Murals Unveiled

School of Fine Arts Dean Tim Schorr, theatre department chair Jeff Stolz, students Joey Miller and Ellen Matthees, and President Rick Artman pose in front of La Crosse Performing Arts Center, which is scheduled for completion in January. The picture was taken just after Wednesday’s press conference and unveiling of the murals (background) which were designed by local artist Jill Rippe. Viterbo’s first production in the new facility will be A Chorus Line, opening April 19. Matthees is the stage manager for performance. For more information, read the story in the La Crosse Tribune.

A Viterbo Christmas Dec. 1–2

Celebrate the Christmas season with the Viterbo music department as they present A Viterbo Christmas at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.

The women of the Viterbo Concert Choir and harpist Elinor Niemisto will open the performance with Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. Britten has arranged nine medieval carols in harmonic language that is both beautiful and expressive of the poetry.

Following Ceremony of Carols, the men of the 9th Street Singers, under the direction of Viterbo faculty member Diane Foust, will perform The First Noel. The entire 9th Street Singers will follow with God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Let It Snow.

The second part of the concert will be a performance of Ottorino Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity. The work for mixed chorus, men’s choir, soloists, dancers, wind orchestra, and piano is a rich and colorful portrayal of the birth of Christ. There are three student soloists: the Angel who announces the event, the shepherd who wishes to draw near to the Holy Child, and the Mother Mary, who welcomes all to the creche.

“A Viterbo Christmas is a very special collaboration by theatre faculty Chad Kolbe, Nicole Balsamo, David Gardiner, art department chair Sherri Lisota, and music faculty members Judy Stafslien and I joining together to create a unique celebration of this sacred season,” said Jean Saladino, the director of A Viterbo Christmas.

A Viterbo Christmas will leave audiences instilled with the true meaning of the holiday. This performance is sponsored by Gundersen Lutheran and in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board, with funds from the State of Wisconsin. Fox 25/48 is the media sponsor.

Tickets are available at the box office.

Honoring Our Veterans

Viterbo honored its veterans in a remembrance held in Assisi Courtyard near the flag pole Nov. 12. Fr. Conrad Targonski read the “roll call” of names that were submitted of members of the military—students and staff, who had served or are serving in the armed forces. The roll call was followed by a flag ceremony and refreshments.

Weather Related Information

Viterbo inclement weather policy is invoked only in the most serious time when conditions make travel to and from campus dangerously imprudent or other events cause serious safety concern. However, conditions throughout the region may vary significantly. Individuals should exercise prudence in determining the safety of a commute from their respective location. If the condition warrants, suitable arrangements between instructor and students will be made to make up for the absence.

Note that there is a change in notification policy regarding individual class cancellations. Faculty are asked to post their cancellation using Moodle to notify students.

In the event that classes are cancelled, communications and marketing will notify the media.

Look for the following communication venues to be used when implementing the inclement weather plan:

• All-campus email to students and staff
• Posting on campus monitors
• Updates via phone, text and email from City Watch in cases of extreme, severe weather
• Local media:
• WKBT www.wkbt.com 
• WXOW www.wxow.com 
• WLAX www.fox2548.com 
• Midwest Family Group www.familyradioinc.com 
• La Crosse Radio Group www.lacrosseradiogroup.net 
• Facebook www.facebook.com/viterbo 
• Twitter www.twitter.com/viterbo 

In the event that classes are cancelled, those responsible for directing a special event (i.e., fine arts, athletics) may or may not determine to hold or cancel the event. The responsible party is required to provide notification to participants.

Hourly employees who do not report to work, report late, or leave work before the end of the workday because of weather conditions, will be allowed to make up lost time during the remainder of the workweek, as much time as is beneficial to the office and university. Leave without pay or vacation pay, if preferred may be used. In the case of a salaried employee, the immediate supervisor should work out an arrangement to make up for lost time in a manner consistent with the employee’s work assignment.

Physical Plant News

By Linda Kneifl

The air conditioning units are now shut off in the buildings and the heating season has begun. Please close storm windows to conserve energy. If you are unable to do so, write up a work order to have physical plant do this for you.

The groundskeepers have been busy keeping pace with the falling leaves while maintaining the beautiful grounds of Viterbo. With winter fast approaching, staff are preparing equipment for inclement weather.

As a precautionary aid against the flu, door handles and hand rails of all Viterbo buildings are being wiped down on a regular basis to prevent germs from spreading. Hand sanitizer dispensers are checked daily.

