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National Aviation Month is a time to celebrate pioneers who helped shape this field. Among these is Amelia Earhart, a trailblazing pilot, whose adventurous spirit and numerous achievements continue to inspire people around the world. Earhart not only set numerous flying records but also paved the way for women in a male-dominated field. Her legacy remains one of courage, determination, and advocacy for equality.

Earhart’s interest in flying began in 1920, at the age of 23, when she had her first airplane ride while living in California. This inspired her to take flying lessons and within two years she had her pilot’s license and owned her own small plane. She then moved to Massachusetts where she worked as a social worker with immigrants in Boston while continuing to pursue her flying career. 

Earhart gained notoriety in when she was chosen to be a passenger on a transatlantic flight piloted by Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon, making her  the first woman to cross the Atlantic in a plane. This was just the beginning of her aviation achievements. In 1931 she flew to the record-setting altitude of 18,415 feet. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. For this feat she was awarded, among other honors, the Army Air Corps Distinguished Flying Cross and an Honorary Membership in the British Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators. Later in 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo and nonstop across the United States. In 1935 she became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific and thus also the first person to fly over both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Earhart spoke extensively about her flying adventures and also wrote several books. 

Beyond her flying achievements, Earhart was an advocate for women’s equality. Recognizing the lack of support and resources for women pilots, she co-founded the Ninety-Nines, an organization dedicated to promoting women in aviation; she served as its first president. Additionally, as a visiting professor at Purdue University, she encouraged women to pursue careers in engineering and science, empowering them to envision new opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields. 

By 1936, the one aviation achievement she had not yet achieved was flying around the world, so she began to make plans to do so. She stated, “I have a feeling that there is just about one more good flight left in my system, and I hope this trip is it. Anyway, when I have finished this job, I mean to give up long-distance ‘stunt’ flying.” Earhart began the 29,000-mile journey in 1937 with her navigator, Fred Noonan. 

They had covered nearly 22,000 miles when they reached New Guinea. Their next stop was Howland Island, but on the way she and Noonan disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. The Itasca, a US Coast Guard cutter near Howland Island, received a radio transmission on July 2, “KHAQQ calling Itasca. We must be on you but cannot see you... gas is running low...” The Itasca eventually lost contact and began search operations. Despite an extensive search, the plane was never found. It is generally presumed they ran out of fuel, crashed into the ocean, and died near Howland Island. 

The mystery of Earhart’s disappearance continues to capture the imagination of explorers. In January, Deep Sea Vision, a South Carolina-based team, said it had captured a sonar image in the Pacific Ocean that “appears to be Earhart’s Lockheed 10-E Electra” aircraft. However, earlier this month the team was able to do more extensive scans and discovered what they found was a rock formation. So while the mystery of her death remains, the more important story is not how she died, but how she lived.

To learn more about Amelia Earhart and aviation history, please check out these books and visit the books display on the fourth floor. 

November is National Native American Heritage Month. For this week’s blog we welcome guest writer, Dr. Susan Stone, Professor of English. 

Indigenous people have lived in what we now call North America for over 20,000 years. Currently,  there are 574 federally recognized tribes, each with their own unique language and customs, and Native Americans made up 3% of the US population in the 2022 census. Although this number is significant, it could have been much larger if Europeans hadn’t arrived in the 15^th century. It is estimated that almost 95% of the millions of Indigenous people living in North America perished from diseases like smallpox and the measles as well as forced displacement and warfare, within the first few decades of contact. Despite the immense challenges they faced, Indigenous people preserved their histories and cultures through storytelling, passing down their heritage for generations. 

This was complicated, however, by the lack of written indigenous languages, which made recording history and sharing stories among tribes and with colonists difficult. Still in 1809, a Cherokee man named Sequoyah (George Guess) became the first Native American to begin working on a writing system for his nation’s language. He called this project the “Talking Leaves.” A monumental undertaking, especially considering that he couldn’t read or write, it took Sequoyah and his daughter Ayoka over a decade to complete the Cherokee Syllabary, an innovative syllable-based writing system still used today. Today, Cherokee and Navajo, which was used by the Code Talkers in WWII to help win the war, are the two most popular spoken and written native languages.  With written languages, the legacy of indigenous storytelling has taken on new dimensions.

