April 2007
Celebrated Authors on Campus in April
Rajiv Chandrasekaran, author of “Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone,” and Ben Lerner, a poet who wrote “Angle of Yaw,” will visit the campus Thursday, April 12, and Friday, April 13, to discuss their works nominated for National Book Awards.
National Book Awards at Concordia events include:
2:40 p.m., Thursday - Master Class with Chandrasekaran
Frida Nilsen Lounge
7:30 p.m., Thursday - Readings and Conversation
Knutson Center Centrum (event will be Webcast: details)
(followed by Reception & Book Signing, Library)
1:20 p.m., Friday - Master Class with Lerner
Park Region Lounge
Harold Augenbraum, executive director of the National Book Foundation, will also speak about the craft of writing at the Honors Convocation (event will be Webcast: details) at 10:40 a.m. Friday in the Centrum.
Mortenson to Speak at Commencement
 Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations … One School at a Time,” will speak at Concordia’s Commencement on Sunday, April 29 in Memorial Auditorium.
Mortenson, a Montana resident who has spent the last few years building schools for impoverished communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan, attended Concordia from 1977 to 1979. More...
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Students Build Adobe Homes in Taos, N.M.
The image of a typical college spring break is that of students going to exotic beaches and basking in the sun.
For 19 Concordia students and a faculty leader, this was not the case. They  spent their recent spring break surrounded by plains and the Pueblo Peaks in Taos, N.M., with Habitat for Humanity.
Kendra Gauffin '07 says there is great value in what the students did with Habitat for Humanity.
"This trip helped me reaffirm the decisions I have made in my life to devote time to helping people," Gauffin says. "I saw the impact firsthand and I know that because of the small amount of time I dedicated to them, they will be able to have a home, which means so much to me." Full story...
Read more about how Concordia students used their spring breaks for Habitat for Humanity, Justice Journeys and Exploration Seminars.
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College Offers New Master's Program
Concordia College is launching a Master of Education in world language instruction this summer. Designed for all educators teaching world languages, coursework will include summer instruction at the Concordia Language Villages in language immersion pedagogy along with online courses during the academic year.
“Connecting our internationally recognized Language Villages with our accomplished Concordia faculty creates a powerful combination that makes this unique program in graduate teacher education possible,” says Dr. Mark Krejci, vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the college. “It will be an important addition to our distinctive global education.” More...
It Matters to You
Furry Companions: The Benefits of Pet Therapy
If you’ve ever sat still and snuggled a dog or cat for a few minutes, you’ve experienced firsthand the benefits of human-animal contact.
Spending time with a pet helps you relax, lower your blood pressure, decrease feelings of stress and anxiety, and make you feel loved and special. Pet owners even supposedly live longer.
Studies in recent years have touted the emotional and physical benefits of owning a pet or at least spending time with one, such as during a therapy pet visit. Animal-assisted therapy can help with feelings of loneliness, increase social and verbal interaction, help with healing after an illness or medical procedure, and just make life a little more fun.
More...
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Critical Language Funding Tops $1 Million Mark
With a recent grant of $150,000 from the Freeman Foundation, Concordia Language Villages has reached $1.2 million in funding for its critical language programming.
The combination of five grants during the past year will help continue and strengthen the Language Villages’ internationally-renowned immersion language instruction in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and other highly important world languages.
The Freeman Foundation was established in 1994 in memory of Mansfield Freeman, a co-founder of AIG, to support international understanding between the United States and the nations of East Asia. The grant will benefit the Chinese, Japanese and Korean Language Villages.
More...
Ann Svennungsen Named TLU President
 The Rev. Ann Svennungsen ’77 was recently named the 14th president of Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.
She is the first female president in the university’s 116-year history and will succeed Dr. Jon Moline, who is retiring June 30. Svennungsen will begin her duties as president July 1.
In 2003, Svennungsen became president of The Fund for Theological Education, an advocate organization for excellence and diversity in Christian ministry. FTE supports future pastors and scholars through fellowships, a support network, and serving as a resource for educational and faith communities. More...
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 Behind the Book Stacks
When Concordia opened its doors in 1891, the library was located in Bishop Whipple Hall. Its collections were primarily reference materials and newspapers published in Norwegian for the immigrant populace.
In 1907, the library moved to the basement of the newly completed Main building and ten years later moved to the second floor when more space was needed for its collections.
When Grose Hall was built in 1922, the library again moved around which time Concordia’s first librarian, Carrie Braaten, was hired.
During these early years, students were permitted to borrow one volume for two weeks and were charged one cent each day the volume was overdue.
As Concordia’s student body continued to increase, more space was needed for classrooms, programs, and students. The library found itself dealing with a similar struggle; for example, in the early 1940s, freshmen students were not allowed to study in the library because there was not enough room. More... |
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