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Beyond Utility: Humanities in the Great Recession

If you're interested in non-utilitarian arguments for the Humanities even in times of economic crisis, see the copy of Leon Wieseltier's "The Tolstoy Bailout" (The New Republic, 18 March 2009) that I've posted in the Faculty/Staff Discussion Forum. He makes the case that it is possible to be good for nothing--my punning formulation of his point.

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Bernhard M. Christensen Symposium Events

Faculty, Staff, and Students:

Monday will be a high point in our Sustainability Awareness Month, bringing together a special chapel service, a campus wide "teach-in" organized by students, and the Bernhard Christensen Symposium in the evening. This year's Christensen Symposium lecturer is Bill McKibben, an internationally recognized communicator and interpreter of the realities of global sustainability. I encourage all of you to join these events:

10:20 AM Chapel: Special music and celebration of Augsburg's Community Gardens; David Tiede will speak on "Seeds, Grain, and God's Improv."

Teach-In: Students who have been organizing Sustainability Awareness Month (SAM) events have organized a series of teach-in events for the College community:

11 AM-12 PM, Students from the Integrated Term, also known as "Fate of the Earth 101," will be in the Chapel leading discussions of chapters 4 and 5 of McKibben's Deep Economy.

1:20 - 2:20 PM, The Pedalers for Progress will be in the Minneapolis Room making their first presentation to the College community about their bicycle trip from Minneapolis to Portland, Oregon, and the many opportunities this trip provided for them to learn from local transportation policy-makers, advocates, and organizers.

2:30 - 3:30 PM, Students who participated in the New Zealand study-abroad program will be in the Minneapolis Room to share what they learned about environmental politics in New Zealand.

3:30 - 4:30 PM, SAM students will hold a Pledge and Forum in the Quadrangle.

7:30 PM Bill McKibbin delivers the Christensen Symposium Lecture: "The Most Important Number on Earth"

Tuesday's chapel will conclude this year's Symposium events with a talk by Mary Lowe, Assistant Professor of Religion.

Please join me for this exciting, unique opportunity to hear from Bill McKibben and to learn from each other during next week's Christensen Symposium events.

Barbara Farley

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Collaboration Conference RFP Extended to 9/25

CALL FOR PROPOSALS AVAILABLE NOW FOR FEBRUARY 2010 CONFERENCE ON "ASSESSMENT FOR THE CHANGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT"

Session proposals are due September 25, 2009 Assessment of student learning and educational programs is more critical than ever now, as institutions scrutinize more closely the return from ever more limited resources. What's more, assessment today has to take into account learning and working environments characterized by accelerating change. The primary goals of this conference are, first, to explore the implications of changes in the learning environment for how colleges and universities frame their approaches to student assessment, and second, what new opportunities exist in our rapidly changing working environment to strengthen assessment practices and make them more efficient and productive. We invite proposals for concurrent sessions that address the conference theme by disseminating and modeling effective practice or promoting stimulating dialogue, inquiry, and problem-solving on this theme.

Conference takes place February 19–20, 2010 in Bloomington, Minnesota To download an electronic copy of the full CFP for this conference, please visit: http://www.collab.org/programsservices/conferences/CFPFebruary2010.pdf .

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Professor Hesser Gives Two Presentations

Garry Hesser, Sabo Professor of Citizenship and Learning [Sociology], facilitated a day-long retreat for the entire faculty of Augustana College, Sioux Falls, on September 2. The topic was "Teaching for Learning: Connecting the Research on Learning to Community-Based Engagement and Experiential Education" and made a presentation on "Community-Based Participatory Research: Myles Horton, Paulo Freire and Listening" at the Humphrey Institute [U of MN] on September 15.

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Writing Lab Will Open Today

The Augsburg College Writing Lab will open for fall semester/trimester on Monday, Sept. 21. The Lab is located on the main level of Lindell Library, just left of the circulation desk. No appointments are taken; just appear with your assignment in hand!

Fall hours:

Monday: 6:30 - 9 pm
Tuesday: 3-5:30 pm and 7:30 - 10 pm
Wednesday: 3-5:30 pm and 6:30 - 9 pm
Thursday: 3-5:30 pm and 7:30 - 10 pm
Friday: 5:00 - 7 pm
Sunday: 5:30 - 8 pm

Writing lab tutors will visit all English classes in the next few weeks to provide further information. Faculty, if you would like a tutor to come to your class (es), please contact Kathy Swanson, English (x1010).

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Office Changes for the Admissions Staff

The Admissions team at Augsburg has been in the process of reorganization throughout the spring and summer. We have recently made some significant changes in where our offices are located. Starting this week, ALL Undergraduate Admissions personnel are located in the Christensen Center. ALL Graduate Admissions personnel are located in the Graduate Admissions House (the former "WEC House"). Julie Edstrom, Debbie Meyer and Carrie Carroll have also moved their offices to the Graduate Admissions House. All individual contact information remains that same for each member of the Admissions team.

The general phone numbers for Admissions are now:

Undergraduate Admissions 612-330-1001
Graduate Programs Admissions 612-330-1101

Stop by and visit both offices and welcome our two new staff: David Jones, transfer counselor, and Peter Schattauer, first year counselor.

