Emily Allen
Published: February 11, 2008

Dubuque - Nicole Hayden, a junior at Loras College, was one of millions who gathered in Washington D.C. on January 20, 2009.

“I didn’t have a view of Obama when he was speaking but I could hear the word. I couldn’t see everybody that was sitting up there, but I knew what was going on and I was surrounded by literally two million people all there for the same reason,” says Hayden.

Hayden and her twenty-four J-Term classmates, gathered to witness the Presidential Inauguration, but for her it was not just any inauguration.

“I worked on the Obama campaign for half a semester, being able to finish that process and see it actually happen, and seeing the inauguration was just something that I couldn’t imagine missing out on,” she says.

While Hayden and her classmates were in Washington D.C., other J-Term students were 4,000 miles away in Germany. There, Loras College senior, Scott Frank was focusing on a dimmer past.

“The holocaust has always sparked my interest. It’s just one of those things that you talk about and you are just like ‘how could this happen’,” says Frank.

Frank, along with twelve other Loras students, were documenting the holocaust and remembering the past.

“It’s just one of those things where if I could understand it better I think I could teach my students to understand it better and therefore everyone can have a better comprehension of it,” says Frank, who is a history major.

Frank plans on sharing his experience with future and Hayden plans on sharing her story as well.

“I look forward to telling my kids and grandkids about it. I think that’s probably when it’s going to be most exciting to me,” says Hayden.

For both Hayden and Frank, their J-Terms were not just a trip or a moment in history, but an opportunity that changed their lives.

“When this hard stuff came it hit us in ways that we couldn’t have expected and I think we’re all better for it,” says Frank.

To learn more about all of the different courses, you can attend the J-Term showcase during Common Time on February 18.

Emily Allen can be reached at emily.allen@loras.edu

Abhishek Agarwal
Published: December 4, 2008

DUBUQUE - The Dubuque Auto industry has seen a dip in the market after major automobile companies, like General Motors and Ford, asked for a federal bailout.

Mike Ogelsby, Sales Associate at Richardson Motors says, “It effects us because people are scared to do anything with the money that they have saved or the money that they just don’t want to spend more or less”.

General Motors’ bailout has been viewed as a major issue in this declining Economy.

“I think generally we have such a strong presence here in Dubuque anyway that it’s not really going to be a huge factor for us. We lasted through the last economic downturn so I think we’ll weather through this one just fine,” explains Bird Chevrolet Internet Sales Manager Teresa Fairchild.

However, the local Auto dealers view the dip as a temporary phase which will soon fade out.

Dodge Turpin General Manager, Patrick Turpin assures consumers, “it’s fairly stable right now, we’ve seen a little bit of a dip, however, it’s not nearly as drastic as you would foresee it being if you turned on the TV or looked at the computer.”

Many do not seem worried, and are even moving forward with remodeling plans.

“We just repainted our Honda show room and kind of cleaned it up a little bit,” said Ogelsby.

“We’ve had this remodel plan for a while,” adds Fairchild.

In addition, local dealerships are also trying to boost sales through national promotions like the red tag event.

Companies like Richardson Motors and Bird Chevrolet have been here in the business for the last eighty years and they hope that this is going to be a temporary phase and everything works out for the best.

Abhishek Agarwal can be reached at Abhishek.Agarwal@loras.edu

Abhishek Agrawal
Published: October 15, 2008

DUBUQUE- For some Loras students, October is not just for trick-or-treaters. It is a 15 day celebration of Dashain, a Nepalese festival that is an emotional journey back to their traditional roots.

Bishal Thakuri, a senior at Loras from Nepal, wanted to bring a slice of Nepalese tradition to Dubuque.

“We organized this event so that the people who are far away from their home and family could celebrate it like its celebrated back home,” said Thakuri.

He’s talking about Dashain; the biggest festival in Nepal about the triumph of good over evil.

The students from Nepal celebrated Dashain last week in Rohlman Hall on the Loras Campus.

The story of Dashain stems from a Hindu legend about a battle between the goddess Durga and a demon named Mahisasur. On the 10th day, the goddess was triumphant, symbolizing that good conquers evil.

Although it was emotional for those who were far from their family, they found a new community to celebrate the festival with.

“When I celebrate Dashain I feel like I am in my home and Loras is my home away from home,” said Utsaha Maharjan, a Loras student from Nepal.

It was an enjoyable experience, even for those who had never celebrated it before.

As a German I obviously had no idea what Dashain was all about, but I had a great time and I got so much culture and was introduced to so many traditional things that are come in Nepal; that carry so much value for the Nepalese students,” said Christian Helmholz, a Loras student from Germany.

The students accomplished their goal of bringing a piece of their homeland to the Loras College campus.

“We wanted to raise awareness in the Loras community,” said Thakuri.

Abhishek Agrawal can be reached at Abhishek.Agrawal@loras.edu

WASHINGTON – The faithful waited anxiously for tickets outside of Nationals Stadium to see Pope Benedict XVI some were lucky enough to be given a ticket from a stranger.

“They just handed the tickets to us and told us to go split up amongst our group. They gave us about six tickets,” said one lucky crowd member.

