Good Lovelies to usher in holidays Dec. 1

Funny and upbeat, with just a pinch of sass, the Good Lovelies will take the stage at Saint Mary’s on Thursday, Dec. 1. The Page Series will welcome this award-winning Canadian trio at 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre.

Part folk-roots, part Western Swing, this Toronto-based trio relies on unerring three-part vocal harmonies, clever songs, and convulsively funny repartee drawn from a seemingly endless succession of comedic adventures on the road. The Good Lovelies released a 12-track Christmas album, “Under the Mistletoe,” in November 2009.

These lovely ladies will usher in the holidays with old-fashioned melodies and impressive vocals. Their Christmas repertoire features a new take on familiar classics, a nostalgic treatment to more current songs, and original tunes that are sure to usher in the season in style.

In conjunction with this old-fashioned holiday theme, patrons are invited to dress in their best vintage outfits. Prizes will be awarded for “best female,” “best male,” “best couple,” and “best use of accessories.”

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or call the box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Saint Mary’s is a fiscal year 2011 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.

Students to stage tragic tale in ‘Machinal’ Nov. 18-20

The Department of Theatre and Dance will present the tragic story of a woman driven to murder after being dominated by men, marriage, motherhood and machines in the 1928 expressionist play, “Machinal” Nov. 18-20.

The story revolves around the predestined main character, Helen, who lives a life that has been dictated to her. She follows the rituals that society expects of a woman, however resistant she may feel about them, and subsequently marries her boss, whom she finds repulsive. After having a baby with him, followed by an affair with a younger man who fuels her lust for life, she is driven to murder her husband. She is found guilty of the crime and meets her end, ironically, in a machine — the electric chair.

“Machinal” is inspired by the real-life case of convicted and executed murderess Ruth Snyder — the first woman ever to be executed in the electric chair in New York State after she, along with her lover, murdered her husband. The play’s author, Sophie Treadwell, covered Snyder’s murder trial as a reporter.

Under the direction of Judy Myers, “Machinal” will take to the stage at the Valéncia Arts Center, 10th and Vila streets, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.

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

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

The 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. 10. 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 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.

Concert Band to present ‘Sounds of the Season’

Celebrate the music of the Christmas season with the Saint Mary’s University Concert Band 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Page Theatre.

The concert will feature four student guest conductors: Tyler Ringiesen, Ashley Buhr, Jessica Giers and Jessica Bouska. Dr. Janet Heukeshoven will direct the rest of the hour-long performance, which includes Alfred Reed’s “Russian Christmas Music” and familiar seasonal favorites.

The band will be performing the “Coventry Carol,” a lovely setting of “Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring,” “Greensleeves Fantasia,” and the beautiful Huron Canadian Indian carol, “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime.” On the lighter side, audience members of all ages will enjoy “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and the big band jazz inspired “A Most Wonderful Christmas.”

The concert will be followed by a Christmas lobby party, which will feature a selection of holiday treats. Smaller ensembles — the brass choir, flute quartet, saxophone ensemble, jazz combo, bassoon trio and more — will perform.

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.

SMU jazz, percussion groups join talents for Dec. 9 concert

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 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, in Page Theatre.

Both jazz groups are directed by Dr. John Paulson, and the World Drum Ensemble is directed by Denny McGuire.

Vocalist Jessica Ingvalson will be featured on jazzy arrangements of the Christmas classics “Christmas Time is Here” from Charlie Brown and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” arranged by Dave Wolpe.

The World Drum Ensemble will join Jazz Combo I on the great samba “Brazil,” arranged for the nine-piece group by Michael Philip Moussman. They’ll also perform a boss nova version of “White Christmas,” arranged by Mark Taylor. The Jazz Ensemble will pull out all the stops with a wild arrangement of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Gordon Goodwin as well as other great jazz standards like “Ladybird.” Audiences will also enjoy a premiere performance of Dr. Paulson’s “Four PM Blues.”

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.

Students to show art in ‘Ideas that Spark’

Brianna Nelson

Students will display energetic and electrifying work in “Ideas that Spark,” the all-campus student art exhibit Nov. 19 through Dec. 14 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

The show features 2011 SMU December art graduates Danielle Cossetta, Sarah Kraft, Brianna Nelson, and Charlie Williams. An opening reception for the artists will be held 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the galleries.

The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and are free and open to the public.

Fall Financial Forums are Nov. 21 and 30

Faculty and staff are invited to upcoming Fall Financial Forums in Winona and in Minneapolis.

The Twin Cities forum is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21, in the PAN Alumni Room. The Winona forum will be 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30 in Salvi Lecture Hall.

Speakers will include: Cindy Marek, vice president for Financial Affairs; Genelle Groh-Beck, director, Human Resources Department; Kelly Boice, staff accountant; and Dave Ansell, financial analyst.

Wine and Cheese reception, VP update is Nov. 22

Faculty and staff are cordially invited to a wine and cheese reception and an opportunity to hear updates from university vice presidents from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, in the Common Room. Please RSVP to Jo Nesler at Ext. 1664 or jnesler@smumn.edu.

Etiquette dinner draws 36

Thirty-six students, including several of our First-Generation students, attended the etiquette dinner sponsored by Career Services. Thanks go to Dr. Mary Fox for leading the event.

Jazz notes

Dr. Paulson performs with the Miles Johnston Quartet from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Nov. 18 at the Starlight Lounge in La Crosse.

Swing Inc. performs Friday, Nov. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Signature’s Restaurant.

Lueck serves as director-elect for Region 5 of ACCED-1

Terrie Lueck, director of Conferencing and Camps, has been elected and has agreed to serve as Director-Elect - Region 5 for 2012-2013 for the Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors-International. This organization consists of more than 1,500 campus professionals who design, market, coordinate and plan conferences and special events on the campuses of colleges and universities around the world. Since 1980, ACCED-I has increased the visibility and enhanced the stature of the collegiate conference and events profession.

There are 11 regions. Region 5 includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Saskatchewan.

Lueck will represent Region 5 at the Annual Conference to be held in Denver, Colo., in March 2012.

Reminder: No ‘Campus Notes’ next week

Because of Thanksgiving break, there will be no ‘Campus Notes’ next week. Look ahead on your calendars. The next edition will be Friday, Dec. 2. The deadline for that issue is Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Kowles to speak Dec. 1

Dr. Richard Kowles will present "The Wonder of Genetics: The Writing of a Trade Book with a Focus on the Fountain of Youth" at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, in Room 112, Hoffman Hall.

Saint Mary’s to host panel discussion on food insecurity

Under-Told Stories journalist Fred de Sam Lazaro to report on trip to East Africa

The public is invited to experience a real and emotional taste of the dire conditions of East Africa during a discussion on “From the Famine Frontline: The Complex Issue of Food Security” Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Salvi Hall.

Fred de Sam Lazaro, director of the “Under-Told Stories Project” and a correspondent for PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and his team will have recently returned from the famine frontlines of East Africa. Joined by other panelists, de Sam Lazaro invites the public to participate in a discussion about how to feed a complex world whose population will climb to 9 billion by mid-century.

“East Africa’s crisis demands our immediate attention but the famine’s causes are a deep and complex web of economics, politics, conflict, climate uncertainty and social indifference — a threat that could persist well into the future,” he said.

The event will be moderated by Jon Sawyer, executive director of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Other panelists will include Dr. David Lynch, chair of the SMU Department of Social Science, and Sharon Schmickle, foreign affairs and science correspondent for MinnPost.com.

For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/foodinsecurityforum.

The event is sponsored by Saint Mary’s, the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership and the Under-Told Stories Project, in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.

