Connections
A Newsletter for the Viterbo College Community
Vol. 12 No. 16 December 7, 1998
The touch that refreshes
Students in the Body Mind Therapies class will be offering three types of massage to the Viterbo community this week, Dec. 7-11 in the SDC. Sign up with Judy Thesing, x3825. Drop-ins are welcome if there is an opening. You will be asked to fill out a brief evaluation of the massage.
No disrobing will be necessary except for a foot massage. Each massage takes 10 minutes and begins with a brief relaxation/breathing period.
The types of massage are:
• Head, Face, Neck, Shoulder—10-15 minutes, no lotion used.
• Hands—10 minutes, lotion used.
• Feet—10 minutes, lotion used.
Schedule of times:
Mon., Dec. 7, 12-4:30 p.m.
Tues., Dec. 8, 2-3 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 9, 2-3 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 10, 12-1,& 3-5 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 11, 12-1 or 2 p.m.
Put your stress to rest...before the test
The SDC invites all students to drop by for stress reduction activities from 1-4 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 8. Make a stress ball, sit by the "fireplace," play with slinkies and hula-hoops, enjoy home-made cookies and cider, have a massage. Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the afternoon. All are invited. Staff and faculty, please bring students along.
Student requests for a grade of Incomplete, Fall 1998
Page 28 of the 1997-99 catalog identifies the requirements and procedures for a student to request a grade of incomplete. The deadline for requesting an Incomplete and submitting the completed form to Wayne Wojciechowski is this Thurs., Dec. 10. If you have any questions, please call Wayne Wojciechowski, x3085.
Final grades
Class lists for final grades will be distributed, as usual, early in the final exam week. Because this semester is closing a week later than in previous years, instructors are reminded of the necessity to adhere to the deadline for submission of grades: noon on Tues., Dec. 22. If grades are done and ready to be recorded before Tues. noon, faculty are encouraged to submit the class lists early. Hopefully grades will be run that same night and grade reports printed on Wed., Dec. 23.
Off-campus class grades are due on or before Fri., Dec. 18. Thank you for any assistance/cooperation you can give the registrar’s office during this hectic time.
Memos only
From: Jay McHenry, Director of Physical Plant
To: Faculty, Staff, Students
Re: Guest parking
All guests of Viterbo College who want daytime parking on campus during their stay must park in the Fine Arts lot and get a Guest Parking Permit. These permits are available at the Murphy Center front desk at no cost. They must be in plain display on the front dash of the vehicle and are required in order to avoid ticketing/towing. I look forward to your questions/ comments at x3920.
Bits and pieces
Casual Dress Day
Fri. Dec. 11 Employee Day
Local food pantries need help! Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to MC front desk.
Reminder: If you haven’t signed up to attend the Employee Christmas Party, Fri, Dec. 11, at the Baus Haus., you need to make your reservations by Wed., Dec. 9. See Marcia at MC Reception Desk. Cost: $7.
Employee Assistance Center (EAC) is for all Viterbo employees and their families. For more information contact Franciscan-Skemp (608) 791-9530, (800) 493-3960.
24 hour Security: call x3911.
Class cancellations: Teacher class cancellation line: 796-3080 or 796-3190. Students call for class cancellations: 796-3200.
Viterbo people
Tom Thibodeau, religious studies and philosophy depts. is coordinator of the Viterbo College/Diocese of La Crosse Pastoral Ministry Education Program. The program is off to a great start. As of mid-Nov., there were 12 applicants for the program. The program has a schedule of six classes - Servant Leadership, Catholic Community, Theology of Pastoral Ministry, Christology, Sacraments and Sacramentality, and Theology of Justice and Peace that extends into Nov. 2000.
Universal declaration of human rights
No one gives us human rights; they are our birthright.
—Maria Riley, OP
Join in a prayer service celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 7 p.m. on Wed. Dec. 9 in Mary of the Angels Chapel, St. Rose Convent.
The event is sponsored by FSPA Office of Justice and Peace.
Study biblical Greek
Students desiring an introduction to reading New Testament Greek should contact Bill Reese, religious studies, x3708. An informal reading class will begin after the holidays.
