New course

University expert to teach new fruits and vegetables class
By Steve Waller, Public Information Specialist, Central Lakes College
A former University of Minnesota horticulturist will teach the new Fruits and Vegetables course offered at Central Lakes College in Brainerd when the spring term begins Jan. 10.
Mervin Eisel has written numerous reference guides for growers of woody plants, garden perennials and other horticultural topics. The associate professor emeritus has taught course for the university through its St. Paul campus and also at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
He officially retired in 1992 but Eisel said he is “still working as hard as ever, once an educator always an educator.” He was with the university 34 years and, in retirement, has enjoyed 19 giving advice whenever asked.
“I give out a lot of information when I participate in farmer’s markets,” he said from his home south of Brainerd. “In my career I’ve talked to groups at all levels, from youths to amateur horticulturists to Master Gardeners.”
Growing vegetables for as long as he can remember, Eisel uses whatever means available to teach the curious what to grow and how. “For a while I was on TV more than I ever watched it,” he said, recalling career moments.
His live audiences have ranged from a handful of hosta enthusiasts to 900 people learning about ornamental horticulture.
His landscape favorites at home include azaleas, magnolias, hostas, and yellow peonies. “I think I have 150 azaleas, some as tall as eight feet, in the yard,” he said.
The three-credit CLC class is focused on helping individuals learn to grow quality produce for a family, and Eisel said he will touch on the nutritional value of various vegetables. “There are principles that apply to whatever you grow,” he noted. “Organic matter, fertilizer, soil types, starting seeds, watering -- these are the same factors in all field of horticulture.”
Garden site selection is important, he said. Pruning is a consideration. He will revisit some of the subjects of his publication projects. Two of those are “The Right Tree Handbook” (1991) and “Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Minnesota Landscapes” (1997).
Eisel will tap his knowledge as a member of the American Hosta Society and the Minnesota Herb Society to educate students in the three-credit CLC class, which is capped at 30 participants.
“I am willing to learn from the students too,” he said, expecting students in the college’s degree program along with growers from the area who “simply want to grow the best vegetables and herbs they can.”
For details about HORT 1300 - Fruits & Vegetables, the evening class schedule once each week, e-mail Admissions@clcmn.edu or call the college Admissions office (218) 855-8037 (toll-free 800-933-0346, ext. 8037).
New students can learn more at http://www.clcmn.edu/new/enrolling/

