A DJS Journey

What can Music Do? In my class Music History II our professor asked our class at the beginning of the semester the questions of “what can music do?” To help the world and all of the horrible and awful things that happen, how can we offer a balm or what resources do we have as musicians to help. How can we use music in a vocational way. It has been the theme of our class.  I have been thinking about it all semester and will probably keep thinking about it for the rest of my life. I have thought about how listening to music can provide a refuge for people, how teaching music to someone can help them have an emotional outlet or a source of joy. Music can be used for therapy. What struck me most is how music is used to make political statements. Nationalist composers would compose to make a statement for freedom. Germany and Italy they used music to fight for unification of the states. Even in America our pop songs can have a political message. I am not sure how I wil...

Two Diversity Center Alumni, Andrew Larsen ('15) and Troy Andrade ('07) were honored this year with Distinguished Pacific Lutheran University Alumni Awards. For his potential for a lifelong commitment to the university and alumni association, Andrew Larsen received the Brian C. Olson Student Leadership Award Andrew Larsen was an Anthropology and Religion double major and Political Science minor from Helena, Montana. Larsen was accomplished in and out of the classroom during his time at PLU. During his time on campus Andrew participated in a wide range of activities including Athletics, Associated Students of PLU, The Diversity Center, Student Involvement and Leadership, Residential Life, Campus Ministry, Office of Admission, Wild Hope Center for Vocation, Office of the President and the Academic Assistance Center. For all of these activities he served in a leadership role and showed his propensity to mentor and support the next generation of Lutes. His accomplishm...