Friday, December 9, 2011

Archdiocese of Winona heading to March for Life

By Matt Wagner
Cardinal Staff

The Archdiocese of Winona will be taking nearly 50 students from Winona schools on a trip to Washington D.C. for the 2012 March for Life on Jan. 19.

This will be the first time that the Archdiocese of Winona has participated in the March for Life, though some current SMU students have attended in past years. Freshman Keara Hannan attended the trip in January 2011.

“I was completely amazed and inspired by all the pro-life heroes I met and everyone around me,” Hannan said. “500,000 people had stopped their lives to take long car, bus and plane trips to D.C., to sleep in cramped high schools or wherever they could, all because they wanted to fight for life.

“It definitely renewed my hope that we will be the generation that finally ends abortion.

The pro-life trip lasts five days, beginning with an 8 p.m. Mass in Winona on Thursday, Jan. 19. From there, participants will travel nearly 18 hours to Washington D.C. where they will participate in activities such as Mass at the Basilica, a tour of the Holocaust Museum, a youth rally and the March for Life event, which is held in downtown Washington D.C.

“I went on the March for Life last year and had a ball,” freshman Janie Maki said. “It was a fantastic experience, and I cannot wait to go again this year. It is a great excuse to get out of school, and it is for a fantastic cause, too. I am looking forward to all that this year’s trip has to offer.”

This will be the 39th annual March for Life, and it’s expected to have a great outcome. The 2011 March was attended by nearly 400,000 people, and this year it is expecting even more.

The March for Life trip takes place Jan. 19-24. More information can be found on the Diocese of Winona’s website: http://www.dow.org/.

Open Mic Night provides unique, relaxing experience

By Marc Hartmann
Guest Writer

For one night a month, the usually-quiet Toner Student Lounge is transformed into a packed room overflowing with talent and energy.

As Open Mic Night enters its fourth year at Saint Mary’s University, the event is seeing more success than ever and seems to be growing in popularity.

OMN is a monthly event held in the Toner Student Lounge in which any member of the SMU community, including students, faculty and staff, can perform any act they wish. The event provides a laid-back atmosphere in which attendees can enjoy hot beverages and snacks while watching members of the community perform. Though the event has a start time of 9 p.m., performers are usually still taking the stage at 11:30 p.m. and need to be stopped due to time constraints.

Ben Scott and Niki Ciulla, co-presidents of OMN, have both performed and helped out with the club from the very beginning.

“I can remember a time a few years ago when we would put on an event and be happy to have a couple dozen or so people there,” said Ciulla. “Now, averaging over 150 people per event, I can’t even imagine that.”

Unlike most performance venues, OMN provides an opportunity to simply show up and give a performance. Scott and Ciulla both emphasized that OMN is not necessarily about the performing but, instead, about the sharing.

“People now realize that there is little uncomfortability at the event with no pressure to perform,” Ciulla said. “But people who do come to sing, read, juggle, or do whatever feel supported.”

Scott pointed to the “informal and spontaneous interactions” between the performers and audience members and the “relaxed and fun environment” of the event, which makes the performers feel at ease.

Scott and Ciulla said that, ultimately, the diversity it encompasses makes the event special and unique rather than its success in numbers.

“OMN strives to bring the entire SMU community together for an all-inclusive celebration of expression,” said Scott.

Ciulla said that the goal for the OMN group is to be “appealing to all and not intimidating to anyone.”

The next OMN is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 9 p.m. in the Toner Student Lounge. Those interested in performing can simply come and sign up. All supporters of OMN are encouraged to join the OMN Facebook page to keep up with all the latest news and view recent OMN performances.

New emergency notification system test a success

By Julianne Bartosz
Copy Editor

Saint Mary’s University’s new emergency notification system through Blackboard Connect was successfully tested on Nov. 17, according to Vice President for Student Development Chris Kendall.

The new emergency notification system uses Blackboard Connect to send out an emergency alert via email, phone call and text message. This technology supplements SMU’s emergency notification speakers in campus buildings and residence halls and cameras in key locations around campus, according to Kendall.

“The system works well, but we have also learned its flaws,” said Kendall. He said that 93 percent of the 2,680 total messages were delivered successfully during the test. Kendall said the test found that not everyone received messages, while some people received multiple messages.

Kendall said students, faculty and staff will be able to edit their contact information for the system through WebTools. He said he will send out an email when the primary contact form is ready to be edited on WebTools.

Senior Bob Rousseau, Student Senate president, said that the new system is a step in the right direction.

“I have always felt safe on campus, but it is essential to be ready if something does happen,” said Rousseau, adding that it is important to be able to reach people right where they are.

SMU’s Director of Campus Safety Phil Gaddis said the new system is “the link to the culture society is taking us to.” He said that the system will be used strictly for emergencies with the exception of a test each semester. “It will be used sparingly, but enough to keep us familiar with it and to make sure it works,” said Gaddis.

