Nationally known economist Chris Farrell to speak Nov. 11

Chris Farrell, economics editor for “Marketplace Money,” American Public Media’s nationally syndicated public radio personal finance program, will speak to audiences about “The New Frugality” at Saint Mary’s Thursday, Nov. 11.

Farrell has a unique ability to translate major trends in the economy and finance to a broad audience. He draws from his experience as a journalist, a large collection of everyday anecdotes, and a deep appreciation of history to make complex events simple and engaging.

An award-winning journalist, Farrell is a regular contributor to American Public Media’s “Marketplace Morning Report.” He writes for “Bloomberg BusinessWeek” and contributes to “Yahoo News.” Farrell also has a weekly column in the Minneapolis “Star Tribune.” A graduate of Stanford University and the London School of Economics, Farrell lives in St. Paul.

Farrell’s presentation, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in Page Theatre, is free and open to the public. Farrell will discuss highlights of his latest book, “The New Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More and Live Better,” followed by a question-and-answer period, and a book signing in the lobby of the Performance Center.

Books will be available for purchase in the SMU Barnes & Noble Book Store and at the book signing.

The event is sponsored by the SMU Business Office.

Page Series presents Houston Ballet II Nov. 4

The Page Series will present The Houston Ballet II, one of America’s most sought after young ballet companies, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, in Page Theatre.

Featuring a stellar array of young artists, The Houston Ballet II is young American ballet at its finest. The company is part of The Houston Ballet, America’s fourth largest company, and performs a wide array of dance works that range from excerpts from great classics to contemporary works by Stanton Welch, the company’s artistic director. The evening’s repertoire will include “Raymonda Act III,” as well as the unexpected “Long and Winding Road,” based upon music by the Beatles.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. They can be purchased by calling the box office at Ext. 1715 Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. or online at www.pagetheatre.org.

Reception for First Generation Initiative is Nov. 4

Faculty and staff are invited to a wine and cheese reception for the First Generation Initiative on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 4:00 p.m., in the Toner Student Center lounge.

The event will include a discussion about FGI’s current status and vision. The 2010 Countdown to College faculty will share their experiences; FGI staff will share the early progress of FGI scholars; and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Women in Mathematics Colloquium features mollusks

Dr. Judy Holdener of Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, will discuss “The Spiraling Art of Mollusks,” Thursday, Nov. 4, at Saint Mary’s as part of an ongoing Women in Math Colloquium.

This colloquium, hosted by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is supported by a National Science Foundation grant to encourage women to study mathematics.

Organizers hope that through these events, high school and college-aged students will become engaged and inspired by the opportunities and challenges presented to women in the ever-progressing field of mathematics.

Dr. Holdener asks, “Are mollusks artists?” Anyone observing the spiraling seashells mollusks sometimes produce might believe they are. In this talk, Dr. Holdener will reproduce the art of mollusks using a fairly elementary mathematical model of seashell form. The model is based on the observation that most shells grow isometrically, meaning they retain the same shape as they enlarge. With the help of the computer algebra system MAPLE, she will then employ iterative models to render the surface patterns commonly found on seashells. In doing so, she will not only apply mathematics to obtain the beauty found in nature, she will illustrate the beautiful nature of applied mathematics.

The event — free and open to the public — will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall. A reception for Dr. Holdener will begin at 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Dr. Kevin Dennis at kdennis@smumn.edu or Ext. 6650.

Get set to scream at annual Walk of Horror

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

The 14th annual hair-raising fundraiser for the SMU fastpitch softball team will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 29-31 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 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 1,100 brave souls took the 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.

Exhibit features pottery, drawings

Two Midwestern artists will display work at Saint Mary’s through Nov. 14.

Pottery by Schwarz features work by Dean Schwarz, a ceramic artist, painter, writer and teacher who co-founded South Bear School, an innovative summer arts school in Highlandville, Iowa.

Drawings by Whelan features work by John Whelan, an adjunct instructor in the Department of Art and Design, who currently lives in La Crosse, Wis.

The show, free and open to the public, is on display at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. For more information, call Ext. 1652.

Faculty and staff can get free ticket to Blue Angel Nov. 5-6

The Brothers of Phi Mu Alpha cordially invite members of the faculty and staff to Blue Angel 2010. This year’s performances are Friday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 6, at 7 and 10 p.m. You may receive a complimentary ticket to the show of your choice by contacting Bob Fisher at Ext. 6658, rfisher@smumn.edu or Campus Box 21.

October ‘Let’s Do Lunch’ to include costume contest

Staff from the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs joins the Volunteer Committee in hosting the first “Let’s Do Lunch,” a Halloween party today, Friday, Oct. 29. Proceeds will benefit Christ the Teacher Institute for Education on our Nairobi campus. Wear your best costumes and compete for the coveted traveling trophy. Lunch will be in the common room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with costume judging after 12:30 p.m.

