"Why Work? Making a Living and Making a Life" Humanities Symposium Feb. 5–6

People from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions will come together for a community dialogue about the history, nature, and value of work at the “Why Work? Making a Living and Making a Life” Humanities Symposium Tuesday, Feb. 5–Wednesday, Feb. 6.

The lives of everyone are profoundly shaped by their work and the work of others. The symposium will explore answers to the question, ‘what distinguishes the work that only makes us a living from work that defines our lives?’

“Attendees of this year’s symposium will be treated to informative and inspirational presentations on the theme of work,” said Robyn Gaier, religious students and philosophy, and co-coordinator of the event. “The wealth of knowledge and experience among our presenters enriches this timely event and community discussion.”

All events are free and open to the public and will be held in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre unless otherwise noted. The symposium is sponsored by the School of Letters and Sciences. The mission of the annual symposium is to bring an interdisciplinary perspective and debate to contemporary topics. The schedule includes: 

Tuesday, Feb. 5 

“The Work of Co-creation: Call, Freedom, and Risk” at 9:30 a.m. with Eileen McKenzie, FSPA, of Integrative Therapies and Holistic Health of La Crosse. Sr. McKenzie has professional experience in cross-cultural nursing, traditional Chinese medicine, and clinical outcomes research.

“Tomorrow’s Workforce: Are You Prepared?” at 11 a.m. with Beth Sullivan, manager of the Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Board. Sullivan, MBA, has served in a leadership position in workforce development for over 19 years. She has led strategic planning, program oversight, and labor market information functions for Workforce Connections, Inc. and the Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, Inc.

“Free Soup Lunch” at 12:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Lobby

“Work and Culture” at 12:45 p.m. with Larry Harwood, Viterbo University professor of religious studies and philosophy. Harwood has taught at Viterbo since 1998. He taught in Portugal in 2008 as a Fulbright Scholar and regularly hosts study abroad trips to China.

“Following Your Bliss: Working at what Makes Your Soul Soar” at 2 p.m. with Kem Gambrell, Viterbo University assistant professor of business. Gambrell teaches leadership and research courses. She enjoys conversations about the meaning of life and other stimulating topics.

Film Discussion: Norma Rae at 4 p.m. in the Reinhart Center Board Room. Facilitated by Viterbo honors program students.

Wednesday, Feb. 6 

“Answering the Call! It May be Life Changing” at 9 a.m. with Tammy Koenecke, spiritual care coordinator at Reedsberg Area Medical Center. Koenecke, BSN and MASL, has been a registered nurse at Reedsburg Area Medical Center for 23 years.

“Look for the Union Label: Labor Unions in U.S. History” at 10:10 a.m. with Michael Smuksta, Viterbo University history professor. Smuksta grew up in a union household. His father was a member of the United Steelworkers of America, working at a U.S. Steel plant from 1939 until his retirement in 1974.

“Work-Life Balance: The Dichotomous Divide between Work and Leisure” at 11:15 a.m. with Raintry Salk, Viterbo University assistant professor of business. Salk has researched recreation and leisure meaning, workplace culture, leadership, and sustainability within organizational settings.

“Free Soup Lunch” at 12:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Lobby.

“Panel Discussion: Why Work?” at 1:30 p.m. with area human resources officials Sonya Ganther of Viterbo University, Karen Kouba of Trane/Ingersoll Rand, Jennifer Bausch of Riverfront, Inc., and Nikki Emerson of Mayo Clinic Health System, Franciscan Healthcare-La Crosse.

“Work as a Sacred Gift Given to the World Every Day” at 2:30 p.m. with Tom Thibodeau, Viterbo University distinguished professor of servant leadership. Thibodeau is the director of the Master of Arts in Servant Leadership program at Viterbo and has been a faculty member at the university for more than 25 years.

For information, visit www.viterbo.edu/sls.aspx?id=67950.

My Neighbourhood Screening and Q and A Session Jan. 29 

The D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership will present a screening of the documentary My Neighbourhood at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29 in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.

