Minnesota district chief judge to preside over mock trial

Minnesota Second Judicial District Chief Judge (and 1981 Saint Mary’s University alumna) Teresa (Schultz) Warner will preside over the third annual SMU Saint Mary’s Mock Trial from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. The event will be held in the Common Room.

In this unique learning opportunity, SMU pre-law students will act as the attorneys in a hotly contested case, which mirrors an actual trial. Students will also participate as jurors and witnesses. The mock trial gives SMU pre-law students the opportunity to participate in a litigated case and get trial experience.

Warner serves as the chief judge of the Second Judicial District (Ramsey County) and was appointed by Gov. Arne Carlson in 1998. She was elected in 2000, 2006 and 2012, and her current term expires in January 2019. After graduating from William Mitchell College of Law, she served in private practice and then as a Washington County prosecutor before being appointed a judge.

Judge Warner will also be speaking to classes Nov. 22.

The mock trial is hosted by the Business and Social Science Departments. Attendance is open to the SMU community; those interested in learning more about our legal system are especially encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Larry Price at Ext. 1533 or lprice@smumn.edu.

Kabara, Business Department to host events for Global Entrepreneurship Week

In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Kabara Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies and the Business Department are hosting several activities.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is a celebration of innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

On Tuesday, a state representative of the Small Business Development Center will make a presentation on the support services available from the Small Business Administration.

On Wednesday, a group of students will tour an area nursery that is diversitying into hydroponics and growing vegetables during the winter months.

On Thursday, the Kabara Institute is sponsoring a new-business elevator pitch competition for students from all departments.

And on Friday, Dan Skogen, chairman of Festival Foods, will present to students at 12:30 p.m. in the Common Room. The SMU community is invited to this presentation.

Jim Bedtke, executive director of the Kabara Institute, quotes the Department of Labor Statistics Report which states that startups in their first year of existence currently create around 2.5 million new jobs in the U.S.

The Huffington Post adds, “What you’ll find is that some of the coolest and most rewarding ‘job-jobs’ on the planet are the ones in startups and small businesses. Why? Because the folks running these enterprises tend to take the social contract with their employees more to heart than do the typical huge organizations run by professional executives and quarterly results. They appreciate the value of hard work. And the small-business owners will do just about anything to keep the business on an even keel and protect their loyal people.”

River North Dance Chicago takes the stage Nov. 20

Celebrated for creating vital connections between dancer and audience as well as presenting gutsy and entertaining repertoire, River North Dance Chicago will combine athletic prowess and artistic perspective with bold, theatrical flair during its show Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The Page Series presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Page Theatre.

Under the artistic direction of Frank Chaves, River North Dance Chicago demonstrates depth and sophistication with a commitment to creating an accessible, enriching experience for audiences. Chaves aims for audiences to feel the complete spectrum of human emotions in a single evening. He wants them to leave feeling joyful and exhilarated at the end of each program.

Founded in 1989, the company is recognized as one of Chicago’s leading dance companies, receiving critical acclaim both on a national and international level. The dancers will present a mixed repertoire including “Simply Miles,” featuring the music of Miles Davis, and “SUPER STRAIGHT is Coming Down,” as well as other pieces from their 20-year repertoire.

Tickets are $27 for adults and $24 for seniors and students and are available at www.pagetheatre.org or at the SMU Box Office, Ext. 1715, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Pre-show talk Nov. 20

Join Tammy Schmidt, assistant professor of dance, for a conversation with the River North Dance Chicago company manager about the process of setting dances, training, and the history of the dance company, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20. The conversation will end in plenty of time for the show.

PR/Business Club attends ‘PR with the Pros’ event

The Public Relations/Business Club attended the Public Relations Society of America “PR with the Pros” event on Nov. 13 at the Cambria Gallery in Minneapolis. The students learned about various communications-related jobs from speakers representing a variety of corporate, educational and agency organizations. One of the panelists was 1986 SMU alum Greg Zimprich, senior vice president of agency operations and strategic insights at Kohnstamm Communications in St. Paul.

Conservatory news

River North Dance to host ballet master class 

On Nov. 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will host the River North Dance Company for a ballet master class. This talented company will perform Nov. 20 as part of the Page Series.