The “Under-Told Stories Project,” sponsored by and in partnership with Saint Mary’s, shares stories from some of the world’s most remote locations through PBS NewsHour and other media organizations. The partnership brings de Sam Lazaro to the university’s Minneapolis campus, provides new learning opportunities to Saint Mary’s students, and is intended to raise awareness for the local ramifications of global issues.

Cupcakes for a Cause and African art fundraiser today

On Friday, Nov. 11, a scholarships fundraiser for students in SMU’s institutes in Africa will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the first floor hallway of Saint Mary Hall.

Purchase a cupcake for $1 (or 6 for $5) and be entered in a drawing to win a framed African batik. The drawing will occur at 2 p.m., and you don’t need to be present to win. The event will also include a sale of African batiks (three different sizes; some framed), textiles, and a few statues and carvings direct from Kenya. Have a snack, take home some treats for the weekend, and/or buy a gift. This event is co-sponsored by the First-Generation Initiative and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research.

Speaker to share ‘The Fastenal Story’ Nov. 17

Will Oberton, CEO of Fastenal (an international provider of construction supplies based in Winona), will present “The Fastenal Story” at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in Salvi Lecture Hall. Faculty, staff and students are invited. The event is sponsored by the Business Office.

Oberton joined Fastenal in 1980 as a part-time warehouse worker. Since then he has served in various sales, operational, and, ultimately, management roles, including chief operating officer, vice president, and executive vice president. He was named president of the company in July 2001 and has served as CEO since December 2002.

Students to stage tragic tale in ‘Machinal’ Nov. 16-20

The Department of Theatre and Dance will present the tragic story of a woman driven to murder after being dominated by men, marriage, motherhood and machines in the 1928 expressionist play, “Machinal” Nov. 16-20.

The story revolves around the predestined main character, Helen, who lives a life that has been dictated to her. She follows the rituals that society expects of a woman, however resistant she may feel about them, and subsequently marries her boss, whom she finds repulsive. After having a baby with him, followed by an affair with a younger man who fuels her lust for life, she is driven to murder her husband. She is found guilty of the crime and meets her end, ironically, in a machine — the electric chair.

“Machinal” is inspired by the real-life case of convicted and executed murderess Ruth Snyder — the first woman ever to be executed in the electric chair in New York State after she, along with her lover, murdered her husband. The play’s author, Sophie Treadwell, covered Snyder’s murder trial as a reporter.

Under the direction of Judy Myers, “Machinal” will take to the stage at the Valéncia Arts Center, 10th and Vila streets, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 16-19, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.

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

Blue Angel 2011 a success!

The Brothers of Phi Mu Alpha would like to thank the Saint Mary’s community for their overwhelming support of Blue Angel 2011 More than 630 people enjoyed this year’s performances. Thanks go to everyone who helped make Blue Angel a success.

New choral works by O’Shea, Heukeshoven to premiere

Two new compositions for choir by music department faculty members Dr. Patrick O’Shea and A. Eric Heukeshoven will be premiered by the La Crosse Chamber Chorale next week through the group’s “Words to Music” commissioning project.

Words to Music is a project in which poetry written by local students is set to music by regional composers. La Crosse area students in 4th through 8th grade literature and writing classes submitted poems based on the theme “It’s Magic!” in early 2011. Five area composers each chose one to become the text of a new musical work.

O’Shea’s setting of Melanie Klemond’s poem “Gravity Defied” is accompanied by violin and cello.

Heukeshoven’s work is based on Sophia Nystrom’s poem, “Just Believe.” Flute, clarinet, cello, and triangle accompany the choir. The SMU Music Department is further represented by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven on flute, Derek Clark on cello, and Jim Knutson with percussion.

Three performances of the new works are scheduled:

Saturday, Nov. 12 — 7:30 p.m.
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
La Crescent, Minn.
Tickets $16 (adults), $10 (students/seniors)

Sunday, Nov. 13 — 3 p.m.
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
La Crosse, Wis.
Tickets $16 (adults), $10 (students/seniors)

For more information, go www.chamberchorale.org/index.html or contact Eric Heukeshoven at Ext. 7292.

Veterans Day ceremony planned for Nov. 11

On Nov. 11, in recognition of Veterans Day, a small ceremony will be held at the Saint Mary’s Veterans Memorial beginning at 11 a.m. Dr. Bill Crozier, university archivist, has put together a video tribute for the occasion, and members of the choir will perform. A prayer remembrance will be held for all those who have served and sacrificed in the U.S. armed forces, especially those from the Saint Mary’s community. A reception will be held in the Toner Student Center following the ceremony.

Students to show art in ‘Ideas that Spark’

By Brianna Nelson

By Sarah Kraft

Students will display energetic and electrifying work in “Ideas that Spark,” the all-campus student art exhibit Nov. 19 through Dec. 14 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

The show features 2011 SMU December art graduates Danielle Cossetta, Sarah Kraft, Brianna Nelson, and Charlie Williams. An opening reception for the artists will be held 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the galleries.

The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and are free and open to the public.

Oldie Moldies to perform at Signatures Nov. 12

Catch dinner and a show with the Oldie Moldie All-Stars Saturday, Nov. 12, at Visions Event Center.

Rock along to your favorite ’50s, ’60s and ’70s tunes while you enjoy a menu of house salad, pan-seared Canadian walleye fillet, wild rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, caper tarter sauce, rolls and butter, and strawberry shortcake. A chicken or pasta option is available by reservation.

The Oldies are members of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at Saint Mary’s. The group consists of 11 talented and engaging singers and band members.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m.; the Oldies will perform two sets, one at 6:30 p.m., and a second at 7:45 p.m.

The price for the dinner and show is $32 per person; reservations can be made now by calling Signatures at (507) 454-3767. Payment is accepted at time of reservation.

Visions Event Center is located at Signatures Restaurant, 22852 County Road 17 in Pleasant Valley.

Kowles to give a talk at Winona Public Library

Dr. Dick Kowles, professor emeritus of biology, will give a presentation at the Winona Public Library on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. Kowles will discuss his most recent book, “The Wonder of Genetics,” with a focus on the chapter titled “The Fountain of Youth.” In addition, he will touch on the joys and struggles of writing and publishing a trade book.

‘In My Defense’ series begins Nov. 15

How does an “ideal” college relationship turn into a marriage marked by infidelity and emotional and verbal abuse? “In My Defense,” is a two-part series, hosted by the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute, for women interested in safe and healthy relationships.

• All women on campus are invited to join “Lost Edens” author Jamie Patterson and Dr. Ann Gibson in exploring the inner workings of relationships while maintaining one’s own voice and sense of self. The event is 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the Common Room, Saint Mary’s Hall.

The series concludes Monday, Nov. 21, when Jerry Olson, a Winona police officer and a self- defense instructor, leads participants through simple defense moves to use when words fail. Avoid being physically attacked and know what to do if you are. The event is 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Common Room.

Fox to host etiquette dinner for students Nov. 15

Dr. Mary Catherine Fox, professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, will present an etiquette dinner Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the President’s Room of the Toner Student Center. Dr. Fox will offer etiquette tips for success during luncheon interviews and dining situations. Student participants can learn table manners, silverware savvy, napkin etiquette and social graces. The cost is $10.

Students must sign up in Career Services, Room 136 of Saint Mary’s Hall, by Nov. 14. A four-course meal including a garden salad, chicken kiev, baby carrots with dill butter, fettuccine with a white herb sauce and dessert, will be served. For more information, e-mail Jackie Baker at jbaker@smumn.edu.

