| Summary: | CONCORDIA COLLEGE, MOORHEAD, MINNESOTA THE CONCORDIAN Friday, November 7, 2003 Volume 14, Issue No. 9 Political Awareness encourages involvement Eating disorders discussed Lindsay Stordahl Staff Writer ' The Campus Democrats were highly involved with Political Awareness Week. Today, they are posting the 'Truth Table" in Knutson where they •will have information about current issues, such as the war with Iraq and Bush's environmental .'policy. * "We just want to identify and clarify any mis-understandings," President of Campus Democrats Aaron Ley said. "The administration has good control over what we know about the Iraq War. They're good at spinning the facts." At the Truth Table, reliable sources will be used to back up the misleading facts. The Campus Democrats took part in Student Association's "Get to Know Your Political Organizations" night on Thursday, which gave students the opportunity to leam more about the various political groups on campus and to become involved with these groups. Student Association's Political Affairs Commissioner and member of Campus Democrats, Sara Ruch, said it gave each group a chance to state what their position on campus is. "Campus Democrats plan to be really active on campus this year," she said. Besides the Truth Table, they will also have a different poster ever)1 week, with information clarifying particular issues, such as drilling in the arctic. "I like to call it the 'You Might be a Democrat' campaign," Ley said. Before this week's city election, the Campus Democrats encouraged 100 more students to reg-ister to vote before Tuesday's election. Nick Conti-Masanz, Vicc-President of Campus Democrats, sees this as a success because he believes it is important for all stu-dents to voice their opinions. "So many countries don't allow their citizens to vote," he said. "Here, we can vote, but people don't take advantage of that." Treasurer of Campus Democrats, Jesse Matson, believes voting is not a right, but a priv-ilege. "We've made it a right," he said Matson said students often complain about policies but they are not active in asserting change. "If you don't vote, then make sure you do not whine when you arc not happy with the decisions other people make for you," he said. The Campus Democrats want students to real-ize that it is important for them to vote, and to realize that elections do affect them. Last year, members went to St. Paul and met with representatives to talk about cuts being made to the Minnesota Grant Program. Matson said their presence was important and their opin-ions were heard. Eventually an increase was passed. "Students care about funding," Ley said. "They will care when tuition increases or when student aid decreases. It might not matter to them if they vote or not, but it will matter when their organizations get cut."" Ley also believes students should be con-cerned about available jobs and the diversity and + SEE DEMOCRATS ON PAGE 2 Photo by Donna Lenius Eva van Dok presented her one-woman play on eating disorders, "Eaten Alive," on Tuesday at 8 pjn. in the Centrum. Presidential Search Committee meets, develops criteria Lindsay Stordahl Staff Writer The presidential search committee had its first meeting on Friday. Oct. 24, where they estab-lished the qualifications, attributions and charac-teristics necessary for the tenth president of Concordia College to possess. The Board of Regents approved these qualifications three days later. Thirteen people are on the committee: three faculty members, one student, one administrator, one representative from the ELCA and seven members from the Board of Regents. The com-mittee was approved and established by the Board in September. Professor of Sociology, Polly Fassinger, said the committee started with a list from the last presidential search, and made improvements. "At this point we're trying to figure out what we want in a new president," Fassinger said. "Our job is to give advice to the board, who will eventually vote." Professor of English, Barbara Olive, said the 11 At this point we 're trying to figure out what we want in a new president. " Polly Fassinger Professor of Sociology committee agreed on the criteria as a group. "First, one has to recognize that Concordia is a college of the church," Roger Gilbertson, chair of the committee and member of the board said. "Our leader should provide a significant Christian presence on campus and in the extend-ed community." Gilbertson said the committee believes one priority is to sustain the mission. "Concordia's mission creates some passion," he said. "Very few missions generate that kind of emotion rather than just saying 'we're great.'" He said it is important for our new president to be able to embrace, articulate and advance that mission. An obvious but important qualification the committee stresses is the ability to demonstrate knowledge. "The President needs to embrace and have passion for academic excellence," Gilbertson said. "They need to have the strategies to retain and recruit faculty and students." Olive said it is important to her that the presi-dent has earned a Ph.D., along with proven lead-ership style. Gilbertson said the ability to make confident decisions in fund-raising and protecting the col-lege financially is also important. "We are looking for someone who can sustain affordability for students, increase the scholar-ship programs and strengthen academic equality," he said. Gilbertson said the committee believes the president should be able to communicate effec-tively with all groups of people. "The individual should be comfortable in all settings, whether it's with students or faculty," "The President needs to embrace and have passion for academic excellence. " Roger Gilbertson Chair of Presidential Search Committee Gilbertson said. "Not everyone is comfortable in all settings. They should be a leader out in the community, and able to represent Concordia nationally." He hopes to find a president who can create energy and passion for the students, faculty and alumni. "Everyone should have a considerable amount of pride in participating with this leader," Gilbertson said. • SEE SEARCH ON PAGE 2 Concordia campus covered in snow Faculty members preach at churches Sarah Hoffman Staff Writer of Concordia's or faculty may Photo by Donna Lenius Concordia saw snow this week as it covered buildings and trees across campus. Hats and mittens came out, along with a few cold-looking Cobbers. A member administration preach or teach at your home church within the next few months as part of a new program called Concordia Sundays. As a collaborative project of the church relations and presi-dent's offices, the purpose of Concordia Sundays is to send mem-bers of the Concordia community into area Lutheran churches on Sunday mornings. The program will send its first group of faculty and administrators to six congregations in the Great Falls, Mont, area on Nov. 16. Following these visits, other repre-sentatives will visit congregations in Jamestown, N.D. on Nov. 30, the Grand Forks, N.D. area on January 11, and the St. Cloud, Minn, region on January 18. In total, 20 faculty members and administrators have volunteered to visit the 25 plus congregations who have signed on to participate. Rev. Bruce Anderson, director of church relations, said the Concordia Sundays program is an important way for the Concordia community "We go to serve the congregation by being their preacher or forum leader or to say thank you. " Bruce Anderson Director of Church Relations to connect with local church bodies. "We go to serve the congregation by being their preacher or forum leader or to say thank you," Anderson said. In addition to playing a crucial role in a congregation's Sunday morning worship service, the pro-gram's volunteers will also have the opportunity to meet with Concordia graduates at the scheduled Saturday evening alumni gatherings. Interim president Paul Dovre said that participating faculty and administrators might also be able to meet with the pastors of some of the congregations they will be serving. "The pastors are very key people CHURCH ON PAGE 2 www.cord.edu/dept/concord
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