Over the last two centuries, hundreds of Native American authors have shared stories orally and written prolifically and provocatively in English and in multiple classical genres—poetry, short fiction, novels, drama, etc. In the last 50 years or so as part of the Native American Renaissance first and second waves, they have woven decidedly Indigenous and tribal topics, themes, and forms into their story telling, creating hybrid works like Cherokee/Kiowa Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday’s multi-voiced (tribal, academic, personal, and mythical) and hand-illustrated The Way to Rainy Mountain (1969) and Chippewa writer Louise Erdrich’s critically acclaimed, multigenerational Love Medicine (1984), a text that can be read either as a whole novel or a collection of, stand-alone short stories. Ceremony (1977), by Leslie Marmon Silko (Laguna Pueblo), places the oral traditions and ceremonial practices of the Navajo and Pueblo people at the center of her story, and Tommy Orange’s Pulitzer-nominated debut novel There There (2018) is a polyphonic, puzzle-like text that focuses on the lives of a dozen people—some Indigenous, some not—who are brought together at an urban pow-wow in Oakland, California. In this extremely popular work, Orange blends elements of his Cheyenne and Arapaho heritage with social, historical, and cultural issues that confront both urban Natives and those living on reservations. 

In addition to the above texts, there is a wonderful emergence of creative Native American authored and illustrated texts for children and young adults. Since 2006 the biennial American Indian Youth Literature Award celebrates the best in children's and young adult literature by and about Native Americans, showcasing authentic and engaging stories that reflect Indigenous experiences. Many of these award winners and honors can currently be found as part of the book display on the first floor of the Library including: Berry Song, written and Illustrated by Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation); We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell (Cherokee); Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians); and Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee). 

Native American Heritage Month was created not only to commemorate a rich, multitribal ancestry and heritage but also to recognize the current achievements and goals of modern tribes and their diverse stories, traditions, identities, governments, and lives on and off reservations. Native Americans are a present tense, forward-looking people. Native American Heritage Month reminds us to honor the resilience, creativity, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities, whose voices continue to enrich and deepen our collective understanding. This November, let us celebrate by engaging with these stories that bridge past, present, and future.

American democracy is rooted in the principles of liberty, equality, and justice. Election Day is a cornerstone of this democracy, a day when citizens across the country exercise their right to vote and help shape the future of the nation. This day captures one of the most important principles of democracy – the belief that government should be responsive to the will of its people. 

Despite its foundational principles, they have not always been the reality for all Americans. Many groups have been excluded from the democratic process and denied the right to vote. It has taken decades for our democracy to expand, extending voting rights to people of color, women, and younger citizens. The ability of the nation to adapt, address inequalities, and include more voices speaks to the enduring strength of this democracy.

Voting is only one part of the democratic process, however. Civic engagement also includes engaging in activities that hold elected officials accountable and push for change on issues that matter to communities. This can mean attending public meetings, joining protests to advocate for justice or policy reform, and writing to elected representatives. Citizens can engage as well by organizing grassroots campaigns, raising awareness on social media, or volunteering for causes important to them. Running for office – whether  local, state, or national – is another option for those who want to take on a  more direct role.

A healthy democracy also requires informed and active citizens. Check out our  Elections & Voting guide for links to numerous resources to help you stay informed. Take advantage of our databases like US Newsstream and the New York Times Digital Edition for access to news. Finally, check out our Democracy book display on the main floor of the Library. 

October, Raptor Awareness Month, is a time to celebrate, learn about, and promote the protection of birds of prey. Raptors—such as hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, and vultures—are known for their keen eyesight, sharp talons, powerful beaks, and soaring flight. 

Raptors are vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems. As birds of prey they help with controlling populations of smaller animals like rodents, birds, and even insects, preventing overpopulation and resource depletion. They also can serve as indicators of ecosystem health, with declines in their numbers signaling environmental issues like pollution or habitat loss. Scavenging raptors, such as vultures, help clean up the environment by feeding on carrion, preventing the spread of disease and promoting faster decomposition. Other raptors can help farmers by naturally controlling rodent pest populations, reducing the need for harmful pesticides. Additionally, they hold cultural and spiritual significance for many.

