Nutcracker Ballet

Continental Ballet and
Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra present
Nutcracker Ballet
Saturday, December 15- 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 16- 2:00 pm

Red Wing-The Sheldon is happy to welcome back the collaborated efforts of Continental Ballet Company and Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra on Saturday, December 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 16 at 2:00 p.m. for their annual presentation of the Nutcracker Ballet. Tickets for this crowd pleaser are $26 for adults and $16 for students.
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This timeless tale of Clara's amazing journey to the Land of the Sugarplum Fairy with her magical godfather Drosselmeyer is a family friendly staple that has been enjoyed by thousands of theatre goers every year. The Continental Ballet Company from the Twin Cities has enjoyed performing this enchanting ballet for many years at the Sheldon Theatre with the help of some lucky local children. Continental Ballet has always believed in sharing their appreciation for the classical ballet with local children who get the chance to perform a scene with the professional dancers.

Continental Ballet Company was formed in 1988 by Riet Velthuisen, a former dancer with the Dutch National Ballet. It was her wish and the Company's mission that children and families have the opportunity to experience the art of classical ballet through performances, classes and community events that help foster the appreciation of dance and help the participants reach their full potential.

Joining Continental Ballet in this presentation and providing the captivating music is the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra. For almost 30 years musicians from all over the Cannon Valley and Metro areas have come together under the direction of Paul Niemisto to bring amazing performances to audiences of all ages. They perform 6 or 7 concerts each year that include a varied repertoire such as classical symphonic works and compositions by area composers. CVRO also performs at a variety of places such as outdoor festivals and luxurious ballrooms.

Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra is part of the Northfield Arts Guild and is made possibly in part by funding provided by the Community National Bank of Northfield, the National Endowment for the Arts, the McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature.

Don't miss your opportunity to see this beautiful production, the crown jewel of the holiday season, at the Sheldon Performing Arts Theatre.

For further information and to order tickets, patrons should call The Sheldon Theatre Ticket Office at 651-388-8700 or toll free at 1-800-899-5759. Tickets may also be purchased on the Internet at www.sheldontheatre.org. Regular ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. The theatre is located at 443 West Third Street in downtown Red Wing.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Pheonix Theatre presents
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Wednesday Preview, December 5 at 7:00pm
Thursday, December 6-9

Red Wing- Red Wing's local theatre group is presenting a treasured holiday favorite, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, on Wednesday, December 5 through Sunday, December 9. The Wednesday night show is a preview. Preview tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students. Tickets for the other shows are $16 for adults and $10 for students.
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Grace Bradley and the Bradley Family (daughter Beth, son Charlie, and husband/father Bob Bradley) have to take over their church's annual Christmas pageant after the original director (Mrs. Armstrong) breaks her leg. Things don't get any better when Charlie Bradley tells Leroy Herdman, one of six (Imogene, Ralph, Leroy, Ollie, Claude, and Gladys), that people who go to Sunday School get free refreshments, to make him feel dumb about stealing his dessert. This makes the Herdman clan infiltrate the only safe place in town.

The next Sunday during Sunday school, Imogene hears about the pageant and asks know-it-all Alice Wendleken (best friend of Beth Bradley) what a pageant is. Imogene gets so interested in this "Christmas Pageant" that she decides to sign all the Herdmans up for all the main parts. This could only mean one thing; TROUBLE!

In the end, the Herdmans become a better family and they find out the true meaning of love.

The whole family is guaranteed to have a roaring good time this holiday season with the cast and crew of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever".

For further information and to order tickets, patrons should call The Sheldon Theatre Ticket Office at 651-388-8700 or toll free at 1-800-899-5759. Tickets may also be purchased on the Internet at www.sheldontheatre.org. Regular ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. The theatre is located at 443 West Third Street in downtown Red Wing.

Winona Arts Center Event December 7, 8, 9th

Experiment in gift economics underway at Winona Arts Center.

Free food! Movies and Talk! Gifts for Everyone! Sounds like Christmas doesn't it? Nope. Better—and two weeks earlier. Long Weekend:
Neighborly Discussion for a Free Winona, a festival planned for the
Winona Arts Center (228 E 5th St.) on December 7th, 8th, and 9th, is
determined to embolden mutual aid enthusiasts and uncover new economic
techniques for immediate practice and celebration.
Read more... In this spirit, the
first two days will be completely free of charge, and the third day
with a suggested donation of $5-15: no one will be turned away for
lack of funds.

Come to the Arts Center and bring a dish at 6pm on Friday for a
potluck dinner and schedule orientation. Afterwards, stay for a
discussion about consumerism, giving, and materialism with a movie
hosted by !Ki.

Our Saturday will begin at noon with a round table discussion about
the successes and failures that followed Winona's Food Not Bombs
experiment. Stick around for panelists from the Down N' Dirty Bike
Club of Winona for a chance to pry about the tall bikes phenomenon or
the free bicycle program and their outreach efforts. We'll be
projecting some short films from 3 to 6 in the afternoon; films from
CrimethInc., Bill Brown, Rooftop Films, and more. A free formal dinner
will be served during local project announcements. Pickaxe, a
documentary film about community resistance to deforestation, will be
followed by a discussion at 7pm.

Sunday's events begin with improvisational theatre at noon. Folk
historians from the Twin Cities will present a radical history of
Minnesota which will be followed by a presentation from organizers of
the Iowa Counter Caucus planned in January. Each of these lectures
will run two hours, the first beginning at 2pm with time available for
questions and discussions. Come see the exciting debut of Growing
Awareness, an independent documentary about Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) and its role in organic farming. One last dinner
will wrap up the weekend as we talk about what is to come next: the
future of Winona and projects on the horizon.

For more information, visit www.keoxa.com, or send an email to events@keoxa.com.

College football parity: student sees need to switch playoff systems

By David Olson
Cardinal Staff

Appalachian State beats Michigan! Kentucky beats Louisville! South Florida beats West Virginia! Stanford beats USC! Navy beats Norte Dame!

What is going on in college football?
Read more... Well, ladies and gentlemen, parity has finally reached college football. The days of the dynasty are over. Apparently, Boise State’s upset of Oklahoma last year was just the beginning. There are more and more upsets happening in college football today. I can’t even count how many top 10 teams have been upset this year because there has been so many. These upsets continue to happen because the quality of coaching around the league is lacking and many top recruits don’t necessarily want to go to the biggest schools with the most prestige anymore.

This point was proven in the first week of the season when perennial powerhouse Michigan lost to the Division II school Appalachian State. There was a complete uproar in the media about the mighty Wolverines going down. Little did they know the upsets were just beginning. Every week, more and more teams began to fall at the hands of lesser opponents. Teams like South Florida, Kansas, and Kentucky came out of nowhere to establish themselves as one of the top teams in the nation.

It is apparent that a playoff is needed in college football now more than ever. Who wouldn’t enjoy a tournament like March Madness with the top sixteen teams playing each other? Anything could happen in this situation. Plus it would be a lot more fun to watch than some bowl game that means nothing to anyone except to the two schools in it (and the NCAA because they make money off of the game).

A tournament would generate just as much money as the bowl games do. It would also generate more excitement among the general public because of the possibility a great team would experience a huge upset. The NCAA needs to look at the recent trends of college football closely, and in the end, they will realize it’s time to switch playoff systems.

