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St. Olaf Archives publishes Ytterboe memoir NOVEMBER 19, 2009 —
The Ytterboe memoir is the first in a projected series of short archival publications, called “Ole Voices,” about St. Olaf history. The book gives readers a feel for what life at St. Olaf was like when Old Main was new, and faculty and students lived together on campus. It also looks at celebrating Christmas and generating electricity for lights. The book is viewable for free from the Archives. Hard copies can be purchased from the St. Olaf Bookstore. St. Olaf ranks first in study abroad survey NOVEMBER 17, 2009 — St. Olaf had the largest number of students participating in study abroad opportunities during the 2007-08 academic year among all baccalaureate institutions in the nation, according to the Open Doors 2009 Report on International Educational Exchange. Women's, men's cross-country teams get bids to NCAAs NOVEMBER 16, 2009 —
The men finished second in the MIAC and third in the Central Regional championships. The men's NCAA appearance will be their second straight. Discussion of 'Migration, Freedom, and Religion in America' Thursday NOVEMBER 11, 2009 — As part of St. Olaf's current academic theme of Migration, R. Steven Warner, professor of sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, plus representatives of three Minneapolis St. Paul religious communities will address "Migration, Freedom, and Religion in America" during a panel discussion Thursday. Warner, whose books include A Church of Our Own: Disestablishment and Diversity in American Religion, has been on the forefront of scholarly attention to the effects of post-1960s immigration on the landscape of American religion. K.S.P. Kumar, Hassan Mohamud, and Lusia Cabello Hansel will speak about the effects of the American setting on their respective Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities. Emeritus faculty member Richard Fehner dies NOVEMBER 10, 2009 —
The topics Fehner researched during his 37 years of teaching at St. Olaf ranged from John Donne's Holy Sonnets to the wartime content of the U.S. Army's Stars and Stripes newspaper. World-renowned ecologist to lecture at St. Olaf NOVEMBER 10, 2009 —
Kathryn M. Lohre '99 voted President Elect of the National Council of Churches NOVEMBER 10, 2009 —
Lohre will assume the office Jan. 1, 2010, after being installed Nov. 12 in St. Mark's Cathedral in Minneapolis. Lohre, 32, will be 34 when it is time to succeed to the National Council of Churches Presidency in 2012. She will be the second youngest president of the Council since the Rev. Dr. M. William Howard, an American Baptist, became president in 1979 at the age of 33. Conference to look at evolution on earth and beyond NOVEMBER 10, 2009 —
Men's soccer, volleyball move on to NCAAs NOVEMBER 9, 2009 —
Bergen Woodwind Quintet to perform Friday NOVEMBER 3, 2009 —
The group also will host masterclasses Saturday. Weekend wins advance volleyball, men's soccer to playoffs NOVEMBER 2, 2009 —
Kim Smisek had 17 kills to lead four St. Olaf players in double digits for kills in the 22nd-ranked Oles' four-set win over host Carleton on Saturday in the team's final regular season match. St. Olaf will host the sixth seed, Saint Mary's University in the first round of the MIAC Playoffs. On Sunday, Jack Pueringer and John Zietlow each scored and Nathan Swenson had two assists to lead St. Olaf to a 2-0 men's soccer win over 23rd-ranked Carleton, giving the Oles a berth into this week's four-team MIAC playoffs. St. Olaf to mark 100th anniversary of Simone Weil's birth OCTOBER 23, 2009 —
Elizabeth Nabel '74 named president of two Boston hospitals OCTOBER 23, 2009 —
Nabel completed her internship and residency in internal medicine and a clinical and research fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at BWH and Harvard University (BWH is a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School). She later became known for her research in the fields of vascular biology and molecular cardiology, and for her gene transfer studies of the cardiovascular system. St. Olaf named top producer of Fulbrights for U.S. scholars OCTOBER 22, 2009 — With three faculty members named 2009-10 Fulbright Scholars, St. Olaf ranks at the top of the list of Fulbright producers for bachelor's institutions, according to the Institute of International Education. Other schools on the list, all with two scholars each, are Calvin College, Colby College, Knox College, Pennsylvania State University-Berks, Pomona College, the U.S. Air Force Academy, Vassar College, and Williams College. Michigan State University, a research instititution with seven scholars, topped the overall list. St. Olaf Orchestra concert stream gets verbal OCTOBER 20, 2009 —
Arneson, Stansell named distinguished professors OCTOBER 19, 2009 —
The St. Olaf Board of Regents recently named two long-time faculty members to distinguished professorships: Wendell Arneson, Department of Art and Art History, has been named the Oscar and Gertrude Boe Overby Distinguished Professor; and Gary Stansell, Department of Religion, has been named the Kenneth O. Bjork Distinguished Professor.