Cardinal Corner Update

The Cardinal Corner, located in the basement of the Toner Student Center, recently received “a ton” of vintage soccer uniform parts. Check out their basketball shorts, warm-up pants, zip ups, jerseys and T-shirts — available for $5, $10 or $15. The Brother Stephen shirts are coming soon!

Jazz notes

Swing Inc. will perform 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 11 at Signature’s Restaurant, and the Standard Time Duo will be at the Canadian Honker Restaurant in Rochester from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12.

The John Paulson Trio performs 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at Michael’s Restaurant in Rochester, and Dr. Paulson performs with the Miles Johnston Quartet from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Nov. 18 at the Starlight Lounge in La Crosse.

Sympathy to Nesler, Fox families

Dale I. Reishus, father of Jo Nesler,(administrative assistant) and June Fox (Registrar's Office) and grandfather of John Fox '10, died Wednesday, Nov. 9. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at Central Lutheran Church. Visitation is today, Friday, Nov. 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Fawcett-Junker Funeral Home and on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.

A note of sympathy can be sent to Jo Nesler at Campus Box 78 or June Fox at Campus Box 37.

The Saint Mary's community extends its sympathies to these families.

Saint Mary’s to host panel discussion on food insecurity

Under-Told Stories journalist Fred de Sam Lazaro to report on trip to East Africa

The public is invited to experience a real and emotional taste of the dire conditions of East Africa during a discussion on “From the Famine Frontline: The Complex Issue of Food Security” Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Salvi Hall.

Fred de Sam Lazaro, director of the “Under-Told Stories Project” and a correspondent for PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and his team will have recently returned from the famine frontlines of East Africa. Joined by other panelists, de Sam Lazaro invites the public to participate in a discussion about how to feed a complex world whose population will climb to 9 billion by mid-century.

“East Africa’s crisis demands our immediate attention but the famine’s causes are a deep and complex web of economics, politics, conflict, climate uncertainty and social indifference — a threat that could persist well into the future,” he said.

The event will be moderated by Jon Sawyer, executive director of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Other panelists will include Dr. David Lynch, chair of the SMU Department of Social Science, and Sharon Schmickle, foreign affairs and science correspondent for MinnPost.com.

For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/foodinsecurityforum.

The event is sponsored by Saint Mary’s, the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership and the Under-Told Stories Project, in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.

The “Under-Told Stories Project,” sponsored by and in partnership with Saint Mary’s, shares stories from some of the world’s most remote locations through PBS NewsHour and other media organizations. The partnership brings de Sam Lazaro to the university’s Minneapolis campus, provides new learning opportunities to Saint Mary’s students, and is intended to raise awareness for the local ramifications of global issues.

Students to stage tragic tale in ‘Machinal’ Nov. 16-20

The Department of Theatre and Dance will present the tragic story of a woman driven to murder after being dominated by men, marriage, motherhood and machines in the 1928 expressionist play, “Machinal” Nov. 16-20.

The story revolves around the predestined main character, Helen, who lives a life that has been dictated to her. She follows the rituals that society expects of a woman, however resistant she may feel about them, and subsequently marries her boss, whom she finds repulsive. After having a baby with him, followed by an affair with a younger man who fuels her lust for life, she is driven to murder her husband. She is found guilty of the crime and meets her end, ironically, in a machine — the electric chair.

“Machinal” is inspired by the real-life case of convicted and executed murderess Ruth Snyder — the first woman ever to be executed in the electric chair in New York State after she, along with her lover, murdered her husband. The play’s author, Sophie Treadwell, covered Snyder’s murder trial as a reporter.

Under the direction of Judy Myers, “Machinal” will take to the stage at the Valéncia Arts Center, 10th and Vila streets, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 16-19, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.

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

Blue Angel 2011 hits the stage this weekend

The Brothers of Phi Mu Alpha cordially invite faculty and staff to Blue Angel 2011. This year’s performances are today, Friday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7 and 10 p.m. in the dining hall.

For a complimentary ticket to the show of your choice, please contact Bob Fisher at Ext. 6658 or rfisher@smumn.edu.

Kirk to give piano performance Nov. 6

Pianist Ned Kirk will interpret Beethoven and other renowned composers during a recital Sunday, Nov. 6, at Page Theatre.

The program — which will begin at 3 p.m. — will include works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Nikolai Medtner, Max Reger, Frederic Rzewski and Nikolai Kapustin.

Kirk has performed extensively in the U.S., Europe, Africa and Asia. Upcoming engagements include recitals with legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis, a second State Department-sponsored tour of Kenya, and recitals and master classes in the U.S., Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.

Kirk is known locally as the artistic and managing director of the Minnesota Beethoven Festival and as a professor of piano at Saint Mary’s.

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

New choral works by O’Shea, Heukeshoven to premiere

Two new compositions for choir by music department faculty members Dr. Patrick O'Shea and A. Eric Heukeshoven will be premiered by the La Crosse Chamber Chorale next week through the group’s “Words to Music” commissioning project.

Words to Music is a project in which poetry written by local students is set to music by regional composers. La Crosse area students in 4th through 8th grade literature and writing classes submitted poems based on the theme “It’s Magic!” in early 2011. The poems were coded to preserve anonymity. Five area composers each chose one to become the text of a new musical work.

O’Shea’s setting of Melanie Klemond’s poem “Gravity Defied” conjures up images about birds, such as cages, wings, flying and gliding. The work is accompanied by violin and cello.

Heukeshoven’s work is based on Sophia Nystrom’s poem, “Just Believe.” The young poet begins her poem with the words, “Most people don’t believe in the existence of magic, but I do, and you do.” The music is playful and contains fragments of melody that will at once remind us all of what it was like to be a child. Flute, clarinet, cello, and triangle accompany the choir. The SMU Music Department is further represented by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven on flute, Derek Clark on cello, and Jim Knutson with percussion.

Three performances of the new works are scheduled:

Tuesday, Nov. 8 — 7:30 p.m.
La Crosse New Music Festival
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
No admission charge

Saturday, Nov.12 — 7:30 p.m.
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
La Crescent, Minn.
Tickets $16 (adults), $10 (students/seniors)

Sunday, Nov. 13 — 3 p.m.
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
La Crosse, Wis.
Tickets $16 (adults), $10 (students/seniors)

For more information, go www.chamberchorale.org/index.html or contact Eric Heukeshoven at Ext. 7292.

Veterans Day ceremony planned for Nov. 11

On Nov. 11, in recognition of Veterans Day — an annual holiday observed in honor of those who have served the U.S. armed forces — a small ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial beginning at 11 a.m. Dr. Bill Crozier, university archivist, has put together a video tribute for the occasion, and members of the choir will perform. A prayer remembrance will be held for all those who have served and sacrificed in the U.S. armed forces, especially those from the Saint Mary’s community. A reception will be held in the Toner Student Center following the ceremony.

Students to show art in ‘Ideas that Spark’

Students will display energetic and electrifying work in “Ideas that Spark,” the all-campus student art exhibit Nov. 19 through Dec. 14 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

The show features 2011 SMU December art graduates Danielle Cossetta, Sarah Kraft, Brianna Nelson, and Charlie Williams. An opening reception for the artists will be held 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the galleries.

The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and are free and open to the public.

Oldie Moldies to perform at Signatures Nov. 12

Catch dinner and a show with the Oldie Moldie All-Stars Saturday, Nov. 12, at Visions Event Center.

Rock along to your favorite ’50s, ’60s and ’70s tunes while you enjoy a menu of house salad, pan-seared Canadian walleye fillet, wild rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, caper tarter sauce, rolls and butter, and strawberry shortcake. A chicken or pasta option is available by reservation.

