MCA auditions planned for summer intensive

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will hold auditions for acceptance to the MCA Summer Intensive 2008 throughout the Midwest.

Interested students can audition in Minneapolis March 29; Rockford, Ill., on April 12; or locally at Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St., Winona, Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to noon

The audition class will include a full ballet class. Students with pointe experience should bring pointe shoes to the audition. Following the ballet class, student may choose to also show a prepared jazz, modern, tap, or character dance piece.

The MCA Summer Intensive will be held July 7-25. The program offers comprehensive dance training for intermediate and advanced dancers ages 11-25. Students participate in four to six classes per day on technique, theory and repertoire. Students will also rehearse for a final showcase performance, to be presented to families and friends on the closing night of the Intensive. Courses include: ballet, pointe, variations, repertory, pas de deux, jazz, rhythm tap, modern, hip hop, contact/improvisation, Pilates, dance conditioning, water aerobics, health and nutrition, make-up and costuming, and dance history, among others.

MCA is housed in the Valéncia Arts Center on the Saint Mary’s University Saint Teresa campus in Winona.

Boarding and non-boarding options are available. Tuition, including room and board fees for the three-week intensive, is $1,600. Full and partial talent-based scholarships are available. Scholarships are awarded based on the student’s audition class. Video auditions are accepted for students who cannot attend an audition class. Videos must be received by April 15, 2008. Visit www.smumn.edu/mca for video audition guidelines and for a complete listing of all MCA Summer Intensive audition class sites.

The Conservatory is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and works closely with Cotter High School offering accreditation for classes.
The application deadline for the MCA Summer Intensive is May 1. For a brochure and application, or for more general information about the MCA Summer Intensive, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu or call Ext. 5501.

Fac/staff softball team needs more players

The faculty/staff co-ed intramural softball team is looking for some additional victims....er....players. “Older and Slower” will once again show the students that experience trumps youth when it comes to softball! Games are Tuesdays/Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and will begin when St. Joe’s field is dry enough to play on. The only requirements are that you can bring a glove and want to have fun. Contact Katie LaPlant or Dean Beckman if you’re interested.

Women in Math Colloquium is March 31

The next speaker for the Women in Mathematics Colloquium is Dr. Suzanne Lenhart from the University of Tennessee. Her presentation on Monday, March 31, is titled “Rabies in Raccoons: Optimal Control for a Discrete Time Model on a Spatial Grid.” The presentation will be from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. in Salvi with a reception starting at 3:45 in the Common Room.

Annual ‘Spruce Up Winona Day’ scheduled for April 18

Saint Mary’s, Winona State and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical will conduct the third annual “Spruce Up Winona Day,”on Friday, April 18, from 1 to 5 p.m.

“Spruce Up Winona Day” is a community-wide clean up project. This year's event includes a flood relief component, in addition to working with Adopt-a-Block, downtown clean-up, the Elder Network and local residents.

Volunteers are needed to help with light clean up or maintenance such as cleaning, raking, painting and picking up trash.

The event features three shifts: 1 to 3 p.m., 3 to 5 p.m., or both shifts, from 1-5 p.m.

For more information, call Katie LaPlant, Ext. 6936.

Clothing drive March 28-30

The Common Threads Clothing Drive is March 28-30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Toner Student Center. Items will be sold for $.50 each or $4 per bag. All proceeds go to the Winona Catholic Worker House.

Second Page shows are March 28-29

The free improv comedy shows by Second Page will be held 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday March 28 and 10 p.m. March 29, all in Figliulo Recital Hall.

Gaut, Neff honored for article ‘Save the Lady’

Dr. Greg Gaut, Department of History, and his co-author Marsha Neff, received the David Stanley Gebhard Award from the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians at their annual meeting and banquet on March 26 at the Minnesota Humanities Center in St. Paul.

The Gebhard Award is given biannually to the best book or article on the subject of Minnesota's built environment. The major criterion is how well the work strikes a balance between scholarship and accessibility. Their article is entitled “‘Save the Lady’ — The Struggle for the Winona County Courthouse,”and appeared in Minnesota History, Vol. 59, No 7 (Winter 2005-2006).

Go to: www.mnsah.org/gebhard.php or www.mnhs.org/market/mhspress/MinnesotaHistory/backissues.html.

Pohl family congratulations, prayers

Jim Pohl ’70, an adjunct teacher in the School of Education, Twin Cities campus, and member of the SMU Sports Hall of Fame, received the Cliff Thompson Award for the “Old Timer Coach” of the year. Pohl is a retired principal at Red Wing High School and taught and coached for many years prior to become a school administrator.

Please also keep the Pohl family in your thoughts and prayers. Jim's son, Tom, plays for the Minnesota Gophers hockey team and suffered a serious skull fracture during a game on March 18. After a successful head surgery, Tom is at home in Red Wing with his family. Notes of support can be sent to:

Jim Pohl
2382 Clover Lane
Red Wing, MN 55066

Ryan named director for M.A. Special Education

Dr. Kathy Ryan has accepted the position of program director for the M.A. in Special Education program, which will launch in the spring 2009. Dr. Ryan has served the university as the PACC director and as an assistant professor in the School of Education.

Employee changes

Departures:
• Marcia Hines, April 4, Twin Cities - Assistant to Chancellor and Admissions/Student Services
• Meghan Dowd, April 2, Twin Cities Admin. Asst. External Affairs/Hendrickson Institute
• Karen Slakey, March 19, Twin Cities Nurse Anethesia - Assistant Professor and Curriculum Coordinator

New employees:
• Velma Kimsal, March 11, Twin Cities program director, M.A. in Organizational Leadership and M.S. in Telecommunications
• Timothy Ahrens, March 31, custodian.
• Anna Drennen, March 25, Twin Cities administrative asst., interlibrary loan.

Dulak serves on St. Olaf program review committee

Joe Dulak, director of the Academic Skills Center, was asked by the dean of Students at St. Olaf College in Northfield to be part of a committee to perform a program review for their Academic Support Center. He attended a St. Olaf meeting March 10-12 with ASC staff, campus faculty and administration, as well as students, gathering information for this review.

The group will submit a written report by March 21 with their recommendations for the ASC. The other members of the the committee were the director of disability support services at Augsburg College, the director of the academic support center at Carleton College, and the director of the MAX Center at Macalester College.

Congratulations to Beckman family

Dean Beckman (Social Science) and his wife, Deb, had a baby girl, Erica Grace, on Tuesday, March 18. The Saint Mary’s community extends its congratulations to the Beckman family.

Saint Mary’s Concert Band to perform on March 30

The Saint Mary’s University Concert Band will present its spring concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 30, in Page Theatre.

Directed by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, the 65-member band will entertain audiences with a varied repertoire including “Sea Songs” by Vaughan Williams; “American Hymn Tune Sketches” by Prescott; “Amazing Grace,” arranged by Tichel; “Albanian Dance” by Shelly Hanson, “Geometric Dances” by Cichy; “In Heaven’s Air” by Hazo; and “Africa: Ceremony, Song & Ritual,” by Smith.
Read more...

This concert continues the theme of “Song and Dance,” which the ensemble is using this season to explore the rich band repertoire — both new and old — which originates from the folk song or hymn traditions, as well as dance-inspired music.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students and seniors and are available by calling the Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Lasallian council presentation on Rome visit is March 26

The Winona division of the University Council for Lasallian Formation and Mission will make a presentation about the council’s recent experience of Lasallian formation in Rome, at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, in the President’s Room. Refreshments will be served. Mark your calendars! (A similar presentation by the SGPP division of the council will be held in Minneapolis.)

World-class jazz musician to share talents with SMU

Internationally recognized jazz saxophonist Marc Bernstein will travel from his home in Denmark to Saint Mary’s March 24-26 to give a public performance and to work with members of the SMU Concert Band, as well as other SMU music students.

Bernstein has been chosen as this year’s Kaplan Commissioning Project composer.

The Concert Band commissioned Bernstein’s piece through the Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation Commissioning Project. The foundation supports performances and activities led by Jewish artists and scholars that are designed to increase cultural and religious understanding at Saint Mary’s. Bernstein’s visit is funded in part through the Danish government to promote artistic-educational partnership activities in the world. He is SMU’s fifth Kaplan composer.
Read more...

The Concert Band will present the world premiere performance of Bernstein’s composition next September, during SMU’s Inauguration/ Family Weekend.

During his spring visit, Bernstein — along with local and regional musicians — will also present a public recital at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, in Figliulo Recital Hall. The recital is free and open to the public, courtesy of the Sam and Helen Kaplan Foundation.

