This section of the News and Media Services department site tracks stories in print and broadcast media that feature Auggie faculty, students, and staff. The area also is home to material developed for University-related programs, events, and more.
When I was a student at Augsburg I was much too serious about studying and doing my homework, even in my last year when I had a bad case of senior-itis. So I always used the semester break to read as many frivolous books as I could, usually including one of David Sedaris’ self-deprecating autobiographical sketches. This year I’m using the break to complete my graduate school application, and if I get into the program, this will probably be the last chance I get to read a fun book for a long, long time.
I have asked a few of my colleagues and favorite professors to complete the following sentences:
During the break, you just have to/should read ___ because ___.
It was late January or early February when psychology assistant professor Lisa Jack had some friends over at her home. In the middle of the primary election season, the conversation turned to then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Jack told her guests that she knew Obama back when they were both students at Occidental College in Los Angeles and that as an aspiring photographer she took pictures of him. Jack’s friends didn’t believe the story. So Jack went into her basement and, in about five minutes, found 36 negatives of Obama as a 19- or 20-year-old college student.
That the negatives survived is in some ways amazing. The negatives and one print were in a cellophane wrapper. They were never housed in a special container to protect the negatives. They sat in a box in the basement for years. They were moved seven times. Continue reading “Recollections of Obama”→
The Augsburg facilities management department faced a serious challenge. A cooling tower for the Lindell Library had begun leaking and electrical damage had occurred.
The rub, however, was that the price for a new cooling tower was more than $82,000. And this unexpected cost had been neither planned nor budgeted for.
Turned out there was a solution: eBay. Yes, that eBay. And the online auction Website helped Augsburg save more than $60,000.
After receiving the initial bid to replace the cooling tower, maintenance manager Dennis Stuckey started looking around for an alternative to buying new. Were there other options? Could a used model be found? Continue reading “Saving some dough on eBay”→
Many of the students, staff, and faculty in the Augsburg community have experienced losses and grief this semester. The Center for Counseling & Health Promotion encourages all members of our community to take care of themselves during these difficult times. Here are some thoughts on taking care of yourself while you grieve:
• Allow yourself time for your grief, and give yourself permission to grieve in your own way.
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”→
They 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"”→
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”→
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
It 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”→
In 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”→
When I was a student at Augsburg I was much too serious about studying and doing my homework, even in my last year when I had a bad case of senior-itis. So I always used the semester break to read as many frivolous books as I could, usually including one of David Sedaris’ self-deprecating autobiographical sketches. This year I’m using the break to complete my graduate school application, and if I get into the program, this will probably be the last chance I get to read a fun book for a long, long time.
It was late January or early February when psychology assistant professor Lisa Jack had some friends over at her home. In the middle of the primary election season, the conversation turned to then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.
The Augsburg facilities management department faced a serious challenge. A cooling tower for the Lindell Library had begun leaking and electrical damage had occurred.
Many of the students, staff, and faculty in the Augsburg community have experienced losses and grief this semester. The Center for Counseling & Health Promotion encourages all members of our community to take care of themselves during these difficult times. Here are some thoughts on taking care of yourself while you grieve:
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!
They 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.
A message from Aaron Gabriel ’00 
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.
It will be a meal planned with the environment in mind.
In 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?