Over 600 attend Halloween Fun Night

By Sean O’Brien
News Editor

Every year the weekend prior to Halloween at Saint Mary’s University sees a flood of little witches, ghosts, and other ghoulish costumes for a night of Halloween fun.

This year’s Halloween Fun Night, held Oct. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m., marked the event’s seventh year and drew an attendance of over 600 elementary school children from the Winona community.
Read more... The event was put on by the Community Action Committee of the residence life office in collaboration with the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, SMU resident assistants, hall directors, student organizations and staff.

The night consisted of trick-or-treating throughout various residence halls on campus, with volunteers in costume to pass out candy. There was also an assortment of games available for the children, such as face-painting, bucket toss, and a chance to hang out with Big Red, the SMU mascot. Some participants believe the night is a safe way for SMU to join with the community for a fun, entertaining evening.

According to Hall Director Lance Thompson, this year’s event was a success, offering a night of fun to the volunteers as well as the children.

“The kids and volunteers all seemed to have a great time. It was so busy we actually ran out of candy at the end of the night,” said Thompson.

Study shows students get more at SMU

By Becky Newby and Paul Shute
Arts and Entertainment Editor
and Guest Writer

Saint Mary’s University provides a better student-faculty interaction and a more supportive campus environment than regional peers, according to the 2007 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
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Last year, NSSE collected data from more than 600 colleges and universities nationwide to measure how actively involved students are with their studies, professors and the campus community. Research shows that the more engaged students are, the more likely they are to learn.

The NSSE is a large-scaled survey given to first-year and senior students to assess “factors, qualities and experiences important to student learning,” according to Pat Barlow, director of college assessment.

Last year’s survey results show that Saint Mary’s provides a distinctive and superior college experience compared with similar institutions nationally and with small, liberal arts colleges throughout the Midwest.

“The NSSE is a more authentic indicator of college quality than traditional rankings,” said Barlow. There are 85 items on the online questionnaire that are combined to form scores in the areas of level of academic challenge, student-faculty interaction, supportive campus environment, enriching educational experiences, and active/collaborative learning.

The responses identified several strengths for SMU first-year and senior students when compared to the national sample. For first-year students, the average score on four out of the five categories was significantly higher than the average national. The senior students scored higher than the national sample on all five benchmarks.

Although NSSE indicates many areas of strength at SMU, the survey also indicated some areas of growth, particularly in the areas of appreciation and experience with diversity. The faculty and admissions staff is seeking ways to address this issue to further improve students’ learning experiences.

NSSE goes beyond popular college guides to offer prospective students and parents an alternative way to identify quality institutions. According to Barlow, the goal of NSSE is not just to collect data, but to improve student learning.

This year, for the first time, USA Today has partnered with NSSE to publish a guide to the survey in print and online to show how NSSE can enhance the college search. Further NSSE survey information and college data can be fount at www.usatoday.com.

SMU’s results and the NSSE college guide can be found at www.smumn.edu/nsse.

Juniors invited to first conference

Focus to be on body, mind and spirit
By Lindsay Dickson
Editor-in-Chief

All juniors at Saint Mary’s University are invited to attend the first-ever Junior Experience Conference Tuesday, Nov. 13. A keynote session, breakout sessions, and health and work stations will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. in the Toner Student Center.
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With a keynote of “Body, Mind, Spirit,” the focus of the conference is to examine “how choices [students] are making now can affect what [students] will do down the road,” said Student Development Specialist Char Tjaden. Tjaden hopes that students will be able to “get some information they can use not only right now but also for their entire lifetime.”

About three years ago, Tjaden was asked by Vice President for Student Development Chris Kendall to create programs that are specific to class years. A sophomore conference was started two years ago that focused on the sophomore slump and major selection. Last year, the first senior conference was hosted and emphasized life after graduation.

This year, breakout sessions will address wellness issues such as sleep deprivation, balancing work and values, and maintaining healthy credit. Another session will attempt to answer the question, “Can MySpace/Facebook hurt MyFuture?” Mike Kreiling, co-owner of Express Personnel Services, will speak about how he actually uses these social networking sites to check on potential employees. There will also be a panel of seniors who will share their insights on past or current internship experiences.

Juniors may visit an exhibit area during the conference, hosted by the Health Advocates. Stations will emphasize tips on relaxation, preventing overload, procrastination, healthy eating and drinking, careers and internships, and campus ministry.

“Students will be able to get a lot of information in a short period of time,” said Tjaden, “and get some questions answered.” Tjaden also hopes that this event will “give an experience of what it’s like to go to a conference.”

The conference will be sponsored by Student Development, Career Services and Internships, along with faculty involvement.

Juniors are urged to attend one or all sessions. Free pizza, beverages and giveaways will also be offered at the conference.

Benefit to be held for Pickford Nov. 19

By Kaylin Martin
Cardinal Staff

A charity event will be held on Monday, Nov. 19, for Saint Mary’s University senior Christy Pickford, organized by the PR/Business Club.
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The fundraiser will feature a silent auction, live acoustic music, and refreshments.

All proceeds will go directly to the Pickford family, according to senior and PR/Business Club President Chris Kellen.

“This is an excellent way to help out the Pickford family,” said Kellen. “It’s important that we show our support to Christy and her family, and this is a great way to get the Saint Mary’s community involved.”

Some of the items to be auctioned off include two pairs of tickets to a Minnesota Wild hockey game, gifts from Nola’s Flowers and SMU apparel.

The event will be held in the President’s Room, located in Toner Center, from 7 to 9 p.m., Nov. 19. Admission to the event is $5.

Christy’s auction will conclude with the senior auction on Nov. 29 and 30.

On Saturday, July 28, Christy was struck by a train in Winona, remaining in a coma for a month before opening her eyes on Saturday, Aug. 25. Christy is currently being cared for at a rehabilitation center in the Twin Cities area.

SMU presents volunteer fair

By Ellen Jordan
Cardinal Staff

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, Saint Mary’s University invited volunteer organizations to inform and recruit students at the annual long term volunteer fair.

Volunteer programs from across the United States were present, including Amate House, Christian Appalachian Project, Christian Brothers, Dominican Workers, Lasallian Volunteers, Mercy Corps, Net Ministries, Passionist International, St. Joseph Workers, and Winona Catholic Worker.
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The array of programs gave students the option to determine a program that would best suit their needs and wants. Senior Amy Kalina said, “I really don’t know what my post graduation plans are, but I am glad Saint Mary’s sponsors events like this to help me determine if long-term volunteering is an option that I should consider.”

Rebecca Sallee, assistant director for Campus Ministry, is responsible for recruiting the organizations for the fair. Sallee said she knows the value of volunteering and the benefits students can gain from it. She said, “The reason I am so anxious to recruit programs to visit is because I think Saint Mary’s campus is filled with wonderful students who are offered the chance to serve in the many volunteer programs that are offered throughout the year. This sends a strong message to people.”

A specific program in which SMU graduates have volunteered in the past is Lasallian Volunteers. Seth Whetzel recruits students for the program every semester by attending Mass and making classroom visits.

“Saint Mary’s University is an excellent school to recruit,” said Whetzel. “Currently we have ten graduates from the university in the program. Each year about 20 percent of the volunteers are from the [SMU] Winona campus.”

According to Sallee, the SMU community and the Lasallian values it places on service often helps to inspire students to make a difference.