Catholics from all over the world travel to the nation’s capital at the hope of seeing the pope.

While over 40,000 people gathered to get a glimpse of the man at home plate; across town others prepared to meet with the Holy Father on a more personal level.

“Much to my surprise I was in a fourth row seat and two seats away from where the Pope entered and exited”, said Loras College President Jim Collins.

President Collins was one of the 200 Catholic educators invited to meet with the Pope. Pope Benedict’s message at the event was one of gratitude.

“There has never been a more difficult time then now to be a college leader, the pope told us that he recognizes what we do and he empowers us and supports us,” added Collins reflecting on his D.C. trip.

For President Collins this message was a lasting one that he brought back to Loras and Dubuque.

“Keeping the faith and knowing that you have my support, know what you are doing is important, and know that it will make a difference,” said Collins about the impact of the Pope’s message.

Whether you were a Catholic waiting to see the pope or a president of an Iowa College, seeing the Pope during his first visit to the U.S makes an impact.

“It is kind of just dawning on me how amazing it is as a Catholic, but even more amazing how intimate the opportunity it was that I had and how unlikely it is that I would ever have such an opportunity like that, and how very few people ever have such an opportunity,” reflected Presidents Collins.

An opportunity that will last a lifetime for President Collins and all of the other Catholic faithful that saw Pope Benedict’s first visit to the United States.

Lauren Squires can be reached at Lauren.Squires@lctv13.com

WASHINGTON – Tuesday April 15^th, 2008 Pope Benedict the sixteenth arrived in Washington. It’s a momentous event and thousands of faithful are converging on the nation’s capital as Pope Benedict makes his first visit to the United States.

One of the many stops on his tour is the National Shine of the Immaculate Conception; the largest Roman Catholic Church in the United States. And although there are not enough seats inside for everyone to see the Pope, there are plenty of stores about their journey here.

Some traveled from coast to coast. “We’re from California” said one man.

Others have been in town for awhile. “Twenty five years” said Basilica volunteer Mary Jane Eldridge. She’s been volunteering here for twenty-five years. But in that quarter of a century, few days have been as busy as this.

Today she’s busy answering phones, giving directions and answering questions about the Papal visit. But all this hard work is paying off. Wednesday the Pope will arrive at the National Shrine to meet with United States Catholic Bishops. And “we will be there for that. That’s a great privilege that’s one of the big benefits that I’ve had all the years that I’ve been here” said Eldridge.

It’s clear that Mary Jane isn’t the only one here at The National Shrine that feels blessed to be here.

“We got tickets at the last minute…and we’re getting to see our holy father in the nation’s capital,” said Christina St. Hilaire. “The heart of our catholic faith in the heart of our nation,” said Christina.

It is the family’s first visit to D.C. but not their first time seeing Pope Benedict. They have traveled all the way from Nebraska’s Lincoln Diocese to see an old friend. “We met Pope Benedict when was still Cardinal Ratzinger . We found out we could attend his mass at the German college. We were able to talk to him there and tell him some of our concerns of things in this country,” said Christina.

The St.Hilaire’s lived in Rome for three years. “I got to hold his hand when we were walking in the Garden and I think we had just come out of mass” said their youngest son Daniel.

And then after following the advice of Cardinal Ratziner, they moved back to the states. But the friendship wasn’t over. “The year after we moved to Linocln we actually got a Christmas card from him.” Christina told us.

This trip though, there will not be any walks in the Garden. But the family will be at the mass in Nationals Stadium on Thursday.

And although the faces of the faithful range from old, to the young, everyone’s hoping to get a glimpse of Pope Benedict this week.

Lauren Squires can be reached at www.lauren.squires@loras.edu

HONDURAS - Easter parades, beautiful artwork, breathtaking waterfalls, and Spanish masses. These were just a few of the sights and sounds during holy week in Honduras. But these familiar sounds were nothing in comparison to what Loras students would experience in ten days.

“I was expecting kind of a break, and a spiritual kind of renewal, and I definitely got that from this trip,” said Loras senior Alan Dietzenbach.

But it was not all relaxation. 

“It has been a really great feeling,” commented Loras senior Joanna Brady.

Students spent plenty of time working.

“To know that what we do is serve, it is not for ourselves,” adds Joanna.

And this week is all about serving the kids.

“As soon as you see them, and there are ten of them jumping into your arms it just completely changes your day,”

said Loras junior Amanda Stecker.

Loras students spent afternoons reading books, playing soccer, and even swimming.  But behind all this fun is a harsh reality for the kids.

“The kids outside of the mother’s project had to leave their families to get an education,” said trip coordinator and Loras student David Summers.

Children are being forced to leave their homes in order to better their lives. While this separation, though tough to understand is making a difference.

House director, Jerome Cabeen sees beyond the situation.

“The greatest heroes in my life are those little girls between the ages of 5 and 14 years old up at Guadalupe. They have kept me here, and they will keep me here, because they have brought so much joy to my life.”

A Joy that radiates from everything in this country, and even if Loras students can’t change Honduras in ten days what matters the most are the lives they have touched.

Erin Horst can be reached at Erin.Horst@loras.edu