“We do not want people to dismiss it,” said Kendall. “I hope we never have to use it, but I do not want to have a situation where I wish we had the technology.”

Questions or concerns can be addressed to Chris Kendall via email at ckendall@smumn.edu or his office phone at 507-457-1781.

Professors offer study tips

Samantha Kleese
Cardinal Staff

Finals week is fast approaching for the students of Saint Mary’s University, but two SMU professors have offered study tips to help students prepare.

Jeffrey Hefel, professor of business at SMU, suggests that studying in groups is best for complex studying, since it allows students to get other opinions. However, he said that less work might get done this way, as students might talk and become distracted.

Dr. Daniel Bucknam, professor of psychology at SMU agreed: “Working alone, students are able to understand the material better, but in a group, students have the ability to discus concepts and enhance the depth of the subject.”

Hefel said it is better to study for short periods of time, because this makes it easier to remember the material. For example, he said that it is better to study for an hour each night than to study for 10 hours the night before the exam. He also advised taking 10-minute breaks every hour.

Bucknam also said to start studying early and review often rather than cramming the night before an exam. He advised studying one topic for 30-40 minutes and then switching to the next. This method, he said, makes the material more distinctive and less confusing.

Hefel said students should have all of the class materials available, such as handouts, notes and worksheets, and should focus more on the material that they find more challenging.

Hefel also recommended that students create hypothetical exam questions and practice answering them instead of simply reading the material.

Similarly, Bucknam said students should develop examples of questions and practice writing as well as using charts and tables.

Bucknam said the library is, for most students, the best place to study. There are minimal distractions, which gives students maximum focus.

International student schooled in magical trade

Meg Beerling
Feature Editor

With an English degree from Geely University in China and two on the way from Saint Mary’s University in public relations and electronic publishing, senior Yuepeng (Lee) Li has a different trick up his sleeve.

During his time in China, Li was a professional magician. “I started when I was 19,” he said. A friend of his was a professional and asked him if he wanted to see a few tricks, he said. He took interest and started to learn the trade for himself.

Li said there are two types of magic: close-up, and stage. Close-up magic includes slight-of-hand tricks. These are tricks with cards, coins and other everyday objects in an intimate setting. Stage magic, on the other hand, uses big props and involves tricks like sawing a person in half. Li specializes in close-up magic.

At the time he started to learn the trade, Li was studying English in China. He said that college is a lot different there in that “there is a lot of free time.” This gave him more time to practice and learn the secrets of magic, he said.

“Practice doesn’t make your magic perfect, it makes it permanent,” said Li. “What I mean by that is the more you practice a trick, the more confident you will become in it; the more confident you are, the more deceptive you are,” he said.

“One week without magic makes your magic weak,” said Li. “Magic is something you have to practice daily, and you have to do it in front of a mirror. Presentation is just as important as the magic itself.”

Audience management is hard, but he said it’s something magicians need to learn. They must know their audiences and adapt their shows to them.

“Magic is an art to entertain people,” said Li.

People’s facial expressions tell a lot about what kind of audience members they’ll be, Li said.

“People like it when [magicians] mess up,” but that’s something that Li is okay with. “I like the idea,” he said, adding that magicians can entertain their audiences by messing up or pretending to mess up.

Participation is a big part of Li’s performance. He said he wants the audience to be a part of it. He also doesn’t believe in leaving his audience curious. While it is a very controversial issue in the world of magic, Li doesn’t think that all tricks have to be kept secrets — just the big ones. He said that telling people a few tricks is good for magic; it’s what makes people want to do and see more of it.

“By letting people in on some of your magic, you give yourself some of the best promotion, and that’s word of mouth,” said Li.

But just because other people know your tricks doesn’t mean they know your magic, said Li. People can know a trick and still be entertained by it if the magician adds his or her own twist or creativity. With every person who knows the trick, there will be more people to adjust it and make it new, he said.

Li said that he enjoys doing magic in the United States more than in China since he thinks that people are more friendly and willing to stop and watch.

‘Double-decker’ bike designed by SMU junior

By Jenna Capelle
Cardinal Staff

One Saint Mary’s University student sees campus from a higher perspective than most, as he sits atop his own double-decker bike.

Over the summer, junior Jamie Cooper created the double-decker bike with a friend in his hometown of La Crosse, Wisc.

Rock climbing one afternoon, Cooper and his friend got the idea for building a double-decker bike. Neither of them had ever taken on a project like this before, but they didn’t fear the challenge.

“We were bored and thought [making the bike] would be something new to try. So we did,” said Cooper.

Out in the garage with welding masks and thick gloves, the guys stripped the steel-frame bikes completely, then welded them together with a wire-feeding welder. The welder melted the steel, connecting the two bikes.

