Spring Break

Hello everyone. It has been a great week for me, mostly because of the brief break from school, and all the adventures that came with my time off.

 

As I mentioned before break, we were planning on heading out to Aspen, Colorado to enjoy some spring skiing. This was a trip that I helped organize as part of my duties as a leader of Luther's Backyard Wilderness Pursuits. We left on Saturday at 5:30 am, drove all day long and arrived in Aspen around 10:30 that night. It was a long haul, but definitely worth it. The next three days we skied Snowmass and Aspen Highlands enjoying 4" of snow on the second day and a whopping 13" on the final day. We then made the long journey home.

 

We had a group of 15 fun, easy-going students come along. It was really great getting to know some new people and learning more about friends and acquaintances. On top of that, one of my best friends from Durango, Colorado (where I worked this summer) came to snowboard with me the last day. It was fantastic seeing her again, and she was lucky enough to come when the powder was perfect. We were fantasizing about the upcoming summer and the time on the river we are aching for already. 

 

This break was unique in that I got the opportunity to help create an opportunity for students to do something a little out of the ordinary (being from Iowa) and also to see it come alive. It is really neat how Luther provides so many opportunities not only to take part in activities such as this, but also help make them available to others. It gave me a sense of responsibility for the fun other students were having, and it made it even better that I could enjoy it with them. 

 

I hope that spring time is welcomed by all of you. And I apologize if you did not have any time off this last week and I am tempting or teasing you by describing the fun I have had. I am sure your time will come. Have a great week everyone, and I will talk to you soon.

Peace,

Collin

Spring is here

Hello everyone, I hope I find you in good health and spirits. It is warming up here in Decorah, and the warmth brings a few things. First, all the people that had been hiding away inside their warm dorm rooms are coming out to enjoy the fresh spring air. Bikes are now out of winter storage, people are tossing frisbees again, and I finally got to set up my slackline again! In addition to the outward migration, spring is a sign of something many people are excited for: Spring Break.

 

In just a few short days, students will be heading away for a whole week of relaxation. Some are heading home to spend time with friends and families, whereas others are taking trips to places far away from home. There are student groups heading to Georgia, The Dominican Republic, Louisiana, Mississippi, and of course, Colorado. Like I mentioned before, I will be heading out to do some spring snowboarding in Aspen, Colorado, and could not be more excited to do so. However, there is still much to get done before break. 

 

This week before break is also a time of midterms, which is surprising in itself. It does not feel as though the semester should be half over already. But it is here and with it comes last minute cramming and stress due to procrastination, lack of attention, or any other not-so-honorable practice. However, I seem to have it pretty easy this time around. I have only one midterm because my three other classes are either not requiring a big test, or we have already had some sort of exam to cover this requirement. 

 

I do, however, have to aid in working out any last-minute details for our BWP trip. Because I am one of the leaders taking this group out to Colorado, I must help organize the hotel stays, the lift tickets, and the transportation, not to mention the funding. Most of this has already been taken care of, it is just a matter of tying all loose ends up before departing on Saturday.

 

The next time we speak, I will hopefully have some good news about our break and some pictures to illustrate the fun had. I hope this fine weather is making you all feel refreshed and I urge you to spend time outside. Reintroduce yourself to nature.

 

Peace,

Collin

 

p.s. There was a speaker by the name of David Abram who came to Luther on Thursday night. He prepared an amazing presentation about how humans are becoming disconnected to the natural world and no longer see ourselves as part of it. It was really fascinating and inspiring. So I hope you all will do some research on him and the Alliance for Wild Ethics, and take his advice to reconnect with nature (you've got a lot in common:)).

Energy and Community

Hello everyone, here's the news from Luther College.

 

Friday was the end of the Energy Evolution. This is a campus-wide event that lasts for a few weeks and promotes energy awareness and conservation. There were all sorts of events, from blackout movie screenings to energy audits of rooms, as well as contests with great prizes for those dorms and floors that showed great initiative in conserving energy. Larsen hall, the dorm in which I live, managed to reduce energy consumption by 14% during the Energy Evolution month. Some halls did even better. 

 

It seems as though there has been a shift, and it is most noticeable in the college-aged generation of today. There is such a drive for people to take action in order to understand and combat the negative effects of over consumption, dirty energy (coal, oil, etc.), and the lifestyles many of us lead that are hardly sustainable. It is a beautiful thing to see; heaps of college students running around campus, turning off lights and promoting wise use of electricity. This sense of energy awareness is definitely a large part of Luther's community and set of ethics. Not only is it present in the students, but large steps have been made to reduce the tremendous carbon footprint that a college community of this size leaves. From upgrading old architecture and energy systems and green building techniques to exploring the possibilities of wind power and biomass heating; Luther is doing its part to manage its emissions and sending a positive message about sustainability and possibility.

 

We learn from events such as Energy Evolution that each individual plays a part in the larger picture. We all must make some contribution to work towards a sustainable future. Change out those incandescent light bulbs, take shorter showers, buy second-hand items. It is not difficult, but it does require a conscious effort. It's up to you.

 

I hope everyone is well. All comments or questions are welcome. If you want me to write on a specific topic, or want to know more about something I have already written, don't be shy. I would love to hear from you.

 

Peace,

Collin

The Plight of the Student

It's that time of the semester already. I am getting bogged down with studies for upcoming exams. I have a botany exam tomorrow, followed by a chemistry exam on Wednesday. In addition to that, I have had the never-ending load of readings, lab reports, and other homework. It is nothing unexpected, but it is also nothing to be grateful for.

 

This kind of perplexes me when I think about it. Why is it that we, as voluntary students, decide to complain about the workload that accompanies the role of student? I decided to come to Luther College to pursue a degree in biology. How could I possibly complain in any way about having to do work to expand my mind in ways that I desire, or to obtain fascinating nuggets of knowledge in my field of study. It seems almost exactly opposite of what I should be doing; that is, thanking professors, faculty, staff, my parents, and whomever else made this opportunity possible for me. I understand this all in theory, but it is a bit more difficult to rationalize all this when I must sit in my room studying photosynthesis until wee hours of the morning. Oh well, it will undoubtedly benefit me in the end.

 

So that is where we are at currently at Luther College; the first wave of exams and due dates. It is the authentic initiation back into "real life" on campus after the lull of J-term. I must admit, I am still in that mode a little, so I am struggling to make this new schedule and set of commitments work. However, I feel as though I am having an easier time understanding and engaging in the material which I am studying. It may be because of the set of classes I am taking, or it may be because it is still early in the semester. Either way, I hope to maintain this momentum for the rest of the year.

 

I hope I find you all in good health and spirits. Enjoy the coming of spring, even during those moments when it is still very wintery. 

 

Peace,

Collin