Friday, Nov.
13 2020
THE
AUGUSTANA MIRROR
Sodexo low on food boxes Hicks publishes new book
76 DAYS
Only 22 containers left “In the Shadow of Dora”
News Page 3 Variety Page 6
It s been 76 days since students came back to campus during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Here s what life has looked like.
Jenifer Fjelstad
Active Cases
jrfjelstad18@ole.augie.edu
Recovered Cases
Anna Rose bet her friends Juice Stop smoothies it would be three
Quarantined weeks. Annika Johnson wagered it would be a month. Jaden Wendt
tried to rid herself of any expectations whatsoever.
Each guessed at how long Augie would last doing in-person
classes, living and activities.
As it turns out, students and staff made it exactly 76 days into
this in-person, in-mask, in-pandemic experience, and the goal line,
Nov. 20, is closer than ever.
It wasn’t easy to get here, though.
Contact tracers worked all day, every person wore a mask con-
stantly and many students cut back their social lives in favor of rec-
ommended protocol. The stakes were high: Failure meant a repeat
of spring’s distance learning.
Rick Tupper, the associate vice president of university services,
described the semester as a “roller coaster ride” because of the ups
and downs in case levels. As he expected, the case counts were ini-
tially high but as the semester continued, those numbers started to
plateau and descend.
However, in the final weeks of on-campus operations, cases have
spiked again.
At its early peak in September, Augustana had around 50 cases and
about 100 members of the campus community in quarantine. Early Oc-
tober brought the lowest levels with 6 active cases and about 30 people in
quarantine. Now at the end of the semester, another high point in cases
came with more than 40 active cases and more than 160 students and
staff in quarantine.
Tupper said his team’s reprieve won’t come until students pack up for the
holidays.
Surprise and relief
Coming from spring’s remote learning, students like Rose—a junior
communication studies, business and marketing triple major—couldn’t
wait to return to chats with friends, movie nights and Friday evening
events. Despite Rose’s initial doubts about just how long campus-cen-
tered learning would last, she’s surprised and glad that Augie’s more
than two months in.
“I think for the most part, we really pulled together, and we saw
how much we missed each other last spring,” Rose said.
Students felt surprise, hesitation and relief at being able to see
professors, staff and students for almost the whole semester. Liv-
ing through a pandemic on a college campus has its lessons.
“Being flexible is good in all situations because truly we don’t ever
know what we’re expecting,” said Wendt, a junior American Sign
Language interpreting major. “We think we have all these expecta-
tions of what life is going to be, but truly we don’t know even if it’s
not a pandemic.”
Students have gathered in the dining hall for the Augie
bowl and the occasional grilled cheese sandwich just like
any other year, but the space looks a lot different. The
long, self-serve salad bar and smoothie bikes were
traded for a smaller, served version, and what
was once a sandwich and wrap line has be-
come a to-go pick up center.
See COVID-19, page 9
Graphic by Noah Wicks
Vol. CVIX
No. 5
Your vote can hurt
Kost reflects post-election
Forum Page 4
Students being
sent home after
recent increase in
COVID-19 cases
Noah Wicks
ntwicks17k@ole.augie.edu
A recent surge in COVID-19 cases has
placed pressure on the university and has
cast doubt over the ability to continue in-
person learning for the last week of classes
before Thanksgiving break.
In the two weeks after Halloween, the
university has seen a dramatic rise in CO-
VID-19 case numbers. As of Nov. 2, there
had been total of 187 confirmed cases in the
Augustana community. By November 11,
that number had increased to 236.
According to an email sent on Tuesday
by Dean of Students Mark Blackburn, stu-
dents who have tested positive, are waiting
for test results or have been identified as a
“close contact” to a student who has tested
positive will not be offered campus quaran-
tine or isolation housing. Instead, they can
either travel to their winter break destina-
tion early, stay at a local hotel at their own
expense or if they are already approved for
campus housing during winter break, they
can request an exception to be granted for a
quarantine space.
“Numbers of COVID-19 cases on and off
campus continue to climb and have reached
unacceptable levels,” the email states. “Ac-
cordingly, we write to inform you of an im-
portant short-term adjustment in our qua-
rantine and isolation protocols and stress
the critical role that you play in keeping
yourself and others healthy and safe during
these final days of face-to-face instruction
for this fall semester.
As of Wednesday, there were 43 active
cases of COVID-19 in the campus commu-
nity and 164 students in quarantine.
According to a follow-up email from
Blackburn, students who are currently qua-
rantining at Augustana facilities can stay
for the duration of their isolation period.
Students who are sent into quarantine after
November 10 will need to make accommo-
dations, because their quarantine time will
be pushed past November 20, which marks
the end of in-person learning.
Blackburn’s email encourages students
to maintain at least a 6-foot distance when
interacting with others, wear a mask in all
buildings on campus and wash their hands
often. These requirements are part of the
Code of Student Conduct and students may
be sent home for any violations.
“Significant consequences may be issu-
ed for violations including, but not limited
to, removal from in-person learning for J-
Term and Spring Semester,” the email says.
NEWS augiemirror.com Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 2
SAFETY LOG
Below is recap of notable Cam-
pus Safety reports from Oct. 24
to Nov. 5.
Theft
Nov. 5
Campus safety dispatchers re-
cieved a phone call of a theft at
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and
a campus safety officer responded
and obtained information from the
person who reported it.
Suspicious Subject
Nov. 4
Library staff members reported a
suspicious subject in the library to
Campus Safety dispatchers. A cam-
pus safety officer found the subject
and escorted them from campus.

Drug Violation
Nov. 4
Campus Safety officers responded
to a phone report of marijuana
being smoked in an apartment the
Svendsbye Apartment building.
The officer identified the apart-
ment and contacted the occupant.
Photo by Noah Wicks
Anna Sorenson, a senior and Forum editor for the Augustana Mirror, works on designing the layout for her section. Auto Accident

Mirror, Edda recognized at convention

Nov. 1
A student who does not attend
Augustana wrecked his vehicle
after hitting a city light pole and
Arianna Forcelle several city signs on Grange Ave.
amforcelle18@ole.augie.edu The Edda released its first student yearbook in 1928, which can The subject refused medical aid
be found here. More than 92 academic years have been photogra- and was cited by the city.
Even during these hard times, student-run yearbooks and new- phed and made into different yearbooks.
spapers are making headlines. At this fall’s Associated Collegiate The Edda’s 2020 yearbook placed eighth in the Top 10 Best of Abandoned Vehicle
Press convention, both the Edda and The Mirror were awarded Show category at the ACP/CMA National College Media Conven- Oct. 31
Best of Show Awards. tion this fall. A Campus Safety officer saw a
The Augustana Mirror published its first article Jan. 1, 1908, Professor Janet Blank-Libra, Edda adviser for over 30 years, vehicle driving down the Cam-
which covered issues relating to the importance of higher edu- said this last academic year was a difficult, unusual year for Edda pus Green at a high rate of speed.
cation; this issue can be found here. Since then, The Mirror has to cover due to COVID-19. The vehicle came to a stop in the
reported timely information to the students and staff of Augustana “It was not an easy thing to accomplish under the circumstan- Madsen Center parking lot and
University. ces,” Blank-Libra said. “The staff figured it out, and it is unforget- the passengers fled the scene. The
Now, in the fall of 2020, the Mirror placed fifth in the Top Best table.” Sioux Falls Police Department
This year, the Edda did not win awards in certain photography was contacted and the vehicle was
of Show category for 4 year, less than weekly newspapers at the
towed.
2020 ACP/CMA National College Media Convention. and design categories.
When adviser of 24 years, professor Jeffrey Miller, first heard “Despite that, our staff was very competitive,” Blank-Libra said. Auto Accident
about the award, he was elated. When the academic year moved online last semester, Chloe Oct. 28
“For the past decade, almost, we have been really good and we VanGerpen, former Editor-in-Chief, had to quickly figure out An accident was reported in the
have been getting better,” Miller said. “This was, I think, overdue. how to lead a team in completing a yearbook. Solberg Parking lot. A campus
This is a big deal.” “I was pretty heartbroken at first,” VanGerpen said. “One of the safety officer responded and
hardest things was figuring out how to fill the pages and still repre- contacted the Sioux Falls Police
This is The Mirror’s first time placing in the Top 10 for less than
Department.
weekly newspapers. The candidates for this award were not only sent people at Augustana when no one was actually here.”
from South Dakota but from all over the nation. One of the many adjustments to the yearbook included the gra- Fall Injury
Senior Noah Wicks, this year’s Editor-in-Chief for The Mirror, duation section, which is normally filled with graduation port- Oct. 27
found out the good news in an email from Miller that started with, raits. Since there was no graduation ceremony, the Edda had the A parent slipped and fell on the ice
“Well, sir, have a seat.” seniors of 2020 submit photos and turned the graduation section in front of the Child Care play-
Wicks said it was a shocking yet incredible feeling to find out into a senior section. ground at Our Savior’s Lutheran
that the team’s hard work had paid off. “Even though it was really hard, there are a lot of things with Church. Members of the Child
this yearbook that haven’t been done before,” said VanGerpen. Care staff called Campus Safety
Wicks said he believes that more stories have been written for
According to VanGerpen, these challenges have shown not only and reported the incident.
the Mirror this semester, than he has seen in the four years he
has spent writing for the newspaper. The Mirror’s email newslet- the Edda staff but Augustana as a whole what can be accomplished Intoxicated Student
ter, The Mirror Compact, is sent out to students every week with when things turn unexpected. Oct. 24
updated news stories. “It would have been really easy for last year’s staff to say, ‘We’re Members of the Campus Life staff
“We are a young team, and it is awesome to see us all growing done. We are going home. Let›s just make the yearbook shorter,’” contacted Campus Safety to report
so fast and so well, especially with so much news to cover,” Wicks said VanGerpen. “But we didn’t do that, and because of that, we an intoxicated student. The student
said. got noticed as one of the best yearbooks in the nation.” was also captured on video in the
main lobby.

