Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Tap company to perform at Valéncia Saturday

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts has hosted the Minneapolis-based rhythm tap company Keane Sense of Rhythm this week at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

Keane Sense of Rhythm (KSR) will present performances featuring their Youth Tap Ensemble in “If The Shoe Fits,” a modern Cinderella story. Performances are Saturday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Valéncia Arts Center Academy Theatre.

Admission to the matinee performance is a freewill offering. Admission to the evening performance, which will also feature KSR’s Young Professional Company, is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students (ages 3-21) at the door. Cash or checks only will be accepted, and no advance ticket sales are necessary. The performances will include a sign language interpreter.

Keane Sense of Rhythm is dedicated to preserving, presenting, creating, and expanding the boundaries of American tap dance.

For more information about KSR’s residency, contact Ext. 5500 or go online to www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org. For more information about KSR visit www.tapcompany.org.

Relay for Life scheduled for March 18-19

‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ nears

Can you spell hilarious? The Department of Theatre and Dance will present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Feb. 24-27.

Catchy musical numbers combine with colorful characters filled with youthful angst and yearnings in this one-act musical comedy directed by Dr. Gary Diomandes and music director Judy Myers.

Feel the anxious anticipation at this fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. The contestants include a Boy Scout, an allergy-plagued student, an over achiever, a tentative newcomer, the wide-eyed offspring of hippie parents, and a politically aware contestant — six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grownups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” spotlights the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

With the underlying theme that losing doesn’t make you a loser, anyone who sees this show is a winner.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 24-26, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, Ext.1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

* This show includes adult language and subject matters.

Bring your appetites to annual chili cook-off today

The competition’s getting hot! About 15 faculty and staff members are vying for the title of “Best Chili Maker” on Friday, Feb. 4.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries!

Chili makers should bring their “unmarked” crockpot to the Common Room by 11 a.m. for judging. Everyone is invited to eat chili between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Desserts, beverages and toppings will also be provided by the Volunteer Committee and the President’s Cabinet.

Cardinal Corner now open; funds assist orphanage

The Cardinal Corner will raise money this semester for an orphanage in Chotomow, Poland. Ania McNamara, one of the students in the MG315 Entrepreneurship class, has been raising funds to assist the orphanage she lived in as a small child.

The Cardinal Corner is a non-profit retail store located in the lower level of the Toner Student Center. Managed by the students of MG315 Entrepreneurship and supported by the School of Business, the mission of the store is to create an opportunity for entrepreneurship students to gain hands-on experience in operating a small business.

For more information, contact the professor, Jana Craft, at Ext. 1491 or jcraft@smumn.edu. Become a fan and receive the latest updates at www.facebook.com/cardinalcorner.

Women’s basketball celebrates the ‘pink zone’ Feb. 12

Chat, Chow & Web 2.0 presents new Wednesday topic

The next Chat, Chow & Web 2.0 titled “Pasta & PowerPoint: Alternatives” will be held Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Stop in to see Dave Jackson and Joe Dulak demonstrate powerful alternatives to the ubiquitous PowerPoint slide. As an added attraction, butternut squash ravioli will be on the menu.

Meet between 12:15 and 1:15 p.m. in the main lounge of the McEnery Center. This presentation is sponsored by The Fitz, IT and Instructional Technology.

Lunch is provided; RSVPs can be made to Jason Spartz at jspartz@smumn.edu.

Business Office raising funds for Feed My Starving Children

The Business Office will be working as a team with "Feed My Starving Children" to package meals for children around the world. Volunteers will be hand-packing meals on Saturday, March 26.

Each team is asked to raise $750 to participate. The Business Office team has decided to sell homemade valentines as a way to help raise funds. These cards will sell for $2 each and are available at the Business Office windows.

Collection jars are located at the windows for additional donations.

More information about "Feed My Starving Children":

• Volunteers package 100% of the food;
• Each meal provides the key nutrients a starving child needs to survive and thrive; and
• Each meal costs 24 cents to produce.

For more information about FMSC, go to fmsc.org.

Discussion group for parents starts Feb. 9

Counseling Services is partnering with Katy Smith, a licensed parent educator for Winona Public Schools, to offer a noontime discussion series for faculty and staff parents (and grandparents) with children younger than 7. The discussion will center on the book “Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents” by Christine Carter. A wide array of research studies show that happiness is a learned behavior that we can help our children build and maintain.

The discussion series will begin on Feb. 9 at 12:15 p.m. in the President’s Room. Participants are invited to bring their own lunches, and beverages and desserts will be provided. There is no charge for the series. Discussions will continue on Feb. 16 and 23 and March 2, 16 and 23. Please call Ext. 1773 to indicate your interest in the group or if you would like more information. Participants can come to all sessions or just the ones that fit with their schedules.

Smith has been working with families, educator, and businesses for more than 25 years, helping to build stronger, more vital communities. She received her B.S.W. and teaching license in Parent Education from Winona State University. She earned her M.E. in Professional Development from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.

Guest speaker to discuss Catholic liberal education

Guest speaker Thomas S. Hibbs will present “Aquinas, MacIntyre, and the Reform of Catholic Liberal Education,” Thursday, Feb. 10, as part of the Saint Thomas Aquinas Lecture Series.

Hibbs is a distinguished professor of Ethics & Culture and dean of the Honors College at Baylor University. The presentation — scheduled for 7 p.m. in the President’s Room — is generously sponsored by the Department of Philosophy, the Dean of Humanities and Sciences, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, in cooperation with the minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. For more information, contact Dr. Joseph Tadie at jtadie@smumn.edu or Ext. 6652.

Jazz notes

Swing Inc. is now officially the “house band” at Signatures. The next performance is 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4.

Get hints for grad school at next biology seminar

Joshua Lallaman will present the next biology seminar on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 4 p.m. in Room 112, Hoffman Hall. The title of his talk will be “Hints and Tips for Grad School.” Anyone who is interested in attending graduate school should attend.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Forbes ranks Saint Mary’s as nation’s best for minority graduates in STEM programs

Saint Mary’s is the nation’s top-ranked college for minorities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, according to a recent Forbes report.

Forbes ranked colleges and universities for helping racial or ethnic minorities succeed in STEM programs. Forbes compared the percentages of blacks, Hispanics and American Indians (groups typically underrepresented in STEM) to whites and Asians (groups typically well-represented in STEM). Forbes excluded from its analysis those schools with a student body that is almost entirely minority students.

Saint Mary’s offers STEM programs in its traditional four-year bachelor of arts program at its Winona campus, as well as STEM programs within the bachelor of science completion programs for adult learners at its Twin Cities campus.

The Forbes report cited data from the Saint Mary’s undergraduate graduating class in 2008. Forbes said that class included about 10 percent underrepresented minority students, just above the national median for ranked colleges. “But of those minority students,” Forbes said, “35 percent received their degrees in STEM – well above the median among all colleges, which is 10 percent.”

Bob Conover, vice president for communication, noted that Saint Mary’s undergraduate STEM programs “combine a strong academic component with opportunities for hands-on research and student interaction with professors. I believe it’s this combination which helps us reach underrepresented populations.” Conover added that “as a Lasallian Catholic university, Saint Mary’s is student-centered and committed to preparing learners for success in an increasingly complex and multicultural world.”

To read the complete Forbes article, go to www.forbes.com/2010/12/10/best-colleges-minorities-women-science-lifestyle-education-stem.html.

Saint Mary’s awarded $4,000 grant from Xcel Energy

Saint Mary’s has received a $4,000 grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation to support its 2010-2011 arts educational programming.

