Friday, April 13, 2007

Guitarist Jankovic to perform April 14-15*

The passion of Latin American music will fill Figliulo Recital Hall when the Page Series presents classical guitarist Petar Jankovic April 14 and 15.

Jankovic is an artist who masterfully translates music into emotion. He connects with audiences and they find themselves moved. What is most appealing about Jankovic’s style is his genuine, expressive interpretation of any given composition. More than a classical guitar player, he is a person with the gift of communicating honest emotions of the human experience.
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Jankovic will perform six works during his concert by composers such as Isaac Albeniz, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Frederico Moreno-Torrobba, and will conclude the program with three tangos by Astor Piazzolla.

Jankovic’s expressive performances and a technical mastery found only among the world’s top musicians make it easy to understand why he has received overwhelming international acclaim. Since beginning his professional music career in 1985, he has delighted audiences at recitals and enlightened students in his master classes throughout Europe and the United States. As a performer at major competitions around the globe, his universally evocative sound has won high regard with the world’s classical music community, and as a result, Jankovic has garnered numerous prestigious awards.

Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. concert Saturday, April 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15, cost $12, $9 for senior citizens and $8 for students. Tickets are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays at the Performance Center box office, Ext. 1715.

Kabara round table event scheduled for April 13*

The Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies will present a round table discussion for students at 6 p.m. Friday, April 13, in the President’s Room of the Toner Student Center. Speaking will be Carolyn Parmer, wife of the late John Parmer ’50, and their son Raymond Parmer. They will speak to students about Cole-Parmer, a global source of laboratory and industrial fluid handling products, instrumentation, equipment and supplies.
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John Parmer and his partner, Jerry Cole, formed Cole-Parmer in 1955. At the time, there was no budget for personal salaries and no budget to hire additional employees. Instead, the pair poured their money into catalog advertising and inventory, and took up shop in a 1,200-square-foot loft on West Illinois Street in downtown Chicago. A true grassroots success story, the company’s ’07-’08 catalog featured 60,000 items, and headquarters are now a 269,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Vernon Hills, Ill.

This is a great opportunity for students from many different majors to hear about the entrepreneurial process. For information, contact Scott Deml at sdeml@smumn.edu.

Student History Research Symposium is April 21*

Dr. Peter Rachleff, professor of history at Macalester College in St. Paul

Seniors from four area universities will present the results of their historical research at the Student History Research Symposium on Saturday, April 21, at Saint Mary’s. The event — free and open to the public — is sponsored by the history departments of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Saint Mary’s University, Viterbo University and Winona State University.
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In addition to the student presenters, Dr. Peter Rachleff, professor of history at Macalester College in St. Paul, will highlight the value of historical thinking for citizens of a democracy in his presentation, “Comparing Freedom Movements: Lessons from the U.S. and South Africa.” Dr. Rachleff focuses his research and teaching on labor history and on the history of racism and the struggle against racial oppression. He recently contributed to the Science Museum of Minnesota’s on-going exhibit called “Race: Are we so different?”

Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University have co-sponsored a student research symposium for eight years. This year they welcome UW-La Crosse and Viterbo University into their collaboration. Each school asks senior history majors, and at Winona State, law and society majors, to write a senior thesis based on their original research of a historical question of their own choosing. In this way, the students actually do the work of historians, and in the process, deepen their research, writing and speaking skills.

All symposium sessions will be held on the third and fourth floors of Saint Mary’s Hall. The symposium opens at 9 a.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall (Room 332) with a short welcoming ceremony and coffee. At 9:15 a.m., students will present their research in concurrent sessions of three students each. At 10:15 a.m., a complimentary brunch will be served in the Common Room, followed by Dr. Rachleff’s talk at 10:30 a.m. A second session of concurrent panels will begin at 11:45 a.m.

For further information, contact Dr. Greg Gaut at Ext. 6944 or ggaut@smumn.edu.

Biology research symposium is April 20*

The Saint Mary’s University Biology Department and Biology Club will host the 34th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Biology on Friday, April 20, in the Toner Student Center.
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Undergraduates from Saint Mary’s and from Winona State University and Viterbo University will present the results of their undergraduate research projects. Registration is free and begins at 8 a.m. Presentations begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue until the 11:45 a.m. lunch break; presentations will continue from 2:15 to 4 p.m.

