SMU to review safety and security measures

In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy this week, Brother Chancellor Louis DeThomasis has asked for a review of the university's security plans and crisis communication capabilities. A Committee on Emergency Preparedness met Wednesday, April 18 to look at existing measures and to identify new ways to enhance safety and security at our campuses. The committee will meet again this spring to recommend action.
Read more.

Ann Merchlewitz, vice president and general counsel, and Chris Kendall, vice president for student development, will lead this committee on the Winona campus. On the Twin Cities campus, Jim Bedtke, vice president for graduate and professional programs, will work with appropriate staff to review safety protocols and precautions for that campus.

Suggestions from the community are welcome. For more information about the committee and links to our Emergency Response Plan, campus safety offices, and counseling office, go to the main website homepage, www.smumn.edu, and click on "Saint Mary's Safety and Emergency Preparedness."

Saint Teresa Institute celebration is Friday

The Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women End of Year Ceremony will be 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. today, April 20, in the President’s Room of the Toner Student Center. Faculty and staff are invited to attend.

Cardinal Athletic Council Kids Day is Sunday

The Cardinal Athletic Council will be hosting its first Kids Day on Sunday, April 22. The event will be held in the RAC from 1 to 4 p.m. with registration starting at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $10 for children in grades one through four. Children will participate in various athletic activities with Saint Mary’s athletes. Activities include basketball, hockey, soccer, volleyball, tennis, track and field, and baseball/softball stations. No equipment is necessary, and the children will receive a goodie bag including a T-shirt. For more information, contact Tony Guinn, Ext. 1583 or e-mail tguinn@smumn.edu.

Spring Psychology Symposium Thursday, April 26*

The Psychology Department, Psychology Club, and Psi Chi are sponsoring the Spring Psychology Symposium, Thursday, April 26, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., in Salvi Hall.

At 3:30 p.m., six students from the Research Methods and Statistics Laboratory course will informally present posters depicting their original research. At 4 p.m., three senior psychology majors will give formal oral presentations of the findings from their capstone research thesis projects.

Jazz concert April 27 to feature alumni combo*

John Paulson, Ph.D.

Saint Mary’s will present a celebratory evening of jazz 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, in Page Theatre. Included in the concert will be the 18-piece SMU Jazz Ensemble and an alumni select jazz combo, featuring the talents of some of SMU’s most outstanding graduates, under the direction of Dr. John Paulson.
Read more.

Dr. Paulson is celebrating his 25th anniversary with the SMU Department of Music.

Performing in the alumni combo will be Denny McGuire, Chris White, Brad Steine, Scott Gerry, Justin Bell, Brian Zirngible, Ben Young, Lynn Albee, Jennifer Welch, Justin Jenkins and Brandon Mathieus.

Alumni will also solo with the big band, which will perform, “I Hear a Rhapsody,” by Fragos, featuring a new arrangement by Dr. Paulson; “Lush Life” by Billy Strayhorn, arranged by Mike Tomaro; “Slam” by Dave Sanborn, arranged by Marcus Miller; “Tickle Toe” by Lester Young, arranged by Dave Wolpe; “Blues in the Closet” by Oscar Pettiford, arranged by Mark Taylor; and “They Still Have a Pad Downtown,” by Dr. Paulson.

Tickets are $6, $4 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. For further information, contact Dr. Paulson at Ext. 1596 or jpaulson@smumn.edu.

SMU choirs to present spring concert April 28*

The Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and Women’s Choir will present their annual spring concert 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, located at Wabasha and Vila streets.
Read more.

The beautiful former chapel for the College of Saint Teresa is a perfect visual and acoustic setting for choral music. The Concert Choir will perform “Three Scottish Folksongs,” arranged by Mack WiIberg and featuring SMU’s Dr. Ned Kirk and Dr. Jeffrey Highland on piano, “Funeral Music for Queen Mary” by Henry Purcell and “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel,” arranged by Moses Hogan.

The Chamber Singers will perform “Mass for Five Voices,” by William Byrd, “Beata Dei Genitrix Maria” by Francisco Guerrero, “Drei Rilkegesänge by Patrick O’Shea, “Crucifying” by Russell Woolen and “Hosanna to the Son of David” by Orlando Gibbon.

Both groups are under the direction of Dr. Patrick O’Shea. The Women’s Choir is directed by Peter Schleif.

Tickets are $6, $4 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Ethnic percussion ensemble spring concert May 2*

The Batucada Nossa Senhora ethnic percussion ensemble of Saint Mary’s will present its 15th annual spring concert 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, in Page Theatre. Batucada Nossa Senhora translates to Percussion Ensemble of Our Lady.
Read more.