Variety Editor Julia Johnson JOIN US

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Opinions Editor
Sports Editor
Anna Sorenson
Olivia Bertino THE AUGUSTANA MIRROR Laura Johnson
If you are interested in contribut-
ing to the Mirror, please email
augustanamirror@gmail.com for
Copy Editor Jenifer Fjelstad Kat Elgersma
Jonah Kost more information.
ASA Reporter Andrew Kronaizl Noah Wicks Dawn Geertsema
REPORT AN ERROR
Social Media Producer Kayla DeAlba Editor-In-Chief Managing Editor Amara Rodis
Casey Hayes
Photographer/Videographer Gage Hoffman Holden Sutter The Augustana Mirror corrects all
Photographer/Videographer Camryn Hay augustanamirror@gmail.com @augiemirror Seth Miller factual errors brought to its atten-
Podcast Director Chelsea Felton Tess Munshower tion. Please email augustanamir-
ror@gmail.com with any errors.
3 Friday, Nov. 13, 2020
A student is handed a plate of food at the pizza station in the dining hall. This year, Sodexo began offering students the option to get to-go boxes for their food.
Sodexo loses about $4,890 in food boxes
Tess Munshower
temunshower18@ole.augie.edu
Sodexo, which runs Augus-
tana’s dining services, began
this fall semester with 1,000
to-go containers. The contain-
ers were instituted this year as
an option for students to take
their food away from the din-
ing hall for more flexibility and
a chance to socially distance.
As of October 29th, only
22 remain. The missing boxes,
which cost $5 each, mean a loss
of $4,890.
Sodexo officials are not sure
why this loss happened. How-
ever, Jonathan Ricks, opera-
tions manager of dining servic-
es, said that students had been
asked to return them through-
out the semester.
“I am a true believer in com-
munication always being the
main issue when it comes to al-
most every area of opportuni-
ty,” he said. “I do know we told
almost all students as we hand-
ed them the boxes to please re-
turn [them].”
The boxes have clearly been a
hit with students. Senior Dani-
elle Alan says she uses the to-go
feature almost every night for
supper.
“I just like that I don’t have
to sit in the dining hall,” she
said. “I can just get it and take
it back to my room.”
Alan plans on continuing to
use the to-go boxes next semes-
ter if they are still offered.
As of now, dining services
is planning on getting more of
the recyclable boxes for spring
semester. Jonathan Ricks, op-
erations manager of dining
services, said that he believes
some groups around campus,
currently not decided, will be
helping out with the cost, as
opposed to the school itself
paying for more boxes.
Students seem to believe that
the reasons boxes aren’t being
returned is because there is no
system to ensure students will
bring them back.
“I like them, but I think they
were doomed from the start,”
sophomore Michael Schempp
augiemirror.com NEWS
Photo by Camryn Hay
said. “There’s no accountabil-
ity.”
Junior Taha Afzal echoed
Schempp’s sentiments. “Maybe
if they charged people for the
boxes, people will be more in-
clined to return them,” he said.
Afzal, a VA in Bergsa-
ker, finds boxes sitting in day
rooms and the kitchen when
he’s on rounds. He said he
doesn’t know whether or not
it’s a matter of students being
lazy or just forgetting.
Ricks acknowledges the is-
sue with not having any form
of accountability and said din-
ing services is forming a sys-
tem to place deposits of $5 on
each box. Ricks said Sodexo
is not entirely sure on where Photo by Noah Wicks
According to Sodexo, students were instructed to return all
those deposits will be held, and
recyclable to-go boxes, not throw them away or keep them.
that they are still trying to fig-
ure that out.
Ricks looks at it in a more opti- all the right intentions.”
“This will help offset costs
mistic way. Boxes can be returned to
if they plan on getting food to
“It’s unfortunate that this any of the receptacles around
go and add some accountabil-
happened, but I do feel that it campus, or to the dining hall
ity and give them incentive to
was a learning opportunity for directly.
return boxes,” he said.
everyone,” he said. “It’s a brand
While the missing boxes
new idea we implemented with
are frustrating to dining staff,
FORUM Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 4
WELL-BEING

We need holistic healthcare reform Tweets

Amara Rodis
asrodis18@ole.augie.edu
learned about social determi- gious and non-religious texts. of the
Week
nants, how economical and This research was fascinating, LOCAL RESOURCES:
social conditions influence as my interpretation from HAPPY:
Healthcare is and should be
individual and group differ- sources such as the Bible indi- happy@ole.augie.edu
viewed as a fundamental right.
ences in health status. Outside cated similar community con-
Holistic care is a transfigura- Sioux Falls Department
factors such as politics, where clusions to what our society
tive process, as it pertains to of Health
the mind, body and spirit. Not
you live and education can be thinks today. “for the sake of my already
found as nutritious (or malnu- Survivors of sexual trauma National Student Health
only that, but it should be con- Care Plans
unstable mental state,
tritious) as the food you eat. (most of whom are typically
sidered an engaging conversa-
These constituents are women) can be found scared i am watching christmas
tion you have with yourself movies and ignoring
viewed as quantitative, where and confused about what their survivor.
and the overall community.
I have always had a pas-
researchers can measure and next steps should be. Biblical Although my research this everything else”
strategize over proven data. stories such as the Samaritan semester is coming to a close, -@ken_wick14
sion for health. I grew up in
Yet, health is also qualitative, woman at the well presented my passion for public health
a colorful household where
and personal factors such as society with no acceptance is not satisfied. Being co-pres-
my mom reminisced about
pain have just as much say as towards the perceived victims ident for HAPPY (Healthy,
her time as a flight nurse. She
objective matter. and, in return, provided no “My phone battery is a lot
painted pictures for us with Accessible, Prevention & Pro-
Health should be about outreach toward them. tection for You), I desire to
like my motivation. It’ll
her medical jargon about her
glory days in the emergency
checks and balances between I find that our current state promote health care knowl- be at 100% for 10 minutes,
the two to form a personalized of society is similar. While we edge and options around our drop to 60% 5 minutes
room. Needless to say, she lead
agenda for every individual. have actions within Title XI
my sister and I to become hy-
Yet, so many environmental and Sex Discrimination, we
campus. Through volunteer later and be dead
pochondriacs now, but that is work and dialect, my goal for
pressures we face skew our still lack transparency. Our within the hour.”
beside the point. The point is the club is to provide optimal
that I grew up with immense
equilibrium and at times cre- community needs consistent healthcare connections in our - @LayneSymington
ate aspects of identity without conversations about sexual community, as well as affirm
knowledge about my body
complete acknowledgment. violence for prevention and medical confidence in stu-
and the choices I had with it. I
I decided to chase this no- to distinguish what healthy dents.
thought this was normal.
The first major awareness
tion of medicinal integrity relationships and boundaries We have the power to dic- “Having to wake up from
with professor Richard Swan- are. Universities and work- tate what we want to achieve a nap to go to class is a fate
I had about my medical liter-
son this fall. Specifically, I di- places need to provide clarity
acy and privilege was when I
vulged into women’s health on their policies to properly
for our health. The accessibil- worse than death.”
took a public health course in ity just needs to catch up. - @thetelltalefart
and its identity within reli- validate and support every
high school. This was where I

