I would like to respond to the photo and caption in last month’s issue titled “Interpretive Center adds solar panels.” It was great to point that out, but the small caption didn’t answer any questions I had regarding the panels. So, I went to talk to Jim Dontje who is the director of the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation. He is currently working on building … Continue reading Solar panels
I would like to thank the students of Gustavus for sponsoring the gubernatorial forum on Nov. 9. There have been a number of events across the state, and your forum drew the most and diverse number of candidates. The turnout at the forum was very impressive and it was encouraging to see that so many college students and local residents are interested in the gubernatorial … Continue reading Gubernatorial Debate
During the Nobel conference, I was ashamed to see the signs covering the pop machines that dispense bottled water. These signs stated that, in line with the topic of the conference, bottled water would not be sold on campus during Nobel. I like to think that Gustavus is the kind of college where we, as a community, act upon our beliefs, but apparently we did … Continue reading Bottled Water Initiative during The Nobel Conference
So Nicollet County has passed an ordinance stating that Gustavus must conduct noise pollution studies before it can erect even a single wind turbine. Don’t worry about the cars from Highway 169, sirens from various vehicles, trains that pass through the town with horns sounding (sometimes at night) or dogs from the neighborhoods that yap outside your Complex window that all are bound to occur … Continue reading Wind Turbines
Diversity is a word that we take pride in around this campus. Gustavus truly values diversity as a part of our community and how it fits into the core values of our College. To exemplify this, we have the unique Diversity Center, which provides a safe place for the open exchange of discussion about diversity. This fall, the student group InDepth from the Communication Studies … Continue reading Diversity Advocacy
We as members of the Gustavus community need a clear commitment to the College’s environmental sustainability goals, first and foremost the addition of a wind turbine on campus. We demand an affirmation of the Gustavus Climate Plan. If the College decides to not go forth with the wind turbine, we want to see the focus of sustainability shifted elsewhere, particularly LEED (Leadership in Energy and … Continue reading Gustavus Climate Plan
In response to Joey Taylor’s insightful article concerning the planned academic building and the redesign of the Arthur H. Anderson Social Science Center, I would like to correct a couple historical inaccuracies regarding both the center and the library. The groundbreaking ceremony for the library building occurred on April 1, 1947. When completed, the facility cost $420,000 and was dedicated on Homecoming Weekend during October … Continue reading Re: Gustavus to add academic building, redesign Anderson
On Thursday, September 17th, I was saddened about the news that a male student walked by the Diversity Center and shouted the word “Nigger”! Although I was not the person who uttered the word, I want to apologize to the students who were sitting in our office at that moment for the behavior of a single ignorant individual. I also want to apologize to our … Continue reading Racial Comment near Diversity Center
All of us on the Linnaeus Arboretum staff grieve the tragic death of David Borton on our grounds on Sept. 1. We are seeking to contact his family to express our sympathy to them. This incident is a reminder that even a peaceful and tranquil place like the Arb can be the scene of misfortune and danger. We are open daylight hours every day of … Continue reading Sept. 1 Arboretum Death
The Gustavus community is probably aware that there have been plans in place for several years to install wind turbines in the Linnaeus Arboretum. While wind turbines would be a pretty big investment, they would pay for themselves in a reasonable period of time, and then begin saving the school serious money. We are closer than ever before to fulfilling this dream for the school. … Continue reading Wind Turbines