Admission is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Register by e-mailing mca@smumn.edu, or call 453-5500.

Fall music concert Nov. 15

On Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m., the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will hold its fall Music Division Concert at the Figliulo Recital Hall. The concert will showcase the jazz combos and a variety of private-lesson students. The community is invited to come and support these talented young musicians. Admission is a freewill donation, with all proceeds supporting the conservatory.

For more information, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu, “like” them on Facebook, or call 453-5500.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

News from Nairobi

Students from the Towards the Inculturation of Religious Life in Africa class perform a skit during the pastoral reflection.

By James Chege, librarian at Maryknoll Institute for African Studies

Second Pastoral Reflection: Old vs. New

Students and field assistants of the Maryknoll Institute of African Studies gathered for the final pastoral reflection (PR) of the semester to share their field experiences and get to know what students are learning in other courses taken at the Institute.

The Justice and Peace in East Africa class presented a skit depicting the modern method of administering justice in conflict with the traditional one in the matter of a land dispute.

Students from the Toward the Inculturation of Religious Life in Africa class were next on stage and presented a skit on the conflicts that occur when novices try to practice traditional African hospitality in religious houses when two needy men appear at a convent in dire need of help.

The third class, African Marriage and Family: Challenge and Change, prepared a lively skit that showed how changing roles of partners affect African marriages where a wife, who had a well-paying job, provides for the family, leading to the husband feeling he was not being treated properly.

Last, the class on Moral Teaching and Practices of African Traditional Religion posed questions to elders on moral formation. Their responses showed that traditional modes of moral formation were good and were central in moulding the young and are still relevant and applicable today.

After the presentations, discussions groups debated the issues and then made  reports  on their findings to the re-assembled  participants.

Campus remembers veterans on Nov. 11

The SMU community braved the cold to remember those who have served and endured far worse. The annual campus Veterans Day ceremony was held Nov. 11 at the Veterans Memorial.

Bake sale to raise money for Jamaica M.Ed. students

A bake sale today, Friday, Nov. 15, will raise money for scholarships for Saint Mary’s Jamaican graduate students. Bring some extra cash for a sweet for yourself or for someone who could use a treat. Baked goods will be available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the hallway of Saint Mary’s Hall by the main bulletin board. The event is sponsored by the Friends of M.Ed. Jamaica.

In the News

Here are just some of the ways SMU is making headlines this week:

Carter Briggs was featured in the Dance Teacher Magazine article.

• The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is featured in this month’s issue of Dance Teacher Magazine. The article focuses on boys programs and their incorporation into dance programs. The article prominently quotes Director of Dance Tammy Schmidt, and includes photos of two of MCA students, Carter Briggs and Matthew Schleich.  To read the article, go to  http://bit.ly/185Prkk.

• The Christian Brothers of North America website reported on the second annual Symposium on Lasallian Research Oct. 27 at the Twin Cities Campus. To read more, go to http://bit.ly/1aq7wZR.

Students present research at Viterbo

One of our collaborative labs, the Terror Management Collaborative Lab, traveled to Viterbo University Nov. 8 to present their research at the Seven Rivers Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Students Ryan Diak, Danielle Pues, Mandy Lindholm, and Rim Woldeslassie presented.  Mario Casa de Calvo is their faculty advisor.

Additionally eight biology/environmental biology students and two biochemistry students presented their research projects including: Minh Mguyen, advisor Dr. Matt Rowley; Katherin Stolz, Kristen Thelen, Anna Smaron, Jillian Martin and Sabrina Larson-Bushlack, advisor Dr. Debra Martin; Bethany Schmidt and Sivan Fogel, advisor Dr. Randy Krainock; and Scott Malotka and Shauna Stephens, advisor Dr. Phil Cochran.

Stephens’ poster, “Age Determination and Palaeo-Environmental Analysis of Bacombe Clay, Australia,”won The People’s Choice Poster Award.