PERSPECTIVE

Kost: Your vote is your voice, and your vote can hurt.
Jonah Kost
jlkost20@ole.augie.edu
Something that has
been on my mind recently
is this phrase: “No matter
who you vote for, we can
still be friends.” While I
understand the sentiment,
I don’t know if I agree. Of
course, everyone is enti-
tled to their own political
opinion, and that should
be respected. Tax plans,
for example, are topics we
can respectfully disagree
on. Equal rights, however,
should not be up for de-
bate.
Even though I iden-
tify with the LGBTQ+
community, people see
me first as a white male.
I recognize the privilege
I hold, and I understand
that many people in the
community who have in-
tersecting identities are
already at an extreme dis-
advantage, far more than
I am. Listen to them, ad-
vocate for them and meet
their needs. I do not rep-
resent every member of
the community, but I wish
to speak on anti-LGBTQ+
Jonah Kost
policy that the commu-
nity faces as a whole.
As a member of the
LGBTQ+ community, I be-
lieve I deserve fair treat-
ment under the law. My
friends may say they love
and appreciate me for who
I am, but they will still
vote for an administration
that actively tries to deny
me rights and fair treat-
ment.
Many conservatives
believe in equality for
the LGBTQ+ community,
at least 50%, according
to a national poll by the
Public Religion Research
Institute. Some Republi-
can politicians are pro-
LGBTQ+. However, when
the specific candidate you
voted for is actively try-
ing to deny us rights, your
words as an ally hold no
weight.
I will not attack Donald
Trump’s character here.
What I will do, though, is
hold him accountable for
his actions. The Trump
administration does not
advocate for the LGBTQ+
community. Why, within
hours of Trump assuming
the presidency in 2017,
did his administration
delete information on
LGBTQ+ rights and rep-
resentation off of govern-
ment websites?
Trump may be in favor
of marriage equality, but a
quick look at the Repub-
lican Party platform for
both 2016 and 2020 refutes
this. Page 32 of the plat-
form directly attacks the
landmark Supreme Court
case, Obergefell v. Hodges,
stating, “we do not ac-
cept the Supreme Court’s
redefinition of marriage
and we urge its reversal,
Equal rights, however, should not
whether through judicial
reconsideration or a con-
stitutional amendment re- be up for debate.
̶ Jonah Kost
turning control over mar-
riage to the states.”
The Trump administra-
showing off the Trump does not mean that ho-
tion has not been a friend
administration’s homo- mophobia, racism and
to the LGBTQ+ commu-
phobic policies and re- xenophobia are magically
nity, and it is seen through
marks. I encourage you to erased. There is still work
its discriminatory poli-
do more research. to be done to break down
cies.
Friends support friends. the barriers that hold all
In May 2019, the House
If you are willing to sacri- systemically non-domi-
of Representatives voted
fice basic human rights for nant groups back in our
to pass the Equality Act,
which guaranteed na-
the sake of whatever is- country.
sue you hold important, I I’m not going to call
tional non-discrimination
don’t know how we could you homophobic if you
protections for LGBTQ+
continue our friendship. voted for Trump. How-
people. Despite sup-
I will continue to be ever, a vote for Trump
port from much of the
civil, and I’m open to hav- means that after witness-
U.S. population, includ-
ing conversation about ing the blatant discrimi-
ing many conservatives,
it, of course. But the is- nation his administration
Trump opposed the act.
sue becomes personal. I implemented, you were
He has advocated for
hope that one day both willing to turn a blind eye
eliminating LGBTQ+
parties would have candi- to your friends, family, fel-
protections under the
dates who advocate for the low students and millions
Affordable Care Act, al-
rights and liberties of my of other Americans who
lowed foster care systems
community. In this elec- seek justice in this coun-
to discriminate against
tion, however, that clearly try.
LGBTQ+ people and im-
was not the case. Your vote is your voice,
plemented countless other
There is still work to and your vote can hurt.
discriminatory policies
be done, though. Just be- For that, I don’t know how
regarding transgender stu-
cause President-elect Joe we could be friends.
dents in schools.
Biden and Vice President-
The sad part is there
elect Kamala Harris as-
are many more instances
sume office in January
5 Friday, Nov. 13, 2020
Should the US keep the electoral college?
Anna Sorenson
acsorenson17@ole.augie.edu
The electoral college was cre-
ated in a moment of compromise
during the drafting of the Con-
stitution. With no precedent to
follow, the founding fathers cob-
Yes, it s needed for democracy
Laura Johnson
lajohnson19@ole.augie.edu
Representation is an
important part of gov-
ernment, especially in a
country that routinely
declares democracy su-
preme to a fault. Al-
though the United States
of America embodies a
constitutional federal re-
public government, the
U.S. generally strives to
represent the entire pop-
ulation. However, this
rarely is seen to fruition.
Proportional representa-
tion without equal repre-
sentation would hinder
the vision of American
representation.
The electoral college
is a strange entity to pin-
point. Each state is given
a certain amount of votes
based on population, re-
quiring a presidential
candidate to gain 270
electoral votes to win the
election. How the elec-
toral votes are spent is up
to each state. However,
48 states use the winner-
takes-all system. Maine
and Nebraska spice up
the presidential election
by distributing two of
three votes each to the
majority candidate and
one electoral vote to the
runner-up.
Alexander Hamilton
advocated for the elec-
toral college system dur-
ing his intense campaign
to promote the newly
drafted Constitution. In
No. 68 of the Federalist
Papers, Hamilton wrote,
“It will not be too strong
to say, that there will be
a constant probability of
seeing the station filled by
characters pre-eminent
for ability and virtue.”
This passage makes the
argument that the elector-
al college was intended to
allow electorate officials
voting to vote against the
bled together the system that is
still used today to elect the presi-
dent of the United States.
The electoral college has
been amended several times
throughout history, notably the
introduction of the 12th Amend-
Laura Johnson
popular opinion. ‘Ham-
ilton electors’ describes
electors (voters who cast
the votes for the electoral
college) who vote for a
person who wasn’t in the
election.
In the 2016 election,
10 Hamilton electors
voted differently than the
majority candidate. They
did this by casting votes
for Bernie Sanders or
Ted Cruz instead of Hill-
ary Clinton or Donald
Trump.
Checks and balances
from all angles penetrate
the government. The elec-
toral college is a check on
democracy to cool the
whims of popular opin-
ion. I like to think of it in
comparison to the bilat-
eral legislative branches
of the Senate and House
of Representatives, ensur-
ing that both equal and
proportional representa-
tion are in attendance.
Instead of relying en-
tirely on the popular
vote, the electoral college
uses electors to cast their
state’s votes with the in-
tention that those people
could decide not to vote
for the candidate they are
supposed to vote for.
Representation is a
part of American govern-
ment that continues to
fail citizens. The electoral
college was created with
the intent to boost rural
augiemirror.com
ment, which allowed each party
to designate one candidate for
president and another for vice
president.
Each presidential election,
electors from each state cast a
vote for the candidate who won
VS.
areas to a standing more
equal to densely populat-
ed urban areas. The presi-
dential election system is
not perfect by any means.
However, agrarian areas
are extremely important,
and it is essential for a
thriving economy and
country to listen to the
needs of as many people
as possible.
The United States is
significantly larger, in
both topography and
population, than it was
when the founding fa-
thers discussed the elec-
tion process. Change
must be acknowledged in
order to understand why
it is still so important to
the structure of the U.S.
government.
Urban and rural citi-
zens have different expe-
riences and needs to be
met by the government.
Arizona has different is-
sues than Rhode Island.
These differences are re-
flected in the way people
vote in any election, espe-
cially a presidential elec-
tion.
The electoral college
is meant to work in uni-
son with the government.
The executive branch has
grown far beyond what
was outlined in the Con-
stitution. Overstepping
executive powers is not
unique to a single presi-
dent. The system needs a
revision to take into ac-
count the current state of
the U.S. political process.
The U.S. government is
complex yet well planned.
Executing these plans is
much more difficult. The
electoral college should
continue to be used to
elect the president be-
cause it strives for both
equal and proportional
representation.
the popular vote in their state.
Rarely, faithless electors will
break with their state’s decision
and vote for another candi-
date. These electors have never
changed the course of the elec-
tion.
No, it s an antiquated system
Kat Elgersma
keelgersma20@ole.augie.edu
Summarizing the
problems with the elec-
toral college, I would say
it is an antiquated system
that devalues millions
of votes every election
cycle. It is a system that
doesn’t work the way it
was intended to work,
not to mention that the
nature of modern poli-
tics eliminates what ben-
efits the electoral college
might once have pro-
vided.
The issues with the
electoral college were
widely discussed in the
aftermath of the 2016
election as, for the fifth
time in history, a presi-
dential candidate won
the election having lost
the popular vote. There
are several reasons this
is a problem, all boil-
ing down to the fact that
these past four years,
we’ve had a president the
majority of Americans
didn’t vote for.
The original purpose
of the electoral college
was to ensure smaller
states still had a voice
in the political process,
which is why every state
automatically has two
Senate seats regardless
of population size, which
then correspond to two
electoral college votes.
The rest are made up of
the seats in the House,
which are determined
based on population.
So, the smallest num-
ber of electoral seats any
state can have is three,
like South Dakota. How-
ever, how the electoral
college works in practice
is far different from how
it works in theory. In
practice, a few key “bat-
tleground states” usually
determines the presi-
dency.
Five times, a candidate has
won the popular vote but not the
electoral college. The electoral
college has been widely debated,
with some calling for its disman-
tlement and others saying the
system should be upheld.
Kat Elgersma
Because of this, presi-
dential candidates don’t
reach out to voters in
states that likely will have
little impact on the out-
come of the election or
states they do not believe
they can win. This is a
problem because it leaves
certain voters out of an
important part of the po-
litical process (the cam-
paign) simply because of
where they live.
Another problem with
the electoral college is the
“winner-takes-all” system
of how electoral votes get
counted per state. Every
state and the District of
Columbia uses this sys-
tem with the exception
of Nebraska and Maine,
which split their votes be-
tween parties.
Wi n ne r- t a ke s - a l l
means all the electoral
votes go to the winner of
the popular vote in that
state, and in practice it
means the votes for the
minority party are effec-
tively discounted.
It is important to note
that the electoral college,
as it exists today, does
not do what the found-
ers hoped it would. It
was problematic from
the very beginning but,
perhaps, even more so in
an era when many people
get their political news
through social media
or from other internet
FORUM
sources.
Vast amounts of in-
formation are readily
available, and they aren’t
difficult to find. A few de-
cades ago, it wouldn’t have
been logistically possible
for presidential candi-
dates to visit every state,
so strategically picking
which states would have
the highest impact on the
campaign made sense.
Now, however, social me-
dia provides the platform
for candidates to reach
voters they never would
have in the past.
While the electoral
college was never a great
system, in the context of
modern politics it is out-
dated. It does more harm
than good. It has never
been more necessary to
abolish the electoral col-
lege than it is right now.
It would certainly change
the political process —
but for the better.
Getting rid of the elec-
toral college would be
difficult, requiring a con-
stitutional amendment or
for enough states to begin
splitting their votes, but it
would be worth it to right
an unjust system.
Personally, I think
it comes down to this:
Precedent shouldn’t be
followed for precedent’s
sake. If something is caus-
ing the system to be un-
just, it is the responsibility
of those in charge to fix it.
Just because the elec-
toral college has been
around since the begin-
ning is not reason enough
to keep it when it silences
hundreds of thousands of
voices every election.
VARIETY Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 6