Chemistry nights draw area students

Many area high school juniors and seniors will perform hands-on chemistry projects during upcoming Chemistry Nights at Saint Mary’s, which will run 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.

Chemistry Night, sponsored by the SMU Department of Chemistry and the La Crosse-Winona local 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. 17-23) theme; this year’s theme is “Behind the Scenes with Chemistry” — the special effects chemistry of movies and television.

Students will work in small teams, using wet chemistry and working with chemical instrumentation in the 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 45 students are participating this year.

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

Volunteer Fair scheduled for Nov. 2

Volunteer Fairs will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2, at SMU and Winona State University. The events will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at WSU’s Kryzsko Commons and 3 to 5 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Room. For more information, contact Chris McClead at Ext. 7268.

SMU hosts San Miguel students

Students bobbed for apples.

First-Generation students met with San Miguel students

Twenty-eight sixth-graders from the San Miguel School in Chicago visited the Winona campus Oct. 25-28.

The goals of the annual campus visit are to acquaint these children with college life and begin to inspire them to consider post-secondary education. Saint Mary’s students – particularly education students – also receive the opportunity to work with urban children from another culture.

A huge thank you goes to this year’s host families.

MPCC newsletter features SMU teacher education

The Minnesota Private College Council October newsletter features teacher education at Saint Mary’s in the story, “Teaching our teachers.”

The article preview states, “While questions are raised nationally about teacher preparation, Minnesota’s private colleges continue to innovate to better prepare future teachers. Read about what’s new in teacher preparation programs.”

To link to the story, go to www.mnprivatecolleges.org/publications/stories/2010/10/teachers.php.

Michels Blanck to address healthy eating

Dr. Heidi Michels Blanck, a commander of the U.S. Public Health Service and chief of the Obesity Prevention and Control Branch of Centers for Disease Control (CDC), will speak at Saint Mary’s Monday, Nov. 1.

Dr. Michels Blanck, a 1992 SMU alumna, will speak about “Healthy Eating and Active Living: the CDC’s Public Health Approach to Preventing and Reducing Obesity” beginning at 4:30 p.m. A reception will immediately follow.

The event, free and open to the public, will be held in the Common Room, located on the third floor of Saint Mary’s Hall. Dr. Michels Blanck’s presentation is sponsored by the SMU School of Humanities and Sciences and is being held in connection with the 40th anniversary celebration of women at Saint Mary’s.

New version of Greek myth ‘Eurydice’ offered Nov. 11-14

The Saint Mary’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present a fresh reflection on the timeless Greek love story “Eurydice” Nov. 11-14.

“Eurydice” — by the recently Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award nominated playwright Sarah Ruhl — is a modern reinterpretation of the Greek myth of Eurydice and Orpheus from a woman's point of view. The original story focuses on Orpheus and his journey into the underworld to save his wife, Eurydice, who he lost just moments after their wedding. Ruhl instead focuses on Eurydice’s descent into the underworld and imagines what her journey might have entailed. “I am interested in any woman who dies twice,” Ruhl has commented.

Director Steven Bouler describes “Eurydice” as a 90-minute play of rare beauty about memory and loss, faithfulness and undying love. “It promises to be a disconcerting drama that will bring a tear to the eye, a lump to the throat and a smile to the face,” he said.

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 11-13, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 12-13 and 4 and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Studio Theatre, located upstairs in the SMU Performance Center.

Although the performance is free, tickets are required as seating is limited. Tickets can be obtained through the SMU Box Office, (507) 457-1715. A donation of a canned item for a local food shelf is encouraged.

Nearly 300 students volunteer for Make a Difference Day

In recognition of national “Make a Difference Day,” approximately 285 Saint Mary’s students volunteered their time Saturday, Oct. 23, throughout Winona and the surrounding area.

Volunteers assisted the Habitat Restore, Habitat for Humanity, the Winona Area Humane Society, Winona Health, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Grace Place, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Winona ORC, and at Madison, Jefferson and Washington-Kosciusko Elementary Schools.

“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.

Saint Mary’s Alumni also came together through the spirit of Saint Mary’s Lasallian mission of service to others and volunteered their time Saturday, Oct. 23, 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, Project for Pride in Living and the San Miguel Schools in Chicago.

Brother Ernest to speak Wednesday

On Wednesday, Nov. 3, Saint Mary’s will welcome Brother Ernest J. Miller, a Christian Brother of the District of Eastern North America and a leader in promoting the the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

At 7:30 p.m. in Room B of the Toner Student Center, Brother Ernest will be speak on Catholic Lasallian Education in the Service of Faith and the Promotion of Justice.

The Office of Campus Ministry is pleased to host this visit.

Spartz presents at national conferences

Jason Spartz, director of Instructional Technology for the College, attended the annual EDUCAUSE conference in Anaheim, Calif.