Bernstein, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1984. Inspired by great saxophonists and jazz artists, he recorded his first CD in 1985, and was a regular performer in New York City. He began playing overseas, and gained notoriety in Denmark, where he was offered a spot with Klüvers Big Band. Bernstein relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark; he left the band in 1996 to go solo, and has since released six CDs.

SMU Disc Golf Open scheduled for April 5

The first Saint Mary’s University Disc Golf Open tees off on Saturday, April 5, at 9:30 a.m. on The Woods at Saint Mary’s disc golf course.

The Woods is an 18-hole course that winds through the bluffs surrounding the campus. With narrow fairways and intricate hole placements, the course can be challenging for both beginners and experienced disc golfers.

The top three finishers will receive prizes:

First place – portable disc catcher, disc bag, and three Innova discs
Second place – Innova disc bag and three Innova discs
Third place – three Innova discs

The tournament is sponsored by the SMU Office of Outdoor Leadership and co-sponsored by Innova Disc Golf. Proceeds will be used to maintain the disc golf course and for Outdoor Leadership Program funding.

Tournament fees are $15 for students and $25 for the general public. Each participant receives an SMU customized Innova putt and approach disc. To register, or for more information, visit www.smumn.edu/thewoods or contact Davey Warner at Ext. 8740 or e-mail him at outdoorleadership@smumn.edu.

Group photo show on display through March 29 at SMU

Rus Hurt is one of five photographers displaying in "Tempus Fugit" Feb. 28-March 29.
The work of five area nature and documentary photographers is on display through March 29. The exhibit, titled “Tempus Fugit” or “Time Flies,” will be on display at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, and includes work by Wade Britzius, Rus Hurt, Kathy Greden, Ron Reimer and Jim Risser.

Admission is free and open to the public, and gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call Ext. 1652.

High School Challenge continues; Onalaska named consolation champs

On Saturday, Feb. 23, High School Challenge, a tournament of knowledge sponsored by Saint Mary’s University, ended the 2007-08 season with the Consolation and Super Challenge Championships.

Thirty-two area high school teams began competing in the fall. Teams who won all of their games earned a spot in the Super Challenge Tournament. Teams that lost their first and won their second games advanced to the Consolation Championship bracket. On Feb. 23, Onalaska High School defeated La Crescent High School, 60-45, making Onalaska the 2008 Consolation Champion.
Read more...

Additionally, Viroqua, Winona Senior High, La Crosse Central, West Salem, North Crawford, Eau Claire Regis, Seneca and La Crosse Aquinas competed for the Super Challenge Champion title.

Fox 25/Fox 48 will air the previously recorded Super Challenge competitions from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Sundays. Tune in to cheer on your hometown team on these dates:

March 16 – Viroqua vs. Winona Senior High School
March 23 – La Crosse Central vs. West Salem
March 30 – North Crawford vs. Eau Claire Regis
April 6 – Seneca vs. La Crosse Aquinas
April 13 – Quarterfinals begin airing

For more information, call Nicole Witt Gerdes, High School Challenge coordinator, at Ext. 1761 or ngerdes@smumn.edu.

Faculty invited to share talents in revue on March 27

Faculty who play a musical instrument, dance, write poetry, or have any other artistic skill are invited by the junior class to participate in this year’s faculty revue, to be held 7 p.m. March 27 in the Common Room. Contact Russell Mollo (ramoll05@smumn.edu) or Neil Leibundguth at (nmleib05@smumn.edu) if you have any questions or if you would like to participate.

Summer 2008 Lasallian Formation Programs

The Regional Conference of the Christian Brothers USA-Toronto Region will be offering several Lasallian formation programs this summer. Faculty and staff are invited to consider participating in one of them. Deadlines for registration are next week, so anyone interested should contact Brother Larry Humphrey by today.

The Lasallian Social Justice Institute will be offered at two sites.

LSJI El Paso will be held from July 12-18 in El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. LSJI El Paso focuses on the theme of “Global Economic Justice,” and includes several days of encounters on both sides of the border, followed by theological and sociological presentations at a retreat center. A current passport is required.
Read more...

LSJI San Francisco will be held from August 2-8. LSJI San Francisco focuses on the theme of “Homelessness and Human Dignity,” and includes several days with individuals and agencies in the Tenderloin and Mission Districts of San Francisco, and is followed by theological and sociological presentations.

The numbers of participants are limited to 30 for LSJI El Paso and 20 for LSJI San Francisco, with only three places allocated from each of the six districts for San Francisco.

Previous participants in LSJI from Saint Mary’s include Dr. Dorothy Diehl (Chicago and El Paso), Val Fitzgerald (El Paso), Dr. Greg Gaut (El Paso), Peggy Johnson (Chicago and El Paso), Katie LaPlant (Chicago and El Paso), Ann Smith (San Francisco), and Dr. Mary Louise Wise (El Paso). They could tell you more about LSJI.

The Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies will be held from June 22-July 4 at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif. The Buttimer Institute is completed in three consecutive, independent summers of study, each two weeks in duration. It is an intensive formation and education program that studies the life and work of Saint John Baptist de La Salle and the origins of the Lasallian educational mission. In Buttimer I (Year I), "The Founding Story," participants are introduced to a study of the life and times of De La Salle. Buttimer II examines De La Salle’s educational vision and influence,and Buttimer II studies the Founder’s spiritual vision and influence. Participation in the Buttimer Institute involves a three-year commitment to complete the program.

Dr. Jerry Ellis and Barb Hall from the Twin Cities campus will be participating in Buttimer II this summer, and could tell you more about Buttimer I.

For more information on any of the programs, contact Brother Larry Humphrey at Ext. 1597 or lhumphrey@smumn.edu.

3-peat for SMU spelling team

The Saint Mary’s University interdisciplinary spelling team of Eileen Daily (theology), Paul Nienaber (physics), and Paul Weiner (math) won the Winona Corporate Spelling challenge in a field of 12 teams. They had to spell such words as “armature” (protective covering), “arachnophagous” (spider-eating), and the winning word “pursuivant” (an officer in the British College of Heralds who ranks below a herald).

This marks the third consecutive year that Saint Mary’s University has won the title.

Annual SMU benefit dance to help alumni leukemia patient

Saint Mary’s University will present the eighth annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance from 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, April 12.

The beneficiary of this year’s formal dance — open to the public — is SMU alumnus Steve Groby. Steve, a resident of Rochester, was diagnosed two years ago with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia, which resulted in a bone marrow transplant last May.
Read more...

The benefit dance has become an annual tradition since it was started by students in 2001 in honor of Taylor Richmond, son of Saint Mary’s Campus Ministry and Student Activities staff member Nikki Richmond. Taylor has a genetic terminal illness called Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) and the money from his benefit was used to fulfill Taylor’s dream of going to Disney World. Each year this event benefits someone in the SMU community in need.

The dance, featuring music by the Johnny Holm Band, will be held in the Toner Student Center dining room. Ticket prices are $15 per person or $25 per couple. To purchase tickets or receive more information, contact Jason Richter at Ext. 1648 or Katie LaPlant at Ext. 6936. Dance tickets will also be available at the door.

To make a donation, send checks — payable to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance — to Jason Richter, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, 700 Terrace Heights No. 45, Winona, MN 55987.

In combination with the dance, a silent auction will be held on campus from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., April 10-11. A variety of homemade goods, gift baskets and specialty items will be on display in the game room of the Toner Student Center.

Gaut publishes essay in National Catholic Reporter

Greg Gaut, Department of History, has published "Heroes of our Time," an essay about former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and recently murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, in the March 7, 2008 issue of the National Catholic Reporter.

NCR publication
Full Story

Dickson is finalist for PR award

Saint Mary’s student Lindsay Dickson, a senior Social Science major, is a finalist in the 2008 Student Classics Award sponsored by the Minnesota Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Lindsay is competing in the “Special Purpose Publications” category for a brochure she helped create in her PR Writing Class for the Saint Mary’s Office of Outdoor Leadership. The Classics Awards banquet will be held in Minneapolis on March 27.

Fac/staff softball team needs more players

The faculty/staff co-ed intramural softball team is looking for some additional victims....er....players. “Older and Slower” will once again show the students that experience trumps youth when it comes to softball! Games are Tuesdays/Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. and will begin sometime after Easter break when St. Joe’s field is dry enough to play. The only requirements are that you can bring a glove and want to have fun. Contact Katie LaPlant or Dean Beckman if you’re interested.