This grant has helped to fund the following events in connection with the Page Series and the School of the Arts:

• a masterclass and pre-show talk by Anat Cohen,
• a school matinee by the Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble,
• a school matinee by Theatreworks USA’s production of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,
• Houston Ballet II’s masterclass,
• The Nutcracker school matinee, hosted by the School of the Arts
• a masterclass by the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble,
• a masterclass by Ensemble Galilei
• a school matinee performance of Let Freedom Ring by the Pushcart Players,
• a workshop by Darrah Carr Dance, and
• two school matinees of Stuart Little by Theatre IV.

The Xcel Energy Foundation supports efforts to increase accessibility to artistic and cultural activities. In 2009, Xcel Energy Foundation committed $788,200 to programs providing access to arts and culture throughout its service territory.

Faculty, staff attend second SOUL trip

All Saint Mary’s faculty, staff and administration were invited to take part in the most recent SOUL trip, organized through Campus Ministry, Jan. 12-14.

Trip leader Joe Tadie and attendees Peggy Ebert, Peg Johnson, Terrie Lueck, Janelle Ansel, Janneke Quick and Angel Weisbrod traveled to the San Miguel schools in Chicago, where they toured classrooms and tutored children from both the Back of the Yards Campus and the Gary Comer Campus.

The purpose of the trip was to ultimately build connections between different cultures, while enriching and energizing the lives of both the employee and student participants. The attendees also learned about the ever-changing student population, so that they may better serve the students at Saint Mary’s and better promote the Lasallian Catholic mission.

The first SMU employee SOUL trip was held in May 2010. Organizers decided to extend this opportunity of service — originally only offered to students — to other members of the Saint Mary’s community.

The next SOUL trip is scheduled for May 15-18. The deadline for signing up is May 5. Contact Chris McClead at Ext. 7268 or cmcclead@smumn.edu for more information.

McCullough organizes poetry reading Jan. 31

On Monday, Jan. 31, members of the Winona community will gather to recite some of their favorite poetry, by heart. The program, “From Memory,” will begin at 1 p.m. at the Winona Senior Friendship Center, 251 Main St.

Participants from SMU will include Pat Costello, Jim and Enda Fitzmaurice, Bill Crozier, Giles Schmid and Brother Ed Everett. Other participants will be Walt and Marian Carroll, Margaret Shaw Johnson, Emilio DeGrazia, Taff Roberts, John Edstrom and Lynn Nankivil. The event is being organized by Winona’s Poet Laureate Ken McCullough (Academic Advising and PASS Program). The program is free and open to the public. Call McCullough at Ext. 8737 for more information.

Page Series presents Ensemble Galilei with Conan

The Page Series will present an evening of wonder and delight featuring Ensemble Galilei with Neal Conan in “Universe of Dreams” Thursday, Feb. 3.

This unique show will combine a live performance of early Celtic and European folk music mixed with the written word from poets, philosophers and storytellers — read aloud by one of America’s best known radio voices, Neal Conan, host of NPR’s Talk of the Nation (heard locally on both Minnesota Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Radio). The performance includes images, captured by the Hubble space telescope, that have transformed our understanding of the universe.

Ensemble Galilei takes its name and inspiration from the life of composer Vincenzo Galilei, whose influence, some 400 years ago, helped restore a vital element of passion to the music of the day. Including both classically-trained and traditional musicians, the ensemble infuses ancient music with a spirit of improvisation and liveliness. Text from Stanley Kunitz, Jim Harrison, William Shakespeare, and a re-telling of a Navajo Creation Myth will be included. Anyone who enjoys music, language or the sciences will want to attend.

The event, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., will be held in Page Theatre.

Wisconsin Public Radio is the media sponsor of this event.

Saint Mary’s University is a fiscal year 2010 recipient of an Institutional Presenter Support grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is funded, in part, by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors and are available at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Work of well-known illustrator William A. Berry on display

“The Eye Behind the Eye, the Art of William A. Berry” is on display at Saint Mary’s through Feb. 20.

The show, free and open to the public, is on display at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

This retrospective exhibition celebrates the life and work of the internationally known artist, illustrator, author and teacher William A. Berry. This exhibit features a number of large colored pencil still life drawings for which he is perhaps best known. Also included in a variety of media are examples of themes including portraits, the human form and architectural motifs.

Berry’s rich professional career spanned nearly half a century. His book, “Drawing the Human Form: Methods, Sources, Concepts” is still a widely used textbook for illustration. Berry also worked as an illustrator for Newsweek, The Reporter, Opera News and Esquire. His work has appeared in more than 500 juried and solo exhibits.

A reception will be held Friday, Feb. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the galleries. A presentation by Dr. John Whelan, SMU’s Department of Art and Design, and Valerie Wedel, Missouri Valley College, will take place at 6:15 p.m.

For more information, call Ext. 1652.

Public invited to ‘SMU 10K’ ski events Sunday, Jan. 30

Saint Mary’s is inviting the public to the annual “SMU 10K” classic ski event on Sunday, Jan. 30. A classic-style citizens ski event will begin at 10 a.m., and a skate race will begin at 1 p.m.

A kids race will start at the gazebo at 11 a.m. Approximately 75 to 100 kids from the Minnesota Youth Ski League are expected to participate.

“We’re very fortunate to have an excellent trail system here that is both scenic, as well as challenging," said Chris Kendall, vice president of student life.

Both races will be held at Saint Mary’s University, home to one of the region’s finest cross country trail systems. The trails wind through the bluffs and valleys above the Mississippi River.

On-site registration will begin at 8 a.m. for the classic ski and 11 a.m. for the skate race, both at the SMU Toner Student Center. The cost is $10 for one race or $20 for both; the fee includes a souvenir race bib. Medals will be awarded for men and women in open and recreational classes.

For more information or to receive a registration form, call Gary Borash at Ext. 8740 or e-mail gmbora05@smumn.edu.

Relay for Life scheduled for March 18-19

More competitors needed for annual chili cookoff

The competition’s getting hot! But so far only three people have signed up to compete.

The Volunteer Committee invites you to test your award-winning chili in the upcoming faculty/staff chili cookoff on Friday, Feb. 4.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries!

Please let Deb Nahrgang (Ext. 6966 or dnahrgan@smumn.edu) know if you plan to enter the contest, so we can be sure we have enough to go around! If 10 competitors do not sign up, the event will need to be cancelled.

Chili makers should bring their “unmarked” crockpot to the Common Room by 11 a.m. for judging. Everyone is invited to eat chili between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Desserts, beverages and side dishes will also be provided.

Cardinal corner chooses new charity

The Cardinal Corner will raise money this semester for an orphanage in Chotomow, Poland. Ania McNamara, one of the students in the MG315 Entrepreneurship class, has been raising funds to assist the orphanage she lived in as a small child.

The Cardinal Corner is a non-profit retail store located in the lower level of the Toner Student Center. Managed by the students of MG315 Entrepreneurship and supported by the School of Business, the mission of the store is to create an opportunity for entrepreneurship students to gain hands-on experience in operating a small business.

Each semester, the class donates profits from the Cardinal Corner to a charity of their choice. In addition, the store sells products for various SMU clubs, teams, departments, and organizations and returns 100 percent of the sales to benefit the SMU community.

For more information, contact the professor, Jana Craft, at Ext. 1491 or jcraft@smumn.edu. Become a fan and receive the latest updates at www.facebook.com/cardinalcorner.

Women’s basketball celebrates the ‘pink zone’ Feb. 12

The women’s basketball team will join forces with teams across the country when they play for a cure to celebrate the “pink zone!”