The Overby and Bjork professorships (along with the Marie M. Meyer Professorship, currently held by Henry Kermott in the Department of Biology) were established in February 2006. The inaugural holders of the professorships were Professor of Sociolgoy Samiha Sidhom Peterson and Professor of Mathematics Martha Wallace, both of whom recently retired. "[The professorships] were named in honor of past outstanding professors who spent their long careers at St. Olaf as inspiring teachers, influential scholars and artists, and loyal and committed servants of the College," says Provost and Dean of the College James May. In keeping with the spirit of those for whom these professorships have been named, he explains, the recipients are senior members of the St. Olaf faculty who have, in similar fashion, spent their careers in the service of the St. Olaf community. Smisek named Division III 'Player of the Week' OCTOBER 7, 2009 —
St. Olaf Band to team with Copper Street Brass SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 —
The St. Olaf Band, conducted by Timothy Mahr '78, will present its annual Homecoming Concert on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in Skoglund Center Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public and will be streamed live and archived online. Special guests The Copper Street Brass Quintet will perform with the band. The program will open with "An American Fanfare," a new work by Rick Kirby, and the classic "Chorale and Shaker Dance" by native Minnesotan John Zdechlik. The CSBQ will then join the band for two movements from James Curnow's "Five Concord Diversions for Brass Quintet and Band" and a new work from Steven Bryant, "Radiant Joy." The CSBQ will return to the stage for "Suite from Mass," a new resetting of some of the great moments of Leonard Bernstein's "Mass," featuring brass with band. The quintet will then offer an encore featuring its own compositions and innovative arrangements of new music. The concert will close with a performance marking the centennial of a cornerstone of the wind band repertory, Gustav Holst's "First Suite in E Flat." St. Olaf students to host Karl Rove SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 —
Media inquiries regarding this event will be handled as per the media advisory. Peter Olsen '02 is guest at Obama health care speech SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 —
Peter Olsen '02, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School, was the guest of Sen. Amy Klobuchar at President Obama's address on health care Sept. 9. Klobuchar met Olsen at a health care roundtable she hosted at the University of Minnesota Medical School in August. During the roundtable, Klobuchar stressed the need for more primary care physicians -- especially in often under-served rural areas. She highlighted the training that Peter Olsen receives at the University of Minnesota’s Rural Physician Associate Program, where students live and train in a rural community in order to better understand rural primary care and help develop community relationships. "As a medical student pursuing rural family medicine, I understand the importance of primary care and preventive medicine to the American health care system,” says Olsen. “I am grateful to Senator Klobuchar for inviting me."
St. Olaf welcomes Class of 2013 SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 —
St. Olaf College welcomed the 777 members of the Class of 2013 to campus Sept. 5. They represent 42 states and 13 foreign countries. Fifteen percent are the first generation of their families to attend college and -- continuing the trend to diversify the student body -- 14 percent are multicultural. Watch a video of new students settling in on campus. Opening convocation to kick off 'Migration' theme SEPTEMBER 4, 2009 —
VIDEO NEWS: Volleyball team looks forward to new season AUGUST 27, 2009 —
The Oles will open their season when they host defending conference champion St. Thomas Sept. 16. Sierra Club grades St. Olaf 'B+' AUGUST 27, 2009 —
St. Olaf and Oberlin College in Ohio were the highest ranked schools in the Midwest. Learn more about what makes St. Olaf so "green" on our sustainability page ... VIDEO NEWS: Ole football gears up for season AUGUST 21, 2009 —
The Oles will open their season when they host Luther College Sept. 5. Ole athletes earn academic honors AUGUST 4, 2009 — The St. Olaf women's track and field team was named All-Academic by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association after collecting a team cumulative grade point average of 3.46. Amie Fillmore '10 was named All-Academic as an individual. The St. Olaf men's track and field team posted a cumulative 3.150 grade point average to earn USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. The team's Cullen O'Neill '09 and John Schantzen and were named to the Division III All-Academic teams. Men's swimming and diving team members Jacob Koch '09 and Ian Straehle '12 were named Scholar All-Americans by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. To qualify, they both achieved a minimum of 3.5 GPA and participated in the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. According to the CSCAA, fewer than 6 percent of collegiate swimmers and divers are named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans. Read more at St. Olaf Athletics ... Emeritus faculty member Ralph Haugen dies
Haugen taught at St. Olaf from 1949 to 1990, during which time he directed more than 60 productions, beginning with Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid and ending with The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux. He once told St. Olaf Magazine that his favorite scripts included Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice, plus George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House, Sean O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. He taught courses on a variety of subjects in the Speech-Theatre Department -- from "Fundamentals of Speech" to "Japanese Theater." He led the college's "Theater in London" Interim program four times, and the Global Semester in 1977. Haugen also was instrumental in initiating, developing and coordinating plans for the college's Speech-Theater Building that was dedicated in 1977. In 1990 the Studio Theater in the Speech-Theatre building was renamed the Ralph Haugen Theater. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Aug. 30, at 3 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield (500 W. 3rd St.). St. Olaf included on three Princeton Review lists JULY 31, 2009 — In addition to naming St. Olaf a "Best Midwestern College," Princeton Review's national guide, The Best 371 Colleges, also has included St. Olaf on three lists: Best Campus Food (No. 3), Town-Gown Relations are Great (No. 8) and Best Quality of Life (No. 14). St. Paul Saints sign Todd Mathison '09
