Service During the Season and Beyond

Amber Will, a political science major from Wausau, Wisconsin, shares about Valpo service opportunities at Christmas and throughout the year:

In the spirit of Christmas, we often take time to reflect on all the blessings bestowed upon us. This usually becomes a reflection also on the advantages many of us share when compared to families around the world. Whether we drop a few coins in the red container because the man outside is ringing his bell loudly or we buy a few extra groceries to donate to the food pantry, Christmastime is regarded as a season for giving – no matter how small. Here at Valpo, we join in this charitable spirit through many different aspects of campus life.
There are buy in levels for getting meals in the Union, but there are quite a few students that do not spend all of their money. So it isn’t wasted, there are ways to donate extra meal card money to one of the food pantries in Valparaiso. Just as an example of how much money this can add up to, one semester brought in eleven thousand dollars for Hilltop House! The generosity of giving just a few dollars can add up to packed pantries. There is also a project on campus called Adopt a Family. Looking back at Christmas, I remember running to wake up my parents in order to open up the presents underneath the tree. However, not all kids have this luxury. Adopt a Family allows different organizations on campus to raise money and buy presents for a family in need. This is especially helpful with the economic downturn many parents are facing. There are so many ways to get involved in the giving season at Valparaiso University.
But we don’t stop there. The community here doesn’t just want to donate and help others during this freezing season. Many organizations do countless philanthropy hours and raise money for various charities and foundations. The Social Action Leadership Team (SALT) run though the chapel does a semester long fundraiser called the World Relief Campaign. This entails adopting a project from some corner of the world and fundraising around campus and the community to raise money to complete it. In years past there have been donations made for educational programs in Jakarta, water pipelines in rural China, and a nutritional program implemented in Uganda. This year, the group is focusing on raising twelve thousand dollars to build a foster home on an orphanage’s property on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua. The government is closing down orphanages and sending all of the children back to potentially unfit families, so to combat the legislation the orphanage is building foster homes on the property so that the children can stay in a safe environment. The funding will provide one house that can hold up to five children. The entire campaign will run throughout the semester extending the season of giving up to the summer months. Valpo is truly a place where students can get involved and make a difference not only in the community but around the world.

Valpo Greek Life

Hello all,
I know that when I was looking at colleges I was apprehensive about Greek life (fraternities and sororities). I did not understand much about what went on and the things I had heard were not very positive. Since about a third of Valpo students are a member of a fraternity or a sorority, I thought I would include a student perspective of what Valpo Greek life is like. Jacob Tewes is a Junior from Lincoln, Nebraska. Here is what he has to say about his fraternity experience:

"As a prospective college student living in Lincoln, Nebraska, I didn't really have any concept of Greek life or what it entailed. Sure, I'd seen animal house and heard stories about former classmates doing crazy initiations (that I knew weren't all true) at UNL, but I didn't care because it just didn't seem like something for me. When I came to Valpo, I didn't really even realize they were around until a bunch of the guys on my floor started wearing Greek letters around. I'm sure I could have sought them out, but I certainly never felt pressured to rush. Actually, I only became interested when I realized three of the people I respected most on campus just happened to be in the same fraternity. I started checking it out and joined when I came back in the fall. I think it was a great decision and I've really valued my time in the fraternity.

I guess if there's an idea I think prospective students should hear, it would be this: don't be intimidated by Greek life. They aren't going to hunt you down and haze you (at least not at Valpo) and they aren't going to get in the way of your college career. I really like the balance of Greeks and independents (non-Greeks) we have on campus, and I've appreciated Greek life from both perspectives. I knew they did a ton of philanthropy and threw great (all non-alcoholic) dance parties before I joined, and now some of my best friends are my brothers."

