Publications

Connections
A Newsletter for the Viterbo College Community
Vol. 12   No. 17  December 14, 1998

Best wishes for the holidays
I wish to extend to each member of the Viterbo College community my best wishes for a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year. Since this is the season of thanks, I want to extend my appreciation to each individual of our College community for his/her contributions to the vitality and distinctiveness of Viterbo. In the words of the NCA team, there is “a sense of confidence and purpose which can be seen throughout the College community.”

With all the pressures of grading exams, concluding semester activities and going here and there, let us remember the reason for the advent season: the coming of the Christ Child.

To those to whom it is appropriate, I send my best wishes for Hanukkah. To others I send my regards for a Merry Christmas.

Pax et Bonum.    —Bill Medland, President
 

Holidays and stress
Christmas cheer has become a slogan associated with the liquor industry at holiday time, reflecting (and maybe creating) the reality that alcohol consumption increases during the holiday season. For many, increased consumption occurs because they attend additional celebrations and parties where alcohol is served. While extra alcohol consumption increases risk for related problems, there are some common sense guidelines to lower that risk during holiday get-togethers.

Few things dampen real Christmas cheer more effectively than a drink/drive ticket, a drunken argument, or a car crash. No one wants to be the party police or big brother; luckily, that’s not what guidelines like these are intended to create. It’s just that we share this world, and sometimes we need to watch out for each other. The holidays are as good a time as any to be reminded of that.
 

Holiday reception
Celebrate the season with holiday treats from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Tues. Dec. 15 in the MC Conference room. All are welcome to share in good spirits and conversation.
 

Memos only
From: Jay McHenry, Director of Physical Plant

To: Students, staff, faculty

Re: Vehicle safety

Just a quick reminder to make sure your vehicle is secured when parked on or near campus. There have been several thefts of personal belongings from vehicles whose doors were not locked. With the holiday season, there is a greater chance that items of value left in the vehicle may be stolen. In response to the situation, Security has been instructed to make more patrols through the lots during their evening rounds. Please call me anytime with questions or comments at x3920.
 

Bits and pieces
Casual Dress Days
Fri. Dec. 18: Food Pantry Day
Wed. Dec. 23: Jeans Day, proceeds go to Rotary Lights AND Coulee Region Literacy Council.
Please continue to bring non-perishable food items to MC front desk.

Connections will be taking a Winter Break. The next issue will be published on Monday, Jan. 11 with a deadline of noon on Thursday, Jan 7.

Send your announcements via campus mail to the public relations office, MC22, E-mail sakluess@mail. viterbo.edu. An edited version of each issue of Connections can be found on the Web at www.viterbo.edu at “Campus News.”
 

Viterbo people
Senior nursing students from Vicki Moss’s Qualitative Nursing Research class participated in a mini project looking at the concept of Caring. They will display their results in poster presentation format in the BNC hallways throughout finals week. Each student wrote about a time when they observed or were a recipient of caring while at Viterbo. The stories were grouped, analyzed for themes, and a caring statement was developed. Please come and browse the BNC halls to see the results.
 
 

Thank you for participating
The bookstore wishes to thank everyone who came by on Faculty, Staff Appreciation Day.
 
 

V-Hawk sports update
by Jerry Smith
Vandenberg, V-Hawks holding their own

1998-99 basketball season was a season that the Viterbo College women’s basketball team was supposed to pick up where they left off the year before.

It was going to be hard to match the 25-5 overall record and the 10-2 mark in the Midwest Classic Conference, good for second place, but Bobbi Vandenberg and the V-Hawks had reason to believe they could write a new chapter in Viterbo College basketball history.

Then it happened.

First, 6 foot 3 inch freshman Katie Parins is out for the season with a broken foot.

Then, 6 foot 1 inch Danielle DeJardin is told it would be best not to play this year because of a herniated disk in her back.

And then the final blow. Top returning scorer and rebounder Heidi Behnke blows out a knee a few days before the season is supposed to begin and is lost for the year.

The V-Hawks should have said right then and there that the season wasn’t worth playing and forfeited all there games, right?

Wrong! Not a chance! No way! Get out of town! Those setbacks only gave Vandenberg and the healthy V-Hawks more of reason to go on. And that is exactly what they have done.

And despite the team’s 5-6 record going into Wednesday’s game against Regis University in Denver, Colo., this could very well be Vandenberg’s finest year as a coach on the college level.

So what if the team has already lost six games when they lost only five all season last year. And so what if the V-Hawks’ chances of winning the MCC have been diminished a bit. None of that matters. Vandenberg has put together a very competitive and exciting team despite the season shattering setbacks. That says a lot for Vandenberg and the V-Hawks.
She gets my vote for coach of the year.
 

‘Recipes for success’
The Viterbo College Fastpitch Softball team’s Recipes for Success cookbook will be available prior to Christmas break.

The cookbook includes simple recipes for 180 delicious dishes.

Recipes for Success will sell for $10 and would make a great stocking stuffer. Call Chris Helixon, x3078, for more information.
 

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.
 