Photo by Julia Johnson

Sophomore Julia Hopes recently recently made TikTok peppers, bell peppers with cream cheese and Everything Bagel seasoning, with some friends in her dorm room.

Foodies of Augustana share their easy meal hacks

Casey Hayes tive ways to make in-room dining more convenient it, it tastes just like out of the box.”
cahayes19@ole.augie.edu
and enjoyable. Many college students struggle to eat healthy or
Sophomore psychology majors Ashley Seitz and accomodate diets while living in dorms. Seitz has
One way to end a long week of papers, exams
Myah Mollenhoff are roommates living in Gran- found a solution to both with MorningStar Farms
and quizzes is with a crunchy sweet pepper topped
skou Hall. The cafeteria’s repetition led them to vegetarian corn dogs.
with smooth cream cheese and savory seasoning
want many meals in their room. “They taste like regular corn dogs, and they look
while Netflix’s “Bly Manor” plays.
“It doesn’t become good anymore when you like regular corn dogs,” Seitz said. These can also
While college may mean the end of home-
have it everyday,” Seitz said. be made in a short few minutes in the microwave.
cooked meals, many students have found ways to
They started by thinking of ways to save money Hopes’s dorm food essentials are pizza rolls
bring comfort food and indulgence to life in the
and limit waste. and mac and cheese. Her first dorm room hack is
dorms.
“We were going through a lot of popcorn bags a microwave rapid macaroni maker advertised for
Augustana provides dining services in the
in general,” Mollenhoff said. “We didn’t want to dorm convenience. It cooks the mac and cheese in
campus cafeteria, but some schedules don’t allow
keep wasting so much.” five minutes, which complements her busy life-
students to use this for every meal. Sophomore
Their solution was to mix premade bags of style.
early childcare major Anna Halseth only goes to
cheddar popcorn with salty microwavable Pop Hopes’s second dorm hack involves micro-
the dining hall every Tuesday and Thursday. She
Secret and sprinkle any kind of M&M on top. “It’s waving premade cookie dough for two minutes.
gets most of her meals from the Sub Connection
the perfect movie snack,” Mollenhoff said. “They’re so good and soft,” Hopes said. “It even
and eats them in the comfort of her Granskou Hall
The roommates’ second hack is a quick route to leaves the freshly baked cookie smell in your
dorm room.
creamy macaroni. Most people aren’t strangers to room.”
Sophomore exercise science and fitness man-
stove top mac and cheese. Living in a dorm, with Food often brings people together.
agement major Julia Hopes also spends at least one
the nearest kitchen in the basement, can be a deter- “Having dinner with my friends in the dining
meal a day in her Stavig Hall dorm room due to
rent from cooking. hall or snacking with them in my room is some-
cafeteria hour limitations.
Mollenhoff and Seitz found Easy Mac can be a thing I look forward to,” Hopes said. “Recently,
“Being a full-time student and a part time em-
close contender to its stove top counterpart. we made the TikTok peppers. All you need is a
ployee, I really wish Augustana offered extended
“If you fill it up just above the noodles, you sweet pepper, cream cheese and Everything Bagel
meal times outside the sub shop,” Hopes said.
never have to wait because it thickens right away,” seasoning. It has a perfect mixture of crunchy and
With many students joining Halseth and Hopes
Mollenhoff said. “If you add a little bit of butter to creamy.”
in dining in their rooms, they have found innova-