The Oldies are members of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at Saint Mary’s. The group consists of 11 talented and engaging singers and band members.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m.; the Oldies will perform two sets, one at 6:30 p.m., and a second at 7:45 p.m.

The price for the dinner and show is $32 per person; reservations can be made now through Nov. 10 by calling Signatures at (507) 454-3767. Payment is accepted at time of reservation.

Visions Event Center is located at Signatures Restaurant, 22852 County Road 17 in Pleasant Valley.

Senior Class Auction nears

The 2011 Senior Class Silent Auction will be held Monday, Nov. 7, and Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Toner Game Room. The Silent Auction is a means for the senior class to fund the activities held throughout the year, specifically Senior Week.

‘A Confluence of Voices V’ planned for today, Nov. 4

Student poets from Saint Mary’s and Winona State will gather to read and share their original work at the Mugby Junction Coffee House, 451 Huff St., at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, for “A Confluence of Voices V.” Poets Ken McCullough (from SMU) and Jim Armstrong (from WSU) will host the event, which is open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own work to share.

Next biology speaker to discuss U of M program

Dr. Fang Li, assistant professor of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, will be next week’s Biology Seminar speaker. The U of M website notes his research interests lie in the “invasion and replication mechanisms of human viral pathogens.” The title of his seminar talk is “The graduate program in Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota.”  The seminar starts at 4 p.m. in Hoffman Hall, Rom 112.

Clark to discuss the circuit of racism

Dr. Erin Mae Clark, assistant professor of English, will present “The Wire: African American Literature and the Circuit of Racism” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the President’s Room. The presentation is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided.

The event is sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Society. For more information, contact Dr. Carolyn Ayers at cayers@smumn.edu.

SMU’s first mock trial labeled a success

Saint Mary’s held its historic first Mock Trial on Oct. 27. The event was sponsored by the Business and Social Sciences departments.

Student “attorneys” represented the plaintiff and the defendant in a hotly contested case in which the plaintiff alleged that the defendant served alcohol at a party to a student who was drunk and was therefore responsible when the student crashed into the plaintiff’s car, injuring him.

The plaintiff was represented by Anna Sonday, Loren Galloway, and Morgan Carlson. The defendant was represented by Colin Norris, Marty Purintun, and Andrew Seifert. The Department of Theatre and Dance contributed greatly to the success of the event: the witnesses were expertly played by Bryan Moore, Jacob Rivet, Tom Conry, and Alex Green. Alex Akers and Taylor Marshall-Miernicki helped to design the set for the trial. Nancy Wiltgen, Development, played the role of judge and also gave some advice to the attorneys after the case was over, drawing on her more than 20 years of experience as an attorney in a prominent Minneapolis law firm.

The event was well attended and included a reception afterwards. The success of the event insures that it will become an annual event at Saint Mary’s. The entire Mock Trial can be viewed online at https://tegr.it/y/6qu9.

Business faculty present at management conference

Three faculty from the Department of Business, Chandu Valluri, Dr. Shelly McCallum, and Larry Price, J.D., collaborated over the last six months to research and write a paper on entrepreneurship titled “Swimming with Sharks and Dancing with Dragons: A New Approach to Generating Entrepreneurial Intentions.”

The paper was accepted into the proceedings of the Midwest Academy for Management and selected for presentation at the conference, which was held in Omaha, Neb., this past Oct. 19-22.

Valluri prepared and delivered a 30-minute presentation with a Q&A session afterwards. The paper was well-received and generated some very engaging discussion over its main theme: the use of television programs such as “Shark Tank” as a means of increasing interest in entrepreneurship both in the U.S. and in the developing world. An in-depth discussion on dispositional optimism and entrepreneurial self-efficacy supported the main hypotheses of the paper: that these qualities act as moderating variables in the connection between exposure to entrepreneurial media and entrepreneurial intentions.

Price and Valluri also had the opportunity at the conference to have a one-on-one conversation with James Young, the CEO of Union Pacific Railroad, who was a keynote speaker.

Saint Mary’s to host panel discussion on food insecurity

Under-Told Stories journalist Fred de Sam Lazaro to report on trip to East Africa

The public is invited to experience a real and emotional taste of the dire conditions of East Africa during a discussion on “From the Famine Frontline: The Complex Issue of Food Security” Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Salvi Hall.

Fred de Sam Lazaro, director of the “Under-Told Stories Project” and a correspondent for PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and his team will have recently returned from the famine frontlines of East Africa. Joined by other panelists, de Sam Lazaro invites the public to participate in a discussion about how to feed a complex world whose population will climb to 9 billion by mid-century.

“East Africa’s crisis demands our immediate attention but the famine’s causes are a deep and complex web of economics, politics, conflict, climate uncertainty and social indifference — a threat that could persist well into the future,” he said.

The event will be moderated by Jon Sawyer, executive director of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Other panelists will include Dr. David Lynch, chair of the SMU Department of Social Science, and Sharon Schmickle, foreign affairs and science correspondent for MinnPost.com.

For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/foodinsecurityforum.

The event is sponsored by Saint Mary’s, the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership and the Under-Told Stories Project, in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.

The “Under-Told Stories Project,” sponsored by and in partnership with Saint Mary’s, shares stories from some of the world’s most remote locations through PBS NewsHour and other media organizations. The partnership brings de Sam Lazaro to the university’s Minneapolis campus, provides new learning opportunities to Saint Mary’s students, and is intended to raise awareness for the local ramifications of global issues.

Kirk to give piano performance Nov. 6

Pianist Ned Kirk will interpret Beethoven and other renowned composers during a recital Sunday, Nov. 6, at Page Theatre.

The program — which will begin at 3 p.m. — will include works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Nikolai Medtner, Max Reger, Frederic Rzewski and Nikolai Kapustin.

Kirk has performed extensively in the U.S., Europe, Africa and Asia. Upcoming engagements include recitals with legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis, a second State Department-sponsored tour of Kenya, and recitals and master classes in the U.S., Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.

Kirk is known locally as the artistic and managing director of the Minnesota Beethoven Festival and as a professor of piano at Saint Mary’s.

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

Halloween Fun Night draws hundreds to campus

Hundreds of elementary and preschool children from Winona attended the 12th annual Saint Mary’s Halloween Fun Night Monday, Oct. 24. The event was sponsored by the Office of Residence Life. To see a few pictures from the event, go to www.smumn.edu/photos.

Page Series presents ‘Letters Home’ Nov. 1

Letters written by soldiers serving in the Middle East will come to life during the next Saint Mary’s Page Series event — “Letters Home”— at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Page Theatre.

This Griffin Theatre production is a powerful portrait of the soldier experience. It’s inspired by the New York Times op-ed article, “The Things They Wrote” and the subsequent HBO documentary, “Last Letters Home.” Additional letters and correspondences come from Frank Schaeffer’s books, “Voices From the Front,” “Letters Home From America’s Military Family,” “Faith of Our Sons,” and “Keeping Faith.”

These letters were written under the most difficult of circumstances: the disorientation of training, deployment, separation from family and loved ones and combat, and occupation duties in Afghanistan and Iraq. The production uses minimal props and set pieces to dramatize the letters. Photos and video used in the production are taken directly from actual soldiers’ blogs and websites.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Box Office, Ext. 1715 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Area schools are invited to a special matinee performance at 10 a.m.

Saint Mary’s students, staff, alumni volunteer in community

Saint Mary's alumni and students volunteered at a Habitat for Humanity build in Winona.

Saint Mary's students volunteered with Winona Health

In recognition of national “Make a Difference Day” and “Lasallian Day of Service,” about 300 Saint Mary’s students, alumni and staff volunteered their time Saturday, Oct. 22, throughout Winona — as well as in Chicago and the Twin Cities areas.