Planning has started for projects taking place over Christmas break, including some piping being replaced. Preparation for next summer’s projects has begun and will continue throughout the next semester.

In addition, safety training sessions have been scheduled for the physical plant department before the start of the second semester. The sessions include bloodborne pathogens, personal protective equipment, hazardous material communication, and asbestos.

Heath Corner

By Sue Danielson

Great American Smokeout 

When it comes to smoking, everyone loves a quitter. With Viterbo going smoke-free in July 2014, health services would like to challenge you to think about quitting. The American Cancer Society marked the 37th Great American Smokeout Nov. 15 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By quitting—even for one day—smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life, one that can lead to reducing cancer risk. It doesn’t matter that the date for the Smokeout has come and gone, quitting can happen any day.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S., yet about 43.8 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, nearly one in every five adults. As of 2010, there were also 13.2 million cigar smokers in the U.S., and 2.2 million who smoke tobacco in pipes—other dangerous and addictive forms of tobacco.

Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. To learn about the available tools, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345; or call the QUITLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. The QUITLine will also send out a starter kit with medications to get you going. Both local hospitals, Mayo Clinic Health Systems and Gundersen Lutheran, also offer Tobacco Cessation programs. Check with your insurance carrier to see if it is a covered service. 

Smoking is expensive, in both health and money. One-pack-a-day smokers spend $1,500 per year or more on their habit. Make a plan to quit and set a date. For more information, contact health services at ext. 3825.

From the Library

By Jennifer Nelson

Library Services for Alumni 

Did you know that Viterbo alumni continue to have access to many library services even after they graduate? Alumni are able to: check out library materials; access newspapers, periodicals, and reference materials within the library; use library computers; use online databases within the library; print and make copies with the purchase of a copy card; and continue using interlibrary loan services. To continue using library services, users will need to have alumni status verified. Alumni status can be verified by library staff from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday.

Renew your books and place holds online 

You can now renew your checked out items and place holds on books directly from the library catalog. To use these features, contact a librarian for directions on setting up “Your Library Account.” Your account will allow you to see everything you have checked out, renew items, and place, schedule, and cancel holds. 

Thanksgiving and Pre-Finals Week Hours 

The library will have limited hours the week of Thanksgiving. We will be closing at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 21. We will be closed Thursday, Nov. 22–Saturday, Nov. 24, and will re-open at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25.

Extended pre-finals week hours run from Sunday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 9. Check the library hours Web page at http://www.viterbo.edu/library1.aspx?id=10266 for more details.

Servant Leadership

Viterbo hosted a statewide conversation on servant leadership Nov. 15 in the Reinhart Center Board Room. Included in the photo are student Emily Buchman and Board of Trustees member Gerald Baldner.

Alumni Children's Christmas Party Dec. 1

Viterbo employees and their families are invited the annual Viterbo Alumni Children’s Party from 10 a.m.–noon Saturday, Dec. 1 in the Fine Arts Center Lobby.

The event will include Christmas carols, crafts, face painting, and a visit from Santa Claus.

RSVP by Thursday, Nov. 29 with the number and names of children and adults at www.viterbo.edu/alumni or ext. 3076. The party is sponsored by the Viterbo Alumni Association.

Get a Massage Dec. 3–6

Enjoy a quiet time, with soothing music as you receive a 15-minute massage. Students in the BodyMind Therapies class will provide the massages in the Integrative Health room in Nursing Center 204. 

Massage tables and chair massage are available. There will be no disrobing. You can choose hand/arm, head, face, neck and shoulder, back or foot massage. Make your appointment with Brandy Cleveland at ext. 3670.

Parking Changes Coming Up

Effective Dec. 15, Viterbo employees will no longer be permitted to park in Mayo Clinic Franciscan Skemp Healthcare parking Lot 3, as Franciscan Skemp Healthcare will require the use of that lot to accommodate their parking needs. Any employees who use, or have used, parking Lot 3 in the past should make plans to park in an alternate location, as any vehicles parked in that lot after Dec. 15 will be subject to fines or towing per Mayo Clinic Franciscan Skemp Healthcare policy.

Flu Shots Still Available

Health Services still has flu shots available. Get your shot before the holidays. Free for students and $12 for employees. Call ext. 3825 or scdanielson@viterbo.edu to schedule an appointment.