Author: Luther College News

In recognition of Black History Month, Luther College will host “The Politics of Critical Race Theory,” a lecture by Gloria Ladson-Billings at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10 via Zoom.

Ladson-Billings is known for her work in culturally relevant teaching and equity-focused instruction. She has done extensive research on the application of critical race theory in education. Her critically acclaimed book “The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African-American Children,” tells the stories, strategies and experiences of eight teachers who are successful in educating young African Americans and helping them realize their dreams. It is widely known and utilized in the education field.

During the 2005 American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting, Ladson-Billings delivered her presidential address, “From the Achievement Gap to the Education Debt: Understanding Achievement in U.S. Schools” in which she highlighted the combination of historical, moral, socio-political and economic factors that have disproportionately affected African-American, Latino, Asian and other non-white students.

“Given the national strife over the role of race in the curriculum of our educational systems, I can think of nothing more valuable than the insights of a scholar like Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, whose research on race and education has made essential contributions to the field of critical race theory,” said Novian Whitsitt, professor of Africana studies and English.

Critical race theory scholars attempt to understand and transform the relationship between race, racism, and power. In her talk, Ladson-Billings will discuss how critical race theory applies to the political landscape, culture wars and how it impacts perception of educational opportunities.

Ladson-Billings is the former Kellner Family Distinguished Professor of Urban Education in the department of curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she also served as the assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs.

Sponsored by Luther’s new Identity Studies program, the link to the virtual event can be found at luther.edu/events. It is open to the public at no cost.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Luther College is preparing for a major renovation of the Sports and Recreation Center (SRC) in 2022. The improvements to the 45,000 square-foot facility include new floor surfacing that combines performance and safety, replacement of the multipurpose netting system to maximize space utilization, and installation of a videoboard to enhance the student and spectator experience. The estimated cost of the project is $1.2 million. To date, more than $1 million has been secured through the generosity of donors.

Constructed in 1991 as part of an expansion of Luther’s athletics complex, the SRC has never undergone significant updates. It is heavily used year-round for practices, competition, recreation, and events. The facility currently houses a 200-meter, six-lane track; two batting cages; six tennis courts; and two basketball courts.

            “We are so grateful to have the SRC. Whether it’s being used by the tennis or track and field teams for indoor training and competition, by the baseball and softball teams for preseason workouts, or by community members walking and jogging inside to avoid the cold winter weather, it has many purposes,” said Renae Hartl, director of intercollegiate athletics. “This building has served us well over the years and now it’s time to make this space more vibrant and functional so people can enjoy it for years to come.”

            Along with the renovation project comes the commemorative naming of spaces to honor Luther coaches who have made a lifetime of impact on their student-athletes.

Robert and Ann Naslund Sports and Recreation Center

            The SRC will be known as the Robert and Ann Naslund Sports and Recreation Center. From a student-athlete to coach to friend and avid supporter, Robert Naslund ’65 has had strong ties to Luther for over 50 years.

“Nas” served at the helm of the football team for 18 years and the track and field team for 12 years, winning 12 Iowa Conference team titles and Coach of the Year honors nine times. He played football and ran track and field at Luther, earning all-conference honors in both sports and the respect of his coaches and teammates. Naslund was a teacher and mentor for Luther students and has maintained relationships with alumni for decades. In retirement, Naslund often drives the Luther team bus and remains a fan of Norse student-athletes and teams.

“Having the Naslund name on the SRC is appreciated and meaningful beyond words for me, Ann, and our family,” said Naslund. “This newly restored center will be very special for all of the people it serves and for all of us who love Luther College.”

Naslund said he fell in love with Luther in the spring of 1960 when he arrived on campus for a visit and met coaches Edsel Schweizer and Hamlet Peterson. He enrolled in the fall of that same year.

“Ever since that 150 pound linebacking ‘Blue Bullet’ and first-generation college farm kid from Cambridge, Illinois, showed up on the Luther campus, there has been a journey full of great stories about the great people at this place! I am eternally grateful to the coaches and athletes who created all of those stories including Rich, Su, and Kirk. It’s an honor to be recognized alongside them. The Sports and Recreation Center has been and will be the source of many great stories to come,” he said.

Naslund expressed overwhelming gratitude to the donors who are making this renovation a reality. “Their extraordinary generosity and support will impact the Luther College family and Decorah community for years to come!” The naming of the facility is supported through a challenge gift from Joe ’80 and Greer Whitters.

            “We wanted to donate to this project because we believe students should have a balance between academics and extracurricular activities,” said Joe Whitters. “Luther has seen many great professors and coaches but Coach Naslund did it for so long and so well and continues his commitment to Luther Athletics to this day.”

Oertel/Leake Indoor Courts

            The tennis courts will be named the Oertel/Leake Indoor Courts in honor of coaches Su Oertel ’72 and Richard Leake.

