Forums to discuss education in a global era Nov. 13-14

On Nov. 13 and 14, the Under-Told Stories Project and Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting will host forums on both the Twin Cities and Winona campuses on “Closing the Global Gap: The complex issue of education in a global era.”

The Twin Cities event is planned for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Saint Mary's University Center, and the Winona event is scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in Figliulo Recital Hall. Both events are free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.smumn.edu/globalgap.

In America today, there is worry about a persistent achievement gap in our education system. Whether it is a drive to maintain global competitiveness or a desire to catch up, efforts are underway in many countries to rethink and modernize education. The mastery of reading, writing and math are no longer enough. Students need to think critically, reason, problem solve and communicate effectively in a global economy.

These forums will include a digest of the latest reporting on issues associated with youth education. International journalist Fred de Sam Lazaro will lead a distinguished panel and moderate a discussion with the audience.

Panelists in Winona will include:

• Nathalie Applewhite, managing director of the Pulitzer Center
• Dr. Efe Agbamu, executive director, English Language Learners, St. Paul Public Schools (Winona event)
• Brother Ed Siderewicz, First-Generation Initiative (Winona event)

Voices for Justice benefit auction Nov. 9

Our university mission is to awaken, nurture, and empower learners to ethical lives of service and leadership.  A small group of students on the Winona campus is seeking to do just that by starting a program to raise awareness on key issues and important causes while raising funds for charity and having a little fun in the process.

A live auction will take place throughout the Voices for Justice benefit Friday, Nov. 9, and many items are being donated by local businesses and the SMU community.

The Voices for Justice program also offers students a platform to voice information about causes or organizations which they care strongly about to the larger Saint Mary’s community. The audience will then vote for the top three charities/causes, and all proceeds from the auction will be donated to the winning charities.

The event will take place in the Toner Student Center dining room at 7:30 p.m.  Doors open at 7 p.m.

Performances will be taking place throughout the evening. Miss Winona will make a guest appearance and the auctioneer will be Joe Sweeney from University Advancement.

Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Charissa Jakusz at Ext. 7833.

Zumbathon® to raise funds for First-Generation Initiative

Get fit while raising money for scholarships! On Saturday, Nov. 10, the public is invited to a Zumbathon® fundraiser from 4 to 5 p.m. at Saint Mary’s. The event will be held in the SMU gymnasium, and freewill donations will benefit the university’s First-Generation Initiative, which provides full scholarships to high-need, high-potential qualified students who are the first in their families to attend college.

Alyssa Gostomski Carter, a 1998 alum, is organizing the event, with help from Lisa Ziebell and Sondra Howard from Z Studio in Winona. Carter is being supported by MetroBeat Fitness and Dance in Minneapolis. This is the second year that she is spearheading a Zumbathon® to help raise awareness and funds for the First-Generation Initiative.

Blue Angel 2012 a success

The Brothers of Phi Mu Alpha would like to thank the SMU community for their support of Blue Angel 2012. More than 530 people enjoyed this year’s performances. A big thank you to everyone who helped make Blue Angel a success.

Veterans Day ceremony planned for Nov. 12

On Nov. 12, in recognition of Veterans Day — an annual holiday observed in honor of those who have served the U.S. armed forces — a small ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial beginning at 1 p.m. A prayer remembrance will be held for all those who have served and sacrificed in the U.S. armed forces, especially those from the Saint Mary’s community.

Saint Mary’s students to stage ‘Our Town’ Nov. 9-11

Audiences will get a gentle reminder to not take the little things in life for granted as the Theatre and Dance Department presents “Our Town” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9-10 and 3 p.m. Nov. 11 in Page Theatre.

Written by Thornton Wilder and directed by Judy Myers, “Our Town” is set in the small town of Grover’s Corners, N.H., in the early 1900s, as told through the eyes of the stage manager. Set in three acts — daily life, love and marriage, death and eternity — the play presents universal ideas about family, love and life that are essentially the same as they were more than 100 years ago.

This work was selected by the Department of Theatre and Dance to celebrate the Saint Mary’s University Centennial season.