Biology seminars after break

The first Biology Seminar after Easter break is Thursday, March 27 at 4 p.m. in Rm. 112 Hoffman Hall. Dr. Phil Cochran will discuss “The Social Life of the Timber Rattlesnake.”

The following week, Thursday, April 3, same time and place, students Bethany Kaufmann and Holly Schuh will talk about “Experiences in the Mayo Scholar Program.”

Heukeshoven to present at band director conference

At the regional CBDNA conference held at the University of Nebraska, Omaha March 13-15, Dr. Janet Heukeshoven will present a session titled “Harmoniemusik: Teaching Sedlak’s Barber of Seville for Winds” with the assistance of musicians from Northwestern University, Illinois.

The Harmoniemusik genre flourished from 1760-1840 in Germany, Bohemia and Austria. These popular wind ensemble transcriptions of opera, ballet and symphonic works were widely performed in the courts, and have been re-discovered in recent years.

CBDNA Conference

Swing Inc. performs March 21

Swing, Inc. featuring Eric Heukeshoven will perform Friday, March 21, 8-11 p.m. at the Waterfront Restaurant in La Crosse. There is no cover charge.

Women in Math Colloquium is March 31

The next speaker for the Women in Mathematics Colloquium is Dr. Suzanne Lenhart from the University of Tennessee. Her presentation on Monday, March 31 is titled “Rabies in Raccoons: Optimal Control for a Discrete Time Model on a Spatial Grid.” The presentation will be from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. in Salvi with a reception starting at 3:45 in the Common Room.

John Paulson jazz events

The John Paulson Trio will perform Saturday, March 15, 8-11 p.m. at Avocado’s World Bistro behind Apache Mall in Rochester. There is no cover charge.

The John Paulson Quartet will perform in the Harmony for Mayo Concert Monday, March 24, noon-1 p.m. in the Mayo Civic Center Lips Atrium.

Jazz students at Acoustic Cafe

On March 19 and April 23, 7-9:30 p.m., SMU jazz students will perform in a jam with WSU students at the Acoustic Cafe in downtown Winona.

Clothing drive March 28

The Common Threads Clothing Drive is March 28-30, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Bring unwanted clothing items back from break and drop them off in Room B of the Toner Student Center. Starting Thursday, March 28 after 8 p.m., items will be sold for $.50 each or $4 per bag. All proceeds go to the Winona Catholic Worker.

Staff changes

Leaving:
Mike Trewick, head men’s basketball coach

Last Campus Notes before break, next issue March 28

This is the last “Campus Notes” before Easter break. The next edition will come out Friday, March 28.

Country singer Josh Gracin to perform at SMU March 13

Josh Gracin

The Roosters

Country music singer Josh Gracin will headline a public concert Thursday, March 13, in Saint Mary’s gymnasium.

Gracin’s self-titled debuted album is edging in on platinum status. With the No. 1 hit “Nothin’ to Lose” and other hits, “I Want to Live” and “Stay with Me (Brass Bed),” Gracin has established himself as a leading country singer since gaining his fame from the hit reality series “American Idol,” where he finished fourth during the show’s second season. In 2003, Gracin also contributed the song “Working for the Weekend” to the Herbie: Fully Loaded soundtrack, and he also sang on “When I See an Elephant Fly” on the Jim Brickman album, The Disney Songbook. Gracin, a former U.S. Marine and Michigan native, entertains his audiences with energetic stage performances and rocking country music.

Opening for Gracin is The Roosters, a Minnesota country band whose single “Sorry Bout the Mess,” released in April 2007, has been gaining popularity on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. No food or drinks are allowed in the gymnasium. SMU’s Student Activities Committee is sponsoring the concert.

Tickets are free for SMU students with ID, $10 for an SMU guest, and $15 for the general public. Tickets are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, online at www.smumn.edu/gracintickets, or are available for purchase at the door.

Page Series to present San Jose Taiko March 10

Saint Mary’s University’s Page Series will host the powerful, spellbinding and propulsive sounds of San Jose Taiko 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 10.

Taiko — the Japanese drum — is an instrument that embodies the spiritual essence and the heartbeat of Japan and its people. Priests used taiko to chase evil spirits and the insects from the rice fields; samurai used taiko to bolster their courage and to instill fear in the enemy; villagers used taiko to pray for rain, to enliven festivals and to give thanks for bountiful harvests.

San Jose Taiko has adopted these traditional values and infused the art of taiko with the vitality and freshness of their American spirit to create a dynamic and compelling Asian-American art form. The music of San Jose Taiko weaves traditional Japanese sounds with the beat of world rhythms.

Tickets for the Page Theatre performance are $20, $14 for seniors, $12 for students, and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Saint Mary’s Concert Band to perform on March 30

The Saint Mary’s University Concert Band will present their spring concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, March 30, in Page Theatre.

Directed by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, the 65-member band will entertain audiences with a varied selection of Repertoire including “Sea Songs” by Vaughan Williams; “American Hymn Tune Sketches” by Prescott; “Amazing Grace,” arranged by Tichel; “Albanian Dance” by Shelly Hanson, “Geometric Dances” by Cichy; “In Heaven's Air” by Hazo; and “Africa: Ceremony, Song & Ritual,” by Smith.

This concert continues the theme of “Song and Dance,” which the ensemble is using this season to explore the rich band repertoire — both new and old — which originates from the folk song or hymn traditions, as well as dance-inspired music.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students and seniors and are available by calling the Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

World-class jazz musician to share talents with SMU

Internationally recognized jazz saxophonist Marc Bernstein will travel from his home in Denmark to Saint Mary’s March 24-26 to give a public performance and to work with members of the SMU Concert Band, as well as additional SMU music students.

Bernstein has been chosen as this year’s Kaplan Commissioning Project composer.

The SMU Concert Band commissioned Bernstein’s piece through the Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation Commissioning Project. The Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation supports performances and activities led by Jewish artists and scholars that are designed to increase cultural and religious understanding at Saint Mary’s. His visit is funded in part through the Danish government to promote artistic-educational partnership activities in the world. Bernstein is SMU’s fifth Kaplan composer.

The SMU Concert Band will present the world premiere performance of Bernstein’s piece next September, during SMU’s Inauguration/Family Weekend.

During his visit, Bernstein — along with local and regional musicians — will also present a public recital at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, at Figliulo Recital Hall. The recital is free and open to the public, courtesy of the Sam and Helen Kaplan Foundation

Bernstein, born in Brooklyn, N.Y., graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1984. Inspired by great saxophonists and jazz artists, Bernstein pursued a career in music. He recorded his first CD in 1985, and was a regular performer in New York City. He began playing overseas, and gained notoriety in Denmark, where he was offered a spot with Klüvers Big Band. Bernstein relocated to Copenhagen, Denmark; he left the band in 1996 to go solo, and has since released six CDs.

Group photo show on display through March 29 at SMU

Rus Hurt is one of five photographers displaying in "Tempus Fugit" Feb. 28-March 29.

Five area photographers will display assorted nature and documentary work through March 29 at Saint Mary’s University.

The exhibit, titled “Tempus Fugit” or “Time Flies,” will be on display at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, and will include work by Wade Britzius, Rus Hurt, Kathy Greden, Ron Reimer and Jim Risser.

Admission is free and open to the public, and gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call Ext. 1652.

Next ‘Let’s Do Lunch’ is hotdish extravaganza

Mark your calendars for the next Let’s Do Lunch, March 13. The Office of Admission will host “Minnesota Hot Dishes.” Proceeds continue to benefit SMU faculty and staff who were affected by the August flood.

Kowles to give next biology seminar March 13

On Thursday, March 13, Dr. Richard Kowles, professor of biology, will present, “Maternal Effect - The Importance of Mama” at 4 p.m. in Room 112 of Hoffman Hall.

Faculty invited to share talents in faculty revue March 27

Hey faculty! Do you play a musical instrument, dance, write poetry, or any other artistic skill? The junior class is looking for participants for this year’s faculty revue, to be held 7 p.m. March 27 in the Common Room. Contact Russell Mollo (ramoll05@smumn.edu) or Neil Leibundguth at (nmleib05@smumn.edu) if you have any questions or if you would like to participate.

Pattee elected to Collaboration Board of Directors

Dr. Steve Pattee (Interdisciplinary Studies) has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching & Learning. The Collaboration is an alliance of colleges and universities that supports and promotes outstanding college teaching and learning. Saint Mary's is one of the organization's charter members.