A chain is stretched between the top and bottom bike frames. As Cooper pedals on the top frame’s pedals, the chain propels the bottom frame’s wheels, moving it forward.

“The hardest part was getting the chain to work,” said Cooper.

So far, Cooper and his friend have made two bikes, and Cooper plans to make more. The two bikes used for Cooper’s double-decker were donated by a local bike shop and the other double-decker was made from old bikes from his friend’s house.

Cooper wants to make a double-decker with Outdoor Leadership Coordinator Gary Borash and submit it to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance Auction next semester.

Besides wheeling around campus this fall, Cooper rode his double-decker bike to work and friends’ houses during the summer months. At SMU, he’s made a name for himself as “the guy with the big bike” and gotten a handful of questions about how to ride it as well as how he made it.

“To get on the bike I just kick start like a skate board and then climb up,” said Cooper.

Cooper is a graphic design major with an emphasis in photography. With encouragement from his advisor, he decided to enter his bike in the SMU all-student art show and received honorable mention. The exhibit can be seen in the Lillian Davis Hogan Art Galleries.

Lincoln documents discovered by SMU senior

By Meg Beerling
Feature Editor

Senior David Spriegel took one last look at the documents he filed under “miscellaneous” during his internship at the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Ill. and now, he’s glad he did.

Over the summer, Spriegel discovered two original documents written in 1844 by Abraham Lincoln during his legal career.

Spriegel said at first glance he hadn’t noticed Lincoln had been the lawyer to write these documents, and he filed them in a miscellaneous folder with similar documents. Most of them were land transfers, said Spriegel. For whatever reason, he went back to double-check that file, he said. He then read, “The above memorandum is in the handwriting of Abraham Lincoln. – M. Hay.”

“I thought, ‘No way is this true,’” said Spriegel. However, it was part of his job to pass it up to get the handwriting verified, he said. Sure enough, the handwriting was Lincoln’s.

Spriegel said the documents are now with 1,580 other manuscripts at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. He said he’s happy to have the documents safe and where they belong.

Spriegel said he was surprised at the amount of publicity he got after finding the documents. Stories about Spriegel’s discovery were run by the Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune and the Huffington Post, to name a few.

David is due to graduate from Saint Mary’s University in May 2012 with a degree in history.

Bauer fosters unique taste in musical instruments

By Brian Thomas
Cardinal Staff

Senior Andy Bauer learned how to play the bass guitar at age 12, but his passion for musical instruments didn’t stop there.

His knowledge of the bass guitar led to a “solid foundation in music,” Bauer said. This has allowed him to play more complex and exotic instruments such as the electric guitar, mandolin, bodhran and djembe, just to name a few.

“I own a didgeridoo, an aboriginal instrument mostly [used in] Australia, [and] a charango, an instrument I got from Argentina,” Bauer said. In an attempt to fine-tune his skills, he brought several of the instruments to school with him to practice regularly.

“The charango is an instrument unlike anything else I have played,” said Bauer. “The tunings are challenging to work with.

“The mandolin is always challenging. It requires a lot of nimbleness in the fingers which is very different from bass [guitar],” he said.

Bauer said that his favorite instrument will always be the bass guitar, since it’s what he started with. He is usually a crowd favorite, playing bass guitar in several acts in SMU’s Blue Angel and Gaslight music shows.

Bauer has considered taking on a new instrument as well: “I have always been fascinated by the tabla,” he said. A tabla is a pitched drum, which is something different, and the rhythms are truly different. I think that the challenge would be fun.”

Choirs to present “Lessons and Carols”

By Trisha Stachowski
Arts and Entertainment Editor

The Saint Mary’s University Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Chamber Orchestra will be performing their annual Christmas concert, “Lessons and Carols,” directed by Dr. Patrick O’Shea on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels.

As in previous years, the concert will infuse the traditional story with “a celebration of and meditation on the Christmas story that features readings and various styles of music performed by members of the Saint Mary’s community,” said senior and Chamber Singer Nick Anderson.

The concert will involve the SMU choirs, as well as various other SMU students, staff and even audience members, said Anderson. “The music and readings alternate back and forth throughout the service. So it’s quite literally lessons and carols” said Anderson.

The Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Chamber Orchestra have been busy preparing for the concert since the beginning of the semester. “We spend a good chunk of the semester learning the pieces first, before polishing all of the remaining rough edges before we present the music to an audience,” said Anderson.

The concert will feature a wide variety of music, including choral and orchestral music covering many musical periods and styles. There will also be a few a capella pieces along with more traditional Christmas songs.

“When a song really goes well, it’s a reward for both the audience and the performers,” said Anderson. “Those who enjoy the Christmas story and beautiful music will love this concert.”

The Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels is located at the corner of Wabasha and Vila streets in Winona. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for both students and seniors. They can be purchased through the Page Theatre by phone, in person or at www.pagetheatre.org.