At 1:15 p.m., a DVD presentation featuring Dr. Charles Muscoplat, vice president for Statewide Strategic Resource Development and McKnight Presidential Leadership Chair, will be held in Figliulo Hall, located in the SMU Performance Center. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Dr. Muscoplat can no longer attend the symposium in person. His talk is titled: “Nutrigenomics: How the Chemicals and Genes in our Food Affect the Chemicals and Genes in our Body.”

The public is welcome to attend any of the presentations.

SMU physicist works on a mystery of the universe*

Father Paul Nienaber, S.J., is part of a collaboration of physicists who on Wednesday announced important first results from a major particle physics experiment.
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Nienaber, chair of the physics department at Saint Mary’s University, is one of 77 scientists from 17 institutions working for almost a decade on the MiniBooNE experiment at the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermilab in Batavia, Ill.

Using the Fermilab particle accelerator, Nienaber and his colleagues cleared up a long-standing puzzle involving different kinds of neutrinos and their properties. Neutrinos are tiny fundamental building blocks of the universe related to electrons.

A previous experiment had raised the tantalizing possibility that neutrino masses could be much larger than expected; the MiniBooNE result conclusively rules that out. “This is another part of the answer to the big question,” Nienaber said. “Why is the universe the way it is?”

Nienaber said researchers are “trying to understand how the universe came to be and how it works today. Once we understand nature at its smallest scale, we can make more intelligent guesses at what happens at the largest scale.”

For additional information, go to www.fnal.gov/pub/presspass/press_releases/BooNE-box.html

SMU students host Kids Carnival at the mall

Children can win prizes while raising money for a good cause during this year’s Kids Carnival Saturday, April 14, at the Winona Mall.

This event — sponsored annually by the Public Relations/Business Club of Saint Mary’s — will be held 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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Children ages 2 through 10 are invited to join the fun and games. Highlights include a fishing game, reading corner, basketball shoot and bucket ball toss, face painting, arts and crafts, and many other games. Children will earn a prize at every activity. Additionally, children will have the opportunity to meet the SMU Cardinal mascot “Big Red.”

A $1 donation is requested for a set of 10 tickets, and each game requires one ticket. All proceeds will be donated to Ready Set School, a community partnership that helps ensure that all Winona County children have the basic and necessary supplies and clothing for school. Every year more than 1,800 Winona County children lack these necessities.

Results announced from alcohol, drug survey

In 2006, Saint Mary’s University Student Health Services collaborated with the University of Minnesota to assess the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other drug use among our undergraduate students. Surveys were delivered in the spring of 2006 to 716 SMU students and from this pool, 207 surveys were returned, a response rate of 27.2 %. A response rate of 27.9 % is considered statistically significant.
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SMU Health Services and Counseling Services would like to share some of the findings from the 2006 assessment with the goal of inviting and encouraging broad support from the SMU community in improving academic success and the lives of our students. All University employees have a federal mandate and obligation (through the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act) to take an active role in helping to make Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota a safer, more productive, healthier, and law-abiding place to live, work, and play.

Alcohol Use

In the survey, 60.9 % of male students and 35.9% of female students reported high risk drinking within the two weeks prior to taking the survey. Among the underage students at SMU, 57.9% of men and 31% of women reported high risk drinking within the two weeks prior to the survey. High risk drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks at one time.
Negative consequences linked to students engaging in drinking and high risk drinking over the past year were reported as follows:

All students
Driving under the influence 21.3%
Taken advantage of sexually 11.6%
Missed class 28.2%
Poor test or project 19.8%

Non HRD
Driving under the influence 8.6%
Taken advantage of sexually 5.2%
Missed class 10.3%
Poor test or project 7.8%

HRD
Driving under the influence 37.8%
Taken advantage of sexually 20%
Missed class 50.6%
Poor test or project 34.4%

Although not a new problem nor a problem unique to Saint Mary’s University, high risk drinking and subsequent high risk behavior are not merely rites of passage for college students. The staff of SMU Health Services and Counseling Services believe that as Lasallian educators we all have an opportunity and responsibility to instill a sense of personal responsibility and a concern for the welfare of self and others, and to ignite a thirst for knowledge and a respect for legitimate authority in those students entrusted to our care.

