Profile in Courage

Vietnam veteran and POW Captain Charles Plumb shared his incredible story with honors students over lunch Sept. 19. The students also had the opportunity to ask numerous questions about his experiences. Plumb spoke to a capacity Fine Arts Center Main Theatre crowd that evening. Photo by Jessica Schurmann.
 

Body Image Awareness Day Sept. 27

Approximately 24 million people in the U.S. suffer from an eating disorder. Are you ready to end fat talk? Campus activities will be hosting Body Image Awareness Day Thursday, Sept. 27 as part of Healthy Living Week.

The event will begin with come and go activities like compact mirror making and the “End Fat Talk” pledge from noon–2 p.m. Refreshments sponsored by counseling services will be provided during this time. A question and answer panel on disordered eating will follow from 2:15–3:15 p.m. The day will conclude with a special presentation by Stacey Prussman, an eating disorder survivor, who will share her story from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

All activities are in the School of Nursing Building Collins Auditorium. For more details, visit www.viterbo.edu/activities.

Lunch and Learn Sept. 28

The Viterbo community is invited to attend the Lunch and Learn event “How to Stay Young—Spinal Disorders” from noon–1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 in the Fine Arts Center Hospitality Suite.

The Lunch and Learn will be presented by Mauricio Peterson of Chiropractic First of La Crescent. Lunch is free, and registration is required. Call ext. 3825 to reserve your spot. Contact Sue Danielson at ext. 3806 with any questions.

Donate Books for a Better World

The Wisconsin Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (WACRAO) is holding their annual conference in La Crosse Wednesday, Nov. 7–Friday, Nov. 9. It is a joint venture with the Upper Midwest Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (UMACRAO), which means five states and three Canadian provinces will be represented.

Several Viterbo staff members are involved in planning the arrangements for the conference.

“This year a service project has been included and we could use your help,” said Amy Gleason, registrar.

UMACRAO/WACRAO are partnering with Golden Key International Honour Society to collect gently used textbooks or children’s books to the Better World Books project. Better World Books is committed to helping provide better lives and a chance for economic, social and political freedom through literacy. So far, the company has converted over 58 million books into more than $10.4 million in funding for literacy and education. In the process, they’ve also diverted more than 40,000 tons of books from landfills and have donated over five million books to partner programs around the world including Books for Africa. The books collected at the conference will be donated to the Books for Africa organization with the help of Better World Books. Books for Africa collects, sorts, ships and distributes books to children in Africa. The goal is to end the book famine in Africa.

“If you need room on your book shelves and don’t know what to do with the books you’d like to get rid of, bring them to me in Murphy Center 204,” Gleason said. “They will be donated to Better World Books at the conference. Your help with our service project is appreciated.”

Celebrating the Constitution

Keith Knutson and a student discuss some of the finer points of the U.S. Constitution following the Constitution Day presentation “Declaring War and the Constitution” given by Knutson and fellow history faculty member Michael Smuksta Sept. 25.
 

From the Library

By Jennifer Nelson

Todd Wehr Memorial Library Student Workers 

We’d like to welcome back all of our returning work study students and introduce our new students.

Returning students: Abby Bries, Emily Chitko, Alyssa Gray, Kyle Marcantelli, Janelle Mathews, Van Nguyen, Julia Opalinski, Lindsey Schaub, Erolyn Sebastian, Jeni Tuschner, and Kim Wroblewski.

New students: Matt Baertlein, Amanda Elliot, Samantha Keyser, Brittney Klapperich, Harley Large, Aleatra Nading, Kianna Prodzinski, Allison Purvis, Heather Rimington, Mallory Severson, Arielle Stark, and Jessica Trudo.

The library would not be able to maintain our level of excellence without the significant contributions of our work study students. The majority of our student workers are in the circulation department, checking out books and processing Interlibrary Loan requests, but we also have student workers in cataloging and serials. This year a record number of student workers are working in more than one library department. Student workers assist in everything from checking out books and equipment, shelving, processing new books and serials, special projects and much more. Most recently, Kyle Marcantelli did the design work for the new quiet area and silent study signage. Student workers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and majors.

We’re looking forward to a fantastic year with a great student worker crew.