Read more at St. Olaf Athletics and saintsbaseball.com. St. Olaf faculty, students to perform at Fringe Festival
Assistant Professor of Theatre Jeanne Willcoxon directs the play, Helen, which will be performed on various dates July 31-Aug. 9 at the Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis. The cast also will bring the production to St. Olaf's Haugen Theater for two performances to kick off the academic year Sept. 11-12 at 7:30 p.m. St. Olaf Artist in Residence Dona Freeman will play Helen, joining a cast of alumni and students. Todd Edwards, the designer and technical director for St. Olaf's Theatre Department, will play Menelaus and oversee scene design. Freeman received a St. Olaf faculty development grant that led to the production of Helen, and she also earned a student-faculty research position that enabled her to work closely with the play's researcher, or dramaturg, Nick Thompson '10. For more information about the play, performance times, and to view a short trailer for the production, visit the Minnesota Fringe Festival website. Recent graduate dies in helicopter crash JULY 25, 2009 — A helicopter crash in Western Maryland killed Jeffrey Nordaas '08 on Thursday night, July 23. The helicopter that crashed on Interstate 70 about 10 miles east of Hagerstown was owned by Advanced Helicopter Concepts of Frederick, where Nordaas was employed. For further information, see the article in the Baltimore Sun. Physical plant named in honor of former college architect
A formal dedication ceremony was held last month to name the facility in honor of Madson, who helped shape the look of the St. Olaf campus during the two decades he served as the college's staff architect and director of the physical plant before retiring in 1993. Madson's work on campus buildings began even before his career at St. Olaf, while he was with the local architectural firm of Sovik, Mathre & Madson. Over the course of more than 35 years, he was involved in the design and construction of most new buildings and reconstruction on campus -- work that included 25 buildings on the Hill. In total, Madson had a significant role in the development of more than 1.2 million square feet of campus space. At the time of his retirement, Madson noted that a college campus should communicate "values of beauty, order, quality, integrity, concern, and a lack of artificiality." He helped St. Olaf achieve that with its signature limestone buildings and tree-studded grounds. After Madson's death in 2003 discussions began about renaming the physical plant in his honor, and a formal naming ceremony was arranged this year. About 60 guests, including Madson's family members, former colleagues, and close friends, were on campus June 12 for the dedication ceremony. St. Olaf students selected for noted ecology program JULY 8, 2009 — Three St. Olaf biology majors, Alisha Woodson '12, Tsetan Lobsang '10 and Kathryn Staver '10, have been selected to participate in the Ecological Society of America's Strategies for Ecology Education, Development and Sustainability program that supports and encourages underrepresented undergraduate students who study ecology-related fields. SEEDS will take Woodson and Lobsang -- part of a group of only 20 who were selected nationwide -- to spend Sept. 17-20 in the University of Virginia's remote Mountain Lake Biological Station in the Appalachian Mountains, where they will assist with a variety of research projects. Staver is involved in a new section of SEEDS that is supported by the National Science Foundation's Research for Undergraduates program. As a research fellow, she is currently at Florida State University studying plant-herbivore interactions. She will have the opportunity to present her research at the annual national ESA meeting. At St. Olaf, Woodson and Lobsang participate in the college's Student Support Services TRiO program and in the NSF-funded Biologists for the Future program. Lobsang also is a TRiO McNair Scholar. St. Olaf to host, stream Sing For Joy hymn festival
The festival, patterned after the Sing For Joy radio program, will feature music and commentary tied to the themes of the church year. It is the opening festival of the annual conference of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada at St. Olaf through July 16. The festival will feature St. Olaf College Organist and Sing For Joy music advisor John Ferguson, St. Olaf College Pastor and Sing For Joy program host Bruce Benson, the a cappella ensemble Magnum Chorum conducted by St. Olaf faculty member Christopher Aspaas '95, and the Northfield Youth Choirs conducted by Elizabeth Shepley and Karen Lutgen. Earlier on Sunday, at 4 p.m., St. Olaf College Artist in Residence Catherine Rodland will perform an organ recital on the Holtkamp organ in Boe as part of the opening festivities of the conference. The hymn festival, organ recital and other events from the Hymn Society conference will be streamed live and archived online. The Nation dubs alumna 'Most Important Financial Journalist'
MPR talks with L. Bruce Laingen '44 about Iran
Elizabeth Nabel '74 appears on Fox
Emeritus faculty member J. Daniel Palm dies
Palm, who earned his master's and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, retired in 1988 after 26 years at St. Olaf. He is perhaps best remembered for his research on fructose in the late 1960s and early 1970s that culminated in his book, Diet Away Your Stress, Tension and Anxiety, and to his being named an honorary fellow of the International Academy of Preventive Medicine. Palm's other research projects led to improved soybean and potato processing in India, and avocado processing in Kenya. St. Olaf Choir tours England, Wales, Ireland