Tobacco and Marijuana Use

In the surveys, 1.5 % of SMU students reported daily tobacco use compared with 10.6 % nationally. Among SMU students, 13.7 % reported smoking tobacco within 30 days of taking the survey, while nationally the percentage of students reporting smoking tobacco within 30 days is much higher at 31.5 %. Of students who labeled themselves tobacco smokers, 71.4 % of SMU students reported trying to quit within the twelve months prior to the survey.
Marijuana use within twelve months was reported by 18.1 % of SMU students, with 7. 5 % reporting use within 30 days of the survey. The rate for marijuana use among tobacco users was 29.6 % vs. 4.1 % among non-tobacco users. Other illicit drug use by tobacco users was reported by 29. 6 %, significantly higher than the 2.3 % reported by non-tobacco users. This data indicates that while tobacco use in general is low among SMU students, students who do use tobacco at SMU are also more likely to be engaging in illegal and dangerous drug consumption habits.

Points for consideration and reflection:

  • Recognizing the national, international, and statewide trends moving towards smoke free environments, is it time for Saint Mary’s University to go completely smoke-free?
  • As Lasallian educators, how can we have serious conversations about alcohol, tobacco, and drugs with individuals or groups of students? Is there a place within the classroom as well as outside the classroom to discuss these potentially life altering behaviors?
  • How can we discuss these issues with students in ways that lead to real behavior change?
  • Is it appropriate to articulate student responsibilities regarding alcohol, tobacco and drug consumption within syllabi and to have similar guidelines posted within classrooms and other common student meeting places?
  • What are appropriate responses to students who may come to class under the influence of alcohol or drugs? What are appropriate responses to students who may be present in faculty offices smelling of alcohol or marijuana?
  • What components of an alcohol and drug policy will contribute to a positive campus environment, healthy student lifestyles, and optimum academic performance.
  • In what ways should alcohol and drug policies be enforced?
As Student Development personnel review our educational efforts and policies regarding alcohol and other drug use and abuse, we strongly advocate a unified and consistent approach by the University in dealing with these issues. We invite members of the university community to share their opinions and come forward with suggestions that can be of benefit to all of our students.

Comments may be directed the following staff members:
Chris Kendall
Tim Gossen
Michael O’Friel
Ann Gibson
Angel Weisbrod
Ruth Mathews
Julie Buege

Taize Prayer Service on April 16

On Monday, April 16, there will be a Taize Prayer Service at Saint Mary of the Angels Chapel at 7:30 p.m. The chapel is located on the Saint Teresa campus; anyone needing a ride can contact the Office of Campus Ministry before 3 p.m. on Monday to sign up for transportation.

The Taize form of prayer originated in the Taize community in France, and is an ecumenical prayer service formed around song and silent prayer. All are welcome to join in this meditative and musical manner of prayer.

Senior art show to run April 15 through May 12*

SMU senior art students will present the next art show, “emergence” April 15 through May 12 at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries. Artists displaying will include Brytton Bjorngaard, Nicole Bohn, Anna Dehmer, Travis Hanson, Josh Kanuch, Dani Lynch, Jessica Ribish, Holly Schuh, Brian Stallone, Brian Stuck and Brittany Volz.

An opening reception will be held 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 15. The galleries — free and open to the public — are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.





"Great, Great Grampa Pier" a charcoal drawing by Jessica Ribish.










“Full Bloom” in clay by Brytton Bjorngaard.















“Santa Daddy,” a pen and ink work by Anna Dehmer.

Theatre Arts Department stages ‘Company’*

A 35-year-old die-hard bachelor will explore the pitfalls and the pleasures of relationships in the beloved musical “Company” April 20-23 at Page Theatre.

