As the cold grip of winter begins to loosen in March, a gleam appears in the eyes of those on campus. Soon, spring break will arrive to herald the return of relative warmth, and Auggies will mark its return with exciting voyages or relaxation at home. Augsburg’s mid-semester break runs from March 17 – 24 this year.
Campus Ministry has organized several activities during this break in the Day Program. For those who aren’t leaving the Twin Cities, Campus Ministry will help you explore local restaurants, enjoy cultural events, and participate in service projects — you can pick the ones that interest you and simply attend. They will also be leading a group of volunteers to flood-ravaged southeastern Minnesota to help assist Lutheran Disaster Relief from March 16 – 20 in Rushford, Minn. Applications are still being accepted for this trip.
Finally, Campus Ministry will lead 25 volunteers the New Orleans hurricane recovery trip again this year. They will be flying into Louisiana and staying at a disaster recovery camp, where volunteers will help with clean-up projects or construction. Registrations were due Feb. 1. For any questions about Campus Ministry’s spring break events, contact Ross Murray at murray@augsburg.edu.
Strike up the band
Meanwhile, Music Department Chair Bob Stacke will be conducting the Augsburg Concert Band during its 2008 Spring Tour across Minnesota. Here is a list of their performances:
| Sunday, March 16, 4 p.m.
First Lutheran Church 107 2nd St SE; Aitkin, MN 56431 Church Phone: 218-927-2028 |
Tuesday, March 18, 1:30 p.m.
Blackduck High School PO Box 550 Blackduck, Minnesota School Phone: 218-835-5233 |
| Monday, March 17, 9:30 a.m.
with the Sebeka High School Band Dave Kerkvliet, ’95 Sebeka High School 200 1st St NW; Sebeka, MN 56477 School Phone: 218-837-5101 |
Wednesday, March 19, 9 a.m.
Staples-Motley High School 401 Centennial Lane; Staples, MN 56479 School Phone: 218-894-2431 |
| Tuesday, March 18, 8:30 a.m.
Park Rapids Area High School 401 Huntsinger Ave; Park Rapids, MN 56470 School Phone: 218-237-6400 |
Tuesday, April 15, 7 p.m.
Home Concert Hoversten Chapel Augsburg College |
Learning in Nicaragua
To wrap up the month, Augsburg’s senior administrators will visit the Center for Global Education’s site in Nicaragua from March 24 – 28. Orval Gingerich (Director of Augsburg’s International Programs) will show President Pribbenow, the College Cabinet, and Regent Steve Sheppard a first-hand look of Augsburg’s educational reach into the developing world.
President Pribbenow hopes this visit will expose this leadership team to a different culture and world view that will shape their work on behalf of Augsburg’s students. One important question he will ask them to consider: “How does what our CGE program in Nicaragua does day in and day out educating students about otherness make a difference for how we lead Augsburg?”
The trip will also help reconnect with Augsburg’s staff in Nicaragua and provide a nod to the integral role CGE programs play in advancing the mission of the college. President Pribbenow also hopes his team develops “a better and more concrete sense of why our CGE programs are important and why we need to build endowment support to sustain and strengthen their work.”