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

The Sound of Music

Hello all, I hope this last week as been good for you all. I am here to tell you that mine was quick, productive and entertaining.

 

I had one of those odd experiences over this past week in which time was a little messed up. I felt either a day behind or a day ahead each morning when I woke up. For this reason, some days seemed to whiz by, whereas others passed at a snail's pace. I am really liking my schedule for this semester, though. I have two classes each day, which provides some breaks in between for relaxation or homework. I've tried a few combinations now, I've had a semester during which I had no class on Tuesdays and Thursdays (although I did have lab), and I had a semester with heavy course loads on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have now reached a balance, and I think it is my favorite so far. I am loving my Botany class, which is mostly lab work. My religion class (Buddhism & Animal Welfare) is also quite fascinating. I am enjoying chemistry more than last semester, which is a bit surprising. The only class that I may have some complaints about is my Paideia 2 course. It is a little slow moving, and quite repetitive. However, the subject matter is really important (global warming, climate policy), so I find it worthwhile to read and participate.

 

Besides class, the semester has proven to be rather entertaining thus far. For example, we held an event at the rock climbing wall on Friday. Its theme was "Love is Blind," and people were encouraged to scale the wall blindfolded. Only a few people showed up, but it was a great time, nonetheless. Right after that, I headed to Marty's (a social hangout and cybercafé on campus) for a concert by a band named Maritza. They play eastern European music, which was amazing. After that, I went and played some music of my own with some of my buddies. The following night was the Center Stage Performance of the Harlem Gospel Choir, which was quite a treat. I have not seen a Center Stage Performance with so much energy and excitement. They were also quite fantastic. Check out the video posted below. It isn't the Luther performance, but you can get the feeling. Last night I raced downtown after a quick dinner to play a gig with my friends at T-Bock's (a sports bar and grill) monthly Open Stage Night. It was a very full weekend which tended to focus on music in one form or another. Not bad at all.

 

In other news, people are already discussing their plans for living situations next year as room draw is showing up on the radar. A lot of people are really excited to have new rooms, apartments, or roommates. I am not entirely sharing in this excitement, due to my current plan of taking a year off for myself. However, it is a definite indication of the coming of spring and with it all of the talk of the end of the year, the summer, and even next year. It is amazing how time can just fly on by.

 

I am off to do some religion readings on animal liberation before heading down to the rock wall. Take care everyone, and I will speak to you soon. Again, feel free to leave any comments or as any questions you may have. We can make this as interactive as you would like.

 

Peace,

Collin

I Want to be a Bollywood Star

Hello again everyone, I hope you have had an excellent week since we last spoke. Much has happened in the last week for me, so let's dive right in.

 

First off, Saturday was the date of the annual Ethnic Arts festival here at Luther. I have been attending this since I was very young, and it gets better every year. Basically, it is a festival in which anyone who wants to represent their heritage or culture can do so in multiple ways. The day starts off with a fair of booths set up in the Center for Faith and Life (CFL). These booths represent specific countries or regions and there are arts, crafts, information, and activities about or from each location. The most popular part of the festival comes later in the day: dinner. Students and volunteers slave away in the kitchen for hours preparing mouth-watering dishes from all over the world. My plate consisted of food from Jamaica, India, Serbia and Wisconsin, and that was only a tiny portion of the variety that was to be enjoyed. After the dinner, there is the ever-famous talent show for which people prepare all sorts of acts. There was dancing from India and Egypt, songs from China and Rwanda, and comedy from all over the globe. Several of my friends were involved in the performance, so it was especially fun to watch. I am always amazed at how much talent is concentrated on Luther's campus.

 

In addition to the Ethnic Arts Festival was a Center Stage Series concert in the CFL. This series of concerts usually brings in some amazing artists, and this time was no exception. The Alison Brown Quartet featuring Joe Craven came and played a little bluegrass, celtic, and jazz music. They were quite fantastic and told some great stories. The next Center Stage Series concert is this Saturday. It is the Harlem Gospel Choir, which should be a very energetic and exciting performance.

 

So, this is what has been on my mind lately. Currently I am considering what I want to do next year. I am planning on taking a year off from school and doing some independent travel. I was considering doing a study abroad, but find the programs to be too confining, or just too expensive. I will come back and graduate at the same time as expected. I am thinking about doing some volunteer biological research abroad, some bicycle touring here and abroad, and visiting a few friends who will be scattered around the globe for study abroad experiences. If any of you have any tips, suggestions, or comments, I would love to hear them or hear of your own travel experiences. 

 

Take care of yourself and others and keep warm.