Biebel joins Lasallian council; presentation on Rome nears

Bob Biebel, director of the ‘M’ Club and associate director of The Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership, is the newest member of the Winona division of the University Council for Lasallian Formation and Mission. Brother Louis, acting on the recommendation of council members, has appointed Bob to fill the position vacated by Dr. Mary Fox. Sister Judith Schaefer has been named the new coordinator of the Winona division.

A presentation about the council's recent experience of Lasallian formation in Rome will be given 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, in the President’s Room. Refreshments will be served. Mark your calendars! (A similar presentation by the SGPP division of the council will be held in Minneapolis.)

Jazz events

John Paulson and the Miles Johnston Quartet will perform 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. today, March 7, at the Canadian Honker in Rochester.

The John Paulson Trio will perform 7 to 10 p.m. March 8 at Michael’s Restaurant in Rochester.

Reminder: Next week last ‘Campus Notes’ before break

Next week is the last ‘Campus Notes’ before Easter break. Look ahead on your calendars. Submissions are due Wednesday, March 12, for the March 14 issue. The next edition will come out Friday, March 28.

Founder’s Day honors three

Top left: Ana Sontag, Outstanding Female Senior

Top right: Kevin Black, Outstanding Male Senior

Bottom: Alan Joswick, 2008 Heffron Award winner




A dedicated staff member and two outstanding seniors were honored at Founder’s Day Tuesday, Feb. 26.

The 2008 Bishop Patrick Heffron Award for Service to the University was presented to Al Joswick. Joswick has worked in the Maintenance Department on the Winona campus since 1976 and is currently the trades department supervisor.

The Outstanding Male and Female Senior Awards were presented to students who have demonstrated the ideals of scholarship, character, leadership, service to colleagues and the university community. Above all, these men and women have shown genuine concern for meeting the needs of others.

The Outstanding Male Senior Award went to Kevin Black, son of Jeff and Mary Pat Black of Mahtomedi, Minn. The Outstanding Female Senior Award went to Anastacia Sontag, daughter of Mike and Yvonne Sontag of Minneota, Minn.

Chicago Convention planned for Feb. 29-March 1

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will feature staff, students and faculty from Saint Mary’s – along with notable SMU alumni from the Chicago area – during this weekend’s Chicago convention for prospective students and alumni.

The third “SMU Convention – Chicago” will bring more than 100 Saint Mary’s faculty, staff and current students to the Westin Chicago Northwest Hotel in Itasca. Prospective students, families and alumni will be treated to activities and demonstrations, lunch and a keynote speaker, entertainment, and information booths that showcase the university.

Convention-goers will meet with professors, coaches and admission staff, sample a variety of refreshments, enjoy a live musical performance, and take their chances with games and giveaways.

A special pre-convention reception Friday, Feb. 29, from 7 to 11 p.m. is reserved for alumni to socialize, meet with Saint Mary’s faculty and staff, and enjoy a silent auction.

Saturday, March 1, the convention opens at 9 a.m. with exhibitor booths and displays. A free convention luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m., hosted by Walter ’81, Tim ’85, and Mark ’86 Smithe of Walter E. Smithe Furniture Company, featuring a keynote speech from John McDonough ’75, president of the Chicago Blackhawks.

To find a link to the Smithe brothers television promotion for Saint Mary’s Chicago Convention, go to www.smumn.edu/convention.

From 10 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, fun and educational breakout sessions will be offered by faculty, staff and noted alumni. From 11 to 11:45 a.m., the Oldie Moldie All-Stars will perform hits from the ’50s and ’60s. The convention adjourns at 4 p.m.

SMU theatre students stage drama through March 3

A rural diner gets a rude awakening when staff and customers are held hostage at the hands of an unstable madman during Saint Mary’s University’s production of “When You Comin’ Back Red Ryder?” The SMU Department of Theatre Arts is staging the disturbing drama now through March 3, in the Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre.

When Teddy, a Vietnam veteran teetering on the edge of madness, and his young girlfriend barge into a forgotten New Mexico roadside diner, nothing will ever be the same for its five occupants. Teddy uses personal threats and wit to psychologically dismember his hostages. “Red Ryder’s” underlying theme includes a longing for the past – for childhood, for the innocence of the ’50s with its cowboy heroes. Just as the diner’s customers and staff will never be the same, author Mark Howard Medoff is telling his audience that this age of innocence is gone forever.

Performances, under the direction of Dr. Gary Diomandes, are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Monday, Feb. 29, March 1 and 3. A matinee performance is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday, March. 2.

“Red Ryder” is for mature audiences only; the content includes adult language and violence. Tickets for the show are $8, $6 for students and seniors and are available at the Performance Center Box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Country singer Josh Gracin to perform at SMU March 13

Josh Gracin

The Roosters

Country music singer Josh Gracin will headline a public concert Thursday, March 13, in Saint Mary’s gymnasium.

Gracin’s self-titled debuted album is edging in on platinum status. With the No. 1 hit “Nothin’ to Lose” and other hits, “I Want to Live” and “Stay with Me (Brass Bed),” Gracin has established himself as a leading country singer since gaining his fame from the hit reality series “American Idol,” where he finished fourth during the show’s second season. In 2003, Gracin also contributed the song “Working for the Weekend” to the Herbie: Fully Loaded soundtrack, and he also sang on “When I See an Elephant Fly” on the Jim Brickman album, The Disney Songbook. Gracin, a former U.S. Marine and Michigan native, entertains his audiences with energetic stage performances and rocking country music.

Opening for Gracin is The Roosters, a Minnesota country band whose single “Sorry Bout the Mess,” released in April 2007, has been gaining popularity on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. No food or drinks are allowed in the gymnasium. SMU’s Student Activities Committee is sponsoring the concert.

Tickets are free for SMU students with ID, $10 for an SMU guest, and $15 for the general public. Tickets are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, online at www.smumn.edu/gracintickets, or are available for purchase at the door.

Faculty invited to share talents in faculty revue March 27

Hey faculty! Do you play a musical instrument, dance, write poetry, or any other artistic skill? The junior class is looking for participants for this year’s faculty revue, to be held 7 p.m. March 27 in the Common Room.

Contact Russell Mollo (ramoll05@smumn.edu) or Neil Leibundguth at (nmleib05@smumn.edu) if you have any questions or if you would like to participate.

Page Series to present San Jose Taiko March 10

Saint Mary’s University’s Page Series will host the powerful, spellbinding and propulsive sounds of San Jose Taiko 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 10.

Taiko — the Japanese drum — is an instrument that embodies the spiritual essence and the heartbeat of Japan and its people. Priests used taiko to chase evil spirits and the insects from the rice fields; samurai used taiko to bolster their courage and to instill fear in the enemy; villagers used taiko to pray for rain, to enliven festivals and to give thanks for bountiful harvests.

San Jose Taiko has adopted these traditional values and infused the art of taiko with the vitality and freshness of their American spirit to create a dynamic and compelling Asian American art form. The music of San Jose Taiko weaves traditional Japanese sounds with the beat of world rhythms.

Tickets for the Page Theatre performance are $20, $14 for seniors, $12 for students, and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Group photo show on display through March 29 at SMU

Rus Hurt is one of five photographers displaying in "Tempus Fugit" Feb. 28-March 29.

Five area photographers will display assorted nature and documentary work through March 29 at Saint Mary’s University.

The exhibit, titled “Tempus Fugit” or “Time Flies,” will be on display at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, and will include work by Wade Britzius, Rus Hurt, Kathy Greden, Ron Reimer and Jim Risser.

Admission is free and open to the public, and gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call Ext. 1652.

Next ‘Let’s Do Lunch’ is hotdish extravaganza

Mark your calendars for the next Let’s Do Lunch, March 13. The Office of Admission will host “Minnesota Hot Dishes.” Proceeds continue to benefit SMU faculty and staff who were affected by the August flood.

SMU to host regional science fair today, Feb. 29

Saint Mary’s will host the Regional Science Fair Friday, Feb. 29. Approximately 250 area students in grades seven through 12 will display their work in biology, physics and chemistry, behavior science, computer science, math and social sciences.

Women’s History Month Reception is March 6

The annual Women’s History Month Reception will be held on Thursday, March 6, (International Women’s Day) in the Common Room from 4 to 6 p.m. All SMU women and men faculty, staff, and students are invited to come and celebrate “Women’s Art: Women’s Vision.”

The originality, beauty, imagination and multiple dimensions of women’s lives will be honored in several ways including a display of student-made collages honoring various women artists, a display of snapshots that capture the lives of women at SMU in 2008, and a do-it-yourself art corner. There will also be music, refreshments, door prizes and good conversation. The reception is sponsored by the Women’s Programming Office and the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women. The Art Club, Public Relations Club, and members of SAI will also contributed to the celebration. Invite a friend or students and come to this popular event.

