MPR Archives - News and Media

MPR Highlights Growing StepUP Partnerships

farrisr — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 21:17:18 +0000

A leader in the collegiate recovery movement for more than 25 years, StepUP® at �� is now poised to reach more students through new partnerships with Twin Cities-area colleges and universities. Minnesota Public Radio recently featured StepUP Director Ericka Otterson, Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator Nell Hurley, and Ethan Laugen ’24 in a story about the need for recovery support in higher education.��

StepUP provides an array of support services for students in recovery, including sober living college experience in Oren Gateway Center, weekly meetings with alcohol and drug counselors, and access to a strong alumni network. With new partnerships forming post-COVID-19, including a formal agreement with the University of St. Thomas, these resources will be available to more students from across the Twin Cities metro.��

“There’s no shortage of need, and students time and again will say the community has been the most valuable aspect of participating in this program,” Otterson told MPR. “So the larger the community is each year, the more opportunity there is for that.”

“This is my community,” said Laugen. “Instead of a student group or a frat, it’s StepUP. These are my people who get me, who understand me, who I get along with. And it has given me the college experience in the way that I needed a college experience.”

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MPR Highlights Interfaith Director Najeeba Syeed’s Reflections on Ramadan

johnsok — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 20:56:02 +0000

Najeeba Syeed, El-Hibri endowed chair and executive director of Interfaith at ��, recently shared her perspective of unity during Ramadan with .��

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims place extra emphasis on spiritual disciplines such as fasting, prayer, and reciting scripture. Those who are able fast between dawn and dusk and gather after sunset for a communal evening meal called Iftar. “What’s really lovely about Islam in America is that we’re the most ethnically diverse and racially diverse religious community in the U.S.,” Syeed told Jacob Aloi from MPR. She also noted that Ramadan and Iftar meals offer a unique opportunity for hospitality, interfaith work, and peacebuilding, “which is based on food and breaking bread together, for sitting at the same table. It’s really hard to fight afterward.”��

Read or listen to the , and learn more about Interfaith at Augsburg.

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MPR Highlights Jarabe Mexicano Residency at Augsburg Music Department

farrisr — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 14:29:02 +0000

Jarabe Mexicano, a “bordeño-soul-folk” band with a passion for teaching and storytelling, will be in residency with the Augsburg Music Department from March 31–April 2. MPR recently explored the group’s roots in the U.S.-Mexico border region and their diverse musical influences, which range from��Ritchie Valens to Los Lobos and Chicano rock. David Myers, Augsburg’s department head for music programs, was quoted in the article about the department’s goal to expand students’ appreciation of diverse music beyond western European classical music.

In addition to working with music department students and local high school students, Jarabe Mexicano will perform free public concert at Hoversten Chapel on Saturday, April 2 at 2 p.m.

or .

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MPR talks with President Pribbenow about Auggie Plan

Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 17:53:42 +0000

This month,��officials from Augsburg College and Anoka-Ramsey Community College launched the Auggie Plan, a guaranteed pathway to a four-year degree for community college��students who meet��minimum��GPA requirements and who complete general education coursework��on their way to enrolling at��Augsburg College.

Students in the program can take a range of liberal arts courses��with the knowledge the courses will be accepted by Augsburg. Listen to Minnesota Public Radio’s story,��“,”��which included an interview with President Paul Pribbenow.

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Auggie earns “Most Promising Young Poet” national honor

Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 19:58:41 +0000

Donte Collins ’18 was named the “Most Promising Young Poet” by the Academy of American Poets this fall. His poem, “what the dead know by heart,” previously won Augsburg’s John R. Mitchell Prize, which qualified him for the prestigious award.

Collins is a theater major who is active in the local, regional, and national spoken word and poetry scene.

Collins told that he plans to use his $1,000 prize from the award to self-publish his first collection of poetry, a chapbook called “autopsies.”

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Kristin Anderson discusses new football stadium, history of athletic facilities in Minneapolis-St. Paul

Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 19:27:52 +0000

Kristin Anderson — a��sports architecture expert, Augsburg College archivist, and art history professor — recently spoke with Minnesota Public Radio host Cathy Wurzer about the Twin Cities’��athletic stadium history.

The Vikings football franchises’ new U.S. Bank Stadium will celebrate its grand opening in approximately one��month, and Anderson provided context on��how the facility continues some local legacies while innovating in other regards.

Listen to, “” on the MPR��website to learn more.

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Auggies perform with Barry Manilow at Xcel Energy Center

Stephanie Weiss — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 17:22:27 +0000

Auggies sing with Barry Manilow on his well known hit, “Copacabana (At the Copa).”

Members of the Augsburg Choir sang backup for Barry Manilow during the Grammy-award winning performer’s farewell tour.��The choir sang three encore songs with Manilow including “I Write the Songs,” “Miracle,” and “Copacabana (At the Copa).”