The 25-minute film will be followed by a question and answer session held via Skype with Suhad Babaa, community outreach and digital resources manager for Just Vision. Just Vision is an award-winning team of Palestinian, Israeli, North American, and South American filmmakers, journalists, and human rights advocates dedicated to telling the stories of Israelis and Palestinians working nonviolently to achieve security, freedom, and peace in the region.

My Neighbourhood follows Mohammed El Kurd, a Palestinian boy growing up in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in the heart of East Jerusalem. When Mohammed turns 11 years old, his family is forced to give up part of their home to Israeli settlers. Shortly after their displacement, Mohammed’s family and other residents begin peacefully protesting against the evictions, determined not to lose their homes for good. In a surprising turn, they are quickly joined by scores of Israeli supporters who are horrified to see what is being done in their name. Among them is Jewish West Jerusalem resident Zvi Benninga and his sister Sara, who develop a strong relationship with Mohammed and his family as they take on a leading role in organizing the protests. 



My Neighbourhood captures voices rarely heard, of those striving for a shared future in the city. 
Highlighting Mohammed’s own reactions to the highly volatile situation, reflections from family members and other evicted residents, accounts of Israeli protesters and interviews with Israeli settlers, the film chronicles the resolve of a neighborhood and the support it receives from the most unexpected of places.

This presentation is part of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership lecture series. It is co-sponsored by the La Crosse Area Synod (ELCA) Middle East Subcommittee, the La Crosse Interfaith Justice and Peace Network, and the La Crosse Community Foundation—Global Awareness Fund. It is free and open to the public. For a full schedule of Ethics Institute events, visit www.viterbo.edu/ethics.

Summer Research Fellowship Program

Applications for Viterbo’s 2013 Summer Research Fellowship Program are available at www.viterbo.edu/undergraduateresearch. This website contains the fillable-form application as well as a variety of resources for faculty and students.

“Given that many of you have engaged in student-faculty research, have an excellent rapport with students, and/or have the ability to include undergraduates in your scholarship, all full-time faculty are encouraged to consider working with a full-time student (or one or two part-time students) for the summer research term,” said Kirsten Gabriel, academics programs coordinator. “Faculty mentors work with their student(s) to develop a research proposal portion of the application and look over the finished application to make sure it’s complete, accurate, and doable.”

Faculty-student research/creative inquiry teams from all disciplines are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 22. Contact Kirsten Gabriel at kkgabriel@viterbo.edu or ext. 3086 with any questions.

“If you aren’t interested in doing research with a student over the summer, your help in circulating information about the program is also much appreciated,” Gabriel said. “If you would like to post a program flier on your door, please contact me.”

Rastrelli Cello Quartet to Perform Jan. 24

The outstanding Rastrelli Cello Quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.

The Rastrelli Cello Quartet has been thrilling audiences with their non-traditional programming since 2002, mixing works by Bach, Saint-Saens, and Tchaikovsky with George Gershwin, Dave Brubeck, and Leroy Anderson.

This unique ensemble has performed in many of Europe’s great concert halls. They have released five recordings and have toured Europe, Russia, and the U.S. extensively. The group’s name is derived from 18th Century architect Bartholomew Rastrelli, who designed the hermitage in St. Petersburg, the home city of three of the quartet’s members.

This performance is part of the Bright Star Season and is sponsored in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board, with funds from the State of Wisconsin. Wisconsin Public Radio is the media sponsor.

Tickets are $34 for main floor, $30 for lower balcony, and $25 for upper balcony seating. For more information or to order tickets, contact the box office at 608-796-3100 or visit www.viterbo.edu/tickets.
 

Health Corner

By Sue Danielson, health services

Welcome to Flu Season

Why is the flu season so bad this year? The 2013 season is particularly wretched because one of the major strains in this year’s flu mix hasn’t been seen for five to nine years and people’s antibodies for it have waned, said Arnold Monto, a professor of epidemiology and member of the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Influenza Advisory Group, which works with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Last year the flu season was one of the mildest on record so people have been lulled into skipping the vaccine and forgetting how bad the flu can be.