Under the direction of Judy Myers, the SMU Department of Theatre Arts will stage the abundantly quirky comedy, based on the book by George Furth and filled with an energetic score of Stephen Sondheim’s best-known songs including “Another Hundred People,” “Ladies Who Lunch,” and “Being Alive.”
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Set in New York, “Company” tells the story of five couples and their mutual friend Robert. Robert, turning 35 at the beginning of the show, seems to have everything: good looks, charm, and a great sense of humor. Nevertheless, he is still blissfully single.

In a series of vignettes presented through Robert’s eyes, we see the couples fight, argue, plan for divorce, and in the end, love each other. Robert begins to realize that being alone is not really being “alive” and that although relationships are rarely picture-perfect, life is better when there’s someone to share it with.

Kit Mayer serves as scenic designer, Janis Martin as costume designer and Walter Claassen as lighting designer.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday, April 20, 21 and 23. A matinee performance will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, April 22.

Tickets are $8, $6 for students and seniors, and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

SMU to host Above & Beyond reception May 9

Saint Mary’s Univrsity is hosting the Above and Beyond Awards Reception Wednesday, May 9, at the Alverna Center, located on the Saint Teresa campus. Other program sponsors are the Winona Daily News, Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical and Winona State University.
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The evening begins at 6:30 p.m., with presentation of awards and scholarships scheduled for 7 p.m. Invited are the nine area Above & Beyond high school winners, their families and high school officials, along with representatives from the community sponsors. Award winners typically have inspiring stories about overcoming obstacles.

Current SMU senior Justin Simmons, who is deaf and will graduate this spring, is the featured speaker.

Faculty Friday lunch presentations continue*

The Faculty Development Committee and the Office of the Center for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching are hosting a series of Friday lunches, during which members of our community will share their expertise and a snapshot of their professional lives. The speakers have recently returned from sabbatical experiences or have recently completed a terminal degree program.
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Lunches will be held in the faculty dining room. Go through the lunch line (at no cost to you). Presentations will run from 12:30 to 1 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer period. Come when you can; leave when you must. The schedule includes:

Today, April 13: Dan Bucknam — Age and Memory: Senior Moments for Remembering Emotions?

April 20 — Jane Anderson: Alternative to the course text + CD: Course CD + Reaction Notebook.

SMU to host daily web updates of trip to Japan

A contingent of Winona community members and students are traveling to Winona’s sister city, Misato, Japan, April 16-23.

Traveling to the East are 25 Winona middle and senior high school students, along with their parent/chaperones and WSHS assistant principal Kelly Sonsalla. Also attending are Winona City Councilman Tim Breza and WSHS parent Terrie Lueck, SMU director of conferencing and camps.
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Lueck will post live daily updates on a “Messages from Misato” website, located at www.smumn.edu/japan. Each day she will make a long distance call from Japan to Winona and leave messages, which can be heard on your computer or MP3 player. Also on the site are links to more information about Misato.

A group if Misato delegates visited Winona in March. The group was hosted by SMU, where they participated in a fun night filled with swimming, ice skating and basketball. They also visited the Minnesota Marine Art Museum and went to a Timberwolves game.

Check the website daily to experience this unique trip along with the group.

Richard to discuss ecofeminism in literature*

Holly Richard, director of the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women, will present “Heed Her Cry: The Paradox of Ecofeminism in Contemporary American Literature” Thursday, April 26, at Saint Mary’s University.

The event — free and open to the public — will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the President’s Room of the Toner Student Center. Refreshments will be served. The evening is sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. For more information, contact Dr. Carolyn Ayers at Ext. 1523 or cayers@smumn.edu.

Final Lasallian Hour to feature Brother Arnold*

Just a reminder that the final Lasallian Hour of this semester is today, April 13, in Room E of the Toner Student Center.

Social Time begins at 3 p.m. and will include beverages and snacks. The featured speaker:, Brother Arnold McMullen, will present at 3:30 p.m.

Buy, sell at upcoming campus flea market

A Saint Mary’s Flea Market will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 27, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28 in the plaza (or the Hall of Fame Room in case of inclement weather).

Students, staff and faculty are welcome to rent a table for $5 in the plaza to sell any unwanted stuff. The $5 will go toward a donation for local charities, and sellers can keep all their own profits.