The Augsburg Choir was selected to perform by Barry Manilow’s choir director, Doug Hollenback.��The ensemble is recognized for its high level of musicianship and performs a��diverse repertoire under the direction of��Peter Hendrickson��’76.

The performance by the students drew media attention from Twin Cities media outlets including:

Pioneer Press:��
Minnesota Public Radio
KARE 11
KMSP FOX 9
WCCO TV

Watch a at the show.

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Michael Lansing interview appears on Minnesota Public Radio

Laura Swanson Lindahl '15 MBA — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:43:03 +0000

Michael Lansing, associate professor of history at Augsburg College, was interviewed by Minnesota��Public Radio for a segment that compared��political movements from��the early 1900s with the contemporary political landscape. Lansing is the author of “Insurgent Democracy: The Nonpartisan League in North American Politics,” which presents the history of The Nonpartisan League��and describes its continued��influence in the upper Midwest.

Lansing describes the League as a grassroots organization started by farmers who were discontent with��large grain milling and transportation corporations in the region. He��told MPR News host Tom Weber that The Nonpartisan League is the reason for the large number of co-operatives in North Dakota today, and the party was comprised��of farmers who sought candidates that supported their platforms, regardless of party.

Listen to:��(14 minutes) on the MPR��site.

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Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly, and Minnesota leaders announce “Minnesota Coalition for Common Sense” at Augsburg-hosted press conference

Ryan Nichols — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 18:15:33 +0000

On February 25, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and retired astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, co-founders of��Americans for Responsible Solutions, joined Minnesota leaders at Augsburg College to announce a new bipartisan organization, the “Minnesota Coalition for Common Sense.” The coalition’s members – which include leaders from across sectors and parties – will urge their elected officials to advance policies that help keep guns out of the wrong hands.

Giffords was wounded severely��during a 2011 shooting that resulted in six deaths. She and husband, Kelly, have announced similar coalitions in New Hampshire��and Oregon during the past several��months.

Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow��welcomed the event’s guests to campus and offered opening remarks at the press conference.

Media coverage of the event��includes:

Star Tribune –
WCCO television –
Minnesota Public Radio –
Bring Me The News – Giffords visits Minnesota to launch coalition to help prevent gun violence
KARE 11 television –
KSTP television – Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Twin Cities Discussing Gun Control
Christian Science Monitor –

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River Semester media attention grows as class travels down-river

Stephanie Weiss — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 03:15:15 +0000

[Updated November��13] — The Augsburg College River Semester, created and led by Joe Underhill, associate professor of political science, departed from St. Paul’s Harriet Island on September 1. As part of the kickoff, the River Semester class was joined by a��group of nearly 100 students, parents, high school��students and members of the Augsburg College community who paddled in��a flotilla of 24-foot voyageur canoes from St. Paul to South St. Paul. Students participating in the semester-long program will earn as many as 16 credits in the arts, humanities, and sciences as they travel nearly 2,000 miles of the 2,350-mile Mississippi River.

The River Semester kickoff garnered a range of attention. Gov. Mark Dayton proclaimed September 1 “Augsburg College River Semester Day” and many media outlets covered the launch��of the class.

Since the students and faculty departed on their voyage, print and broadcast media have been sharing the story of this hands-on, interdisciplinary program. In fact, multiple stories have been picked up by the Associated Press and shared through the AP’s member media throughout the nation.

A snapshot of the ongoing media coverage is below. As additional coverage occurs, it will be added to this post.

November 9

Shorewood native spending college semester paddling Mississippi River, Shorewood (Wisconsin) Now

October 16

The Mississippi River is their classroom, The Hawk Eye, Burlington (Iowa)

October 15

College student trekking down the Mississippi, White Bear (Minnesota) Press

October 8

, WVIK Public Radio, Quad Cities

September 29

College students take their semester to the river, KWWL (NBC) TV in Dubuque, Iowa
, Mankato (Minnesota) Free Press

September 28

Semester on Mississippi River brings college students to Dubuque, KCRG (ABC) TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

September 19

,��Minnesota Public Radio
Open-Air Classroom: During River Semester, all of outdoors is classroom, Star Tribune
During River Semester, all of outdoors is classroom, WRAL TV in Raleigh, North Carolina
��of the story by the Associated Press that was shared by print and broadcast media outlets��including the Military Times and outlets in Minnesota and South Dakota.

September 17

, WCCO (CBS) TV

September 16

, Bismarck (North Dakota) Tribune

September 15

, Page 1, Winona (Minnesota) Daily News

September 9

, Page 1, Red Wing (Minnesota) Republican Eagle

September 1

Augsburg launches “River Semester” on Mississippi, KSTP(ABC) TV
, Minnesota Public Radio
, Page 1, Pioneer Press
Gallery: Nation’s first-ever River Semester, Star Tribune
, including of the story by the Associated Press that was shared by print and broadcast media outlets��in Indiana, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

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