There are three types of flu circulating in the USA: H3N2, H1N1, and Influenza B. H3N2 is by far the most common and most likely to put people in the hospital with complications. All three are included in this year’s flu vaccine.

“Flu viruses change all the time. They change in big ways, which gives them a different H and N designation, and they change in small ways. So last year’s H3N2 can be a little bit different from this year’s H3N2 virus. If you've been exposed to a similar virus, you'll have some protection, but not full protection,” said a doctor with the CDC.

Each year, vaccine manufacturers make an educated guess about the strains of flu likely to circulate worldwide. Vaccination against the flu is still the best tool we have to prevent illness from influenza. If you have not had a flu shot or none are available, there are still ways to help prevent illness:

• Stay away from people who are ill. Avoid large gatherings of people.
• Drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest.
• Wash your hands often. If soap and water is not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Wash down household surfaces frequently.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Antiviral medication may be available from a health care provider, but you must be seen within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. 

For more information, contact health services at ext. 3806 or scdanielson@viterbo.edu. To keep informed on what is happening in the U.S., visit www.flu.gov or www.cdc.gov/flu.

From the Library

By Jennifer Nelson

Welcome back and library space changes 

Welcome back for the spring semester. The library has made some space changes over the winter break. We have added a brand new study room for solo or group study near the front of the library in room 103. As with our other study rooms, room 103 can be reserved from the circulation desk. Robers conference room (in the back of the library) has now transitioned into a silent study space. Robers is open during library hours and will soon be getting new furniture as part of the transition from a meeting space to a study space.

In addition to these new study spaces, all of the study spaces that were previously available still are available and can be signed up for at the Circulation Desk. The library is continuing to provide the quiet study spaces that we began offering in the fall. The quiet zones are located in the children’s collection and the library art gallery. Students working in the quiet zones will be asked to whisper only, have no audible music playing, and to silence their cell phones.

As part of the space changes that created the new study room, several library staff members are in new offices. Jennifer Nelson and Gretel Stock-Kupperman have moved slightly further down the main hall. Jennifer is now in room 109 and Gretel is in room 111. Liz Ehr and Polly Scott are in room 128. Jonathan Hinck has moved to the archives in room 132 and Marilyn Adam is now in room 126. 

Learning and Fellowship Series Begins 

Join us in the Learning Commons Thursday, Jan. 31 at noon for “Learning and Fellowship: Copyright in the Classroom.”

Quiet Reflection

The School of Nursing Building offers a warm and inviting place to study.

Chamber Music Series Continues Jan. 27

The Artaria String Quartet will present “Czech Mate” as part of the Viterbo One-of-a-Kind Chamber Music Series 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27 in the Fine Arts Center Recital Hall.

The concert will feature the work of Czech composers. The Artaria String Quartet consists of Ray Shows and Nancy Oliveros on violin, Laura Sewell on cello, and guest violist Sabina Thatcher.

Visit or contact the box office for ticket information.

Lunch and Learn Friday

The Viterbo community is invited to attend the Lunch and Learn “Stereotypes and History of the Native American People” from 12:15–1:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25 in the Fine Arts Center Hospitality Suite.

The Lunch and Learn will be presented by Elizabeth Digby-Britten, home school coordinator for the Ho Chunk Nation.

Lunch is free, but registration is required. Contact ext. 3825 or scdanielson@viterbo.edu to register.

Senior Show to Open in Art Gallery Wednesday

The art of students Philip Hanner, Rachel Hoscheit, and Julia Opalinski will be on display in the Viterbo University Gallery in an exhibit opening with a reception from 7:30–9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Hanner will display intaglio etched prints, Hoscheit will exhibit prints and two pieces of ceramic art, and Opalinski will display photography and ceramic pieces.

The exhibit will run until Friday, Feb. 15. There is no admission fee to the gallery, which is located on the third floor of the Fine Arts Center on campus. The gallery is open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. when school is in session.