Game time is 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, vs. Carleton College (The men’s game will follow at 3 p.m.) Everyone is encouraged to wear pink to the game.

Games People Play out of La Crosse, Wis., has teamed up with SMU women’s basketball to help fund raise for breast cancer awareness. Pink T-shirts are available for $10 each with all proceeds being donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund TM.

If you would like to purchase a T-shirt or make a donation, e-mail Coach Mandy Pearson at mpearson@smumn.edu by Feb. 1 with your name and size(s) of the T-shirt(s) you would like. Donations will be accepted at the game as well.

International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education earns CHEA recognition

The Board of Directors of the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) granted recognition to the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education in January.

The Bachelor of Arts Business program is accredited by IACBE.

Dr. Thomas Marpe, dean of the School of Business, was very pleased with CHEA recognizing the high standards IABCE requires of its accredited business programs. The Winona- based Bachelor of Arts business program went through reaccreditation in 2007, which includes a large self-study and a campus visit by IACBE to validate the quality of the accredited programs. This is just another indicator of the high standards and quality teaching in our business program.

Kabara elevator pitch contest nears

This semester’s Kabara elevator pitch contest will be held on Thursday, Feb. 3. at 3:30 p.m. Students who want to participate need to register with Theresa Speck by Tuesday, Feb. 1.

One of the main goals of the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies is to involve students from all majors, so every student is encouraged to enter.

A sample pitch on YouTube can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBrlUFzBT3w.

Heritage discussion groups offered

The University Council for Lasallian Mission is offering Heritage Discussion Groups this semester in both Minneapolis and Winona.

Groups will discuss one of two topics: 1) “Lasallian Origins and Heritage” and 2) "The Catholic Intellectual Tradition." In a three-year cycle, the following topics will be covered:

2011: Lasallian Origins & Heritage
The Catholic Intellectual Tradition

2012: Lasallian Pedagogy
Catholic Social Teaching & Tradition

2013: Lasallian Spirituality
Catholic Moral Tradition

Each group will have a volunteer facilitator and assigned readings, and will meet four times this semester (February-May).

Faculty and staff are invited to consider participating in one of these discussion groups as a way to deepen your understanding of the Lasallian Catholic heritage of Saint Mary’s, and to interact with colleagues on these topics.

If you are interested, respond to Mary Williams Bambenek at mbambene@smumn.edu or Ext. 8738 on the Winona campus or Mary Thole at mthole@smumn.edu or Ext. 118 on the Minneapolis campus by today, Friday, Jan. 28.

Jazz notes

Members of Swing Inc. will perform 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, at Signature’s Restaurant; 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, at the Canadian Honker in Rochester; and 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at The Waterfront in La Crosse, Wis.

Sympathy to Wener family

Marion Grzadzielewski, Grandmother of Kara Wener (institutional research), and mother-in-law to Joseph Wener (maintenance), died Monday, Jan. 24.

A note of condolence can be sent to: Kara Wener & Family, campus box 1489.

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

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Student-athletes honored for community service

For the second time in three years, Saint Mary’s student-athletes have been honored for their community service work.

Saint Mary’s is one of 19 NCAA Division III schools to receive this year’s National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators awards honoring community-service projects and activities.

Saint Mary’s athletes earned honorable-mention honors for their variety of different volunteer and service projects over the past year. Those efforts included raising money for cancer awareness/research; being role models for elementary and middle-school children through clinics and educational activities; collecting food and Christmas gifts for donation to charitable organizations; cleaning the campus and local community; and serving other students and student-athletes on the SMU campus.

“I am so proud of our student-athletes for their numerous volunteer activities,” said athletic director Nikki Fennern. “Nearly all of our over 300 student-athletes have participated in community service projects for the SMU community, Winona community, and beyond. They are committed to academic and athletic success, as well as to giving back to the community. Along with so many other students at Saint Mary’s, they are living the university’s mission.”

Alvernia College (one-time project/activity), UW-Stevens Point (an array of projects/activities) and Carleton College (on-going project/activity) earned top honors in the National Association of Division III Athletics Administrators community service project categories.
SMU was among 16 other institutions that earned recognition in the program, which has honored Division III athletics programs’ community-service efforts annually since 2002. All of the institutions were recognized by NADIIIAA on Jan. 15 at the NCAA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

The awards are presented in cooperation with the program’s exclusive sponsor, Jostens Inc. of Minneapolis, whose products include yearbooks, class rings, graduation products, school photography, and employee and achievement awards.

McCoy hired as centennial and special events director

In 2012, Saint Mary’s will mark its centennial with a yearlong celebration and special events. As we approach this landmark occasion, we are pleased to announce that Bridget McCoy has joined Saint Mary’s as the university's Director of Centennial and Special Events.

She is a key member of the Centennial Celebration Committee that began meeting last fall to plan and execute the year's activities.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota, McCoy served as event coordinator with the McNamara Alumni Center at the U of M. In this position McCoy and a staff of five managed and executed more than 900 events annually. Previously, McCoy served as marketing coordinator for Gopher athletics.

McCoy feels a special affinity for Saint Mary’s as her father Lou McCoy ’79, brothers Rick ’08 and Mike McCoy ’10, as well as numerous uncles and aunts are alums. Additionally, her mother, Margaret (Stringham ’80) McCoy, is an alum of the College of Saint Teresa.

‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ nears

Page Series presents Ensemble Galilei with Conan

Work of well-known illustrator William A. Berry on display

Theology hosts second Vineyard Colloquium

The Department of Theology will presents its second Vineyard Colloquium on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The lecture, “The Lay Vocation to Ecclesial Ministry,” will begin at 4 p.m. in the President’s Room of the Toner Center.

Guest speaker Todd Graff currently serves as the director of the Office of Ministry Formation for the Diocese of Winona.

A colloquium is a somewhat more informal, yet academic, conversation between scholars on a given topic. The Vineyard Colloquia give students a chance to hear from local and national scholars and practitioners in lay ecclesial ministry. The series is part of the Spirituality for the Vineyard program for students discerning lay ecclesial ministry.

The public is invited to attend. For more information, contact Dr. Susan Windley-Daoust at Ext. 4430.

Page Series presents Eisenhower Dance Ensemble

The Eisenhower Dance Ensemble will celebrate the music that made Motown famous in a razzle-dazzle evening of dance and music Saturday, Jan. 22, at Page Theatre.

Playful, humorous, and wonderfully theatrical, the performers will have audience members dancing in their seats — and out into the streets!

This visual salute to the tunes that rocked the Motor City includes a mix of dance vignettes to various Motown favorites, performed with electrifying energy. Motown in Motion will take audiences on a tour through five decades of Motown classics.

The program — designed to appeal to a diverse audience of all ages — will begin at 7:30 p.m. The performance provides an entertaining and historical look at Motown, a distinctly American artistic and cultural legacy.

The Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, the Midwest’s premier contemporary dance company, was founded by artistic director Laurie Eisenhower in the summer of 1991 in metropolitan Detroit. Since its inception, the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble has been dedicated to the performance of a diverse range of contemporary dance works.

Tickets for this Page Series performance are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and are available at the Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or at www.pagetheatre.org.

Frozen River Film Festival screening is Jan. 23

As part of the Frozen River Film Festival, a screening of the documentary “FEAT” will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23, at Saint Mary’s.

The documentary chronicles Tim Borland’s coast-to-coast quest to run 63 marathons in 63 days for kids battling the rare, terminal disease ataxia telangiectasia, or A-T.