Patrick Hicks explores 'the stories that we bury' in latest novel

Chelsea Felton
cmfelton17@ole.augie.edu
Events in the past have led Americans
to make great technological progress.
However, those events wouldn’t exist
without the ties of corruption coming be-
fore it.
The balance between scientific dis-
covery and space explorations would not
have happened if not first exploited in
Nazi Germany.
Patrick Hicks, professor of English at
Augustana, addresses those topics in his
latest novel, "In the Shadow of Dora."
The book explores the achievements of
the Apollo Program while diving into the
impact Nazi Germany had on technology.
During WWII, there was a secret Nazi
concentration camp known as Dora-Mit-
telbau that built rockets — rockets that
would later be used by Americans to land
on the moon.
“One of the things I was interested in
exploring in this particular novel was the
idea of the stories that we bury,” Hicks
said.
Ruled under a strong sense of patrio-
tism, Americans know the great achieve-
ments of the space race yet are not made
aware of what made the technology so
advanced.
“The adventure to the moon is such a
captivating narrative of bravery and sci-
entific ingenuity, but it was only allowed
because of Nazi technology, which helped
create the rockets that got us there,” Hicks
said.
Those taking class with Hicks are aware
of his fondness for space exploration.
Growing up in the ’70s, he was exposed
to space exploration from his father and
felt influenced by the media’s portrayal in
films like Star Wars.
Hicks also had ties to WWII being that
his mother is an immigrant from North-
ern Ireland and that his grandfather sur-
vived the Belfast Blitz.
“Whenever I asked him about that, he
was very open and honest with me about
what it was like to fight the Nazis.”
Hicks started writing this novel back in
Continue BOOK, page 8 Cover for Patrick Hicks's latest novel.
7 Friday, Nov. 13, 2020
Dr. Dennis Knutson poses with his flute. He played in the orchestra until the end of 2019.
Dr. Knutson shares love of music,
passion for playing flute with family
Laura Johnson
lajohnson19@ole.augie.edu
Music. A simple word. Yet, it encompasses
every aspect of Dr. Dennis Knutson’s life.
“The flute was my therapy. I could be study-
ing hard for a medical exam but can always go
back and enjoy wonderful music as a flutist,”
Knutson explains.
8-year-old Knutson heard the piccolo for
the first time in his memory. The immense
power that emulated from such a small in-
strument captivated him. No baritone sax, no
euphonium, not even a tuba could even com-
pete. Listening to the shrill notes, Knutson re-
alized that he wanted to learn the flute.
Knutson’s father, an amature jazz piano
player, encouraged Knutson to take up the
trombone. The seasoned musician wanted his
family to form a jazz combo. Flutes weren’t
traditionally used during that time for jazz.
Per his father’s wish, Knutson began tak-
ing trombone lessons at age 9 but was able to
convince his father after a year to let him try
the flute. Little did his father know that once
the young music student laid his hands on the
silver keys, there was no going back.
By sixth grade, Knutson played in his high
school concert band in his hometown of
Westby, Wisconsin. The school had a notori-
ously dedicated music program that allowed
eighth-grader Knutson to play first chair in
augiemirror.com VARIETY
MOVIE REVIEW
Borat 2: Very nice!
Holden Sutter a Hollywood newcomer, proves
hasutter17@ole.augie.edu
her improvisational abilities as
well. Her role as Borat’s daugh-
People over the age of 30
ter, Tutar, is a welcome addition
might remember the release of
and complements Cohen’s per-
"Borat." For the following year
formance perfectly.
or two, impressions of Sacha
The most surprising thing
Baron Cohen’s Kazakh journal-
about "Borat Subsequent Mov-
ist character were everywhere,
iefilm" was the heart and emo-
from cubicles to dorm rooms.
tion developed throughout the
The film had a certain novelty.
movie. The plot of the original
Trick interviews and hidden
existed solely as a means to
camera pranks existed, but they
loosely connect the various in-
didn’t have the original's scath-
terviews and pranks that Co-
ing commentary on American
hen conducted. With the addi-
society. With a year like 2020,
tion of Tutar, the sequel creates
Cohen found a perfect oppor-
a sweet father-daughter rela-
tunity to continue that criticism
tionship around a great femi-
with his surprise sequel — "Bo-
nist message. It’s more than just
rat Subsequent Moviefilm."
a crude satire this time
Following the release of his
Make no mistake, Borat
first movie in 2006, Borat Sag-
Subsequent Moviefilm doesn’t
diyev is imprisoned in his home
shy away from the absurd and
country of Kazakhstan. After 14
unorthodox humor of the
years, Kazakhstan’s Premier re-
first film. Borat visits CPAC, a
leases him on a mission to im-
debutante ball and a plastic
prove the country’s
surgeon, among oth-
tattered rela-
ers. The reactions
tions with the
he gets from by-
United States.
standers or inter-
During his
viewees continue
journey, Bo-
to be priceless.
rat encounters
The best, and si-
many different
multaneously the
U.S. citizens as
worst, parts are still
well as his es-
Photo courtesy of Gene's Studio
whenever the un-
tranged daughter.
knowing citizens
The film is most-
d
dig their own
James Willar
ly made of un-
graves by saying
scripted scenes
something poten-
with unsuspect-
tially homopho-
ing non-ac-
bic or racist. It
tors, within a
shows just how
framework of
the high school concert band. other scripted Borat 2 much our soci-
ety still needs to
After eighth grade, Knutson and his family scenes. Starring: Sacha Baron change.
packed up their instruments to move to Se- It has to be
Cohen and Maria Unfortunate-
attle, Washington, where Knutson played sec- noted just how
Bakalova ly, "Borat Sub-
ond chair in his new high school band. It was amazing it is
sequent Mov-
during this time that he became acquainted that this film Director: Jonas iefilm" doesn’t
with Frank Horsfall, former principal flute of was made in Woliner feel as timeless
the Seattle Symphony. secret. Cohen
“My dad used to drive 25 miles to get me and his Borat Distributor: Amazon as the first film.
Aside from the
to [Horsfall’s] studio. It really brought me to character are
occasional refer-
the point where I loved the flute because he well-known to
ence to the Bush presidency, the
was a professional and very well-known in the much of the American popu-
original Borat is just as relevant
flute world. He did insist that I get a profes- lace. This had been filmed from
now as it was then. It examined
sional instrument, which I couldn’t afford, so late 2019 to August 2020, and
how things like racism and sex-
I worked two summers as a dishwasher in my nothing surfaced aside from
ism continue to permeate our
aunt and uncle’s restaurant,” Knutson remem- some unsubstantiated rumors.
country. The sequel pokes fun
bered. The surprise of the COVID-19
at more timely topics, like the
His first flute was a student model that had pandemic during the filming
COVID-19 pandemic and the
closed-hole keys. Using the money from his period even worked its way into
Trump administration. The sat-
summer jobs, Knutson bought a Powell open- the story of the film. It’s such a
ire is funny now, but won’t be as
holed handmade sterling-silver flute. The crazy production process that,
funny in another 14 years.
week before Knutson was to play first chair in with constant entertainment
"Borat Subsequent Movief-
the Rafael Mendez Honor Band, he received media coverage, just isn’t seen
ilm" could not have come out
his new open-holed flute but soon realized he anymore.
at a better time. This year has
didn’t know how to play with the new keys. Cohen’s ability to keep in
been filled with volatile politics
“I did not know I had to be able to cover character and improvise every
and a pandemic that just won’t
the holes on my open-hole. I couldn’t play a line shows just how committed
end. The film won’t make you
note,” recalled Knutson. “And I was bound he is to his craft. There’s no way
forget about these things, but
and determined since I had won first chair for Cohen can know what these
it provides some much needed
this honor band. So, I went to the local phar- random people are going to
comic relief to an otherwise
say, but he’s always ready with a
quite dismal year.
Continue MUSIC, page 8 witty response. Maria Bakalova,
VARIETY augiemirror.com Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 8
BOOK Continued from page 6

2015 and took two research trips to Germany as well
as trips to the Kennedy Space Center, the Johnson
Space Center and the Marshall Space Flight Center.
“He did a lot of research, and it really brought you
into the time frame,” Karie Frank, division coordina-
tor for the humanities department, said.
Frank took the time to read Hicks’s new novel and
called it a “fabulous book.”
“A lot of concentration prisoners were very well
accomplished and smart, but being Jewish they
weren’t looked upon that way,” Frank said. “And yet,
here they did these incredible things like building
rockets.”
Hicks found that one of his biggest difficulties
when writing the lives of his characters was balanc-
Photo by Jamie Horter
ing the two time periods, 1969 and 1944.
Patrick Hicks
“I was a bit naive in thinking writing about Ameri-
can history will be easier than writing about Nazi his-
tory, but when it came down to writing that part of
the novel that is rooted in America, in 1969, I quickly
realized that I had to think more deeply about what
the year really looked like,” Hicks said.
Hicks said, the ’60s are known for racial unrest,
the Vietnam War and hippy culture, but he wanted to
look at what effect these things had on his characters,
whether it be from patriarchy or the threat of nuclear
war.
"In The Shadow of Dora" is available online or can
be ordered from any bookstore.