The choir, touring the area for the first time in its nearly 100-year history, delivered eight concerts before returning to the United States June 7. Proceeds from several of the performances benefited nonprofit organizations and charities in England, Wales and Ireland. Read the ensemble's tour blog and photo album, check out their itinerary and view a pre-tour choir video. Gretchen Morgenson '76 appears on 'NewsHour'
Woodruff spoke with Morgenson about the Securities and Exchange Commission filing its first charges against a major figure in the subprime mortgage crisis, a story that Morgenson has been covering for the Times. Former Dean of Students Henry Helgen Jr. dies
Helgen became dean of students at St. Olaf in 1967 and was promoted to vice president and dean before retiring in 1984. During his 17-year career on the Hill he helped bring a number of changes to campus, including the implementation of coeducational housing and inter-visitation policies in the residence halls, the formulation of the Paracollege, the opening of the Lion's Pause, and the increased growth of the International Studies program. He also helped establish and organize several programs, including the counseling office and career services office. Read his full obituary at Northfield.org and in the Star Tribune. People profiles 'micro-preemie' St. Olaf students
The story focuses on six micro-preemies who were born in Minnesota under the care of Dr. Ronald Hoekstra at Children's Hospital of Minnesota-Minneapolis, who has kept tabs on the progress of 146 preemies since their births in the late 19809s. Debeck, who at 1 lb. 13 oz. had a 5 percent chance of survival when he was born, is noted for having scored an 800 on his math SATs. Cremons (1 lb. 4 oz. at birth) is on the dean's list at St. Olaf and has run a half marathon. Ole baseball team earns NCAA bid
The NCAA appearance will be the Oles' third in the last four seasons and the 19th in school history. The team's MIAC playoffs title was the third (2003, 2006) in the 10-year history of the event. Read more at St. Olaf Athletics ... Nesbit named coach of the year, players honored
In other tennis news, David Narvaez '09 earned the MIAC's Arthur Ashe Award, while Abigail Ho '11 was named All-MIAC as a singles and doubles player. St. Olaf announces Lilly Grant appointments APRIL 24, 2009 — St. Olaf College recently announced the Lilly Grant Program appointments for this summer and the next academic year. The college's Lilly Sustainability Grant Program began in the fall of 2008. It is an extension of a 2002 grant from the Lilly Endowment that enabled St. Olaf to create the Program for Lives of Worth and Service, which aided students, faculty, staff, and alumni in their discernment of and reflection on vocation. The Lilly Grant Program is coordinated and administered through the Center for Experiential Learning (CEL). Appointments:
Video News: Watch St. Olaf win national Rube Goldberg contest
St. Olaf, a first-time entrant in the competition, was the only liberal arts college competing and the only school in the contest without an engineering program. The Oles' machine took 239 steps to break a light bulb and replace it with 150 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that spell out "St. Olaf." Click here to view MPR Holy Week program to feature St. Olaf Choir
The one-hour program will air on Classical MPR Maundy Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. (check here to find a station near you, or listen to MPR's online stream). In addition, the Easter Sunday, April 12, Saint Paul Sunday program will feature an hour of music with the St. Olaf Choir. Westby wins again, Ole swimmers finish fourth at NCAA's
The Oles' fourth-place finish was the best in school history, matching the efforts of the 1986 and 1987 teams. Head coaches Dave and Bob Hauck, who led the Oles' to a MIAC title in February, were named the men's coaches of the meet. Read more at St. Olaf Athletics ... Westby wins third straight national swimming title
Westby's 1:48.82 was just fast enough to hold off Koch, who was gaining on the champ in the final 25 yards. Read more at St. Olaf Athletics ... St. Olaf co-sponsoring electronics recycling day
The three sponsors will be working with Materials Processing Corporation to recycle personal and home electronics equipment from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot south of Carleton's Laird Stadium. The stadium is located just off Highway 19, and signs will be posted to direct traffic. A fee will be charged for each piece of equipment turned in for recycling. The fee amounts are:
For more information about the recycling day email Sue Traxler or Michael Decker. Professor emeritus Gordon Rasmussen dies
Early issues of Manitou Messenger now online
Now anyone can peruse this first issue and 28 other book volumes from the first 30 years of the Manitou Messenger online. These early issues include stories about everything from the Great War to Prohibition to women playing tennis. Visitors to the online collection can browse through and read the early issues in their entirety or use a search function to look up specific items of interest. Men's hockey clinches MIAC title
The Oles went on to lose to Hamline University in the semifinal round of the MIAC men's hockey playoffs, but ended the season with a school-record 16 wins. St. Olaf, undefeated in its last nine games (7-0-2) of the regular season, was ranked 13th in the Feb. 16 United States College Hockey Online poll. The Oles were the only MIAC team in the poll. Read more at St. Olaf Athletics. Men's swimming and diving wins MIAC title
The Oles were paced by their seniors, including Jake Koch, who set a meet and conference record and broke his own school mark in the 100 freestyle; Nelson Westby, who completed his sweep of the breaststroke events and was named swimmer of the meet; and Ian Straehly, who won on the 3-meter board. The title is the 25th in school history and second in three seasons. Read more at St. Olaf Athletics ... Men's hockey playoff tickets on sale now