Arts & Entertainment
The 7th Annual Holiday Concert to benefit families begins at 7 p.m. Wed. Dec. 9 in the FAC main theatre. The Viterbo Concert Choir and seven area high school choirs will perform.
The event is sponsored by WXOW-19, WLFN, Magic 105 and CC 106. Concert-goers are asked to bring a non-perishable food item that will be disbursed to area food pantries.
The 9th Annual Nutcracker Ballet will be presented by the La Crosse Dance Center at 7:30 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 11, and 2 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 12 in the FAC Main Theatre. The production is choreographed by theatre arts department dance instructor Kathy Gorman. The production features guest artist Scott Schuster as the Nutcracker Prince. The cast includes Viterbo students: Nate Hessburg, Kevin Laumbach, Nick Rapacz, Ben Minnis, Barry Moe and Molly Haak. Tickets are $11 and $9 on sale at the box office, x3100.
Reminder: Viterbo art department faculty exhibit is in the FAC Third Floor Gallery through Dec. 9.
Morris K. Udall Scholarship
In spring 1999, the Morris K. Udall Scholarship will award approximately 75 scholarships (up to $5000 each) to: (1) outstanding sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue careers related to environmental public policy; and (2) outstanding Native American and Alaskan native sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue careers in health care or tribal public policy. Faculty or academic advisors may nominate students. For more information, contact Rose E. Kreutz, x3676.
Bread sale: Cranberry, Banana, Carrot, Zucchini
Enjoy homemade breads baked by the dietetic students right here at Viterbo.
Buy breads by the slice or by the loaf, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tues. and Wed., Nov. 8 and 9 in MC Lobby. Prices range from $1 to $2.
Christmas cards for sale
Christmas cards are available for purchase through the public relations office, x3047.
Prices:
10 cards for $3.50
20 cards for $7
50 for $17.
Cards are on display in the glass case, MC second floor across from elevator.
Winter commencement reminder
The winter commencement ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Sat. Dec. 19 in the FAC Main Theatre. There are 93 graduates. All full-time faculty and professional personnel are expected to attend graduation and be in academic attire.
Please plan to assemble and line up in the first floor hallway of the FAC by 10:15 a.m.
A reception will immediately follow commencement in the FAC lobby.
Holidays and stress
Holidays and stress go hand in hand. Getting a handle on holiday stress involves incorporating some deliberate and planned healthy strategies into one’s life, as well as avoiding some of the unhealthy ones - excessive drinking or smoking, rigidity and depression, procrastination or avoidance, compulsive eating or spending. While there is no universal premier plan for managing holiday stress, there are some general principles.
• Say no. Few invitations are moral obligations; skip some events. It’s okay to politely refuse to do special favors and extra volunteer jobs.
• Say yes to the things that rejuvenate you. Take time to help someone out, spend a quiet evening at home, or attend a concert—not because you should but because you want to do it and it makes you feel good.
• Cut the workload. Bakeries make cookies. The third cousin who moved to Idaho sometime in the 80’s can be cut from the card list. Lights on the upstairs windows are probably overkill. Ask others for help.
• Stay within your budget. Simplify. Presents and love are not synonyms.
• Ditch perfectionism. Neither your inside nor outside decor has to look like Martha Stewart was consulted. There is no perfect gift, at least not one you can buy.
• Put the holidays in perspective; they are only a few days out of 365.
• Eat, drink, rest, and exercise sensibly. A badly nourished body is not resilient.
• If you are alone and lonely, reach out to others. If you need some alone time, tell the people around you. Ask for what you need and want.
• Family get-togethers aren’t always Hallmark material. Even the healthiest families are complicated. Families with problems don’t magically get better because everyone is all dressed up in front of a backdrop of wreaths and twinkling lights. If big family reunions are too tense or painful, make other arrangements. Sometimes, sadly, there are better places than home for the holidays. Accept the things you cannot change.
• Know that not every holiday is wonderful. Some are downright painful. Usually, the next one is better.