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Student Performers Needed

Hey student performers. Need a place to do your thing? How about from 12-2pm? Here on campus? Well look no further. A-Club Grill is now providing a place to perform your stuff. E-mail Josh Ahrens [jahrens@aviands.com] with your information and we'll see about getting you a gig

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Metropass Replacing Old Monthly Passes

The monthly passes that have been sold in the previous years has been discontinued as of September 1, 2009 and have been replaced by the new Metropass Go-To Card. Order your Metropass card as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition to the new pass. There will be a 2 -3 week delay between the time the application is filled out and the time the new Metropass cards are delivered. Temporary pass cards will be available to allow applicants to continue bus use until their new passes arrive. Fill out a Metropass application at the Enrollment service counters at Sverdrup 100 as soon as possible.

All Augsburg employees working 20 hours per week or greater are eligible to participate in the Metropass program. Participants must sign up for the pass for a contract year that begins this September 1st and goes through August 31, 2010. The cost of the pass is $38.00 per month and it will be automatically deducted (pre-tax) from participants pay. Each participant has the opportunity to renew their card during the last month of the contract year. The Go-To cards are quicker to use on bus and trains and they also eliminate the need to go and purchase a monthly card at the service counter every month. The Go-To cards are good for light rail and buses, every day, all day including trips to some of the outlying suburbs.

Riders will have to provide additional cash to the drivers for exceptionally long commutes outside the 7 county metro area. Travel by bus companies other than Metro Transit are not included in this program. Participants must agree to participate for the contract year, allow their I.D. picture to be used on the Go-To card and participants must return the card to Human Resources when their employment at the college ends. The cash value cards will still be on sale at the Enrollment counter with the same 50% discount as before. If you need more information please call Tom Ruffaner @ Ext. 1641.

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Women's Resource Center Organizational Meeting

All are welcome! We want to connect with our community, hear about what you want from your women's center, and discuss current programming in the works!

September 24th 4-5pm in the Women's Resource Center: Sverdrup 207

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Hispanic Heritage Month: Past and Present

Hispanic Heritage Month: Past and Present

According to history, in 1850 there were 100,000 Hispanics among the 23 million residents of the United States. Today they are numbered in the millions, estimated at 46 million. To help understand the roots and origins of Hispanics or Latinos experts say, "The Hispanic heritage began as a synthesis of Celtic, Phoenician, Germanic, Greek, Roman and Arabic cultures and bloods; and became enriched by the bloods and cultures of African and indigenous Americans." History also tells us Hispanic presence and bravery are well-known and have been demonstrated time and again, dating back to the aid rendered by General Galvez during the American Revolution and of Latino soldiers who served in World War II, Vietnam and Iraq.

The Hispanic population growth that began decades ago continues today with its demographic and economic shifts. In 2007, the U.S. Population Reference Bureau published "Hispanic Gains Minimize Population Losses in Rural and Small-Town America." These findings come as no surprise and confirm the predictions of the last census. The report asserts that between the years 2000 and 2006 the total population in small towns and rural areas increased by 3 percent, but the Hispanic population in these counties grew 22 percent, from 2.6 million to 3.2 million. Since 1990, the Hispanic population in small towns and rural areas has more than doubled. Rev. Depman of Philadelphia says, "Immigration is putting a lot of stress on our society, but at the same time it is creating a lot of good. A lot of the economic development in the country comes from this workforce."

Life for small towns is not only about losing or gaining population. These areas or counties that have lost population also often have lost jobs in farming, manufacturing, mining, or other core industries. Today many of them are creating new opportunities for employment, but the jobs tend to be low-wage positions in commercial agriculture, meatpacking, carpeting, and other manufacturing sectors that are more attractive to recent immigrants. As U.S. born workers seek job opportunities elsewhere, they are gradually replaced by foreign-born workers who are often willing to work for less money. The positive implications of this demographic shift in rural and small-town America is that the Hispanic population growth has helped revive communities by sustaining businesses and housing markets and by providing needed tax revenue. In 2009, U.S. Census Bureau estimated there are 740,000 people of Hispanic descent living in Minnesota.

Looking back through the people of the 1850s, the tales of the American Revolution and of recent wars are living proof that Hispanics or Latinos have been part of America's history for centuries. Today commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month encompasses more than a language spoken; it includes the recognition of men and women and the acknowledgement of a beautiful mosaic of creation among all people. In upcoming articles will feature professional accomplishments, heroes and heroines, and others. Viva! Long live America!

For more information please contact the Hispanic/Latino Student Services or Emiliano at 330-1309 or chagil@augsburg.edu. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

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SHHHHHH! It is a Secret

Augsburg Dining is looking for responsible students to help us better serve our community. We are doing this by the use of a "Secret Shopper". If you are interested please e-mail me at jcross@aviands.com for more information. Thank you.

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Augsburg Dining Fall Semester Hours

Commons:
M-F: 7:30 Am - 7pm
Hot Breakfast: 7:30-9am
Hot Lunch: 11-1:30
Hot Dinner: 4:30-7

Sat & Sun
Brunch: 11:30-1pm
Dinner: 5pm-7pm

Coopers:
M-F 7:30 am 8 pm
Sat. 7:30 am -5 pm
WEC Sunday 7:30-2pm
Non WEC Sunday Closed

Nabo:
M-Th 7:30-8 pm
Friday- 7:30-6pm
Sat. 9-3pm
WEC Sunday 9-3pm
Non WEC Sunday Closed

AClub & C-Store
M-F 11-2pm & 5-9pm

Changes to these times will be posted on A-mail.

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