The Good Lovelies bring holiday tunes to campus

By Raquel Romo
Cardinal Staff

The Good Lovelies, an award-winning trio from Toronto, rang in the holidays at Saint Mary’s University with their performance in the Page Theatre on Dec. 1.

During the show, the upbeat trio played their own renditions of holiday classics like “Santa Baby” and “Silent Night.”

“As presenters, the Good Lovelies delivered on the promise of beautiful harmonies, great fun and a twist to the holiday tunes we all know,” said Page Theatre General Manager Patrick Grace. “Personally, I had a great time. It is refreshing to have a group of singer/songwriters that are able to create new work that resonates.”

Grace said that there was a great turnout for the Good Lovelies performance. “We had a very diverse crowd present, young and old; many told me they loved the concert and the whole evening,” said Grace.

Along with the show, audience members had the opportunity to dress up in their most creative vintage attire to replicate the style of dress that the trio wears during their performances.

The Canadian natives started in 2006 and played their first show at Toronto’s Gladstone Hotel that same year. Since then, they have not only performed in the U.S., but also the U.K. and Australia. Their self-titled full-length album won the New Emerging Artist Award at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Jazz Combo, Ensemble to perform holiday concert

By Trisha Stachowski
Arts and Entertainment Editor

The Jazz and World Drum Ensemble will be bringing a little holiday spirit to Saint Mary’s University with their holiday concert on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Page Theatre.

The concert, which has been an annual event for over 30 years, will feature swing, funk and latin music, said Dr. John Paulson, director of both the Jazz Combo and Jazz Ensemble. The concert will also feature “some jazzy Christmas arrangements featuring vocalist Jessica Ingvalson, and both Jazz Combo I and the Jazz Ensemble will combine with the World Drum Ensemble on several pieces,” said Paulson.

“We have some great songs that include some amazing solos,” said Jill Congdon, a senior member of the Jazz Ensemble trumpet section.

The Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo have been hard at work practicing since they concluded their concert over family weekend, the first weekend in October. “We have worked hard to get ready for this concert,” said Congdon.

The concert will feature more than 10 songs from the Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo I and the World Drum Ensemble.

“We elected to play some really challenging music for this concert,” Paulson said. Paulson will make an appearance as a performer in the concert as and Ensemble member but not as a soloist in the Jazz Combo. “This concert is going to be amazing; we’ve got a great group of musicians and a great director,” said Congdon.

Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and $5 for both students and seniors. They can be purchased through the Page Theatre by phone, in person or at www.pagetheatre.org.

Art department holds all-student, senior exhibits

By Andrea Allis
Editor in Chief

The Saint Mary’s University art and design department opened its student art show “Ideas that Spark” at the Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries on Nov. 19.

About half of the gallery is devoted to the all-student portion of the show, which accepted entries from students of all years and majors. Prizes were awarded for first, second and third places, as well as three honorable mentions. The first place prize of $100 went to Jeff Truax, the second place prize of $75 went to Chelsea Pumper and the third place prize of $50 went to Chris Speltz. Jamie Cooper, Lisa Nihart and Jim Tandberg were awarded honorable mentions.

The other half of the gallery showcases the work of four senior art majors: Charlie Williams, Brianna Nelson, Danielle Cossetta and Sarah Kraft.

“This is the first time we have included a senior exhibit in the main gallery in November,” said Preston Lawing, art and design department chair, “but we have four December graduating seniors, and they are required to have an exhibition.”

Lawing said the student art shows “are vital to SMU to spotlight the artistic talent of all majors, not just the art and design majors.” He said this year’s exhibit showcases the talents of students majoring in biology, psychology, theatre, English, philosophy, mass communications, art, history and business, among others.

Said Lawing, “The student art show [celebrates] the creative spirit that all of our students have.”

The exhibit will be on display until Dec. 15.

Women’s hockey gets down to business

By Morgan Stock
Cardinal Staff

The Saint Mary’s University women’s hockey team entered into the full swing of conference play when they faced off against Hamline University on Nov. 11, opening conference play with a 1-0 win at home against the Pipers.

On the road the next day for game two in St. Paul, the Cardinals couldn’t pull off another win, and the Pipers evened up the match with 1-1 tie.

After losing only 4 seniors from last year’s team, the Cardinals have many returning players, and the incoming freshmen have talent to add to the team.

“Our team is doing pretty well so far; we have a lot of potential and so much talent,” said junior captain Erin Stenseth. “We just have to score more goals and be able to close out games with our defense.”

As of now the Cardinals are 2-5-3 overall and 1-3-2 in the MIAC. The leading scorer for the Cardinals is senior captain Nicole Olson with 3 goals and 3 assists. Right behind her is freshman Breanna Peterson.