Health Corner

Health Corner

By Sue Danielson

Viterbo Will Be Smoke-Free 

It’s coming—Viterbo University will be smoke-free starting with the 2014 academic year.
 

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and affecting the health of smokers and non-smokers in general. Of all adults in the U.S., 19.3 percent are smokers. Smoking causes one in five deaths annually in this country and the tobacco companies spend billions of dollars each year marketing their products.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, smokers have an increased risk of the following as compared to nonsmokers:

• coronary artery disease by two to four times
• stroke by two to four times
• men developing lung cancer by 23 times
• women developing lung cancer by 13 times
• dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.

Everyone knows your health improves when you quit smoking/chewing tobacco. But you might be surprised at how fast it happens:

• Twenty minutes after quitting your blood pressure drops to a level close to that before the last cigarette. The temperature of your hands and feet increases to normal.
• Twelve hours after quitting the carbon monoxide level in your blood begins to drop to normal.
• Twenty-four hours after quitting your chance of a heart attack decreases.
• Two weeks to three months after quitting your circulation and lung function improve.
• One to nine months after quitting coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to clean the lungs and reduce infection.
• One year after quitting the excess risk of coronary artery disease is half that of a tobacco user.
• Five to 15 years after quitting your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker.
• Ten years after quitting the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing tobacco user. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease.
• Fifteen years after quitting the risk of coronary artery disease falls to that of a nonsmoker’s.

(Sources: U.S. Surgeon General's Reports) 

Viterbo is committed to improving the health of its students, staff, and faculty. If you have any questions or would like information on quitting smoking, stop by during Healthy Living Week during Bring Your Own Banana for sundaes from 3–5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24 on Franciscan Way, in the Mathy Center from 2–4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25 for caramel apples, or in the Student Union on Wednesday, Sept. 26 from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Fransican Healthcare President and CEO to Speak Tonight

Tim Johnson, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System, Franciscan Healthcare-La Crosse, will give a presentation on collaboration at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24 in Dahl School of Business 122.

The event is sponsored by Students in Free Enterprise and the Viterbo community is invited to attend.

Plenty to Do During Healthy Living Week

The Viterbo community can choose from a wide variety of activities designed to promote a healthy lifestyle during Healthy Living Week Monday, Sept. 24–Friday, Sept. 28.

Jill Billings on Campus
Sept. 25

Wisconsin State Assembly member Jill Billings will be on campus for the Viterbo College Democrats’ Outdoor Concert and Registration Drive at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25 in Assisi Courtyard.

The concert will be given by local musician Ft. Mario Street.

New Phone Directories

The 2012­–13 phone directories have been printed and delivered to the campus mailboxes. New this year:

Departmental Listings 

• Franciscan Friars—Collaborative Ministry
• Master of Arts in Education – separated Iowa, La Crosse and West Allis
• Veteran Services Student Point of Contact

Faculty and Staff Listings 

• Info for Fr. Kelly, Fr. Konopa, and Fr. Tulko
• Viterbo building addresses at end of the employee listing

The Adjunct Faculty section remains in the same location, just before the student section.

Have a Safe Oktoberfest

The Student Development staff reminds the Viterbo community that there are plenty of fun and safe ways to celebrate Oktoberfest and to enjoy the German heritage included in the festival.

Enjoy an Oktoberfest Lunch Friday

An Oktoberfest lunch will be served in Marian Hall Dining Room from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28.

Cost of the lunch is $7.25 for employees and students without a meal plan. The menu includes brats and sauerkraut, schnitzel, spaetzel, German potato salad, pretzels, beer cheese soup, potato and bacon soup, Bavarian apple pie, and German chocolate cake. The tapping of the 1919 Root Beer keg will be held at 11 a.m. The event will also include polka music.

Kudos to...

Viterbo University, which was named to G.I. Jobs 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools. Military Friendly Schools are the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools nationwide that deliver the best experience for military students.
 

Viterbo University, which along with its collaborative partners, received the “Making a Difference” Award at the Downtown Mainstreet, Inc. Annual Meeting Sept. 12.

Open House

Clare Apartments Peer Advisor Bre Swan sets up the hospitality table before the open house Sept. 18.