            Oertel retired in 2006 after an impressive 31-year coaching career as the head women’s tennis coach beginning in 1975. With a dual meet record of 383-189, Oertel was one of the best known and most successful coaches in the college’s history. She guided the Norse to four AIAW Iowa State Championships in five years and an unmatched 23 of 24 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women’s tennis championships. The women’s tennis team won 19 consecutive IIAC titles, 17 of them with Oertel coaching on site. Oertel was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year for Division III Women’s Tennis 12 times and in 1992, she was voted Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s National Coach of the Year in Division III women. Her student-athletes made 10 trips to the NCAA Division III national team tournament and 13 trips to the NCAA III national individual tournament.

            “What a tremendous honor this naming is. I got to work in a beautiful facility that I loved, with people I loved, at a college that I love,” said Oertel. “Playing on tennis courts taped to the basketball floors and practicing in the gyms at 6 a.m. or 10 p.m. when it was available, we all excitedly watched the much-needed SRC facility being built in 1991. I want to thank those who contributed to the updating of the SRC project. The renovation of this space will update an already tremendous facility by making much-needed, sport-specific improvements. To be identified with Luther College as a student-athlete and coach and now, with my name on the indoor tennis courts with Rich are tremendous honors. Go Norse!”

            The joint naming of this space symbolizes the relationship between Oertel and Leake who worked closely with and supported each other during their coaching careers. Leake coached the women’s tennis team in 1984-85 while Oertel was pursuing her doctoral degree. That year, the team won the Iowa Conference Championship and Leake was named Coach of the Year.

            Leake was the head men’s tennis coach from 1975-83 and 1985-2001. He led the Norse to 11 Iowa Conference Championships that included a string of eight consecutive titles from 1988-1995. He coached eight Iowa Conference MVPs, one three-time NCAA III All-American, 56 conference singles champions, and 53 conference doubles champions. During his time as men’s head tennis coach, he was selected Iowa Conference Coach of the Year 12 times and completed his career with a dual meet record of 270-209.

            “It is an unbelievable honor to be recognized alongside these great Luther coaches and athletes,” said Leake. “I am very grateful for the donors who are making this top-notch facility possible. The renovation of this indoor space should be a real boost to the recruitment of tennis and track student-athletes. Although the current facility has served Luther College well for 30 years, it is time for an upgrade and a facelift. I could not be more pleased that Luther is investing in its athletic program with this new facility.”

             As part of the renovation, the indoor courts will be reconfigured to include four doubles tennis courts.

Neubauer Indoor Track

            The indoor track will be named the Neubauer Indoor Track in honor of Kirk Neubauer ’76. Neubauer was the head coach of the men’s track and field team from 1980-1986. His teams won the Iowa Conference Championships all seven years, and he was named Iowa Conference Coach of the Year four times. He also coached the women’s cross country team for three seasons (1986-1988). His ’87 team won an Iowa Conference title, and he was selected Coach of the Year.

According to Neubauer, Naslund was instrumental in his decision to attend Luther.

“During my senior year in high school, Coach Naslund made the effort to visit my home on the farm in Iowa Falls to better acquaint me with Luther. Coach Naslund convinced me, as well as my parents, that Luther was a special place. Having him as my track coach for four years and running on four conference championship teams under his leadership was a privilege.”

Neubauer said that when he was informed that the new track would be named in his honor, he was “taken aback” and wants all of the student-athletes he coached over the years to know that this naming is a collaboration of all of their efforts. He also recognizes that the new track was made possible through a generous donation.  

“Although the family who supported the track renovation wished to remain anonymous, I know their financial commitment to Luther over the years has been phenomenal, and we thank them once again for their generosity! Coaches Naslund, Oertel, Leake, and I were all members of the Luther Athletic Department staff during the same era, so sharing the excitement of the SRC renovation with them is especially gratifying.”

            Neubauer hopes that, along with being an incredible setting for training and competition, Decorah community members will utilize the track for health and fitness initiatives, especially when inclement weather interferes with exercise.

Make a gift

Fundraising continues for the SRC renovation project, and gifts and pledges of all sizes are appreciated. Multiyear pledges may be fulfilled over three years. All gifts of $10,000 or more qualify for recognition on the donor wall in the facility. For more information on ways to support this project, call the Development Office at (800) 225-8664 to speak with a development officer. For more information visit luther.edu/giving/priorities/sail-norse/src/.

Luther College, a NCAA Division III athletics program, is a member of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) located in Decorah, Iowa.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Andy Hageman, associate professor of English, has been named the new director of the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement (CEPE) at Luther College.

            “I am thrilled and honored to be taking the role of director of the CEPE,” said Hageman. “My training, research, and teaching focus on the power of narrative, the ethical opportunities and challenges as new technologies emerge and shape our cultures, and the role science fiction can play in creatively addressing climate change and racism. I look forward to leading the center with attention to ethics in the stories we create, circulate, and consume about justice, from algorithms and athletics to ancient aquatic arthropods.” 

