Wartburg Student Senate members Carl Hoeg, Travis Bockenstedt, Trevor Carolan, Abhay Nadipuram, and Thomas Wininger lead the crowd of students on a march to President Hamm's early this morning. Photo by Amanda Gahler
JACKIE ALBRECHT NEWS EDITOR
The morning started earlier than normal at Wartburg College when a winter Outfly was officially declared after more than 1,000 students marched to Interim President William Hamm’s house.
Students were awakened this morning by senators and orientation staff members around 5:45 a.m.
Students gathered on Clinton field before marching to Hamm’s house.
Student Body President Travis Bockenstedt gave a charge to members of the student body on Clinton field.
“This is an Outfly for a cause. Every man and woman is a sovereign individual with the right to have their voices heard. This is a foundation of our ideals of freedom and democracy in the United States. It is essential that we are included in the decisions that affect our lives everyday,” Bockenstedt said.
The senate executive team led the march to the president’s house at 6:30 a.m.
Once at Hamm’s house, students began chanting for Hamm to come out of his house. After 10 minutes, Hamm opened the front door of his house. He made a few comments to the student marchers.
“So, if you want to have Outfly, I guess you don’t go to class and today’s Outfly. … As an alum I am sympathetic, but I’m probably going to have a crowd here tomorrow morning at 6:30,” Hamm said.
Hamm did warn that student having tests or presentations should attend classes.
In a press release to faculty, Student Senate asked faculty to not have reprisals for students who do not attend class.
“This effort is a spirited expression of our faith and learning. In doing so, we are demonstrating the very efforts you [as faculty] have asked of us so many times by making our communities better through public action,” the faculty press release said.
Bockenstedt then made additional comments to the crowd of students.
“This is a time in our institution when we need to stay together. This is a time in our instituion when we’re changing, still becoming. … We care for this institution,” Bockenstedt said.
Other activities are set to occur throughout the day. There will be two service projects held in the morning. One activity will help cleanup a local playground, while the second activity will help with flood relief efforts at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
There will be a cook-out starting at 11 a.m. on Clinton field. The cost is $2 for students to attend.