Caribou Coffee

This morning I had two fairs at Aurora Central Catholic and Marmion Academy and just visited South Elgin High School. I was excited to see my sister-in-law's boyfriend at South Elgin H.S., where he teaches physics. It is always fun to see people you know in different places.
I have titled this post Caribou Coffee for a couple reasons. The first is pretty straightforward. I am sitting in a Caribou Coffee shop writing this. A laptop's location is always a viable candidate for a blog post's title. Today location wins out.
My second (and more interesting)reason is offered up by a friend of mine named Paul Frank. Yes, his name is actually Paul Frank and no, he has never designed any clothes. Paul is a friend of mine who also attended Valpo. He came to campus from Maple Grove and studied civil engineering, in case you are wondering. Paul is a fun guy who gets along with most everyone. Never seems to be too angry or wroth with anyone and is always pretty easy going. This makes him very easy to like. However, there are moments when Paul shows great rises in emotion. These moments are usually spaced out and lie dormant within his routinely easygoing nature, but every once in a while they emerge as Paul shows unprecedented amounts of excitement over things that seem seemingly small and ordinary. Paul is known to get energized about all things Swedish, trains, winter and, as pertains to this blog, he has an enduring love for Caribou Coffee.
I have a couple of distinct memories from my undergraduate years at Valpo of different excursions with Paul. We were traveling away from Valpo (there is no Caribou Coffee shop in Valpo) and he remained relatively quiet throughout our travels. Then suddenly, at the sight of a branch of his beloved coffee franchise, he would erupt in a fury of conversation about the delicious nature of Caribou Coffee. Carribou Coffee gave our silent friend voice; his dormant heart joy. It was glorious.
This subject may seem to be a trivial and unimportant point of my Valpo experience, but I assure you it is not. You see, Paul's love for Caribou Coffee made my Valpo experience unique. Not Paul's loves alone, but a combination of unique loves and perspectives from students all over coming together on Valpo's campus and bring them to one campus and academic experience. Paul's love for Caribou is mirrored by Ryan's love for Hamburger Helper (Ft. Wayne), Darryl's love for Van Wilder (Colorado), Holly's love for her free bicycle (California), Shaun's love for Jimmy John's (St. Louis), etc. Students come to Valpo from all over the U.S. and all over the world to share their loves for coffee, food, ideas, music, dance, athletics, and many other aspects of their lives. They influence one another and help one another see other ways of doing things. Together they form a community and this community benefits all who are a part of it.
Thus, I must thank Paul and all my other friends for making my Valpo experience unique. If anyone is wondering, I favor white chocolate mocha's...

On the Road Again

Well, my travels have commenced once again. This week I traveled around Elgin, Aurora, Oswego, and St. Charles, Illinois. I had a good time visiting with students at every high school I went to and I hope they enjoyed my visits, as well. I must admit, it felt good to see students at every school I went to. That is not always the case. Some schools I travel to do not have any students show up and it kind of bums me out. Now, I am in no way blaming anyone for not attending my high school visits. Often there are tests or certain classwork that keeps students from talking to admission counselors. Furthermore, a lot of students just do not think about taking time out of their class or day to talk to counselors. I was that way. Though I visited several colleges when I was in high school, I never met with any representatives that came to my school. Yet, I think I am in a good place to speak regrettably about not meeting the admission reps who came to my school.
First off, you should meet with counselors in your school because it is pretty cool to get out of class, even if for only 20 minutes. The school day can drone on in a monotonous way and it is nice to get a relief once in a while. On a more serious note, college is perhaps the biggest influence for your future. Don't you think it is a good idea to do a little research about which school you are going to? Even if you are not planning on attending some of the colleges, go talk to the reps. Figure out solidly WHY you do not want to attend that college or university and it will help you figure out why you want to go to the college of your choosing. Information is always helpful and we have a lot of it to share. Take some time to talk to admission counselors coming through your high school. We don't bite and we have a lot of info for you.

New Orleans: the city of Lutherans

This may seem like an odd title to my post as there are not actually many Lutherans who live in New Orleans. The title does not refer to permanent Lutheran residents but instead refers to the massive amount of Lutheran high school youth who inhabited the city last week during the 2009 National ELCA Youth Gathering. High school Lutherans came from far and wide to unite in the Big Easy and serve the city in many facets. I was blessed with the opportunity to represent Valparaiso University at the gathering and meet students from all over the U.S. I spoke with students from Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, Ohio, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana, and even the Virgin Islands and South Africa (to name a few). It was an experience of impressive magnitude as over 36,000 high school students convened in service, worship, and fun. Their efforts were so impressive that they merited a visit and award from the mayor of New Orleans and recognition from President Obama. For those of you who may have attended, shoot me an email at seth.nelson@valpo.edu or connect with me on Facebook at Seth at Valpo. For those of you who were not able to attend, I am up for letting you know more about the experience so you should connect with me, as well!

