The first-year women’s choir at Luther recently experienced a name change. Formerly known as Pike Kor, the choral ensemble is now identified by the name Aurora, Latin for the word “dawn.”

Last week Luther College announced that Kent Stock (‘85) and actor Sean Astin will be co-speakers at commencement on May 18.

Stock, a high school baseball coach and inspiration for the movie “The Final Season,” and Astin, who played Stock in the film, were invited to speak at commencement by the Office of the President and an honorary degrees committee.

What started out as a hobby for Visiting Instructor in Political Science Jason Stonerook has turned into a published book. Stonerook recently published his first book, titled “Rock ‘N’ Politics: A State of the Union Address,” which examines the cultural connections between rock ‘n’ roll and political action.

The end of the school year brings more than just finals and dumpsters full of refuse. At the end of each academic year the crime statistics are released to the public for accountability purposes.

The Student Activities Council-sponsored Friday After Class event that later became Wednesday After Class provided a chance for students to eat, win prizes and look back at the year.

The Friday After Class celebration was originally scheduled for Friday, April 25 but was postponed due to rain. Instead, the event took place on the Library Lawn on Wednesday, April 30.

Student Activity Council’s Free Movie Night at Viking Theaters was a great success. After years of low attendance, the event April 17 attracted enough students that some were turned away because the theater was full.

As part of Luther’s campaign for campus sustainability and environmental awareness, two new electric-powered fleet vehicles have been put into use by facilities services and campus security.

Two smaller electric vehicles were purchased earlier this year for about $14,500 each, while two additional, larger vehicles were purchased for $25,000 for security and maintenance purposes.

Indonesian mosque attacked

An estimated 300 people chanted “Burn! Burn! Kill! Kill!” as they burned a mosque in the West Java province of Indonesia on April 28, damaging a nearby school, police officials said.

Some students showed their opposition by leaving their dishes on the tables. Others avoided the caf altogether and some simply adapted to the trayless environment. After compiling waste measurements for two weeks, the results are in. A forum was held April 22 to announce the results of trayless week in the caf, an event that provoked a range of student responses.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signed a smoking ban into law on April 15 that prohibits smoking in nearly all public areas. The ban will take effect July 1.

The Student Athletic Advisory Committee recently sponsored a survey on KATIE allowing Luther’s athletes to voice concerns about Dining Services. The results have not been released yet, but based on the number of responses, SAAC is anticipating some interesting feedback.

Carter makes headway in Middle East

Former American President Jimmy Carter said April 21 that he had obtained a concession from the Palestinian group Hamas regarding Israeli-Palestinian peace. He also found the Syrian leadership eager for a full peace treaty with Israel after several days of talks in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Luther is no stranger to vandalism or false fire alarms, especially in Dieseth and Brandt halls. Year after year, students have been rudely awakened at all hours of the night by fire alarms and have had to deal with smashed doors and broken furnishings. But despite their frequency, these events still stir controversy.

Luther College sent fourteen students to the 22nd National Conference for Undergraduate Research on April 10-12, held at Salisbury University (Md.). The conference, the largest of its kind in the nation, hosted 2,800 student presenters and their faculty mentors this year from all 50 states, as well as several territories and other nations.

A prank labeled “artistic” recently stirred debate and baffled students and professors in the Center for the Arts. Potted plants were taken from the atrium and moved into a single room, left there to block students from accessing projects.