Tegrity, a leading class capture company, recruited Spartz to provide daily presentations at the Tegrity booth regarding Saint Mary’s use of class capture technology. Spartz also took part in a planning meeting as a program committee member for the EDUCAUSE Midwest Regional Conference 2011, which will take place in March.

Spartz also participated in the Consortium of College and University Media Centers (CCUMC) annual conference in Buffalo, N.Y. While there, he moderated a panel discussion on “Successful Applications of Videoconferencing in Education” and presented a session titled “5Ts: An Online Learning Gateway at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.” This session covered many of the lessons learned from a Department of Education funded grant initiative that supports Teachers Teaching Teachers through Technology (5Ts). This two-year grant program is now in its second year.

Jazz notes

Swing Inc., featuring Dr. John Paulson and Larry Price, will perform Friday, Oct. 29, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Signature’s Restaurant.

Standard Time Duo, featuring Eric Heukeshoven, will perform 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at the Canadian Honker in Rochester.

The Swing Inc. Trio, also featuring Heukeshoven, will perform 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Salem Glen Winery in Rochester.

High School Challenge season begins Saturday

Saint Mary’s continues the 39th season of High School Challenge, the longest-running, locally produced television program showcasing Eastern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and Northeast Iowa high school students in an educational forum.

High School Challenge is a contest in which high schools compete to correctly answer questions dealing with high school subjects, general information and current events. Thirty-two teams compete in winner and consolation bracket tournaments at Saint Mary’s. The final eight games of the tournament are taped at SMU and are televised on Fox 25 La Crosse and Fox 48 Eau Claire.

High school students receive scholarships to Saint Mary’s for participating in High School Challenge. Schools that win their first game receive $2,000 scholarships to SMU. Schools that lose their first game receive $1,000 scholarships to SMU. These scholarships are for any member of the senior class with a B or above average.

The competition begins Saturday, Oct. 30, with Round 1A starting at 9 a.m. The following schools will participate: La Crosse Central, La Crosse Logan, Caledonia, Cotter, Youth Initiative, LaCrescent, and North Crawford. Round 1B will be Nov. 13 and Round 1C will be Nov. 20.

Teams that win their afternoon game will return Dec. 4 for the Consolation Championship games. Teams that win their morning and afternoon games will return Feb. 19 for the Super Challenge Championship.

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

Trick-or-Treat event welcomes more than 750

Big Red greeted trick-or-treaters.

Dean Beckman brought his family.

Sean Ohl helped organize the various tours.

The Trick-or-Treating event held on Monday, Oct. 25, sponsored by Residence Life, welcomed more than 750 trick-or-treaters, once again a record attendance. Children were led through six campus residence halls by resident assistants and student volunteers. While waiting for tours, community members were welcome to participate in various Halloween themed activities and games in the Hall of Fame Room. The Office of Residence Life would like to extend a special thank you to all who supported this event with donations.

Employee campaign announced

Since being launched on Oct. 14, the 2010-2011 Employee Campaign has raised $33,015 in gifts and pledges for the current fiscal year, with support from 117 university employees.
A priority of the campaign is to increase the participation of giving by university employees. Our goal this year is to exceed 50 percent.

The campaign runs through Friday, Nov. 12. You may have already been contacted, or can expect to be contacted soon, by one of this year’s campaign volunteers: Bob Biebel, Phil Cochran, Paul Fox, Laurie Haase, Neil Leibundguth, Megan Radke, Joe Sweeney, Lance Thompson or Rachel Thomas.

Listed below is a breakdown of giving rates by department/area as of Thursday, Oct. 28.

1. School of Business (College), 62.5%
2. Athletics, 59.3%
3. Cabinet/Deans (College), 58.8%
4. University Advancement (College), 56.3%
5. SGPP, 34.3%
6. Student Services/IT, 27.2%
7. School of the Arts, 21%
8. Admissions (College), 16.6%
9. Library and Academic Services, 13%
10. School of Humanities & Sciences, 12.1%
11. Clerical/Maintenance (College), 10.7%
12. Student Life, 5.5%
13. School of Education (College), 0%

Thank you to all those who support our Lasallian Catholic institution. You are making a difference for our students!

Congratulations to Teske family

Jennifer (Development and Alumni Relations) and Troy Teske had a son, Mason Lawrence, on Tuesday, Oct. 26. The Saint Mary’s community extends its congratulations to the Teske family.

Sympathy to Gerth family

Charlie Gerth (retired engineer) died suddenly this past week. His wife Carol (Chartwells), passed away from cancer a few years ago.

A note of sympathy can be sent to:
Gerth Family
c/o Kim Qualey
316 S. Main Street
Zumbrota, MN 55992

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

Don’t forget deadline for ‘Campus Notes’

The deadline to get into each Friday’s edition of ‘Campus Notes’ is noon on the prior Wednesday. To submit information, contact Deb Nahrgang at Ext. 6966 or dnahrgan@smumn.edu.