#WhyGustavus Series: Politics of Housing and Homelessness FTS

For 16 first-year students, classroom learning gave way to a hands-on experience in homelessness

The annual Politics of Housing and Homelessness sleep out
seeks to educate the Gustavus Community

during a three-day sleep out this November. The sleep out, now in its 15th year, is an annual tradition for students in professor Richard Leitch’s Politics of Housing and Homelessness First Term Seminar (FTS). For the three days, participants were not allowed to use personal technology, shower, change their clothes, or purchase food. The annual event strives to educate the Gustavus community about homelessness and also to raise money and necessities for Partners for Affordable Housing in Mankato.

While the class participants get a firsthand look at homelessness, the event is also designed to educate the rest of the campus. “What we do with this sleep out experience is try to expose people to what the community off campus is dealing with, but also recognize that some people from our campus are dealing with these issues as well,” Leitch said.

One of the most important aspects of the sleep out and the class is that way that it pursues excellence by taking learning outside the classroom. The opportunity to learn more than just theory, statistics, and history of homelessness provides students with a more informed insight about the realities that affect a significant portion of our population, Leitch explained. “Having a three-day, three-night sleep out is certainly innovative, because if anyone has experienced a sleep out it is usually one night a week and less than 24 hours. The College has also been incredibly supportive of this event throughout the past 15 years,” he said.

The Politics of Housing and Homelessness FTS offers students the opportunity to explore the complexities of mental health, domestic violence, veterans affairs, and socioeconomics. “This course and the sleep out go beyond the surface of the issues surrounding homelessness,” first-year student Zachary Croonquist said.

Students participating in the sleep out don’t shower, change clothes, sleep in residence halls, or use personal technology.

Students participating in the sleep out don't shower, change
clothes, sleep in residence halls, or use personal technology

Throughout the course of the three-day sleep out many students were surprised by how difficult it was to maintain their classes, work, and extracurricular commitments without having the ability to sleep in their rooms or use their own technology. Class participant Viet Ha Nguyen is an international student from Vietnam. “I feel as though this sleep out has been difficult, but I have also learned a lot. Sleeping on the hard ground gets cold. I cannot imagine though what sleeping on the streets must be like,” she said on the second day of the sleep out.

Even though the experience was difficult at times, both Nguyen and Croonquist recognized the importance of the sleep out to truly understand the class. “It is easy to ignore and walk by homeless people. If you just for a second put yourself in their situation you will truly empathize and feel the urge to reach out and help,” Nguyen said. Croonquist offered advice for new students thinking about taking this course in the future. “Don’t let the sleep out hinder you from taking this course. We have had unique discussions every day. You can’t just read the description and expect to know everything. The experience educates you,” he said.

A First Term Seminar (FTS) is a course that is uniquely structured by the faculty member to educate new Gustavus Students and create skills for them to utilize throughout their college experience.  FTS courses promote both an empathetic examination of the values of others and the development and articulation of one's own values as part of a liberal arts education that encourages responsible use of knowledge.  Indeed, a focus on values permeates the FTS Program, shaping the program's goals in writing, oral communication, critical thinking and advising.  To learn more about the program at Gustavus visit the FTS Website.  

Direct Link to the Article: https://news.blog.gustavus.edu/2015/12/07/politics-of-housing-and-homelessness-first-term-seminar-takes-learning-outside-the-classroom/



Article courtesy of gustavus.edu, written by Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication JJ Akin, jakin@gustavus.edu.  

The Essence of Social Media...

While we never want to be impersonal, social media helps us communicate efficiently with you, one of our recruits. Through these outlets we can provide you a glimpse of many aspects of our Women's Soccer program here at Gustavus, which helps us build a connection and relationship with you. Developing a strong relationship is one of the most important parts of our Gustavus recruiting process, and in order for us to strengthen this relationship we need to learn more about one another.

Through which outlet should you follow us, you ask? Each of our social media outlets provides a different glimpse into our soccer programs. We try hard not to post the same exact material on each site to ensure you are able to truly learn about everything we are. So, here you go, follow away!