State honor

Mary Sam receives state human rights award
By Steve Waller, Public Information Specialist, Central Lakes College
Mary Sam, Director of Diversity and Student Affairs at Central Lakes College, is a 2010 recipient of the Minnesota League of Human Rights Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions concerning human rights issues.
Described as a “seasoned activist,” Sam received the award Dec. 3 from the Minnesota League of Human Rights Commissions at the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Conference at the Crowne Plaza in St. Paul. This is the second such statewide honor for Sam. She was the recipient of the 1997 League of Human Rights Commissions Award for her distinguished service at Armstrong High School in Plymouth.
The league may present the award to an individual or organization for outstanding effort to protect or enhance human rights in the state. Among previous winners is the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission (2005), the first regional human rights commission to include an American Indian Reservation. Sam helped form that organization.
“This is a great honor and acknowledges Mary’s many contributions in helping to make Minnesota and this area a better place in which to live and work,” said Dr. Larry Lundblad, president of Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples.
“Students, faculty, and staff at Central Lakes College benefit from the leadership, vision, passion, and experience that she brings to her position as Director of Diversity. It is great that she had been recognized for her statewide efforts.”
Here is what the league said in presenting the award:
“Mary Sam brings passion, commitment and activism to issues of human and civil rights. Mary is intolerant of intolerance. Her activist role began as a high school student in the metro area where she led efforts to resolve issues of justice and equality in constructive ways.
“In the early ’90s Mary produced ‘Daring to be Different: A Vision of Diversity,’ which is a documentary video on race relationships.
“Her Mille Lacs focus began in 2001 when she took on the role of Government Affairs and Community Relations Coordinator for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
“She organized ‘Voices of Unity’ at Mille Lacs in 2003 with local clergy, spiritual leaders and tribal elders.
“Mary understands that a community’s life blood is built on relationships, improved communication and understanding and being understood.
“It took Mary several years of dialogue with community leaders before she was able to facilitate the foundation of the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission in 2005. She secured the support of the cities of Garrison, Isle and Onamia, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, schools including Isle, Onamia, and Nay Ah Shing, along with the Mille Lacs Band’s Corporate Commission, Mille Lacs Health System, the Crosier Community, Mille Lacs Academy, and local law enforcement agencies in forming a partnership with all signing human rights ordinances.
The Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission is the only commission in Minnesota, and quite possibly in the nation, which is a partnership between several cities, businesses, schools law enforcement agencies, spiritual leaders and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, an American Indian tribe, a sovereign nation.
“In seeking what works, in doing what is right, Mary does not allow old rules to squelch her clarity of purpose-sense of justice and the valuing of human and civil rights.
“Others have answered her clarion call. Through Mary’s leadership, Mille Lacs received a grant for the training of 26 local leaders, male and female, white and Indian, from the Blandin Rural Leadership Foundation.
“She continues to not look away, to speak up about abuses of human and civil rights. As long as intolerance is tolerated, Mary Sam will be present, bold and purposeful.”
The League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions, founded in 1972, is a coalition of local human-rights commissions that have been established by charter or ordinance in communities throughout Minnesota. The league is the only private, state-wide agency concerned with fighting all forms of illegal discrimination, and with enhancing the rights of all groups of people defined under the Minnesota Human Rights Law (MS 363).

