Special events designed to help guide students

A Majors Fair, led by students for students, is planned for 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the Toner Student Center Lounge. This event is geared toward students who are not happy about their majors, are undecided majors, are trying to choose a minor or are just first-year students looking for information.
 
An Undeclared Majors Retreat is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Hillside Hall. There is no cost to attend, and a free lunch will be provided. This event will help students wondering what they are being called to do, those who are not sure they’re in the right major or those who wonder what major to declare. Students are asked to register by Oct. 31 to student success@smumn.edu, in person at 70 Griffin Hall or by calling Ext. 8737.

Both of these events are part of iPath, a series for the undecided, hosted by the Student Success Center.

Sympathy to Sullivan, Flanagan families

Daniel Sullivan, father and father-in-law of  Kate and Michael Flanagan, died on Friday, Oct. 11. Kate and Mike are retired faculty members, and Kate currently teaches part-­­­time. Also, Daniel’s grandson, Michael Sullivan ’14 currently attends SMU, and alum Karen Sullivan, formerly in admissions, is Daniel's daughter-in-law.

The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to the Sullivan and Flanagan families.

New De La Salle Christian Brothers statue, Brother James Miller bust dedicated

Brother William greets benefactors of the De La Salle Christian Brothers statue including, from left: Brian Thomas (representing the class of 2013); Frances and Robert Skemp and Jan and Bernie Wagnild.

Maria Glenski does a reading for the dedication ceremony.

The new De La Salle Christian Brothers statue on the Winona campus plaza was dedicated during a brief ceremony on Oct. 4. The statue honors the De La Salle Christian Brothers’ 80 years of service to Saint Mary’s. Benefactors of the project, Bernie and Jan Wagnild, Robert ’49 and Frances Perry CST ’51 Skemp, and the Class of 2013, were recognized.

A new bust of 1966 alumnus Brother James Miller, for whom Residencia Santiago Miller is named, was dedicated Oct. 8 during an informal ceremony. The bust is located just off of the path between the Residencia and Brother Leopold Hall. Brother James was doing “God’s work” of bringing education, faith and hope to marginalized Guatemalans when he was shot and killed on Feb. 13, 1982 by four masked gunmen while mending a wall outside the De La Salle Casa Indigena where he worked.

To see photos, go to www.smumn.edu/photos.

News from Nairobi

We Stand United
By James Chege, librarian
Maryknoll Institute for African Studies

Terrorism reared its ugly head again in Kenya when one of Nairobi’s up-market shopping malls, Westgate, was attacked by what is thought to be militants from the notorious Somalia-based al-Shabab terror group.

What followed was a four-day siege involving local and foreign security forces working hand in hand to bring the attack and hostage situation to an end. Reports from the government put the death toll at 76 with hundreds more injured. Fortunately, none of the staff or students at MIASMU, CTIE and Tangaza University College lost their lives or were injured in the attack. Also, as far as is known, no members of the staff and students’ extended families were directly affected by the tragic events.

We are most grateful to our many friends and concerned individuals from Saint Mary’s University who inquired as to our safety and well-being. We also thank all those who remembered Kenya in their prayers in that difficult moment and continue to do so as many Kenyan families struggle to come to terms with the loss of loved ones.

Halloween Fun Night is Oct. 28

Elementary and preschool children from the Winona area are invited to attend the 13th annual Saint Mary’s University Halloween Fun Night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28.

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, located in the Toner Student Center, 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 750 youth participated in this free, safe and fun event, sponsored by the Office of Residence Life.

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 17th annual hair-raising fundraiser for the SMU Cardinal fastpitch softball team will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 25-26 and 30-31 in the SMU bluffs. Walkers are asked to 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.

Proceeds from this event will be used for the softball team’s travel expenses.

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.

For more information, contact Miller at Ext. 6923.

SMU hosts Caravan du Nord Minnesota musicians Oct. 18

Saint Mary’s Off the Page Series will host an impressive lineup of talented Minnesota musicians as part of the “Caravan du Nord 2013” concert series Friday, Oct. 18.

In its third year, the Caravan du Nord concert tour starts Oct. 11 in Austin, with stops in Winona, St. Cloud and Detroit Lakes before ending in Red Wing on Nov. 16. Each event features live performances by artists in a wide range of genres.

The Winona lineup includes some of the most talked about up-and-coming artists — Night Moves, Southwire and Mike Munson — converging on the SMU Page Theatre stage, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Night Moves is based out of Minneapolis and has been receiving airtime on MPR’s The Current; they have been described by Spin magazine as “cosmically expansive and yet twangily intimate.” Southwire, from Duluth, has been praised by City Pages as providing “haunting melodies that sound like they have been carried on the winds of the past.” Winona’s own (and SMU alum) Mike Munson was recently on the nationally broadcast WPR show “Whad' Ya Know” and is regularly heard around town performing his blues-influenced solo guitar.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The SMU Student Activity Committee is co-hosting this event.

Members of Night Moves and Minnesota’s top music industry professionals will provide insider insight about marketing, songwriting and more at a workshop Friday, Oct. 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at Sum Some Studios, 168 E. 3rd St. The event is free and open to the public.

‘Make a Difference Day’ and ‘Lasallian Day of Service’ are Oct. 26

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

The university hopes to get as many students as possible out into the community between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. Students are willing to help individuals and organizations with anything from painting to yard work.

“Make a Difference Day” is a 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. For the sixth year, SMU is proud to join the millions of people throughout the nation who are participating.

Lasallian Day of Service

Also on Oct. 26, alumni are invited to participate in the fifth annual Lasallian Day of Service. This is a day that allows alumni to come together in the spirit of the Lasallian mission in service to others. 

The alumni association has established a volunteer site for the Winona area at the CSTea House, 357 Gould St.

The CSTea House is the home of the College of Saint Teresa Alumnae Association. It is located next to Lourdes Hall and adjacent to the Chapel of the Angels and the Alverna Center. Fifteen volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to organize and clean the basement.

Sites have also been confirmed in the Chicago, Twin Cities, Saint Louis and Denver, Colo., areas. Alumni who reside outside these locations have been encouraged to arrange their own service project(s). 