Outlet: Team Blog
Website: http://gustavussoccer.blogspot.com
Description: What you are reading now! A more in depth glimpse into our program including game recaps, players of the week, community service projects, facts about Gustavus, the best of St. Peter, academic strength of our student-athletes, recruiting tips and more. Plus our wonderful #WhyGustavus Series.  We have now added a subscribe here button so you automatically get notified when we write a new post!

Outlet: Twitter
Handle: @gustavussoccer or https://twitter.com/GustavusSoccer
Description: Real-time view of our soccer program. See pictures, motivational quotes, videos, game scores as they are happening. Highlights from practice, nutmeg games in hallways, roommates twinning, are just to name a few. 

Outlet: Instagram

Handle: @gustiesoccer  or https://www.instagram.com/gustiesoccer/

Description: We just started this up again after a 3 year hiatus (and it never really was much to start).  So who knows how we will use our instagram account, but there is one thing for sure, you don't want to miss out on it.

Outlet: Facebook Page
Website: https://www.facebook.com/GACWomensSoccer
Description: Larger version of Twitter. More detailed descriptions and write ups, bigger pictures, longer videos, more details about community service projects. Plus, more photo albums rather than individual pictures.

Our social media outlets: They capture the extraordinary experience of our Women's Soccer program.

#WhyGustavus Series: Perry the Corpse Flower

If you head to the third floor of the greenhouse in the Nobel Hall of Science you will find Perry the Corpse Flower.  Depending on when you are visiting, Perry could look like a pot with dirt in it, a tall green shoot that resembles a tree or a blooming flower.  That's how unique Perry the Corpse Flower is and Gustavus is lucky and privileged to own one.  

Back in 1993, Chemistry Professor Brian O'Brien received a corpse flower seed which he named Perry.  Professor O'Brien along with dozens of students, meticulously cultivated Perry over years 14 years until it bloomed into a maroon and dark-purple flower in 2007.  Perry's first bloom attracted more than 7,000 visitors to see the rare event.  Perry was in full bloom again a week ago, June 2-3rd.  Check out the timelapse video of the amazing bloom below: 

So what exactly is a Corpse Flower and why is it so rare?  The Corpse Flower is a 7-foot tall tropical plant that can be found in the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia growing naturally. It is the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world, with the name coming from the repulsive scent it emits during the hours after it blooms. It is rare for a corpse flower to bloom, with only 122 plants known to in the entire world, and Perry has bloomed every three years consistently since it's initial bloom in 2007.  

Here are some other interesting facts about Perry the Corpse Flower: 

Why does the flower not look like a normal flower? 

There are no petals on the Corpse Flower.  Petals are typically important for flowers to attract pollinators.  Instead of petals, the Corpse Flower uses it's odor, which resembles that of rotting flesh, to attack flies and carrion beetles who pollinate the flower.  

What causes the odor?  How does it spread? 

The major components detected in the odor are the sulfur-containing compounds dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide.  The plan actually uses energy reserves to warm itself to temperatures comparable to human body temperature.  The warmth allows the compounds in the odor to volatize more easily.  Aka: the warmer the corpse flower gets the smellier it gets.  

How does this inflorescence pollinated? 

The female flowers are on the bottom of the spadix and open first, the male flowers are then on top and open after the female flowers.  Because the male and female flowers open at different times they do not pollinate themselves.  So, when the flies and beetles are attracted to the bloomed corpse flower, they make their way down to the bottom of the flower and then crawl upward (think of a fly trapped inside a window).  As they crawl to the top of the flower they pick up pollen from the female flowers and cross fertilize it with the male flowers.  

Who spread the seeds? 

The seeds are quite large, usually around marble sized and are spread by Hornbills, tropical birds.  The Hornbill will eat the seeds and then spread the inner seeds through the excretion. 

How long does a Corpse Flower bloom for? 

Usually the corpse flower only blooms for 48 hours.  It takes a lot of energy to hear up the flower, which is needed to release the aroma and attract the pollinators, hence the short bloom. 

What is the lifespan of the Corpse Flower? 

About 40 years! 

How many species of Corpse Flowers are there? 

More than 170, all typically found in the tropics.  Some of these have odors that are much more pleasant such as: carrots, anise, chocolate, banana, fruity, or lemon-like.  