For more information about Women’s History month, go to www.nwhp.org

Formation & Mission Council travels to Rome

Members of the University Council for Lasallian Formation and Mission include, from left: front, Sarah Fischer; Val Fitzgerald; Sr. Judy Schaefer; standing, Br. Alberto Gomez, General Councilor; Simon Wachira, Nairobi campus; Br. Robert Schieler, General Councilor; Br. Jorge Gallardo, General Councilor; Tim Gossen; Dr. Mary Louise Wise, Dr. Mary Fox; Br. Lawrence Humphrey; Dr. Roxanne Eubank; Dr. Stephen Pattee, Dr. Deborah Pattee; Dr. Greg Sobolewski; Br. David Hawke, General Councilor; Valerie Robeson; Dr. Dorothy Diehl; John Schollmeier; Br. Alvaro Rodriguez Echeverria, Superior General; Dr. Thomas Mans; Ann Smith; Br. William Mann, president-elect; Dr. Jerry Ellis. Not pictured is Mary Thole.

The University Council for Lasallian Formation and Mission traveled to Rome and the international center of the Christian Brothers for a week of Lasallian formation, Feb. 10-16.

The group was welcomed to the Generalate by the General Council of the Christian Brothers who hosted a reception for the Saint Mary’s Council members their first evening in Rome. Although the SMU Council members were exhausted from traveling, the warm welcome received by the Brother Councilors set the tone for an exciting week.

The week-long program consisted of the following themes: The Lasallian Story, Catholic Intellectual Tradition, Lasallian Charism and Association, Catholic Social Teaching, Lasallian Higher Education, and Spirituality. Speakers included representatives from the international leadership of the Christian Brothers, including Brother Thomas Johnson, Vicar General; Brothers Claude Reinhardt, General Councilor in Rome; Robert Schieler, General Councilor for the USA-Toronto Region; Brother John Cantwell of the International Lasallian Center staff; Brother Alain Houry, Archivist; and Brother. William Mann, President-Elect of Saint Mary’s. Additional speakers from The Angelicum University and the Pontifical Council for the Laity rounded out the program. Speakers represented Australia, France, Peru and the United States and provided the Council with a perspective of the international nature of Lasallian education.

The week was capped off with a Commissioning Ceremony that was presided over by Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

The Council was formed last September by Brother Chancellor Louis DeThomasis to develop, guide and nurture the Lasallian charism of the university. It is comprised of 14 members of the faculty and staff from both the Winona and Twin Cities campuses. Dr. Mary Fox has served as coordinator of the Winona division and Dr. Roxanne Eubank serves as coordinator of the SGPP division. Brother Lawrence Humphrey, Director of the Office of Mission, serves as moderator of the Council.

In Rome, the Council was joined by Dr. Thomas Mans, Academic Vice President for the college, and Mr. Simon Wachira, representing the Nairobi campus of Saint Mary’s. Brother William Mann, president-elect, was able to be with the Council for the entire week, as well as present to a session on Lasallian Spirituality.

“Both Rome and the international Generalate of the Brothers worked their magic on the group,” according to Brother Lawrence, Council moderator. “The experience of being at the center of the Institute, and the opportunity to learn from its international leadership, provided a uniquely remarkable experience for the SMU Council. Our time together in Rome has served to intensify our commitment to further the Lasallian mission of Saint Mary’s.”

Biology seminars planned

On Thursday, March 6, Scott J. Brejcha, senior ecologist and project manager, V3 Companies of Illinois Ltd., and an SMU alumnus, will speak to students about Wetland Field Internships with his company in Woodridge, Ill., during the summer term. Joining him will be Keith Jones, V3 internship coordinator.

On Thursday, March 13, Dr. Richard Kowles, professor of biology, will present, “Maternal Effect - The Importance of Mama.”

All talks begin at 4 p.m. and are in Room 112 in Hoffman Hall.

Employee changes

New employees:
• Pushpa Sudhakaran, Feb. 25, GSS iT support specialist
• Adrianne Olson, Feb. 18, website editor
• Hanad Ahmad, Feb. 5, TC security guard
• Lyle Ferguson, Feb. 5, TC security guard
• Gary Schmaltz, Feb. 5, TC security guard
• Bernell Beal, Feb. 4, TC security guard
• Natalie Novacek, Jan. 30, TC admin. assistant, M.A. Education

Leaving:
• Gregory Holz, Feb. 29, custodian
• Linda Frisbee, Feb. 29, TC program director
• James Bloedorn, Feb. 29, GSS system support
• Jennalee Paulson, Feb. 22, admin. assistant, Wellness Center
• James Callinan, Feb. 9, admissions counselor

Final round of High School Challenge is Saturday

On Saturday, Feb. 23, Saint Mary’s will host the final round of High School Challenge. The competition has now been going on for 37 years and is the oldest academic competition for high school students in the area. High School Challenge began in October, showcasing 32 teams from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

The final event begins at 8:30 a.m. in Page Theatre with with the consolation championship between Onalaska and La Crescent. Afterwards, the final run for the Super Challenge begins, with brackets holding teams from Viroqua, Winona Senior High, La Crosse Central, West Salem, North Crawford, Eau Claire Regis, Seneca, and La Crosse Aquinas. Everyone is invited to come and observe the final round of 2007/2008 High School Super Challenge.

The games will be taped by Fox 25/Fox 48 and aired Sundays, March 9 through April 27, from 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Founder’s Day to honor three

Each year, Saint Mary’s University celebrates its founding with a special Mass and convocation. All faculty, staff and students are invited and encouraged to attend the Founder's Day festivities on Tuesday, Feb. 26. Mass will be in Saint Thomas More Chapel at 11 a.m., with Father Steffes as the principal celebrant. The convocation will be in Page Theatre at 1:15 p.m. The convocation will include the presentation of the following awards:

Outstanding Senior Female — Finalists are Lindsay Dickson, Laura Holupchinski, Amy Kalina, Kasey Schultz and Ana Sontag.

Outstanding Senior Male — Finalists are Kevin Black, Jeff David, Alex Downes-Borowski, John Freeman and Rick McCoy.

Bishop Heffron Award for Service to the University — Alan Joswick, Trades Department supervisor.

The following class schedule will be observed:

7:45-9 a.m. classes meet 8-8:50 a.m.
9:15-10:30 a.m. classes meet 9-9:50 a.m.
10:45-noon classes meet 10-10:50 a.m.
12:15-1:30 p.m. classes meet 3-3:50 p.m.
1:45-3 p.m. classes meet 4-4:50 p.m.

Classes that meet any time after 3 p.m. will start at 5 p.m. and end at the discretion of the instructor.

Chicago Convention planned for Feb. 29-March 1

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will feature staff, students and faculty from Saint Mary’s – along with notable SMU alumni from the Chicago area – during its upcoming Chicago convention for prospective students and alumni.

The third “SMU Convention – Chicago” will bring more than 100 Saint Mary’s faculty, staff and current students to the Westin Chicago Northwest Hotel in Itasca. Prospective students, families and alumni will be treated to activities and demonstrations, lunch and a keynote speaker, entertainment, and information booths that showcase the university.

Convention-goers will meet with professors, coaches and admission staff, sample a variety of refreshments, enjoy a live musical performance, and take their chances with games and giveaways.

A special pre-convention reception Friday, Feb. 29, from 7 to 11 p.m. is reserved for alumni to socialize, meet with Saint Mary’s faculty and staff, and enjoy a silent auction.

Saturday, March 1, the convention opens at 9 a.m. with exhibitor booths and displays. A free convention luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m., hosted by Walter ’81, Tim ’85, and Mark ’86 Smithe of Walter E. Smithe Furniture Company, featuring a keynote speech from John McDonough ’75, president of the Chicago Blackhawks.

From 10 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, fun and educational breakout sessions will be offered by faculty, staff and noted alumni. From 11 to 11:45 a.m., the Oldie Moldie All-Stars will perform hits from the ’50s and ’60s. The convention adjourns at 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Meg Richtman, convention coordinator, Ext. 1499, or go online to www.smumn.edu/convention.

Students go on tour; business plan winners announced

On Wednesday, Feb. 20, students in Sharon O’Reilly’s Advanced Entrepreneurship Seminar course toured Wenonah Canoe in Winona. The business tour was sponsored by the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. As part of the tour, Mike Cichanowski, owner and founder of Wenonah Canoe, spoke to the students about his entrepreneurial experiences.

