INSIDE: Pages 2-3: NEWS Pages 4-5: VARIETY HAPPY STUDYING! (AND CORNSTOCKING) Pages 6-7: SPORTS Page 8: OPINION THE CONCORDIAN VOL. 95, NO. 9 THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019 – MOORHEAD, MINN. THECONCORDIAN.ORG YEAR IN REVIEW In our last issue of the year, The Concordian’s staff chose to present some of the most defining moments for our campus and our community throughout this past academic school year. Enjoy the opportunity to read what you may have missed and celebrate a year well-spent! SGA LAUNCHES INITIATIVE FOR CONTRACEPTIVES ON CAMPUS BY ANNA BUSHY is “room to improve” condom use [email protected] statistics and safer sex practices on campus. Students, too, are express- Originally published on March 27, ing their opinion concerning this 2019 topic and SGA’s initiative to sell contraceptives on campus. In 2017, over 2 million cases of “I think that [the initiative] sexually transmitted diseases were would encourage safer sex prac- reported to the Centers for Disease tices and give students the ability Control and Prevention. Concor- to protect their health in a more dia’s Student Government Asso- convenient way,” Lauryn Hinkley, a ciation is doing their part to com- first-year student, said. bat rises in STD cases through an David Kelm, another first-year initiative to sell contraceptives on student, believes that having con- campus. traceptives available for purchase Katelyn Jensen, SGA sophomore on campus is “incredibly impor- class representative, is currently tant.” working on this initiative, which If the initiative passes, Jensen she has been doing so alongside says that SGA hopes to have con- her fellow SGA senators and Katie doms available for purchase in the Nystuen, Health Services Coordi- Korn Krib and Cobber Bookstore by nator, since the fall of 2018. the end of the spring 2019 semes- Jensen, Nystuen and SGA’s work ter, but by the fall 2019 semester on the initiative is timely, as sexual- at latest. While Jensen has been ly transmitted disease rates across working to provide Cobbers with the United States are climbing. Ac- condoms since the fall 2018 semes- cording to the Centers for Disease ter, her work would not have been CONCORDIA COLLEGE SGA Control and Prevention, “nearly 2.3 possible before the spring of 2018. Concordia’s 2018-2019 Student Government Association executive team. million cases of chlamydia, gonor- Before SGA could officially start rhea and syphilis were diagnosed in work on the initiative to sell con- dent Affairs Committee, the Pro- ness program and Health Services If students are not currently en- the United States in 2017,” marking traceptives on campus, they had motions Policy was reviewed, and, are two on-campus resources that rolled in either of these classes and the fourth consecutive year of in- to grapple with Concordia’s Pro- as of April 12, 2018, the policy no offer information to students re- have questions about sexual health creases in these STDs. While STDs motions Policy, an endeavor that longer listed contraceptives on the garding sexual health and safer sex or safer sex practices, Health Ser- are not eradicable, condoms could began in 2016. This policy, found list of banned items. Thus, SGA was practices. vices is always willing to provide provide a means for lowering these in the college’s student handbook, officially able to start work on an Concordia’s Core Curriculum re- students with educational resourc- numbers. The CDC states that con- lists what products, services, activi- initiative to sell contraceptives on quires all students to take Wellness. es, referrals, and condoms. doms, when used consistently and ties, and substances can and can- campus. At this time, “pregnancy One of the units Wellness covers is “Students come in [to the Health correctly, are “highly effective” in not be advertised on campus. Prior related counseling and services not about healthy relationships and Services office] to talk about safer preventing HIV and STDs trans- to April 2018, contraceptives were provided by the college” was also sexual health, where students ex- sex practices, preventative care, or mitted through bodily fluids. listed among the items that were struck from that same list of pro- amine reproductive choices, con- where to go if they are concerned Concordia conducts a health not allowed to be promoted at Con- hibited items and services. traceptive options, and safer sex about STI/STDs or pregnancies,” and behavior survey every other cordia. Jensen credits Micayla Bitz with practices, and identify character- Nystuen said. year, which enables the college to “As a private college, Concordia doing “most” of the work that it took istics of common STIs. Jennifer Though the SGA initiative to sell gather data on the student body’s has the right to restrict