About 160 SMU student volunteers assisted locally at the Habitat Restore, Habitat for Humanity, Winona Health, the Salvation Army, the Winona Area Humane Society, area churches and schools, as well as residences — 38 locations in all.

“Make a Difference Day” is the most encompassing national day of helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA WEEKEND magazine, this annual event takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.

Saint Mary’s alumni also came together in service to others Oct. 22 as part of the annual “Lasallian Day of Service.” Alumni helped out in the Twin Cities, Chicago and Winona, working with projects such as Feed My Starving Children and Arc’s Value Village in the Twin Cities; Feed My Starving Children, St. Procopius School and a San Miguel School in Chicago; and Habitat for Humanity in Winona.

Veterans Day ceremony planned for Nov. 11

On Nov. 11, in recognition of Veterans Day — an annual holiday observed in honor of those who have served the U.S. armed forces — a small ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial beginning at 11 a.m. Dr. Bill Crozier, university archivist, has put together a video tribute for the occasion, and members of the choir will perform. A prayer remembrance will be held for all those who have served and sacrificed in the U.S. armed forces, especially those from the Saint Mary’s community. A reception will be held in the Toner Student Center following the ceremony.

News from Nairobi

This article was written by Joseph Muiruri and edited by Father Michael Kirwen, director, of the Maryknoll Institute for African Studies in Nairobi.

The Maryknoll Institute of African Studies (MIASMU) has so far recommended the conferring of a Master of Arts in African Studies degree to three of its students this academic year.

The first student, Apollinaire Munyampundu from Rwanda, dwelt on job creation through small-scale informal sector called (jua kali) ‘hot sun’. He highlights problems that hinder the sector from creating more employment opportunities such as inadequate capital, lack of experts, innovation shortcomings, advertising, dumping of imports, and lack of government support.

The second student, Solomon Ameh Eche from Nigeria, wrote a thesis that explores the understanding and promotion of socio-economic development through cultural values among the Maasai of Kajiado North in Kenya. It looks at what the Maasai understand by socio-economic development and the extent to which the government and the development partners have integrated socio-economic development with the Maasai cultural values. The study showed that this integrated socio-economic development among the Maasai is often hindered by the individualistic attitudes of the youth, educated and business people.

The third student, Jiodio Tsafack Marius from Cameroon, had a captivating thesis on the Abalogoli of Western Kenya and their concept of immortality. For one to be immortal, i.e., live on after death, one must have been morally upright while living. People living with HIV/AIDS are seen as immoral and therefore are denied immortality. The researcher explores whether the Abalogoli will eventually change this belief in view of new understandings about HIV/AIDS and how it is contracted.

What is unique about these theses, a specialty of the MIAS program, is that they are based on the data obtained by professional-quality field research entailing at least 150 field interviews.

The Cardinal Corner is open for business

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.

This semester, all non-club related profits will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the largest health agency devoted to blood cancers. They supply funding for cancer research all around the world, and provide free information for support services. Their mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and families.

New items added this semester include:
• SMU MUTTS Frisbees and shirts
• Winona Knits and Mitts mittens
• Trendy and affordable neon sunglasses
• Cardinal Pride athletic shorts - with pockets!
• A Brother Stephen shirt - coming soon! (You’ll love the design and quote!)

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

Fall 2011 hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Wednesdays.

Illuminated Manuscript project on display at Fitzgerald Library

Jeunesse Rutledge

Aaron Henry

In conjunction with the completion of the handwritten St. John’s Bible in Collegeville, Minn., Fitzgerald Library now has on display handwritten pages and drawings of Bible verses completed by Saint Mary’s students.

Dr. Christian Michener’s students in the Lasallian Honors Program were asked to choose a few verses from the Psalms and compose their own “Kells” page, based on the original Book of Kells, a 9th century Irish illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels.

Students had several weeks of practice to learn the calligraphy, and then — through careful measuring, some research and imagination, a little tracing, and hours of their own effort (and frustration) — managed to produce their own version of a page of the book, copying as best they could the decorative Celtic style of the original Kells.

It wasn’t easy, but it was admittedly easier than the monks’ efforts: their lapis lazuli, a brilliant blue, arrived from Afghanistan, whereas that of the students came in packages of magic marker.

The display runs through the semester and can be seen on the main floor of the Fitzgerald Library near the reference librarian’s desk.

Library Mystery Night a spooky success

The second annual “Library Mystery Night” was, by all accounts, a big success. The action commenced in a darkened Fitzgerald Library on Friday, Oct. 21, at 9 p.m. In this ghostly setting, six teams (three students per team) braved “unspeakable horrors” in their attempts to locate the “missing student.” Witches, ghosts, goblins, and even a man-eating spider all were on hand.

The winning team was Bernadette Acocella, Devin Sigulinsky, and Kelly May. The Mystery @ the Fitz was a great time. Thanks to all who attended and those who volunteered their time to make it a success

Get set to scream at annual Saint Mary's Walk of Horror

This year’s Walk of Horror is again guaranteed to give you goosebumps. New scares are planned around every corner.

The 15th annual hair-raising fundraiser for the SMU Cardinal fastpitch softball team will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 29-31 in the SMU bluffs. Walkers meet on the lighted path between the SMU baseball and softball fields, where the haunted walk will begin.

Groups are then escorted through the dark bluffs surrounding the SMU campus for approximately 20 minutes.

The cost is $5 for adults, $4 for students with ID, and $4 for children 12 and younger. Tickets are available at the gate.

SMU head fastpitch softball coach Jen Miller said the event is fun for all ages. The scare level is toned down for younger children and turned up for groups bold enough to face their fears. Last year more than 1,100 brave souls took SMU’s Walk of Horror.

Proceeds from this event will be used for the softball team’s travel expenses. For more information, contact Miller at Ext. 457-6923.

Oktoberfest lunch raises $325 for CTIE

The Oktoberfest lunch, held Oct. 20, raised $325.33 for Christ the Teacher Institute for Education in Nairobi. Thanks go to all participants, including Chartwells.

Michigan artist displays work in ‘These Things Happen’

Unique paintings by Michigan artist Andrew Rieder depict human struggles in the upcoming art show “These Things Happen” on display through Nov. 13 at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

Rieder, a stencil artist, describes his work as visual metaphors for ongoing human struggles.

Rieder is an art instructor at Delta College in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay Region.

The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and are free and open to the public.

Final Chemistry Night is Nov. 3

Many area high school juniors and seniors will perform hands-on chemistry projects during upcoming Chemistry Night at Saint Mary’s University, which will run 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3.

Chemistry Night is an annual event designed to help students explore the discipline of chemistry and appreciate the positive role that chemistry plays in our everyday world.

Each year students solve a challenging but fun chemical problem. Students will work in small teams, using wet chemistry and working with chemical instrumentation in the SMU Department of Chemistry, under the guidance of SMU chemistry majors.

Eight area schools and approximately 50 students are participating this year.

For more information, contact Dr. Brett Bodsgard at Ext. 6972.

Blue Angel 2011 scheduled for Nov. 4-5

The SMU annual music variety show Blue Angel is planned for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5. Mark your calendars!

Oldie Moldies to perform at Signatures Nov. 12

Catch dinner and a show with the Oldie Moldie All-Stars Saturday, Nov. 12, at Visions Event Center.

Rock along to your favorite ’50s, ’60s and ’70s tunes while you enjoy a menu of house salad, pan-seared Canadian walleye fillet, wild rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, caper tarter sauce, rolls and butter, and strawberry shortcake. A chicken or pasta option is available by reservation.