“This year, our top team goal is to make playoffs because of how much talent we have on this team,” said senior defenseman Dana Kreuser.

“Other goals that we have are being more aggressive with shooting the puck, having successful power-plays that we score on and working as a team with the system that Coach Terry Mannor has set for us,” Kreuser said.

Senior manager Madeline Lenz said, “The girls need to play every single shift and every minute of every period. By making mistakes in a game, they are learning from them, which is helping them become better players.”

The Cardinals will play three non-conference games over Christmas break. They are back in action for conference play on Saturday, Jan. 21, at home against the University of St. Thomas at 2 p.m.

Men’s basketball kicks off season

By John Kaiser
Cardinal Staff

Despite the shortened NBA season, basketball has been very much alive at the collegiate level. For six weeks, Saint Mary’s University players have been going through rigorous daily practices.

Captain Pat Freeman said the biggest challenges this season are going to be “adjusting to new players and finding a new chemistry.” He also added that last year’s top three scorers left, leaving new roles to fill for returning players.

However, there are plenty of positives surrounding the new team, said Freeman, such as starting point guard Evan Pederson. Freeman described Pederson as a player who plays several minutes at a fast level. He said Pederson has exceptional vision and passing, which makes the whole team better.

Freeman also described post Mike Burfeind as one of the more established players in the conference.

Overall the team is young, but they’ve put in a lot of work, especially over the summer, said Freeman.

The team’s goals are to make the playoffs and to have a better conference record than last year, said Freeman.

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a conference known for competitive play, but Freeman believes the Cardinals will do well.

Softball team prepares in off-season

By Nick Bravos
Sports Editor

The Saint Mary’s University softball team is busy with its off-season preparations for the Feb. 1 season opener.

The team lost four starting senior infielders last year to graduation. However, with the help of a large freshman class, they’re looking to improve on last year’s third-place finish in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and overall 23-16 record.

NCAA regulations state that a coach is allotted 12 scheduled practices in September. After that “we can’t tell them what to do in the off-season,” said Head Coach Jen Miller. “We put heavy influence on fundamental work [in September] so that continues throughout the off-season.”

“The only game plan is getting our team chemistry up and getting some sort of routine,” said junior captain Hailey Ohl. “It looks like another great season coming up if we can keep up on working hard as we are now.”

The body of their season takes place during a compact schedule of 28 games in April. “Softball is a game where improvement comes in the off-season because our season is so short,” said junior captain Paige Carter.

“Our goal is to make another MIAC tournament appearance,” said Carter. “We did it last year, and we could very well do it again.”

The first test for the SMU softball team will come during its spring trip to Florida in March “to see where we are as a team and what we need to sharpen up on before conference games start,” said Carter.

Last March, they travelled to Tuscon, Ariz. where they achieved a 7-3 overall record, clinching victories against nationally-ranked Iowa teams, Coe College and Central College.

How much do we really know through our media?

By Jenny Daniels, Caroline Stringer and Katie Adelman
Guest Writers

As Americans today, we believe we have a finger on the pulse of international news through our interconnected world of newspapers, radios, televisions, Internet and smartphones. But just how unbiased are the sources from which media outlets gain exclusive cover stories? The United States media relies greatly on The Associated Press (AP) as a means of obtaining international news. However, if media sources look only to the AP for news, does it limit their ability to report the truth? Practically every media article about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict passes through the AP Israeli bureau.

But to what extent is the U.S. media biased?

There have been instances in which the Israel AP bureau has not pursued leads regarding Palestinian children being killed. In November 2004, an occupying Israeli military soldier killed a stone-throwing 12-year-old Palestinian from 985 feet away. There was an AP photo of the incident on the Internet, but no American news source printed it, perhaps due to the lack of an accompanying story.

That same AP bureau was again involved when an Israeli soldier shot and wounded a 14-year-old Palestinian. With no signs of hostility on the Palestinian side, the Israeli solider simply drew his weapon, took aim at the boy and pulled the trigger. An AP cameraman caught this on tape, but the footage never aired and was later erased.

Occasionally, news stories from the Israeli AP bureau contain the byline of a Palestinian. This is a misrepresentation: a Palestinian journalist phones in information to the bureau, but an Israeli journalist writes the story. Additionally, the Israeli point of view is more often portrayed. In one year’s time, 165 Israelis and 549 Palestinians were killed. In 2004, it was 107 Israelis and 821 Palestinians; the media portrayed this as a period of decreased violence.

Finally, on May 11, 2004, an AP news story reported repeated Israeli violence against Palestinians, some under the age of 14, in detention centers and prisons. This story of the Israeli human rights violations was read everywhere in the world except the U.S.

American citizens expect their media outlets, whether newspaper, television or radio, to provide them with the most accurate information possible. The U.S. is one of Israel’s biggest supporters, and much of America’s hard-earned money — over $10 million dollars a day — goes toward Israeli aid. Wouldn’t you like to get the two-sided, unadulterated version of this conflict’s story?