St. Olaf will compete in the semifinal game after winning its first MIAC regular season men's hockey championship in 70 years with a 4-2 win Feb. 14 over host St. Thomas. The Oles (15-6-2, 11-1-2 MIAC) raced to a 3-0 first period lead and held on for the win behind a 32-save effort from goaltender Nick Krauss and Britton Smith's goal and assist. With the victory, St. Olaf also clinched a bye and home ice for the MIAC Playoffs, which run Feb. 26-March 4. The Oles will host the winner of the Feb. 26 No. 4/No. 5 play-in game on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. St. Olaf, undefeated in its last seven games (6-0-1), climbed to 13th in the latest United States College Hockey Online poll, released Feb. 16. The Oles are the only MIAC team in the poll. Public Safety captain to be honored at local ceremony
U.S. Rep. John Kline is hosting the awards ceremony in Lakeville to honor Christiansen and other men and women in the Second Congressional District. Christiansen held a "Ribs for a Reason" dinner fundraiser last July that featured three area bands and raised money for One Heartland. The organization runs summer camps at sites around the country (including Minnesota) and provides youth with the chance to interact with others their own age who are facing similar struggles. Christiansen began organizing "Ribs for a Reason" as a fundraiser for One Heartland after participating in the organization's annual "Dance Your Heart Out" dance-a-thon at the Mall of America last year. While at the event, Christiansen interacted with children suffering from HIV who just wanted to be normal and "do anything and everything other kids want to do." He hoped that by organizing a fundraiser he could spread awareness about the problems of HIV and AIDS in rural areas and raise money to help children attend One Heartland's summer camp who otherwise couldn't afford it. Plans are under way for another "Ribs for a Reason" event in 2009. Local climber to present personal account of last year's K2 tragedy FEBRUARY 16, 2009 — Local climber and author Mike Farris will present "The 2008 K2 Tragedy: A Personal Account" at St. Olaf Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. in room 280 of the old Science Center. The event is free and open to the public. After the event Farris will sign his book, The Altitude Experience: Successful Trekking and Climbing Above 8,000 Feet, which will be available for sale. The deaths of 11 climbers on K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth, was front-page news around the world last August. Farris organized and led an expedition to K2 in 2008, and he was in Camp 2 on the way to his summit attempt when the accidents occurred. As the only major climbing team that did not suffer any casualties, Farris' team was at the center of attempts to find missing climbers and rescue those who survived. Afterwards, Farris interviewed many of the survivors to get their first-hand stories. Farris will reconstruct the chain of events that led to the deaths and injuries and provide some insight into why they happened. Donations will be accepted during the event to help the families of the four Pakistani and Nepali porters who died in this tragedy. Men's hockey clinches MIAC title
The 15th-ranked Oles (15-6-2, 11-1-2 MIAC) raced to a 3-0 first period lead and held on for the win behind a 32-save effort from goaltender Nick Krauss and Britton Smith's goal and assist. Read more at St. Olaf Athletics. Theatre production features work of alumni
Laura Holway '04 served as choreographer for the production, while Mark Stover '01 is its musical director. The two, who have taught theatre and worked on productions across the Twin Cities, returned to campus to work on this play as part of the Anna K. Bonde Career Advancement Opportunity in Theater. The apprenticeship was established last year in honor of Anna Bonde, a theatre and dance major who died in a car accident during her sophomore year at St. Olaf. Stover, who is pursuing a master's degree in sacred music at Luther Seminary, said the apprenticeship "may well be one of those launch pads I'll reflect back upon 20, 30 years down the road." As Anna's classmate, he adds that "it has been a true privilege to create and use my passion for theatre to honor her memory." An autobiographical musical about a seemingly terminal brain tumor, A New Brain is about the journey that one man takes in the world of medicine. Performances will be held Feb. 12-14 and 19-21 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. in Kelsey Theater. For tickets, which are free for faculty, staff and students and cost $8 for the general public, call 507-786-8987. St. Olaf named to Presidential Honor Roll for Community Service
Last year St. Olaf students logged more than 77,000 hours of community service for such programs as staffing the Rice County Healing Outreach Prevention Education Center, the Study Buddies and several other programs for area youth, and the annual Ole Spring Relief trip that continues to help Gulf Coast communities recover from Hurricane Katrina. Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors, including scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses. Men's hockey moves into USCHO's Top 15
St. Olaf (12-6-1, 8-1-1 MIAC), alone in first place in the MIAC, was off last weekend and watched contending teams split their series. The Oles are two ahead of Hamline and St. Thomas and three in front of Gustavus in the loss column. St. Olaf, which has been led by senior Dylan Mueller (11 g, 14 a) and sophomore transfer Isak Tranvik (10 g, 14 a), plays Bethel Feb. 6-7 (6-6-0 MIAC), St. Thomas Feb. 12-13 (6-3-1) and Augsburg Feb. 19-20(4-6-0) in its final three series. St. Olaf Band to perform 'Lincoln Portrait' on bicentennial of president's birth
