I love pastrami on rye. There is no better place to get one than a kosher deli. Should you be frequenting a kosher deli with me, that is exactly what I would tell you to order.

You certainty would not order a ham-and-swiss. That would be ridiculous since Jewish dietary laws forbid the consumption of pork.

But what if the government, as part of the “Affordable Sandwich Act,” mandated that all kosher delis also were required to have ham-and-swiss sandwiches on the menu? This mandate would be unfair and unconstitutional as it is a blatant prohibition of the “free exercise” of religion as barred by the First Amendment.

The government and those supporting the Affordable Sandwich Act would argue: “The Jewish deli workers do not have to eat the sandwich. They just have to make sure that if a customer wants a ham and swiss, they can get one.” They would use statistics and polling to say that “Most kosher deli workers feel the Jewish teaching on pork is wrong and 98 percent of Jewish deli workers eat pork anyway.” These supporters feel they have the power to restrict religious liberty because it is popular.

The Obama Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services are doing just that to Catholic hospitals, charities and universities — including Loras College — barring religious liberty because they think popular opinion gives them license. In a White House press conference Friday, President Obama conjured a slight offhand policy trick, allowing employees of faith-based institutions to contact the health care company through which their employer provides health care and ask that contraceptives be added to their plan.

This results in the same end as before, only through different means. This is the equivalent of our kosher deli owner having his supplier make the ham and swiss sandwiches, yet still selling them out of their storefront: an activity that is still offends the religious beliefs of the proprietor.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services is still enforcing its mandate on health insurance companies to provide sterilization and contraception, assaulting the conscience and the rights of employers while also putting taxpayers at risk. Mr. Obama’s assault on religious liberty continues.

The actions of the Obama Administration and the HHS endanger not only Catholics, but also people of all faiths. It would seem the greatest form of ecumenism is a common threat because Protestant Christians, Orthodox Christians, and Orthodox Jewish groups all recognize the mandate as a threat to their religious liberty.

If people of faith lose their ability to practice their religion freely, Americans lose the evolution of their identity. For hundreds of years, believers have come to America seeking freedom from persecution and the right to worship as they please. Their religion, so engrained in their culture, has helped paint the picture of the America we see today. The Obama Administration’s blatantly unconstitutional mandate is a direct and serious threat to that masterpiece.

Three years, $5 trillion in deficit spending, and now an assault to the Constitution later, Mr. Obama continues to leave the American people in want of hope.

Last Saturday the Five Flags Center in Dubuque hosted a Native American culture event. The free event opened to the public at 7:00pm and lasted an hour. The night included storytelling, education on true Native American traditions, and various forms of dancing and song. Brian Hamill, a two time Hoop Dancing World Champion, put on a particularly spectacular performance for the audience. “When I have a good crowd that you can feel the positive energy it’s just a feeling that can’t be beat by anything, it’s just amazing.”, Hamill said.  Hamill loves to perform but he hopes that audiences will take away a greater message from his performance. “It’s cultural diversity, unity through diversity, the more you share, the more you open up, the more people see that there are different things and you can embrace different cultures.” With the applause throughout the night, it was clear Dubuque appreciated the effort.

 

Khalil Gibran once said, “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” Alejandro Pino, the former director of the Intercultural Programs Office at Loras College, is known as a truly giving person to anyone who has worked closely with him. After serving for more than 10 years in different positions at Loras, Alejandro bade farewell to this community as he turns a new chapter in his life. His official service to Loras ended on Oct. 17th this year, but he leaves a lasting impression on students and colleagues he worked with.

Alejandro Pino (’99) began his career at Loras shortly after his graduation, serving as an Admissions Counselor/International Recruiter. He also served as the head coach of varsity tennis during that time. In 2006, he was appointed to the Director of Intercultural Programs. While in this position, Alejandro expanded the multicultural experience of the Loras community through various programs and events. The intercultural Programs play a big role in providing support for the students of different cultural backgrounds, especially the international students. In that regard, Alejandro served as a guardian to these students helping them through their transitions and every aspect of college experience. Students commend him of the huge impact he has made in their college career. Reflecting on her experience with Alejandro, Maria Jimena Gonzalez (’09), from Colombia said, “Alejandro provided unconditional support and guidance during my four years at Loras. His lessons contributed to my personal growth and certainly helped shape who I am today.” On a similar note senior Nang T. Khai from Burma said, “quite frankly, my years at Loras would have been very difficult and perhaps impossible without his friendship, help and guidance.”