Written for LCT 375 Section E
Sources:
If Americans Knew. Why Don’t We Know What’s Going on in Israel
& Palestine? Retrieved from
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/media/clues.html

Weir, A. (2005, July- August). Americans for Middle East
Understanding: The Coverage—and Non-Coverage—of Israel-
Palestine. The Link, Volume 38, Issue 3.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Relay for Life to kick off in style

By Marc Hartmann
Guest Writer

Saint Mary’s University’s Colleges Against Cancer is once again hard at work preparing for the school’s annual Relay for Life event.

Relay for Life is a day-long event that SMU and hundreds of other colleges and communities across the country hold to raise money and awareness for cancer. All of the money raised from the event goes to the American Cancer Society and is used for programs that support those facing cancer as well as for research in the field.

Kelsi Addabbo, co-president of Colleges Against Cancer, says that the SMU community should be excited to get involved with the event because “it is a time we can come together as a community and remember those who have been lost and support those who have faced cancer.”

Relay for Life, one of SMU’s largest annual events, will be hosting a kickoff on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Toner Student Center Game Room. The kickoff will include making Christmas cards and head scarves for those staying at American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Rochester. Hope Lodge is a place where cancer patients and their caregivers can stay for free while undergoing treatment.

The kickoff event will also provide an opportunity to sign up for Relay for Life. Those interested in participating can either join an existing team or create a new team. Addabbo said that besides asking friends to be on a team, all clubs and organizations should think about forming their own teams.

Relay for Life strives not only to remember those who have lost their battles with cancer and honor those who have fought or are fighting cancer, but also to make sure that future generations don’t have to go through the same battle.

Said co-president Laura Larson, “In the future, someone close to you, or maybe even you, may have to deal with cancer. Participating in Relay could benefit you and those close to you in the future.”

While Addabbo and Larson recognize that we all support Relay for our own personal reasons, they agree on the one ultimate goal: to fight for an end to cancer.

Saint Mary’s Relay for Life will take place March 16-17, 2012. To sign up for a team or get more information on the event, visit SMU’s Relay website at relayforlife.org/smu.

SMU hosts food insecurity forum

By Andrea Allis
Editor in Chief

A panel discussion on East Africa’s food crisis was held Thursday, Nov. 17, at Saint Mary’s University, featuring Fred de Sam Lazaro, director of the Under-Told Stories Project and a correspondent for PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

Other panelists included Dr. David Lynch, SMU social science department chair, and Sharon Schmickle, foreign affairs and science correspondent for MinnPost.com. The discussion was moderated by Jon Sawyer, executive director of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

The focus of the event was the horn of Africa, which is experiencing what Lynch called “a perfect storm of events.” Economics, politics, conflict, climate uncertainty and social indifference have all led to the current food crisis in the region, but the issue is one that Lynch said affects other parts of the world as well.

“People focus on the tragedy and social injustice of it, but it’s a matter of self-interest, too,” said Lynch, adding that “the problems of failed states spill over” into other countries.

“Not worrying about it here [in the United States] is like saying, ‘There’s a hole in your side of the boat, but that’s your problem,’” said Lynch. “Issues ignored elsewhere come back to haunt us.”

The Under-Told Stories Project, which Lynch said has been housed at SMU for about a year, encourages coverage of some of the world’s most remote locations, including many undeveloped countries.

The discussion was sponsored by SMU, the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership, the Under-Told Stories Project and the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.

SMU students take part in TEC retreat

By Jenna Capelle
Cardinal Staff

The Hiawatha Valley Together Encountering Christ (TEC) Retreat is being held at the Alverna Center Nov. 18-20.

Throughout the weekend, students have an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with Christ by participating in small group discussions, music, games and talks given by peers, said Lynn Streefland, co-director of campus ministry at SMU.

However, not all of the retreat activities are revealed beforehand. There are memorable surprises and powerful moments planned for the three days of the retreat.

Streefland enjoys watching the participants grow in their faith during the TEC retreat.

“You can be who you are, whatever place you are in with your faith,” said Streefland.

Seniors Megan Linder and Danny Spiess are serving as co-leaders of a team of students from SMU who are assisting with the retreat.

In preparing for the retreat, Linder and Spiess picked team members and created agendas for meetings, among many other responsibilities.

“I love the atmosphere of TEC and getting to know new people,” said Linder.

Linder made TEC her freshman year at SMU and has worked the retreats every year since. “TEC has helped me find my place at SMU,” she said.

The next H.V. TEC retreat will take place Feb. 3-5, 2012. For more information about TEC retreats, visit the Office of Campus Ministry in the basement of the Toner Student Center.