For more information go to:  www.mysmumn.org/LDOS13.

Alumnus returns to SMU for exhibit titled ‘Excessibility’

Todd VonBastiaans, left, and Bryan McCarthy with their pancake pillow creations.

Las Vegas artist and 1994 Saint Mary’s alumnus Todd VonBastiaans — along with friend and colleague Bryan McCarthy — will curate the next Saint Mary’s University exhibit, “Excessibility.”

The show, which depicts luxury and celebrity accessibility is subtitled, “Access 2 Excess” and features works from 1939 to 2013, including Banksy, Ed Ruscha, Sol Lewitt and Andy Warhol. VonBastiaans and McCarthy will also display their new pancake pillows.

“Excessibility” will run Oct. 10 through Nov. 10 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, located in the Toner Student Center.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and the show is free and open to the public.

Special Halloween ‘Boo-fet’ and costume contest is Oct. 31

Halloween costume party participants from years past -- marketing and communication mice

A fantastic farm theme from the education folks

Start planning your spooktacular Halloween costume now; get your office or department together and vie for the highly coveted traveling Halloween contest trophy. The last costume contest winners, the Business Office, aren’t going to give it up easily!

This is the SMU Volunteer Committee’s first “Let’s Do Lunch” potluck/fundraiser.

This year’s winner will be able to direct their $500 winnings to their choice of the following worthy causes: Winona Food Shelf, scholarships at SMU, SMU in Jamaica, Habitat for Humanity, the First-Generation Initiative or the Red Cross.

The lunch, hosted by the Student Success Center and iT, will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, in the Common Room. All faculty and staff are welcome!

It’ll be a frigh

Lawing to display work in Decorah, Winona

“Elegant Decay,”new work by Preston Lawing of the Art and Design Department, is on display at the ArtHaus Gallery in Decorah, Iowa. This exhibition moves to Winona with an opening reception Nov. 5 at the Lyon Smith Gallery, 199 E. 3rd St.

SMU ‘In the News’

Here is one way Saint Mary’s is making the news this week:

• The Winona Post featured the SMU De La Salle Christian Brothers statue dedication in its Oct. 9 edition.

Business Office volunteers with Feed My Starving Children

The Winona Rotary Club hosted a Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) MobilePack Event on Saturday, Oct. 5, and the Business Office helped out this worthy cause. Feed My Starving Children is a Christian non-profit organization which utilizes volunteers to put together specially formulated food packets to be sent around the world to feed starving children. The program is reputable and serves children who are starving, even in the United States.

Volunteers from the Business Office donated a two-hour block of time to pack about 4,000 meals. Each team was asked to provide funding to cover the costs of the meals they pack, or $800.

The business office raised the required $800 donation by selling valentine cards and homemade treats. 

Bachler to perform in Winona Cemetery Walk

Marketing adjunct professor Steve Bachler was on WCCO-TV’s “Finding Minnesota” segment last Sunday as he is portraying Cal Fremling in the upcoming Cemetery Walk Oct. 12-13 at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Price quoted in article about Lasallian Social Justice Institute experience

Larry Price, Business Department, wrote an article about his Lasallian Social Justice Institute experience which was quoted in an article on the Christian Brothers Conference website: http://lasallian.info/2013/08/23/lsji-highlights-impact-of-violence-and-peacemaking/

Tristano presents at Christian teaching conference

Richard Tristano, History Department, attended a conference at Calvin College, “Virtues, Vices, and Teaching,” that explored approaches to Christian teaching and learning on the role of character in the classroom. His presentation “Teaching Virtues: Perspectives on the Good Human Life” highlighted the place of the Lasallian Core Traditions program in SMU’s general education program, especially LCT225 Perspectives on the Good Human Life.

Luncheon held for Polish students, benefactors

Pictured are, from left, back: Brother William Mann, Mike Gostomski, Jan Preble of The Wasie Foundation, Ryan Gostomski; front, Marcin Sak, Marzena Drozd, Katarzyna Plawiak and Marta Aleszewicz.

On Tuesday, Oct. 8, Saint Mary’s hosted a lunch gathering of students from Poland and their scholarship benefactors. The university enjoys a partnership with the Gostomski Family Foundation and The Wasie Foundation to provide full tuition, room and board scholarships to students of 100 percent Polish ancestry who also meet university admissions criteria.

Blue Angel is Nov. 1-2

The Brothers of Phi Mu Alpha cordially invite members of the faculty and staff to Blue Angel    2013. This year’s performances are Friday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7 and 10 p.m.  ou may receive a complimentary ticket to the show of your choice by contacting Bob Fisher at Ext. 6658 or rfisher@smumn.edu.

Family Weekend draws crowds to campus activities

The inflatables were a big hit.

Leading the Fall Frolic

Posing with Big Red

SMU’s Family Weekend Sept. 27-29 included a full slate of activities for the SMU community, and many events brought in members of the Winona-area community as well. In previous years, as many as 1,000 visitors have come onto campus for Family Weekend music and theatre events, sporting events, the Fall Frolic, and other games and activities.

More than 250 people participated in the 26th Fall Frolic 5K fun run/walk Saturday morning.

A joint performance of the Saint Mary’s Concert Band, Chamber Singers and Choirs featured the world-premiere composition, “Katanya” by Larry Bitensky of Centre College, Danville, Ky.
“Katanya” was commissioned by the Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation. Additionally, the Saint Mary’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I and the Department of Theatre and Dance performed.

In addition to athletic events on campus, a legacy dinner, hosted by the Office of Admission, celebrated multiple generations of Saint Mary’s students and alumni.

To see photos from the weekend, go to www.smumn.edu/photos.

New Christian Brothers statue dedication is today

The new De La Salle Christian Brothers statue on the Winona campus plaza will be dedicated during a brief ceremony on today, Friday, Oct. 4, at 11:45 a.m.  Students, faculty and staff are invited. The statue honors the De La Salle Christian Brothers’ 80 years of service to Saint Mary’s. Benefactors of the project, Bernie and Jan Wagnild, Robert ’49 and Frances Perry CST ’51 Skemp, and the Class of 2013, will be recognized.