MUSIC Continued from page 7

macy and I asked a man if he had little
tiny corks that I can put inside the holes.
He did, but I had to use a razor blade to
cut them so they were even with the key.
I was able to play the concert, and gradu-
ally I would take those out and learned
how to keep my fingers over the holes.”
After high school, Knutson attended
Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma,
Washington for a bachelor's in chemistry.
He was also the principal flute in the uni-
versity band and orchestra.
As Knutson’s college career acceler-
ated, so did his passion for music. While
he arduously studied in medical school at
the University of Washington, Knutson
set out to find a place where he could play
his instrument. The Seattle Philharmonic
Orchestra had a second chair position
drafted as a medical doctor in the U.S. of drums and tambourines. The aroma of tionally. In turn, Knutson attended quilt-
Air Force when the Vietnam War hit the traditional Scandanavian cookies wafts ing conventions to support her passion
front pages of the newspaper. Knutson through the air, filling the noses of the in- for quilting. Knutson continues to honor
and his young family relocated to a base formal performers as they tap their toes her memory by continuing the work they
near Kansas City, Missouri, where they to classics such as “Jingle Bells” before had started at Augustana University.
had a second son on base. finishing with “Silent Night.” The Knutson Masters Series in Hamre
Knutson eagerly picked up his flute Not all of the Knutson family plays an Hall on campus is a series of 50-minute
again after a year of collecting dust dur- instrument. Knutson referred to his late presentations where young, passionate
ing his internship to play for services at wife as “a professional listener.” Mary music students perform music-related
his local church. He also continued to Ann Knutson was not musical. However, presentations about various topics. The
play his instrument in the Raytown Or- she was Knutson’s biggest supporter over couple also raised funds for music schol-
chestra while he served in the Air Force. the years. Mrs. Knutson attended every arships for Augustana students.
After he was discharged from the mili- performance and encouraged his mu- Pre-med Augustana student Sarah
tary, the Knutson family spent a year in sic career through the course of their 51 Knutson plays the flute with her grand-
Rochester, Minnesota, where Knutson years of marriage. father. Knutson has played a large role in
was a consultant for the Rochester Mayo When Mrs. Knutson passed away in Sarah’s passion for music, and, after some
Clinic. They then settled down in Sioux early February of 2016, Knutson used prompting, she joined her grandfather
Falls in 1975. music as a way to honor her memory. in the Augustana Flute Choir during the
Because of his affiliation The Sunday before spring semester.

“
open for auditions, which was quickly with the Lutheran Church, her funeral, Knut- “He loves being a part of the music
filled by Knutson. Knutson became familiar son decided to at- community, especially the Augustana
“I had school five and a half days a with Augustana College. tend the weekly Au- community," Sarah said. "He’s always
The flute was my therapy.
week and all my friends, all my class-
mates thought I was absolutely crazy
playing flute in an orchestra while I’m
trying to get through medical school,”
Knutson explained.
He had orchestra rehearsals on Friday
Knutson became princi-
pal flute in the Augustana
I could be studying hard
Community Band (now for a medical exam but
referred to as the Blue can always go back and
“
and Gold Band) and the enjoy wonderful music as of my performing,
orchestra. His sons both a flutist.
gustana Orchestra
rehearsal.
“She was a great
supporter and fan

and she always came

night and often had tests on Saturday
mornings. Planning ahead for his exams
was essential during this period of his life.
Fresh out of medical school, Knutson
moved to St. Paul with his wife and son
for a medical internship. Until the intern-
ship, Knutson had always found a reason
to tune his open-holed Powell instru-
ment, even during his laborious stud-
ies. Knutson worked 100 hour weeks as
an intern, leaving minimal time for his
growing family, let alone a musical com-
mitment.
Fellow flutist Pamela Barnard met
Knutson when they both were playing for
the Sioux Falls Municipal Band 30 years
ago. “I’ve always been impressed with
Dennis’s flute playing. He’s been a very
busy, revered physician who made time
to practice flute despite his busy family
life,” Barnard said.
Following his internship, Knutson was
loved the different bands he’s been able
to be a part of, and I’m glad I get to join
flute choir and share that experience with
him.”
In his music career, Knutson had the
opportunity to conduct a few ensembles,
graduated from Augustana -Dr. Dennis Knutson to the concerts. So, including the Our Saviors Church Flute
and his grandchildren at- this will be in her Choir for five years in the ’80s. He also
tend. memory, and it will conducted the South Dakota Symphony
Knutson expanded his help me get through Orchestra for one song for an American
musical prowess to en- tough times. Playing Cancer Society benefit at the Washington
compass the clarinet for a music was the thing Pavilion.
year. He has also been playing the piano that I could do,” Knutson said, somberly. “It's impossible not to be drawn to
since he was 4 years old. The first concert he played at the Dennis as a friend and colleague," former
The Knutson family Christmas has a Washington Pavilion after his wife’s death Director of the Performing and Visual
tradition that brings together all the mu- was difficult for Knutson. Mrs. Knutson Arts Brad Heegel said. "He's passionate
sicians in the family to play Christmas had a seat reserved in row F to attend all about all he does, and he's an encourager
carols. It all began when Knutson’s old- of her husband’s concerts. Knutson re- of others as well. Dennis is a consistent
est son Eric took up the trumpet 45 years called looking out in the audience and and generous benefactor to the music
ago. seeing her seat empty for the first time. department at AU, and I will always be
The instrument variety has since ex- He remembered tearing up while he was grateful to call him a friend.”
panded. Knutson and two of his grand- playing the music, which made it more The Sioux Falls community has been
daughters take charge of the higher oc- difficult to play, but he pushed through changed for the better by Knutson’s com-
taves with their flutes, while his oldest the notes, trying to lose himself in the mitment to music. During his involve-
son plays the trumpet and the younger measures. ment in the Augustana flute choir, he
son takes up his saxaphone. Throughout their marriage, Mrs. demonstrated his astounding talent and
Younger members of the Knutson clan Knutson loved listening to Knutson play passion for the flute. Knutson’s impact
take up the rhythm with an assortment the flute and supported him uncondi- will be heard for generations to come.

Listen to our Viking Reflections podcast

9 Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 augiemirror.com NEWS
COVID-19 Continued from page 1

Through each change, students gave up their previous
comforts and followed masking guidelines.
“Normal may not look like what we thought it would
look like a year ago in 2019,” Rose said. “If we would’ve
been like ‘What is November 2020 going to look like?’
This is definitely not what we thought.”
Social connections are harder, from missing the full
facial expression to imagining how to break the ice with
new friends.
“Part of me feels like ‘this is the new normal’, but the
other part of me is like ‘normal is not being able to wear a
mask, being able to hug my friends and just being able to
meet new people and connect more,’” Sophia Connelly, a
junior biology and Spanish major, said.
Spring is likely to look similar to the last 76 days on
campus. It took time to iron out the kinks in the contact
tracing and isolation system, but Tupper said they hope
to keep improving.
“That one topic [COVID-19] has such a huge implica-
tion for all of us, so we had to do it right,” Tupper said.
“We’re all human, so we had some areas that we wish we
would’ve known or could’ve done better right off the bat.
But as we learn, we’re hoping that spring will look a lot
smoother for us.”
Run ins with the virus
Tupper and a contact tracing team handle the proce-
dures for isolation and quarantine once they receive posi-
tive test results.
Students who choose not to quarantine at home go to
a safe place with wifi connectivity provided by Augus-
tana. Tupper said students have as long as they need to
pack up before transferring to a quarantine facility. As
the semester passed, contact tracers began reminding
students to bring anything they would need during the
two weeks, including TV or other entertainment.
Wendt got tested after experiencing some mild symp-
toms, and she waited for her results for five days in Stavig.
“Out of an abundance of caution, I want to keep the
people around me safe,” Wendt said.
Her results came back negative. Since COVID-19 has
symptoms from runny nose to mild cough, allergies and
mild colds can cause questioning of whether it might be
the coronavirus.
Blake Chesley, a senior business and finance major,
and Connelly came in close contact with the virus when
Connelly’s housemate tested positive.
They worried. How would classes work? When would
they be able to return?
Connelly said she and housemates tested negative, so
her COVID-positive roommate mostly stayed in her own
room of the house during those two weeks. The group
received a few texts from campus officials to check in, but
Connelly noted that the team seemed overwhelmed.
Tupper said the early September peak meant almost
unbearable stress on him and his team. But looking at
other universities, he said he knew that effective contact
tracing requires time and accuracy, and students quaran-
tining at other schools were reporting feeling cut off. He
said calls and texts from campus staff were meant to com-
bat the feelings of isolation that quarantine often brings.
So, Connelly and Chesley spent half of September
flipping between homework and New Girl. They painted,
biked and watched movies.
But Chesley said quarantine was still monotonous.
The days dragged on.
“Even though I didn’t really have anything else to do,
it was kind of hard to find the motivation still to do the
school stuff,” Chesley said.
Connelly added that she found not being able to go
to the Huddle or library to study made classes more dif-
ficult. And missing that dedicated space for homework
left her feeling overwhelmed.
Social life and the bubble mentality
Balancing a social life with COVID-19 concerns is es-
pecially hard, according to students.
Johnson, a junior studying communication disorders
and special education, said she’s avoided crowded restau-
rants and bars and sees fewer people, but there’s some
natural tension with friends who don’t take as many pre-
cautions.
Tupper said he’s definitely seen a link between house
parties Saturday and increased coronavirus implications
on Wednesday. He added that off-campus housing has
faster spread.
Instead of attending large gatherings, some students
stick to a central group of buddies to relax with. The
“bubble” mentality is a justification many students, in-
cluding Johnson, Rose, Chesley and Connelly, use to de-
fine safe social activities.
For Rose, it’s a core group of three friends she can
spend time with.
“If one of us get’s COVID, we’re all going down,” Rose
said. They prefer watching movies in Granskou or attend-
ing UBG events. They wear masks in the dorm hallways
and clean doorknobs.
Tupper said the varying sizes of students’ bubbles
means there isn’t really a smooth trend between the
number of active cases and the number of quarantined
students.
Wendt, who’s a transfer student, said the pandemic has
added an extra challenge to being the “new kid.” While
other juniors are sticking to their bubble of friends, she’s
looking to make new ones.
“There’s less events that I could’ve gone to to make
friends, and it’s kind of hard to invite somebody to do
anything,” Wendt said.
Chesley, a Tuve Viking Advisor, said face-to-face con-
nections with his residents are lacking because of quar-
antined students and health concerns. Most of the social-
izing and checking in he does with his floor is over email,
Zoom or Google Forms.
From his floor’s mid-semester check-in, he said he
learned that social interactions have been more difficult
for the freshmen especially.
COVID-19 has dramatically shifted the lifestyle of
Augustana students, and now every week becomes an
obstacle course of uncertainty. Perhaps this semester
tacks on another core value to Augustana’s set: resilience.

