Connections
A Newsletter for the Viterbo College Community
Vol. 12 No. 26, March 8, 1999
It was a year ago—Feb. 22 to be exact, that Nathan Kapfer died. To this day, many questions remain regarding the tragic death of this very fine young man. I would ask that you continue to keep Nathan and his family in your prayers. I would also like to share a letter that Nathan’s parents, Mark and Doris, recently published in the local newspaper. Their reflections give us much to think about.
—William Medland
Realize the danger of underage drinking
By Mark and Doris Kapfer, Glendive, Mont.
It has been a year since the disappearance of our son, Nathan Kapfer, and the loss still haunts us.
We will probably never know all of the events pertaining to his disappearance, but we do know that, just prior to his last known encounter with friends, he was in contact with the city of La Crosse Police Department and ticketed for underage drinking, disorderly conduct, possessing false identification and for being in a bar while under age 21.
His body was found in the Mississippi River, downstream from La Crosse, six weeks later.
The autopsy revealed that his blood alcohol level was 0.22.
It was not our wish to have this story spotlighted again, but rather to bring focus that the problems and perceptions that led to his death still exist.
A major problem is the lack of awareness of the underage drinking problem.
People either do not perceive it as a problem or think it will never effect them. They may not realize the dangers involved in such risk-taking behavior.
Education for and communication between everyone are the key elements to a solution.
"Everyone" means parents, teachers, friends, relatives, and authorities.
The more people who are made aware, the more they can have a positive effect on minors.
Programs and attitudes must be presented to all in such a way that they will be understood and accepted.
Scare tactics do not work. Defense mechanisms go up and walls are built. Accurate and straightforward information needs to be available to everyone.
Parents need to be proactive, vigilant and to keep an open dialogue going with their children.
No one has all the answers, so each person’s role is important.
Lasting changes are not expected overnight, but with persistence and patience they can and must be accomplished.
The ultimate goal should be prevention.
If a minor does find him or herself in a dangerous situation, we must all do our utmost to protect them.
Do not accept abuse of alcohol as an approved behavior and let happen what will happen.
No one should be left to their own care when it is observed that they need help.
A direct helping hand or a call to authorities is warranted. If the authorities do become involved, they should be responsible to see to that person’s safety.
If the law deems that a person under 21 years of age should not consume alcohol, then that specifically implies that that person, while under the influence, is not capable of insuring his or her own well-being.
We as parents must urge that underage drinking laws be enforced to promote the intent of the law—to protect a person from harm.
It is appropriate to ticket, fine and admonish.
However, it is also imperative that the job be completed by rendering care and support to that same individual for safety’s sake.
This letter is written with hope that our efforts may help to affect a change in attitude and action.
If an attempt is not made to change, then the status quo must be accepted. Nothing will bring our son back or relieve the pain of our loss.
But if lessons are learned and attitudes changed, then some comfort can be taken.
Let us all work and hope for the best outcomes in the future.
Bits and pieces
Casual Dress Fri. Mar. 12 Employee Day, support helps defray the cost of employee social functions. Please pay your $1 at MC Reception Desk if you are participating in Casual Dress Day.
Social Committee upcoming events: St. Patrick’s Day Party from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 19, at the Recovery Room.
Viterbo Employee Night at the Rivoli. Watch for details!
Lost and found: The Reception Desk at Murphy Center is the central location for "lost and found" for the college. People who are looking for lost items appreciate having only one location to check to hopefully "find" their lost items. Therefore, please forward all "found" items to the Reception Desk for easy retrieval.
24 hour security: call x3911.
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.
Connections is published each Monday by the Public Relations office. Copy deadline is noon Thursday. 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."
Kudos to…
Public Relations and Marketing for recognition received at the Addy Awards held Feb. 27.
Viterbo received the highest possible award—the ADDY— in two categories:
1. "Learn to Live: Who Helped Shape Your Life?" which earned best multi-media campaign;
2. Strides spring 1998 (featuring Cindy Hutson on cover), for best industry self-promotion magazine
Also honored were:
1. Bright Star Season Brochure—First Place
2. Viterbo College Annual Report (less than 4 color)—Citation of Excellence
3. Magazine Cover: Strides Winter 1998—Citation of Excellence
All entries were judged by an independent panel of advertising and marketing experts from another region of the state. Viterbo’s two Addy Award winning entries will automatically go on to the American Advertising Federation District competition.