Alejandro also served as the advisor for the Loras Intercultural Student Association (LISA). Under his guidance LISA flourished as an organization promoting the cultural diversity at Loras and the surrounding community. Sergio Perez, a junior and current president of LISA said, “Working with Alejandro was like working with a family member. He was always able to straighten me out and guide me to the right direction.” Junior Meghan Delaney reflected, “Alejandro was a great mentor for me and I am sad to see him go.”

Besides the close relationships with the students, Alejandro is admired by his colleagues for his character. Cindy Behnke, the office coordinator for intercultural programs said, “Alejandro was a true mentor, co-worker, and friend.” She added, “he had a unique sense of humor, and he always had a warm smile on his face for anyone who entered the Intercultural Office.” Art Sunleaf, the Dean of Students at Loras admired Alejandro as “a good colleague and a friend.” He further added, “While serving as the director of Intercultural Programs he put the student experience first.  Additionally he looked for ways to broaden our students’ experience along with that of the community.”

Alejandro expanded his advocacy of diversity and multicultural experience at Loras as he served on the Catholic Identity and Diversity committees and initiated the civil discourse initiative known as “DuTalk.” Dr. Kristen Anderson-Bricker, professor of history, who worked with Alejandro in teams in many initiatives at Loras commented, “I will miss his creativity, wisdom, accessibility, sage advice, work ethic and friendship.”

Alejandro’s service to the Dubuque community accentuates his passion for civic associations. He established an educational outreach opportunity with the Dubuque Community Schools, the Multicultural Family Center, and area businesses to broaden the scope of International and Multicultural issues in the Dubuque area. Recently, he was also appointed by the Governor to the Latino Affairs Commission.

Alejandro lives with his wife and two young children in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It had been quite difficult for him to balance the demands of the young growing family with not only work but a lengthy commute. For that reason, Alejandro had to terminate his service to Loras College. He continues to serve others at Premiere Staffing in the Cedar Rapids area. Alejandro has left a permanent impression of goodness at Loras. As Meghan Delaney points out, “he will be greatly missed, but I know that he will continue to be there for me and the other students even while not physically here at Loras.”

 

Alejandro Pino’s farewell

“As I reflect back at my Loras College experience, I take with me some life altering lessons and powerful experiences. I worked alongside some amazing people that have chosen to work at Loras for the student and only the student…this is very humbling. I have met students from all backgrounds that have brought with them extraordinary stories and life experiences…some that affected the way I view the world. Needless to say, my Loras College experience will not be forgotten today and always. Our students are some of the best this world has to offer and the world will be a better place when they graduate from Loras. I thank you for choosing to attend Loras and challenge you to remain committed to impacting this world in a positive way.You are all terribly missed and appreciated.”

Students, alums and local community members gathered Sunday to enjoy meals from around the world that was prepared by the members of LISA (Loras International Student Association).

“This was an opportunity for people to get to know each other,” said LISA president Sergio Perez. “Sharing a meal between different cultures builds relationships between people of different backgrounds. LISA strives to provide opportunities for people to share intercultural experiences.”

With more than 30 dishes representing foods from 10 countries, those at the International Dinner enjoyed dishes such as pollo saltado from Peru, chicken curry from Nepal and sushi from Japan.

The guests were impressed by the quality and variety of the dishes. Ali Said, Arabic-studies professor, said the dinner was “wonderful — bringing people together over food.”

“The food is great, (and) speaks volumes on Loras’ effort to integrate their students,” added Hakeem Mahdi, a teacher and a representative for the Islamic Center.

The students who made the food had “a great opportunity to share their culture with others,” said sophomore Alejandro Cosmopolis, who made the popular pollo saltado.

This year’s dinner introduced an element of competition. Students said they had fun decorating and cooking with the help of Aramark, and, in some of the cases, even relatives.

“It’s terrific to see how (the dinner) has grown,” said Dr. John Eby, associate professor of history and director of the honors program. “I’m always impressed by the time students invest into it. This expresses Loras’ ethnic hospitality.”

