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A look back... Highum presents message to seniors

Date 5/13/1999 12:00 AM | Topic: Other

To the Class of 1999:

Congratulations! You are such a talented group of "almost graduates," and we'll be so proud to hear about what you're doing with your Luther education in the next few years. You have had a unique journey through your years at Luther.



1995-96 Your FIRST year at college!

·George Anderson (your first president) welcomes you

·Theme for your orientation: "new exPEERiences"-Professor Lise Kildegaard lectures on "Open Doors, Open Minds" and Jim Wand hypnotizes some of your friends

·You realize that there are 372 women and only 219 men in your class; the most "lop-sided" one in history; the guys in your class just smile

·The Republicans gain control of the House for the first time since 1954; Newt Gingrich is elected Speaker and Bob Dole is elected Majority Leader

·The O.J. Simpson trial goes on...and on... and on...; he is found not guilty of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson

·The Olin Building is dedicated and open for use

·The King and Queen of Norway visit the Luther Campus; your Student Senate president Sara Isbell, presents them with an Amish quilt as a gift from Luther

·Aaron Youck from your class, died of heart failure in February, 1996; several students performed CPR while waiting for emergency help

·The Peace Prize Forum is held at Luther, February 96

·The federal building in Oklahoma City is bombed, killing 168 people

·Dead-headers mourn the loss of Jerry Garcia, from the Grateful Dead

·The year ends with your second president, Interim President David Roslien after H. George Anderson becomes bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America



1996-97 Your sophomore year at Luther

·Your third president, Jeffrey D. Baker is inaugurated on November 23, 1996; the Jazz Band and the Footnotes perform at a festive inaugural ball

·The Macarena is born!

·The men's soccer and women's cross country teams go to the national NCAA Division III tournament

·The Unabomber, Micheal Kaczynski, is arrested

·Student committees work all year on a proposal for 24 hour visitation between persons of the opposite sex; Community Assembly recommends approval and President Baker approves the policy for upper-class halls

·Turena Johnson completes her cross country success at Luther with FIVE national championships in distance running events; she is recognized as the Honda Division III Woman Athlete of the Year

·Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds give Luther a taste of acoustical guitar in the CFL; who would predict it would turn into a best-selling CD three years later!

·Nordic Choir performs in Russia; the Concert Band, in Japan

·A U.S. space shuttle joins with the Russian Mir space station in space

·The Olympic games in Atlanta are shattered by a pipe bomb explosion in the Centennial Olympic Park, with many injured and one killed

·Luther sends a Christmas tree (and eight student singers in bunads and tuxedos) to the Norwegian Embassy exhibit in Union Station, Washington, D.C.

·One of the most popular events at Luther-the student-run Tonight Show-enjoys continued success; Jeff and Shirley Baker dance and tell stories at the 1996 event

·The men's golf team goes to the national NCAA Division III tournament

·News of naked soccer at a nice midwestern Lutheran college hits the national media circuit, including BBC and USA Today



1997-98 Your junior year at Luther College

·Lilith Fair, an all-female rock show, draws huge crowds on its 37 stop summer tour; many of you catch the show when its near your hometown

·The rec room and bowling alley disappear and Marty's-a cyber cafe-is born!

·Dolly the sheep is also born (the first cloned animal)

·Several cities in North Dakota experience terrible flooding; Luther sends volunteers to help with recovery efforts

·The bookstore starts carrying Beanie Babies

·Princess Diana and Mother Teresa die in the same week in August/September

·The NBC hit Seinfeld ends its nine year run in May

·Septuplets are born right here in Iowa

·Titanic gets Academy Award for best picture

·Jack and Jill, the west side's grocery store, closes

·Women's golf and tennis teams go to the national NCAA Division III tournament

·Our sister college, Gustavus Adolphus, sustains major damages in a severe tornado in late March; student, staff and faculty from Luther are part of thousands of volunteers who assist

·We all celebrate Weston Noble's 50th anniversary of teaching at Luther with a weekend of music and laughter, along with a very special book, "Warmly, Weston"

·Randy Nelson, quintessential Chips columnist, graduates



1998-99 Your SENIOR year

·Over the summer, you each get a letter from President Baker updating decisions and events on campus; he gently breaks the news that he has been diagnosed with lung cancer

·The largest ever first year class enters Luther; you're glad you have a good room, because some sophomores are in Towers rooms converted from study lounges

·You return to a newly renovated caf with a deli bar, pasta bar AND salad bar; you encounter an ominous swinging gate when you leave each meal!

·Something called a "residential village" is being planned; you feel cheated because you won't live there

·Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton-need we say more?

·El nino winds down and la nina starts up-they say the winter was mild, but you still wear parkas on too many days

·The Shalom Room, an inter-faith room for students of other faiths to gather and meditate, is established in Larsen

·The men's soccer team and women's tennis and golf teams go to national championships

·The students' representative to the presidential search committee is senior Heidy Quintanilla

·Mark McGuire's 62nd home run breaks Roger Maris' 37 year old record

·Minnesota gets a governor who could beat up Iowa's new governor

·Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds return to a capacity crowd at the CFL in February after their "Live at Luther" CD starts up the charts

·You are a member of a close community which has to say good-bye to its beloved president, Jeffrey Baker, at a gathering for students in early March and a chapel service on March 16, 1999

·Jeff and Shirley Baker move to their home in Cambria on March 20th, and he dies of cancer there on March 22, 1999

·Eric Cutler signs on to sing with the Metropolitan Opera's young artist program

·Jo Quanbeck is selected as the Hong Intern at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service; only one intern is named each year in this national competition

·Trevin Goin hit it big on the game show "The Price is Right," winning over $18,000 in prizes while wearing a Luther shirt and mentioning Luther to host Bob Barker at every possible opportunity

·Your class meets the Alumni Challenge with 63% of you making a pledge; you celebrate at the Senior Dinner on May 15th

·You celebrate beginnings, endings and good-byes with Shirley Baker at Baccalaureate

·You end your final year at Luther at Commencement with your very caring fourth president, Dick Hemp



You've had your share of tragedy and sadness, from three student deaths to the recent death of President Baker. The class of '99 also has the distinction of being the only class in Luther history to have been led by four presidents! Each president has left his mark on Luther, and therefore, on you. As you leave this incredible place, please remember what Jeff Baker said to students, "You have unlimited possibilities-make the most of them." We wish you the very best!



On behalf of the community at Luther College,

Ann Highum

VP and Dean for Student Life











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