This cause is particularly meaningful to the Saint Mary’s University community as Taylor Richmond, son of Saint Mary’s Campus Ministry and Student Activities staff member Nikki Richmond (and her husband Nick Richmond) was diagnosed with A-T as a young boy. The annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance at SMU was named in his honor. The Richmonds live in Cochrane, Wis.

The makers of this film, Deborah and Bradley Carr, are both seasoned television and documentary producers. They met in college, where they were also introduced to their first A-T family. The couple collaborated to produce the first A-T Children’s Project Telethon at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2000. The eight-hour live broadcast served to educate the surrounding community about ataxia-telangiectasia, while simultaneously raising funds to support research. The telethon has become an annual event at the university.

The screening – free and open to the public – will be held in Figliulo Recital Hall. A panel discussion, including Taylor Richmond, will be held following the film.

For more information about this documentary, go to www.featmovie.com.

The Frozen River Film Festival is scheduled for the last week of January. This event identifies and offers programs that engage, educate and activate viewers to become involved in the world. These programs provide a unique perspective on environmental issues, sustainable communities, extreme sports, adventure travel and diverse cultures, presenting issues not often covered in the local media. For information about other events, go to http://frff.org.

Public invited to ‘SMU 10K’ ski events Sunday, Jan. 30

Saint Mary’s is inviting the public to the annual “SMU 10K” classic ski event on Sunday, Jan. 30. A classic-style citizens ski event will begin at 10 a.m., and a skate race will begin at 1 p.m.

A kids race will start at the gazebo at 11 a.m. Approximately 75 to 100 kids from the Minnesota Youth Ski League are expected to participate.

“We’re very fortunate to have an excellent trail system here that is both scenic, as well as challenging," said Chris Kendall, vice president of student life.

Both races will be held at Saint Mary’s University, home to one of the region’s finest cross country trail systems. The trails wind through the bluffs and valleys above the Mississippi River.

The event is open to the public.

On-site registration will begin at 8 a.m. for the classic ski and 11 a.m. for the skate race, both at the SMU Toner Student Center. The cost is $10 for one race or $20 for both; the fee includes a souvenir race bib. Medals will be awarded for men and women in open and recreational classes.

For more information or to receive a registration form, call Gary Borash at Ext. 8740 or e-mail gmbora05@smumn.edu.

Relay for Life scheduled for March 18-19

On Friday, March 18, Saint Mary's will be hosting its fourth annual Relay for Life event. Relay for Life is a 12-hour relay held in celebration for cancer survival and a way to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

All those within in the Winona community who have survived cancer, or who have extended family and friends that are survivors are invited to participate in the Victory Lap in the RAC. This lap is a moment to recognize those attending survivors while they take the first lap of the night. This lap sets the tone for the night, focusing on a celebration of courage while motivating walking participants.

There will also be a special survivors’ reception in honor of all those survivors attending the event.

For more information, contact Kaitlin at kmwerm07@smumn.edu.

Film screening scheduled for next biology seminar

The Biology’s Seminar Series will be screening the acclaimed documentary film “Red Gold” in Hoffman Hall, Room 112, on Thursday, Jan., 27 at 4:15 p.m.

“Red Gold” explores the issue of future mining in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska. Bristol Bay is home to the Kvichak and Nushagak Rivers, two of the most prolific sockeye salmon producers in the world.

Competitors needed for annual chili cookoff

The competition’s getting hot!

No beans about it, this is a great fundraiser!

The Volunteer Committee invites you to test your award-winning chili in the upcoming faculty/staff chili cookoff on Friday, Feb. 4.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries!

Please let Deb Nahrgang (Ext. 6966 or dnahrgan@smumn.edu) know if you plan to enter the contest, so we can be sure we have enough to go around! If 10 competitors do not sign up, the event will need to be cancelled.

Chili makers should bring their “unmarked” crockpot to the Common Room by 11 a.m. for judging. Everyone is invited to eat chili between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Desserts, beverages and side dishes will also be provided.

History book prizes announced for fall 2010

Since 1995, the Department of History has awarded book prizes to recognize students for outstanding work in history courses. The following students were chosen for their work during fall semester:

Alycia Wojahn and Rim Woldeslassie won the book prizes for H125 Europe and the World.

Rachel Peterson, Peter McColl, and John Soucheray were honored for their good work in the H150 American Experience sections.

The book prize for H250 Historical Thinking was won by Anna Sonday, who also won the prize for H335 Environmental History.

David Spriegel won the book prize for H333 Reformation and Alison Hill was recognized for her good work in H367 Europe in the Era of World War.

Congratulations to all from the history faculty.

Cardinal Corner reports successful first semester

The Cardinal Corner had a successful first semester at SMU! Thanks to everyone who supported MG315 Entrepreneurship’s small business venture. Profits from the student-run business benefited the following organizations:

Athletic Department - $95
Christ the Teacher Institute - $60
Men's Hockey - $82.50
Paintball Club - $40
Rugby Club - $254
Volunteer Committee - $12

Additionally, $500 was donated in support of the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance, the class choice for the Fall 2010 semester charity.

The Cardinal Corner is a non-profit retail store located in the lower level of the Toner Student Center. Managed by the students of MG315 Entrepreneurship and supported by the School of Business, the mission of the store is to create an opportunity for entrepreneurship students to gain hands-on experience in operating a small business.

Each semester, the class donates profits from the Cardinal Corner to a charity of their choice. In addition, the store sells products for various SMU clubs, teams, departments, and organizations and returns 100 percent of the sales to benefit the SMU community.

For more information, contact the professor, Jana Craft, at Ext. 1491 or jcraft@smumn.edu. Become a fan and receive the latest updates at www.facebook.com/cardinalcorner.

Women’s basketball celebrates the ‘pink zone’ Feb. 12

The women’s basketball team will join forces with teams across the country when they play for a cure to celebrate the “pink zone!”

Game time is 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, vs. Carleton College (The men’s game will follow at 3 p.m.) Everyone is encouraged to wear pink to the game.

Games People Play out of La Crosse, Wis., has teamed up with SMU women’s basketball to help fundraise for breast cancer awareness. Pink T-shirts are available for $10 each with all proceeds being donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund TM.

If you would like to purchase a T-shirt or make a donation, e-mail Coach Mandy Pearson at mpearson@smumn.edu by Feb. 1 with your name and size(s) of the T-shirt(s) you would like. Donations will be accepted at the game as well.

Environmental Awareness Center open on weekends

The Environmental Awareness Center will be open between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays to check out cross country ski equipment. It is located next to the Clock Tower on the top floor of the Power Plant.

There is no charge for students, but an SMU ID is needed to check the equipment out.

Contact Brother John Grover in Administrative Computing, Ext. 1404, if you need skis.

Tristano publishes article on Boiardo

Richard Tristano, Professor of History, has published an article titled “Reading Boiardo: On Chivalry, Text, and Context,” in the 2009/2010 issue of Allegorica. In the article he argues for the importance of context in understanding both Boiardo’s poetic and historical texts. He points out the political and social importance of chivalric activity at the Ferrarese court and Boiardo’s conviction that chivalry could provide the basis for a more just and peaceful society.

Online iT HelpDesk Request form now available

Have you ever needed to submit a technology issue to the iT HelpDesk at SMU but did not have access to a phone or WebMail?

There is now another option — the Online iT HelpDesk Request form.

Visit courses.smumn.edu and:

• Click the SMU Services tab.
• Click the “Submit a HelpDesk Request” link in the HelpDesk Services box.
• Fill out the appropriate information on the form for type of customer, username, type of issue. (Choose one option that best fits your situation.)
• Type in a detailed description of your issue or request. The details are critical to an effective resolution. Please provide an alternate email address and a contact phone number to allow us to contact you more efficiently if necessary.