For more information, contact Jake Olzen or Katie LaPlant, Ext. 6936.

High School Challenge face-off to air

On La Crosse’s Fox 25/48 last Sunday, Decorah defeated North Crawford 165-75 in the fourth quarter final game of High School Challenge, a tournament of knowledge sponsored by and held at Saint Mary’s. This win means Decorah will take on Holmen in the semi-finals.

Airing this Sunday, April 15, La Crosse Aquinas will take on Winona Senior High in the first semi-final game of High School Challenge. Tune in at 10 a.m. on Fox 25/48, to see which team will advance to the “Super Bowl.”

Faculty, staff service awards reception

A faculty and staff reception will be held Tuesday, April 17, at 4 p.m. in the Common Room to recognize the anniversaries of employees who have given service to Saint Mary’s. Refreshments will be served during the program.

Scholarship, legacy reception, dinner is April 14

On Saturday, April 14, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations will host its annual Scholarship and Lasallian Legacy Society Reception and Dinner. This event celebrates and acknowledges those who have established scholarships at Saint Mary’s and those who have included Saint Mary’s in their estate plans as members of the Lasallian Legacy Society. The dinner is also an opportunity for student scholarship recipients and benefactors to meet. A reception will take place at 5:30 p.m. with dinner following at 6 p.m. in the North Dining Room of the Toner Student Center.

For more information, contact Anne Morgan, director of gift planning, or Vickie Cada, director of Stewardship Services and Volunteer Management.

Senior Academic Honors Banquet is April 18

This is a reminder that the Senior Academic Honors Banquet will be held on Wednesday, April 18, beginning with a reception in the President’s Room at 6:30 p.m. Dinner and the awards program will follow at 7 p.m. in the North Dining Room. Seniors who have excelled in academics and leadership will be honored at this banquet.

Admission hosts Cotter juniors

The Admission Office had 90 Cotter High School juniors visit Wednesday for lunch and an afternoon tour. The students also visited Winona State University and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical on their tour of Winona higher education institutions. Representatives from all three schools presented a panel discussion in the Saint Cecelia Theatre on making college choices.

Admission to host Field of Dreams open house

The Office of Admission will host Preview Day 2007 on Saturday, April 28.

Preview Day is an open house for high school juniors interested in attending college. This year, high school seniors who have applied to SMU but have not visited campus are also invited.
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This year’s Preview Day is called “Field of Dreams,” and families are invited to watch the home baseball and softball games that afternoon.

Families will be arriving around 10 a.m. and have a schedule set until 1:30 p.m. All departments and offices are invited to have a booth during the open house from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the gymnasium. It will be run similarly to the Campus Resource Fair during New Student Orientation. This is a great way for your department/office to showcase its services and get to know prospective students who may be in mid-college decision.

If you would like to have a table at the open house in the gym, please RSVP with Sarah Kay (skay@smumn.edu or Ext. 1705) as soon as possible so she can reserve you a spot.

SMU hosts Laws of Life banquet April 18

Saint Mary’s, along with Merchants Bank, Barb and William Schuler, Junto Club and many other supporters, will host the Laws of Life Essay Contest Awards Banquet on Wednesday, April 18, at the Hiawatha Room, located on the Saint Teresa campus. This essay contest showcases the work of Cotter and Winona Senior High School ninth through 12th-graders. Students write about their moral ideals in this contest. Winners are awarded U.S. Bonds, cash and scholarships totaling more than $28,000.

An update from Nairobi*

From Father Michael Kirwen, director of the Maryknoll Institute for African Studies in Nairobi, Kenya:

“MIASMU hosted the end-of-semester celebration on Saturday, March 31, at Tangaza College. Students were required to hand in their final research integration papers, worth 60 percent of their final marks, on or before the closing day. Events included a faculty meeting, a students’ forum in which students and field assistants discussed various issues arising from the class lectures and field research experiences, and reports from lecturers to the student body on their various courses. The closing of the festivities was a banquet at the college canteen. “

Relay for Life auction fundraiser ends today

Saint Mary's University and Winona State University are co-sponsoring the fourth annual Relay for Life April 21-22 in the WSU Courtyard. This year’s theme is “A Night with the Stars.” Activities include live bands, theme laps, prizes, a silent auction, games and salsa lessons.
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All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to aid cancer research and help in the fight.