"The soaring oratory of Abraham Lincoln, arguably one of America's most revered presidents, set against a musical background by one of our nation's greatest composers makes for a moving musical experience," Mahr says. "His words might be a little more than 150 years old, but they speak to us during today's troubled times with immediacy and power." The concert will conclude this year's tour, which took the ensemble throughout California. The program also will feature three student soloists, the premiere performance of a movement from prolific band composer David Maslanka's Symphony No. 8, and a new composition by Mahr. St. Olaf ranks No. 3 in National Merit Scholars JANUARY 27, 2009 — With 53 National Merit Scholars enrolled in the St. Olaf Class of 2012, the college ranks No. 3 (up from No. 5 for the Class of 2011) among U.S. liberal arts colleges and No. 46 (up from No. 49 for the Class of 2011) among the more than 3,000 accredited four-year colleges and universities in the nation in the number of merit scholars in that class. "These scholars have exhibited exceptional intellectual ability," says Michael Kyle, vice president and dean of enrollment. "And so many of them choose St. Olaf because we offer a rigorous and supportive academic environment." Westby earns second National Swimmer of the Week honor
Westby won the 100 breaststroke (56.81, NCAA "B" time), the 200 breaststroke (2:06.52, NCAA "B" time) and swam to a second place finish in the 200 individual medley (1:56.38). He also assisted on the third place 200 medley relay (1:35.75). Westby -- a 14-time All-American -- and the Oles will swim at the University of St. Thomas Jan. 30. St. Olaf takes No. 2 slot in Peace Corps rankings
"With the knowledge and training acquired at St. Olaf College, these Peace Corps Volunteers are making a positive contribution to the lives of people ... around the globe," says Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter. Since 1961, 463 St. Olaf alumni have served in the Peace Corps. The nearly 8,000 Peace Corps volunteers currently serving in 76 countries represent more than 3,000 institutions of higher learning. Film shows St. Olaf Band performing a century ago
The St. Olaf Band appears in the film just shortly after the five-minute mark. The film, which was re-edited in 1975, predates any other film in the St. Olaf archives by 16 years, notes Associate Archivist Jeff Sauve. The Seattle Municipal Archives provided the film, which was put online as part of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Centennial Celebration. Events to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.
The events will begin with a chapel service Thursday, Jan. 15, at 10:10 a.m. in Boe Chapel. Students working with Multicultural Affairs and Community Outreach (MACO) will present a chapel talk titled "Martin Luther King Jr.: The Man, the Message and the Mission." It will be streamed live and archived online. An opening ceremony for the remainder of the celebration will take place Friday, Jan. 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the Buntrock Commons Crossroads. This will be followed by a poetry night Saturday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. in the Lion's Lair. The movie The Great Debaters will be shown Sunday, Jan. 18, at 6:30 p.m. in Viking Theater. Events will conclude Monday, Jan. 19 -- Martin Luther King Jr. Day -- with a service at 10:10 a.m. in Boe Chapel featuring the theme "Letters from the Birmingham Jail." The service, which will also be streamed live and archived online, will be followed by a birthday celebration at 10:30 a.m. in the Buntrock Commons Crossroads. All events are free and open to the public. Sponsors of the celebration are CUBE, MACO and the Diversity Celebrations Committee (DCC). For more information call MACO at 507-786-3060. President Anderson presents chapel talk
Read the text of the president's talk or watch and listen to the archived video stream. St. Olaf named Kiplinger's 'Best Value'
Performance Today program to feature Christmas Festival
The public radio program will air the performance of Rene Clausen's Nunc Dimittis that was recorded during the Dec. 2, 2007, Christmas Festival concert. The music of St. Olaf was also featured on the program's Dec. 17 show. Three selections from the 2008 Christmas Festival -- Steven Amundson's The Gift, Joseph Gregorio's Dona Nobis Pacem, and C. Hubert H. Parry's In Endless Morn of Light -- were featured. American Public Media's Performance Today is broadcast on 245 public radio stations across the country and is heard by about 1.1 million people each week. More information about where and when Performance Today is broadcast in your area is available online. Norwegian Christmas service to be held Tuesday
The Norwegian Department will host its annual Norwegian Christmas chapel service at 11:10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 in Boe Chapel. The service features Norwegian Christmas carols and gospel readings in Norwegian. In addition, Norwegian students Ingri Wahlstroem and Genette Sekse '12 will talk about celebrating Christmas in Norway. Those who are musically inclined are invited to sing in the Norwegian choir, which will perform twice during the service. There is one rehearsal left that will be held Monday, Dec. 8. Interested students should contact Margaret O'Leary at oleary@stolaf.edu. St. Olaf ranks well in study abroad survey
St. Olaf also was among only 18 baccalaureate institutions nationwide that reported sending more than 80 percent of their students abroad at some point during their undergraduate careers. Open Doors is the comprehensive information resource on international students in the United States and on the more than 200,000 U.S. students who study abroad as part of their academic experience. MPR to broadcast Christmas Festival Sunday
PBS will rebroadcast last year's televised Christmas Festival program throughout the United States this month. Christmas at St. Olaf: Where Peace and Love and Hope Abide, a one-hour presentation of the 2007 St. Olaf Christmas Festival produced by Twin Cities Public Television (TPT), will be presented Dec. 24 at 9 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 3 a.m. and 11 a.m. (CST). Listen to last year's Christmas Festival on MPR. A St. Olaf Christmas in Norway (2005), a program featuring the St. Olaf Choir with the Nidaros Cathedral Girls Choir and soloist Randi Stene filmed in Norway's magnificent Nidaros Cathedral, will air on TPT Dec. 24 at 10 p.m. and Dec. 25 at 4 a.m. Check local PBS listings for telecast dates and times in other areas. Purchase CD, DVD and VHS recordings of past St. Olaf Christmas Festivals, and place advance orders for the 2008 Christmas Festival, at the St. Olaf Bookstore. St. Olaf student named Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar
The Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship program was founded in 1947. Since then, 38,000 people from 100 different countries have studied abroad through the program. The goal of the ambassadorial scholarships is to help develop an increased international understanding and better relations between nations. Polls, cell phones and the Minnesota recount
Student singers perform well in state audition NOVEMBER 11, 2008 — St. Olaf student singers performed well at the National Association of Teachers of Singing-Minnesota Chapter annual student voice auditions held at St. John's University Nov. 7-8. More than 270 singers from around the state participated in the two-day event. Twenty-four St. Olaf singers and three St. Olaf student pianists participated. Twelve singers advanced from the preliminary round to the semi-finals and six singers sang in the final round. The finalists were:
Men's cross country team sees champion, coach of the year
Lundin was previously head of men's track and field at Division I University of Minnesota. This is his first season at St. Olaf. Ruon is in his first collegiate cross-country season after playing soccer last year. The Oles are ranked first in the central region and 19th in the country in the latest USTFCCA Top 35 poll as they move to the NCAA Central Region Championship on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Grinnell College in Iowa. Dance Department to present 'Fresh Space' concert
Volunteer Network to host Halloween fun
Annual Choral Festival to be held Nov. 4
The Choral Festival performance features three solo choirs (Armstrong High School Concert Choir, Westwood Lutheran Church A Capella Choir, and the Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota Concert Choir) selected to perform works on their own, as well as the St. Olaf Choir and Viking Chorus. In addition, 30 other choirs will attend the event. These additional choirs will join the three solo choirs and all of the St. Olaf choirs to create a mass choir made up of 1,300 members that will also perform during the concert. A study abroad success story
The story highlights a recently released report that states that studying abroad improves the academic outcomes of college students. "We live in an inter-related world; we interact with other cultures in our living or work situations," says Eric Lund, director of international and off-campus studies at St. Olaf. "Study abroad is valuable preparation for that reality." 'Milton Marathon' reading Saturday
The reading will move to Rolvaag Library 515 at 1:30 p.m., where it will continue until approximately 10 p.m. A commemorative t-shirt will be available for sale on site Saturday, and both before and after the marathon in the English Department office in Rolvaag. St. Olaf Orchestra to perform home concert Monday
The orchestra, conducted by Steven Amundson, will perform Antonin Dvorak's Slavonic Dances, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Russian Easter Overture, and Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 2 in D Major. Two soloists, Hannah Reitz '10, violin, and Dan Larson '10, alternated playing Samuel Barber's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra and Ralph Vaughan Williams' Concerto for Bass Tuba in G Minor throughout the tour. The 90-member St. Olaf Orchestra has toured nationally and internationally for more than 60 years and has been featured at national and regional conventions. St. Olaf Chapel Choir to present vespers service Sunday OCTOBER 16, 2008 — The St. Olaf Chapel Choir, conducted by Christopher Aspaas '95, will team with guest artists the Elements of Sound ensemble, conducted by St. Olaf faculty member Dione Peterson, to present the vespers theme 'Thy holy wings' Sunday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Boe Memorial Chapel. The service will feature readings and music, including Kenneth Jennings' The Lord is the Everlasting God, Eric Whitacre's i thank you God, and Incantations by Michael McGlynn. The service is free and open to the public and will be streamed live and archived online. 'Muslims in Europe' lecture Thursday OCTOBER 6, 2008 — Chris Soper, professor of political science at Pepperdine University, will present his lecture, "Muslims in Europe: Singing God's Song in a Strange Land," Thursday, Oct. 9, at 8 p.m. in Regents Hall 150. The event is free and open to the public. Soper will speak about the differing ways in which various European countries deal with religious diversity. "What states view as equitable treatment for Muslim citizens and immigrants," he's written, "what they view as reasonable and just in terms of accommodating Muslim religious practices, and how governments pursue the twin policies of recognizing the religious rights of Muslims while insuring their effective incorporation into the values of the host country vary widely in Western Europe." Soper teaches in the Political Science Department on topics related to American politics, environmental politics and constitutional law. He has co-authored and co-edited several books, including The Challenge of Pluralism: Church and State in Five Western Democracies, Equal Treatment of Religion in a Pluralistic Society, and Muslims and the State in Britain, France, and Germany. Episcopal priest, interfaith activist to discuss Middle East
The Viking appearance will feature a discussion of his book, Christ on the Muslim Road: Exploring a New Path Between Two Faiths (Cowley Publications, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield), which will be available at the event. Both events are free and open to the public and are co-sponsored by the St. Olaf Religion and Middle Eastern Studies departments. Chandler's chapel appearance will be streamed live and archived online. Chandler, who has lived and worked extensively throughout the Islamic world, currently is Rector of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist/Maadi in Cairo, Egypt. His church's international congregation of more than 20 nationalities welcomes people from many denominations and church traditions -- primarily from the diplomatic, aid and business communities. Simulated NASA journey to help celebrate Regents Hall