Crossword by Margie E. Burke CAMPUS COVID-19 CASES OVER TIME

ACROSS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

1 Long story 14 15 16
5 Went out with
10 Drop a line? 17 18 19
14 Make a pitch
20 21 22
15 Fluid buildup
16 "Field of 23 24
Dreams" setting
25 26 27 28 29 30
17 Like some
vaccines 31 32 33
18 Of great impor-
34 35 36
tance
20 Log-in entry 37 38 39
22 Flexible
40 41 42
23 Sudden
outpouring 43 44
24 Pesky insect
25 Solution for dry 45 46 47 48 49 50

eyes 51 52 53
27 Masquerade
31 On the double 54 55 56

32 Cropped up
57 58 59
33 Slippery one
34 Outfielder's cry Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate
35 Dentist's advice
36 Work the 55 Durable fabric 6 Hold dear 30 Church leader
bleachers 56 Lump of dirt 7 Care for 32 Back street
37 Ill-behaved 57 Like venison's 8 Flightless bird 35 Lacking shape
38 Horse pill flavor 9 Mildew cause 36 Discrepancy
39 Analyze gram- 58 Animal in a 10 Having limits 38 Green mineral
mar roundup 11 Scintilla 39 Golf shot
40 Heeded an 59 Film feline 12 Origami bird 41 Overly diluted
R.S.V.P. 13 "Stop right 42 Tony, to Jeannie
42 Whodunit DOWN there!" 44 Cooktop
feature 1 Hit the mall 19 Make giddy 45 Minor damage
43 Fighting force 2 That certain 21 Drop off 46 Vicinity
44 4:1, e.g. something 24 "Ick!" 47 Study hard
45 Poetic measure 3 Prairies, e.g. 25 Brazilian dance 48 Give a hoot
48 Gilligan, for one 4 Pumpkin pie 26 Beelike 49 Singer Tori
51 Not germane seasoning 27 Haughty 50 Jedi guru
53 Verne's captain 5 Knock down a 28 Worthless one 52 Chow checker
54 At hand peg 29 Have a feeling
SPORTS augiemirror.com Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 10
COACH Continued from page 12
ic students with the same determination for baseball.
“More than anything what I’ve realized is that Augie
has its challenges,” Huber said.
Huber said it’s hard to find a baseball player that has
a strong academic background.
“It makes it harder because you’ve got to find the
right person,” Huber said. “What I’ve found is that
when you do find the right fit, they’re maybe more in-
trigued to come here over bigger schools because they
have different priorities.”
That fit also has to be socially adept to the team.
“He does a good job of recruiting guys that will come
into our program and work well with others,” senior in-
fielder JT Mix said.
They brought in 21 new players in 2010, out of
which came a couple major league draft picks and All-
American players.
“We had a great first recruiting class, and that just
changed everything,” Huber said. “Recruiting has got-
ten easier and easier as we’ve gotten better, of course.”
Nearly 13 years later, Huber has secured three NSIC
tournament championship wins and sent almost 20
men to pro baseball.
“He’s a competitor,” Schmidt said. “He wants to win.
That’s what I love about him, coming here to play under
him.”
Schmidt went on an informal recruiting visit to Au-
gustana before his senior year of high school gameplay.
Huber explained the program to him in a casual way.
Huber telling Schmidt about the culture at Augustana,
and how he runs his team.
“Things I remember him saying in that meeting
have held true,” Schmidt said.
Huber said that all players will play regardless of Photo by Olivia Bertino

grade level. And for both Schmidt and Mix, they know
that to be accurate.
“He’s going to put the best field on the team to win,
and he’s done that every year I’ve been here,” Schmidt
said. “I know if there’s a freshman better than me, that
kid is going to play before me.”
Schmidt said Huber has an intensity that made him
more consistent in his gameplay.
“He’s going to be hard,” Schmidt said. “There’s no
place on his team for mental mistakes. He expects the
best out of you mentally. He doesn’t understand base-
ball as a game of failure and I think that’s what’s made
him so successful at the college level because his teams
are never going to show up and not be mentally pre-
pared.”
Mix was also recruited by Huber to play for Augie.
He had a contact at a recruiting website that played for
Augie in the past that gave Mix’s info to Huber. Huber
called Mix, and they had a brief conversation. A month
later, Mix came up for a visit with his dad.
“I saw that he was offering something different than
other programs I had come in contact with,” Mix said.
Mix watched some games with Huber, got dinner
with him, and spoke more about the program and Au-
gustana as a whole.
“I remember leaving Sioux Falls and heading back
home with my dad from the visit, and we both said
there was just something different about this place,”
Mix said.
Mix was a freshman in 2018 when the team won the
NCAA Division II championship.
“I remember after the national title game, going up
to him and thanking him for bringing me up to South
Dakota,” Mix said.
Mix said it was sort of a joke, but he actually was
surprised at the level of success they were able to ac-
complish under Huber.
“He’s definitely one of the better minds. Even though
we’re at the Division II level, I think he’s one of the bet-
ter baseball minds in college baseball, at all levels,” Mix
said.
Huber said the success was an indicator of the
amount of time he spent building the program.
“That year, we just got to a point where our play-
Coach Huber FaceTimes with a player in quarantine to explain the drill while the player is isolated.
ers understood what it took, and they knew how to go
about their business,” Huber said. “That’s a culmination
of the hard work you put in as a coaching staff, and it
truly is building a program.”
Suspicions about going to Division I started circu-
lating around the team shortly after the win. Initially,
Huber said he was worried that they built up to all of
that success, just to get knocked back down to the bot-
tom of the ranking in DI.
“It’s easy to be good and continue down that path,
but for me, I like new challenges,” Huber said. “[DI is]
a whole new challenge, which I love. I love challenges.”
This spring, Huber and his wife were presented with
a whole new set of challenges altogether.
“You try not to get pregnant, and then as you get
older in life you realize how hard it actually is to get
pregnant,” Huber said. “At some point you’ve spent
enough money, and it’s not working.”
After trying to grow their family, Huber’s wife de-
cided adoption was their last chance at being parents.
They were quickly matched with a birth mother in
Florida. The entire process Huber said was “awful,” as
they had challenges with the mother. A few weeks be-
fore their son was due, she refused going in for medical Photo by Olivia Bertino
care. Coach Tim Huber stops to instruct his players on
Huber and his wife were in Florida for two weeks the mental and physical aspects of hitting.
before the baby was born. Upon delivery, Wrigley had
understanding his wife is with his career. Before the
some medical issues that tested his ability to survive.
baby, so much of his time was filled with baseball that
But he fought through and was finally ready to come
they usually got one trip in a year but even that was
home. And just a week after the Hubers got back to
centered around seeing different stadiums and watch-
Sioux Falls, COVID-19 hit.
ing games. So much of their life revolves around the
“We had nothing to do baseball wise, so all I could
sport.
do was hang out with him, which was pretty cool,” Hu-
“Where it certainly changed was with Wrigley, and
ber said.
we knew it was going to change,” Huber said. “I’m 43
Huber was able to stay home with Wrigley that
years old, and it’s the first time I’ve had a kid around.”
spring and summer when the season was cancelled.
While Huber is open to whatever Wrigley wants to
Even now, he’s home with Wrigley most days when his
be, he thinks Wrigley will take on the same familial
wife is teaching kindergarten.
love for the sport as he grows up around the field.
“I’m kinda daycare guy,” Huber said. “That’s where
“He’s kind of our little miracle baby and now he’s
the balance is starting and I don’t know what that will
healthy, growing, and just a great, beautiful kid,” Huber
lead into.”
said.
Huber said he sometimes takes advantage of how
11 Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 augiemirror.com SPORTS
Q&A Continued from page 12
together we’ve taken advantage of the opportunity
and really just grown closer as a team. It has really
helped the team fully come together this fall.
What’s your plan after this season?
We will get back to lifting and running to get
ready for next year. Whether it’s in the spring or next
fall we’re working to be ready for whoever we get to
play next.
What was the best part of this season?
Just the chance to be able to play football. We
missed out on getting to play at all in the spring so
it was fun to play football again and be with team-
mates that we didn’t get to see since March.
What personal struggles did you encounter?
I would say getting back into football shape and
actually playing football again was the toughest
thing. We went about nine months without actually
getting to play real football so it was a bit of an ad-
justment to get back into.
How have you dealt with not competing?
It was really tough at first and then this fall watch-
ing other colleges and high schools play across the
country. But after a while you just have to accept that
this is the reality of things right now and deal with
it. This fall season we had was a really good oppor-
tunity to improve in a lot of areas that I needed. So Photo by GoAugie