Founded in 2006, the CEPE’s mission is to extend conversation beyond the classroom by examining assumptions, exchanging ideas, and encouraging responsible action in our world. By encouraging and supporting deep reflection about ethical matters and responsible citizenship, the center helps students connect the pursuit of learning with what it means to live a meaningful life.

This mission is supported through programming such as guest speakers and residencies, discussions, reading groups, news hour gatherings, and panel discussions. A theme guides each year’s focus. This year the theme is The Ethics of Leadership.

Hageman teaches courses in the English department, environmental studies program, Paideia first-year experience, and capstones on ethics. He promotes the rigorous imagining of how and why an interdisciplinary liberal arts education prepares students for a future of life, work, and civic engagement. He collaborates with students to shape their core competencies in creative analysis and design, ethical judgment, and the power of narrative.

            “The CEPE is a portal through which Luther students, faculty, and staff can share their innovative and interdisciplinary work with broader communities. At the heart of my own work is embracing the entanglement of different disciplines. I see the center as a way to connect projects and pursuits–a space where scholars in English, environmental studies, and data science, for example, design projects together. Likewise, the center will provide students opportunities to connect their academic work to the paths they will move along after graduation,” said Hageman.

            Hageman will begin his five-year term as director of the CEPE in February 2022. He succeeds Victoria Christman who was recently appointed director of the Center for Global Learning at Luther College.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Luther’s spring 2021 opera production of “Dido and Aeneas” has been awarded first place in Division II of the National Opera Association’s (NOA) 2020-21 Opera Production Competition.

The competition promotes excellence in opera education and pedagogy through its support of a diverse community of opera educators and professionals. This was the first time Luther has entered this annual contest.

“This award is an outstanding tribute to our program,” said Andrew Whitfield, coordinator of opera. “The judges noted wonderful musicality, the full engagement of the ensemble throughout the piece, the inventive concept and the cohesive staging. We are very proud of the work of our students. We see their talent and dedication evidenced on campus every day, and it is exciting to see these attributes celebrated at the national level.”

“I’m very proud of the production we put together,” said Dylan Schang who played the role of Aenas. “Our production of ‘Dido and Aeneas’ spoke to the importance of preserving democracy, particularly in today’s political climate, set to the tragic story of the two lovers. I think this award represents the vision of our directors, realized by our cast and crew, to offer a sincerely impactful production.”

Due to the ongoing pandemic, instructors and students were met with challenges they had to overcome such as mask-wearing, limited rehearsal times and having to act to the student vocalists’ and instrumentalists’ pre-recorded audio for a livestream performance. 

“Winning first place is a great honor,” said Molly Holcomb who played the role of Belinda. “It really shows the amount of effort both the cast and crew put into the opera production, especially considering the circumstances. It was a kind of production that Luther had never put on before, sort of like a big experiment. Winning the award means that the experiment was a success, and that’s something we should all be proud of. It was truly a team effort.”

The production was directed by Whitfield and Carla Thelen Hanson, instructor in music, with Nicholas Shaneyfelt, assistant professor of music, as the music director. Mick Layden, digital media producer for the music department, served as sound technician and livestream videographer. Mark Potvin, assistant professor of music, was the scene designer. Other production team members included Cleo Garza, Emmelyn Cullen, and Marann Faget.

Cast members included Evan Berth, Kyla Billington, Andrea Blocker, Patrick Carew, Nicholas Drilling, Willa Eacret, Megan Elford, Gabe Goeddeke, Molly Graff, Mikaela Hanrahan, Ashley Harms, Joshua Hartl, Molly Holcomb, Emily Lauer, Stefanie Maas, Hunter Meyer, Rhylan Peterson, Ash Rebmann, Barbara Reed, Brenna Reiland, Brynja Riehm, Dylan Schang, Anne Sedlacek, Abs Trewin, Thomas Warden, Madeline Wilkins and Ethan Williams.

Orchestra members included Nathan Eck, Ben Gunsch, Eric Head, Shana Liu, Frances Marshall, Malachi Rettmann and Belle Searcy.

The goal of the NOA Opera Production Competition is to further the organization’s mission by encouraging and rewarding creative, high-quality opera productions at academic institutions and music conservatories. Due to the vast range of resources available to producing organizations, the entrants are first divided into undergraduate and graduate levels (based on predominant age group or training level of the cast), and then each level is divided into three divisions according to production size and budget. Luther falls into Division II.

“The Luther music program as a whole creates so many opportunities beyond just opera; the history of excellence in music education training specifically in the choral field is truly exemplary,” said Schang.

“Luther provides a high caliber music education, and you constantly feel like you’re not only being pushed by those around you, but supported as well. I feel extremely grateful to be a part of Luther’s music legacy and the community it creates,” said Holcomb.

About Luther College Music

Luther is home to one of the largest undergraduate music programs in the nation, with five choirs, three orchestras, two bands, two jazz bands and more than 600 student musicians. Luther students participate in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. Nearly 175 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, jazz, church music and performance. Learn more at luther.edu/music.