-Seth

The Cycle of Transformation

We have just finished up our third FOCUS session out of four. It has been pretty sweet to see everyone finally coming to campus and getting their first taste of what Freshman year will be like. Students have traveled great distances to make it here and have seemed to enjoy most all aspects of their time on campus. Being a Valpo alum myself, it is always fun to picture myself as I was in their shoes. My FOCUS experience was a great opportunity for me to start feeling comfortable with campus. I was able to recognize where buildings were, who my professors were going to be and where I planned to live. Joy abounds in watching other students repeating these same experiences and developments five years later.
Even more so, it is good to see the development of personalities. Though I was obviously the same being when I was an incoming freshman, there were several things that were different about me at that time than now. My hair was longer, my travel experience was thinner, and, amongst other things, I had no college diploma. More than that, I suppose I would label myself as pre-transformed when I was a student at FOCUS. In high school I suppose I would have been classified as a pretty good guy with a relatively insightful view of life. Yet, there was a great amount that I had yet to learn and even more, as with Socrates, that I needed to learn I would never know. My mental and personal state was one of optimism and naivete that is not uncharacteristic of a high school senior. I was hardly worse or better off than the majority of my peers, but rather I was amongst my peers. Together we were waiting to be transformed by life and what was to come, and I think that those of us who chose to come to Valpo were awaiting this transformation more anxiously than most.
Lo and behold, when we came to campus, transformation is what occurred. As we met peers from all over the US and the world our social networks began to grow beyond the regions of our early youth. Not only were we influenced by friends from across the street or across town, suddenly we were challenged to consider the perspectives of friends from the mountains of Colorado, the coast of California, the cold lakes of Minnesota, the peninsula of Michigan, the desert of Saudi Arabia, the cities of Chicago, New York, St. Louis, Cleveland, and beyond. Suddenly, in a brief period of time, I was challenged and afforded the opportunity to view distant places and countries in new ways. I no longer considered New York a distant state filled with people I didn't know. Suddenly New York was the home of James and Matt. Saudi Arabia grew in my mind from being a country with oil deposits to being the place where my friend Ali heralded from. My perspective of the world was transformed by personal, important relationships with students, peers, and friends from all over the country and world. The world was no longer something I studied at impersonal distance but became something I related to through interpersonal conversation.
Likewise, my academic experience was laden with new angles, approaches, ideas, methods, and insights that brought knowledge to a personal level of worth and participation. No longer was my gateway to knowledge exclusively contained in the textbook or on the chalkboard. My learning became a dynamic dialogue that I participated in with my classmates, professors, books, lectures, and a variety of other new methods of intellectual exploration. All of these were invaluably transformative to my mind and my person. These opportunities allowed me to develop into a more reflective and content being who could appreciate the world for the beauty it has to offer.
Seeing students engage in their new campus for the first time at FOCUS brings me to a state of nostalgia at seeing them in the beginning stages of their own cycle of transformation. Valpo changes people and changes them for the better. My life is richer through my Valpo transformation and I am grateful that others will also be transformed.

FOCUS

Brett Hartmann is a Junior from St. Louis, MO. See what he has to say about his FOCUS orientation experience:

FOCUS was a great way to get ready for my freshman year, and college life in general. I was worried about being in a foreign place without any friends, but quickly made some new ones. That made the transition in the fall much easier because there were already some friendly faces around campus. I got the chance to get used to where my classes would be, so I didn’t feel completely lost on the first day of school. While some of the ice-breakers and games we played felt kind of silly, my Orientation Assistant, Brent, did a great job leading our group and making us all feel comfortable with each other. I also had the chance to meet with an academic advisor so my class schedule was taken care of well in advance. It was fun to stay in the residence halls with other future freshmen. I knew a lot of people who meshed so well with the person they roomed with that they even decided to room together in the fall. One of my favorite memories was a late night run to 7-11 for slurpees- something that may seem small, but helped me to feel like Valpo was home. Overall, I think that the biggest benefit FOCUS offered me was getting ready for the fall and the transition into the new life that Valpo would offer.