Several SMU student teams and one faculty/staff team have formed. If you are interested in joining the faculty/staff team, contact Jason Richter, Ext. 1648, or Laurie Erdmann, Ext. 1464.

Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event (though participants do not need to stay overnight) designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back against this disease. During the event, teams of people take turns walking or running laps. Each team keeps at least one team member on the track at all times. Go to www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=19055 for more information.

The silent auction fundraiser, featuring homemade/handmade arts and crafts, ends at 3 p.m. today in the Admission conference room. Get your bid in on your favorite items.

SMU hosts high school bands

SMU will host area rock bands Saturday, April 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the gymnasium. Cotter and Winona Senior High School bands will participate. Donation is $5 with proceeds going to the Winona Food Shelf. The event is sponsored by the Admission Office and the Office of Communication and Marketing. For more information, contact Bob Conover at Ext. 1496.

Batucada to perform as part of Earth Day*

Batucada Nossa Senhora will perform at WSU 3:15 p.m. April 21 as part of Earth Day celebrations. Students and community members make up Batucada Nossa Senhora (Percussion Ensemble of Our Lady) which performs a mix of African music with an emphasis on the Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban traditions. Directed by Denny McGuire, its repertoire includes folklorida and sacred music, as well as popular music set to traditional styles. Earth Day events will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the WSU courtyard. Speakers, exhibitors and educational activities for children and adults are included. The event will culminate with a procession of the species at 3:30 p.m.

Volunteer Committee events

A tentative schedule for future “Let’s Do Lunches” includes:

April 19 — “Let’s Do Lunch,” featuring a potato bar and hosted by the Education Department
May 18 — “Let’s Do Ice Cream”
June 22 — “Let’s Do Ice Cream”
July 20 — “Let’s Do Ice Cream”

The annual “Spruce Up Winona” day with WSU and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical has been set for Wednesday, April 25. Faculty, staff and students can volunteer from 1 to 3 p.m. or 3 to 5 p.m. Projects will include painting and school-yard cleanups. Contact Katie LaPlant at Ext. 6936 for more information.

Faculty, staff and students are joining together April 24 to clean up Gilmore Creek as part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource’s Adopt-a-River program.

Volunteers will clean a 2-mile stretch of the creek surrounding our campus. The cleanup will run from 3 to 6 p.m. Materials and instructions will be given out at 3 p.m. near the Information Desk. Please call Deb Nahrgang at Ext. 6966 or e-mail dnahrgan@smumn.edu and sign up. Please also specify which hours you will be able to work.

Gloves, bags and water will be provided. Please wear comfortable clothing that can get wet and dirty.

Jazz events*

The John Paulson Trio will perform 5:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays, April 13 and April 28, at Michael’s Restaurant in Rochester. The John Paulson/Larry Price Quartet will perform 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, April 21, at the Starlite Lounge in La Crosse, Wis.

Swing Inc., featuring John Paulson and Eric Heukeshoven, will perform 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, April 14, at the Starlite Lounge in La Crosse, Wis. and 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 20, at the Canadian Honker Restaurant in Rochester, Minn.

Heart and SOUL Row, Ride and Run Triathlon

The first Saint Mary’s Heart and SOUL Row, Ride and Run Triathlon will be held Sunday, April 29. The race will start at Lake Lodge, on East Lake in Winona, and will finish on the SMU campus.

Participants will row 2 miles, bike 14 miles and run 3.2 miles. Drawing for prizes will take place at the finish. For kayak and canoe rental information, contact the Office of Campus Ministry at Ext. 1643. Registration forms are available in the Office of Campus Ministry or online at smumn.edu/campusministry. All proceeds from the race will be used to fund future SOUL trips.