The Oldies are members of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at Saint Mary’s. The group consists of 11 talented and engaging singers and band members.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m.; the Oldies will perform two sets, one at 6:30 p.m., and a second at 7:45 p.m.

The price for the dinner and show is $32 per person; reservations can be made now through Nov. 10 by calling Signatures at (507) 454-3767. Payment is accepted at time of reservation.

Visions Event Center is located at Signatures Restaurant, 22852 County Road 17 in Pleasant Valley.

Senior Class Auction nears

The 2011 Senior Class Silent Auction will be held Monday, Nov. 7, and Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Toner Game Room. The Silent Auction is a means for the senior class to fund the activities held throughout the year, specifically Senior Week.

Donations of merchandise, dinners, gift certificates, monetary donations, or any other items can be given to Laura Schmidt, director of Student Activities by Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Mayo program topic of next biology seminar

Sue Lehman from the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences will be talking about Mayo’s Clinical Laboratory Science Program at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, in Room 112 Hoffman Hall.

Jazz notes

Swing, Inc. will perform 6 to 9 p.m. today, Friday, Oct. 28, at Signature’s Restaurant.

‘A Confluence of Voices V’ planned for Nov. 4

Student poets from Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University will gather to read and share their original work at the Mugby Junction Coffee House, 451 Huff St., at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, for “A Confluence of Voices V.” Poets Ken McCullough (from SMU) and Jim Armstrong (from WSU) will host the event, which is open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own work to share.

Halloween Fun Night is Oct. 24 at Saint Mary’s

Elementary and preschool children from the Winona area are invited to attend the 12th annual Saint Mary’s Halloween Fun Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24.

Participants should stop at the guard booth at the main entrance of the Winona campus for directions on where to park.

Young trick-or-treaters should start out the evening at the Hall of Fame Room, where tattoos and stickers, a coloring station, and other fun games will be offered, and the Cardinal mascot will greet pint-sized ghosts and goblins.

From there, SMU students will lead groups of trick-or-treaters through the residence halls of the university, where they can go door to door for candy.

Last year more than 700 youth participated in this free, safe and fun event, sponsored by the Office of Residence Life.

A large amount of candy is needed in order for this program to run smoothly and for children to leave SMU happy. Donations can either be dropped off at Residence Life in Room 14 of the Toner Student Center or send an e-mail to reslife@smumn.edu and someone can pick the donation up.

Page Series presents ‘Letters Home’ Nov. 1

Letters written by soldiers serving in the Middle East will come to life during the next Saint Mary’s Page Series event — “Letters Home”— at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Page Theatre.

This Griffin Theatre production is a powerful portrait of the soldier experience. It’s inspired by the New York Times op-ed article, “The Things They Wrote” and the subsequent HBO documentary, “Last Letters Home.” Additional letters and correspondences come from Frank Schaeffer’s books, “Voices From the Front,” “Letters Home From America’s Military Family,” “Faith of Our Sons,” and “Keeping Faith.”

These letters were written under the most difficult of circumstances: the disorientation of training, deployment, separation from family and loved ones and combat, and occupation duties in Afghanistan and Iraq. The production uses minimal props and set pieces to dramatize the letters. Photos and video used in the production are taken directly from actual soldiers’ blogs and websites.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and are available online at www.pagetheatre.org or at the Box Office, Ext. 1715 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Area schools are invited to a special matinee performance at 10 a.m. The play — 90 minutes in length — is recommended for those in grades nine through 12. Contact the Box Office at (507) 457-1715 to reserve seats for your school group. All seats are $2 per student, teacher or chaperone. A study guide is available online at www.pagetheatre.org/matinees.html.

Page Series hosts Luna Negra Dance Theatre Oct. 22

Saint Mary’s will come alive with colorful costumes and spirited dance as the Luna Negra Dance Theatre takes the stage Saturday, Oct. 22.

A representative from the Latin dance company will present a free pre-show at 6:30 p.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall, just prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance in Page Theatre.

Founded in 1999 by Cuban-born dancer and choreographer Eduardo Vilaro, Luna Negra Dance Theater makes its home in Chicago. Luna Negra offers its audiences effervescent, energetic and passionate contemporary Latino dance that blends the discipline of ballet with the fiery energy of Latin and Afro-Caribbean forms and rhythms.

Tickets for this Page Series performance are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students. To order, go online to www.pagetheatre.org or call the box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Get set to scream at annual Saint Mary's Walk of Horror

This year’s Walk of Horror is again guaranteed to give you goosebumps. New scares are planned around every corner.

The 15th annual hair-raising fundraiser for the SMU Cardinal fastpitch softball team will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 21-22 and 29-31 in the SMU bluffs. Walkers meet on the lighted path between the SMU baseball and softball fields, where the haunted walk will begin.

Groups are then escorted through the dark bluffs surrounding the SMU campus for approximately 20 minutes.

The cost is $5 for adults, $4 for students with ID, and $4 for children 12 and younger. Tickets are available at the gate.

SMU head fastpitch softball coach Jen Miller said the event is fun for all ages. The scare level is toned down for younger children and turned up for groups bold enough to face their fears. Last year more than 1,100 brave souls took SMU’s Walk of Horror.

Proceeds from this event will be used for the softball team’s travel expenses. For more information, contact Miller at Ext. 457-6923.

Oktoberfest lunch a success

The Oktoberfest lunch, held yesterday, Oct. 20, was a success. Totals have not yet been tallied, but pictures are viewable at www.smumn.edu/photos.

Proceeds will benefit Christ the Teacher Institute for Education in Nairobi. The Volunteer Committee thanks everyone who came and enjoyed the food, the camaraderie and a little border-war banter, as well as to Chris Kendall for playing the accordion!

Laurie Haase, Business Department, and Roger Peckover, Education, won the awards for best fan spirit.

Michigan artist displays work in ‘These Things Happen’

Unique paintings by Michigan artist Andrew Rieder depict human struggles in the upcoming art show “These Things Happen” on display through Nov. 13 at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

Rieder, a stencil artist, describes his work as visual metaphors for ongoing human struggles.

Rieder is an art instructor at Delta College in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay Region.

The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and are free and open to the public.

Chemistry Nights are Oct. 27, Nov. 3

Many area high school juniors and seniors will perform hands-on chemistry projects during upcoming Chemistry Nights at Saint Mary’s University, which will run 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3.

Chemistry Night is an annual event designed to help students explore the discipline of chemistry and appreciate the positive role that chemistry plays in our everyday world.

Each year students solve a challenging but fun chemical problem. Students will work in small teams, using wet chemistry and working with chemical instrumentation in the SMU Department of Chemistry, under the guidance of SMU chemistry majors.

Prizes will be awarded to the teams that have the greatest success in solving the chemical problems. Prizes will include SMU scholarships of $2,000 and $1,000.

Eight area schools and approximately 50 students are participating this year.

For more information, contact Dr. Brett Bodsgard at Ext. 6972.

First SMU mock trial is Oct. 27

The Business and Social Science Departments are hosting the first SMU Mock Trial from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, in the Common Room.

SMU pre-law students will act as the attorneys in a hotly contested case which mirrors an actual trial. Students will also participate as jurors and witnesses. Attendance is open to everyone — those interested in learning more about our legal system are especially encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Larry Price at Ext. 1533 or lprice @smumn.edu.

Blue Angel 2011: Time to get your act together

The SMU annual music variety show Blue Angel is planned for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5. Auditions for the show will be held Oct. 21-23 and are open to the entire SMU community (students, faculty and staff). Look for a signup sheet on the Phi Mu Alpha room door in the basement of the Toner Student Center. For more information, contact Tyler Ringeisen at tjring08@smumn.edu or Andy Bauer at atbaue08@smumn.edu.