Save the date for senior class silent auction

By Alli Hill
Cardinal Staff

The Saint Mary’s University senior class will be holding their annual silent auction on Nov. 29 and 30. Proceeds will fund senior week activities. A portion may also help to fund the senior class gift.
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“The auction is just one of the many ideas within a very large binder to help raise money for the senior class,” explained Anna Skonieczny, senior class officer. One way to get donations for the auction was by sending a letter all of the seniors’ parents. The letter asked for donations of actual items or for a monetary amount. If parents decide to go with the monetary route, the Senior Class Committee use that money to purchase items.

There are also some very unique ideas being used as auction items. “There are students using the talents they have as items,” said Skonieczny. “Some are giving lessons, haircuts, or taking senior photos.”

The committee has also started to ask local businesses for donations. At the time of publication, there were no confirmed items from the businesses.

Skonieczny was very happy with the turn-out of seniors to help with the event. “But we could always use more,” she said.

Skonieczny also encourages that if the seniors have any ideas for donations, they should either let her or fellow Senior Class Officer, Lindsay Dickson know. Also, if seniors would still like to become involved with the senior class committee, the next meeting will be on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 9 p.m. in Room 6A of the Toner Student Center.

SMU-WSU dual competition

By Jessica Paulsen
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s University and Winona State University will face off in two ways on Saturday, Nov. 17.
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Men’s basketball is playing at WSU at 4 p.m. that day and the Habitat for Humanity campus chapters will be collecting cans for each school as a part of Cans for a Cause.

The collecting will start in the parking lot outside the WSU gymnasium and there will be a truck for each school. Anyone bringing cans will choose which school they would like to support. Also, a person bringing cans will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win gift certificates from various places around Winona.

If there is a clear winner at half-time the results will be announced at the game. If it is too close to tell an e-mail will be sent out to the student body on Monday, after all the cans have been recycled, saying which school collected the most cans.

Abby Zimmer, co-leader of Cans for a Cause, said the goal of the event is to continue to get people to recycle their cans. “We want to keep this enthusiasm among the students alive...It’s really, really exciting that it’s been working so far.”

After the game all of the cans collected will be combined and recycled. The money will go to the Winona County Habitat for Humanity.

A vote for Hillary is a vote against America

By Austin Quick
Staff Columnist

Most news organizations believe that the Democrats will follow up their 2006 sweep of Congress and take back the Executive Branch as well. Republicans are scared that this is a strong possibility, especially due to the fact that for the first time in decades the GOP doesn’t have a strong front runner.
Read more... Sure, they have Rudy but with his stance on abortion there are a lot of people wondering if he has what it takes to win the nomination of the party, let alone a national election.

Other than Hillary, Barrack Obama is the next runner up in the world of hype. Mr. Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois, was a respected lawmaker in the Illinois House, but has not done anything noteworthy since moving to Washington. With his limited experience on the national scene, Mr. Obama will be lucky if he is asked to be Hillary’s running mate.

On abortion Mrs. Clinton had the following to say; “I am and always have been pro-choice, and that is not a right any of us should take for granted. There are a number of forces at work in our society that would try to turn back the clock and undermine a woman’s right to chose, and [we] must remain vigilant.” [Source: New York Times, pg. A11 Jan 22, 2000]

What are the “forces” she is referring to? I am going out on a limb here and assuming that she is speaking of Christians. It’s good to know that Mrs. Clinton (a Methodist) is afraid of turning back the proverbial clock and putting a woman’s right to choose to… oh wait, what is the phrase I am looking for? That’s right.. a woman’s right to choose to murder an innocent human being.

Abortion is not the only issue that should decide a person’s vote. We are a nation at war, and what we need now is what we’ve received for the past eight years: A president who is willing to put polls aside and follow his morals. America needs a leader who stands up for what is right, even when it makes him/her one of the most vilified people in the world. Rudy Giuliani has many great qualities our country needs right now, but the question is whether or not the American people can look past his views on certain social issues. More to come.

[Sophomore Austin M.D. Quick has an extensive background in politics, including serving a term as a Treasurer for the Illinois Republican Party. He is also a Navy veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The views expressed in this column do not necessarily represent those of the Church or the university. Comments are welcome at www.smumn.edu/cardinal.]

Hot off the Prez: Learning to be a good leader

By John Freeman
Student Senate President

As a senior, I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in a variety of clubs and organizations here on campus. Through these experiences, I have witnessed several student leaders, each with their own leadership style. Some people have been great leaders, while others, not as great. Personally, I’ve always sort of struggled with determining for myself what it is exactly that makes a really good leader.
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I recently attended a leadership conference that allowed me to listen to some of the top speakers in the nation present on the topic of leadership. At this conference, I began to notice that while each speaker had their own unique way to present their message, all of the speakers were trying to convey a similar message about leadership. I learned that it’s not being organized or timely that makes a good leader. Nor is it being able to juggle twenty things at one time. I learned that a good leader is someone who can maintain a positive attitude. A good leader is someone that other people want to be around because of the positive vibes they give off. Sure, leaders need to be active and be able to get tasks accomplished, but I also learned that those things will automatically begin to happen as a result of having a positive attitude.

Everyone has heard of the ripple effect. A good leader is a person who can set off that ripple simply by leading through their own actions. With that in mind, I believe that everyone has the potential to be a really good leader. I encourage underclassmen that haven’t yet, to step up and fill some leadership positions in the clubs and organizations you are already involved in. For those of you that are already leaders, reflect upon how you are treating other people that you work with. Do you complain about them to others? Are you a Negative Nancy? Just remember that if you want to be viewed as a good and successful leader, start by focusing on your attitude.

What are your plans after graduation?

By Alli Hill
Cardinal Staff

Jobs. Careers. These are two words that play through a senior’s mind during their last year, especially when every other person asks you, “What do you plan to do after college?”
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No two seniors are going to have the same answer to this question. Some will be going off to get their master’s. Some will be going off to medical school or law school. And then there are some, like me, who will be trying to put what they have learned in their classes to good use in employment.

This does not mean I know where that will be. I can’t even pinpoint that place to one area of the state. When I attended the Job Fair at Winona State, a recruiter asked me what location I wanted to work at. My response was, “Anywhere you want me to be.”

I find myself being put into this desperate state of mind because I want to know what I will be doing in six months. Actually, if I could, I would fast forward my life to that point. I feel that this senioritis is starting to affect a lot of my fellow seniors. But we can’t let this happen.

We should all take our time through these next couple of months to think carefully and thoughtfully over what we want to do. Then, hopefully, we can answer that question with a knowing smile.

A typical day in London

By MaryAnn Plourde
Cardinal Staff

Taking classes in London is definitely an opportunity I am glad I decided to take. For those students who are interested in studying abroad in London, I might be able to help with describing the experience from my own point of view:

The morning starts off around 8 a.m. with a quick shower and breakfast. Sharing a flat with four other girls is easier than I thought; even though we all live in a three-bedroom and one bath-room flat, we don’t usually run into each other.
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It is 8:45 a.m., and I’m off to my first class that starts at 9 a.m.; it is a short five-minute walk to the nearby college which has an immensely diverse student body. I have never been surrounded by so many different ethnicities. Class usually lasts between one to two hours. The class schedule consists of one morning class and one afternoon class that meet once a week. The homework is meager but important. Thursdays and Fridays are free days for me, with the occasional required fieldtrip on a coach bus to places like Bath, Cambridge and Blenheim Palace. Having four-day weekends leaves plenty of time to sightsee and travel. People are leaving all the time to go to places like Italy, Ireland, Germany, Amsterdam and France for the weekend.