The performance, under the direction of Denny McGuire, will consist of music from Brazil, Cuba and Puerto Rico, combining for an enriching multi-cultural experience for all ages. Batucada members include SMU students, many of whom are music majors, as well as community members.

Performers use a variety of unique instruments including the authentic surdo, tamborim, agogó, reco-reco, ganzá, and pandeiro from the Samba Baterias of Brazil as well as hand-drums such as conga and bongó from the Cuban tradition. From Africa, they also use gongoque and beaded gourds of many types (most of which are made by members of the group) as well as instruments such as the berimbau and talking drum.

The Saint Mary’s Jazz Combo, under the direction of Dr. John Paulson, will open the show.

Tickets are $6, $4 for students and seniors and may be purchased online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Performance Center box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

SMU recognizes employees, retiree for service

Photo: Moxness (left), Curan (right).

Mary Moxness, head librarian, and Georgia Curran, assistant to the registrar, were honored at a Saint Mary’s employee service event Tuesday, April 17. Moxness, who is celebrating her 30th anniversary with the university, is retiring this year, and Curran is celebrating her 40th anniversary.

Other Winona campus employees honored included: Mark Baumann, Peggy Ebert, Jeffrey Hefel, Scott Rose, Dr. James Vogel, Angela Weisbrod and Jayne Wobig for 20 years; Dr. Jeffrey Highland, Thomas Malin and Donald Olson for 30 years; and Dr. Richard Kowles and Dr. Michael Sommerville for 35 years. Employees with 5-, 10-, and 15-year anniversaries were also recognized.

Kids Carnival raises $175 for Ready-Set-School

SMU sophomore public relations major Katelyn Wadewitz plays a fishing game with a Kids Carnival participant Saturday at the Winona Mall.




Saint Mary’s University senior public relations major and Kids Carnival organizer Molly Parkinson, right, presents a check to Judy Richter from Ready-Set-School.



This year’s Kids Carnival, held Saturday, April 14, at the Winona Mall, raised $175 for Ready-Set-School. The carnival — sponsored annually by the Public Relations/Business Club of Saint Mary’s University — features a variety of fun and games. Proceeds are given to Ready-Set-School, a group that helps ensure that all Winona County children have the basic and necessary supplies and clothing for school.

Conservatory fundraiser is today at Eagles Club

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts of Saint Mary’s University Spring Fundraiser Dinner will be 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. today (Friday) at the Winona Eagles Club, 210 E. 4th St. The cost of $7.50 includes hickory-smoked pork roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, a vegetable, and a roll. Eat-in or take-out is available.

Student chamber music recital is April 29*

The SMU student chamber music recital will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, in Figliulo Recital Hall. Presented will be works by Telemann, Hayden, Doppler, Huguenin and Tustin, performed by small woodwind ensembles coached by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven. This event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the recital.

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.
Read more.

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 and Winona State 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 today at Saint Mary’s*

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.
Read more.

Undergraduates from Saint Mary’s and from 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.”

Senior art show to run through May 12*

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

SMU 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.”
Read more.

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. today, 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.

Challenge face-off between Holmen and Decorah

On La Crosse’s Fox 25/48 last Sunday, Aquinas defeated Winona Senior High School 340-330 in triple overtime during in the first semi-final game of High School Challenge, a tournament of knowledge sponsored by and held at Saint Mary’s University. With this win, Aquinas secured a spot in the “Super Bowl.”

Airing this Sunday, April 22, Holmen will take on Decorah in the second semi-final game of High School Challenge. Tune in at 10 a.m. on Fox 25/48, to see which team will take on Aquinas in the “Super Bowl.”

SMU to host Above & Beyond reception May 9

Saint Mary’s University 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.
Read more.

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 are sharing their expertise and a snapshot of their professional lives.

Lunches are 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.

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

Scott and Jeff radio marathon Habitat fundraiser

For the third consecutive year, the Scott and Jeff Show (a quirky talk show hosted by two Saint Mary’s business faculty members, Scott Deml and Jeff Hefel) will do a 10-hour Habitat for Humanity Radio-a-thon.
Read more.

The unpredictable fundraising show will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 3. Additional members of the SMU community will be making guest appearances.

Callers may pledge money by dialing Ext. 1615. In 2005, the duo raised $500; the total tripled to nearly $1,500 last year; Hefel and Deml hope the donations continue to grow. The Scott and Jeff Show can be heard on SMU radio station, KSMR, 92.5-FM on the Saint Mary’s campus and 94.3-FM in Winona. Their regular show plays 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays.