News from Nairobi

Discovering anew through field research
By James Chege, librarian
Maryknoll Institute for African Studies

The first week of the semester saw students in various courses offered by MIASMU undertake their first field research. The field research was conducted under the guidance of the faculty on various topics in accordance with the courses being taken. Each student was assigned a field assistant, a university graduate, who functions as a tutorial assistant.

In one of the student field studies, it was discovered that the Luhyia of Western Kenya officially recognize the wise elders by giving them symbolic gifts of spears. The is to demonstrate  that during times of aggression and attack from enemies the elders are expected to give wise counsel that would protect the community from defeat. This shows that the Luhyia recognized that wisdom is essential to the preservation of the community, a preservation  which could not be achieved  solely by the strength of the warriors.

The field research is essential because literature on African cultural beliefs and practices is scarce and a lot of it misrepresents reality. To overcome this, students are required to undertake field research of at least four hours per course per week in order to gather first-hand knowledge of contemporary cultural realities.

The field research, therefore, is a unique aspect of the MIASMU courses offered and a real eye opener to the students. Through field research, students get a unique opportunity to discuss pertinent issues and interact with people who are living the very cultural realities that are being taught in the classroom.

SMU Page Series to feature folk singer Susan Werner

The next Page Series will feature some sweet songs about sustainability by folk singer Susan Werner.

Werner will present work from her “Hayseed” project at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, in  Page Theatre.

Born in Manchester, Iowa, Werner grew up on her family’s hog farm, but she took to singing rather than farming. She began making a name for herself in the folk scene of the early 1990s in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. She recorded five albums from 1993 to 2001 in the folk genre. Her next recording in 2004, “I Can't Be New,” was a departure encompassing Tin Pan Alley, early torch, and jazz standards. Now based in Chicago, Warner’s most recent music is infused with the rustic roots of American folk, blues and country music. Her 11th recording “Kicking the Beehive” includes guest appearances by Vince Gill, Mo’Keb and Paul Franklin.

Werner’s newest project, “Hayseed,” contains 12 songs on the subject of farming, rural America, locavores, food safety, and the comic potential of herbicides. With this work, she returns to the language and characters she knows best.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for students and seniors and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, 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 Saint Mary’s University Walk of Horror is again guaranteed to give you goosebumps. New scares are planned around every corner.

The 17th annual hair-raising fundraiser for the SMU Cardinal fastpitch softball team will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 25-26 and 30-31 in the SMU bluffs. Walkers are asked to 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. 6923.

SMU hosts Caravan du Nord Minnesota musicians Oct. 18

Night Moves

Saint Mary’s Off the Page Series will host an impressive lineup of talented Minnesota musicians as part of the “Caravan du Nord 2013” concert series Friday, Oct. 18.

In its third year, the Caravan du Nord concert tour starts Oct. 11 in Austin, with stops in Winona, St. Cloud and Detroit Lakes before ending in Red Wing on Nov. 16. Each event features live performances by artists in a wide range of genres.

The Winona lineup includes some of the most talked about up-and-coming artists — Night Moves, Southwire and Mike Munson — converging on the SMU Page Theatre stage, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Night Moves is based out of Minneapolis and has been receiving airtime on MPR’s The Current; they have been described by Spin magazine as “cosmically expansive and yet twangily intimate.” Southwire, from Duluth, has been praised by City Pages as providing “haunting melodies that sound like they have been carried on the winds of the past.” Winona’s own Mike Munson was recently on the nationally broadcast WPR show “Whad' Ya Know” and is regularly heard around town performing his blues-influenced solo guitar.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The SMU Student Activity Committee is co-hosting this event.

Members of Night Moves and Minnesota’s top music industry professionals will provide insider insight about marketing, songwriting and more at a workshop Friday, Oct. 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at Sum Some Studios, 168 E. 3rd St. The event is free and open to the public.

Lasallian Week of Peace events continue

Alum Mary Gleich talks about Target Corp. during the Week of Peace Symposium.

Catholic musician Sarah Hart

A Dine with the Divine topic on a Lake City Catholic Worker community.

Only a few days remain of Lasallian Week of Peace. This year’s theme is “Care for God’s Creation.”

Highlights of the week have included a concert with Catholic musician Sarah Hart, a presentation about the Lake City Catholic Worker community (the Jagerstatter Farm), and the Week of Peace Symposium, “Caring for the Environment in Our Professional and Personal Lives” featuring presenters from Gundersen Health Systems, J.R. Watkins, Hoch Orchard, The Blue Heron, Winona County, and others.

Events yet to come include:

Sunday, Oct. 6
Service opportunity at Jagerstatter Farm (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Connect back to the Monday night Dine with the Divine by helping out at Jagerstatter Farm.

All Week: 
Throughout the week there will be a table where you can contribute to a community mosaic project that depicts the beauty of our natural surroundings.

Prayer for Peace at the Peace Pole (12:35 p.m. daily in front of the chapel). Every day, following daily Mass, community members are invited to gather at the Peace Pole in front of Saint Thomas More Chapel for a brief prayer for peace and the care for God’s creation.

‘Make a Difference Day’ and ‘Lasallian Day of Service’ are Oct. 26

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

The university hopes to get as many students as possible out into the community between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. Students are willing to help individuals and organizations with anything from painting to yard work.

“Make a Difference Day” is a 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. For the sixth year, SMU is proud to join the millions of people throughout the nation who are participating.

Lasallian Day of Service

Also on Oct. 26, alumni are invited to participate in the fifth annual Lasallian Day of Service. This is a day that allows alumni to come together in the spirit of the Lasallian mission in service to others.

The alumni association has established a volunteer site for the Winona area at the CSTea House, 357 Gould St.

The CSTea House is the home of the College of Saint Teresa Alumnae Association. It is located next to Lourdes Hall and adjacent to the Chapel of the Angels and the Alverna Center. Fifteen volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to organize and clean the basement.

Sites have also been confirmed in the Chicago, Twin Cities, Saint Louis and Denver, Colo., areas. Alumni who reside outside these locations have been encouraged to arrange their own service project(s).

