Students discuss private college aid at Capitol By RICK FERRERA government at the state level. in the amount of money budgeted for students at public schools continue to Staff Writer "There are public and private need-based aid to students from the benefit from government support for schools, but there are no public or state government, specifically in the their institutions above and beyond the On Thursday, March 15, Concordia private students. You are all public form of the Minnesota State Grant, amount of any grants they may receive. freshman Ashley Holo found herself citizens," aforementioned lobbyist John and Corbett told the students tax payers Yet, both types of students enter the sitting among her peers listening to a Corbett told the students gathered on receive more for their money when they work force and the Minnesota tax base presentation, hut it wasn't just another the fifth floor of the Minnesota State are funding aid for students at private with equivalent degrees. According to Inner Action day of class. No, on this day Holo's peers Office Building. institutions than they do when they Corbett and the MPCC, both processes were from not only Concordia, but also He explained his job was to present fund aid for students attending public yield the same payoff to society, and Concordia University and Bethany the position of his client, the MPCC, schools. because the private school student ---••- m Lutheran College, and the presenter to state politicians, and shared with "A private school student is less of a graduated with less government money, was a lobbyist for the Minnesota Private the students how they could help him drain on the state treasury than a public they are a better value to society. This College Council. The organization, do so. Corbett took pains to explain school student," Corbett said. was not an indictment of the public representing 17 private schools in why private college students should be This is because, even if they do institutions, only a reminder of the the state, billed March 15 as Day at considered by their public officials in receive some government grant money, value of both. the Capitol, reserved for students of the government. private school students must fund the After Corbett's primer on the issues, member institutions to travel to St. The focal point of the MPCC's work rest of their education without aid i Paul and get involved in the workings of at this time is lobbying for an increase doled out from tax revenues, while Day at the Capitol •• paqe 4 Singing for charity PIE~A~PROFESSOR with Concordia Idol By SARAH DAY to be finalists. A panel of judges Staff Writer will narrow down the selection from six contestants to four, and Campus Entertainment then from four to two. After the Commission and Student final two contestants remain, Government Association are the audience will take their turn teaming up to present Concordia selecting the winner by placing Idol at 9 p.m. today, March 23 their spare change or other in the Centrum. Although the donation amounts into a bucket contest on campus has similarities designated for the contestant they to American Idol, there are also choose. The contestant with the many differences. largest amount will be named The While American Idol Concordia Idol and the money Celebrity Simon Cowell will not raised will go to the children's be appearing as one of the judges, hospital. Prizes will be given to and contestants will not be each contestant (larger prizes receiving a record deal or national with be awarded to those who and worldwide notoriety, they place better in the competition); will help CEC and SGA raise however, as of Tuesday, March money to benefit the Merit Care 20 (the publication date of this Children's Hospital in Fargo, story) specific prizes had not been In addition to the fundraiser, determined. CEC and SGA will have a toy Kenny Larsen, an Olso, drive. Emily Soldner, CEC head Norway exchange student, is one commissioner, is leading the of the six contestants who will be CEC end of the partnership. performing tonight. They are encouraging people to "1 hope it will go well," Larsen KoKri bring toys, coloring books and said. "I don't really care if I win reinvents crayons for donations, which will or not, it's mostly because of the be used during in-patient care or fundraiser." in the waiting rooms, she said. He said he isn't sure what album "That stuff is equally as style he'll be performing, but his important as the money," Soldner audition piece was the Norwegian STAFF PHOTO BY DANIELLE HARMS said. version of Elvis' "Teddy Bear." He Bryan Bishop, biology professor, receives a faceful of whipped cream pie, while students About 15studentstriedouton said he usually likes to perform laugh or\ the sidelines. On Tuesday, March 13 students had a chance to squish or throw pies at their biology and chemistry professors. The event, held by the Chemistry Club and March 13 for this first Concordia Tri-Beta, was a fundraiser for Relay for Life. For more on the story see page 3. Idol competition; six were selected Concordia \do\ •• page 4 Veteran Panel encourages involvement Campus diversity discussed • Important for people to question authority and uee their rights, panelists eay • Not enough diversity at Concordia, panelists aqree By RICK FERRERA microphone along and allow each of the Iraq Study Group report -the By JOE KLEMANN diversity, as it should be. Staff Writer panelist to introduce themselves. recommendation to encourage debate; Staff Writer "We have a long way to go," Storvick enlisted in 1943 and took part to use our open democracy to engage Johcoeur said. An eclectic group of organizations in the invasion of Okinawa on Easter in discussion," Erlandson said. Members or" the faculty and The panel discussed methods are working together to encourage Sunday of 1945, when he was just shy The Iraq Study Group was students came together Wednesday Caoncordia is currently taking to campus discussion of the wars in of 20 years old. Senior Dee Guetter commissioned by Congress in 2006 night, March 14, in a panel discussion promote diversity in the admissions which our country is presently served at a base in the U.S., training to assess the situation in Iraq and to deliberate race and diversity issues process, again coming to the conclusion engaged. On Tuesday, March 14, the soldiers headed to Iraq for situations recommend policy. Their report was affecting Concordia. The discussion that more has to be done. Many Student Peace Alliance, Mathetai, the involving chemical or nuclear warfare, presented in December 2006. was presented by Students for Racial panel members, including Jolicoeur, religion department and die Middle J unior Jamer Morrow served on a However, while encouraging Equality, a student group on campus confessed that Concorclia is one of East Working group presented the Iraq guided missile cruiser in support of discussion and awareness, all three promoting diversity and racial the least diverse places they have ever Student Veteran Panel in the Centrum, the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, student veterans cautioned against equality. been. Two sessions were held at which and Junior Will Erlandson entered relying heavily on mass media reports The panel discussion began around "We want the learning environment Concordia students who have been Iraq shortly after the initial invasion of the war. 7 p.m., at which time members from more representative to the world we are involved in the war effort, along with force, serving as a prison guard. All "My complaint is that it's been so Students for Racial Equality asked sending the students out to," Jolicoeur OHn Storvick, World War II veteran three students are still membets of the politicized," Morrow said. "There's a prepared questions to the eight said. and retired Concordia professor, military in some capacity. lot of good people over there scared panel members. The panel included: Jasi O'Connor, Dean of Residential briefly presented their experiences and None of the panelists voiced any to do anything because the media is Dr. Pamela Jolicoeur, president of Life, outlined the steps taken to fielded questions from the audience. regrets about joining the military waiting to jump all over them. If we're the college; Omar Correa, Dean of provide special services to international Religion professor Stewart Herman or serving in wartime, but they did going to win the war, the media kind Admissions; Zack Kenz, Student students, such as transportation to moderated both sessions. strongly encourage others to get of has to let us do that. So do the Body President; Jasi O'Connor, Dean campus upon arrival in the U.S. and "Fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan involved. politicians." of Residential Life; Amer Ahmed, support until the student can meet has already gone on longer than "Do what you can to question Erlandson was ready with a specific Director of Interculrural Affairs; as their basic needs. She also dispelled American involvement in World War authority, just do it with a little example. well as, representatives of the religion the myth of international students II and Korea, yet, despite the length of objectivity. Know what you're talking "My unit made the news once," he and philosophy departments. The being placed on certain floors within this war, there has been very little on- about, do some research. That means said. night began with questions concerning dormitories. campus discussion," said Herman in something to us. We're fighting for The Iraqi army prisoners in his Concordia's diversity. The panel came The addition of various languages, his opening remarks.