Two events with ties to Augsburg College were featured in The Lutheran magazine’s April 2014 edition. The ELCA publication featured photos of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama celebrating Losar, the Tibetan New Year, in Augsburg’s Si Melby gymnasium on March 2. Also pictured was His Holiness, a day earlier, blessing Tenzin Yeshi Paichang ’16 as part of a keynote presentation at the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Forum.
Michael Wentzel talks with KSTP TV about BBQ, beer, cancer
Michael Wentzel, assistant professor of chemistry at Augsburg College, spoke with KSTP TV about a new study that shows marinating meat in dark beer reduces the cancer-causing carcinogens that form when grilling. Wentzel said that a chemical in beer is shown to lessen the formation of harmful molecules during the grilling process and, therefore, can help lower the harm to people who eat grilled meats. Watch the KSTP story “Augsburg chemist: Marinating meat in beer reduces cancer-causing chemicals.”
Christopher Smith talks to Pioneer Press and Star Tribune
Augsburg College’s Christopher Smith, assistant professor of education, recently spoke with the Pioneer Press and Star Tribune about legislative efforts to repeal basic-skills exams for teachers. Smith, who co-chaired the Minnesota Teacher Licensure Advisory Task Force, told media that although the majority of the task force members supported repeal of the exams, the group was not recommending repeal of teacher accountability. The Pioneer Press article was titled “Minnesota House Panel considers plan to eliminate teacher skills test,” and the Star Tribune piece was titled “Basic-skills exam for teachers remains despite efforts to scrap it.”
Christian Science Monitor talks to Hans Wiersma
Hans Wiersma, associate professor of religion, spoke with the Christian Science Monitor about whether a Baptist church in Kansas could continue after the passing of its charismatic founder. Fred Phelps Sr., the founder of Westboro Baptist Church, which is best known for picketing military funerals to show its opposition to homosexuality, recently was admitted to hospice care. Read Wiersma’s comments in the article “Could Westboro Baptist survive without founder Fred Phelps.”
MinnPost arts round-up includes Augsburg’s ‘Peer Gynt’
A first-ever collaboration between the theater departments of Augsburg College and the University of Minnesota on a production of Henrik Ibsen’s “Peer Gynt” received news coverage in MinnPost. The ground-breaking production will take theatergoers on a fantastic voyage that includes oversized birds and trolls, original music and simultaneous scenes, all while attendees and performers travel a quarter-mile portion of the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Read the full column on the MinnPost website.
Augsburg-hosted spelling bee garners coverage on WCCO
The Scripps Regional Spelling Bee organized and hosted by Augsburg College on March 15 was the focus of a WCCO news story. Mark Kivimaki, of Valley View Middle School in Edina, was the winner of the bee and will be sent by the College to Washington, D.C., to take part in the national competition. Watch “5 students set to represent Minnesota in national spelling be” and learn what word Kivimaki spelled to win the regional competition.
Site-Specific Staging of ‘Peer Gynt’ Breaks Rules, Boundaries
Production is first-ever collaboration between Augsburg, University of Minnesota
A ground-breaking production of Henrik Ibsen’s “Peer Gynt” will take theater goers on a fantastic voyage that includes oversized birds and trolls, original music and simultaneous scenes, all while attendees and performers travel a quarter-mile portion of the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
The play, a 1.5-hour production condensed from Robert Bly’s 3-hour script of 2008, represents a first-time collaboration between theater departments at Augsburg and the University of Minnesota. It’s also probably a first for site-specific theater of this scale for theatergoers in the Twin Cities. “Peer Gynt” will be performed seven times from April 10-13. Continue reading “Site-Specific Staging of ‘Peer Gynt’ Breaks Rules, Boundaries”
Augsburg student talks to The Chronicle of Higher Education
Yemissrach “Yemi” Melka ’15, a chemistry and international relations student, recently spoke with Beckie Supiano of The Chronicle of Higher Education about Melka’s participation in the Model United Nations. Melka, a Peace Scholar, is interested in exploring how scientists can use their expertise to promote international peacemaking. Listen to “A Science Student Talks Her Way onto the Model UN Team.”
Poetry by D.E. (Doug) Green mentioned on KWAR
A KWAR radio interview about The Great Lakes Book Project mentioned D. E. (Doug) Green, who published seven poems in the anthology. Green is a poet and Augsburg College professor of English. Visit the KWAR website to learn more.
March 15 Regional Spelling Bee covered in Star Tribune
Paul Walsh of the Star Tribune writes about the upcoming Regional Spelling Bee to be at Augsburg College on March 15. This is the second year that Augsburg will host 50 middle- and junior-high school students who will compete for a chance to go to Washington, D.C., for the national event. Read “Minnesota’s field of 5 for National Spelling Bee nearly complete.”