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Recipes from SBS 100

recipes If you didn’t eat in the Commons cafeteria on Wednesday, you missed a treat. The students in SBS 100: Environmental Connections prepared a scrumptious meal using locally grown and produced foods including greens they planted and harvested in Augsburg’s greenhouse. Congratulations class on a job well done!

Joe Underhill, one of the SBS 100 instructors, said he, Michael Lansing, and the students in the class had a lot of fun with the project but are also glad it’s done now. “My favorite comment was from two of our students, one of whom said he felt ‘warm inside’ after the meal, and the other who felt ‘full in a different way than I usually do’ after the meal, and in a good way. I think a lot of people have rarely or never really eaten this kind of fresh, really nutritious food.” Continue reading “Recipes from SBS 100”

Student sculpture featured in "Ana’s Playground"

anasplaygroundThey received fairly ambiguous instructions and a sketch showing stone slabs apparently hovering in the air. Their task: turn an artist’s vision into reality by creating a sculpture that would protect a young girl from a sniper’s shot.

This fall, the students in robert tom’s introduction to sculpture class worked to construct a fountain for the set of Ana’s Playground, a not-for-profit film about children in armed conflict. Written and directed by Eric D. Howell, “The film is intended to expose new audiences to the fact that children are being used as tools of war around the world.” (filmmakers blog) Continue reading “Student sculpture featured in "Ana’s Playground"”

Mixed Blood show features talents of alum

SindibadA message from Aaron Gabriel ’00

I recently had the privilege of composing a score for Interact’s new musical Sindibad: Artist and Outlaw, playing at the Mixed Blood Theater through December 20. The score is a mix of musical ideas from the past five decades as well as minimalism, world music, and polytonality. It’s been a great challenge and I have really enjoyed the creative freedom it has allowed. I have a great pit that includes Mindy Eschedor, Patrick Charbonneau, and Ryan Hughes.

From the Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts:

Sublime and ridiculous; literal yet abstract; wrenching, ethereal and humorous, Interact once again dissolves the expected boundaries in this world premiere of Sindibad: Artist and Outlaw, opening Saturday, November 29, at Mixed Blood Theatre. Through song, dance, historical clips and shadow puppetry, the performance weaves the real events of one man’s extraordinary life with actual events of the times. Continue reading “Mixed Blood show features talents of alum”

Free food and a break from finals

holiday_parties The end of the fall semester always brings a rush of events designed to help students get ready for or take a break from finals. We’re also blessed (or cursed, depending on our metabolisms) with an abundance of holiday open houses for Augsburg staff, faculty, and students to enjoy homemade goodies and each other’s company.

So this week and next, wear your stretchy pants, get out of your office or your favorite study spot, and get together with other Auggies at one of these special events.

To ameliorate that after-party remorse: Fitness Center Hours

Continue reading “Free food and a break from finals”

Grub that's good for you and the environment

food_classIt will be a meal planned with the environment in mind.

This semester, students in SBS 100: Environmental Connections have studied how food fits into both our socio-economic and ecological systems. This Wednesday, they will put that knowledge into action as the class members will serve a meal that they helped the A’viands staff prepare. The entire Augsburg community is invited to share this “grub” with the class. The menu was chosen based on how the food was produced and transported.

Some of the ingredients were grown on campus. Almost all of the items were produced locally. Special consideration was placed on supporting suppliers that use environmentally friendly practices and pay employees a fair wage. Continue reading “Grub that's good for you and the environment”

Key Legislators to discuss Minnesota budget deficit Monday

saboIn recent weeks, one of the biggest questions in Minnesota politics was just how big would the state’s budget deficit be when Legislators returned to St. Paul in January?

On Thursday, the grim news was delivered: Minnesota is facing a budget deficit of $5.2 billion over the next 30 months because of falling tax revenue from struggling businesses and workers.

That, in turn, leads to another question: how exactly is the state going to deal with it?

The Augsburg College community will be given some insight into this topic on Monday afternoon. That’s because the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning will host a pair of key Minnesota Legislative leaders for what is expected to be an interesting forum. Continue reading “Key Legislators to discuss Minnesota budget deficit Monday”

Vocatio Chapel Series

vocatio_decArt has always been a part of personal faith lives. From religious icons, to hymns of praise, worshippers have used art as a tool to pray and praise. Songs and hymns give praise to God. Paintings and sculptures depict stories from scripture to let the worshipper understand the story in a new way. Dramas have brought sacred stories to life.

The 2008-2009 Vocatio Chapel Series, “Faith and the Imagination: The Call to the Arts” continues Wednesday, Dec. 10 with organist and Central Lutheran Church music director, Mark Sedio. Vocatio Chapel begins at 10:20 a.m. in Foss Center.

Mark may be well known to the Augsburg community, not only as an alumnus (1976) but also as the organist at Central Lutheran. After completing his bachelor’s at Augsburg, Sedio attended the University of Iowa, St. John’s University, and Luther Seminary. Continue reading “Vocatio Chapel Series”

Let's calculate our carbon footprint

mpirgAugsburg’s student-organized Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG), has been very progressive around campus this semester — from organizing food banks, holding debate watching events, getting out the vote with the recent election, and working with students to make our campus green friendly. This year, MPRIG’s Environmental Task Force and Augsburg’s Environmental Stewardship Committee are working together on issues such as energy conservation, renewable energy, recycling, food composting, and transportation.

MPIRG and the Environmental Stewardship Committee are currently focusing on renewable energy, or energy obtained from sources that are naturally and continually replenished, and campus sustainability, which involves meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Last academic year, Augsburg was successful in organizing Focus the Nation and passed the wind-energy referendum that uses student fees to purchase wind-generated energy for the campus. Continue reading “Let's calculate our carbon footprint”

Velkommen Jul ushers in Christmas season

velkommenAugsburg’s strong Norwegian heritage shows, especially during the holiday season. Once again, it is time for the traditional Scandinavian Velkommen Jul celebration hosted by the Augsburg Associates on Dec. 5, starting with Chapel service at 10:20 a.m. and moving to the Christensen Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Velkommen Jul is an annual Christmas celebration you don’t want to miss. The event will feature Scandinavian Yuletide music, tasty treats including krumkake and the ever-popular yet odious lutefisk, handcrafted items, Norwegian bunads, and a visit from St. Nicholas during chapel.

The Augsburg College Associates, who number around 100, are a service auxiliary of volunteers whose mission includes fundraising for special projects and scholarships in support of Augsburg College. In the nearly 20 years since their founding, the Associates have given to Augsburg more than a half million dollars from their fundraising. They host Velkommen Jul as a service to the Augsburg community and as a way to celebrate its Norwegian heritage.

Advent Vespers

vespersFor more than a quarter century, Augsburg College has observed the beginning of the Christmas season with Advent Vespers, a joyous celebration of the holidays. On Dec. 5 and 6 the College will mark this 29th annual event with services highlighting the theme “In the Name of Jesus.”

This event takes place in the remarkable neo-Gothic sanctuary of Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis, with a ceiling that soars 65 feet and large stained glass windows similar to those of London’s Westminster Abbey. More than 350 musicians, liturgists and banner carriers will participate in this dramatic and uplifting event. Continue reading “Advent Vespers”