For more information go to:  www.mysmumn.org/LDOS13.

Alumnus returns to SMU for exhibit titled ‘Excessibility’

These pancake pillows are just some of the unusual pieces to be featured in "Excessibility."

Las Vegas artist and 1994 Saint Mary’s alumnus Todd VonBastiaans — along with friend and colleague Bryan McCarthy — will curate the next Saint Mary’s University exhibit, “Excessibility.”

The show, which depicts luxury and celebrity accessibility is subtitled, “Access 2 Excess” and features works from 1939 to 2013, including Banksy, Ed Ruscha, Sol Lewitt and Andy Warhol. VonBastiaans and McCarthy will also display their new pancake pillows.

“Excessibility” will run Oct. 10 through Nov. 10 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, located in the Toner Student Center.

A reception for the show will be held 4:30 to 6 on Thursday, Oct. 10. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and the show is free and open to the public.

Special Halloween ‘Boo-fet’ and costume contest is Oct. 31

Doin' the 'Jailhouse Rock' last year

Last year's winners -- the Business Office with the Centennial celebration theme.

Start planning your spooktacular Halloween costume now; get your office or department together and vie for the highly coveted traveling Halloween contest trophy. The last costume contest winners, the Business Office, aren't going to give it up easily!

This is the SMU Volunteer Committee’s first “Let’s Do Lunch” potluck/fundraiser.

This year’s winner will be able to direct their $500 winnings to their choice of the following worthy causes: Winona Food Shelf, scholarships at SMU, SMU in Jamaica, Habitat for Humanity, the First-Generation Initiative or the Red Cross.

The lunch, hosted by the Student Success Center and iT, will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, in the Common Room. All faculty and staff are welcome!

It’ll be a frightfully good time; ghoul be glad you came!

Hans Heukeshoven to present senior percussion recital

Senior Hans Heukeshoven will present his B.A. in Music Performance senior recital Saturday at 3 p.m. in Figliulo Recital Hall. It will include works performed on a variety of instruments from mallet percussion to jazz drum set.

Study Abroad Fair a success

SMU alum Marcy Mueller talked to students at Salesian Lay Ministers

Last Thursday Saint Mary’s hosted its first Study Abroad Fair. The event was well-attended and showcased the various study abroad programs available to Saint Mary’s students. Study abroad office staff, students who studied abroad, representatives from affiliated programs, and faculty leaders of short-term study abroad programs were all on hand to answer questions. Furthermore, the Office of Campus Ministry and representatives from volunteer organizations provided information on opportunities to volunteer abroad.

Lawing to display series of work in Decorah, Winona

“Elegant Decay,”new work by Preston Lawing of the Art and Design Department, is on display at the ArtHaus Gallery in Decorah, Iowa, beginning today, Oct. 4. This exhibition moves to Winona with an opening reception Nov. 5 at the Lyon Smith Gallery, 199 E. 3rd St.

SMU in the news

Here is one way Saint Mary’s is making the news this week:
• SMU volleyball player Lexi Assimos was highlighted in the Sept. 29 Winona Daily News story titled, “Emotional Leader.” Go to http://bit.ly/1bRImGD.

Alum’s son featured on 'X-Factor'

Tim Olstad, whose mother, Julie (Savant) Olstad is a 1976 alum, has been regularly featured on “X Factor.” Tune in to FOX Oct. 9-10 to watch more of the four-chair challenge to see if Olstad advances in this national singing competition.

Congratulations to O’Shea, Welch, Driesen families

Three baby girls were born recently — all to faculty from our Department of Music.  Camille (Mimi) Charlotte O’Shea was born on Thursday, Sept. 26 to Dr. Patrick and Lindsy O’Shea; Anastasia Marie Welch was born on Sept. 30 to Jen (Thad) Welch; and Rayna Driesen was born to Dan (Kari) Driesen. The Saint Mary’s community extends its congratulations to these families.

Sympathy to Pilarski family

Rita Husman, Sandy Pilarski’s (Human Resources) mother, died on Tuesday, Sept. 24.

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

Family Weekend Fall Frolic is Sept. 28

The public is invited to participate in the 26th Fall Frolic 5K fun run/walk at Saint Mary’s University Saturday, Sept. 28.

Registration will run from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in SMU’s Toner Student Center with the race beginning at 10 a.m. The $8 cost includes a T-shirt.

The annual event is free to SMU students, faculty and staff, but is open to the community as well. Typically close to 300 people participate; competitors of all levels (including walkers) are welcome.

Participants will enjoy the beautiful bluff trails of SMU’s Winona campus. The online registration form is available at www.smumn.edu/fallfrolic, and a complete weekend schedule is available online at www.smumn.edu/familyweekend.

Family Weekend runs Sept. 27-29 and includes a full slate of activities for families of students and the SMU community. In previous years, as many as 1,000 visitors have come onto campus for Family Weekend music and theatre events, sporting events, the Fall Frolic, and other games and activities.

New Christian Brother statue dedication is Oct. 4

The new De La Salle Christian Brothers statue on the Winona campus plaza will be dedicated during a brief ceremony on Friday, Oct. 4, at 11:45 a.m.  Students, faculty and staff are invited. The statue honors the De La Salle Christian Brothers’ 80 years of service to Saint Mary’s. Benefactors of the project, Bernie and Jan Wagnild, Robert ’49 and Frances Perry CST ’51 Skemp, and the Class of 2013, will be recognized.

Saint Mary’s debuts 7th Kaplan Commission Sept. 28

A joint performance of the Saint Mary’s Concert Band, Chamber Singers and Choirs will feature the world-premiere composition, “Katanya” during a family-oriented fall concert 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Page Theatre.

“Katanya,” written by Larry Bitensky of Centre College, Danville, Ky., is a Jewish oral folk tale from Turkey that tells a variation of the familiar Tom Thumb/Thumbelina story. Bitensky will serve as the tale’s on-stage narrator during the Concert Band premiere, which includes Jewish folk songs the composer heard as a youth.