Six students awarded Beta Beta Beta scholarships

Six biology students were awarded the national biology honor society Beta Beta Beta Research Foundation research scholarships.  Students submitted a proposal for their senior research project outlining the objectives of the research and a budget.  The students and their research advisors are Kristen Thelen (Dr. Debra Martin), Amy Spitzmueller (Dr. Ray Faber), Bethany Schmidt (Dr. Randy Krainock), Anna Smaron (Dr. Martin), Elizabeth Arnold (Dr. Krainock) and Alberta Gittens (Dr. Krainock). The average award was $455.

Film class captures the beauty of the bluffs

 

The film photography classes recently took field trips into some of Saint Mary’s wooded property in conjunction with their landscape photography assignment.  Instructor Anthony Calabrese said that students developed a deeper appreciation of just how beautiful our campus is.

Workshop Nov. 19 to discuss media influence on gender roles

Last spring’s “In the Looking Glass” workshop invited conversation on how media influences societal expectations of women and men. “The Flip Side” — to be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 in the Common Room — will take a deeper look at how the media has stereotyped men and women and the resulting paradox of men and women’s roles in American society.

The evening begins with a medley of film showing how the media portrays men and women. Dinner and a small group discussion follows. Then choose one breakout session and conclude the evening in the closing session with conversation with the presenters’ panel.
 
Breakout sessions include:

If all I knew was what I read in the papers ... — Dr. Steven Schild. Using high-profile periodical articles and other media texts from the recent past, this presentation provides commentary on the way various topics or attributes are framed in terms of gender. The “pictures in our heads” that result from such portrayals, the presenter believes, cause confusion, consternation and, sometimes, challenges to common sense (whatever that is).

Popular media conceptualizations of male identity and success — Dr. Tricia Klosky and Matthew Klosky. The focus of the session is on how popular concepts of success and the American dream influence perceptions of attainment and masculinity among men and women, with particular focus on popular movies that portray success in terms of stereotypical terms.

Body dissatisfaction and eating disorders: Believe it or not, men are not the same as women — Dr. Trisha Karr. Do men and women have similar body values, self-evaluations and behaviors? A focus of the conversation will involve consideration  of the differences between men and women in regard to body experience.

As dinner is included, registration must be made by Nov. 15 to Peg Winters at pwinters@smumn.edu. The event is sponsored by the Saint Teresa Institute.

Soccer teams work with Winona youth

The Saint Mary’s soccer teams helped organize and run a special day of fun and games on the soccer field for Winona youth. The soccer mini-camp was sponsored by SMU’s Big and Little Pals program, which matches college students with at-risk second- through fifth-graders from Jefferson Elementary School. About 50 Saint Mary’s students participate in the Campus Ministry service program in collaboration with Winona Area Public Schools. The Big Pals develop positive relationships with their Little Pals through activities and by nurturing their academic, social and emotional stability.

McDonough, Blackhawks visit the White House

John McDonough ’75, president and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks and the team recently visited President Barack Obama at the White House, officially completing their Stanley Cup journey in style.

Chamber Orchestra performs at Sugar Loaf senior living

The Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. David Leung, performed music by Britten and Tchaikovsky Nov. 9 for a program at the Sugar Loaf senior living facility.

Mahers to be honored as Lasallian Volunteers

Lasallian Volunteers will honor outstanding supporters — including an SMU alumna — with the 2013 Lasallian Volunteers FSC Awards Nov. 22 at De La Salle High School in New Orleans.

Daniel and Sarah Jane (Engle ’07) Maher will receive the Brother Chris Bassen Service Award, which recognizes LV alumni who have continued a life of service. The Mahers currently serve at De La Salle North Catholic High School in Portland, Ore., where in order to keep the Lasallian mission strong, they helped found a unique community of LVs where lay people reside without the traditional presence of Brothers. Several people from Saint Mary’s will be presenting at and attending this event. 

The awards are named in the spirit of three De La Salle Christian Brothers who embody values of faith, service and community and made significant contributions to the LVs. For more information, go to http://bit.ly/1gL9aKH.

Chinese high school representatives visit SMU

Dian Du, coordinator of U.S. Exchange Program, and Daniel Wang, a representative, both from Beijing No. 4 High School International Campus, chose to visit SMU’s Inernational Center  Nov. 7 during their tour in the U.S.

