Elimination of Dining Trays Curbs Waste
Food waste in the college's main dining facility was
reduced significantly this fall. The probable cause is
eliminating food trays. Food waste studies conducted
in fall 2008 with trays and again in fall 2009 without
trays revealed a significant reduction in the amount of
food thrown away during meals.
The study revealed a 40 percent decrease in food
waste, totaling 108 pounds of food saved for every
1,000 customers.
There are many variables when conducting food
waste studies, such as the menu items being served
that day. To get a more accurate reading of the food
waste reduction, Dining Services took the average
of the studies completed since Anderson Commons
opened in fall 2007. These results showed a 24
percent reduction in food waste, or 51 pounds of food
for every 1,000 customers.
Anderson Commons sees on average 2,900 customers
each day. The almost 150 pounds of food saved
each day could feed nearly 120 people. Anderson
Commons became a trayless dining facility during
summer 2009 in support of the campus roadmap to
sustainability.
Italian Course Features Immersion Learning
A new two-credit introductory Italian course is being offered this semester, taught
by music associate professor David Hamilton. In addition to regular course time,
students will also take part in three immersion weekends, two at Concordia and one
at Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji.
Eleven of the students will continue their Italian language learning through a new
summer school course in Italy offered by Hamilton. He says the students will be
based in Trieste, Italy, and will be fully immersed in the language through their city
interactions and homestays in that area. They will continue their Italian language
studies with a native speaking instructor and have the option to take voice classes
taught by Hamilton.
Division of Language, Literature and Culture chair Dr. Mary Rice says the Italian
course is open to all students, though will likely be of special interest to voice,
art and language majors.
"For years, students have been asking for Concordia to offer Italian," she says.
"Some of the students enrolled in the course are Spanish and French majors who are
thrilled to have the opportunity to study another romance language."
If interest for the course continues, it will be offered every other year.
Acclaimed Authors Visit Campus
Two best-selling authors will talk
about their writing at the National
Book Awards at Concordia event
in March. The National Book
Award winner for fiction, Colum
McCann, and National Book
Award for fiction finalist Daniyal
Mueenuddin will be on campus to
meet with students, hold master
classes and be part of an evening
of Readings and Conversation
hosted by MPR's Kerri Miller at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 25, in the Centrum,
Knutson Campus Center.
McCann's novels have circled the globe being published in 30 languages. His
National Book Award-winning novel, "Let the Great World Spin," depicts New York
City in the 1970s and the pain, loveliness, mystery and promise that make up the
city.
Mueenuddin grew up in Pakistan with his American mother and Pakistani father until
he was 13 years old. He then moved to the U.S., graduated from Yale Law School
and returned to Pakistan, where he lives today. His debut book that was a finalist for
the National Book Award in fiction, "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders," draws on
the strata of contemporary Pakistan to give readers a sharp sense of their own lives.
Read more at www.ConcordiaCollege.edu/nationalbook.