Luther College - Pioneer Yearbook (Decorah, IA)

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ml 4 In addition to excelling themselves in in- tellectual pursuits, Luther students are not to be outdone in other fields as is evident by their membership and participation in numerous OR- GANIZATIONS and ACTIVITIES. A com- petitive spirit growing out of the increased enrollment has brought a new interest and en- thusiasm for extra-curricular activities, which once again have begun to hum on the Luther campus. Some organizations which seemed to have lost a little of their glow during the lean war years have been rekindled with a new zest by enlarging their membership and expanding their program of activities. In other fields some bffitiii iw I 0 I entirely new organizations have arisen to meet the varied needs and interests of the students. With music and forensic groups touring the country and returning with highly favor- able notices . . . with the almost professional performances of Campus Players and the active and stimulating program of sports activities receiving great acclaim in local circles . . . and with the expansion of radio facilities through KWLC and KDEC, the revitalized religious program, and the new weekly schedule of COL- LEGE CHIPS being inaugurated . . . with all of these forces combining into a united whole, the word progress seems to have been the keynote of the year.

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Twinkling eyes and a sense of humor mark Dr. Sherman H oslett, biology professor. An- other Luther graduate, he has taken advance study at the University of Michigan, where he earned his M. S. and Ph. D. degrees. Dr. Karl Goellner, associate professor of biology, also likes to disect specimens of the animal and plant world. His educational back- ground includes a B. S., M. S. and Ph.D. earned at the University of Michigan. Another biology instructor is Mr. Frederick Giere, ,47. From 1942 to 1946 he served as pharmacist's mate in the U. S. N. R., Atlantic fieet. We the people . . . The DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES touches upon such subjects as historical backgrounds, social problems, the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship and international understanding. This division covers five departments: history, economics and business administration, secretarial educa- tion, sociology and political science. History lovers may earn a major in general history or minors in general, European or American history. The head of this depart- ment is Dr. C. N. Evanson. Miss Laura Simonson is also an instructor in history. She received her B. E. from Moor- head State Teachers college in 1939 and her M. A. from the University of Colorado in 1943. The study of economics and business ad- ministration is desirable for students interested in becoming accountants, lawyers, journalists, ministers, social workers, diplomats or govern- ment officers. In charge of this department is Mr. Frank Barth, who also maintains a busi- ness office in downtown Decorah. A Luther grad of last year was also on the Luther faculty during the first semester. Mr. Robert Josephson, instructor in economics, left at mid-year to take up graduate study in the East. Assuming his position during the second semester has been Mr. Gordon M. Benson, who holds B. S. and M. B. A. degrees from the University of Chicago. With a broad liberal arts background in addition to a major in secretarial education, efficient stenographers and secretaries of the future are being trained under the guidance of Miss Eunice K jo-rlaug. By studying sociology students develop a keener appreciation of all aspects of society and the social processes. Dr. Reidar Thomte teaches sociology in addition to Bible. Classes in sociology, history and political science hold the attention of Prof. N. Lewis Fadness, '22. He received his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1925 and has been at Luther since 1939. The finer things . . . The DIVISION OF FINE ARTS covers the departments of music and art-two im- portant fields in a liberal arts education. Courses are offered in both professional training and in the development of aesthetic appreciation. A slight, bespectacled maestro is one mu- sic critic's description of Dr. Sigzfart Steen, head of Luther's music department. Dr. Steen directs the concert band and the Nordic Cathe- dral choir as well as overseeing all musical ac- tivities on the campus. Dr. Sigvart Hofland is associate professor of music at Luther. Dr. Hofiand studied at the Columbia school of music in Chicago, with private instructors and at Boguslowski college of music, where he received his Mus. D. de- gree in 1942. Luther has three instructors in the field of voice training: Miss Clara Hoyt, Mrs. Mar- gery Mayer Steen and Miss Dorley Asmus. Violin instruction is given by Mr. John Dennis, a 1948 graduate of Luther. Mr. Den- nis has studied music at McPhail school of music, Minneapolis college of music, Chicago conservatory of music, the University of Chi- cago and the University of Minnesota. During the past year he has been director of the Schola Cantorum. Miss Kathryn Ulvilden is instructor in mu- sic and director of the Women's Chorus. She received her B. A. from Luther in 1941 and her M. Mus. Ed. from Northwestern in 1947. An instructor in piano, Miss Helen Skogs- rnark likes to spend her leisure time in-you guessed it-playing the piano. On May 23, 1948, Luther suffered another tragic shock in the sudden death of Mr. Donald Larson, professor of music and organist for important college functions and at First Lu- theran Church. Mr. Larson graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1932 and re- ceived additional degrees from the Wisconsin school of music and Temple university. He began his duties at Luther in 1937. Heading the art department at Luther is Prof. Orville Running, who graduated from St. Olaf in 1931 and from Luther Seminary in 1934. He has held several pastorates and formerly taught at Pacific Lutheran college.

