Annual Humanities Symposium

Kem Gambrell, business, presented “Following Your Bliss: Work at What Makes Your Soul Soar” Feb. 5 as part of the “Why Work? Making a Living and Making a Life” Humanities Symposium.

Celebrate Homecoming this Week

The Viterbo community is invited to join alumni in celebrating Homecoming Saturday, Feb. 16.

Several activities are being held this week, including a community luncheon in Marian Hall Dining Room Friday, Feb. 15 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. sponsored by campus activities and the alumni association. The menu is designed to put diners in the basketball spirit. No tickets are necessary.

Student Activities Board and campus activities sponsor many of the events being held throughout the week, with help from VU After Dark, rec sports, the alumni office, and athletics. For a complete schedule of the many activities occurring each day, visit www.viterbo.edu/activities.

The schedule for Feb. 16:  

10 a.m.–3 p.m. Bookstore Open, bring your alumni card for a discount. Email alumni@viterbo.edu if you need an alumni card.

10 a.m. Wall of Fame Induction in Varsity Athletics Center Lobby. Inductees are Jeremy Fradette ’07, and Chelsea (Muckenhirn) Hawkins ’07.

11:45 a.m. Alumni Women’s Basketball Game 

1 p.m. Alumni Men’s Basketball Game 

3:30–5:30 p.m. Second Annual Homecoming Tailgate Spirit Rally in front of the Varsity Athletics Center. Enjoy free food, hot chocolate, a basketball shooting contest and spirit items.

4 p.m. V-Hawk Women’s Basketball Game vs. Mount Mercy University

6 p.m. V-Hawk Men’s Basketball Game vs. Mount Mercy University

8–11 p.m. Alumni Party – Recovery Room

"What is the Future of Servant Leadership?" Presentation Feb. 18

Organizational and Leadership Development Consultant Dan Wheeler will present “What is the Future of Servant Leadership?” from 7–8:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18 in Reinhart Center room 107.

The presentation will explore answers to the questions, Will servant leadership gain strength? What are the major problems in terms of its acceptance? What are the advantages of living in a servant organization? What are the advantages of being led by a servant leader?, and What principles guide servant leaders and organizations?

Wheeler is professor emeritus of Leadership Studies at the University of Nebraska.

“What is the Future of Servant Leadership?” is free and open to the public and is sponsored by Mary Jo and Shawn Werner and Wipfli.

VU Club Fair

Social Work Club Fair members Hannah Johnson and Sara Grandy shared information about their organization at the VU Club Fair held Feb. 7 in Reinhart Center.

President's Column

Spring Semester Enrollment 

Here is the enrollment census report for the spring semester. The left half of the report compares Spring 2013 with Spring 2012; the right half compares this semester with the fall semester. Because fall semester’s full time undergraduate enrollment was lower than expected, the raw numbers for spring semester are likewise lower. The good news is that retention from fall to spring (92.4 percent) improved by almost one percent from last year and the number of new students for the spring (46) is substantially higher than last spring. Residence hall occupancy for the spring is a record high of 627.

The budget, as revised in the fall, projected a two-semester average full time undergraduate student enrollment of 1,450. The actual result is 1,436; 14 students less than planned. Net revenues for the year, however, are on track, provided summer enrollments meet projections.

Board of Trustees  

The Viterbo Board of Trustees met on Monday, Jan. 28. The action items for the board were as follows:

1. Approved the guidelines that frame the operating budget for the next fiscal year. In general, tuition rates will increase three percent, the lowest level of increase in the past five years. The detailed schedule of charges will be posted on the business office webpage by the end of the month. I will cover other parameters of the 2013–14 operating budget at a university wide forum in March.
2. Approved the adoption of a set of financial protocols that will serve to strengthen Viterbo’s long-term financial health. These protocols deal with funding levels necessary to maintain the physical plant, thresholds for the amount of funding that should be held in the temporarily restricted portion of the endowment, and the appropriate level of funding that should be set aside annually for contingencies. 
3. Approved a resolution for the construction contract to complete the final phase of renovations for Bonaventure Hall, which are planned to take place this summer.

I’m grateful to members of the athletics department (Barry Fried, Eric Kunick, and student athletes Jordan Blaken and Jasper Duberry) for presentations at the trustees’ morning continuing education sessions, and to Glena Temple, dean of the school of letters and sciences, and Heather Norsby, nursing, for their presentations on the topic of “Transforming Learning through Emerging Technologies: Threats and Opportunities.” Also, special thanks to the 15 professors who joined the trustees for dinner and conversation.

Rick Artman

President

Campus Ministry

By Emilio Alvarez

VER SACRUM  

It is time again to prepare for the Ver Sacrum, or the Sacred Springtime. Not many people look at the liturgical season of Lent and consider it to be a resemblance of spring. The season of Lent brings about reminders of personal journeys, deserts, struggles, and obstacles within our faith. It’s also a time where we are called to examine our own personal relationships with God and those around us.

