Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre takes the summer off

Saint Mary’s has announced that the Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre will not present a season of shows in 2009. Michael Charron, dean of the School of the Arts, said the university is stepping back to evaluate its professional summer theatre program, “given the current economic climate and the saturation of the arts market in Winona.”

GCST is a professional summer stock program produced in collaboration with the Saint Mary's School of the Arts.

Charron said the first two seasons of GCST featured “wonderful shows, and talented actors and directors. It was a grand experience for everyone involved.”

He added that the university plans to whole-heartedly support local endeavors such as the Shakespeare and Beethoven festivals, as well as the many community theatre productions in the area. “We’re also leaving open all possibilities for the future,” he said.

Judy Myers, GCST artistic director and theatre arts faculty member, thanked the community for its support. “Gilmore Creek was tremendous fun,” she said. “It provided a wonderful opportunity for budding theatre professionals, and was certainly of great value for the community. I look forward to continuing my involvement in other Winona performing arts activities.”

Global Citizenship Symposium continues today

The Global Citizenship Symposium continues today, Oct. 31, in the Common Room. The symposium is sponsored by the Department of Social Sciences and Provost’s Office and is free and open to the public. Other universities participating and attending include Winona State University, Viterbo University and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Friday
Living Locally and Visioning Globally: Scholarship, Research, Performance and Service Regarding 21st Century Citizenship
10 a.m. — “Citizenship, diversity and community programs,” Project FINE of Winona
11 a.m. — “Global Trade,” David Lynch, Saint Mary’s
Noon — Lunch
1:15 p.m. — “Globalization of Crime,” Tim Kullman, UW-La Crosse
1:45 p.m. — “Globalization” open discussion with Cecilia Manrique, UW-La Crosse as discussant
2:15 p.m. — “Creating Community Within Profit-Centered Organizations: Pitfalls and Possibilities” open discussion with Jeff Hefel, SMU, as discussant.

Horrible Harry hits Page stage Nov. 5

Harry may be horrible, but audiences are sure to find his transition from page to stage entertaining when the Omaha Theater Company presents “Horrible Harry” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the Page Theatre.

This brand-new theatrical production of author Suzy Kline’s popular children’s books “Horrible Harry in Room 2B” and “Horrible Harry Moves Up to Third Grade,” was adapted for the stage by Omaha Theater Company Artistic Director James Larson and will captivate children ages 4 to 12, as well as entertain audiences of any age.

The meaning of “double revenge” will become clear as spectators get a double dose of Harry’s antics as a school-aged prankster who is transitioning between grades. Doug, Harry’s best friend, frequently speaks to the audience, giving an inside look at Miss Mackle’s classroom. The production follows Harry, Doug, Sidney, Song Lee, Miss Mackle and the rest of the class from room 2B to room 3B, with amusing moments all along the way.

Kline’s vivid characters will take audiences on a lighthearted ride through a hilarious, prank-ridden storyline that will make everyone realize that maybe Harry isn’t so horrible after all.

In addition to Harry’s mischievous shenanigans, the audience will experience a clever rendition of a Thanksgiving play and a class field trip to the aquarium, brought to life by the clever stage design for “Horrible Harry.” Harry and friends move from Room 2B to recess to the bus to the aquarium and back again, without time for set changes, allowing Omaha Theater Company Set Designer Will Davis to skillfully combine all of the scenes into one set.

Tickets to this Page Series performance are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and available anytime online at http://www.pagtheatre.org/, or by calling the Performance Center box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Omaha Theater Company’s national tour is sponsored by Children’s Hospital. Local sponsors include HBC and Winona Radio.

SMU to host free cello recital Sunday

Saint Mary’s will host a free cello recital by guest artist Kirsten Whitson at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, in Figliulo Recital Hall. This recital is unusual in that it will be performed without piano. Whitson plays regularly with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. The program includes Jean Louis Duport’s “Concert Etude #1”; Chinary Ung’s “Khse Buon”; Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Suite # 6 in D Major”; and Mark O'Connor’s, “Appalchia Waltz.”