‘Make a Difference Day,’ Lasallian Day of Service is Oct. 22

Saint Mary’s students will be out volunteering in the community for ‘Make a Difference Day’ between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Oct. 22, through the Office of Campus Ministry.

Students will be building for Habitat for Humanity, working at area churches and Community Memorial Hospital, and volunteering with many other organizations in town.

Also on Oct. 22, Saint Mary’s alumni in Twin Cities, Chicago, Winona and all over the country are organizing volunteer sites in their local communities for the third annual Lasallian Day of Service.

All area alumni and friends are invited to participate in the Winona-area Lasallian Day of Service (from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) with Habitat for Humanity. Volunteers will assist in the construction of a new Habitat Home in the Winona area. Alumni will be volunteering with current SMU students.

Register for this event by going to www.smumn.edu/lasalliandayofservice.

Senior Class Auction nears

The 2011 Senior Class Silent Auction will be held Monday, Nov. 7, and Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Toner Game Room. The Silent Auction is a means for the senior class to fund the activities held throughout the year, specifically Senior Week.

Donations of merchandise, dinners, gift certificates, monetary donations, or any other items can be given to Laura Schmidt, director of Student Activities by Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Alum to give biology seminar

Brendon Panke ’05, associate research specialist in the Department of Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will present the second of a two-part seminar, “On Japanese Knotweed,” a field exercise, at 2:55 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at Gilmore Creek. Meet at Hoffman Hall.

SMU alum to present next biology seminars

Dr. Rebecca (Dahlin ’98) Laborde of the Mayo Clinic will present “Clinical and translational applications of transcriptome sequencing in oropharygcal cancer” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, in Hoffman Hall, Room 112.

Poetry reading planned for Oct. 27 at Winona Arts Center

Dr. Steve Schild will read from a self-published collection of his work at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Winona Arts Center, 5th and Franklin streets.

Dr. Schild will read from “Gone Away from Crystal Valley,” which includes a number of his poems that have appeared in various literary venues. Schild has published in magazines including ArtWord Quarterly and Elysian Fields Quarterly, anthologies including 33 Minnesota Poets and Witness, and other literary venues including Minnesota Poetry Calendar.

The reading is free and open to the public.

Jazz notes

Swing, Inc. will perform Friday, Oct. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Signature’s Restaurant.

Remembrance to be held Oct. 25

A remembrance for Millie Harrison, a freshman theatre major who passed away suddenly last year, as well as other loved ones, will be held at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the new pit, located at the border of the Watters parking lot and the Old Village. A bonfire and open mic memorial will be held, and the SMU community is invited to share thoughts, songs or stories about Millie or other loved ones who have passed. Snacks and hot drinks will be provided.

Cancer benefit for Jim Klinger is Oct. 22

A cancer benefit will be held for Jim Klinger, (Maintenance Department) at 4 p.m. Saturday Oct. 22, at the Witoka Ballroom. Klinger was diagnosed with primary liver cancer in March. The event will include a live and silent auction, bake sale and chicken dinner. If you would like a ticket for the dinner, call Sandy at Ext. 1436. Tickets are selling quickly.

If you would like to help with the benefit by volunteering that day, baking for the bake sale or by donating items, contact Nikki Richmond Ext. 1643 or Sandy Moger at Ext. 1436.

Saint Mary’s breaks ground on new residence hall

Breaking ground are, from left: Gary Hay, principal, Hay Dobbs; State Senator Jeremy Miller; SMU Trustees Joe Ross and Jim Coogan; Connie Budin, SMU student activity president; Brother William Mann, SMU president; Michael Gostomski, SMU Board of Trustees chairman; Bob Rousseau, SMU Student Senate president; SMU Trustee Celeste Suchocki; Father Andrew Beerman, rector, Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary; Winona Mayor Jerry Miller; and Mike Hansen, president of Schwab LLC.

Brother William Mann, president, Saint Mary’s University

Saint Mary’s broke ground Friday, Oct. 7, on an innovative new residence hall at the Winona campus.

The Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees recently approved final plans and funding for the four-story facility. Construction has begun this week and the hall should be complete by August 2012, for use in the 2012-2013 academic year.

The cost of the project is estimated at $6.5 million. Hay Dobbs is the architect and Schwab LLC of Winona is general contractor.

The new residence hall will be located near the university’s high ropes course and track/soccer complex. It will be open to sophomore, junior and senior undergraduate students during the academic year, and serve conferencing, camps and educational program needs in the summer.

To view more pictures from the day's event, go to www.smumn.edu/photos.

Halloween Fun Night is Oct. 24 at Saint Mary’s

Elementary and preschool children from the Winona area are invited to attend the 12th annual Saint Mary’s Halloween Fun Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24.

Participants should stop at the guard booth at the main entrance of the Winona campus for directions on where to park.

Young trick-or-treaters should start out the evening at the Hall of Fame Room, where tattoos and stickers, a coloring station, and other fun games will be offered, and the Cardinal mascot will greet pint-sized ghosts and goblins.

From there, SMU students will lead groups of trick-or-treaters through the residence halls of the university, where they can go door to door for candy.

Last year more than 700 youth participated in this free, safe and fun event, sponsored by the Office of Residence Life.

Page Series hosts Luna Negra Dance Theatre Oct. 22

Saint Mary’s will come alive with colorful costumes and spirited dance as the Luna Negra Dance Theatre takes the stage Saturday, Oct. 22.

A representative from the Latin dance company will present a free pre-show at 6:30 p.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall, just prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance in Page Theatre.

Founded in 1999 by Cuban-born dancer and choreographer Eduardo Vilaro, Luna Negra Dance Theater makes its home in Chicago. Luna Negra offers its audiences effervescent, energetic and passionate contemporary Latino dance that blends the discipline of ballet with the fiery energy of Latin and Afro-Caribbean forms and rhythms.

Tickets for this Page Series performance are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students. To order, go online to www.pagetheatre.org or call the box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This visit is supported, in part, by Arts Midwest.

Saint Mary’s is a fiscal year 2011 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.

Get set to scream at annual Saint Mary's Walk of Horror

This year’s Walk of Horror is again guaranteed to give you goosebumps. New scares are planned around every corner.

The 15th annual hair-raising fundraiser for the SMU Cardinal fastpitch softball team will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 21-22 and 29-31 in the SMU bluffs. Walkers meet on the lighted path between the SMU baseball and softball fields, where the haunted walk will begin.

Groups are then escorted through the dark bluffs surrounding the SMU campus for approximately 20 minutes.

The cost is $5 for adults, $4 for students with ID, and $4 for children 12 and younger. Tickets are available at the gate.

SMU head fastpitch softball coach Jen Miller said the event is fun for all ages. The scare level is toned down for younger children and turned up for groups bold enough to face their fears. Last year more than 1,100 brave souls took SMU’s Walk of Horror.

Proceeds from this event will be used for the softball team’s travel expenses. For more information, contact Miller at Ext. 457-6923.

Oktoberfest lunch is Oct. 20

The SMU Volunteer Committee is planning an Oktoberfest lunch, just in time for the next Packers vs. Vikings game.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to SMU’s Oktoberfest on Thursday, Oct. 20, from 11:30 to 1 p.m. in the Plaza (or Hall of Fame Room in case of inclement weather). Enjoy some warm food as we usher in the colder weather: brats ($3), beer cheese soup ($3), hot dogs ($2) and root beer ($1). Or enjoy three items for $5. All proceeds will benefit Christ the Teacher Institute for Education in Nairobi.

In honor of the weekend’s rivalry game, wear your team colors and donate to “jerseys for a cause” at the Business Office windows.

