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Black alumni and faculty reunite at Luther

Holiday In Wales Black alumni, staff and faculty will be meeting at Luther this weekend, Feb. 28-March 2, for the first black reunion held at Luther entitled, "A Weekend to Remember."

Alumni in the audience will still be invited to sing in the "Hallelujah, " "Worthy is the Lamb, " and "Amen" choruses. Noble, who has directed the program since 1948, piece Luther College Orchestra, student soloists, and an estimated 1, member chorus of Luther students, alumni, faculty and staff Saturday, Dec. 15 p.m. in the Regents Center.

Holiday Wales This is the second black reunion that has been held in the history of Luther College. The first reunion was held over five years ago in New Orleans, La.

Treasurer I plan to focus a lot of my attention to campus wide communications between the Student Senate, student body and various campus organizations. I plan to fulfill these goals by posting minutes in all residential buildings, an entry in our weekly bulletin and a possible addition to the Luther College home page on the Internet. I plan to increase communication between faculty, staff, Residence Life, Student Life and the entire Luther Community. Along with communication; teamwork, cooperation, and willingness to change is also a main focus of mine.

Cottage Holiday In Wales Greg Fields, a 1977 Luther graduate, met with President Richard Torgerson four years ago in Chicago, Ill. during a reception hosted on Torgerson's behalf when he became the new president of Luther College. At this reception, Fields and Torgerson discussed the racial diversity on Luther campus.

Teaching at Luther One other thing both students and faculty notice is Mohr's superb attendance at college events.

Caravan Holiday In Wales "We discussed the decreasing number of black students at campus in the past years," said Fields. When Fields attended Luther, there were roughly 70 black students on campus.

This has prompted Students Taking On Prejudice (STOP) to focus on handicap accessibility as a topic for this year's April 15 diversity forum. "Luther is missing out on a really large population of students, faculty and staff who have disabilities, " STOP President Anna Roeder ('01) said. "STOP is not intending to point fingers, but Luther's lack of handicap accessible services is a major deterrent for disabled prospective students, faculty or staff."

Camping Holiday Wales "I enjoyed my times back at Luther immensely," said Fields. "The facilities have maintained their characteristics of the 70s."

Accommodation Holiday Wales This number has dramatically decreased over the past 30 years. According to Peterson's Four-Year Colleges by the Peterson's Education Center, in the 2000 school year, Luther was composed of one percent African-Americans or roughly 25 students.

Holiday Last Minute Wales Fields has served on previous committees including the year-long strategic planning committee and is currently on the President's råd as an advisor.

Catering Holiday Self Wales After discussing Luther's current level of diversity, Fields organized the first black reunion to be held on campus.

Holiday Wales Walking "Basically, we just wanted to welcome the black alumni back to Luther, to come back to visit and to be a part of Luther again," said Fields.

Family Holiday Wales The reunion will begin with registration on Friday, Feb. 18, which is being followed by a reception at Torgerson's home from 7-9 p.m.

Holiday Riding Wales On Saturday, March 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be a luncheon with a program being given by Lawrence Williams, professor of Africana studies.

Adventure Holiday Wales "I felt it was appropriate to have the longest tenured black professor to speak to alumni and to share his years of experience of being at Luther," said Fields.

Holiday Park South Wales Williams has taught at Luther for the past 18 years, joining the faculty in 1984. Williams has received degrees from the University of Iowa, Simmons Bible College, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Kentucky State.

Cottage Holiday Wales "Greg suggested that I discuss, first of all, my own personal impression after teaching here for 18 years as a black professor," said Williams. "What my impressions are of black students during this time, and even going back as far as when the first black students came and what black alumni can do to help the future of Luther College."

Holiday In Wales After the luncheon, alumni will have free time to join tours of campus and view the ethnic art display. Torgerson will then give an update to alumni, as well as current and prospective students from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Holiday Wales Saturday night will end with an international dinner held in the Nobel Dining Room and ethnic arts entertainment, which alumni are invited to participate in.

Cottage Holiday In Wales "We want to make it open. A lot of black alumni have not been back to Luther since they graduated," said Fields. "I want them to have time to reminisce a little bit about their days at Luther."

Caravan Holiday In Wales In regard to the reasons why most black alumni have not returned to Luther since their graduation, Fields hopes "to find out if there are specifics the college could address" because "Torgerson wants all alumni to be involved."

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Accommodation Holiday Wales Christina Erb
News Editor

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