-Brett Hartmann, Theology ‘10

The Decision

Some seniors know by now where they are going to college. Most have at least narrowed down their decision pools. Perhaps some have absolutely no clue. I am not really sure where you might be in all of this, but there is a lot of pressure for even those who have made their college decision. After all, did you actually make ‘the right choice’? Perhaps you screwed up somewhere, overlooked something, or just weren’t thinking of something when you sent your deposit? On the other hand, you could have gotten it dead on. You could have perfectly calculated all that there was to calculate, or simply stumbled onto the college or university that fits you best. But do you know that now? Do you know at this very moment with absolute certainty where you should be going?
The truth is, you cannot know with absolute certainty if your college decision is or was the right decision. It is a leap. Next fall, though you will probably not literally jump onto campus (though you may want to attempt such a feat for its symbolic nature) you will be ‘leaping’ into a different world. The college world is a dynamic place that changes with each incoming class. Though colleges and universities try to attract students who are relatively similar throughout the years, each freshman class has its own identity, persona, and distinct personalities. Therefore, even if you got to know a lot of students when you visited, your experience will not be the same as theirs because your peers will be different than theirs.
Furthermore, the move to college is a ‘leap’ because it is experiential in nature. This means that you need to be in classes and on campus as an actual student to really understand what it is to be a student. When touring campuses, meeting with students, faculty and admission counselors, and even staying overnight, you can get a picture of what your experience will probably be like. However, it is only when you step onto campus and start connecting with students, faculty, and your surroundings that you begin to understand the college experience.
So, your decision is a ‘leap’ of sorts, and not one that should be taken lightly. Thoughtful reflection is required. Yet, anxiety is also unnecessary. Research, questioning, and conversations should have brought you to a place of understanding between different schools. Hopefully, you understand enough about the schools that you are looking at to make an informed decision. Even if you do not have certainty behind your decision-making, you should have information (if you need more about Valpo let me know!).
The research that has brought you this far ideally will enable you to choose between several schools that fit you and your interests well. Though you have a ‘leap’ in front of you, you will not be leaping too far. Through the endless piles of mailings and emailings that you have received, you should be able to deduce a place that will probably fit you well. At that point, you can still make the wrong choice, or a mediocre choice of schools, or the absolutely perfect choice. However, in all probability, whichever school you choose from your shortlist will most likely be exactly or close to what you are looking for.
Valparaiso University, in particular, has one of the highest retention and four year graduation rates in the Midwest. That means that, in all likelihood, you will enjoy it here. So, while you may be stressing out about your future, know that your future experience will probably turn out well at Valpo…

Valpo is fun, but don't take my word for it...

I thought I would offer up my blog to a current student. Susan Barnes has written down her top ten things to do at Valpo. Enjoy!

Top Ten Favorite Things to Do at Valparaiso University

1. Hanging out with my friends.
2. Playing pool at the Games and Recreational Center
3. Attending basketball games
4. Going to various activities put on by Union Board.
5. Worshiping at Candlelight and Celebrate
6. Playing at the Dunes!!
7. Attending concerts
8. Relay for Life
9. Going to the Athletics Recreational Center (ARC)
10. Colleges Against Cancer

It was actually hard to whittle down all my activities on to a list of ten but I did it! I should probably explain some of them, though. Ok, well, my name is Susan Barnes. I am a sophomore here at Valparaiso University. I am a double major in English and Secondary Education from Peoria, IL.

1. My very favorite thing to do on Valpo’s campus is to hang out with my friends. I came to this campus knowing no one and have met friends that I will be keeping for life. We do anything together from playing games to watching movies. We just love having fun and being with one another.
2. The very new games and recreational center is an awesome place to go to, again, hang out with friends and play pool, ping pong, and foosball. It is a great break between classes or studying. I’m not great at pool, but hey, I still try my best.
3. The basketball games here are awesome! Being surrounded by my friends, covered in brown and gold, cheering on our division one team… what could be better?! The Valpo vs. Butler game last year that was televised on ESPN 2 rocked!! It is completely free to students, you get a chance to win fantastic prizes, and because Valpo’s campus is medium sized, you will probably know most of the players! So much fun.
4. I am actually a member of Union Board. We try really hard to get students involved on and off campus and some of the events are really creative. Coming up we have Valpo After Dark which will have indoor ice skating, caricatures, photo snow globes, and more! I’m really excited.
5. One of the reasons I chose Valpo was for the religious life. Candlelight is on Sunday nights at 10:00 and is a beautiful traditional service where students worship by candlelight. Hence the name. Also, though, we have Celebrate. It is a more contemporary, casual service. It is led by a student band and you can go in your pajamas if you want! That is on Wednesday nights at 10:00.
6. When it is warm, one of my favorite activities is going to the Dunes. This is a beach off of Lake Michigan about 20 minutes from campus. They are beautiful and it is a great escape from every day life.
7. Several concerts are held here on campus by The Source (the campus radio station) and Union Board. Last year, I got to meet the lead singer of Dashboard Confessional and this year I was about twenty feet from Relient K!!! Also, coming up we have David Cook coming. It should turn out to be an awesome concert year.
8. Relay for Life is one of the committees I am on and it is a 12 hour commitment to raise money and walk for Cancer. We have about 50 teams on campus and all the students just have fun and hang out all night, basically, for a good cause. Great times.
9. The ARC (Athletics Recreational Center) is open to students at any time. I love going there for open swim or just to run for some exercise.
10. Colleges Against Cancer is kind of a branch off of Relay for Life. It is more individual fundraising work and volunteering for the community. It allows me to be involved philanthropic events all year round instead of one big Relay for Life night.

