Congratulations to Palermo

Richard Palermo was elected Student Senate President for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Student Senate Executive Board announced

The newly elected Student Senate Executive Board includes:
President — Ali Kremer
Vice President of Social Affairs (SAC) —
Sami Traxler
Vice President of Academic Affairs — Cullen Gibbons (1st Semester) and Elizabeth Shewmon (2nd Semester)
Vice President of International Affairs — Long Chen
Executive Assistant — Gabbi Langan (1st Semester) and Becca Sandager (2nd Semester)
Vice President of Financial Affairs — Robert Doyle
Vice President of Media Communications — Brian Kusek
Vice President of Student Life — Robert Rousseau
Vice President of External Affairs — Kevin Halpin
Vice President of Campus Life — Joe Richards

Saint Mary’s to make a difference on Oct. 24

In recognition of national “Make a Difference Day,” Saint Mary’s Volunteer Services group is inviting Winona nonprofit agencies to submit requests for service.

Approximately 150 Saint Mary’s University students will be teamed up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help groups and organizations on Saturday, Oct. 24, in recognition of “Make a Difference Day.”

“Make a Difference Day” is the most encompassing national day of helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA WEEKEND magazine, this annual event takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. SMU is proud to join the millions of people throughout the nation who are participating.

For more information, call Katie LaPlant at Ext. 6936 or e-mail volunteerservices @smumn.edu.

Student Senate election results announced

The following students were elected to Student Senate Executive Board positions for 2009-2010:

President: Mary Gleich
VP - International Affairs: Scott (Zhe) Song
VP - Financial Affairs: Travis Fick
VP - Academic Affairs: Karina Rajtar
VP - Media Communication: Alex Bilski
VP - Campus Life: Brenda Welscher
VP - Social Affairs: Molly Jewison
VP - Student Life: Brandon Wanless
VP - External Affairs: Marie Allen/Ali Kremer
Executive Assistant: Gabbi Langan

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.

Relay for Life results

Saint Mary’s had 13 teams for Relay for Life last weekend. As a university, participants raised $16,975.96, an average of $1305.84 per team.

Saint Mary’s had five teams in the top ten: 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7.

Of the 63 teams, the SMU staff team was the top team for donations with $2,374.55. The entire event raised $71,351 for the American Cancer Society.

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.

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.

SMU Day at the Capitol is April 12*

Students are encouraged to join their peers as they meet legislators and lobby for the Minnesota State Grant Program on Thursday, April 12. A free breakfast and lunch will be served on the bus. The event is sponsored by Student Senate.