Cardinal Corner offers new products

By Julianne Bartosz
Copy Editor

The Cardinal Corner offers entrepreneurship students at Saint Mary’s University real-life experience with small business operation.

The Cardinal Corner is a non-profit retail store located next to the bookstore in the lower level of the Toner Student Center. It sells products for SMU clubs, organizations, teams and departments with proceeds returning to the respective groups.

The store is offering four new products this semester, including neon sunglasses, locally-made mittens, Cardinal Pride pocketed shorts, and T-shirts featuring SMU English professor Brother Stephen. This semester, the proceeds from these four items will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

SMU business professor Dr. Tom Marpe and the School of Business created the Cardinal Corner to give entrepreneurship students hands-on experience working in a small business. Operation of the store is the main responsibility for students in the MG315 Entrepreneurship class.

Jana Craft, an assistant professor of business at SMU, oversees the Cardinal Corner.

“The students do everything,” Craft said. “They staff the store, order products, do accounting, and take inventory. I am just there for guidance and to set boundaries.”

Craft said that she is now more focused on her role as an advisor for the Cardinal Corner than her role as a teacher for the project, giving the entrepreneurship students more responsibility.

“I look forward to their seeing the results,” Craft said. “In the end, they will be able to see how much was done, [as well as things that could have been changed].”

Junior entrepreneurship student Erin Stenseth teamed up with classmates to create and order the shirts that feature Brother Stephen. They were designed by junior graphic design major Caroline Stringer, who came up with the colorful image of Brother Stephen for the front of the shirt. The back features a quote from Brother Stephen: “The only text sent in this class would be to God telling Him you will be with Him soon.”

In addition to experience with business operations, Stenseth said she has learned to “plan for unexpected obstacles and to work through them.” She said that her goal for her group’s product in the Cardinal Corner is to “sell out of our product, because that would mean it was liked and that we created a profit for a good cause.”

With people already asking for the shirts, Stenseth said she looks forward to receiving them.

The store hours are Monday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Cardinal Corner can be contacted via email at cardinalcorner@smumn.edu or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cardinalcorner.

Students raise money, awareness

By Morgan Stock
Cardinal Staff

Up ‘til Dawn, an event that raised money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, was held Nov. 11 in the Gostomski Fieldhouse at Saint Mary’s University.

This marks the second year SMU has hosted Up ‘til Dawn. Junior Shannon Nelson was in charge of the fundraising on campus.

“I started working with St. Jude at my internship with K102 radio over the summer,” Nelson said. “After I worked with them for a while, I liked their cause and thought it was something really important that people on campus should get involved in.”

Students on campus had the chance to sign up in teams of 5 with a goal of raising $500 per team.

Junior Connie Budin was also involved in the event and believes it has been a gratifying experience.

“Shannon and I went to Memphis where the main hospital is and got to meet patients and see the research that was being done,” Budin said. “It was so rewarding; words can’t describe how important this cause is to us.”

St. Jude’s mission is to advance cures and means of prevention of pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. It takes approximately $1.7 million to run St. Jude and all the money raised from Up ‘til Dawn goes directly to fund its research.

Though the on-campus event has passed, it’s not too late to donate. Anyone is welcome to donate to Up ‘til Dawn at any time by visiting www.myuptildawn.org.

Students participate in mock trial

By Emma Stenzel
Managing & Advertising Editor

Pre-law students from Saint Mary’s University participated in the school’s first annual Mock Trial on Oct. 27, where they acted as the attorneys in a hotly contested case mirroring an authentic trial.

Larry Price, assistant business professor and the pre-law advisor at SMU, arranged the trial to provide the university’s pre-law students with an opportunity to gain experience in lawsuits and court proceedings. He said the trial would also generate interest and understanding in the SMU community about the legal system, as students of all majors were invited to participate as jurors, witnesses and audience members.

“We wanted to give the students an opportunity where they can succeed on their own,” said Price. “They were able to act through their own initiative and improve in their learning.”

Price said that in this particular case, “the plaintiff alleged that the defendant served alcohol at a party to a student who was drunk and was therefore responsible when the student crashed into the plaintiff’s car, injuring him.”

Pre-law students Anna Sonday, Loren Galloway and Morgan Carlson represented the plaintiff of the case, while Colin Norris, Marty Purintun and Andrew Seifert acted for the defendant.

Price said that, though the two panels of student jurors agreed the cases were skillfully presented on both sides, they found favor with the defense.

“I know both juries had to take some time deliberating, so both sides must have presented fairly compelling arguments,” said Carlson, who plans to attend law school next year.

Price said he received positive feedback from audience members and student participants, who reportedly gained valuable experience in legal proceedings.

“It was beneficial in that this gave me a chance to see law in action,” said Sonday. “This obviously wasn't a real case, but it's daunting to think of the effect one witness statement or one comment by a lawyer can have on the jury. All the work we put into the trial came down to one verdict – a verdict that would have had staggering implications in the real world.”