As with any incident logged to the HelpDesk, you should receive an e-mail confirmation that your request was created (logged) and assigned to an iT technician along with the description you provided.

iT and HelpDesk staff review HelpDesk incidents daily and strive to act on each one within 24 hours. You may be contacted for further details as necessary.

HelpDesk Tips:

• Try the “Click here…” link on the WebTools login screen if you have a password issue.
• WebTools password changes effect Webmail, Blackboard, MED website, and Library or network login. Not all users have WebMail or MED accounts. The password changes for all SMU accounts you have. WebMail may take a few minutes to process.
• Initial Blackboard password is not the same as WebTools. Please “Change SMU Passwords” in WebTools to set your SMU passwords to be the same.
• Contact the HelpDesk 800-635-5987, Ext. 7800 or email helpdesk@smumn.edu if you do not receive the confirmation e-mail within a day.

Heukeshoven article featured on music notation website

A brief history and tutorial on making computers “sing” is featured this week on the Sibeliusblog — a website that highlights interesting stories about how Sibelius music notation software is being used in a wide variety of contexts.

The article, written by SMU music instructor A. Eric Heukeshoven, offers a brief history of making computers “sing” and a detailed tutorial on using state-of-the-art software to create realistic playback of choral music.

The article can be found at: www.sibeliusblog.com/tutorials/sibelius-sings-with-ewql-symphonic-choirs/#more-1624.

Jazz notes

Swing Inc. will perform 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, at Signature’s Restaurant.

Frozen River Walk to be held Feb. 5 at Aghaming Park

The fourth annual Frozen River Walk is scheduled for 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Aghaming Park and Preserve. The Mississippi River Revival will host a 90-minute walk with Richie Swanson.

Bring kids and warm boots and learn more about wildlife habitat. For more information, contact Richie Swanson, (507) 454-8478.

Sympathy to Kleist family

Vicki Kleist, a 1998 graduate of graduate of Saint Mary’s, died Sunday, Jan. 16, from complications of Ehler's Danlos Syndrome, Type IV.

A wake will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. today, Friday, Jan. 21, at Hoff Funeral Home, 780 North Mill Street, Rushford, Minn.

The funeral will take place on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 1 p.m. at Rushford Lutheran Church, 101 S. Mill Street, Rushford. There will be an hour of visitation before the funeral service.

Cards of condolence can be sent to:

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Kleist
26042 Kleist Drive
Rushford, MN 55971

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

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Christmas dinner scheduled for Dec. 21

The faculty and staff Christmas dinner will be held Tuesday, Dec. 21. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails begin at 6 p.m. in the dining room. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

Eisenhower Dance Ensemble to perform Jan. 22

The Eisenhower Dance Ensemble will present, “On the Move,” a program that promises both innovative hilarity and soulful introspection at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, in Page Theatre.

The Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, the Midwest’s premier contemporary dance company, was founded by artistic director Laurie Eisenhower in the summer of 1991 in metropolitan Detroit. Since its inception, the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble has been dedicated to the performance of a diverse range of contemporary dance works.

According to Dancer Magazine, “Eisenhower provided the framework for what turned out to be an electrifying dance experience. The dancing was filled with charismatic and artistic emotional execution and an extraordinarily high degree of technical precision. The music was diverse, inspiring and tastefully selected. The combination of excellent music, choreography and dance held my undivided attention from curtain to curtain … pushing the envelope of modern dance creativity and innovation to new limits, Ms. Eisenhower and Co. are clearly on the cutting edge. The genuine article. Highly recommended.”

Tickets for this Page Series performance are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and are available at the Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or at www.pagetheatre.org.

Reception for Brother Paulos, Father Kirwen is Dec. 17

A reception for our colleagues from Saint Mary’s institutes in Nairobi, Kenya, Brother Paulos Mesmer (director of Christ the Teacher Institute for Education) and Father Michael Kirwen (director of The Maryknoll Institute for African Studies), will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, in the Toner Student Center Lounge. A presentation will be given from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Punch, beer, wine and cheese, and hot hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Jazz notes

Swing, Inc. performs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday until Christmas Eve at Signature’s Restaurant.

Jazz combos to perform Dec. 19 at Acoustic Cafe

One Saint Mary’s University jazz combo performing Dec. 19 includes, from left, Marie Stier, Jessica Bouska, Jessica Giers and Kara White.

Two jazz workshop combos, directed by John Paulson and Eric Heukeshoven of the Music Department, will present a free concert Sunday, Dec. 19, from 2-4 p.m. at the Acoustic Café, 77 Lafayette St.

This event will feature student musicians who have been playing together all semester, and it will serve as their “final exam.” They will be playing well-know jazz standards by composers like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis, as well as some unique hybrid arrangements of popular jazz tunes blended with familiar Christmas tunes by Heukeshoven. An added plus will be the “Smashing the Windows” folk trio, featuring SMU students Kara White, Marie Stier and Hugh Stier.

SMU hosts Frozen River Film Festival documentary

As part of the Frozen River Film Festival, a screening of the documentary “FEAT” will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23, in Figliulo Recital Hall.

The documentary chronicles Tim Borland’s coast-to-coast quest to run 63 marathons in 63 days for kids battling the rare, terminal disease ataxia telangiectasia, or A-T.

The makers of this film, Deborah and Bradley Carr, are both seasoned television and documentary producers. They met in college, where they were also introduced to their first A-T family. The couple collaborated to produce the first A-T Children’s Project Telethon at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2000. The eight-hour live broadcast served to educate the surrounding community about the orphan disease ataxia- telangiectasia, while simultaneously raising funds to support research. The telethon has grown to become an annual event at the University. Nikki Richmond’s (Campus Ministry) son, Taylor, has ataxia telangiectasia.

The producers of the film, Deb and Brad Carr, and Shjon Podein (a retired NHL player) have been invited to attend. There will be discussion after the movie.

If you would like more information about this documentary, go to www.featmovie.com.

Students donate tie blankets to Gifts for Winona

Students in Dr. Janet Heukeshoven’s First-Year Seminar class made more than 20 children’s tie blankets as their Lasallian community service project. The class is the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute section. The blankets were given to families with young children who asked for help through the Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona program. These blankets will help make many children’s holidays warmer and happier.

Gifts for Winona a success

The Saint Mary’s University gifts for Winona program is once again nearing completion. For nine years, the SMU community has sponsored and organized this communitywide gift giving program. Many thanks to go all the generous benefactors, shoppers, organizers, wrappers and other volunteers who helped this year. Because of your support, we were able to fulfill wishes for more than 1,400 tags. Each of these tags represents an individual who received not only gifts, but also the knowledge that this community truly cares!

Faculty, staff members eligible to participate in SOUL Trips

All employees are eligible to participate in the faculty, staff and administrative SOUL Trips taking place Jan. 12-14 and May 16-18. Participants will visit the San Miguel Schools in Chicago.

Any interested candidates should send a statement of interest to Chris McClead at cmcclead@smumn.edu or Box 42. Statements should explain why you are interested in the trip and how your work will benefit from the initiative.

Public invited to SMU 10K ski races Sunday, Jan. 30

Saint Mary’s is inviting the public to the annual “SMU 10K” classic ski event on Sunday, Jan. 30. A classic-style citizens ski event will begin at 10 a.m., and a skate race will begin at 1 p.m.