In the middle of November, all 19 students who are studying abroad have the opportunity to go to Scotland for four days with transportation and one night in a hostel paid for by our activity fee. There is no set schedule, and everyone is free to roam as they see fit.

Getting used to the way of life here was interesting. Buying food and cooking for myself was a great learning experience in itself. The flat does have a kitchen with a stove and fridge and if you’re lucky a microwave and toaster. Food is bought with the weekly stipend (allowance) of £50. Currently the exchange rate is over $2 to £1. Everything here is the same monetary amount just with a pound sign instead of the dollar.

Classes last for three months and some choose to travel afterwards for a couple weeks. I am extremely happy to have had the opportunity to study abroad. Although I am incredibly homesick, this has opened up my mind in a way that would not be possible otherwise. Living in London as a student is definitely an unforgettable experience.

Local bars anticipate effects from ban

By Becky Newby
Arts and Entertainment Editor

Over one month has passed since the state-wide smoking ban went into effect, but its impact on Winona bars might not be known for some time.

While few bar owners in Winona are concerned about the drop in business as a result of the smoking ban, others are waiting to see how the winter goes.
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Chad Brink, bartender at Gabby’s Bar and Lounge on 3rd Street, said the smoking ban hasn’t affected the bars yet.

“A lot of people say they like going outside to smoke,” Brink said. “It’s less crowded.” Brink said that the smoking ban’s true impact won’t be known until winter sets in when the customers will be less willing to step outside for a cigarette.

The Freedom to Breathe Act went into effect in Minnesota on Oct. 1, 2007. The law prohibits smoking in nearly all public and indoor places of employment including bars, restaurants, and private clubs such as American Legion or VFW posts.

Cigarettes can still be purchased at the bar, but they must be enjoyed outside.

The general manager at Schyde’s Drinks and Whatnot on Johnson Street said the effects due to the smoking ban have only been positive.

“I don’t want to smell like smoke. If you need a cigarette – go outside,” he said.

Businesses are required to post no smoking signs and ask people who are smoking to stop – or leave – if they refuse. They will be monitored by the department of health and local law enforcement agencies.

The smoking ban was signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty to protect employees and the general public from the health hazards caused by secondhand smoke.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, secondhand smoke is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

Recent smoking ban: a smoker's response

By Sean O’Brien
News Editor

Hello, my name is Sean O’Brien, and I am a cigarette smoker. These days, this kind of statement will get you an assortment of questions ranging from, “Why would you ever do something like that?” to “Do you know what is in those things?” I agree, after all the research that has been conducted over the years, that these questions are warranted. I would never argue with someone, nor would any smoker I know, about the health risks associated with smoking. While I wouldn’t argue its health risks, I will, however, argue against all those who seem to ‘have it in’ for all smokers everywhere.
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The apparent attitude in America is one that ostracizes and guilt trips smokers for the sins of the cigarette companies. It seems that because I smoke, I have obviously been a part of giving every person lung cancer that has ever been diagnosed with it, and I personally went to schools and yelled for every school child to immediately pick up smoking. Enter the smoking ban. Now, as a smoker, I am being punished for all those crimes by not being able to enjoy my perfectly legal product when I’m inside.

Personally, I agree that those who work in the food service industries shouldn’t have to be exposed to that kind of secondhand smoke to earn a living. I agree that the smell of cigarettes is not exactly pleasant, and I agree that there needed to be a step taken.

What I don’t agree with is that I am personally somehow responsible for any of that considering we live in a country that pours pollutants in to the air in amazing amounts, and overall treats its environment like crap. As a smoker, I am sick of people looking at me with various emotions from contempt to disgust; if you have a problem, take it up with the cigarette companies. Instead of doing that, though, cigarettes are banned, smokers are unhappy, and bar owners everywhere are seeing their regular crowds dwindle away slowly.

Survey says: substance use is low

By Amy Kalina
Managing Editor

Editor’s Note: This article is a follow-up to the April 27, 2007, focus on results on alcohol use, which can be viewed at www.smumn.edu/cardinal.

A survey of Saint Mary’s University undergraduates shows substance use rates among students below the national average and cites gender and use of other substances as factors in tobacco and illegal drug use.
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The survey, which took place in the spring of 2006 with results released in 2007, was conducted by Boynton Health Service at the University of Minnesota in conjunction with SMU and ten other post-secondary institutions. The report aimed to study students’ tobacco, alcohol and other drug use behaviors, including rates of use and relationships between the uses of different substances.

Of the 207 SMU students who responded to the survey, 13.7 percent reported the use of tobacco products within the past 30 days, a number below the national average of 31.5 percent. Also below the national average was the percentage of SMU students reporting the use of marijuana within the past month at 7.5 percent, less than half the national average of 18.8 percent.

The survey also showed gender differences in both the use of tobacco and illegal substances. According to the survey results, 21.7 percent of undergraduate males consider themselves regular tobacco users, compared to 9.7 percent of females. In addition, 32.3 percent of males reported marijuana use, compared to 12.5 percent of females, within the past year.

Alcohol and Drug Education Coordinator Michael O’Friel sees these gender differences as consistent with current gender trends in American society.

“What our results show quite clearly is that our males are struggling with these issues much more than our females. As a whole, you look at men and women on our campus, and who is succeeding as a gender group? Females, by far, are excelling,” said O’Friel. “The men are drinking more, using drugs more, getting into trouble more, have lower GPAs. I think it’s a larger issue overall, but certainly an important one to address.”

Angel Weisbrod, director of health services, agrees that the gender differences could be attributed to larger sociological issues. “It may be that it is more socially acceptable for males to use tobacco or drugs than it is for females,” said Weisbrod.

In addition to the gender differences, the survey found relationships between the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Tobacco users were found to be more likely to engage in high risk behaviors than non-tobacco users. Tobacco users reported high risk drinking at a rate of 82.1 percent, more than twice the rate of non-tobacco users at 38.1 percent. Tobacco users also reported marijuana use at a rate of 29.6 percent, compared to 4.1 percent among non-tobacco users. These statistics, said O’Friel, demonstrate the significant correlation between smoking tobacco and use of other substances.

“We have pretty clear data where individuals who smoke tobacco are more likely to smoke marijuana, more likely to drink heavily, and are more likely to experiment with drugs,” said O’Friel, who believes that educating students on the statistics and their implications is important in helping them make better decisions. “If we can target that group [with programming], that would make a much bigger difference as they tend to be more of a high-risk group.”

The survey results have been instrumental in forming and implementing policy changes related to substance use on campus, said O’Friel. New additions to the substance use procedures include the Good Samaritan Policy and the formation of a Tobacco 101 class for tobacco policy violators.

The research also helps in developing educational programming on campus, said Weisbrod. With the help of the Health Advocates, campus-wide initiatives are formed several times each semester to encourage healthy life choices and increase awareness. Love Your Lungs week, which will take place Nov. 8-16, will aim to inform students of the dangers of smoking and encourage them to be tobacco free. Also being planned is the second annual Mocktail Party, which will be held on Dec. 4 and will address the issue of high-risk drinking in a fun and interactive way, said senior Health Advocate Laura Eggert.