Despite their importance, many raptor species are in danger due to various human-induced threats. Habitat loss from deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion reduces their hunting and nesting areas. Pesticides, particularly those that accumulate in the food chain, can poison raptors, leading to health and reproductive issues and even death. Collisions with human-made structures like power lines, wind turbines, and vehicles also pose risks. Illegal hunting and the capture of raptors for the pet trade further endanger these birds. Climate change is another growing threat, altering habitats and affecting prey availability.

Raptor Awareness Month is an opportunity to take action and protect these vital birds. Conservation efforts, including habitat restoration, banning harmful pesticides, and supporting raptor rehabilitation centers, are essential to their survival. Educating the public about raptors’ ecological importance can foster greater appreciation and encourage responsible actions to safeguard their future. For more information on raptors, please visit the book display on the fourth floor of the Library. 

Begun in 2009 by Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, John Hope Bryant, and Pekka Himanen, Global Dignity Day seeks to move beyond what divides the world in order to recognize every person’s inherent value and humanity. It began with a small workshop in Switzerland and has since grown into a global initiative with participants from over 80 countries, reaching more than 3 million people through events, workshops, and learning experiences​.

Global Dignity Day promotes the idea that dignity is both an inherent quality but also a shared responsibility. Dignity is a universal human right that transcends borders, cultures, and religions. We each deserve to be treated respectfully, and we also have the duty to uphold the dignity of others. On Global Dignity Day, events across the world encourage people to explore and express what dignity means to them. They create opportunities for individuals to share their personal stories of dignity, reflect on how their actions affect others, and commit to making positive changes in their own lives and communities. Global Dignity Day is not only a celebration of human worth but also a call to action for people to contribute to a more inclusive and respectful world.

To learn more about human dignity, please visit the book display on the third floor of the Library. 

For this week’s blog on Brain Health Awareness Week, we welcome guest writer, Italee Castellon, Loras College Counselor. In addition to the great events discussed below, be sure to visit the book display on the Library’s main floor.

In 1990, after urging by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Congress passed a joint resolution to make the first full week in October Mental Illness Awareness Week. This week also encompasses  World Mental Health Day, on October 10. At Loras we celebrate this week as “Brain Health Awareness Week” since mental health is inherently brain health. Our brain is an incredibly powerful organ that is in control of so many important features of the body and self, including how we think, move, behave, experience sensations, and overall well-being. Everything that the brain is responsible for – mental and physical – is a part of brain health.

Being able to maintain good brain health is essential to overall wellness. Brain health conditions and mental health diagnoses are common, manageable, and treatable. According to Mental Health America’s 2024 Outreach Toolkit, 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health condition in any given year and about half of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their lives. Many times, the symptoms begin to appear after the age of fourteen and especially pop up in late adolescence or early adulthood. 

The focus of Brain Health Awareness Week at Loras is education on brain health, encouraging and enabling people with healthy coping strategies, and contributing to destigmatization in the community. The public’s knowledge and understanding of brain health has moved in a more positive direction over the last 20 years; it is our duty to continue the spread the kindness, hope, and understanding for all Duhawks. Here are just some of the events that you are invited to participate in during this week:

• Vision Board Night (October 8, 6-8 pm, MARC 3^rd Floor Commons): Join the Art Club and Counseling Center for a night of creativity as you get the opportunity to bring your personal vision board to life! 
• Brain Health Screening (October 9, 1-3pm, ACC Health Center Lobby): Drop in and meet individually with a Loras counselor for a free and confidential 10-minute brain health screening. Similar to a physical wellness check, this brief mental wellness check will help you assess and gain insight into your mental well-being.
• Party on the MARC Lawn: (October 11, 1:30-3:30pm): Join Counseling Services and organizations across campus for an afternoon of fun, food, and fall festivities to help us stay positive and mentally healthy!