on-campus to rewrite the Promotions Policy. Christofferson, Interim Director of contraceptives on campus hasn’t condom use habits during the last promotions that may run contrary Lisa Sethre-Hofstad, Vice President Wellness, admits that the course passed yet, Jensen already has a 30 days. Of the 664 respondents to the standards and policies of the for Student Development and Cam- has limited time to go through vision for the future of the initia- who had engaged in the sexual acts institution,” the policy begins. pus Life at Concordia, also played a this topic, as the course is only one tive. Jensen hopes that SGA will listed on the spring 2017 survey, After a push from SGA in 2016 role in facilitating the change. credit. Though, if students are cu- be able to team up with Nystuen to those who had “always” used a con- to change this policy “fizzled out,” “At my request, the Promo- rious to learn more about healthy distribute educational materials to dom were the minority in compari- as Brent Johnson, Assistant Direc- tions Policy was changed last year relationships and sexual health, students about sexual health and son to the sum of other answers for tor of Student Engagement, de- in order to make more room for Christofferson teaches Personal safer sex. Jensen would also like to each sexual act scribed it, SGA decided to try again sexual education and information and Social Health, a four-credit create more safe spaces where Cob- Katie Nystuen, Health Services in the spring of 2018. After pre- dissemination about contraception course that she says covers the top- bers can feel comfortable asking coordinator, believes that there senting their argument to the Stu- to our students,” she said. The well- ic in “much greater detail.” questions about safe sex. BUSSIE’S ‘LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS’ URGES COMPASSIONATE LIVING BY ANNA WEIER cooperation. she teaches. It’s very discussion upon reading the manuscript, told “How hard she had to fight for [email protected] “The main mission of my office based. Though she’s writing a book, Bussie that they loved everything, this book to be published proves is to foster a deeper and more com- it almost sounds like a discussion except the chapters about “the how important the lessons in it are,” Originally published on September passionate understanding of one with the reader. She’s engaging, and gays and the Muslims,” according Selland said. “It’s easy to get bogged 13, 2018. another across traditional bound- with her writing style, she usually to Bussie. They had rewritten and down with all the ways that we need aries. Which is really cool, because starts a chapter with a story that we edited the chapters in question, ul- to be better people, but it’s also On Aug. 20, 2018, Concordia’s when I wrote this book I realized can all relate to,” Selland said. timately combining them into one packed full with stories of hope.” own Dr. Jacqueline Bussie released it completely grew out of the work Sophomore Kayla Zopfi, an- chapter. Bussie herself has inspired many her new book, “Love Without Lim- that I do here,” Bussie said. other one of Bussie’s students, is a “I looked at the title of the brand of her students to love without lim- its.” Written in a memoir style and Those that have been influenced Political Science major and Social new chapter. In all capital letters, its, by simply getting to know them rooted in theology, “Love Without by Bussie’s work have anticipated Activism and Interfaith minor. Like it said “Others.” The whole point and providing valuable life lessons Limits” explores what radical love the book’s release and read it within Selland, Zopfi drew valuable les- of the book was to not view other through teaching and building rela- looks like — love without excep- the first few days it was available. sons from the book. human beings as others, but as our tionships. tions. Though there was controver- One of these people is sopho- “It takes so much practice to brothers and sisters. It was not even “She says “Hi, how are you do- sy during the publishing process, more Karin Selland, a Global Stud- have compassion for people, and really a choice,” she said. ing?” and it is so intentional. She Bussie was supported by friends, ies major and Interfaith minor, who to love people unconditionally. The Bussie then told her publisher really cares. She has an incredible family, students and community developed a close relationship with earlier you start, the easier it is. that she did not agree with the capacity for human interaction, and members. At the end of the sum- Bussie over the course of her fresh- Starting with the young people is changes and was subsequently a capacity to love people she doesn’t mer, she was able to share her mes- man inquiry seminar last year.