“We try to do programs as a way of educating students about different health topics and healthy living choices,” said Eggert. “We are also available as support for those that would like to talk or would like help with any [substance related] issues.”

Weisbrod encourages students who may be struggling with tobacco, drug or alcohol use to seek help from someone that they trust. “They’re dealing with an addiction, and that’s a hard thing to overcome,” said Weisbrod. “We can sit down with them, perhaps help identify the underlying causes of their substance use, and help them form a plan.”

Weisbrod also believes that being educated on the substance use statistics is essential in accurately surveying the habits of other students and removing the “blinders” that cause students to believe that using is the status quo. “Knowledge is power,” said Weisbrod. “We help them discover choices that will be healthier for them not only now but throughout their lives.”

For more information on the current alcohol, drug and tobacco policies at SMU, visit www.smumn.edu/sitepages/
pid3531.php.

Policy urges students to be "Good Samaritans"

By Dr. Michael O’Friel
Alcohol and Drug Education Coordinator

You have heard the scenario before. Maybe you have been personally involved: a wild party, drinking games which your friend won. You have no idea how much alcohol he drank, but he suddenly is not being very responsive. He falls on the floor and appears to be asleep. As you try to rouse him you notice how cold and clammy he feels. He remains unresponsive despite shouting at him, and you become aware that his breathing is irregular.
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The dilemma you face is what to do next. Part of you is scared and wants to call for help, another voice in your head tells you to get him back to his room quickly, so you do not get into trouble for underage drinking. You rationalize the decision by recalling other times your friend has blacked out from alcohol consumption and was okay the next day.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota recognizes the risks associated with heavy alcohol consumption which can be fatal in extreme cases. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota places a high value on the health and safety of its students and wishes to avoid students making decisions based on fear of disciplinary sanctions from the university. A new policy was created to address the issue of seeking medical attention due to excessive consumption of alcohol.

The policy includes these provisions:
If a student receives medical assistance or seeks assistance for a peer as the direct result of excessive alcohol consumption or due to a serious injury resulting from alcohol intoxication, he/she may avoid formal disciplinary sanctions for violating the university alcohol policy if she/he takes the following steps:

1. Within two days of the incident (for those students hospitalized within two days of returning to campus), the student schedules a meeting with the Dean of Students.

2. The student completes in a timely fashion any recommended alcohol education, assessment, or treatment as determined at this meeting.

3. If a student does not follow these conditions, he/she will not qualify under the Good Samaritan Policy and will be subject to formal disciplinary action.

Simply put, if you seek out medical help for yourself or a friend due to heavy alcohol use you can avoid a formal record of the incident in your judicial file, avoid associated fines, and community service. More importantly, you may have saved your friends or your own life.

For more information about the Good Samaritan Policy and to become familiar with the Signs of Alcohol Poisoning visit the link below: http://www.smumn.edu/sitepages/pid3565.php

Students' opinions of alcohol use on campus

By Betsy Baertlein
Features Editor

Last spring’s drug and alcohol survey showed that 60.9 percent of males and 35.9 percent of females at Saint Mary’s University reported high-risk drinking (5 or more drinks at any one time) in the past two weeks.

At first glance, these statistics seem quite disconcerting. Why would such a higher percentage of males engage in high-risk drinking than females?
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However, a similar pattern is seen at other four-year private colleges and universities, with 48.8 percent of males and 34.5 percent of females reporting high-risk drinking in the previous two weeks. According to these statistics, males at SMU report 12.1 percent more high-risk drinking than males at other similar schools.

When asked whether these statistics really reflect what is really happening on campus, student Sara Eisenhauer said, “I don’t think these statistics are even close to what the reality is on campus. I think a lot of people who go out have a lot more than five drinks and probably do it very consistently.”

On the contrary, student Vanessa Grams said, “I think that the results were fairly accurate sounding, except I was a little surprised that so many females had consumed five of more drinks at one time in the past two weeks.”

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women achieve higher concentrations of alcohol in the blood and become more impaired than men after drinking equivalent amounts of alcohol. In addition, student Ryan Soukup points out that “society reflects that it is more appropriate for males to drink more than females.”

But why is the percentage of high-risk male drinkers at SMU so much higher than at similar schools? Sara Eisenhauer points to “the high popularity of the men’s hockey team and men’s rugby team, both of which are known to be involved with heavy drinking.” Eisenhauer believes that students are driven to drink heavily in their attempt to fit in with these groups.

Soukup proposes the size of SMU, saying, “With fewer students and smaller class sizes, younger people have more contacts with older students. Students are more likely to know someone else who can buy alcohol for them.”

Yet another student, Sarah Weir, said, “Bluffs and campus rooms lend themselves well to providing spaces for underage persons to drink.” All of these factors combined may provide some explanation as to why males at SMU engage in so much high-risk drinking.

Some students interviewed said that SMU should not be as concerned about the gender difference in high-risk drinking as in the drinking levels overall. “The real concern should be focused on the fact that high-risk drinking is so prominent here at SMU over social drinking. High-risk drinking puts everyone who is participating at risk,” said student Emily Toenjes.

SMU has taken action to reduce high-risk drinking, especially by modifying the alcohol policy. “SMU follows closely national efforts to strengthen alcohol policies and programs – like every other school. We have everything here that the [others] have in place. At the same time, when I go to conferences, we as professionals in this field admit that we all go home at the end of the day, and pray that the phone doesn’t ring at 2 a.m.,” said Vice President for Student Development Chris Kendall.

Kendall observed that “you can point to good and bad peer influences, good and bad policies and programs regarding high-risk alcohol use, but ultimately college is about young people learning to take responsibility for their own lives through decisions that they make.”

Fall recaps, winter previews

By Eric Lear and Alex Conover
Sports Editor and Cardinal Staff

Volleyball
The Cardinal volleyball team dropped its final game against Gustavus Adolphus College, leaving them with a 17-12 record. The Cardinal’s finished with a sour 3-8 conference record. However, there are many sweet tastes left in the mouths of the Cardinals including freshman middle hitter Alex Nold being named to the All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Volleyball Team. The Cardinals also won the McDaniel Invite in Westminster, Md., without loosing a game. Saint Mary’s University coach Mike Lester will return all players for next season.

Men’s Golf
The SMU men’s golf team tied with Concordia for fifth place in the MIAC tournament at Bunker Hills Golf Course. Senior Jessie Polk finished fifth place overall with rounds of 76-75 and a final round of 72 for his second career All-MIAC selection.
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Women’s Golf
The women’s golf team finished last in the MIAC tournament under first-year coach Jen Trewick. Katie O’Connor led the Cardinals as she finished 24th overall. Trewick struggled with numbers in her first year as she had only three players on her roster at the beginning of the year.

Cross Country
The men’s and women’s cross country teams finished 10th and 11th respectively in the MIAC Championships held on Oct. 27. Sophomore John Vallez was the first Cardinal to cross the finish line for the men in 21st place. As for the women, Emily Dee led the Cardinals finishing 62nd. The NCAA Regional is scheduled for Nov. 11 in Northfield, Minn.

Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team was unable to pull out a conference victory this season and have lost 15 straight in the MIAC dating back to last year. The Cardinals finished 4-13-1 this season. Joey Manley, who started in all 18 games, finished his senior year leading the Cardinals with 6 goals, 2 assists and 14 points.

