See photos from Founder’s Day April 9

2013 Outstanding Seniors Constance Budin and Peter Borash

Gena Bilden, Brother Louis DeThomasis award winner; Tony Piscitiello, Distinguished Lasallian Educator; and Teresa Speck, recipient of the Brother H. Charles Severin, FSC Award for Excellence in Teaching

Brother William congratulates, from left: Brother Jean Manuel, Brother Terence McLaughlin and Brother Joseph Loewenstein.

To see photos from our Founder’s Day celebration, go to www.smumn.edu/photos. Congratulations to all of our award recipients.

De La Salle Week continues

Today, Friday, April 12
• 8 to 9 a.m. — Fair Trade Coffee with donuts, provided by the Peace and Justice Club, first floor Saint Mary’s Hall. Pick up coffee while you “check in” for the Celebration of Scholarship.
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Celebration of Scholarship (www.smumn.edu/studentscholars)
• 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Lunch to benefit CTIE in the student dining hall. $1 from each lunch will be given to CTIE in Nairobi.
• 12:10 p.m. — Liturgy, Saint Thomas More Chapel
• 6:30 p.m. — Honors Convocation, Page Theatre

Saturday, April 13
3 to 6 p.m. — Student Centennial Celebration, RAC
8 to 10 p.m. — Decade Dance, cafeteria

Celebration of Scholarship is all day, today

The Centennial Celebration of Scholarship — Saint Mary’s first campus-wide celebration highlighting the accomplishments of undergraduate students across all academic disciplines — will be held today, April 12. More than 100 presentations by more than 150 students are planned. The SMU community is invited to view the research and talents of our students.

The event will take place at various locations  and times on campus. Attendees are asked to register in Saint Mary’s Hall, on the first floor, before attending presentations. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. For more information, visit www.smumn.edu/studentscholars.

The day will culminate at 6:30 p.m. with the Honors Convocation in Page Theatre. At the convocation students will be recognized for outstanding activity by membership in honor societies, completion of the honors program, and departmental awards. The event will be followed by a dessert reception in the lobby. Everyone is welcome.

Student Centennial Event scheduled for April 13

The Student Centennial Event on Saturday, April 13, will allow undergraduate students the opportunity to celebrate the university’s Centennial together. The event, planned by the Centennial Student Leaders, includes a carnival from 3 to 6 p.m. in the RAC and a Decade Dance at the cafeteria from 8 to 10 p.m.

The carnival will include games, inflatable games and carnival food. Live music is planned, prizes have been secured and Famous Dave’s and Chartwell’s will provide dinner.

The Decade Dance will include a photo booth, prizes and pizza. The DJ will be Downtown Petey Brown ’13.

Ian Bremmer to speak at April 17 Hendrickson Forum

The Hendrickson Forum 2013, “Rocking the World Order: How Changing Politics, Economics and Geography Impact Us,” is planned for Wednesday, April 17, at SMU’s Twin Cities campus.

There are seismic shifts taking place in the world order that are affecting the global economy and rise (and fall) of nations. What are the experts tracking and what precautions can you take? Dr. Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, shares possible scenarios on how to prepare for the changing world.

The 2013 Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership will be awarded to Doug Baker, Jr., chairman and CEO of Ecolab, Inc. The moderator will be Fred de Sam Lazaro, director of the Under-Told Stories Project at SMU.

The event is  3:30-5 p.m. at Saint Mary's University Center, 2540 Park Ave, Minneapolis. The cost is $40 for the general public; $20 for SMU alumni; and $10 for students. A few tickets are available at no cost for faculty and staff; e-mail Barb Hall at bhall@smumn.edu.

The pre-forum seminar “Truth of the Trade” will feature Devry Boughner, Cargill’s chief free trade lobbyist. Join a conversation from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. on current free trade issues. Boughner has worked for the World Bank, the U.S. Trade Representatives office, and was a senior economist at the International Trade Commission before joining Cargill. The cost for the seminar is $20 for general admission, $10 for alumni and students. A few tickets are available at no cost for faculty and staff; e-mail Barb Hall at bhall@smumn.edu.

Register for both events at www.smumn.edu/hendricksonforum.

Commencement schedule announced for May 11

On Saturday, May 11, the Winona campus will hold a joint ceremony including both Winona undergraduate and graduate students. A baccalaureate Mass will begin at 8 a.m. in Saint Thomas More Chapel, and the commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium. The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours. A reception will follow in the Plaza (or in case of inclement weather, Gostomski Fieldhouse).

Limited parking will be available. A shuttle service will be provided from a nearby parking lot. More information will be posted at www.smumn.edu/welcome-tobrst-marys/about-smu/commencement-information.

Handicapped parking is available on campus. Anyone needing special accommodations for seating in the gymnasium should call Darlene Paulson at Ext. 1586 to make arrangements. In order to honor all handicapped section seating requests, only one additional guest may sit with the individual requesting handicapped seating. A sign language interpreter will be at the ceremony.

Tickets available for Gaslight

Gaslight shows are 8 p.m. Friday, April 19, and 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in the Toner Student Center Dining Room.