Even though there is a stark difference between the carnival like season before Lent and the Lenten images that remind us of ashes, deserts, fish frys, etc. Lent is a time for renewal. It is a time to invest in and take care of oneself and the relationships we have between God, nature, and others. If we think of Lent as the Sacred Springtime, we can then think of ourselves as metaphorical flower buds. We must take care in tending and nurturing ourselves through prayer, music, exercise, sleep, or anything that will rebuild the broken relationships we may have.

Campus ministry invites all of you to think about ways in which you can nurture your relationships. Try enjoying some quiet contemplation, an opera, a run, an activity that makes you feel alive, the options are endless. Enjoy Lent as a Ver Sacrum.

In preparation for Lent (Ver Sacrum) feel free to participate in any of our Lenten opportunities Wednesday, Feb. 13–Wednesday, March 27. All events are at San Damiano Chapel unless otherwise specified.

Start your Lenten Journey with Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13

• Ash Wednesday Masses, noon and 5:15 p.m.
• Eucharistic Adoration, 12:30–5:15 p.m.

The following are weekly events throughout Lent: 

Mondays 

• Lenten Supper and Scripture at 4:30 p.m. in Dahl School of Business room 123

Wednesdays 

• Eucharistic Adoration from 12:30–5:15 p.m.
• Stations of the Cross and Benediction at 5:15 p.m.

Thursdays 

• Taize Prayer at 9 p.m.

Sundays        

• Masses at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Taize Prayer, Reflective Interfaith Prayer at 7 p.m.

Other events: 

Tuesday, Feb. 26: Sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance Service at 5:15 p.m.

Wednesday, March 13: Hunger Banquet at 5:30 p.m. in the Mathy Center (more details to come)

The Easter Triduum schedule will follow.

Helping Others

Paul Wilhelmson, communications and marketing, donated blood at the BloodCenter of Wisconsin blood drive Feb. 7 in the Reinhart Center Board Room. The drive was sponsored by Residence Hall Council.

Rose Awards Nominations Now Open

Nominate a deserving colleague for Outstanding Teacher of the Year, Employee of the Year, Servant Leader, the Alec Chui Memorial Award, or the other major honors to be announced at the annual Rose Awards ceremony Thursday, May 2 at 3:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Recital Hall.

Nominations are now open and are due by Monday, April 1. A complete description of all the awards and the nomination forms are available at www.viterbo.edu/awards.

Enter the Honors Program Chili Cook-off

Campus offices, academic departments, and student organizations are invited to enter the Third Annual Honors Program Chili Cook-off Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in the School of Nursing Building Lobby.

Entrants simply need to deliver their chili to the cook-off. The campus community is invited for lunch to sample the entries. Chili Cook-Off attendees are asked to bring $1 or a canned good to support local food insecurity efforts (recipients of the day’s donations will be decided by the winners of the chili cook-off.)

Interested in entering a chili? Contact Jessica Hartling at jhartl04901@viterbo.edu.

Register for a Gluten-Free Cooking Class in March

Gluten-free interactive cooking classes taught by Viterbo nutrition and dietetics students will be held Wednesday, March 13 from 12:45–2:45 p.m. and 4:30–6:30 p.m., and Thursday, March 14 from 12:45–2:45 p.m. in the School of Nursing Building Dietetics Foods Lab.

The classes are designed for people with celiac disease, wheat allergy, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Each session is $8 to be paid in advance. Contact Virginia Horth at vshorth@viterbo.edu to register. The registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 15.

Kudos to...

Volleyball coach Ryan DeLong, volleyball player Katie Flock, and the members of the volleyball team, who are finalists for major awards at the La Crosse Area Sports Commission Banquet Sunday, March 24. DeLong is a finalist for Coach of the Year, Flock is up for College Athlete of the Year, and the volleyball team is a finalist for College Team of the Year.

Speed Mock Interview Event Feb. 26

A Speed Mock Interviewing event is scheduled for 5:30–8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 in the Fine Arts Center Lobby.

Alumni and local human resources professionals will facilitate interview questions for students in a speed dating format. The event is sponsored by career services and the alumni association to help students prepare for the networking and interviewing processes involved in securing internships and conducting professional job searches. 

The registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 22. Registration is limited and open to all students. Students may register by visiting the career services office in Murphy Center room 374 or by emailing careers@viterbo.edu.

National Signing Day

The volleyball team and women’s soccer team announced their 2013–14 recruiting classes as part of National Signing Day. Meet the many outstanding athletes who will be part of the volleyball team and the women’s soccer team in the fall.