Women’s Soccer
In Coach Chris Dembiec’s first year with double duty coaching the men’s and women’s soccer teams, the women finished 10-7-1. Freshman Amy Sibik and senior Bridgette Baggio led the way for the Cardinals statistically. Sibik and Baggio combined for 23 goals and 6 assists.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Cardinals were on the verge of a MIAC playoff berth until they dropped five of their final six games last year. This season, coach Mike Trewick is out to complete some unfinished business. “We expect to make the playoffs this year,” said the fourth-year coach. “These guys know what it takes to compete.”

Luckily for Coach Trewick, he has many returners. Although prolific point guard Brensley Haywood has graduated, back are upperclassmen Mike Sweeney, Dan Cormier, Eric Lear and 6’9” Mike Rohr. Freshmen that are likely to contribute are guards Will Wright and Lukas Holland and forward Gary Seifert. “We’ve got a lot of returners who logged a lot of minutes and have proven they can contribute offensively,” said Trewick. The Cardinals open up the season against Division II national power Winona State on Nov. 17.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Despite finishing last in the MIAC last season (5-16, 7-18 overall), Coach Mandy Pearson has high hopes for her women’s basketball squad. “We return a great group of upperclassmen who are going to have a high impact on the success of this team,” said Pearson. That group will be led by seniors Jess Weisbrod and Kelly Tanke, who combined for 22.9 points and 11 rebounds per game last year. There are also some freshmen looking to break out. “They bring a lot of talent, hard work, and competitiveness to the basketball court,” said Pearson of her freshmen. “We are looking to make a mark in the conference this year and to reach the playoffs. We have high expectations, but all of these goals are attainable.”

MEN’S HOCKEY
The SMU men’s hockey team ended their last season much like the men’s basketball team: headed for a MIAC playoff berth until they hit a late-season slump. Veteran coach Don Olson is not interested in repeating history. “We’ve got all the pieces needed to be a very good team in the MIAC,” said Olson. “Now all we have to do is fit them all together.”

Last year’s team finished 7-17-1, but was very young and only graduated four players. “We knew we were dealing with a very talented group last year, but we were so young, we didn’t know how they would handle the rigors of the MIAC,” said Olson. Returning for the Cardinals are senior Adam Gill, who scored 13 goals last year, and sophomore Anthony Bohn, who had a team-high 19 assists. Defensively, goalie Dan Smith is back, as well as defensemen Devin Firl, Kevin Eidsmo and Jeff Miller.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Losing 10 seniors to graduation, the women’s hockey team will be looking for several players to step up. Coach Terry Mannor is coming off a 5th place MIAC finish at 9-7-2, and is going to be counting on his three captains (Val Rodriguez, Hadley Swaggert, and Sara Eisenhauer) to bring leadership to the squad. “As such a young program, we have to grow every day,” said Mannor, in his third year coaching for Saint Mary’s. “We have to learn from our mistakes and represent SMU in a positive manner.” Bringing in 12 freshmen, the team will be looking for several of them to step up on the ice. The Cardinals open up the regular season at UW-Eau Claire on Nov. 10.

SWIMMING AND DIVING
Who says sequels aren’t as good as the original? Certainly not John Fox and Curtis Kempton. The sophomore duo finished last season with a great effort at the MIAC Championships: Fox broke the school record in the 100 breaststoke, and Kempton acquired two all-conference honors in diving. Coach Eric Lindquist is hoping the pair can continue their success this year, along with a group of five seniors (Brian Joyce, Matt Peyton, Danielle Braun, Kasey Schultz and Sarah Hayden) looking to round out their careers.  “Our seniors have done a great job, both in the pool and out, and I honestly look for all of them to have the best years of their collegiate careers,” said Lindquist. “Add to that the fact that we have some very talented newcomers — athletes who are going to push our returners every day in practice and in every meet — and I think the future is pretty bright.”

An unusual fall classic

Ups and downs make Series memorable
By Eric Lear
Sports Editor

This year’s World Series was definitely one for the ages, but along with the greatness that is the fall classic, there were many not-so-great aspects to the 2007 Series.
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Good: I’ll start with the Colorado Rockies, who won an amazing 21 of 22 games before getting swept in the World Series. The Rockies almost missed out on making the playoffs, twice actually. They should still be thanking the Milwaukee Brewers and the umpires from the one-game playoff.

Bad: Could the four-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox over the Rockies have been any more dull? The Red Sox set the tone in the series by winning Game 1 by 12 runs, and they never looked back.

Good: Jon Lester got the win in Game 4 of the World Series. Lester, 23, was diagnosed with cancer during his rookie year. He was suffering from strange pains in his back, which he later found out was Lymphoma. Lester pitched sparingly throughout the 2007 season, going 4-0 in 12 games.

Bad: Those awful Dane Cook commercials are still haunting my dreams. I think we all know by now that “there is only one October.” I think someone needs to tell TBS and FOX that there is no need to advertise for playoff baseball games during playoff baseball games. Perhaps they should target the audience that is not already watching the game.

Good: The prayers of Red Sox fans were answered in 2004 after an 86-year drought, and 2007 is icing on the cake. Now they have two World Series titles in four years.

Bad: All we still hear about is the Yankees. It started during the American League Division Series with talk of Yankees Manager Joe Torre not being welcomed back if the Yankees lost, and it happened. We had to wait from the ALDS until after the World Series to figure out who was going to manage the Yankees.

Worse: What horrible timing by Alex Rodriguez to make his decision to opt-out of his contract. A-Rod and agent Scott Boras could not have made a more selfish move than to opt-out during Game 4 of the World Series. Boras said it was a mistake on his part to release the information at that time, but I’m not buying that.

Good: The World Series MVP award could not have gone to a better player than Mike Lowell. When you mostly hear about the athletes with the big egos, or the athletes that have broken the law, it is great to see this award go to such a great person as well as a great player.

Bad: We had to continue to see Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon dance his celebratory jig on the mound, during the parade, on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” However, it is great to see a lights-out closer with a passion for the game and a personality like no other.

Good: Baseball is alive and kicking. During the strike in 1994, and the recent problems of the “steroid era,” it looked as if baseball would fade away. I don’t think so. Baseball is here and better than ever. Just ask Red Sox Nation.

Dance Season Sneak Peak

By Tamika Robinson
Cardinal Staff

OK, Saint Mary’s! It’s time to conjure up some school spirit and race to the stands. Just as fall sports, like soccer, are coming to an end, winter sports, like basketball, will soon begin. Speaking of basketball, this year’s half-time performances are sure to be crowd pleasers with the Saint Mary’s Dance Team.
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The team is separated into Competition and Performance and is equipped with talented and motivated captains and members. Serving as co-captains of the competition team are Krista Duffey and Sarah Mills. Serving as co-captains of the performance team are Mary Ann Botica and Katie Nowak. The competition team mostly competes against other schools in dance, while the performance team can be seen at the men’s and women’s basketball games. Collectively, the team operates not only to show school spirit, but also to gain the interest of their audience.

The expectations of the team are anything but shy this year. “We did really well last year, and we are hoping to do just as well this year,” said Duffey. Their expectations include strengthening their structure and more conditioning. Through their efforts the team hopes to not only get better, but also to gain recognition from their audience. “We want to have people that don’t necessarily know how to dance want to be a part of our team,” said Botica.