“Katanya” was commissioned by the Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation, which supports performances and activities led by Jewish artists and scholars that are designed to increase cultural and religious understanding at Saint Mary’s. Bitensky is SMU’s seventh Kaplan composer.

Known for music described as “extraordinarily sensitive and beautiful” and “speaking directly to the heart,” Bitensky, a composer and pianist, has been hailed for works that are satisfying for performers and communicative to audiences.

Born in 1966 in New York, and educated at Skidmore College, the New England Conservatory of Music, Ithaca College, and Cornell University, Bitensky’s musical personality is rooted in a range of influences. He often seeks to merge the complex structures and expressive range of the classical masters and the innovations of the 20th-century greats with the melodic and rhythmic invention and improvisatory flow of musical traditions from India, Indonesia, the Islamic and Jewish worlds, jazz, and the Grateful Dead.

Recorded on Mark Records and Sea Breeze Vista records, Bitensky’s music has been performed by numerous ensembles and at various festivals around North America, Europe and Asia. His music is published by Silly Black Dog Music.

Bitensky is an associate professor of music at Centre College. He lives in Lancaster, Ky., with his wife Kathy and his silly black dog Chloe.

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

Jazz groups open Family Weekend music performances

Saint Mary’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I will begin another great season 6 p.m. today, Friday, Sept. 27, in Figliulo Recital Hall under the direction of A. Eric Heukeshoven.

Music by classic jazz composers such as Duke Ellington, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Thelonius Monk and George Gershwin, along with contemporary arrangements will be featured in this one-hour tour de force. Junior Thomas Plante will be featured playing flugelhorn on Monk’s haunting “Round Midnight.” And sophomore Nick Novotny on tenor sax will be joined by Tom Nalli on trombone for Dave Wolpe’s swinging arrangement of “Alone Together.”

The concert is open to the public, and seating is limited. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. For tickets or more information, contact the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or go online to www.pagetheatre.org.

Students to stage drama about women and war

The Theatre and Dance Department will present a groundbreaking play about women and war Sept. 28-29.

In “Necessary Targets,” two American women, a Park Avenue psychiatrist and an ambitious young writer, travel to Bosnia to help women refugees confront their memories of war. Based on interviews with numerous women who survived the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, “Necessary Targets” is a timely reminder of how America struggles to define its relationship to the rest of the world. Witness the violence of dark memories and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.

Written by Eve Ensler, and directed by Judy Myers, “Necessary Targets” will run 7:30 p.m.  Saturday, Sept. 28 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, in the Valéncia Academy Theatre, 10th and Vila streets.

Key design positions for this production are covered by seniors including: scene design, Elyssa Mattson; costume design, Tasha Nelson; and sound design, Charlotte Deranek.

Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715,

Cross/Purpose exhibit on display until Oct. 5

The Lillian Davis Hogan Gallery is hosting an exhibit titled Cross/Purpose, a collection of 49 works of art exploring the image, symbolism, and event of Christ’s crucifixion. Beginning with a 6th century coin, the works represent centuries of interpretation and reflection on this pivotal moment in history. Renowned artists such as George Rouault, Marc Chagall, Otto Dix and Jacques Villon are represented in the exhibit.

The collection is part of a traveling exhibition series by CIVA, Christians in the Visual Arts.

Please note that the Cross/Purpose exhibit has been extended for one week and will run through Saturday, Oct. 5.

Page Series to bring classic fairy tales with twists to life

Young and old alike will enjoy the Griffin Theatre Company performance of “Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales” Thursday, Oct. 3.

This Page Series production will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Page Theatre.

Jack has a problem. He’s successfully grown an enormous beanstalk, scaled to the top, and stolen a golden harp and gold-laying goose from the sleeping giant. Things get a bit sketchy when said giant wakes up. Find out how old, slightly warped, fairy tales come to his rescue.

Over the past 22 years, the Griffin Theatre Company of Chicago has provided a wide range of work including world and Midwest premieres of acclaimed scripts, critically lauded productions of Shakespeare and original adaptations of novels.

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

A “Gathering for Jack” will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the Winona Public Library Children’s Room. Enjoy some tall tales and fabulous shorts, and take a chance at winning tickets to the Oct. 3 performance.

Poet Sarah Certa to give reading

A reading by poet Sarah Certa, author of the chapbook, “Red Paper Heart,” will be held 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the President’s Room.

Her poems focus on the many shades of love. In 2010, Sarah graduated from Winona State with a B.A. in English and in 2013 from the Vermont College of Fine Arts with an M.F.A. in creative writing.

The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor dociety. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Carolyn Ayers, cayers@smumn.edu or Ext. 1523.

Campus Ministry hosts outdoor retreat

Twelve people attended the Outdoor Retreat Sept. 20-21, facilitated by Campus Ministry.  The retreat focused on enjoying the outdoors and discovering how a spiritual life may be called to environmental stewardship.  Participants hiked, canoed and camped at Perrot State Park.

Open house for Vlazny, Saint Edward’s is Oct. 2

An open house for the Saint Edward’s Living Learning Center and Vlazny Hall will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Visit the Living Learning Center’s new home in Saint Edward’s Hall and see updates to the building; also stop by Vlazny Hall to see the new homes of Campus Ministry, the Hendrickson Institute, the Jay Johnson Wellness Center, the Office of Mission, Residence Life and Student Life. Refreshments will be provided in the Vlazny Hall lounge.

News from Nairobi

By James Chege, librarian MIASMU
A New Academic Year Begins

The first semester of the new academic year 2013-14 began on Sept. 13 in Nairobi with the MIASMU director, Father Michael Kirwen, giving a welcoming address to the new and returning students. He urged them among other things to make use of the wonderful opportunity before them to understand better African cultures and by extension, for those who are not African, their own cultures.

This semester program marks the 24th year that the Maryknoll Institute of African Studies has been in existence. There is a 35 percent increase from the previous year’s enrollment indicating continuing growth of the institute. And, as has come to be expected, this semester’s students continue to reflect the diverse and dynamic nature of the student body with students from Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Brazil and the USA. The participants stand to learn a great deal from each other by experiencing the different cultural traditions while  interacting.