• Change your expectations. The perfect people in perfectly decorated settings with perfect food being served in perfect ambiance are fantasies, usually staged to sell wine or tablecloths or hygiene products. While they present nice images, they are lousy standards for us imperfect people to try to meet. Most of us don’t roast chestnuts on an open fire.
• The season’s source and meaning relate to spirituality. Take time to nurture your own. The rest is window dressing.
• Keep your sense of humor. Enjoy the moments. With all its blatant commercialism, bittersweet memories, and frenzied activity, it is still a beautiful season.
Statistics
Coffee, Milk, or Alcohol?
Americans are drinking more alcoholic beverages and less coffee at home. In a survey of 5200 people over a two-week period:
3.5 percent of all home dinners were served with an alcoholic drink.
3.4 percent were served with coffee.
19.7 percent were served with milk.
—NPD Group, 1998
Apply for training sessions now
Applications for the second semester Connect Program training session are available at the SDC. Faculty and staff working with students in classes, activities, or workstudy positions are requested to pass the word on to students and to encourage those they feel would be quality candidates to apply. Virtually all the first semester participants joined because a significant adult had encouraged them.
The program offers students various roles to promote healthy choices. These roles include developing awareness literature, manning the coffeehouse, serving as part of the informal network on peer educators on campus, promoting alternative activities, and conducting prevention sessions with peers in campus setting or with youth in the community. Activities work to promote the following Connect Program goals:
• Create an environment where abstinence is always a respected and accepted choice.
• Create an environment where low-risk alcohol/drug choices are perceived and practiced as norms.
• Provide students with information and skills to recognize and effectively help a peer making a high-risk chemical choice.
Students may stop by the SDC or call Anne Ellefson, x3807, for an application or additional information.
News you’ll notice
by Mark Franz
Computer Services Update: Although there are not many "new" items to report, there are a number of on-going projects on which I would like to provide an update.
Title III wiring project: This FAC project has been in progress since October. Work is progressing well in the facility. In the areas that are complete, we have already started connecting computers to the new wiring system. Many thanks to the building residents who have endured dust and drilling noise; and the Physical Plant staff members who have been moving items and cleaning up the extra debris.
Title III computers for faculty: All computer hardware for the designated Title III faculty recipients has been received. Distribution of the new hardware is nearing completion for English, education and half of the nursing faculty.
Year 2000 (a.k.a. - Y2K): A schedule has been devised and work is in progress to make all POISE administrative software systems Y2K compliant. I have already met with a number of the affected offices that have been scheduled for the conversions.
Fine Arts Resource Center Computing Facility: In addition to eight computers provided by Title III (last year) an additional 12 computers will be installed prior to the beginning of second semester to complete a 20 unit Macinstosh computing facility. Both the computer hardware and the furniture for the facility have been delivered. The furniture is scheduled for installation prior to Dec. 15 with installation of the computers to follow. A number of classes are already scheduled to make use of the new facility during the spring semester.
Rose Terrace: In this, the first semester in which network service has been available, seven residents are utilizing high-speed connections to the campus network. I expect that number to increase significantly next fall as more students acquire computers with network cards.
Requests for academic software: Prior to the end of the semester, academic department chairpersons should expect to receive a software request form from the Computer Committee. Although no funds were specifically allocated for software, we would like to be aware of academic software needs and to consider these requests if additional technology funds were to become available at the beginning of second semester.
Viterbo College Library Book Fair at Barnes & Noble
Viterbo College Library was awarded a "Book Fair" at Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Proceeds from the Book Fair will go to the Francis Clare Library endowment fund. Library staff members will be present in the Barnes & Noble store from 1-4 p.m. on Feb. 7, 1999 to coordinate the Book Fair.
A percentage of all qualified purchases made during the Book Fair will go toward increasing the library endowment. To qualify your purchases to contribute to the library endowment, use a Barnes & Noble Book Fair Support Voucher. Pick up a voucher in the library or watch for a voucher enclosed in Connections in January.
Did you know…
The bulletproof vest, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and the laser printer were all invented by women.
Amusing irrelevant facts
The three best-known western names in China: Jesus Christ, Richard Nixon, and Elvis Presley.
Spotted skunks do handstands before they spray.
Hypnotism is banned by public schools in San Diego.