For audience members looking for lackluster performances, you can look elsewhere. The dance team is sure they will make the crowd go wild. The audience can expect a difference from both parts of the team this year. As for the competition team, “We are going for a more fun, traditional style that we haven’t seen from Saint Mary’s Dance Team in a long while,” said Duffey. “We want the wow factor still. We want to be able to do a traditional dance that wows the audience.” The performance team is sure the audience will see “more dances and more motivation so that [they] don’t get bored,” said Botica.

“We really like feedback from the audience. We feed off of their energy,” said Nowak. So remember when they are out on the court dancing or competing, they are there for you. Look for the team at the women’s first basketball game on Nov. 28.

Artwork, fossils on display

By Ellen Jordan
Cardinal Staff

When stepping into the Lillian Davis Hogan Art Gallery this month, Saint Mary’s University students will witness a display unlike others in the past.

The display, “Branches: A Contemporary Convivencia,” opened Oct. 14 and will run through Nov. 14.
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Michael Sager and Francisca de Buerges Rosenthal are the creators of the diverse show, both artists showing their unique traits within the exhibit. The fact that the works are displayed on wood as opposed to the traditional canvas makes the display more appealing. Lining the white walls are various faces, with names like Hend, Jumana, Shana, Francisco and Pier. In addition to the faces, there are multiple pictures of apples, all with a consistent and common color scheme. Sagar is also responsible for a physical display found on the gallery floor, titled “We are all one.” Within this display are fossils, aged 65 million years, Bahrin sand from the Persian Gulf, and salt from the Himalayas, Europe and the United States.

Distinctive to the exhibit is an audio recording by de Buerges Rosenthal, also titled “We are One.” In this audio recording, the aspects of religion are discussed, along with the speaker’s personal experiences with the subject. The audio recording added an exclusive touch to the display.

“I have gone to many of the exhibits that are shown in the gallery, but I am amazed at how different this one is compared to others,” said senior Ashley Perich. “The dialogue really added to the display.”

Perich is not the only student satisfied with the exhibit. Junior Nadia Effendi said, “I loved the concept of painting on distressed and rotten wood. It was beautiful and it added feeling to the art.”

Blue Angel Awards

Compiled by Cardinal staff

Best Dressed: Jeff David and Spencer Macklin

Cutest Roommate Act: ABC’s with “You Don’t Own Me”

Best Band Name: Clap-Clap Clap Clap Clap-Clap Clap Clap
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Best Use of Buckets: Pails of Glory with “Richtorian Battle March”

Best Frontman: Mike Miller with “Fake Plastic Trees”

Best Leading Lady: Sarah Weir with “I’d Like To”

Most Appearances: Neil Olstad (7)

Best Use of Props: I’d Be Rich with “If I Had a Million Dollars”

Best Crowd-Pleaser: Mo Money with “Shook Me All Night Long”

Most Original: “991” by Kevin Collins and “Vocans” by Ben Ross

Liveliest Acts: “Call Me When You’re Sober” by Drunk Dial and “Shout” by Oldie Moldie All-Stars

Blue Angel Rocks the weekend

By Emilie Fisch
Cardinal Staff

The 41st annual Blue Angel music variety show was held at Saint Mary’s University on Nov. 2 and 3, featuring 21 musical acts showcasing SMU students, faculty and staff.
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The event was sponsored by campus music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha, who has sponsored the show for the past 39 years.

This year’s show was emceed by seniors Ana Sontag and Andrew Winecke and consisted of acts from a variety of genres, ranging from rock and folk to musical theatre, ska and hip-hop. The show opened with the upbeat styling of AC/DC’s “Shook Me All Night Long” and closed with Oldie Moldie All-Stars performing various oldies songs. Oldie Moldie All-Stars have been closing Blue Angel for a number of years with a high energy performance that encourages the crowd to participate. Among the 21 acts were a fair number of new performers, as well as favorites who have been performing in Blue Angel and Gaslight shows for the past four years.

The PR and Business Club sponsored the “Best Seat in the House” raffle at each show, in which winners were seated at a couch in front of the stage and could enjoy free pizza and pop. The sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota were involved in Blue Angel, selling refreshments for the guests in addition to many sisters lending their own musical stylings to the show.

This event brought in crowds of students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as prospective students.

Blue Angel performances took place Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. along with two shows on Saturday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

'Yerma' opens tomorrow in Page

By Abby Zimmer
Copy Editor

The tale of a young woman’s inability to bear a child despite her deep yearning for one will be told by Saint Mary’s University Department of Theatre Arts in “Yerma,” opening tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in the Page Theatre.
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The tragedy, written by Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, reflects on the role of women in Spain in the 1930s. Yerma, played by sophomore Ali Fisch, explores all options in attaining a child, feeling that she is less of a woman without one. These options include praying to saints in the graveyard at night and attending a fertility ritual.

Director Judy Myers, chair of the theatre arts department, incorporates the spanish language into her adaptation of Lorca's poetic text, which also contains symbolism.

Myers asked John Reed, Ph.D., chair of the modern/classical languages department, to consult the actors on their Spanish lines. Myers also collaborated with Reed when she directed Lorca’s “House of Bernarda Alba” five years ago. This play, along with “Yerma,” is part of a trilogy, which Myers hopes to complete soon by directing “Blood Wedding.”

Fisch plays opposite sophomore Bill Ronchak, cast as her husband, Juan; sophomore Phillip Thomas is cast as her would-be lover, Victor; and sophomore Caitlin Murphy is cast as her best friend, Maria.

Myers praises the “beautiful” design work done by Technical Director Kit Mayer, costumes by Professor Brother Tom Houde, and lighting by alumnus Jason Underferth.

Performances will also be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, and Monday, Nov. 12, with a matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11.

Tickets can be purchased for $8, $6 for students and seniors, at the Performing Center Box Office, ext. 1715, or online at http://www.pagetheatre.org.

'30 Days of Night' scares

By Maria Sullivan
Cardinal Staff

On Oct. 19 “30 Days of Night” was released in theaters, starring Josh Hartnett and Melissa George.
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The movie takes place in a small Alaskan town that is forced into darkness for one month. As the town’s people decide whether to stay for the month or to leave, strange crimes begin to occur. For example, sled dogs are killed and phones are destroyed. These strange crimes are linked to a large group of vampires whose main goal is to destroy the town and kill everybody in it.

This movie is a fight for survival for sheriffs Eben (Hartnett) and Stella (George). Together they help a large number of people from the town survive the bloodthirsty vampires.

This movie is extremely gory and suspenseful. Junior Scott McGrath said, “It was pretty exciting and it did have scary parts, although it did have a slow start. Anybody who enjoys horror films involving vampires should like it.”

“30 Days of Night” is rated R and is currently still in theatres.

Radiohead tests free album downloading

By Neil Leibundguth
Cardinal Staff

With the recent release of “In Rainbows,” Radiohead may have shaken the record industry to its core.
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Since Oct. 10, 2007, Radiohead has had their newest album available for download on their website. The catch is that they are leaving the price of the album up to each person who downloads it. The consumer has the option to pay any price they want, even a price of zero.

Radiohead and its management has yet to release any information regarding the number of downloads or total sales and will probably not until early next year.