“We’re very fortunate to have an excellent trail system here that is both scenic, as well as challenging," said Chris Kendall, vice president of student life.

Both races will be held at Saint Mary’s University, home to one of the region’s finest cross country trail systems. The trails wind through the bluffs and valleys above the Mississippi River.

The event is open to the public.

On-site registration will begin at 8 a.m. for the classic ski and 11 a.m. for the skate race, both at the SMU Toner Student Center. The cost is $10 for one race or $20 for both; the fee includes a souvenir race bib. Medals will be awarded for men and women in open and recreational classes.

For more information or to receive a registration form, call Gary Borash at Ext. 8740 or e-mail gmbora05@smumn.edu.

Finnerty delivers seminar at North Dakota State University

Dr. Casey Finnerty delivered a seminar titled “Scolexin, an Unusual Serine Proteinase from Manduca sexta” Nov. 12 at North Dakota State University. Dr. Finnerty was jointly hosted by NDSU’s Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Protease Research. Dr. Finnerty reports that his seminar was enthusiastically received, and he was also able to discuss collaboration opportunities with his NDSU colleague, Dr. Kendra Greenlee. Senior Nicole Clammer went along on the trip, as she is interested in pursuing graduate school after Saint Mary’s.

Prairie restoration pilot project underway

Dr. Casey Finnerty, Gary Borash and Marissa Wollak pause from sowing prairie seed to record the historic moment.

The SMU Biology Department now has its first prairie restoration pilot project underway —Led by Dr. Casey Finnerty; guided by Dr. Phil Cochran and Dr. Ray Faber of SMU, Dr. Bruno Borsari of WSU, and Bill Carter of Prairie Moon Nursery; and assisted by Saint Mary’s students and staff.

Two 25’ x 50’ plots located along Gilmore Creek on the north side of campus were prepared with the help of SMU’s Maintenance Department. One plot was tilled and the other sprayed with herbicide to see which method is substantially better for reducing competing weeds and establishing native plants. Seed from native prairie plants was donated by Prairie Moon Nursery and Dr. Borsari and his students at WSU.

Much of the seed needed to be milled by hand to release it from pods, and thanks go to Gary Borash, director of Outdoor Leadership, and students Paige Jenson, Matt Traxler and Marissa Wollak for assisting with this task. On Nov. 20, Borash, Wollack and Dr. Finnerty, assisted by Dr. Finnerty’s daughter, Grace, sowed the seed by hand onto the plots.

Information learned from this pilot project will be used to develop an outdoor learning laboratory for future students and will serve as a model for sustainable land use and conservation.

Clammer, Ohl present poster at Minneapolis conference

Dr. Doris Taylor meets with Clammer and Ohl.

Seniors Nicole Clammer and Sean Ohl, accompanied by their research advisor Dr. Casey Finnerty, jointly presented a research poster at the 2010 Life Science Alley Conference and Expo Dec. 8 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Their poster was titled “Expression Optimization and Purification of Baculovirus Fibroblast Growth Factors” and reported on work they had completed over the summer as R & D Systems Summer Research Fellows in Saint Mary’s Biology Department, guided by Dr. Finnerty.

This was the first experience for both students at presenting scientific research outside Saint Mary’s, and they benefited from the opportunity to meet and discuss their work with colleagues. The highlight for both students and faculty was listening to and meeting the closing keynote speaker Dr. Doris Taylor, who addressed “The Art and Science of Regenerative Medicine.” Dr. Taylor was introduced as one of the top two heart researchers in the world, and her group at the University of Minnesota was the first to grow a functioning biosynthetic heart.

Kirk serves as guest artist

Dr. Ned Kirk, chair of the music department, was recently a guest artist at the University of Chicago. Kirk gave a master class to graduate piano students and performed a public recital.

Reminder: This is last ‘Campus Notes’ before break

Because of Christmas break, the next issue of "Campus Notes" will be Friday, Jan. 21. The deadline for that issue is Wednesday, Jan. 19. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Christmas dinner scheduled for Dec. 21

The faculty and staff Christmas dinner will be held Tuesday, Dec. 21. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails begin at 6 p.m. in the dining room. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. RSVPs are due today, Friday, Dec. 10, to Campus Box 30.

Christmas Light Service, Pre-finals Breakfast are Dec. 16

The Christmas Light Service — a retelling of the Christmas narrative through readings, carols and tableaus — will be held 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, in Saint Thomas More Chapel.

Following the service, the Office of Academic Affairs and Chartwells Food Service will sponsor the traditional Pre-finals Christmas Breakfast for students from 10 to 11:30 p.m. in the dining room. The breakfast is served by faculty and staff and is typically attended by 700 students. Participants will also join the students in singing Christmas carols, and Santa will make an appearance.

Reception for Brother Paulos, Father Kirwen is Dec. 17

Hockey team enjoys day at United Center

The Saint Mary's University men’s hockey team enjoyed a day at the United Center — home of the NHL’s Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks — Sunday, Dec. 5. The visit was made possible through Chicago Blackhawks President and 1975 Saint Mary’s alum John McDonough.

After completing games Friday and Saturday in Milwaukee, on Sunday the 29-member team was treated to a tour of the Blackhawks facility, including the team’s locker room, weight room, training room, equipment room and all levels of the United Center. The Cardinals closed their day by watching the Blackhawks beat the Calgary Flames.

To see a video of the event, go to www.smumn.edu/blackhawksvid.

Ceili dance event offered Sunday at Cardinal Club

The SMU ceili dance class will host a ceili from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, in the Cardinal Club. Music will be provided by Garrigan’s Quarrel, a traditional Irish music group from Wabasha, Minn. Everyone will be invited to join in the dancing, but spectators are also welcome.

The ceili class will demonstrate some of the many dances they learned this semester, and will also invite others to participate in some of the more popular, well known dances. This is a chance to put a little Irish in your holiday cheer. For more information, contact Kate Flanagan.

Saint Mary’s choirs to present ‘Lessons & Carols’

The Saint Mary’s University Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Women’s Choir will present their annual holiday tribute, “Lessons and Carols,” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11. The concert will also feature the Saint Mary's Chamber Orchestra.

The performance — a celebration of Advent and the Nativity through song and spoken word — will be held at Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels, located at Wabasha and Vila streets.

Music will include familiar carols, as well as selections by a variety of composers from the Renaissance to the present.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors 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.

Jazz, percussion groups to perform today

WINONA, Minn. — The 18-piece Saint Mary’s University Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo I and World Drum Ensemble will combine for an evening of hot jazz to melt away the chill of the season 7:30 p.m. today, Friday, Dec. 10, in SMU’s Page Theatre.

Both jazz groups are directed by professor of music Dr. John Paulson, and the World Drum Ensemble is directed by SMU alumnus and adjunct music instructor Denny McGuire. The featured guest soloist for the concert will be guitarist Chris White from Appleton, Wis. The big band will play a swing-oriented set and a Latin set, along with players from the World Drum Ensemble.

The first set will include the great standard “Old Devil Moon,” arranged by Dave Wolpe; Jerome Richardson’s “Groove Merchant,” featuring the sax section; “Passion Flower” by Billy Strayhorn, with Tommy Quinn of Cannon Falls featured on alto sax; and “Blues ’n More” by Mike Steinel, which includes a small combo within the big band playing some super fast bebop blues. Also planned for the first set is a world premiere of a new arrangement by Paulson, which is a medley of three previous compositions “Cloud Theory,” “Sum Blues,” and “Cafe Renoir.”
Highlights from the Latin set will include John Coltrane’s “Naima,” arranged by Craig Skeffington, done in a Latin style; Dizzy Gillespie’s hit “Manteca;” a new chart by Mike Carubia called “Hablemos;” “Maputo,” a smooth jazz-groove tune by Marcus Miller; and the well-know hit from Woodstock by Carlos Santana, “Soul Sacrifice,” arranged by Michael Phillip Mossman which will showcase the skills of White on guitar and combine the jazz ensemble with support from the World Drum Ensemble.