Known for being “so bad they’re good,” the duo play music by Jimmy Buffett and Elton John in between their corny contests and bantering. For the radio-a-thon, the group will expand their music venue to play a variety of artists.

Currently, Scott and Jeff are looking for members of the SMU community to sign up for one- hour time slots to be spent in the booth with the stars. Contact Matt Klosky at mklosky@smumn.edu if you are interested.

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.

Full week of Earth-friendly events planned at SMU

The Student Activities Committee and the Biology Club of Saint Mary’s University are planning and participating in several Earth Week activities for students including an Adopt-a-Highway cleanup, a medallion hunt, bike tune-ups, a canoe trip and car emissions tests.
Read more.


A flea market will be held on campus from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 27, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28. The community is invited on campus for this fun way to recycle.

Additionally, SMU is once again sponsoring a cleanup of a 2-mile section of Gilmore Creek on Tuesday, April 24. And, Saint Mary’s is joining Winona State University and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical for the second annual Spruce-Up Winona Day on Wednesday, April 25. Look for more information under the Volunteer Group listing.

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.
Read more.

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.

Relay for Life this weekend

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.
Read more.

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.

SMU, research society in Japan to sign agreement

We will be signing a cultural and educational agreement between SMU and Ryukyu America Historical Research Society located in Okinawa, Japan. A group of six members will attend the ceremony on Friday, April 27 from 10-11 a.m. at the President’s Room.

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.

Notebook for thoughts on Virginia Tech tragedy

In the wake of the tragedy at Virginia Tech earlier this week, the Office of Campus Ministry would like to offer an opportunity for members of the Saint Mary’s community to share their thoughts, prayers and condolences for everyone at Virginia Tech. A notebook has been placed in La Salle Chapel (located on the second floor of Saint Mary’s Hall) for general prayer intentions. A second notebook has been placed in the chapel specifically for intentions directed to the Virginia Tech campus. Please feel free to take a moment to stop by the chapel and write a prayer intention, note of condolence or reflection on Monday’s event in this notebook.

Next Friday, the notebook will be sent to the Newman Center in Blacksburg and then passed on to the campus’ Ecumenical/Interfaith Campus Ministry Group.

Volunteer Committee events

Yesterday’s “Let’s Do Lunch,” featuring a potato bar and hosted by the Education Department, raised $302.

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

May 18 — “Let’s Do Ice Cream”
June 22 — “Let’s Do Ice Cream”
July 20 — “Let’s Do Ice Cream”

Read more.
The 2nd Annual Spruce Up Winona — a volunteer effort with Winona State University and the Winona Tech School to help clean up non-profit organizations and local parks, school playgrounds and city blocks — will be held Wednesday, April 25. There are two working shifts 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.

If you would like to participate in this event, please contact Katie LaPlant at Ext. 6936. All participants are welcome to a free hotdog and soda at the Jaycee Pavilion afterward.

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. Friday, 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 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 20, at the Canadian Honker Restaurant in Rochester, Minn.

Heart and SOUL Row, Ride and Run Triathlon nears

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.
Read more.

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.

Campus Ministry will be sponsoring the monthly “Fair Trade Friday” this week. Stop by Campus Ministry, during the morning tomorrow, Friday, April 20, for a cup of fair trade coffee, tea or hot cocoa. While you are here, you can learn more about the fair trade movement and order various fair trade products. All proceeds go to the Peace and Justice student group.

Alcohol, drug survey follow-up

This is a follow-up related to the Alcohol and Drug Survey (printed in Campus Notes Friday, April 13).

A correction to one part of this article is needed for clarification. Surveys were delivered in the spring of 2006 to 716 SMU students and from this pool, 207 were returned, a response rate of 27.2 percent, which IS considered statistically significant.
Read more.This important point highlights the validity of this data and serious attention to which it deserves. To provide more perspective, the response rate achieved by this study was considerably larger then many other national and regional surveys that have been conducted on drug and alcohol consumption patterns throughout the U.S.

Continuing the discussion of how we can address these issues on our campus in a practical and effective way, members of the community are encouraged to be aware of an upcoming article planned to be released in next week’s Campus Notes. Michael O’Friel, AOD education coordinator and counselor, will be discussing the e-CHUG (electronic Check-Up to Go) an interactive web survey that allows college students to enter information about their drinking patterns and receive feedback about their use of alcohol. This is one more tool that can be incorporated into discussions with students on an individual and collective level to help facilitate education about AOD issues. More next week!

LexisNexis now available*

The library has recently acquired a subscription to LexisNexis, a comprehensive online database that provides U.S. and international news; company reports, news, and financial information; industry and market data; state and country profiles; legal news, research, and information; biographical and general reference information; and access to medical and health journals. Please bring this valuable addition to our collection to the attention of your students when applicable.