The courses offered this semester include: Spirituality, Personhood and Psychotherapy in an African Context taught by the Rev. Hubert Pinto; Justice and Peace in East Africa taught by Dr. Emmanuel Manyasa; Towards the Inculturation of Religious Life taught by Sister Dr. Joan Burke; African Marriage and Family: Challenge and Change taught by Mary Getui; Moral Teachings and Practices of African Traditional Religion taught by Dr. Michael Katola and finally, Sage Philosophy: The Root of African Philosophy and Religion taught by Dr. Oriare Nyarwath.

Richter chosen as recipient of Taylor Richmond Benefit

All proceeds from the 2014 Taylor Richmond Benefit will be awarded to Jason F. Richter M’09.

Richter, 37, is a former assistant dean of students, Student Activities coordinator, and hall director at Saint Mary’s and a M.A. in Human Development alumnus. He was also a staff advisor for the Taylor Richmond Benefit for its first eight years. He worked at SMU for more than 12 years.

He is the father of three young sons ages 10, 6, and 1. He, his wife, Tina, and their three boys moved to Iowa to be closer to grandparents and family in 2009.

Richter was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma. He had pain in his lower back that turned out to be a mass, hindering the flow of liquids in his spinal chord. He has undergone 10 radiation sessions, as well as bone and stem cell transplants.

The proceeds of the benefit dance and auction will go towards medical and travel costs for the family.

This year’s silent auction will be held March 13-14 in the Toner Student Center game room and the  dance will be held on March 15 in the gymnasium.

Career fair scheduled for Oct. 2

All students are invited to attend the career fair on Wednesday, Oct. 2. This annual fall event is sponsored by the offices of Career Services at Saint Mary’s, Winona State University and Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical.

The career fair is open to all students, freshmen through seniors, who are exploring career options or looking for internship and job opportunities. Participants can speak with employers about their organization in general, about coursework and extracurricular activities that are helpful or necessary for entry into certain fields, or about specific opportunities within their organization, including internships, summer jobs, and permanent positions. No pre-registration is required for students.

The fair will run 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, at WSU’s McCown Gymnasium. Interviews will be held Thursday, Oct. 3.

The shuttle van departs Toner Student Center’s turnaround at 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and returns to SMU at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.

For more information about this fair and other fairs, visit the Career Services & Internship Office in Room 70, Griffin Hall, or www.smumn.edu/csifairs.

SMU Page Series to feature folk singer Susan Werner

The next Page Series will feature some sweet songs about sustainability by folk singer Susan Werner.

Werner will present work from her “Hayseed” project at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, in  Page Theatre.

Born in Manchester, Iowa, Werner grew up on her family's hog farm, but she took to singing rather than farming. She began making a name for herself in the folk scene of the early 1990s in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. She recorded five albums from 1993 to 2001 in the folk genre. Her next recording in 2004, “I Can't Be New,” was a departure encompassing Tin Pan Alley, early torch, and jazz standards. Now based in Chicago, Warner's most recent music is infused with the rustic roots of American folk, blues and country music. Her 11th recording “Kicking the Beehive” includes guest appearances by Vince Gill, Mo'Keb and Paul Franklin.

Werner’s newest project, “Hayseed,” contains 12 songs on the subject of farming, rural America, locavores, food safety, and the comic potential of herbicides. With this work, she returns to the language and characters she knows best.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for students and seniors and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A Page in History event is planned for noon Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Winona County History Center. Come and celebrate local food and food growers, along with Werner. Folks from the Winona Farmer’s Market, Bluff Country Co-op and local food growers will be attending. Meet your local farmers and hear a preview of Werner’s evening performance. She is supporting three organizations: Practical Farmers of Iowa, Ames’ Midwest Organic Sustainability Education Service of Spring Valley, Wis.; and the Land Institute, Salina, Kan.

Lasallian Week of Peace schedule announced

Join in on this annual week of exciting, engaging and informative events. The theme of this year’s Lasallian Week of Peace is “Care for God’s Creation.“ Events during the week are open to the SMU community.

Sunday, Sept. 29: 
Sarah Hart Concert (7 p.m. in the Plaza)
Award-winning contemporary Catholic musician

Monday, Sept. 30
Dine with the Divine — “A Faith-Inspired Farm” (5:30 p.m. in Hillside). Register at www.surveymonkey.com/s/DWDLasallianweekofpeace. This event will be dinner and discussion with members of the Jagerstatter Farm, a Lake City Catholic Worker community. Dinner is provided, but participants must preregister.

Tuesday, Oct. 1
Evening Prayer with the Brothers (8 p.m. in the Common Room). Join the international Christian Brothers for prayer in the Common Room.

Wednesday, Oct. 2
Week of Peace Symposium, “Caring for the Environment in Our Professional and Personal Lives” (6:30 p.m. in the Common Room). Learn from and discuss with a variety of professionals on how care for the environment relates to their personal and professional lives. Presenters will be from Gundersen Health Systems, J.R. Watkins, Hoch Orchard, The Blue Heron, Winona County, and others.

Thursday, Oct. 3
“Our Activities and Unintended Consequences” (12:10 p.m. in the Faculty Dining Room). Pick up your lunch and join in this presentation from Randy Hines, who is a wildlife biologist and partnership coordinator from the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center.

Friday, Oct. 4
Fair Trade Friday (7:30 a.m. in Saint Mary’s Hall). Stop by for a free cup of fair trade coffee and check out other fair trade items.

Sunday, Oct. 6
Service Opportunity at Jagerstatter Farm (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Connect back to the Monday night Dine with the Divine by helping out at Jagerstatter Farm.

All Week: 
Throughout the week there will be a table where you can contribute to a community mosaic project that depicts the beauty of our natural surroundings.

Prayer for Peace at the Peace Pole (12:35 p.m. daily in front of the chapel). Every day, following daily Mass, community members are invited to gather at the Peace Pole in front of Saint Thomas More Chapel for a brief prayer for peace and the care for God’s creation.