The jazz ensemble will also be selling their first CD release, “Staycation,” at the performance.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors 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. For more information, contact Dr. John Paulson at Ext. 1596 or jpaulson@smumn.edu.

Jazz notes

Swing, Inc. performs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday until Christmas Eve at Signature’s Restaurant.

Jazz combos to perform Dec. 19 at Acoustic Cafe

One Saint Mary’s University jazz combo performing Dec. 19 includes, from left, Marie Stier, Jessica Bouska, Jessica Giers and Kara White.

WINONA, Minn. — Two jazz workshop combos, directed by John Paulson and Eric Heukeshoven of the Saint Mary’s University Music Department, will present a free concert Sunday, Dec. 19, from 2-4 p.m. at the Acoustic Café, 77 Lafayette St.

This event will feature student musicians who have been playing together all semester, and it will serve as their “final exam.” They will be playing well-know jazz standards by composers like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis, as well as some unique hybrid arrangements of popular jazz tunes blended with familiar Christmas tunes by Heukeshoven. An added plus will be the “Smashing the Windows” folk trio, featuring SMU students Kara White, Marie Stier and Hugh Stier.

Severe weather policy reminder for faculty, staff

Severe weather conditions may occur this winter that necessitate the official cancellation of classes or create conditions that make traveling unsafe, even if the university remains open. Saint Mary’s is reluctant to close the Winona campus because so many of its students are in residence. However, weather conditions may occasionally prevent individual faculty members and other staff from traveling safely to campus.

A determination to declare a snow day will be made in consultation with other administrators by 6:30 a.m. A snow day means that classes are canceled and offices are closed.

In the event classes are canceled for an entire day, the following area radio and TV stations will announce this:

WINONA

KWNO (FM99.3 and AM1230)

KAGE (FM95.3 and AM1380)

KHME (FM101)

LA CROSSE

WIZM (FM93)

WXOX-TV

Rochester: KROC (FM106.9 and AM1340)

KTTC-TV

If a cancellation takes place right before or after a break period, the following will be notified:

TWIN CITIES:

WCCO Radio/TV (AM830/Channel 4)

KSTP-TV

CHICAGO:

WBBM-AM, WGN-AM (radio stations)

WBBM, WFLD, WGN, WLS, WMAQ (TV stations)

When calling the Emergency Closing Center, 1-312-222-1669, enter SMU’s main telephone number (507) 452-4430 when prompted to do so, and you will receive an automated message. You may also check online at www.emergencyclosings.com.

As with any class cancellation, you may refer to the main bulletin board in Saint Mary’s Hall or call the Class Info Line (Ext. 7878 or 457-7878 from off campus).

Student featured in Spanish news

An SMU student, Logan Patrick Davis Lanz, was featured in a video done by the Spanish news in Seville about Thanksgiving.

The Spanish news channel TVE recently featured students in Seville as they shared Thanksgiving dinner in Spain. The report teaches Spaniards about the American tradition, while students express the importance of the holiday and of celebrating it together while they are away from home.

Click on the YouTube video on the right at www.spanishstudies.org.

Undergraduate art show now open

The 2010 All Campus Undergraduate Student Art Exhibition opened Thursday, Nov. 18, in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

All undergraduate students were invited to participate in a campus wide call for entries, and this exhibition highlights the variety and diversity of our students. On display are student artworks from more than 14 majors, including Chemistry, Journalism, Theology, English, Theatre, Marketing, Biology, Electronic Publishing, Art Studio, Graphic Design, and others.

Kirk performs concert in Asia

Dr. Ned Kirk, chair of the Music Department, recently performed at one of Asia’s premier concert venues, the Esplanade Center in Singapore. He performed with violinist Qian Zhou, the head of strings at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore, and cellist Li-Wei, silver medalist at the 11th Tchaikovsky International Competition and first prize winner in the 2001 Naumberg Competition.

Learn about employee SOUL trips today

An opportunity to learn about the Staff/Faculty/Administration SOUL trips will take place today from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in Toner Student Center Room B. Past participants will share their stories.

Learn how the Lasallian mission is being lived out through the San Miguel SOUL trips to Chicago. Last May, staff and and faculty went on the first SOUL trip of this kind. Employees are invited to consider participating in one of the two trips planned for this year or simply learn about the initiative by attending a session. The first trip is Jan. 12-14 and the second trip is May 16-18.

Public invited to SMU 10K ski races Sunday, Jan. 30

Saint Mary’s is inviting the public to the annual “SMU 10K” classic ski event on Sunday, Jan. 30. A classic-style citizens ski event will begin at 10 a.m., and a skate race will begin at 1 p.m.

“We’re very fortunate to have an excellent trail system here that is both scenic, as well as challenging," said Chris Kendall, vice president of student life.

Both races will be held at Saint Mary’s University, home to one of the region’s finest cross country trail systems. The trails wind through the bluffs and valleys above the Mississippi River.

The event is open to the public.

On-site registration will begin at 8 a.m. for the classic ski and 11 a.m. for the skate race, both at the SMU Toner Student Center. The cost is $10 for one race or $20 for both; the fee includes a souvenir race bib. Medals will be awarded for men and women in open and recreational classes.

For more information or to receive a registration form, call Gary Borash at Ext. 8740 or e-mail gmbora05@smumn.edu.

Sympathy to the Titus family

The grandmother of Sara Titus, wife of Steve Titus, senior vice president of University Advancement, passed away recently. The Saint Mary’s University community extends its sympathy to the Titus family.

Reminder: Next week is last ‘Campus Notes’ before break

Look ahead on your calendars. Next week, Dec. 17, is the last ‘Campus Notes’ before break. The deadline for this issue is Wednesday, Dec. 15. The next issue will be Friday, Jan. 21. The deadline for that issue is Wednesday, Jan. 19.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Saint Mary’s choirs to present ‘Lessons & Carols’

Dance Repertory Company presents The Nutcracker

The Department of Theatre and Dance and the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present the Dance Repertory Company in The Nutcracker, tonight through Sunday, Dec. 3-5.

The production will take place in Page Theatre.

This year marks the company’s sixth biennial production of the piece and features a special choral performance by MCA’s Winona Area Youth Singers at the conclusion of Act I in the Land of Snow.

The cast includes 80 members, comprised of students from Saint Mary’s, Winona State and children and community members from Winona and the surrounding areas.

Through this ballet the beauty of the pure, young heart shines bright in a world of dancing dolls, angels, and of course, the wonderful, magical Nutcracker Prince. In the dreams of a child named Clara, a battle wages between a band of mice and a company of toy soldiers. With Clara’s assistance, the toy soldiers are victorious and grateful. A Nutcracker Prince welcomes her to the Land of Snow where they dance with the angels, and to the Kingdom of the Sweets hosted by the Sugar Plum Fairy, where she sees a beautiful array of ethnic dances such as Spanish Coffee, Chinese Tea and Russian Baba.

The Nutcracker will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. Page Theatre admits children ages 3 and older to this family event.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. To order tickets, call the Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit www.pagetheatre.org.

Jazz, percussion groups to perform Dec. 10

WINONA, Minn. — The 18-piece Saint Mary’s University Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo I and World Drum Ensemble will combine for an evening of hot jazz to melt away the chill of the season 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, in SMU’s Page Theatre.