The two discussed possible programs for their high school students in China. Du later wrote, “We were very impressed with your beautiful campus, and excellent academic programs. I do think that the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a very good match for the students at Beijing No. 4 High School and the schools under China-U.S. Leading Schools Association.  I deeply appreciate the chance to meet with you and sincerely hope we could work together on building up the international programs.”

Tribeta inductions announced

On Nov. 12, the induction of new members into the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Beta Beta Beta, the national biology honor society, was held. The new members are Mary Barthell, Nick Beaudoin, Daniel Billiar, Aleah Bingham, James Boggia, Jacquelyn Bongard, Janae Fry, Anthony Garoutte, Kristen Gustafson, Taylor Hanson, Kelsey Haugh, Sadie Lange, Brandon Larsen, Katie Leisen, Robert Marx, Katie Miller, Mary Moats, Collin Nienhaus, James Stewart, Madelyn Stiehl, Katherine Stolz, Jenna Trio, Ana Valenzuela, Nicholas Wojtynek, Michael Wolter and Amy Zawacki.  Dr. Richard Kowles gave the keynote address, “Historical Aspects of Research at Saint Mary’s University.”

Biology Department acquires new image analyzer

This past summer the Biology Department acquired a LiCor Odyssey Fc IR image analyzer due to a grant written by Dr. Debra Martin and a matching grant from Saint Mary's University. Now students can get accurate images of their DNA agarose gels and for their Western protein blots. Quantitation of protein bands is now possible that will allow students to quantify gene/protein expression. The Odyssey Fc will be used in many of the laboratory courses taught in biology and also for student research.

Cardinal Corner is open!

Each semester, undergraduate entrepreneurship students manage a not-for-profit retail store located in a small corner of the basement of Toner Student Center. Aptly named the “Cardinal Corner,” students choose products to sell in the store, garner donations from around campus, and sell items for on-campus organizations as part of a course within the entrepreneurship major.

The class is broken into management teams and sales staff.  Students apply lessons learned in many courses such as marketing, economics, and management. Each team experiences product sourcing, pricing, promotion and placement. The decisions that the students make throughout the semester are experienced first-hand and result in financial success or failure.

This semester the students chose five new products to sell at the store: a vintage style college shirt, a pink cancer awareness shirt, tote bags, footballs and winter hats.

The students voted to give the store’s profits this year to the First-Generation Initiative.

Profits from previous semesters have been donated to the Winona Area Humane Society; Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin; Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance recipients; Dom Dziecka, a children’s orphanage in Poland; and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Minnesota.

Led by assistant professor of business Michael Ratajczyk, the members of this semester’s class are: Ashley  Bollig,  Chelsea  Pumper,  Cody  Sprague,  Daniel  Fino,  Jakub  Koziuk,  James  Sullivan,  Jennifer  Tobroxen,  Lucas  Kubic,  Matthew  Biagini,  Michael  Burfeind,  Nancy  Leon-Morales,  Natalie  Williams,  Otto  Holzer,  Reid  Smithe,  Ronald  Enrooth,  Samantha  Kleese,  Sarah  Mills, Timothy  Wolande, Tyler  Krysiak and Jamal Arnold.

When asked their thoughts about the Cardinal Corner thus far in the semester, the student teams had this to say.

“A school spirited store made by Cardinals for Cardinals!” – Team Totes and Footballs

“We feel that the experience at the Cardinal Corner is not only beneficial experience, but it is a positive one where we as students are able to learn how to apply business-like concepts on a day-to-day basis in a real-world environment.” – Team College Shirts

 “The Cardinal Corner is a fun way for students to raise money for charity by selling products that they designed.” – Team Pink Shirts

“The Cardinal Corner allows students to experience what it is like to make practical marketing and financial decisions in a small business environment.” – Team Pink Shirts

“The Cardinal Corner helps us experience what we should be expecting in the real world.” – Team Hats

Sympathy to Schlemmer family

Debbie Schlemmer, mother to Jon Schlemmer ’14 and aunt to Coral Logan (Development and Alumni Relations) died Monday, Nov. 11, after a courageous battle with cancer. The wake will be Saturday, Nov. 16, in De Pere, Wis. The Saint Mary’s community extends its sympathy to the Schlemmer family.