Congratulations to Lallaman family

Joshua Lallaman, assistant professor of biology, and his wife had a baby girl, Emerson Ann Lallaman Monday, Sept. 23. The Saint Mary’s community congratulates the Lallaman family.

Family Weekend Fall Frolic is Sept. 28

The public is invited to participate in the 26th Fall Frolic 5K fun run/walk at Saint Mary’s University Saturday, Sept. 28.

Registration will run from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in SMU’s Toner Student Center with the race beginning at 10 a.m. The $8 cost includes a T-shirt.

The annual event is free to SMU students, faculty and staff, but is open to the community as well. Typically close to 300 people participate; competitors of all levels (including walkers) are welcome.

Participants will enjoy the beautiful bluff trails of SMU’s Winona campus. The online registration form is available at www.smumn.edu/fallfrolic, and a complete weekend schedule is available online at www.smumn.edu/familyweekend.

Family Weekend runs Sept. 27-29 and includes a full slate of activities for families of students and the SMU community. In previous years, as many as 1,000 visitors have come onto campus for Family Weekend music and theatre events, sporting events, the Fall Frolic, and other games and activities.

Saint Mary’s debuts 7th Kaplan Commission Sept. 28

Larry Bitensky

A joint performance of the Saint Mary’s Concert Band, Chamber Singers and Choirs will feature the world-premiere composition, “Katanya” during a family-oriented fall concert 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Page Theatre.

“Katanya,” written by Larry Bitensky of Centre College, Danville, Ky., is a Jewish oral folk tale from Turkey that tells a variation of the familiar Tom Thumb/Thumbelina story. Bitensky will serve as the tale’s on-stage narrator during the Concert Band premiere, which includes Jewish folk songs the composer heard as a youth.

“Katanya” was commissioned by the Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation, which supports performances and activities led by Jewish artists and scholars that are designed to increase cultural and religious understanding at Saint Mary’s. Bitensky is SMU’s seventh Kaplan composer.

Known for music described as “extraordinarily sensitive and beautiful” and “speaking directly to the heart,” Bitensky, a composer and pianist, has been hailed for works that are satisfying for performers and communicative to audiences.

Born in 1966 in New York, and educated at Skidmore College, the New England Conservatory of Music, Ithaca College, and Cornell University, Bitensky’s musical personality is rooted in a range of influences. He often seeks to merge the complex structures and expressive range of the classical masters and the innovations of the 20th-century greats with the melodic and rhythmic invention and improvisatory flow of musical traditions from India, Indonesia, the Islamic and Jewish worlds, jazz, and the Grateful Dead. His travels as part of the Centre College study abroad program have also allowed him to explore firsthand the musical cultures of Morocco, Spain, Turkey and Bali.

Recorded on Mark Records and Sea Breeze Vista records, Bitensky’s music has been performed by numerous ensembles and at various festivals around North America, Europe and Asia. His music is published by Silly Black Dog Music.

Bitensky is an associate professor of music at Centre College. He lives in Lancaster, Ky., with his wife Kathy and his silly black dog Chloe.

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

Jazz groups open Family Weekend music performances

Saint Mary’s Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I will begin another great season 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, in Figliulo Recital Hall under the direction of A. Eric Heukeshoven.

Music by classic jazz composers such as Duke Ellington, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Thelonius Monk and George Gershwin, along with contemporary arrangements will be featured in this one-hour tour de force. Junior Thomas Plante will be featured playing flugelhorn on Monk’s haunting “Round Midnight.” And sophomore Nick Novotny on tenor sax will be joined by Tom Nalli on trombone for Dave Wolpe’s swinging arrangement of “Alone Together.”

The concert is open to the public, and seating is limited. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. For tickets or more information, contact the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or go online to www.pagetheatre.org.

Students to stage drama about women and war

The Theatre and Dance Department will present a groundbreaking play about women and war Sept. 25-26 and 28-29.

In “Necessary Targets,” two American women, a Park Avenue psychiatrist and an ambitious young writer, travel to Bosnia to help women refugees confront their memories of war. Based on interviews with numerous women who survived the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, “Necessary Targets” is a timely reminder of how America struggles to define its relationship to the rest of the world. Witness the violence of dark memories and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.

Written by Eve Ensler, and directed by Judy Myers, “Necessary Targets” will run 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26 and 28 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, in the Valéncia Academy Theatre, 10th and Vila streets.

Key design positions for this production are covered by seniors including: scene design, Elyssa Mattson; costume design, Tasha Nelson; and sound design, Charlotte Deranek.

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

Cross/Purpose exhibit on display until Oct. 5

The Lillian Davis Hogan Gallery is hosting an exhibit titled Cross/Purpose, a collection of 49 works of art exploring the image, symbolism, and event of Christ’s crucifixion. Beginning with a 6th century coin, the works represent centuries of interpretation and reflection on this pivotal moment in history. Renowned artists such as George Rouault, Marc Chagall, Otto Dix and Jacques Villon are represented in the exhibit.

The collection is part of a traveling exhibition series by CIVA, Christians in the Visual Arts.

Please note that the Cross/Purpose exhibit has been extended for one week and will run through Saturday, Oct. 5.

Three added to Hall of Fame during ‘M’ Club Weekend

The SMU Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2013 including, from left: Greg (Dick ’84) Arens, Ashley (Dingels ’05) Gossen and Todd Borndale ’85 pose for a picture following the Cardinal ’M‘ Club Sports Hall of Fame and Awards Ceremony on Sept. 13 in the SMU Gym.

SMU announced its 2012-2013 award winners, including, from left: Outstanding Male Athlete Peter Borash ’13, Outstanding Female Athlete Alex Raske ’15, Female Scholar Athlete Bethany Schmidt ’14 and Male Scholar Athlete Jake Traxler ’13.

It was a memorable 2012-13 for Peter Borash ’13 and Alex Raske ’15 — and year became even more memorable Friday evening when the two were named Outstanding Male and Female Athletes during part of the Cardinal 'M' Club Sports Hall of Fame and Awards Ceremony.

Jake Traxler ’13 and Bethany Schmidt ’14, meanwhile, were named SMU's Outstanding Male and Female Scholar Athletes.