Both jazz groups are directed by professor of music Dr. John Paulson, and the World Drum Ensemble is directed by SMU alumnus and adjunct music instructor Denny McGuire. The featured guest soloist for the concert will be guitarist Chris White from Appleton, Wis. The big band will play a swing-oriented set and a Latin set, along with players from the World Drum Ensemble.

The first set will include the great standard “Old Devil Moon,” arranged by Dave Wolpe; Jerome Richardson’s “Groove Merchant,” featuring the sax section; “Passion Flower” by Billy Strayhorn, with Tommy Quinn of Cannon Falls featured on alto sax; and “Blues ’n More” by Mike Steinel, which includes a small combo within the big band playing some super fast bebop blues. Also planned for the first set is a world premiere of a new arrangement by Paulson, which is a medley of three previous compositions “Cloud Theory,” “Sum Blues,” and “Cafe Renoir.”

Highlights from the Latin set will include John Coltrane’s “Naima,” arranged by Craig Skeffington, done in a Latin style; Dizzy Gillespie’s hit “Manteca;” a new chart by Mike Carubia called “Hablemos;” “Maputo,” a smooth jazz-groove tune by Marcus Miller; and the well-know hit from Woodstock by Carlos Santana “Soul Sacrifice,” arranged by Michael Phillip Mossman which will showcase the skills of White on guitar and combine the jazz ensemble with support from the World Drum Ensemble.

The jazz ensemble will also be selling their first CD release “Staycation” at the performance.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available by calling the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.pagetheatre.org. For more information, contact Dr. John Paulson at (507) 457-1596 or jpaulson@smumn.edu.

Cardinal Corner closing for semester today, Dec. 3

The Cardinal Corner will be closing for the semester at 2 p.m. today, Friday, Dec. 3. Hurry on down to get Christmas gear for your family!

High School Challenge participants compete Saturday

The High School Challenge preliminary season finished Saturday, Nov. 20, with Round 1C. High School Challenge is the longest-running, locally produced television program showcasing Eastern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and Northeast Iowa high school students in an educational forum.

The following schools competed in October and November and are moving onto the Consolation Championship on Dec. 4: Cotter Blue, Cotter White, West Salem III, Bangor Black, Logan White, Regis White, Onalaska and Regis White. Moving onto the Super Challenge in spring are: Logan Red, LaCrescent, Lewiston-Altura, Osseo-Fairchild, Regis Green, Winona Senior High, Holmen I and Holmen III.

During the first rounds of competition, teams that win their afternoon game return for the Consolation Championship games. Teams that win their morning and afternoon games return for the Super Challenge Championship in spring. The final eight games of the tournament are taped at SMU and televised on Fox 25 La Crosse and Fox 48 Eau Claire.

The participating high schools receive $2,000 scholarships to Saint Mary’s for participating in High School Challenge. These scholarships are for any member of the senior class with a B or above average.

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

Employee campaign reception today

The 2010-2011 Employee Campaign has come to a close. In celebration of our shared success, a reception will be hosted today, Friday, Dec. 3, from 10-11 a.m. in the Common Room. Light refreshments will be served. Final numbers from the campaign, including participation percentage and total gifts and pledges secured will be announced at 10:15 a.m. Please make plans to attend to learn the results of our combined efforts!

Special thanks to this year's campaign volunteers: Bob Biebel, Phil Cochran, Paul Fox, Laurie Haase, Neil Leibundguth, Megan Radke, Joe Sweeney, Lance Thompson, Rachel Thomas, Brendan Dolan and Nancy Wiltgen.

Book signing by Kowles Wednesday at library

A book signing of the latest book written by Dr. Richard Kowles will take place in the McEnery Center addition of Fitzgerald Library at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 8. Unlike his previous two textbooks, this recently released publication is a trade book titled “The Wonder of Genetics. The Creepy, the Curious, and the Commonplace.” It was published by Prometheus Books and will be made available by a representative of the SMU Bookstore in the library at that time.

Dr. Kowles will make a few brief comments and answer questions, followed by a book signing. The library will host the event and also provide refreshments.

Dr. Kowles points out that the 37 short chapters systematically relate the presence of genetic concepts to numerous activities and everyday experiences of people, showing that genetic twists can truly be found everywhere.

Jazz notes

Swing, Inc. performs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday until Christmas Eve at Signature’s Restaurant. The John Paulson Jazz Quartet performs Dec. 4 at the Starlite Lounge in La Crosse, Wis.

Free chamber music recital is Saturday

Four student ensembles will perform at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, in Figliulo Recital Hall. Ensembles include the SMU Chamber Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble, Brass Choir, and Clarinet Choir. Music faculty members Dr. Ned Kirk, Eric Heukeshoven and Dr. Janet Heukeshoven coach these ensembles throughout the semester. This recital is free and open to the public.

Undergraduate art show now open

Alum featured on MPR

Dan Piscitiello, a 2005 alum and son of Tony Piscitiello, vice president for admission, recently completed a Lego-mosaic portrait of Luke Bucklin, the Sierra Bravo (now The Nerdery) co-founder who was killed in a plane crash last month.

Piscitiello works for The Nerdery and did the mosaic as a tribute, and MPR news picked up the story.

Learn more at http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/archive/life.

Learn about employee SOUL trips next week

There are two opportunities to learn about the Staff/Faculty/Administration SOUL trips and hear the stories of past participants:

• Wednesday, Dec. 8, 4 to 5 p.m., wine and cheese reception, Common Room. Derrick Carter ’96, a south-side Chicago native and first-generation student advocate, will speak.

• Friday, Dec. 10, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., coffee and donuts, Toner Student Center Room B

Learn how the Lasallian mission is being lived out through the San Miguel SOUL trips to Chicago. Last May, staff and and faculty went on the first SOUL trip of this kind. Employees are invited to consider participating one of the two trips planned for this year or simply learn about the initiative by attending a session. The first trip is Jan. 12-14 and the second trip is May 16-18.

Mid-year graduates to be honored Dec. 9

The Offices of Student Life and Academic Affairs will host a special evening to honor all senior students, with special recognition for mid-year graduates of the College, on Thursday, Dec. 9, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Michael H. Toner Student Center Lounge. Beverages and hors d’ oeuvres will be served.

SMU participates in MPCC blog

The MPCC LearnMoreMN blog is up and running. Learnmore is an initiative to inspire and foster new solutions to ensure that more Minnesota children succeed in school and move on to college.

Learnmore began in 2005 as an effort initiated by the Minnesota Private College Council, and it is the result of an informal alliance of more than 100 individuals representing business, education, service groups and others who are concerned about our state’s future.

Rebecca Hopkins, dean of the graduate school of education, is the most recent contributor to the blog. Go to http://learnmoremnblog.typepad.com/blog/2010/11/pass-or-fail.html.

Students raise money, collect goods for food shelf

Volunteers with the Student Activities Committee went door to door to all the halls on campus and got donations for the 10 Days of Giving. They collected 268 pounds of food and $255.31 in cash and change to give to the Volunteer Services food shelf.

Sympathy to Croft family

Kenneth R. Croft, father of Pat Christensen (associate director of M.Ed) and grandfather of Angie Frank (Christensen), class of 2007, died Monday, Nov. 29, 2010.

Notes of condolence can be sent it to:

Pat and Steve Christensen
W5593 Innsbruck Road
West Salem, WI 54669

Or Campus P.O. Box 76

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

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Saint Mary's University Links

Blog Archive

About Saint Mary’s University