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

ICAA to present movie, discussion about ‘Unity Ride’

The Intercultural Awareness Association will present the film “Dakota 38” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in Salvi Lecture Hall.

Following the film, Gus Higheagle will speak about his experiences.  Higheagle is the spiritual leader of the Tankan Chan Tipi Unity Riders and is from Canupawakpa Dakota Nation in Manitoba, Canada. He was the “wrangler” (organizer) of the Unity Ride that is the subject of the film and appears numerous times in the film.

In the spring of 2005, Lakota spiritual leader Jim Miller awoke from a dream in which 38 of his Dakota ancestors were hanged. At that time, he knew nothing of the largest mass execution in United States history ordered by Abraham Lincoln on Dec. 26, 1862.

Four years later, Miller, Higheagle and a group of riders decided to retrace the 330-mile route of his dream on horseback across the great plains to arrive in Mankato, Minn., on the anniversary of the hanging. This is the story of their journey – the blizzards they endure, the communities that house and feed them along the way, and the dark history they are beginning to wipe away.

SMU Oldie Moldies to perform at Signatures Nov. 9

Catch dinner and a show with the Oldie Moldie All-Stars Friday, Nov. 9, at Visions Event Center.

Rock along to your favorite ’50s, ’60s and ’70s tunes. 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 $33 per person.

Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party is Nov. 18

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will host the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Valéncia Arts Center, located at 10th and Vila streets. Shop the Land of the Sweets Boutique for seasonal and unique gifts and cards. All children attending receive a photo with their favorite character from “The Nutcracker.”

To reserve seats or a full table for six, call 453-5500 or e-mail mca@smumn.edu. Proceeds from this event go to the MCA student scholarship fund and offset production costs for the “Nutcracker” performance.

Cineclub announces fall films

The Spanish Department announces the first round of dates for the Cineclub for Fall 2012. One of the main objectives of Cineclub is to provide an opportunity for the Saint Mary’s and Winona communities to enjoy some films from Spain and Latin America that may not typically be shown in local theaters.

In addition to viewing the films, participants will be invited to exchange ideas related to film and other forms of cultural expression. Also, the films may serve as an additional opportunity or resource for students of the Hispanic language, literature, and culture.

All showings will be on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in the World Room of the Hendrickson Center. On Nov. 15, “Biutiful,” by director Alejandro González Iñárritu will be shown. This 2010 film from spain tells the story of  Uxbal, a man living in this world, but able to see his death, which guides his every move. The drama stars Javier Bardem and has English subtitles.

Conservatory’s Fall Music Division Concert is Nov. 16

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present its Fall Music Division Concert 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Figliulo Recital Hall. The concert will showcase the Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS), two new jazz combos, and a variety of private-lesson students.

For more information visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” the Conservatory on Facebook, or call 453-5500. Admission is free-will donation, and all proceeds support the music division.

This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is a nonprofit arts organization that offers programming in dance, music, visual art and theatre year-round. Classes, lessons, workshops and camps are offered for children age 3 and older through adults at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

Men’s hockey team to honor veterans

The SMU community is invited to a celebration honoring our American veterans on Friday, Nov. 9, prior to the Saint Mary’s men’s hockey game against Hamline.  During this Veterans Appreciation Night, which will begin at 7:20 p.m., the VFW Post 1286 Color Guard will present the colors during the national anthem. Throughout the game, each branch of the U.S. military will be honored, with special thanks given to those who have served or are serving our country.

“I am very excited to be a part of a wonderful tribute to these men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we have today,” said Coach Bill Moore, noting that a portion of the proceeds from Friday’s game will be donated to help offset maintenance costs of Veterans Memorial Park in Winona. “This is an event that we started last year to honor SMU alum Josh Misiewicz, a Marine veteran who was severely wounded in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan.  We wanted to build on that event and make it a tradition for the SMU hockey program.”

John Paulson Big Band Jazz premiere is Nov. 17

The 17-piece John Paulson Big Band (JPBB) will debut in concert 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Winona Art Center, 5th and Franklin streets.  The group, comprised of area music educators and outstanding soloists from the Twin Cities, will perform blues-based contemporary jazz pieces composed and arranged by leader and tenor saxophonist John Paulson.