Also, eight business plan proposals were submitted for the first student-run business plan competition sponsored by the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. The winning proposals were announced Feb. 11.

The results: first place: “Spectrum Printing and Design” submitted by Andrea Hills and Sheila Tierney; second place: “The SMUthie” submitted by Amanda Christman and Chris Schleper; third place: “naterscom” submitted by Nathan Pattee.

The winning students will receive cash awards funded by the Kabara Institute. The first-place winners have been invited to represent the Kabara Institute at the Chicago Convention Feb. 29-March 1 and highlight their business plan proposal during a convention break-out session.

SMU collaborates with ‘Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water’ program

Five local institutions will collaborate with Minneapolis-based In the Heart of the Beast Puppet-Mask Theater to spearhead a community-wide program, “Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water.” SMU, Winona State University, Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical, Southeast Minnesota Water Resources Board and the City of Winona will incorporate the water theme into classes, presentations and activities, beginning in fall of 2008.

Plans also include the highlighting and decorating of public drinking fountains on the college campuses and in the City of Winona as well as raising awareness through visual art and performance. The goal of the project is for the community to achieve a broader and deeper understanding of water quality and stewardship.

This project is funded by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Campus Compact. For more information, contact Joan Francioni, 457-2336, jfrancioni@winona.edu.

SMU theatre students stage drama Feb. 28-March 3

A rural diner gets a rude awakening when staff and customers are held hostage at the hands of an unstable madman during Saint Mary’s University’s production of “When You Comin’ Back Red Ryder?” The SMU Department of Theatre Arts will stage the disturbing drama Feb. 28-March 3, in the Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre.

When Teddy, a Vietnam veteran teetering on the edge of madness, and his young girlfriend barge into a forgotten New Mexico roadside diner, nothing will ever be the same for its five occupants. Teddy uses personal threats and wit to psychologically dismember his hostages. “Red Ryder’s” underlying theme includes a longing for the past – for childhood, for the innocence of the ’50s with its cowboy heroes. Just as the diner’s customers and staff will never be the same, author Mark Howard Medoff is telling his audience that this age of innocence is gone forever.

Performances, under the direction of Dr. Gary Diomandes, are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday, Feb. 28, 29, March 1 and 3. A matinee performance is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday, March. 2.

“Red Ryder” is for mature audiences only; the content includes adult language and violence. Tickets for the show are $8, $6 for students and seniors and are available at the Performance Center Box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Faculty invited to share talents in faculty review March 27

Hey faculty! Do you play a musical instrument, dance, write poetry, or any other artistic skill? The junior class is looking for participants for this year’s faculty review, to be held 7 p.m. March 27 in the Common Room.

Contact Russell Mollo (ramoll05@smumn.edu) or Neil Leibundguth at (nmleib05@smumn.edu) if you have any questions or if you would like to participate.

SMU Page Series to present San Jose Taiko March 10

Saint Mary’s University’s Page Series will host the powerful, spellbinding and propulsive sounds of San Jose Taiko 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 10.

Taiko — the Japanese drum — is an instrument that embodies the spiritual essence and the heartbeat of Japan and its people. Priests used taiko to chase evil spirits and the insects from the rice fields; samurai used taiko to bolster their courage and to instill fear in the enemy; villagers used taiko to pray for rain, to enliven festivals and to give thanks for bountiful harvests.

San Jose Taiko has adopted these traditional values and infused the art of taiko with the vitality and freshness of their American spirit to create a dynamic and compelling Asian American art form. The music of San Jose Taiko weaves traditional Japanese sounds with the beat of world rhythms. African, Alinese, Latin, American rock and jazz merge to produce an innovative contemporary sound that brings diverse styles and resonates with the soul.

Tickets for the Page Theatre performance are $20, $14 for seniors, $12 for students, and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Make it dinner and a show. Pre-show dinners are provided by Chartwells Catering. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Toner Student Center, located next to the Performance Center. Adult dinners cost $20 and include chicken, beef, and vegetarian options, along with beverages and dessert. Bottles of wine may be purchased for an extra fee. Children’s dinners cost $12 and include mac-n-cheese or chicken fingers with sides, beverages and dessert. Orders will be accepted up to three days prior to the event; order online or by phone.

Group photo show on display Feb. 28-March 29 at SMU

Rus Hurt is one of five photographers displaying in "Tempus Fugit" Feb. 28-March 29.

Five area photographers will display assorted nature and documentary work Feb. 28 through March 29 at Saint Mary’s.

The exhibit, which will be on display at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, will include work by Wade Britzius, Rus Hurt, Kathy Greden, Ron Reimer and Jim Risser.

An opening reception is scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28. Admission is free and open to the public, and gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call Ext. 1652.

Next ‘Let’s Do Lunch’ is hotdish extravaganza

Mark your calendars for the next Let’s Do Lunch March 13. The Office of Admission will host “Minnesota Hot Dishes.” Proceeds continue to benefit SMU faculty and staff who were affected by the August flood.

Results of the chili cookoff Thursday are: First, John Schollmeier, maintenance; second, Deb Nahrgang, communication and marketing; third, June Fox, student services. The event raised $205.

Gaslight auditions are Feb. 22-24

Gaslight 2008 auditions will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23; and noon to 5 pm. Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Phi Mu Alpha Room 16, Toner Student Center basement.

Sign-ups are posted on the Phi Mu Alpha room door. For questions or rehearsal times, contact Neil Olstad (ndolst04@smumn.edu,) Anna Skonieczny, or Lindsay Dickson.

‘Fireside’ will be Feb. 22-23

‘Fireside,’ a coffee-house style talent show sponsored by the sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota, will be held Feb. 22-23. For more information, contact Nicole at nlschr04@smumn.edu or Brookly at baheff04 @smumn.edu. Tickets are available today at lunch and dinner.

SMU to host regional science fair Feb. 29

Saint Mary’s will host the Regional Science Fair Feb. 29. Approximately 250 area students in grades seven through 12 will display their work in biology, physics and chemistry, behavior science, computer science, math and social sciences.

SMU faculty, student musicians at music education conference

Five SMU students attended the state Music Education Winter Clinic including, from left: back, Jeremy Johnston, Ryan Ballanger, Tom Briese; front, Gosia Paidosh and Samantha Kirsch. Paidosh worked with conference clinic staff, and the others performed in the Intercollegiate Honor Band.

Two members of Saint Mary’s music faculty, Dr. Janet Heukeshoven and Denny McGuire, and five SMU students participated in the Minnesota music education conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Four SMU students performed in the select Intercollegiate Honor Band including: Jeremy Johnston, percussion; Ryan Ballanger, clarinet; Tom Briese, trombone; and Samantha Kirsch, clarinet. Gosia Paidosh, a music major, worked with conference clinic staff.

Dr. Heukeshoven was one of five collegiate conductors chosen to direct this year's Intercollegiate Honor Band. She directed the 2006-07 Kaplan Foundation/SMU Concert Band commissioned work, “Israeli Rhapsody” by internationally recognized composer Judith Zaimont. She also conducted the work with the Virginia Intercollegiate Honor Band at the University of Mary Washington.

Dr. Heukeshoven serves as collegiate representative on the Minnesota Music Educators Association Board of Directors, and also assisted with clinic sessions, the SMU exhibit booth, and conference logistics.

While attending the conference, Heukeshoven accepted the All-Steinway School Award on behalf of the SMU Music Department. For more information, visit www.smumn.edu/music.

Additionally, adjunct music faculty member Denny McGuire presented a session at the state music education conference, titled: “Batucata!” The overall theme of the conference was “Embracing World Music — Embracing Local Traditions.” McGuire presented an interactive session designed to assist in-service music educators at all levels.

Mathews to address personality disorders Feb. 27

Dr. Ruth Mathews from the Wellness Center will present an overview of the 10 personality disorders identified in the diagnostic manual on mental disorders from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Personality disorders are defined as enduring (inflexible and pervasive) patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture leading to significant distress and impairment. Categories include antisocial, narcissistic, avoidant, dependent, and paranoid personality disorders. Treatment issues and strategies will be briefly addressed.

The event will be held in Figliulo Recital Hall and is free with your SMU ID and open to the public.

Three SMU students show research at Capitol

Three students from Saint Mary’s, along with their faculty advisors, traveled to the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda on Thursday, Feb. 21, to present the results of their independent research and creative scholarship at the annual Minnesota Private College Scholars at the Capitol event.

The Minnesota Private College Council hosts this event in an attempt to publicize and celebrate the achievements of just a few of the many thousands of students who attend private schools of higher learning in Minnesota, and to share research that may have long-term implications for Minnesotans.