Get creative with your team spirit; a prize will be given for the “best dressed fan.” And, join in for a rousing game of tug-of-war between Packers fans and Vikings fans to see who’s got the “stronger” loyalty!

Michigan artist displays work in ‘These Things Happen’

Unique paintings by Michigan artist Andrew Rieder depict human struggles in the upcoming art show “These Things Happen” on display through Nov. 13 at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

Rieder, a stencil artist, describes his work as visual metaphors for ongoing human struggles.

Rieder is an art instructor at Delta College in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay Region.

The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and are free and open to the public.

Chemistry Nights are Oct. 27, Nov. 3

Many area high school juniors and seniors will perform hands-on chemistry projects during upcoming Chemistry Nights at Saint Mary’s University, which will run 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3.

Chemistry Night, sponsored by the SMU Department of Chemistry and the La Crosse-Winona section of the American Chemical Society, is an annual event designed to help students explore the discipline of chemistry and appreciate the positive role that chemistry plays in our everyday world.

Each year students solve a challenging but fun chemical problem, based on the National Chemistry Week (Oct. 16-22) theme. This year happens to mark the International Year of Chemistry, and coinciding with National Chemistry Week is the unifying theme of “Chemistry – our life, our future” — exploring the positive impacts of chemistry as it relates to health, energy, environment and materials.

Students will work in small teams, using wet chemistry and working with chemical instrumentation in the SMU Department of Chemistry, under the guidance of SMU chemistry majors.

Prizes will be awarded to the teams that have the greatest success in solving the chemical problems. Prizes will include SMU scholarships of $2,000 and $1,000.

Eight area schools and approximately 50 students are participating this year.

For more information, contact Dr. Brett Bodsgard at Ext. 6972.

First SMU mock trial is Oct. 27

The Business and Social Science Departments are hosting the first SMU Mock Trial from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, in the Common Room.

SMU pre-law students will act as the attorneys in a hotly contested case which mirrors an actual trial. Students will also participate as jurors and witnesses. Attendance is open to everyone — those interested in learning more about our legal system are especially encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Larry Price at Ext. 1533 or lprice @smumn.edu.

Saint Mary’s theatre students to perform in London

Saint Mary’s theatre majors will stage the comedic satire “Greater Tuna” Oct. 18-22 at TARA Studio in London.

In this hilarious satire of small-town American morals, audiences will meet the upstanding citizens of rural Tuna, Texas (the state’s third smallest town). The long-running Off Broadway hit features eight actors creating the entire population of Tuna — men, women, children and animals — in a tour de farce of quick-change artistry, changing costumes and characterizations.

It’s eight actors, 20 characters and a barrel of laughs, y’all.

Qualified theatre majors at Saint Mary’s are studying theatre in London, England, this semester through the Stefannié Valéncia Kierlin Theatre in London Program. Under the guidance of Saint Mary’s faculty, the program will include a variety of classes in theatre, as well as courses focusing on broader enrichment. Students will have the unique opportunity to attend numerous performances at London’s West End, Off-West End, and Fringe theatres.

Blue Angel 2011 : Time to get your act together

The SMU annual music variety show Blue Angel is planned for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5. Auditions for the show will be held Oct. 21-23 and are open to the entire SMU community (students, faculty and staff). Look for a signup sheet on the Phi Mu Alpha room door in the basement of the Toner Student Center. For more information, contact Tyler Ringeisen at tjring08@smumn.edu or Andy Bauer at atbaue08@smumn.edu.

Blake to offer special-effects makeup workshop

Just in time for Halloween, Kirstin “Fluffy” Blake (Performance Center production manager) and her husband Justin Vann are offering a special tuition-free workshop for middle and high school students titled, “Wicked Halloween Special Effects Make-Up Workshops” at the Winona Arts Center. Participants can learn and practice techniques to turn themselves and their friends into disgusting zombies, awesome animals, terrifying monsters or anything else!

On Oct. 15, middle school students are welcome at 10 a.m., and high school students at 2 p.m. Only 20 spots are available for each workshop session. All materials will be provided; bring a clean face and an old shirt.

To register, go to http://winonaarts.org/workshops/register_Make-up.html.

‘Make a Difference Day,’ Lasallian Day of Service is Oct. 22

Saint Mary’s students will be out volunteering in the community for ‘Make a Difference Day’ between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Oct. 22, through the Office of Campus Ministry.

“Make a Difference Day” is the most encompassing national day of helping others, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA WEEKEND magazine, this annual event takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.

Also on Oct. 22, Saint Mary’s alumni in Twin Cities, Chicago, Winona and all over the country are organizing volunteer sites in their local communities for the third annual Lasallian Day of Service.

All area alumni and friends are invited to participate in the Winona-area Lasallian Day of Service (from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) with Habitat for Humanity. Volunteers will assist in the construction of a new Habitat Home in the Winona area. Alumni will be volunteering with current SMU students.

Register for this event by going to www.smumn.edu/lasalliandayofservice.

Alum to give biology seminar

Brendon Panke ’05, associate research specialist in the Department of Agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will present the second of a two-part seminar, “On Japanese Knotweed,” a field exercise, at 2:55 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at Gilmore Creek. Meet at Hoffman Hall.

Kowles to give seminar at WSU

Dr. Dick Kowles, professor emeritus in biology, will give a presentation at Winona State University on Friday, Oct. 21. The title of his talk is “Fortuitous Events in Researching Amazing Maize.” Kowles will discuss two large research projects conducted at Saint Mary’s with a number of biology student researchers. He will emphasize that capitalizing on fortuitous events can lead to important results.

Disc replacement is topic of next biology seminar

Joe Cochran, resident of neurosurgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin, will discuss “Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement in Military Patients” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in Room 112, Hoffman Hall.

Elevator Pitch Competition winners announced

The Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies has announced that Sheree Haslemore and Jennifer Schrankler were awarded the top two prizes in the recent Elevator Pitch Competition. Contestants created an idea for a business or an event and had 90 seconds (the length of an average elevator ride) to convince a panel of judges that the idea was a worthwhile investment. Judges considered the feasibility and creativity of the idea and the enthusiasm and professionalism of the presentation when awarding the prizes.

The Kabara Institute will be sponsoring another Elevator Pitch Competition early in second semester. Watch for details or contact Trevor Hall, director of the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, for more information.

Cancer benefit for Jim Klinger is Oct. 22

A cancer benefit will be held for Jim Klinger, (Maintenance Department) at 4 p.m. Saturday Oct. 22, at the Witoka Ballroom. Klinger was diagnosed with primary liver cancer in March. The event will include a live and silent auction, bake sale and chicken dinner. If you would like a ticket for the dinner, call Sandy at Ext. 1436. Tickets are selling quickly.

If you would like to help with the benefit by volunteering that day, baking for the bake sale or by donating items, contact Nikki Richmond Ext. 1643 or Sandy Moger at Ext. 1436.

Groundbreaking for new residence hall is today

This is a reminder that the SMU community is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for our new residence hall from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7.

The groundbreaking will occur at the building site, located between the SMU ropes course and Residencia Santiago Miller (formerly the New Village).

Representatives of the SMU community and the Winona civic community will turn the first shovels of dirt to begin construction on the new hall.

As the university nears its centennial in 2012, this groundbreaking will be an important moment that will help propel the university into its second century.

Family Weekend, Frolic draw many visitors to Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s Family Weekend, held Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, included a full slate of activities for families of students and the SMU community. Hundreds of visitors came onto campus for Family Weekend music events, sporting events, the Fall Frolic, and other games and activities. To view photos from the event, go to www.smumn.edu/photos.