Use the alphabetical listing from the Library’s “Search Databases by Title” page at www.smumn.edu/sitepages/pid2624.php to access.

For more information contact Ruth Ann Schwartz (raschwar@smumn.edu)

Video Librarian Plus now available*

Video Librarian Plus is now available from the library website. The online version of a video reviewing journal, this service provides over 20,000 full-text movie reviews going back to 1996, as well as a searchable database of nearly 1,000 video distributors and a release calendar. Reviews are written by staff, teachers, librarians, and film critics and include productions of special interest to education professionals as well as more commercial films.

Use the alphabetical listing from the Library’s “Search Databases by Title” page at www.smumn.edu/sitepages/pid2624.php to access.

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.

Richard presents paper in Boston*

Holly Richard, director of the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women, presented a paper at the 2007 Joint Conference of the National Popular Culture and American Culture Associations, the 37th annual PCA conference, in Boston, Mass., on April 5. Her presentation, “Catholic School Girls Rule: Undressing the Myth,” examined the humorous, salacious, and dangerous pop-culture depictions of the schoolgirl in uniform. Taken out of an academic and historical context, the schoolgirl-in-uniform has become a national (and international) mythological character.
Read more.

With analysis of literary and contemporary classic characters such as Nabokov’s Lolita to Saturday Night Live’s Mary Katherine Gallagher, song lyrics and characters from musical artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Aerosmith, pop-star images like Madonna, Britney Spears and t.a.t.u., and the increasing porn industry and sex trafficking, Richard argued that our culture’s schoolgirl-in-uniform fetish undermines efforts towards ending female objectification and reveals the nascent crisis of pedophilia, causing the schoolyard to no longer be a safe place students.

Bucknam, students attend psychology conference*

On Saturday, April 28, Dr. Dan Bucknam will accompany four psychology majors to the Minnesota Undergraduate Research Conference, held at Saint Olaf College. Jenn Benson, Kasey Schultz, Sarah Windschitl, and Sarah Wollersheim will present their original research posters alongside nearly 150 other psychology students from the Midwest.

Garza-Cienfuegos to represent SMU on diversity

Successful, diverse alumni of private colleges and universities are on tour April 16-20 for “The Minnesota Private Colleges Tour: Where Diversity Matters.” Maria “Lupita” Guadalupe Garza-Cienfuegos is representing Saint Mary’s as an alumna and through her role as director for international and diversity admission. She received her M.Ed. degree in 2005.
Read more.

Fourteen alumni are sharing their life experiences with a student population from Minneapolis, St. Paul and New Hope that is growing increasingly diverse in terms of culture, ethnicity and socioeconomic background.

To check out the tour’s schedule, go to www.mnprivatecolleges.org/tour/

WSU to host ‘Promoting Faculty Diversity’

The Winona State University Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the College of Science and Engineering will host “Promoting Faculty Diversity” by Dr. Marcia Gumpertz, assistant vice provost for faculty and staff diversity and professor of statistics, North Carolina State University. The event will be held noon to 12:50 p.m. Monday, April 23, in Stark Hall, Room 108.
Read more.

Dr. Grumpertz will discuss practices for recruiting and hiring, programs and resources for recruiting faculty when the pool of candidates is small, issues that affect job satisfaction and retention of faculty of color and women in disciplines where they are traditionally under-represented, and tools for ensuring that tenure and promotion evaluations are free of bias. These programs, approaches and tools have been developed within the last few years at universities around the country seeking to create a diverse faculty body.

Annual Take Back the Night rally is April 26

An annual rally for sexual assault awareness and prevention, focusing on ending sexual violence upon children and teens will be held Thursday, April 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Winona’s Lake Park band shell, located at Huff Street and Lake Park Drive.
Read more.

The 28th annual Take Back the Night, hosted by the Women’s Resource Center, will involve local youth participation in the rally held in part of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, as well as National Child Abuse and Prevention Month. Students from Winona schools will be reading aloud published stories of recovery and healing from sexual abuse victims of similar ages.

The rally will also include speaker Leah Sweet, prevention specialist, from Stop It Now! Minnesota, part of a national and community-based program focused on the prevention of child abuse.

The rally will conclude with a march to the Winona State University campus where participants will have the opportunity to use chalk to write various abuse statistics in an effort to spread sexual assault awareness.

The Women’s Resource Center invites Saint Mary’s University and Winona community members to attend Take Back the Night in support of sexual assault awareness and prevention.

For more information regarding Take Back the Night, contact the Women’s Resource Center, 452-4440, or SMU Counseling Services at Ext. 1773.