“Jimmy’s Café” – synonymous with “God’s Café”

I am not sure how many of you have visited Valparaiso, IN, but just beyond the edge of campus there is a glorious establishment- Jimmy’s Café. Nestled neatly on a downtown side street, Jimmy’s has a personality that enlivens the area and brings smiles to many a starving soul. Jimmy’s has great prices, great food, and, most importantly, it has great people. The restaurant is owned by a family of Greek immigrants who bring the welcoming spirit portrayed in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” to northwest Indiana. Every time you enter the crowded doorway you are finely greeted with a “Hello, hon’!” Feeling welcomed is a wonderful emotion which never evades me as I enter Jimmy’s Cafe.
The kind, fervor filled service does not cease as you take your seats. Throughout your meal you will feel cared for and important. The waiters never fail to offer kind service, regardless of how full the place may be. At Jimmy’s everyone matters. Everyone cares. Everyone belongs. Just one more thing I love about Valparaiso…

Newnion- noun. Conjunction of "New" and "Union"

Walking onto campus I was struck with a realization. The large structure that I have been watching come to completion over the last two years is now complete. Though it may seem strange, this thought was hard to fathom. Two years ago, I returned from my semester abroad to find the center of Valpo's campus in shambles. There was a massive crater where a library once stood and the sidewalks that once led peaceably around it had been reduced to muddy paths of doom. It was a difficult transformation for this Lutheran academy to experience, but we all knew that it was necessary for the experience I am now having two years later.
On my walk to work that morning, I realized that the doors of this gorgeous newnion were now open to the public. No longer was I forced to don a hardhat in order to tour a hollow building. I could walk through it... I could experience it... I could personally behold the brand new Harre Union at Valparaiso University.
Being four times the size of its predecessor, the Harre Union is an expansive structure that is already opening a world of new opportunities for Valparaiso University students. There are a seemingly endless amount of study areas for students to relax with their afternoon mocha and Plato, "Kite Runner", or whatever they may be reading that day. There is a 24 hour lounge where students can escape from their roommates to study at any hour of the night. Not even frigid temperatures can keep students from an excellent study experience as there are hearth lounges scattered throughout the building. When it comes to spaces for academic study, Valpo equips the most (and least) studious of students with a new space and atmosphere to aid in their studies.
For those who like to rock out, we have a brand new ballroom on the second floor of our newnion. Spatially, the new ballroom has double the capacity of our old unions Great Hall. The space seats 1,000 students, ostriches, or whatever crazy mammal you would like to squeeze in there. (Actually, I don’t think they allow pets or exotic animals…I will do some research.) This will be plenty of space for Mae, Plain White T’s, Dashboard Confessional, Relient K, or whichever bands students decide to bring in the future.
My favorite part of the newnion is the brand new dining areas. All of our dining services have been finally centralized into one space. Students are now much more likely to randomly intercept their friends between classes as everyone is going to the same place. Yep, the newnion is where the action is. Students from the far corners of campus come to experience the hustle and bustle of activity that is in this new magnificent structure. Did I mention the food? We have hired a new chef to keep the food platters arrayed with a harmony of edible options. Seriously, it is good stuff. We have new pastas, meats, soups, and entrees, in addition to the same old patty melts that I enjoy so much. The newnion provides a dining extravaganza for the most scrupulous of tastes.
I hope any of you who read this will be sure to come visit and experience the new, Harre Union.