Seating is limited and tickets for the concert will only be available at the door one hour prior to the performance. Tickets are $10 or $5 for students and senior citizens. Come early and enjoy the paintings by Winona artist Andrew Foss. For more information, visit www.paulsonjazz.com, call (507) 454-4948 or  e- mail jpaulson@smumn.edu.

Paulson has been doing big band jazz arrangements for student groups for more than 20 years, and the goal of this concert is to perform these works with the best players in the area. A generous grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council has made the realization of this concert a reality.  This concert, along with a John Paulson sextet concert in January, will be recorded and featured on an upcoming CD.  Profits from the sale of the CD will go to support the Music Access for All program.

Other members of the John Paulson Big Band include saxophonists Brian Koser (Austin),  Richard Rohrbaugh (Rochester), Dave Townsend (Rochester) and Ray Dretsky (Winona); trumpeters Warren Bandel (Rochester), Adam Meckler (Twin Cities), Jerry Paulson (Winona) and John Mundy (Wabasha); and trombonists Scott Agster (Twin Cities), John Sievers (Rochester), SMU’s Eric Heukeshoven and Tom Nalli (Winona).  The rhythm section is comprised of pianist Larry Price of SMU, drummer Rich MacDonald (Winona), guitarist Mike James (Onalaska, Wis.) and bassist Eric Graham (Red Wing, Minn.).

The Nov. 17 concert is produced in cooperation with the Southeastern Minnesota Artsc Council, Inc. through funding from the Minnesota State legislature and the McKnight Foundation.

SMU Fact Book now posted online

The Office of Institutional Research has completed the Saint Mary’s University Fact Book 2011-2012 and put its content online.  The SMU Fact Book is a compilation of historical and current data designed to facilitate internal communication, provide data to use in decision-making, planning and improvement efforts, and answer frequently asked questions about the university.

An online version of the Fact Book is available and may be found at www.smumn.edu/welcome-tobrst-marys/offices-services/institutional-research.

Support SMU during ‘Give to the Max Day’

Give to the Max Day is a day for Minnesotans to come together to raise millions of dollars for thousands of nonprofits and schools in 24 hours – from midnight Nov. 15 through midnight Nov. 16.

Last year during Give to the Max Day, Saint Mary’s University raised a record $48,275 from 287 donors, nearly tripling dollars raised the previous year. The goal in 2012 is to increase both giving and participation resulting in $200,000 and 387 donors.

Help Saint Mary’s in the “Race for 1st Place” as we compete against other Minnesota colleges and universities to win $12,500.

Be a part of the excitement (and the competition). Show your Cardinal pride by making a gift on Nov. 15!

Alum tours with ‘War Horse’

SMU 2000 alum Rob Laqui is part of a three-person puppeteer team bringing the horse “Joey” to life in the award-winning play, “War Horse,” which is performing through Nov. 11 at the Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, D.C. To read an interview with Laqui, go to www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/2012/10/18/8b13acea-1256-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_story.html.

South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company brings breathing, galloping, full-scale horses to life on the stage — their flanks, hides and sinews built of steel, leather and aircraft cables. The play brings to life an emotional journey that charges through the battlefields of history straight to hearts of audiences around the world.

Laqui, a graduate of the musical theatre program, is touring with the National Theatre of Great Britain production of “War Horse,”which will come to Minneapolis in June. For more information, go to http://warhorseonstage.com/tickets/us_tour.

Heukeshoven work featured at Czech band festival

“The Elephant and the Flea,” a duet for piccolo and tuba by Ralph Maria Siegel and arranged for concert band by assistant professor of music A. Eric Heukeshoven will be one of the featured works at the “Ti Nejlepsi” concert in Klatovy, Czech Republic on Nov. 11.

The music will be performed by Slavnosti Konzert Symfonickeho Dechoveho Orchestra under the direction of the noted Czech/American educator Joel Blahnik.

Heukeshoven’s arrangement was recently published by Alliance Publications, Inc. along with a version for string orchestra and another for piano accompaniment.