The traveling exhibit, called NASA Exploration Experience, is just one of the many events scheduled for dedication weekend. The exhibit and all dedication activities will be free and open to the public (unless otherwise noted). In addition, St. Olaf is covering the expenses of field trips to the exhibit by local sixth-graders. On Thursday, Oct. 2, and Friday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., visitors will be able to walk through the NASA exhibit in the Mellby parking lot (adjacent to the Speech-Theater building). The Exploration Experience begins with a simulated visit to the moon, where visitors will build a lunar outpost and have the opportunity to touch a moon rock. Explorers also will see a virtual model of the moon, interacting with the lunar surface to learn about NASA's research and future plans for exploration. The second section of the exhibit features an interactive theater that introduces visitors to NASAŭs plan of returning to the moon. Viewers will see new vehicles being developed for future exploration of the solar system. Jeevan Perera, risk manager for the Orion space vehicle, and other NASA employees will be on hand to answer questions. Bon Appetit to host 'Eat Local Challenge' Tuesday
Because Bon Appetit buys the food locally, they greatly reduce the cost to the environment. According to the Worldwatch Institute, food in the United States usually travels 1,500-2,500 miles from the farm to the table. So by reducing the distance of travel, Bon Appetit reduces air pollution and limits its contribution to global warming. Also, by buying locally, Bon Appetit supports local farmers who make sustainability a priority. Eating locally also supports the local family farms in the area, which has become of greater importance as family farms decrease across the country. And fresh food that's eaten close to its source is fresher and tastes better than food that's been transported over long distances. The Bon Appetit operation at St. Olaf is regularly cited by Princeton Review's college guide as having some of the best campus food in the nation. St. Olaf-St. Thomas football game sets new Division III overtime record
The game's six overtimes set an NCAA Division III record. Only two games have last longer: Division I Ole Miss-Arkansas (seven overtimes) in 2001 and Division I-AA Bethune-Cookman defeating Virginia State 63-57 in eight overtimes in 1998. Read more at St. Olaf Athletics, and view an archived video of the game. Also, read what the Star Tribune wrote about the game. Alumnus named one of Outside Magazine's 'Fittest (Real) Men'
Read the full story at Outside Magazine. Minnesota Economics Association recognizes student paper
Black's paper (download it at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve) moves beyond examining the general effectiveness of the earned income tax credit "to examine the effect and efficiency of structural parameters on work participation and weeks worked," he writes. "Results suggest that increases in the EITC increase employment, decrease weeks worked, and affect single individuals more than married individuals. This study has significant policy impacts for lawmakers responsible for adjusting the EITC and for credit recipients." Student paper launches new site
The site is managed by Messenger staff and hosted by the College Publisher Network. Messenger staff members are currently working to produce a new issue of the paper that will be online soon. Gant gets spot on Redskins' practice squad
Read more at St. Olaf Athletics. |
The St. Olaf College Archives has published Reminiscences, the memoir of Elise Ytterboe, who was the wife of Professor H. T. Ytterboe. In addition to marking this year's Founders Day (Nov. 6), the publication coincides with the 40th anniversary of the St. Olaf College Archives. 
The Open Doors report also ranks St. Olaf among the Top 10 baccalaureate institutions nationwide in the percentage of students studying abroad.
The St. Olaf 
St. Olaf Professor Emeritus 
World-renowned limnologist and ecologist Steve Carpenter, a member of the National Academy of Sciences and director of the Center for Limnology in Madison, Wis. -- and one of the most cited ecologists in the field -- will visit St. Olaf Nov. 16-18. In addition to meeeting with students and faculty, Carpenter will present a public lecture, "
In celebration of Charles Darwin’s various achievements, the conference "
The St. Olaf men's soccer and volleyball teams each earned at-large bids to their respective NCAA Division III tournaments Monday.
The 
St. Olaf College will feature two events -- an interdisciplinary faculty discussion and a film screening -- to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of French writer, activist, philosopher, and mystic Simone Weil (1909-1943). 
Elizabeth Nabel '74 has been named president of 
This year's live online stream of the St. Olaf Orchestra 
Kimberly Smisek '11 was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III "Player of the Week" on Tuesday after she averaged 5.79 kills/set and hit .366 in the 
Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President George W. Bush, will speak at St. Olaf College Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) in Skoglund Center Auditorium. The presentation, which is free and open to the public and will include a 30-minute question-and-answer session, is sponsored by the student-run Political Awareness Committee with support from the Young America's Foundation. The speech will be streamed live 
Opening convocation for St. Olaf College will take place Thursday, Sept. 10, beginning at 11:10 a.m. in Boe Memorial Chapel. Solveig Zempel, professor of Norwegian and the current 
The St. Olaf volleyball team is back on campus to prepare for the upcoming season. Watch this 
Sierra Club's third annual ranking of "planet-preserving" colleges and universities ranks St. Olaf No. 36 out of 135 schools, earning it a grade of "B+." The "
The St. Olaf football team is back on campus to prepare for the upcoming season. Watch this 
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