This has not stopped speculations of how well the album sold. The British website www.gigwise.com reported that the band sold 1.2 million copies in the first few days. These numbers come mostly from the pre-orders of the album that took place between the time when the band announced the release, and it was finally available for download.

Early estimates from The Seminal and www.wired.com put the average price per download between 5 and 8 dollars. This would mean that Radiohead could have made anywhere from 6 to 10 million dollars in the first few days after the release of the album. These estimates are based on unnamed “London music insiders,” so the actual numbers may vary when released.

It was reported at www.forbes.com that “In Rainbows” was downloaded illegally 240,000 times using BitTorrent sources on the first day of its release and has now been downloaded illegally over 500,000 times. Some fans chose to use this method even though the band essentially offers the album for free on its own website.

Even though the actual effect on the record industry will not be known until Radiohead releases the sales numbers, many have started to speculate about a possible music revolution.

By distributing the music themselves, the band cuts the record company out of the picture and retains all of the profits instead of just the small percentage they would have normally.

Their experiment also opens up the possibility of bands giving their music away for free since most artists make more money on touring and merchandise than they do from record sales.

One question that remains is whether or not artists who are lesser-known than Radiohead would have as much success using this system. Radiohead also recently signed a deal with XL Records for a physical release of “In Rainbows” to make it available to a larger audience.

Healthy Holiday Eating

Tips to keep off extra pounds
By Becky Newby
Arts and Entertainment Editor

The holidays are a time of celebration, but they don’t have to be a time for weight gain.

According to Elizabeth Thompson, director for Healthroads, Inc., an average American gains two pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Even though it may not sound like much, the pounds can really add up over the years.

Since the typical Thanksgiving dinner has over 2,000 calories, the holidays can be anything but a celebration if you’re watching your waistline. By following these simple eating tips, you can look great in time for New Year’s without having to deprive yourself at the dinner table.
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1) Drink water. Alcohol, soda and coffee can dehydrate your body. Water is calorie-free and will keep you feeling full so you’ll eat less. Try drinking an eight ounce glass of water before, after and during dinner. For flavor, add a lemon or lime wedge.

2) Don’t go to the dinner table hungry. We usually eat more than usual when we are hungry. To avoid overeating, start your day with a healthy breakfast like a piece of fruit or an omelet. Throughout the day, snack on healthy foods, like fruit with yogurt dip, shrimp with cocktail sauce, or pita wedges with hummus.

3) Don’t associate Thanksgiving with an all-you-can-eat buffet. During the
holiday season, it is traditional to load up your plate with food. Instead of stacking your plate high with unhealthy items, fill half with vegetables, such as green beans or salad, a quarter with protein-rich turkey, and a quarter with starches.

4) Turkey – think skinless. Turkey is not only lean, but it is a good source of iron, zinc, potassium and vitamin B. To eliminate extra fat and cholesterol, choose a four-ounce portion of skinless, white breast meat.

5) Watch portion sizes. Instead of eating large amounts of one type of food, sample a small bite of everything. If the portion is larger than a deck of cards, it’s too big. Remember, moderation is the key not only with high-calorie foods, but with healthy foods as well.

6) Limit high-fat items. Traditional Thanksgiving foods such as creamy, fried or cheese-filled dishes and casseroles are high in fat. Substitute the cheese-laden squash and green bean casseroles with fresh, steamed squash and beans. If you cannot control the ingredients that go into a dish, simply limit the amount you eat.

7) Minimize alcoholic beverages. Instead of drinking plain wine with dinner, try a lower calorie wine spritzer. By mixing six ounces of wine with four ounces of sparkling water, club soda or lemon juice and ice, you will automatically reduce around 60 calories per glass.

8) Don’t forget to exercise. After dinner, don’t immediately head to the nearest couch and watch football until you fall asleep; head outside and start your own game of football with family and friends. If you’re not athletic, remember that doing housework can be exercise, too.

SMU Staff of the Month: Kami Ward

By Brenna Sheehan
Guest Writer

“Take advantage of your time here at Saint Mary’s University. There is a lot you can try and a lot you can be involved in,” said Kami Ward, a 2005 Saint Mary’s University alumna.

Ward graduated with a degree in public relations and is currently the Director of Intramurals at SMU. Combining her love for sports and the fun of working with students made this job the perfect transition from college into the working world. Along with Intramurals, Ward has started working in the Communication and Marketing Office, filling in for office manager Stacy Popp while she is on maternity leave for three months.
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Planning the intramural sporting events is Ward’s main responsibility. She is also in charge of promotions and rosters. “My job is to make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be and that everything runs smoothly,” said Ward.

Ward also assigns the student workers at each event and schedules the gym times. Ward relies strongly on a great group of student workers who serve as the referees for intramural events and are trusted with these responsibilities when she is not available.

The intramural department sponsors activities like the Cardinal Cup, which consist of hall vs. hall competitions in one-day events. These events include tug-of-war, root beer pong and flippy cup, a bean bag tournament, a spelling bee, an Uno tournament and other card games. Ward also advises many club sports here on campus, such as cheerleading, dance, lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee, fencing, rugby and water polo.

Besides working in Intramurals and the Communication and Marketing Office, Ward participates in S.O.U.L. February break trips, advises TEC retreats, and serves as an advisor for the Student Activities Committee.

Ward encourages all students to get involved in intramurals and other activities at SMU because it is a great way to meet new people and have a good time with your friends.

Chula Vista offers poor atmosphere, worse food

By Becky Newby
Arts and Entertainment Editor

When the weather turns chilly, there’s nothing like a spicy Mexican entrée to warm you up. For tasty options, the cheap prices at Taco Bell come to mind for most; however, Winona does offer an alternative to the fast food option – Chula Vista.
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Chula Vista is located on 1415 Service Drive near Wellington’s Pub and Grill. The restaurant’s candy-colored exterior can be seen from the highway – even inside, the obvious Mexican theme is overdone. Hardwood floors and distant music give the restaurant an empty feeling.

The young hostess led my date and I to our booth. Moments later, our server arrived with tortilla chips and salsa. The tortilla chips were presented in a basket with an empty salsa dish resting on top. The server poured her jar of salsa into the dish. Immediately after, the tomatoes began floating to the top and the few springs of cilantro started to miraculously disappear. Even the store-bought tortilla chips were stale and bland.

Although the menu is filled with traditional dishes such as tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and burritos, there are few vegetarian options. After scanning the menu numerous times, my date and I decided on the chicken enchilada and the cheese quesadilla.

The chicken enchilada is a corn tortilla filled with chicken, cheese and vegetables, all covered in sauce. Unlike most Mexican restaurants, Chula Vista does not serve beans or rice with most entrées; four small enchiladas were presented to my date on a large white plate. Not only did the plate look empty, the enchiladas looked unappetizing.

The cheese quesadilla was presented with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole. The quesadilla tasted as though it was shoved in the microwave for 45 seconds – the tortilla shell was dried-out and the cheese wasn’t even melted completely. The lettuce had a brown tint, and the guacamole was tasteless.

At the end of dinner, neither my date or I had any left-overs and we still felt hungry. Together we spent approximately $25, not including drinks. Immediately after dinner, we jumped in the car and drove across the street to Taco Bell. By spending only five dollars, my date and I felt satisfied and full.

If you’re looking for Mexican food in Winona, I suggest dining at Tequila’s instead.

Chula Vista Mexican Restaurant
1415 Service Drive, Winona
507-452-8202