Thanks to Bill Reese ("The Amish"), Tom Thibodeau ("Place of Grace"), Bill Medland ("Vision 2005"), who all presented programs at the La Crescent Rotary during February. Bill Medland also made presentations regarding "Vision 2005" to the Lions and Kiwanis Clubs in February.
Congratulations to Tom Thibodeau, religious studies, who was awarded a Spheres of Influence Award last week at a banquet sponsored by Franciscan Skemp Healthcare. Also honored was Sister Celesta Day, a member of Viterbo’s Board of Directors.
You’ve probably already heard but good news is hard to squelch. Renee Heuss, a senior pre-med student, was named to the USA Today Academic All American Team. She received "honorable mention" status. In all, 80 students were honored nationwide and Renee was the only student from a Wisconsin college to be named. It might be noted that in order to be honored, one needs to be noticed. Thanks to Mary Hassinger, letters and science, for nominating Renee. USA Today received 1,000 nominations.
Have news about your department or students’ accomplishments? Share your achievements with the campus community by sending us a note via "Connections."
Have news about your department or students’ accomplishments? Share your achievements with the campus community by sending us a note via "Connections."
Arts & Entertainment
College Gallery, third floor Fine Arts Center. Viterbo College Graphic Design Senior show will open Mon. Mar. 15 and show through Wed., Mar. 31. Everyone is invited to the opening on Wed. Mar. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information contact Ed Rushton, x3752.
Hans Christian Anderson’s classic The Nightingale is brought to life as part of Viterbo's Arts for Young America Program at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 14, in the FAC Main Theatre.
In The Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration On Tour presentation of The Nightingale, the acclaimed writer and director Mary Hall Surface, and choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess, reshape Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale into a powerful theatrical presentation filled with dance, color, narrative, humor, action and joy.
The presentation is sponsored by: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Wisconsin. Ticket prices: $9 for adults; $7 for children age 12 and under. Call the Box Office, x3100.
Campus Ministry News
by Father Tom O’Neill
Place of Grace Dinner: Campus Ministry and the College Church will host the evening meal on Thurs., Mar. 18. People are needed to serve the meal, do dishes, make dessert bars. There are sign-up sheets at the College Church entrance. All are invited to help in the Lenten project.
Lent 1999: Operation Rice Bowl: sponsored by Catholic Relief Services to help the less fortunate. Operation Rice Bowl helps us during Lent to Pray, Fast, Learn and Give in solidarity with those in need. Contribution containers are available at the Church entrance.
Soup and bread lunch, sponsored by Social Justice Group, will be held each Wed. in the Cafeteria. Free will offerings will go to Operation Rice Bowl.
Wednesdays in Lent: Interdenominational (ecumenical) Evening Vespers each Wed. night at 5:30 p.m. in the College Church with Pastor Reese; 10 p.m. Lenten Taize Prayer in the College Church.
You are invited…
The Viterbo College Community is invited to attend the Teacher Education Admission Ceremony honoring students admitted to the Teacher Education Program and to student teaching for Fall, l999 at at 3:10 p.m. on Thurs., Mar. 18 in the FAC Lobby. Refreshments will be served.
Flexible Spending Plan-Section 125
Benefits Design Group meeting Representative Sue Sieger will be on campus Tues. and Wed., Mar. 23 and Mar. 24. All new employees must meet with Sue for an explanation of the Section 125 plan.
A sign-up sheet is located by the MC mailboxes.
Meetings will be held in the library’s Faculty Research Room 128.
Thanks…Gratias…Danke
Many of you have been contributing to the welfare of the Food Pantry. I have names for the Friday contributors but do not have names for the people who bring foodstuffs. I received another supply this week. It is impossible to write personal Thank-you notes and leave them in the pantry or in the church.
About once a month I need to refill the shelves. This last order, which was fairly typical of the month’s order, was $178.99. It is the contributions from all of you that keep the shelves stocked.
—Arita Dopkins, FSPA
Senior Salute 1999
Graduating Seniors: Take care of all your graduation needs from 3 to 6 p.m, Thurs., Mar. 18, in the SAC!
Representatives from the Registrar’s office, Alumni Association, Career Services, Advance Program, Bookstore, Graduation Committee, and Sigma Pi Delta will be present to answer your questions.
For more information, call the Alumni Office, x3072.
Sponsored by the Graduation Committee.