Whitson also performs with the Milwaukee Symphony and the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra in Jackson, Wyo. Whitson maintains a private teaching studio in St. Paul and has taught at McPhail Center for the Arts, Indiana University, Carroll College and in a fishing village in Norway. She has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Japan and Cuba with Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony and the Bergen Philharmonic. As a chamber musician she played with the Koan Quartet in Minneapolis from 2000-2003 and the Morini String Quartet in Milwaukee from 1994-1999.

SMU Oldie Moldies to perform at Signatures Nov. 14

Catch dinner and a show with The Oldie Moldie All-Stars from Saint Mary’s on Friday, Nov. 14, at Visions Event Center.

Rock along to your favorite ’50s, ’60s and ’70s tunes, while you enjoy a menu of garden salad, pan-seared Canadian walleye fillet, wild rice pilaf, mixed vegetables, caper tarter sauce, rolls and butter, and a mini banana split.

The Oldies are members of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at Saint Mary’s. The group consists of 12 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 $30 per person; reservations can be made by calling Signatures at 454-3767. Payment is accepted at time of reservation. The reservation deadline is Nov. 12.

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

Special movie night hosted by Saint Teresa Institute

The Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute is hosting a special movie night at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, in the World Room.

One hundred and forty four years after the founding of the United States of America, women gained the right to vote. Women around the world are still working to gain this right in their countries. Learn from women in office today what the political arena is like for women and watch a movie portraying young American women suffragettes’ actions as they risked their lives to help American women win the right to vote.

After the movie Dr. Muna Matar, SMU visiting professor, and Marsha Ward, 5th Ward Winona County commissioner, will host a discussion.

Saint Mary’s students to stage ‘Playhouse Creatures’ Nov. 6-9

The Saint Mary’s Department of Theatre Arts will stage the racy historical drama “Playhouse Creatures” Nov. 6-9.

Set in 1669, a bawdy and troublesome time, “Playhouse Creatures,” by April DeAngelis details a time when theatres have just reopened after 17 years of Puritan suppression. With this surge in theatrical activity, comes a new British novelty — the actress. Too often the lines between actress and prostitute become obscured as these women walked a tightrope between admiration and derision.

Directed by Dr. Steven Bouler, “Playhouse Creatures” captures the pioneering struggles of these extraordinary women, including six of the most famous — Nell Gwyn, Elizabeth Farley, Rebecca Marshall, Elizabeth Barry, Doll Common and Mary Betterton.

This tale of theatrical heroism and perseverance is a moving, and often comic, account of the precarious lives of Restoration actresses. Please note that this play contains adult language and situations.

“Playhouse Creatures” begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 6-8, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. All performances will be held in the Academy Theatre of the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 1164 West 10th St.

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

Author to discuss ‘Hmong in America’ Nov. 6

Kao Kalia Yang, author of the memoir, The Latehomecomer, will be reading from her book about her family’s experience in Laos during the Vietnam War, in refugee camps in Thailand, and, now, as American citizens in St. Paul. The presentation about “Hmong in America” begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in the President’s Room. The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Lasallian Honors Program, School of Humanities, and the Departments of English and History. For more information, contact Dr. Jenny Shanahan at Ext. 6607.

Excerpt from The Latehomecomer, from Coffee House Press:

Before babies are born they live in the sky where they fly among the clouds. The sky is a happy place and calling babies down to earth is not an easy thing to do. From the sky, babies can see the course of human lives.

This is what the Hmong children of my generation are told by our mothers and fathers, by our grandmothers and grandfathers.

They teach us that we have chosen our lives. That the people who we would become we had inside of us from the beginning, and the people whose worlds we share, whose memories we hold strong inside of us, we have always known.

From the sky, I would come again.