T

o interconnect in today’s world, students must learn to appreciate other cultures and develop the skills necessary to live effectively in a global environment. The versatility and complexity of computers has fascinated me ever since my childhood and at the root of my desire to pursue a career in computer science, in the summer of 2010 I flew to the United States to expand my educational experience.

Embracing this international learning opportunity, I got a chance to experience the diversity of community, thought, and culture in a global environment. It was my first time leaving Nepal, and I found myself in a first world country. The United States has a well-developed infrastructure, high productivity, and automobiles play a great role in American culture. Being one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, about half of Americans today live in what is known as the suburbs.

I was born, raised, and still live in the same middle class Nepalese society. My house is in a village where people have time; time to play in the river, to sit in a circle laughing, to spend time with families who deeply respect their elders and love their children. Although it is one of the world’s least developed and poorest countries, Nepal defers from other poverty stricken areas due to its wealth of natural resources. This causes many people to be farmers; providing them with food, shelter, and irrigation. Much of the country has no electricity, even the major city Kathmandu experiences 14 hours of forced blackouts every day. At times, food and family are all we have. We do not own the latest amenities and children do not beg for the newest toys. Children play with broken tires and imagination. We do not really know what BMWs are, but we do know “Namaste”- one warm and welcoming word which means “I bow to the common spiritual divinity in you, I know that place in you in which the entire universe dwells, I know that place in you which is of love, of truth, of light and of peace. When you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, we are One”.

I would like to redress the nation’s ill, and uplift the living standards of people living there. The majority of people in Nepal do not even have a job and those lucky enough to find one make an average of less than a dollar a day. In such a situation, the character and morality of the nation suffers.

One reason for the vast amount of people looking for employment is the large scale migration from villages to town and from towns to foreign land. I would attempt to make village life satisfactory and attractive enough so that villagers would not want to seek their fortunes in cities. As there are lots of applications in the field of computers, I could bring new technologies which would provide employment opportunities.

I believe I will make a difference in the world through my dedication for making Nepal a better place to live because I wake up each day with a renewed sense of purpose, an eagerness to learn, and a strong belief that I would achieve my ultimate goal.

The essay won the 2011 LewerMark Scholarship held by Lewer Agency. 

Did you know that “hooley” is Irish slang for “party”?  You learn something new every day!  “Hooley” typically implies a lively party with loud, Celtic music and a lot of dancing.  Which is just what was happening in the ACC ballroom on the evening of March 4— food, drink, dancing, and music—a party!  Many people who have lived in the Dubuque area may be familiar with the Irish Hooley event which comes to town every fall and brings with it a weekend of Irish food, Celtic music, the drinking of heavy beer, and a festive time had by all. Last Friday Loras was hit with the first annual hooley of its own (minus the beer part of course).

Sponsored by LISA, Loras’ first Hooley celebration was a festive occasion to say the least.  The ballrooms were decked out with green balloons and streamers as well as having traditional Irish costumes and items on display.  The night began with a quick introduction by the evening’s MC, Meghan Delaney, who also led those in attendance in learning some Irish dance steps.  Delaney, who danced in the Irish style competitively for nine years, was aided by some other Loras ladies who have Irish dancing experience (you may remember them from last semester’s Rhythm of Unity cultural fiesta) who worked with the event’s attendees one by one to teach the steps.  The dancers began the evening by teaching their guests a well-known, traditional Irish dance and then moved them on to a routine which the girls choreographed themselves.  Entertainment for the night (besides the dancing) was provided by a three-piece, Celtic band.  The trio featured a fiddle, acoustic guitar, and a bodhran (a traditional Irish drum) played by Loras’ own Dr. John Eby of the history department.

However, there was much more to this night than just a good time of dancing and listening to music.  Normally this time of year conjures up thoughts of Ireland in the minds of Americans, but what kind of images does it conjure?  Shamrocks, corned beef and cabbage, green beer, and leprechauns?  Then it disappears from our consciousness until next March.  This seems like a somewhat limited and stereotyped vision of what is an extremely vibrant nation and culture.  As Delaney tells it, this event was about much more than St. Patty’s day, it was simply (as so many of LISA’s events are) about diversity.  Although there are many students on campus who identify their heritage as some or fully Irish, it is often hard to express or share this culture in a meaningful way to others; which is what this event aimed for.  Delaney explained the significance of Irish dance, how its moves and costumes are emulative of the history of Ireland, and how it connects people today to their Irish heritage in a physical way.