 

Peace,

Collin

Buddhism and Botany

Here we are again; a brand new semester, a brand new schedule, and a brand new workload. It is a time of refreshment, but some harsh realities come along with it. I'll explain a bit more.

 

I think I am going to have a very interesting set of classes. I am taking a religion course that investigates the link between animal welfare and well-being with Buddhist religious practices. I am also enrolled in a Paideia Capstone course that will focus on energy usage and ethical decisions regarding this topic, along with current policy regarding the US's energy usage. I finish it off with the second half of chemistry and a botany course, which should be quite enjoyable.

 

That is the refreshing part, it is nice to be taking courses that are interesting and new. However, after the first half-week of classes (we started on Wednesday) I had over 200 pages of reading to do and a hefty amount of supplementary work. I was pretty overwhelmed this weekend, especially after enjoying quite a bit of freedom during J-term. I think that this semester is going to really test me. I don't know that I have had this heavy of a workload for a semester, so it will be a challenge, but a good one, I am sure.

 

I've got some news regarding what I may be planning for next year that I will not go into right now, but will let you in on at a later date. I may need some input, too, so come back and help me out. But for now, I leave you. I need to do MORE reading for my botany class. I hope you are all well and happy. 

 

Peace,

Collin

A Reason to Love Decorah

Another reason why I decided to stay in Decorah for college became clear to me last night. The fourth Sunday of every month hosts T-Bock's (a bar and grill downtown) Open Stage Night. It is an open mic performance in which anyone can perform - music, comedy, anything. So the band with which I have been playing was scheduled to play last night. We arrived to find that the emcee and organizer of the performance was a no-show. This also meant that there was no sound equipment for the musicians who had arrived to perform. After multiple failed attempts to contact the fella in charge, we gave up on him. 

 

People still wanted to perform and share what they had been preparing, so everyone came together and tried to figure something out. We pieced together a list of what sound equipment individuals had and/or were able to get a hold of. After a few different set-ups and changes, we had a full sound system with four microphones and several instrument inputs. It was just as good, if not better, than the typical system that is provided.

 

It was not so much the fact that people had equipment that we all could use, but rather the collaborative effort that went into maintaining a community event that would have otherwise not taken place. All the musicians and performers decided that, rather than give up and forfeit the event, we would use everyone's talents and contributions to have a fantastic performance.

 

The music that followed was great, and everyone had a little more invested in the performance, which made it even more enjoyable. I ended up running the sound system, and playing the last act of the night. Our set was so much fun to play; I absolutely love playing with my band mates. It was the four of us (vocals, guitar, mandolin, bass, and banjo) and another friend playing washboard and tambourine. 

 

It was a fantastic night, not just because it was graced with good music and company, but also because it showed me something very impressive and heartwarming about the community in which I live. It is truly a wonderful place to be.

 

I hope you are all well. Come visit Decorah sometime and you will see what I mean.

 

Peace,

Collin

Congratulations America

First off, I want to congratulate the US on choosing Barack Obama as 44th President. What a day.

 

I won't get too much into politics since that is not the purpose of this blog but more so because I could go on forever, and that probably would not be a great idea.

 

Let's examine life with a sharper focus. This is the news at Luther:

 

This past weekend held the annual Brandt Open Mic Bar (BOMB). It is sponsored by Brandt Hall Resident Assistants and Luther College Wellness. It was a fantastic open mic show with free "mocktails" all night. It is mind blowing to go to this sort of event because of all the musicians and performers that come out of the woodwork. I was incredibly impressed with the lineup this year, and had a great time. There were a few acts during which I could not stop smiling because of the quality. Some of my friends performed, and it was fun because it was not a setting in which I know them. These are people I live with or know from class or campus activities, and it is sometimes a surprise that they have such talent on stage.

 

Speaking of performances, I will be having a nice little experience of my own next weekend. A bar and grill downtown hosts a monthly "Open Stage Night" and the bluegrass band that I've been playing with is scheduled to make an appearance. We had a jam session on Friday night, which is always a blast and I think we are going to have some fun tunes to perform.

 

We are nearing the end of J-term already, which is pretty unbelievable. This is my last full week at the high school for my observation period. I think it will be good to start something new again, I am always a fan of semester changes. I am also looking forward to seeing some of my friends again who have been gone for the month on off-campus excursions, abroad and otherwise.

 

So that is mostly what I have for you today. It's been a tiring day, I'm still struggling with the high school schedule, so you will have to forgive me for that. I hope I am finding you all in good health and spirits, and enjoy the week.

 

Peace,

Collin