Donations needed for senior class auction Nov. 13-14

The senior class auction is set for Nov. 13-14. In preparation, the senior class is seeking donations from businesses, students and faculty (including cooking a meal, photography, art, tickets, gift baskets etc.) For more information, contact Mandy Haus at alhaus05@smumn.edu or Kaitlin Depuydt at kadepu05@smumn.edu

United Way pledge forms due today

United Way pledge forms should be returned to the business office, box 8, today, Oct. 31. Forms are available at the rack in the hallway outside of the business office. SMU needs a big finish in order to match its pledge from last year.

Employee change

New employee:
Aretta-Rie Johnson, Oct. 20, Rochester site coordinator.

113 SMU students volunteer for ‘Make a Difference Day’

Saint Mary’s University students Sara Clements and Tim Wojcicki raked leaves at a Minnesota City residence as part of the annual Make a Difference Day.
Chris Stanish moves building materials to help out a Minnesota City family during Make a Difference Day Saturay, Oct. 25.

In recognition of national “Make a Difference Day,” 113 Saint Mary’s students volunteered their time on Saturday, Oct. 25, throughout Winona and the surrounding area. Students raked leaves, painted, stacked lumber, cleaned sheds and assisted individuals and organizations in numerous other ways.

Volunteers helped at St. Anne Hospice, the Catholic Worker Home, Valleyview Towers, Living Light Church, Winona Arms, the Winona Family Community Center, all three grocery stores (with the 10 Days of Giving), Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Saint Mary’s Parish, and individual homes of seniors, as well as homes affected by flooding in the Minnesota City area.

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

Faculty achievements

Dr. Tom Marpe presents Benjamin Hugel with a certificate in recognition of his role as advisor of the Saint Mary's Delta Mu Delta chapter.

Dr. Brooke Lenz, English department, recently published John Fowles: Visionary and Voyeur (Rodopi, 2008).

Dr. Tycho de Boer, history department, recently published Nature, Business, and Community in North Carolina's Green Swamp (University Press of Florida, 2008).

Jana Schrenkler, business department, gave a speech titled “Lessons on Ethics from Prison: An Analysis of Correspondence Between Incarcerated Corporate Executives and Business Ethics Undergraduates,” last week during the 15th annual International Conference Promoting Business Ethics at St. John’s University.

Benjamin Huegel, business department, was recognized for his role as advisor of the Saint Mary’s Delta Mu Delta chapter. The Eta Beta Chapter was founded in 1994. Delta Mu Delta is the international honor society of business administration. Students selected must be in the top 20 percent of their class, as well as have a minimum GPA of 3.25 for undergraduates and 3.6 for graduate students.

Blue Angel music show takes stage Oct. 31 and Nov. 1

The brothers of Phi Mu Alpha invite members of the faculty and staff to Blue Angel 2008, the annual fall musical variety show on campus. This year’s performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. today, Oct. 31, and 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, in the Dining Hall. The 42nd show is titled “Boo Angel,” in honor of Halloween.

Faculty and staff may receive complimentary admission to the show of their choice by contacting Dr. Jeff Highland at Ext. 1459.

Regular tickets are $6 and will be available in the lobby of the Toner Student Center, or at the door.

Tonight is last night of Walk of Horror

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

The 12th annual hair-raising fundraiser for the SMU Cardinal fastpitch softball team will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. today, Oct. 31, in the bluffs. Walkers are asked to meet on the lighted path between the baseball and softball fields, where the haunted walk will begin.

Groups are then escorted through the dark bluffs surrounding the 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.

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 1,000 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.

Nearly 800 people attend Halloween Fun Night

A record number of nearly 800 elementary and preschool children and their parents attended the eighth annual Saint Mary’s Halloween Fun Night Oct. 27.

The event was sponsored by the Office of Residence Life.

SMU flu shot clinic returns Nov. 13

Saint Mary’s will host a flu shot clinic for employees on Thursday, Nov. 13, in the Faculty/Staff Lounge, Room 115, Saint Mary’s Hall. The clinic will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and from 4 to 5 p.m.

