by a brass ensemble.
Alumnus Prieb speaks on working in baseball
Leader in Major League Baseball discusses athlete steroid use, gambling
By Erin Mangen
Mirror Sports Co-Editor December 7, 2007
Major League Baseball’s vice president for western operations and special projects spoke to students about his career on Tuesday.
Laurel Prieb, a Webster, S.D. native and 1977 Augustana graduate, discussed the importance of public relations and marketing in baseball. Prieb’s presentation was co-sponsored by the communication studies department, the Union Board of Governors (UBG) Lectures Committee, PublicRelations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the Career Center and the athletic department.
Issues surrounding major league baseball athletes include steroid usage and gambling. Prieb agreed that these issues need to be brought to the public’s attention.
“Steroid use is always going to be an issue,” Prieb said. As a result, law enforcement and security departments will continue close monitoring of lab testing.
Donors assist in groundbreaking
Ceremony marks start of Kirkeby-Over Stadium construction
By Marit Karbowski
Mirror Sports Co-Editor November 30, 2007
“This is for the kids and thank you,” said Bob and Kari Hall, donors of Augustana’s future Kirkeby-Over (K.O.) football stadium, as they dug their spades into the dirt at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The ceremony was held under a large tent at the future site of the football stadium on Friday, Nov. 16. The stadium will be located south of the left field fence of the Ronken Field, located near the Elmen Center.
Ann Pederson, professor of religion, began the ceremony with a prayer. President Rob Oliver joined the Halls in the actual groundbreaking.
According to head football coach Brad Salem, 20 to 30 football players attended the ceremony, along with Augustana faculty, students and fans.
Illuminated tree aimed at revival of traditions of past, Advent observance
By Brian Boyenga
Mirror Staff Writer November 30, 2007
As this semester’s gloomy finals week draws nearer, the lighting of the Christmas tree brightened the mood of Augustana students. The lighting of the tree ceremony, held outside the Morrison Commons Thursday, Nov. 29, kicked off the holiday season on campus.
The tree is illuminated by nearly 1,200 lights, a number that doubled from last year. The LED lights also use 80 percent less electricity, making this year’s Christmas tree a little more “green.”
“We wanted this to be a revival of tradition,” said Emily Drommerhausen, director of college events. The lighting of the tree ceremony was partly inspired by a photo in Augustana Today of a Christmas tree decorated outside East Hall in 1950.