Where else has this plant been grown and flowered? 

When Perry bloomed in 2007, it was the first flowering corpse in Minnesota.  Currently, University of Connecticut and University of California-Davis has plants that are approximately the same stage as Perry.  Before 2007, the most recent flowering event was at Kew, the world-renowned botanical garden in London. 

What good is the flower?

Species such as the Corpse Flower are used for food and medicine worldwide.  The corn (root system) and leaf stalks are boiled and eaten.  The corms have also been used to treat stomach ailments, fever, swelling, and diarrhea.  The flower is toxic if not prepared properly! 

More question?  You can learn more at: https://gustavus.edu/biology/titanarum/

A Snippet of our Program Philosophy

  We tell every single one of our recruits that this is not a one-sided recruiting process.  Just as we need to make sure we are recruiting and bringing in players who are going to make our program better on and off the field, it's equally important that our recruits make sure Gustavus is a great fit for them as individuals.  In order to do that we strive to build a strong two-way relationship with our recruits and provide you with as much information as possible about Gustavus and our Women's Soccer Program.  This is why we created the #WhyGustavus Blog Series (if you haven't checked it out, make sure you scroll down to see the first few posts and check back for new ones every third Thursday).  This is also why we want to give you a small taste of our Program Philosophy.  We hope you believe in the same ideas and concepts and would love to get you to campus to delve into our philosophy even further!

Gustavus Women's Soccer Program Philosophy (a snippet)

The mission of NCAA Division III athletics is to provide student-athletes with an opportunity to excel on the field, in the classroom, and within the greater community.  Our program philosophy emanates from this mission and is grounded in encouraging and supporting our student-athletes to be the best individuals they can be in all aspects of their lives.  Our success as a program is not measured solely by a win-loss record, but by all the accomplishments of our women’s soccer players.  This is achieved by building a team culture that develops the individual assets of each player and prepares the team to succeed at the next level, with a simultaneous understanding that the game, program and athletes are constantly evolving. 

            First and foremost, we believe in developing students of the game.  For our program to succeed at the highest level, each individual within the program should have a strong understanding of the game as a whole: know how to develop rhythms and movement, possess the ability to think and adjust on her feet, and appreciate each position’s and student-athlete’s role and responsibilities on and off the field.  The best way to accomplish this is to develop the all-around soccer player.  To be a great forward an athlete needs to recognize the perspective of a goalkeeper, the vision of a defender and the movement of a midfielder, as everyone connecting and working together on the field is key to accomplishing our program goals.  It is through the asking of questions that engage players in the analyzing and dissecting of the game and the exposure to situations that force them to read their surroundings and make quick decisions that this understanding is reached.

            For our approach to prove successful, it is important to develop a relationship and rapport with the players where they respect and listen to their coaches and fellow teammates, while feeling comfortable voicing new ideas and concerns.  We believe in having a two-way dialogue allowing players to share ownership of the objectives and goals of the program, emphasizing leadership development, and improving mental toughness.  By providing athletes with ownership of plans, decisions and goals, their motivation and effort increases. We strive to think about our athletes and find time in our days to talk to every player as we feel this is vital to the program’s success both on and off the field.  It is critical to not confine one’s relationship with players to soccer alone as it is our responsibility as their coaches to help them achieve excellence in all aspects of their lives. 

            Ultimately, soccer is an expression of creativity, intelligence, teamwork, communication, leadership skills, competitiveness, and athletic skills.  To achieve greatness on the field, each player needs to be comfortable expressing their abilities and passion for the game. The more comfortable players feel with one another and their skills, the more ownership they take of the program, and the more they will hold themselves and their teammates accountable.  By empowering student-athletes, inspiring them to strive for excellence, engaging them in their collegiate athletic experience, developing them as leaders and encouraging them to learn and work hard in all aspects of their lives, we strongly believe the Gustavus Women’s Soccer program will be able to compete on a conference, regional and national level.

Want to know more? Contact us: 

Head Coach Laura Burnett-Kurie, lburnett@gustavus.edu 

Asst. Coach Benton Frayne, bfrayne@gustavus.edu