Flu shots are free to employees (and their dependents) covered by Saint Mary’s health insurance through CCStpa. The cost for others is $23, which will need to be paid at the time of the shot.

To register for the clinic, contact Paul Wildenborg by e-mail at pwildenb@smumn.edu or Ext. 1442.

Annual research symposium set for Nov. 1 in Minneapolis

The Ed.D. in Leadership program at Saint Mary’s will host the fifth annual Ed.D. Research Symposium at the Minneapolis campus on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saint Mary’s annual research symposium attracts numerous members of the SMU community, including current doctoral students, faculty, and graduates of the program. This event highlights the accomplishments of our recent graduates, allows current students to receive valuable feedback from their peers, and provides an opportunity for Saint Mary’s students to share their accomplishments with a wider professional audience.

The keynote speaker at the symposium luncheon this year is expected to be Brother Michael Collins, president of De La Salle High School in Minneapolis. If you have any further questions contact Britt Bakken at bbakken@smumn.edu or Ext. 5127.

Sister Clairvaux presents ‘Iconography’ Nov. 2

Sister Clairvaux McFarland, a Rochester Franciscan, will present “Iconography: Through the Date of the Visible to the Mystery of the Invisible” from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Common Room.

Iconography is the science of the description, history, and interpretation of the traditional representations of God, the saints and other sacred subjects in art. The object of iconography is to give the history of these various representations, to note their prevalence or absence at some particular time or in some particular place, to compare those of different lands and different periods, to explain the personal or historical, and to interpret the symbolical.

An artist reception, where guests will have an opportunity to view Sister Clairvaux’s work and talk with her, will follow her presentation. Her work can be viewed at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

The event is hosted by the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women. To register, contact Tammy Pape, tpape@smumn.edu or Ext. 1733. For more information, contact Peg Winters at Ext. 6651.

Business Office to host First Friday

The Business Office will be hosting the Nov. 7 First Friday gathering in its reconfigured area. In recognition of everyone’s efforts to work safely, visitors can enjoy a special cake in addition to the regular First Friday offerings.

Saint Mary’s has received a rebate from our workers’ compensation insurance for an amount of just over $100,000. These funds were returned because of our outstanding claims history over the past few years. Thanks go out to all Saint Mary’s employees for being careful and for reporting unsafe situations. A very special thanks to our maintenance departments in both Winona and the Twin Cities for working safely and for maintaining a safe environment for all of us.

Career Services offers upcoming events

Long-term Volunteer Fair
On Thursday, Nov. 6, WSU and SMU are hosting long-term volunteer fairs (from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Hyphen of Kryzsko Commons on the WSU campus, and from 3 to 5 p.m. in the game room of the Toner Student Center on the SMU campus).

Long-term volunteering involves committing one or two years assisting with a particular need in communities that are underserved and have few resources. The Nov. 6 fairs at WSU and SMU welcome approximately 15 long-term volunteer programs from around the country that place recent college graduates into volunteer placements nationally and internationally.

Some of the programs that are registered include Lasallian Volunteers, St. Joseph the Worker in St. Paul, Mercy Home Volunteer Corps, Christian Brother Volunteer Program, Holden Village, Inner City Teaching Corps, and more. The fairs are open to all interested in learning more about long-term volunteering and the diversity of options available. For more information, contact Chris McClead in the Office of Campus Ministry: cmcclead@smumn.edu or Ext. 7268.

New post office requirements for bulk mail announced

In order to reduce undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail, the USPS is implementing a new “Move Update” requirement that takes effect Nov. 23. “Move Update” requires that addresses on all bulk mail be updated using a USPS-approved method before mailing or that mail pieces carry an appropriate ancillary service endorsement. If your department does bulk mailings, please contact Pat Fleming at Ext. 1484 or pfleming@smumn.edu for more information and assistance to comply with the requirement.