Each faculty and staff person can receive one free ticket to one of the shows by e-mailing Lance Thompson at ljthom01@smumn.edu. Regular tickets are $6, or $7 at the door.

The musical variety show is in its 51st year and is sponsored by the senior class as their main fundraising event.

Senior art work on display through May 11

“Defining,” the SMU senior art show, will be on display through May 11 in the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries.

Students displaying work include Brianna Bloomquist, Jamie Cooper, Jennifer Daniels, Tommy Holme, De’Shanda Morley, Lisa-Marie Nihart, Amanda Rahman, Yuchen Ren, Jamie Stefely and Caroline Stringer.

The galleries — free and open to the public — are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Public symposium April 16 to address societal expectations of gender

A public symposium titled “In the Looking Glass,” hosted by the Saint Teresa Institute Leadership and Service Institute on Tuesday, April 16, is designed to increase awareness of how the media influences societal expectations of women and men.

The event will be held from 5:15 to 8:15 p.m. in the World Room, located in the Hendrickson Center.
The evening will begin with the film, “Miss Representation,” a documentary that explores how mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in influential positions by circulating limited — and often disparaging — portrayals of women. The film will be followed by dinner and a small-group discussion.

Participants can then choose from several breakout sessions including:

• Who Wants to be a Porn Star? Sex and Violence in Today’s Pornography Industry —   with Rosa Edholm, president of the Saint Teresa Institute and an SMU senior. (Must be 18 or older due to graphic nature.) This video slideshow offers an incredibly disturbing glimpse into the correlation between objectification, pornography and rape culture.

• Unrealistic Expectations and Body Image Distortion — with Kelsey Brekke, Bridget Ryan, and Lexi Assimos of the Body Image Collaborative Lab at SMU. This discussion will focus on media influence on development of unrealistic body image ideals and subsequent body image distortion. Current research will be considered, as will the repercussions of body image distortion in eating and health behaviors.

• Gender as Portrayed in News and Entertainment Media — with Dr. Steven Schild, associate professor of social science at SMU. There’s no question that there’s gender bias in some media portrayals. That bias, though, isn't always as one-dimensional as you might think. Schild will examine and discuss items from news accounts as examples of gender bias that cuts two ways.

• The Image of Pageantry — with Serica Rowley, Miss Winona and a current SMU student. What images comes to mind when you think of the Miss America or the Manhunt beauty pageants? Were you even aware of the Manhunt pageant? Join Miss Winona for this session to explore the myths and truths of beauty pageants.

At 7:45 p.m., the event’s keynote speaker, Dr. Trisha Karr, assistant professor of psychology, will tie the evening’s themes together. Karr has done extensive research on the body image of athletes.

For more information or to register online, go to www.smumn.edu/lookingglass. SMU students will be admitted for free; others are asked to pay a $12 dinner fee.

Students to volunteer with ‘Spruce Up Winona Day’

In recognition of “Spruce Up Winona Day,” Saint Mary’s Volunteer Mentors group will organize volunteers in the community from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, to help local individuals, groups, churches and organizations in recognition of “Spruce Up Winona Day.”

Stasica to perform April 13

Adam Stasica, Admissions, will perform at  the Acoustic Cafe on Saturday, April 13, from 8-10 p.m. Admission is free. His original and cover music is influenced by folk, rock, blues and funk.

Dance Repertory Company to present annual spring concert

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts’ Dance Repertory Company’s annual spring concert, Juxtapose, will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27, in Page Theatre.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or by calling the box office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Ext. 1715.

For close to four decades, the Dance Repertory Company has delighted the Winona community with quality dance productions featuring local dancers in classical and contemporary works. The DRC is the pre-professional performance group of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts. Company members participate in rehearsals, technique classes, and stage performances.  

This production will feature pieces from numerous genres of dance including hip hop, modern, jazz, tap, contemporary ballet and pointe. The theme is “collaboration” — with each piece incorporating another aspect of the arts from live music to multi-media, and much more!

These dancers currently train at the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, Saint Mary’s University, and Winona State University. Juxtapose showcases their effervescent spirit, vibrant energy, and technical and artistic abilities that continue to inspire audiences year after year.

For more information, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu or call 453-5500.

Let’s Do Lunch to be hosted by Athletics April 18

The next Let’s Do Lunch fundraiser will be a tailgate lunch, hosted by the Athletic Department, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the hockey arena lobby. Proceeds will be used for our students in Nairobi.

Concert Band to perform April 14

Celebrate spring with the Concert Band on Sunday, April 14. The band, under the direction of Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, will present their annual spring concert at 3 p.m. in Page Theatre. The program includes exciting new works by Johan de Meij, Frank Ticheli, Samuel Hazo and Richard Saucedo, as well as classic favorites by Bernstein and Tschesnokoff. 

Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the box office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Faculty and staff can receive two free tickets to this event.

Row, Ride, Run to raise money for SOUL participants

The annual Saint Mary’s “Row, Ride, Run Triathlon” will take place on Saturday, April 27, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Lake Lodge in Winona and finishing on SMU’s Winona campus. About 100 athletes from throughout the Midwest are expected to register for the race.