Honors program special for CLC students

Academic rigor but one joy for CLC’s honors class

12/10/10
By Steve Waller, Public Information Specialist, Central Lakes College

High-achieving students at Central Lakes College, completing the first semester of a new Honors Associate in Arts program, are enjoying their academic journey.
The students in this ground-breaking group range in age from a home-schooled 15 to a mature 46. Their common goal: A transfer degree for established academics, status that says they qualify for intellectual engagement at their next institution of choice.
The 12 students have participated for one semester in Honors Composition taught by Matthew Fort and Honors Theatre Experience taught by Dennis Lamberson. Comp I is a four-credit course, Theatre is three credits, and both are part of a 16-credit honors core in the 60-credit AA degree.
Margaret Tiede of Brainerd, 15, is one of the critical thinkers to benefit from small-class size, optimal instructor contact, and problem-solving studies centered on investigation and analysis.
“I have very special memories of all the things we’ve been through together,” she said, noting her last institutional schooling was as a kindergartener. “Especially in theater class, and it’s been only a semester.”
She said the CLC experience surpasses two summers at the Concordia Language Village. The new experience at CLC includes a support network of classmates, which she described as “beyond amazing.”
English class has been the most rewarding. “I’ve never had the opportunity to really talk about books with people” Tiede said. “Our discussions are all over the map, from ethics to challenges with drafting to an author’s particular voice and style, and everyone contributes something. That’s the class that excites me for next semester.”
In the spring, when she finally has a driver’s license, Tiede will be studying in Honors Comp II taught by Leann Flynn. The other spring honors course is Introduction to Sociology with Gary Payne. Other subjects will be added next year.
Students generally spend two hours outside of class time for every hour in class to keep pace. Most students committed more for the composition course. Instructor Fort estimates his honors students added at least hour to that formula, considering the amount of reading and writing required.
The composition class requirement was to read eight great works of literature, said Fort, who like Lamberson teaches non-honors courses at CLC. Students wrote narrative essays and discussed each of the books.
Pairs of students teamed up to lead the round-table review of each literary work, two non-fiction and six novels. Fort said all books are thematically connected, moving the students to examine age-old questions, such as “What does it mean to live a good life?” and “What does it mean to be heroic?” and “When are self and society in conflict?”
“We established a peer-review process,” said Fort, “where students read and commented on their peers’ writings. Their capstone project is to create a literary journal that contains their best writings.”
The writings will be submitted for the CLC Writing Contest and publication in Phoenix, the new literary magazine at the college.
The Theatre Experience course required students to attend stage performances at three Twin Cities venues, one in St. Cloud, and two at CLC.
“The course gives students an opportunity to attend theatre productions, not just at the college but in different parts of the state,” said Lamberson. “Students explore productions of different genres in different types of theatre space with an analytical eye.”
Experiencing productions from the page to the stage, students read scripts, researched each play, and after witnessing live performances wrote reports critiquing the production. They examined the human diversity and social and economic backgrounds, race, religion, and gender built into each show.
“This examination develops critical thinking and writing skills,” Lamberson said.
At the Jungle Theater, they attended “The Glass Menagerie.” At the Penumbra they saw “Sleep Deprivation Chamber.” At the Children’s Theatre they witnessed “The Christmas Story.” At Pioneer Place in St. Cloud they had intimate seating for “A Streetcar Named Desire.” At CLC they saw “Harvey” and most picked “Women in Black” for their venue of choice t o complete assigned stagings.
Tim Lee, 30, of Wadena said his 100-mile roundtrip drives to CLC for the honors experience pleasantly surprised him. “Things are different in Honors.” He was prepared for “the depth of the material and faster pace, but there’s something more personal about the experience.”
Deeper connections are made. “Doors really open for those lucky enough to be admitted to the program,” he said. “It has been the best school experience I have ever had” and it’s one example of how CLC upholds its mission statement: We Build Futures.
In a few hours on a Thursday night for the St. Cloud show, the van ride to and from creates a conversational environment among students.
“Traveling and eating dinner together as a class provides a great time for discussion about theatre and life in general,” Lamberson said. “Discussions are lively, informative and fun.”
At a pre-show Ciatti’s restaurant dinner, the thoughtful, energized class of 11 engages lively discussion about things academic and non-academic. Lamberson steers his hungry students toward the play they will be seeing.
Focus is not a problem for this audience. To be accepted for the honors experience, they tested higher, submitted essays and letters of recommendation, and agreed to take a leadership development course.
With ample research on playwright Tennessee Williams and having seen “The Glass Menagerie,” students are prepared for a new way of viewing live theater, They are ready to spot kindred factors and also note differing qualities between Williams’ two works.
On the way back to Brainerd, reviews begin. Backseat critics weigh-in and support each statement with more than superficial opinion. Keen observation has picked up on lighting flaws, questionable set design, suspect costuming, and blocking – not to mention acting that is either effective and convincing or subpar to expectation.
Lee’s written report saved the best for last. “Eric Webster as Stanley Kowalski was simply amazing, right down to the chicken spraying out of his mouth in one of his rants,” Lee wrote. “His dialogue (delivery) made me love – and despise – his character.”
Julie Jo Larson of Brainerd, the senior class member at 46, didn’t mince words. “I would not attend another play at Pioneer Place,” she concluded. “I was bored before intermission.”
Despite the disappointing performance, Larson said she would not trade the honors program experience. It is something she couldn’t have imagined being able to manage in her formative years.

"Honors classes not only keep my mind young," she said. "They also keep my heart and soul young. It has been a blessing to be part of this program. I can honestly say it is not easy; the class work is more challenging than my other classes and the college is still trying to work out the kinks, but getting in on the ground floor is an adventure."
Nick Heinecke, 21, of Aitkin, maintains a conviction that is upheld through his experience in the honors program at CLC. “I couldn’t sit in a class room if I didn’t feel like I was learning anything,” said the high school drop-out who notes that the famous Bill Gates followed a similar exit.
Others in the first honors program cohort: Eddie Oldenburg, 19, Fort Ripley; Mitchel Collins, 20, Aitkin; Jesse Grieger, 19, Pequot Lakes; Joseph Anderson, 19, Baxter; Robert Andrys, 27, Aitkin; Nicholas Mohr, Little Falls; and Hannah Dilley, 17, and Nicolas LaQuier, 33, Brainerd.