Latin American Heritage Month, celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15, is a time to celebrate the vibrant cultures, histories, and contributions of Latin American communities. The Pura Belpré Award for children’s and young adult literature aligns well with these goals. The award, established in 1996, honors authors and illustrators who portray and celebrate the richness the Latin American culture. 

The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in the New York City public library system. She was known for her dedication to storytelling, cultural preservation, and advocating for bilingual literature in libraries. She was also an author as well as a collector and translator of folk tales, including her first story, Pérez and Martina, a tragic love story between a cockroach and a mouse. Both her library and literary work laid the foundation for a growing appreciation of the importance of cultural representation in books for young readers. 

At its heart, Latin American Heritage Month is a celebration of unity in diversity. This is true also of the Belpré award. By uplifting works that reflect the multifaceted experiences of members of Latin American communities, the award ensures that children see themselves, their culture, and their heritage represented in the books they read, while also building empathy and understanding among readers of all backgrounds. For a sampling of Belpré award winners and honors, please check out the book display on the Library’s first floor.

Banned Books Week began in 1982 in response to a surge in the number of book challenges – that is, attempts by a person or group to remove or restrict certain titles from a curriculum or library collection. For over forty years, this week has served as an annual celebration of the freedom to read. The week also helps raise awareness about banned and challenged books and supports those who have faced adversity for writing, sharing, or reading these works. 

Perhaps the simplest way to commemorate Banned Books Week is to read a challenged or banned book. The American Library Association (ALA) has lists of the top 100 most challenged books per decade and a sampling of these are on display on the Library’s fourth floor. This year also offers the unique opportunity of attending the dedication of Dubuque’s new banned books mural, The Forbidden Bookshelf. This event has been planned by one of Loras’ Honors Program groups. 

What began as a general interest in the impact of public art and then more specifically in the murals in Dubuque, eventually led the honors group to reach out Sam Mulgrew, president of Humanities Iowa and one of the five directors of Voices Productions. Since 2016, Voices Productions has helped create almost 50 murals in and around Dubuque. Mulgrew expressed interest in working with the honors group on a banned book mural and they jumped at the chance. The group agreed on the importance of highlighting this issue, especially given the great increase in book challenges around the country in the last few years. 

The honors group has worked to help secure other community partners, specifically the Multicultural Family Center, River Lights Bookstore, Carnegie-Stout Public Library, and Dubuque Jaycees – the Jaycees building at 890 Iowa St. will be the location of the mural. The group has also helped plan the dedication of the mural on Wednesday, September 25 from 6-8pm which will include a presentation at 7pm by Steven Drahozal, an Iowa State Public Defender and first amendment advocate, called Banned Books: Lessons from Law and Literature. Following the mural dedication the honors group will turn its attention to hosting banned book book clubs throughout Dubuque. Look for information on the first one to be held at the end of October at River Lights Bookstore. 

The importance of this mural project has been recognized by the National Academy of Design which has awarded Voices Studios, The Abby Mural Prize, for its role to serve as a catalyst for cultural conversations that propel society forward. This seems particularly fitting given that this project supports literary artists doing the same thing. As Judith Krug, inaugural director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, stated, “People don’t challenge materials that don’t say something to the reader. If you look over the materials that have been challenged and banned over the years, they are the materials that speak to the condition of the human being, that try to illuminate the issues and concerns that affect human beings. They’re books that say something, and they’re books that have meaning to the reader. Innocuous materials are never challenged.”

The National Constitution Center’s annual Constitution Day celebration is the biggest Constitution Day celebration in the country—and a great way to kick off the academic year! On September 17, 1787, the framers signed the most influential document in American history, the U.S. Constitution. Every year, the National Constitution Center commemorates that historic occasion.

The Loras College Library is celebrating by giving away free pocket constitutions. Stop by the library service desk to pick up your copy!

Beginning with the words “We the People,” the U.S. Constitution is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.

Want to learn more?

In the National Constitution Center's Interactive Constitution, learn about the text, history, and meaning of the U.S. Constitution from leading scholars of diverse legal and philosophical perspectives.