Student Government Association
(SGA) is looking for a business manager for next school year. The job involves keeping the books and heading up the finance committee of the SGA, and can take anywhere from 1 to 10 hours a week. Interested? Pick up a full job description and an application in the SGA office in the student union as soon as possible.
News you’ll notice
School of Extended Learning: RN-to-BSN Program
Profile of RN-to-BSN Students, by Jennie Meger. The "typical" student enrolled in the RN-to-BSN program is in their mid-30s to early 40s, working full-time as a nurse with numerous other responsibilities. These students enter the program having graduated from a two-year technical program, community college, or diploma program with a degree in nursing. Students who have not completed their nursing degree or have their RN license cannot enter the program. Transfer students bring in a maximum of 64 credits from their two-year or diploma programs. The programs must be accredited by the National League for Nursing (NLN). Students who enter from non-NLN programs must take the NLN exam once at Viterbo to obtain credit for their nursing courses at the two-year level.
Many of the RN-to-BSN students have Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees, and have a wide range of liberal arts courses to compliment the nursing work they did at their community college. Frequently students are beginning their programs having had coursework at other four-year institutions in addition to their nursing programs. We try to be flexible in the program, but students must meet the degree requirements stated in the catalog. These requirements include an additional 24 credits of upper level nursing, the liberal arts core curriculum, nursing support requirements, 6 credits of religious studies and electives to total 128 credits at graduation.
Program Sites, by Jim Stevens. Responsibilities to family and career mean the needs of the RN-to-BSN student are far different from those of the "typical" college student. They often cannot commute long distances to class. With this in mind, the RN-to-BSN program is currently offered at nine off-campus locations: Marshfield, Janesville, Dodgeville, Rice Lake, Reedsburg, New Richmond, Wausau, Watertown, and Ashland. In the past this program was offered at Superior, Fennimore and Chippewa Falls.
Potential new locations are constantly being investigated. When student interest appears to be developing in a particular area, recruitment sessions are set up in an attempt to enroll enough students to justify the new location. Many potential students do quite a bit of recruitment themselves because they are interested in having this program close to their homes. Students currently enrolled in our program are also a source of new students for our program. It’s always gratifying to have people inquire about the RN-to-BSN program and find that they’ve heard about it from a satisfied student.
We currently have 244 students enrolled in the Returning RN program for the Spring 1999 semester. Of these, 113 are attending the La Crosse campus which attracts students from the Rochester, Minn. area. Janesville is currently the college’s second most popular location, with 42 students, and draws adult learners from the Rockford, Ill., area and south central Wis.
Spotlight on an Accomplished Student, by Jan Eriksen. Diane Carlson, an RN-to-BSN student who attends the La Crosse campus and works full-time as an infusion therapy nurse at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, also holds the title of Mayor of Mantorville, Minn. since the Nov.’98 election. Her term of office runs through Dec. 2000. Although this is Diane’s first elected office, she was appointed by the governor to the Minnesota State Board of Nursing and served on the board from 1993-97. She ran on a platform of increased citizen involvement in local government and says that her biggest challenge as mayor is to convince city council to be future-oriented; to look at underlying causes and the infrastructure of issues rather than just taking a band-aid approach to problem-solving.
The mayor’s position in Mantorville is part-time: Diane works about 12-14 hours per month at her mayoral duties. She is paid a stipend for attending meetings. Diane would like to continue in politics, while still remaining involved in the nursing profession. She may run again for mayor or may opt to campaign for a county commissioner slot, with an eye toward eventually becoming a state representative. Diane is a graduate of St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Fargo, North Dakota. She is in her second year of the RN-to-BSN program at Viterbo and will graduate in about a year.
Take a look at the Viterbo College web page
Two significant updates to Viterbo’s web site this week: The Admissions page (www. viterbo.edu/admission/in dex.htm) has a completely new look. It now includes admission procedures, financial assistance, and campus visits. The page contains links to student life, to the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce web page, to various degrees and programs offered, so that prospective students can investigate their educational interests via the web pages.
The Advance Program web page (www.viterbo.edu/academic/ug/ad vance/advance.htm) also has an updated look with information on admission and graduation requirements, tuition and fees, information sessions, and class schedules. There are also links to pages that explain transfer credits, credit for prior learning, and the required research project.
In addition, Admissions, Computer Services, and Public Relations are working to enable prospective students to register for campus visits and to apply on-line.
If you or your department have an interest in creating a new web page or updating the page you have, contact Loretta in the PR office, x3040.
Quotes
Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back to where they were. —Black Elk