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O wg. 'rat UN OSI.- steue o, H sn.: 9 Y it-vp 4.14, A-. '22- 1. O. A -nm' hu 54, Gwinn Kalam- Allin favor . . . The youth of a nation are the trustees of posterity. Interested bystanders would prob- ably agree with Disraeli in this statement after observing the lively and spirited discussions en- suing at one of the monthly student body meet- ings at Luther College. Although still in a period of transition great strides have been made in STUDENT GOV- ERNMENT. The very fact that voices are sometimes raised a little too loudly is evidence that students are thinking and working for a democratic student body government, imperfect as it may be at times. Progressing with their achievements and profiting by their mistakes, these students are preparing themselves to as- sume future leadership and to fight for their inherent rights as American citizens when con- fronted with false prophets who promise them a Utopian government in exchange for their freedoms. Serving as the governing board of the stu- dent body is the Student Council of twelve members. During the past year official positions have been filled by Gerald Amundson, president 3 Kenneth B jerke, vice president 3 Margaret Nel- son, secretary 3 and William Thoresen and Paul Monson, treasurers. In addition each class has had one male and one female representative as follows: Helen Stoen and David Vaaler, seniors, Christabel Adix and Olin Storvick, juniors, Justine Holum and David Orwoll, sophomores, Grace Sherry and Ralph Scott, freshmen. The Council meets weekly to conduct the business of the student body. Its responsibilities include coordinating student activities, auth- orizing expenditures of student body funds, bringing up important issues at student body meetings for frank, impartial discussion, ap- pointing editors of the student publications, COLLEGE CHIPS and PIONEERQ and planning social activities. In planning school parties, the carnival and other lighter forms of entertainment, the Coun- cil has had the help of the Social Committee, which functions to provide and maintain a wholesome and active social program for the student body. Serving on this committee have been john Spencer, chairman, Paul O. Hansen, Kermit Hendrickson, Alice Michelson, Barbara Moe and Dorothea Ofstedal. On the day of their enrollment at Luther all women automatically become members of the Woinenis' Self-Government Association, which seeks to represent the interests of the fair sex in campus government. Its aims are to act as a sounding board for student opinion and to foster better relations between students and faculty. The governing body of the WSGA is the Women's Senate, which holds weekly meetings and works in conjunction with the Dean of Wo- men. Heading the Senate for 1947-48 and also representing the women on the Student Council have been Helen Stoen, president, Christabel Adix, vice president, Justine Holum, treasurer, and Grace Sherry, secretary. Class representatives rounding out the rest of the Senate personnel have been Esther An- dersen, seniorg Mary Lou Hanson, junior, Ruth Ylvisaker, sophomore 5 and Ruth Moore, freshman. In addition to its governmental duties the Senate attempts to promote social life on the campus by sponsoring various parties and activi- ties throughout the school year. Included on its agenda are the Big-Little Sister party in Octoberg the Musicale and Tea in Novemberg the Christmas coffee party, and the Coed Ban- quet, this year using a May Day theme com- plete with garden, lawn chairs, bird bath, fiow- ers, white picket fences and May pole. In former years a Men's Senate has func- tioned on a level with the Women's Senate but lost its identity after the war when the increas- ed enrollment made it necessary to put women into campus housing and to put men into pri- vate homes scattered throughout the city of Decorah. VVhen the new women's dormitory is completed and men once again take over Lar- sen Hall, a Men's Senate will very likely re- sume its rightful place in campus government.