Participants will canoe or kayak a 2.5-mile loop around Lake Winona, then bike 14 miles from Lake Winona to the SMU campus. Once on campus, racers will run 3.1 miles through the bluffs surrounding the university.

Proceeds assist Serving Others United in Love (SOUL). Through SOUL, students are able to connect with diverse communities by participating in national and international service trips.

Registration is $35 per individual or $70 per team. Teams can be made up of two, three or four members. The deadline to register is Saturday, April 20, and racers must provide their own canoes or kayaks.

Awards will be presented to the top three fastest individuals and the top finishing team.
Participants must be 10 or older to row or run and 15 or older to bike.

For more information, visit www.smumn.edu/rowriderun or call Ext. 7268.

Psi Chi inducts new members

A Psi Chi induction ceremony was held April 4.  Psi Chi is the International Honor Society in Psychology. Newly inducted members to the chapter are: Shelby DeWall, Yasmin Duarte, Heidi Martin, Lauren Salonek and Bethany Schmidt, Amanda Weber and Rim Woldeslassie.

Outgoing and newly elected officers include Katie Smith (outgoing secretary), Megan Leisen (outgoing vice president), Cathy Rennie (outgoing president), Lexi Assimos (incoming vice president); and Amanda Weber (incoming president). Not pictured is Ellie Niedbala (incoming secretary).

Graduating senior Psi Chi members (with Dr. Elizabeth Seebach) are Cathy Rennie, Megan Leisen, Jackie Jones, Sophie Harrison, Kelsey Brekke, Bridget Ryan and Katie Smith.

Financial forum is April 16

The next financial forum will include updates on enrollment and other financial information. The forum will begin at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, in Salvi Lecture Hall.

Students inducted into Delta Mu Delta

Congratulations to the newest members of Delta Mu Delta for 2013, from left: front, Tess Willard, LeiLani Oas, Anna Anderson, Matthew Rice, Cassie Kujawa; back, Samantha Borawski, Kyle Johnson, Gabe Thiel, Tyler Grabau, Dylan Ethan, Kaylee Bunne and Sarah Mills. Not pictured are Blake Schuster and Madeline Bredahl.

Fourteen students were inducted into Delta Mu Delta at a luncheon reception on April 3. Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society established to recognize and reward outstanding academic achievement of students in business.

Saint Mary’s Delta Mu Delta chapter, Eta Beta, was established in 1994 to promote the national organization’s goals of promoting higher scholarship in business education and recognizing and rewarding academic attainment in business subjects.

Computer Science student to present at UW-L

Gabriel Grundtner will join more than 3,000 undergraduate students expected to present findings at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this week for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

The event started Thursday and runs through Saturday, with displays from 60 disciplines, from biology to theater. Undergraduates from 48 states and seven countries are displaying work for the event.

Grundtner will present “Using Optical Character Recognition and Ajax to Bring Legacy Images to Life” from 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. today. He is working with Rob Gordon, Computer Science, on the project.

Grundtner has been working with the Office of Residence Life to augment images. He states,  “Many institutions have a repository of images of their physical plant available from either an intranet or internet site. Unfortunately, these legacy images provide a static, two-dimensional view of the physical plant.

“We our currently working with the Residence Life Department at Saint Mary’s to integrate student photos with residence hall images. A Residence Life staff member will be able to select a room from an image of a residence hall and view the photos and names of the residents of that room. After completing our work with student photos, we plan to generalize our solution to allow incorporation of video.”

Study abroad photo contest voting ends today

Faculty, staff and students are invited to stop by Saint Mary’s Hall, Room 132, to cast votes for the top three choices in the study abroad photo contest. Voting ends at 4 p.m.

Photos were submitted by SMU students who studied overseas spring, summer, and fall of 2012.

Preview the finalists at the new “SMU study abroad” Facebook page. Check out students’ travel stories at http://smustudyabroad.blogspot.com.

Senior class challenges employees on giving campaign

A challenge has been issued.

This year’s 2013 senior class is challenging university employees to meet (or beat) the fundraising goal of 60 percent participation.

This year’s senior class is raising funds for a special campus landscaping project. Senior class gift co-chairs Shannon Nelson and Brian Thomas have also set a 60 percent participation goal for their classmates.

It’s a friendly competition between employees and students — encouraging both to meet their participation goals.

Although the employee campaign has a huge lead (with 50 percent participation), the students are determined to have a come-from-behind win!

If you haven’t made a gift, now is the time.

In the faculty/staff campaign, currently a total of $70,284 (with 50 percent participation) has been raised. Just 40 more people are needed to step up and say, “I believe in Saint Mary’s!” Will you be one of the next people to make a difference?

Thank you to all those who have already made a gift. Your gift is helping make a difference to students and to the SMU community.

Every gift — regardless of size — makes a difference to our students. Please think about what is important to you and designate your gift to an area you especially care about.

Make a gift online at www.smumn.edu/employeegiftform or return your employee giving packet to the Development Office at Box. 21. Call Andrea Pengra at Ext. 1791 for more information.