The event showcased current research projects completed by undergraduate scholars from Minnesota private colleges and universities. Saint Mary’s students attending this year’s event included:

• Sarah Jo Schroeder, Aurora, Minn., presenting on “The Examination of the Diet of the Freshwater Drum, Aplodinorus Grunniens, for Zebra Mussels, Dreissena Polymorpha, from the Mississippi River.”
• Anna Skonieczny of Freeport, Ill., presenting on “The Effects of Demethylating and Methylating Chemicals on Mitotic Activity of Vicia faba in Different Stages of the Cell Cycle.”
• Laura Eggert of St. Michael, Minn., and former student Victoria Evans, presenting on “The Physiological Responses of Lepomis gibbosus and Mus musculus to Noturus gyrinus Toxin.”

Internationally known coaches to lead figure skating camp

Three internationally known figure skating coaches will lead “Turning Point 2008,” a figure skating camp hosted by the Winona Figure Skating Club July 27-31 at Saint Mary’s. The camp, the first of its kind in the area, will feature:

• Evelyn Kramer (“The Spin Doctor”), an Olympic and World International coach who has worked with Peggy Fleming and Michelle Kwan, to name a few.

• Scott Brown, a national, world and Olympic choreographer who has worked with athletes from more than 18 different countries. He also starred in the Ice Capades and is best known for his innovative and authentic choreography.

• Janet Champion, a Master-Rated coach in school figure, freeskating and group instruction, as well as “moves in the field,” which is the national testing system for figure skaters that she helped originate.

Besides on-ice instruction, campers will have off-ice training, such as ballet classes, Pilates, nutrition, strength training and injury prevention classes. Residential campers will stay in the SMU dorms and eat meals on campus. Day camps — for those who do not wish to stay overnight will be offered — as well.

For more information or to register for “Turning Point 2008,” go to the Winona Figure Skating Club website, www.winonafigureskating.org.

News from Nairobi

The MIAS educational method trains students to use the skills acquired through their courses in their various vocations/ministries in society.

Recently a student from the Cameroon wrote that he is using his MIASMU cultural training to work with people in Gabon where he was posted for ministry.

The skills he gained from field research in Nairobi have enabled him to freely interact with his parishioners in that country even though their cultures and languages are much different from his own. He further stated that he has gained respect from the people owing to the way in which he is able to relate with them in an adult manner — a clear example of the long-term value of MIASMU’s systematic cultural training.

Bearbower recognized as patriotic employer

Sarah Bearbower, Information Technology manager, was recognized as a “patriotic employer” by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Patriot Awards are given to employers who contribute to national security by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and reserve force.

Country singer Josh Gracin to perform at SMU March 13

National country star Josh Gracin will perform March 13 at Saint Mary’s gymnasium. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Admission is free for SMU students and $10 for an additional SMU guest or $15 for the general public and are available at the SMU box office. Tickets will also be available at the door; bring your SMU ID. No food or drink will be allowed in the gym. Watch for more information.

Save the date for next inauguration, Sept. 26

The presidential inauguration for Brother William Mann has been set for Sept. 26 on the Winona campus. Mark your calendars and adjust your schedules accordingly. Classes will be cancelled on that date so that all faculty, staff and students can enjoy the day.

Additionally, a public Winona welcome has been set for Brother William on Wednesday, June 18.

Plan ahead for these community celebrations in honor of our 13th president.

Founder’s Day to honor three

Alan Joswick, Trades Department supervisor, will receive 2008 Bishop Patrick Heffron Award for Service, and the 2008 Outstanding Male and Female Students will be named during the Founder’s Day Convocation Feb. 26. Mass will be held at 11 a.m., and convocation begins at 1:15 p.m. in Page Theatre; a reception will follow the convocation.

Students are groovin’ during rehearsals for Candlelight

Saint Mary’s University Student’s, Alex Gorgone, left, and Moreen Bosch, right, rehearse for the “Candlelight Outta Sight!” performance Feb. 9. SMU students will perform a variety of ’60s and ’70s favorites during the formal dinner.

Students have been getting back into the groove while rehearsing for “Candlelight, Outta Sight!” at Saint Mary’s University, which will provide a flashback to the era of peace and love on Feb. 9.

A select group of SMU theatre and music students will perform a variety of well-known favorites from the ’60s and early ’70s including “Build me up Buttercup,” “All You Need is Love,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” as well as many, many more throughout the evening. After a five-course dinner, the seven-piece Diane Martinson Band will entice those in attendance to hit the dance floor.
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Candlelight is a community event, hosted biennially by the university. Formerly a fund-raiser, the event is now simply a fun evening, a formal celebration of the university and a thank you to the community for its support.

The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at 6 p.m. in the lounge, followed by dinner in the dining hall, both in the Toner Student Center. The cost is $75 per person or $140 per couple. Dress is formal attire, and valet parking and coat check services will be available.

If you’d still like to attend, call Jo Nesler, Ext. 1664.

Chicago Convention planned for Feb. 29-March 1

Mark your calendars for Feb. 29 and March 1, as Saint Mary’s faculty, staff and students will once again hit the road to reconnect with alumni and friends, meet prospective students and share our SMU with Chicago.

A special pre-convention reception Friday, Feb. 29, from 7 to 11 p.m., is reserved for alumni to socialize, meet with Saint Mary’s faculty and staff, and enjoy a silent auction. Additionally, this year’s retiring faculty will be recognized.
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Saturday, March 1, the convention opens at 9 a.m. with exhibitor booths and displays. A free convention luncheon begins at 11 a.m., hosted by Walter ’81, Tim ’85, and Mark ’86 Smithe of Walter E. Smithe Furniture Company, featuring a keynote speech from John McDonough, president of the Chicago Blackhawks and a 1975 Saint Mary’s alumnus.

From 10 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, fun and educational breakout sessions will be offered by faculty, staff and students. From 11 to 11:45 a.m., the Oldie Moldie All-Stars will perform hits from the ’50s and ’60s. The convention adjourns at 4 p.m.

For more details, go to www.smumn.edu/convention.

SMU Page Series to present vocal talents of Chic Gamine

The rhythmic voices of Chic Gamine will fill Saint Mary’s Page Theatre with a unique harmonious blend of soulful music Wednesday, Feb. 20. SMU’s Page Series will present the all-women vocal group, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Performance Center.

Chic Gamine, a French-Canadian group of five women, uses a male solo percussionist as their only musical support. Their voices become their instruments as they launch into intricate string arrangements, bass-heavy rhythm sections and melodious harmonies. Together they create a sound that resounds with passion and their own particular brand of humor that leaves audiences begging for more.
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The members of the group have been singing together in various formations since 1997. Most recently, three of them were members of the acclaimed world vocal ensemble Madrigaia, and look to embellish that legacy with new, original material. Their performance will draw from “soul, world and roots” – including African, Middle-Eastern, South-American music and, of course, French-Canadian Folk.

Tickets are $18, $12 for seniors, $10 for students, and are available by calling the Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Make it dinner and a show. Pre-show dinners are provided by Chartwells Catering. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Toner Student Center, located next to the Performance Center. Adult dinners cost $20 and include chicken, beef, and vegetarian options, along with beverages and dessert. Bottles of wine may be purchased for an extra fee. Children’s dinners cost $12 and include mac-n-cheese or chicken fingers with sides, beverages, and dessert. Orders will be accepted up to three days prior to the event; order online or by phone.

SMU theatre students stage drama Feb. 28-March 3

A rural diner gets a rude awakening when staff and customers are held hostage at the hands of an unstable madman during Saint Mary’s University’s production of “When You Comin’ Back Red Ryder?” The SMU Department of Theatre Arts will stage the disturbing drama Feb. 28-March 3, in the Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre.

When Teddy, a Vietnam veteran teetering on the edge of madness, and his young girlfriend barge into a forgotten New Mexico roadside diner, nothing will ever be the same for its five occupants.
Read more... Teddy uses personal threats and wit to psychologically dismember his hostages. “Red Ryder’s” underlying theme includes a longing for the past – for childhood, for the innocence of the ’50s with its cowboy heroes. Just as the diner’s customers and staff will never be the same, author Mark Howard Medoff is telling his audience that this age of innocence is gone forever.

Performances, under the direction of Dr. Gary Diomandes, are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday, Feb. 28, 29, March 1 and 3. A matinee performance is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday, March. 2.