while it has been tough, I’ve just been taking advan- The women s baseketball team celebrates a win in the 2019-20 season. Eight players will return this year.

Women’s basketball returns

tage of the opportunities we get to make the most of
the whole situation.

with experience and depth

Seth Miller to have a lot of variation, so we are harder to scout this
smiller18@ole.augie.edu
year,” Rabb said. “We have great chemistry, so our ball
movement and comprehensive defense will hopefully
After going 17-11 last season with a second-round
set us apart.”
knockout in the NSIC tournament, the Augustana
Even with key departures, the team will return eight
women’s basketball team looks to continue its historic
players who averaged over 10 minutes per game last
stretch of winning seasons under Head Coach Dave
season.
Krauth this year.
“We are a young team with only one returning start-
However, they’ll have a delayed start and fewer games
er,” redshirt sophomore center Lizzy Karp said. “But
to do so this time around. The NCAA announced in
last year was riddled with injuries and unfortunate cir-
May that Division II would have shortened seasons for
cumstances, so I feel that we will still perform really
the 2020-2021 year.
well this year.”
“COVID-19 has altered our timeline, but I do not
Other key returners for the Vikings include senior
think it has had a negative impact,” junior guard Vishe’
guard/forward Hannah Mitby, who averaged 23.2 min-
Rabb said. “Everyone works hard and has committed to
utes and 10.6 points per game last year, and redshirt
finding our team identity and chemistry before we get
sophomore forward Aislinn Duffy, who returned just
to normal season events.”
Photo by GoAugie over 22 minutes a game and 8.8 points per game.
The former NSIC Freshman of the Year will be one
Trevor Gibson plays during a snowy game. “We have several young players who could be major
of the top returners for the Vikings this winter after go-
contributors,” Krauth said. “Vishe’ Rabb is coming off a
ing down with a season-ending injury just six games
knee injury that sidelined her most of last year, and her
into last season. In those six games, Rabb averaged a
situation will be another key for us.”
team-high 14.2 points per game in just over 24 minutes
The extra time before game one will be helpful espe-
a game.

Follow
cially for those that haven’t had to quarantine. Unfortu-
The Vikings will return to the court this year with-
nately for the Vikings, they have already had two delays
out multiple starting players, NSIC Defensive Player of
in practice due to COVID-19.

us on
the Year Hana Beyer and Second Team All-NSIC selec-
“When you look at it from a quality workouts per-
tion Abby Hora graduated alongside McKenzee Zilver-
spective, we are naturally well behind in preparation
berg and Danni Honner, who combined for 23 starts
compared to if we’d been COVID-free,” Krauth said.

TWITTER
last season.
“So, we’ll be cutting corners and trying to get them
“We lost four excellent seniors from last year,”
fast-tracked in a number of areas.”
Krauth said. “The South Division in the NSIC is loaded
The schedule for the season has not yet been final-
with teams that aren’t dealing with graduation losses.
ized due to testing requirements from the conference
These veteran teams certainly have a leg up in this year
being released soon. Once the conference gets confir-
@augiemirror with the virus.”
The team will look to make offensive adjustments,
mation on the requirements, then the schedule can be
written. However, games will not be able to be played
along with implementing a deeper minutes rotation to
@augmirrorsports adjust to the lack of preparation and the loss of the se-
niors.
until Jan. 1. The NSIC season will conclude with the
conference tournament, which will take place from
Feb. 25 through Feb. 28 at the Sanford Pentagon.
“We collectively decided that our offense was going
SPORTS Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 12
Q&A

Gibson on
his football
season
Olivia Bertino
orbertino19@ole.augie.edu

Redshirt Junior Trevor Gibson is in

his third season playing for the foot-
ball team. Gibson graduated from Skutt
Catholic High School in Omaha, Neb.
He is a wide receiver.
How is your season?
It definitely hasn’t been the same as
getting to play an actual fall season. We
all miss getting to play against other
teams, but otherwise it has been a good
fall season. There’s been a lot of good
competition and we’re lucky we even
got to practice.
What changes have you overcome?
Not having games and also just
Photo by Olivia Bertino
needing to be flexible have been the
Baseball Coach Tim Huber critiques a player while leading a series batting drills in the indoor batting cages.

Huber welcomes challenge

biggest changes. With COVID-19, our
plans can change in a second and so we
have had to really be ready for anything
since this all started.
Any hopes for spring gameplay?

Olivia Bertino “He’s going to be hard on you,” senior left-handed pitcher We’re really hoping a spring sea-
orbertino19@ole.augie.edu son works. Whether it’s one or four or
Jed Schmidt said. “He’s not a guy that’s going to accept failure,
so you have to be self confident to be able to play under him, 10 games we just want to play against
The best job out of college for current Head Baseball and he expects that out of you. He expects greatness out of somebody else. We’re working and pre-
Coach Tim Huber was ironically in a factory, working 12– you.” paring for it now so hopefully it hap-
hour shifts running a machine press. All the guys there told Unlike most graduates, he got a head coaching job right pens and we get the chance to play.
him he needed to get out immediately. away in the twin cities at Dakota County Technical in Rose-
The answer was volunteer How have you grown as a team?
mount. It was the second year of their program, but they were
coaching at Macalester 5–30. We’ve managed to get a lot closer as
College in Saint Paul. A “I mean, they were awful,” Huber said. “I came in, and we a team through this whole year. Being
year after, he landed did really well, really fast.” apart for so long and finally being back
a graduate assistant Huber led the team to 31–16 after four years. Shortly after,
position at Southwest See Q&A, page 11
he was approached by a fellow alumni from SMSU. Huber
Minnesota State Uni- was eligible for a head coaching position again, but this time
versity (SMSU). at a private university.
“Then I was “I was what they were looking for at that time,” Huber said.
hooked. I loved it,” “They needed a coach to turn the program back around.
he said. He was the one chosen among the two final candidates for
Hub e r- the position at Augustana.
knew that “There was a lot of work to do when myself and our staff
coach- got here, and it’s come a long way,” Huber said.
ing was The first thing Huber and his staff focused on was recruit-
meant ing.
f o r “The recruiting process is interesting as well because good
him. coaches are only as good as their players,” Huber said.
Huber said he was surprised by the talent they already had
that first year, though. Some of the seniors from 2009, the first
year he coached, stay in contact with Huber to this day.
His second year was when the real work start-
ed.
“We went to work recruiting and we had
a big, big first class,” Huber said.
The recruiting process didn’t come
without its challenges. This was Huber’s
first time coaching at a private institution.
“[The players] care about school,” Huber
said. Sometimes we’ve got to get that edge
into them a little bit.”
Huber said he struggled to find academ-
Photo submitted by Trevor Gibson
Photo by Olivia Bertino See COACH, page 10 Trevor Gibson jumps for a catch.