Friday’s festivities also included the induction of three new members into the SMU Sports Hall of Fame, as the Cardinal 'M' Club, in association with the Alumni Office, welcomed the Class of 2013 — Greg (Dick ’84) Arens (men’s hockey), Todd Borndale ’85 (baseball) and Ashley (Dingels ’05) Gossen (volleyball/track and field).

See more details at www.smumn.edu/newsblog/1817/smus-borash-raske-traxler-schmidt-honored or for more pics, check out the games, golf outing and awards ceremony folders at www.saintmaryssports.com/galleries/.

Young Alumni Weekend draws 170 to Winona

A record number of Saint Mary’s graduates from the past decade returned to the Winona campus for Young Alumni Reunion Weekend, Sept. 13-15.

Throughout the weekend, students enjoyed a faculty and staff social, a young alumni gathering at Mulligan’s, ropes course activities, a barbecue with live music on the plaza, disc golfing and the Cardinal Dash 5K. New this year, a large Saturday evening crowd converged on Jefferson Pub & Grill, where Ali and the Scoundrels (an all young-alumni band) got alumni and students out on the dance floor.

The weekend also coincided with Cardinal ‘M’ Club Weekend, giving SMU alumni opportunities to cheer on Cardinal athletics.

To see more photos from this event, go to www.smumn.edu/alumniphotos.

Page Series to bring classic fairy tales with twists to life

Young and old alike will enjoy the Griffin Theatre Company performance of “Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales” Thursday, Oct. 3.

This Page Series production will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Page Theatre.

Jack has a problem. He’s successfully grown an enormous beanstalk, scaled to the top, and stolen a golden harp and gold-laying goose from the sleeping giant. Things get a bit sketchy when said giant wakes up. Find out how old, slightly warped, fairy tales come to his rescue.

Over the past 22 years, the Griffin Theatre Company of Chicago has provided a wide range of work including world and Midwest premieres of acclaimed scripts, critically lauded productions of Shakespeare and original adaptations of novels.

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

A “Gathering for Jack” will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, in the Winona Public Library Children’s Room. Enjoy some tall tales and fabulous shorts, and take a chance at winning tickets to the Oct. 3 performance.

Music Department faculty to present free recital Sunday

David Leung

Saint Mary’s music faculty members will present a free recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. The event, to be held in Figliulo Recital Hall, will include solo compositions as well as collaborative performances, including the trio of Dr. Ned Kirk (piano), Dr. David Leung (violin), and Derek Clark (cello).

The program will include a varied repertoire of works from Bach and Telemann to jazz standards. Other performers include Dr. Janet Heukeshoven (flute), Kristie Krause (oboe), Eric Heukeshoven (piano), Dr. John Paulson (saxophone), Alan Dunbar (voice), Michael Van Ryn (string bass), and Erik Floan (piano). The performance will last approximately one hour.

For additional program details, contact Janet Heukehoven at Ext. 1675 or jheukesh@smumn.edu.

Kowles to give book signing on campus Wednesday

Dr. Richard Kowles, biology professor emeritus, and author of “A Passion To Teach. Fifty-Eight Years of Humorous, Weird & Engaging Tales” will sign copies of his new book at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at McEnery Center Lounge in Fitzgerald Library.

Dr. Kowles will make comments and answer questions, followed by a book signing.  Fitzgerald Library will host the event and also provide refreshments.

Copies of the book will be made available for purchase by a representative of the SMU bookstore during this time.

Saint Mary’s students clean up river

Saint Mary’s students participated in the 33rd annual river cleanup Sept. 7 at Latsch Island. About 35 students, two faculty members and a campus minister were in attendance. The student groups were from the Biology Club and Volunteer Mentors. SMU students picked up trash including barrels, discarded railroad ties, plastic bottles, dilapidated docks, and other pollutants. 

Theatre and Dance students enjoy outing

Cindy Wang, freshman from Houston, Texas, tries cheese curds for the first time.

Freshman Joseph Lozano tees off at the Lark Toys

The Department of Theatre and Dance conducted its fifth annual Secret Rendezvous welcoming incoming majors and minors last week. The outing involved a trip to LARK Toys, where they rode the carousel, enjoyed treats and mini-golfed.

SMU remembers Sept. 11

In remembrance of the 12th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, a ceremony followed the daily Mass on campus. Members of the SMU community gathered around the Peace Pole in remembrance and in prayer. American flags were placed around the Peace Pole. 

Study abroad fair scheduled for Sept. 26

A study abroad fair will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Toner Student Center President’s Room.

Students can get information on our study abroad programs, talk to program representatives, and meet study abroad returnees. International volunteer opportunities will also be promoted.

For more information, contact Mitch Lawson, director of Study Abroad, at www.smumn.edu/studyabroad, Saint Mary’s Hall Room 136, Ext. 1447, mlawson@smumn.edu.

SMU ‘In the News’

Here are some ways Saint Mary’s is making the news this week:

• The Winona Daily News ran an article Sept. 15 titled “‘It’s pretty cool,’ says Stanley Cup handler”about the life of Howie Borrow who accompanies the Stanley Cup: http://bit.ly/1gEa6vR

• The Winona Daily News interviewed pianist Christopher O’Riley for an article titled “Redefining the Keys” that ran Sept. 15: http://bit.ly/1ghpGNU

• A event preview titled “Lawyers, judges to celebrate Constitution Day with panel at SMU” ran in the Sept. 17 edition of the Winona Daily News: http://bit.ly/16fitt1

Invitation to participate in veterans service

Anyone within the SMU community who has served our country is invited to e-mail your name, years of service and branch of service to alumni@smumn.edu. Everyone is invited to participate in the annual ceremony in recognition of Veterans Day at the Veterans Memorial. If you are interested in participating or bringing a class to this event, please also e-mail alumni@smumn.edu.

Sympathy to Moxness family

Patricia Moxness, mother of Mary Moxness (retired from the library), died Sunday, Sept. 15.

Cards of condolence my be sent to: Mary Moxness, 1079 Marion Street, Winona, Minn. 55987 or to mmoxness@smumn.edu.