“Red Ryder” is for mature audiences only; the content includes adult language and violence. Tickets for the show are $8, $6 for students and seniors and are available at the Performance Center Box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Faculty invited to share talents in faculty review March 27

Hey faculty! Do you play a musically instrument, dance, write poetry, or any other artistic skill? Do you want to show off this special ability to your students? The junior class is looking for participants for this year’s faculty review, to be held 7 p.m. March 27 in the Common Room.

Contact Russell Mollo (ramoll05@smumn.edu) or Neil Leibundguth at (nmleib05@smumn.edu) if you have any questions or if you would like to participate.

SMU Chamber Singers to perform in Madison, Victoria

The Saint Mary’s Chamber Singers will perform a series of concerts in Madison, Wis., and Victoria, Minn., as part of their 2008 Concert Tour. The 22-voice select ensemble is directed by Dr. Patrick O’Shea, associate professor of music and Music Department chairman.
Read more... Tour performances will include concerts at:

• St. James Catholic Church (Madison, Wis.) – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13
• St. Victoria Catholic Church (Victoria, Minn.) – 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15.

The Chamber Singers will also serve as the guest choir for Masses at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, and at the Cathedral of St. Paul at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17.

All performances are free and open to the public. Repertoire will include a cappella works by Palestrina, Lauridsen, Stenhammar, and Ginastera, as well as English madrigals and spirituals.

For more information, call O’Shea at Ext. 1598.

SMU faculty join forces for ‘Ignes Fatui’ art show

“Flower of Youth” Giclee by Brother Roderick Robertson, FSC, one of eight Saint Mary’s University faculty displaying work in “Ignes Fatui” through Feb. 17 at SMU.
Eight Saint Mary’s University art faculty members have joined forces for the next exhibit, “Ignes Fatui,” in SMU’s Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

Displaying works are Preston Lawing, Robert McColl, Charles Campbell, Randi Campbell, Sister Margaret Mear, Brother Roderick Robertson, Michelle Cochran and Dr. John Whelan.

The exhibit will run through Feb. 17. Admission is free and open to the public, and gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call Ext. 1652.

Next ‘Let’s Do Lunch’ is chili cookoff

Mark your calendars for the next Let’s Do Lunch. Proceeds continue to benefit SMU faculty and staff who were affected by the August flood. Feb. 21 is the chili cookoff; all faculty and staff are invited to compete for prizes.

Gaslight auditions are Feb. 22-24

Gaslight 2008 auditions will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23; and noon to 5 pm. Sunday Feb. 24 at the Phi Mu Alpha Room 16, Toner Student Center Basement.

Sign-ups are posted on the Phi Mu Alpha room door, which is also available for rehearsals. For questions or rehearsal times, please contact Neil Olstad (ndolst04@smumn.edu,) Anna Skonieczny, or Lindsay Dickson.

Heukeshoven directs Metro area High School Honor Band

Dr. Janet Heukeshoven served as clinician/conductor of the Tri-Metro Honor Band as part of the Tri-Metro Fine Arts Festival on Monday, Feb. 4. The day-long festival concluded with performances by the honor band, orchestra, and choir, as well as studio art exhibits and classes for student artists.

Held at the Minnehaha Academy Williams Fine Arts Center, student participants came from the Blake School, Breck School, Concordia Academy, St. Agnes School, Saint Bernard's School, St. Croix Lutheran High School, St. Anthony Village High School, DeLaSalle High School, Convent of the Visitation School, Mounds Park Academy, and Minnehaha Academy. The band performed works by Franco Cesarini, Malcolm Arnold, David Gordon and Ron Hardimon.

Heukeshoven to direct ‘Israeli Rhapsody’

Dr. Janet Heukeshoven will conduct Judith Lang Zaimont’s “Israeli Rhapsody” Feb. 15-16 as part of the Minnesota Music Educators Association 2008 Midwinter In-Service Clinic, to be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center. For more about this clinic, visit www.mmea.org/winterclinic.htm.

“Israeli Rhapsody” was given its world premiere performance by the Saint Mary’s University Concert Band, under the direction of Heukeshoven, in March 2007. The SMU Concert Band commissioned the work through the Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation Commissioning Project.
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On Feb. 8-9 “Israeli Rhapsody” will be performed as part of the Symposium for New Band Music, sponsored by the Virginia chapter of the College Band Directors National Association and hosted by the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va.

Lang Zaimont wrote that in her piece she is “paying tribute to the complicated, thoughtful and joyous aspects that come together and do indeed characterize the people who flourish in that dramatic land.”

‘Fireside’ will be Feb. 22-23

‘Fireside,’ a coffee-house style talent show sponsored by the Sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota, will be held Feb. 22-23. For more information, contact: Nicole at nlschr04@smumn.edu or Brookly at baheff04 @smumn.edu. Tickets will be available the week of Feb. 18-22 at lunch and dinner.

Poet to read from his book, ‘Nervous Systems’ Feb. 19

William Stobb will read from his 2006 National Poetry Series book, “Nervous Systems,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, in the President’s Room of the Toner Student Center. The event, sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, the National Honor Society, is free and open to the public; refreshments will be provided.

Stobb’s work has been described as “Jittery, synaptic, wide-ranging ... filled with audacious turns, swerves, juke-steps and leaps, while still somehow managing to get the poems where they were meant to go.”

SMU to host regional science fair Feb. 29

Saint Mary’s will host the Regional Science Fair Feb. 29. Approximately 250 area students in grades seven through 12 will display their work in biology, physics and chemistry, behavior science, computer science, math and social sciences.

Daffodil orders due Feb. 15

This year’s daffodil orders are due during break (Feb. 15), so if you’re going to be off campus, get your order in to Sylvia Pflughoeft before you leave !

The American Cancer Society’s 2008 celebration of Daffodil Days takes place the week of March 10-14. Support the American Cancer Society by purchasing these spring flowers.

The cost is still $8 for a bunch of 10 daffodils. New this year are: potted mini “dainty” daffodils, the “Bear and a Bunch,” and “Vase and a Bunch.”
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Convenient online ordering with credit card is available.

Visit the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days website and click on Sylvia’s name and then on “reserve daffodils.”

Or contact Pflughoeft, spflugho@smumn.edu, Campus Box 17, Ext. 1455. Payment is required with your order. Make checks payable to the American Cancer Society, and please don’t send cash through campus mail.

Daffodils will be delivered to your Winona Campus office the week of March 10- 14.

Last ‘Campus Notes’ before break

Because of February break, there will be no ‘Campus Notes’ next week. The next edition will be Friday, Feb. 22. The deadline for submissions will be Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Congratulations to Swansons

Shawn and Stacey Swanson, assistant to the vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, had a baby boy, Samuel Marshall, on Monday, Feb. 4.

The Saint Mary’s community extends its congratulations to the Swanson family.

Outstanding senior nominees are announced

The following students were named as finalists for the 2008 Outstanding Senior Awards:

Female: Lindsay Dickson, Laura Holupchinski, Amy Kalina, Kasey Schultz and Ana Sontag.

Male: Kevin Black, Jeff David, Alex Downes-Borowski, John Freeman and Rick McCoy.

Congratulations to these outstanding students. Final ballots will be sent to faculty and staff the first week of February. Seniors will have an opportunity to vote at Senior Salute on Feb. 21. The award for outstanding female and male senior will be presented at Founder'’ Day on Feb. 26.

Students are groovin’ during rehearsals for Candlelight

Saint Mary’s University Student’s, Alex Gorgone, left, and Moreen Bosch, right, rehearse for the “Candlelight Outta Sight!” performance Feb. 9. SMU students will perform a variety of ’60s and ’70s favorites during the formal dinner.
Students have been getting back into the groove while rehearsing for “Candlelight, Outta Sight!” at Saint Mary’s University, which will provide a flashback to the era of peace and love on Feb. 9.

A select group SMU theatre and music students will perform a variety of well-known favorites from the ’60s and early ’70s including “Build me up Buttercup,” “All You Need is Love,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” as well as many, many more throughout the evening. After a five-course dinner, the seven-piece Diane Martinson Band will entice those in attendance to hit the dance floor.
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Candlelight is a communitywide event, hosted biennially by the university. Formerly a fund-raiser, the event is now simply a fun evening, a formal celebration of the university and a thank you to the community for its support.
The evening will begin with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails at 6 p.m. in the lounge, followed by dinner in the dining hall, both in the Toner Student Center. The cost is $75 per person or $140 per couple. Dress is formal attire, and valet parking and coat check services will be available.

Invitations have been mailed, but everyone is invited! If you would like to attend or have questions about Candlelight, call Jo Nesler, Ext. 1664.