Reminder from VEHIP
1999 Semester II Yoga and Jazzercise will begin the end of January. Watch for flyers & sign up early.
 Make it your New Year’s resolution. Chris Saudek teaches Yoga and Connie Price will return to teach Jazzercise.
Join the VEHIP programs in ’99! Payroll deduction available.
 

Mini-registrations for second semester
The mini-registrations for new students planning to enter Viterbo second semester are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Fri., Dec., 18, and Fri., Jan. 8 in the Learning Center. The school deans will be contacted to determine who will be the departmental representative/advisor on each of these days.
 

Library collection enhanced
Bill Katra, assistant professor of Spanish, reports that four donors have provided more than $570 for enhancing Viterbo’s library collection of Mexico and Guatemala. These donations have purchased 55 new and used books.

“We had to identify our basic library needs,” Katra said. “Only recently the college created a Spanish major, but without adequate library holdings. A strong Spanish major has to be considered at the heart of the institution’s mission. The Franciscan Sisters have their mission in Guatemala. And this next semester both the business school and the foreign language departments are offering culture or civilization classes on Mexico.”

An additional $500 will be needed to purchase Spanish-language books when Bill takes his Viterbo students ro Mexico City and Cuernavaca next May. Individuals wishing to make tax deductible contributions may send checks in care of John Hempstead, library director.
 

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.

News you’ll notice
by Todd Ericson
Once again Viterbo College is completing its annual budget preparation process. The procedure is relatively complex but easier to understand as part of a step by step process.

Last October, all departments were provided with instructions for indicating budgetary needs for the 1999-2000 fiscal year. Each of the departments was asked to submit written requests for controllable budget increases (telephone, copying, postage, etc), computer hardware/software, other equipment, and physical plant improvements using the standard request forms. Departments provided these requests to the appropriate Dean or Vice President for review prior to October 31. The approved requests were then forwarded to me. For the 1999-2000 fiscal year, controllable budget requests total $510,000; other equipment requests $120,000; computer hardware/software requests $175,000; and physical plant improvement requests total $1,360,000. Physical plant improvement requests will most likely reach $1,750,000.

Also in October, I prepared an initial draft of projected revenue for the same time period.This draft was approved in the fall by the cabinet and college planning and finance committees. These guidelines provide parameters for tuition and room/board increases, project enrollments and revenues, indicate plans for new programs or personnel, and provide for available resources for controllable expenditure increases and salary/benefit increases. To address a previous Board of Directors' resolution, the initial guidelines are budgeted at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is less than 2% this year. Because the requests received during the budget solicitation process were greater than this, I also prepared tuition and room/board increases at higher levels for consideration by the Board of Directors. The draft has been provided to the Board of Directors for discussion and approval at its December 14, 1998 meeting.

The board ultimately decides budget. Once that is done in December, we can get down to business. The College Finance Committee will prioritize the controllable budget requests you submitted based on what is available. The College Computer Committee will do the same thing. Academic and non-academic equipment requests will be provided to the Jack Havertape and myself, respectively, for prioritization. Finally, Jay McHenry and I will recommend physical plant improvement projects, and the President's Cabinet will prioritize such projects. The President's Cabinet will review all priorities presented by the various constituencies.

Then, the Board provides the final word. Upon approval by the Board of Directors, and prior to June 30, 1999, I will notify campus departments of the results of the budget process. Such notification will include a summary of the factors utilized by the College Finance Committee to prioritize budget requests, as well as an indication of any department controllable budget modifications.

Is there enough money to go around to satisfy all of the requests? Historically, requests have exceeded two to three times the available reserves. This obviously makes the process more difficult. I do hope however, that you will agree that collectively we are making every effort to budget in a prudent and fair fashion, providing everyone with the opportunity for direct input, or at the least, indirect imput via your immediate supervisor or commmitte or assembly representative.
 

Simple things you can do today to save our earth
Light right. One large bulb is more efficient than two small ones in a multi-bulb fixture. Try more efficient incandescents such as krypton filled, tungsten-halogen, or infrared-reflective coated. Use fewer bulbs when possible; leave lights off during the day when you can.

Paper or plastic? Neither is ecologically sound; plastic is made from petroleum, and takes a long time, if ever, to decompose; paper uses up trees. Bring your old bags with you to the store, or use a cloth bag.

Avoid hidden toxics. Oven cleaners contain lye; use baking soda and steel wool instead. Air fresheners contain many chemicals; use herbal mixtures or vinegar and lemon juice. Mothballs can be harmful to your liver and kidneys; use cedar chips or cedar oil. Permanent-ink pens and markers contain harmful solvents; use water-based markers and pens.

Recharge your batteries. Use rechargeable batteries. Although they do contain cadmium, they last much longer. Recycle your old alkaline batteries.

Turn your water heater down to 130 degrees—hot enough to kill bacteria but still save energy. Insulate your water heater with a pre-fab “blanket” available at most hardware stores; you can save 7-8% of energy.

Avoid the ozone. Don’t buy halon fire extinguishers. Avoid polystyrene foam, such as in packing “peanuts.” Don’t buy foam insulation or aerosol cans containing CFCs.
 

Did you know…
Forty percent of all people who come to a party in your home snoop in your medicine cabinet.
What separates CBS’s 60 Minutes from every other TV show is the program’s lack of a theme song or music.