SMU students sleep outside to raise awareness

Saint Mary’s University students will sleep in cardboard boxes the night of Tuesday, April 17, during the annual shak-a-thon, part of Habitat for Humanity’s Act!Speak!Build! Week April 15-20.
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Act!Speak!Build! Week is Habitat for Humanity’s national week of advocacy. Saint Mary’s Habitat group has planned a full week of activities to raise awareness about the millions of people who do not have adequate shelter to sleep.

A prayer service will be held on campus after the 9 p.m. Mass Sunday at Saint Thomas More Chapel.

On Monday, a poster painting party will be held at 8 p.m. in Room E of the Toner Student Center. Posters will feature statistics about homelessness and will be hung around campus.

The shak-a-thon will begin at 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Plaza.

On Wednesday, a slideshow about Habitat for Humanity will be held before the 9 p.m. SAC movie.

On Thursday at 4:40 p.m., students will meet at the Info Desk to participate in the Walk to Rally with Winona State students. Participants will walk from the Winona State campus to the Winona Habitat office downtown to raise awareness about the need for affordable housing in Winona and the surrounding areas.

On Friday at 3:30 p.m., students will meet at the info desk to do a can collection fundraiser.

For more information, e-mail habitat@smumn.edu.

Student Senate elections announced

Elected into office for the 2007-2008 Student Senate Executive Board, are the following students.

President, John Freeman; vice president for academic affairs, Erin O’Keefe (first semester) and Lisa Mahler (second semester); vice president for financial affairs, Rick McCoy; vice president for social affairs, Ana Sontag; vice president for external affairs, Mary Gleich; vice president for campus life, Katie O’Connor; vice president for student life, Michael Alexander Downes-Borowski; vice president for media communications, D.J. Prideaux; and executive assistant, Julie Jergenson.

Nienaber presents on the use of Tegrity*

Father Paul Nienaber, Ph.D., assistant professor and chair of the Department of Physics, discussed Tegrity in the presentation, “Latest and Greatest or Just Latest? Pedagogical Technology in the Physics Classroom” on April 28 at the spring meeting of the Minnesota section of the American Association of Physics Teachers at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn.

Kirk gives piano recitals*

After performing two recitals for the Page Series at SMU in March, Dr. Ned Kirk, associate professor in the music department, gave a piano recital at the University of Chicago on March 29 and a masterclass and recital at Simpson University in California on April 3.

Kjorlien co-writes article about Tegrity*

Chad Kjorlien, director of instructional technology, co-wrote a Tegrity bulletin, “Mobile Learning Technology: Aligning Mission with Motivation,” that was published through Educause Center for Applied Research on April 10. The link to this article is: www.educause.edu/content.asp?page_id=666&ID=ERB0708&bhcp=1. Contact Kjorlien for the user name and password to view the bulletin. SMU is a subscribing organization. The ECAR research bulletin was announced to more than 10,000 individuals at more than 400 higher education institutions.

Piscitiello named to Chamber Board

Tony Piscitiello, vice president for admission, has been named to the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce Board.

SMU to support MOPS moms walk

On Saturday, April 28, MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) will hold its annual fun-filled community event called “The Great Moms Walk.”

The purpose of the walk is to raise MOPS awareness, gather new and potential moms, and impact the community with a highly visible family fun-filled event. Funds raised will provide much-needed support for women with young children.

Saint Mary’s is helping to sponsor this event; Mireya Gravert, Department of Chemistry, is an event organizer.

Congratulations to Korder, Sharrock-Mueller families

Congratulations to Korder, Sharrock-Mueller families

Jana Korder, program assistant for the Master of Education in Teaching and Learning program, and her husband Chris had a baby boy, Carson Andrew, on March 30.

Denise Sharrock-Mueller (PACC consultant) and Eric Mueller (adjunct faculty member) had a baby girl, Afton Ciaraa, on April 2.

The Saint Mary’s community congratulates the Korder and Sharrock-Mueller families.

Sympathy to Barber family

William Barber, father of Mark Barber (associate dean for Humanities and associate professor of philosophy) passed away April 10 in California. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Notes of condolence can be sent to:

The Barber Family
27492 Sievers Drive
Rushford, MN 55971

or

The Barber Family
Campus P.O. 70

The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to the Barber family.