The Mock Trial was the result of the hard work and collaboration of many people in the SMU community, said Price. Once Price determined what case script the students would use, he said he allowed them about two weeks to work in groups to prepare for the trial. He also arranged for Nancy Wiltgen, an SMU staff member in alumni affairs, to act as the judge during the trial. Wiltgen previously worked as an attorney for over 20 years in the prominent Minneapolis law firm Leonard, Street and Deinard.

Students from SMU’s theatre department played the witnesses in the case, including Bryan Moore, Jacob Rivet, Tom Conry and Alex Green. In addition, students Alex Akers and Taylor Marshall-Miernicki helped design the set for the trial.
For more information about the Mock Trial, email Price at lprice@smumn.edu or view the trial online at https://tegr.it/y/6qu9.

Cell phone etiquette questions raised

By Jake Schild
Cardinal Staff

New technologies have changed the way we live, from communication to accessing information, and people have adopted different ideas on proper etiquette when using these devices.

At Saint Mary’s University, faculty and students seem to have reached a general consensus on what is acceptable in the classroom regarding the use of technology and what is not.

Student Leah Mueller uses her cell phone in class but feels rude when doing so. She doesn’t like in-class cell phone use for things not pertaining to the course.

“I think technology in the classroom is good if it has anything to do with what’s going on in class, but I think personal use is disrespectful.”

Brian Thomas, another student, agrees. Although he admits to using his cell phone “once or twice” during each class period, he doesn’t condone it.

Like Mueller, Thomas feels that students using devices in class for things other than schoolwork isn’t acceptable. “I’ve tried to cut back,” he said. “If you’re teaching a class, you don’t want to feel disrespected.”

Professors at SMU acknowledge the ways new technology can help students but agree with Mueller and Thomas about the ways it can be a detriment.

“Students have to understand our policies, and we need to understand their communication habits,” said public relations professor Dean Beckman, “and that’s what they are: habits.”

“There are different rules for different places, and we all need to be aware of them,” said Beckman. “I think it largely depends on the class. For my Public Relations Writing class, I encourage the use of Twitter and blogs; in fact, I require it.

“But that’s different [than most classes] because [it’s] specifically designed for students to learn those communication tools in a more professional setting,” he said.

Many classes here aren’t set up in a way that are conducive to those technologies being used in the classroom, said Beckman. “I think they have their place, but I think there are also places where it’s more of a distraction or harm then anything else,” he said.

“I think it largely depends on the situation and how comfortable the faculty member is,” he said. “If there is a clear tie-in to the class, I think there’s a legitimate reason for it. But if it doesn’t fit within the scope of the class, I think the faculty member needs to know what works and what doesn’t.”

Sociology professor Matt Klosky agrees. “I’m all for technology as long as it’s not a distraction,” said Klosky. “The distinguishing characteristic is the distraction factor.”

Klosky also sees changes in college students’ social lives with the possibilities that emerge from cell phones and other devices, and not all of them are good.

“If you stand outside of any class and watch the students leave a classroom, easily half of them, if not 75 percent, are on devices checking a text message, a Facebook update, an email,” he said.

The distinction Klosky sees is that ten years ago when he taught, people would discuss the content of the course as they were walking out the door. Today, they’re not interacting with people that are right next to them, said Klosky.

This is detrimental to academic engagement, Klosky said. “I get the sense that they are more focused on what happened outside of the classroom in the last hour than what happened inside the classroom,” he said.

Similar to Beckman’s and Klosky’s thoughts on the issue, philosophy professor Mark Barber sees these new technological opportunities as both a gift or a curse on campus.

“If our lives are web-based, then the time I’m spending online is time I’m not spending, say, with other people, having interaction,” said Barber, which is one of the reasons he said he doesn’t like the internet much.

“However, I do think that in our educational setting, the technology can provide us appropriate learning tools,” Barber said. “It’s a way for faculty and students to communicate and to have access to a common set of documents at any time, and I think that has helped. I think that’s good for the class.”

Leaving early for break? Let professors know

By Kassondra Burtis
News Editor

Many students have at least considered leaving early for a break and skipping a class or two.

But students often think more about what they would do with an extra day off and less about the consequences of skipping class.

“Just like students talk about teachers, teachers will grouse sometimes about it being the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas break and only having two-thirds of [a] class [present],” said Dr. Steve Schild, professor of mass communication.

For Schild, hard work and communication is important.

“If someone has generally done the work and showed up and stayed in touch with me, I normally won’t holler about [leaving early],” Schild said.

Schild and some other professors don’t take attendance daily, but he said he still notices when a student tends to skip class often.

“I do notice who comes and who doesn’t,” Schild said. “I might be a little put out if someone’s leaving early when they miss class a lot as it is.”

Student attention span decrease with technology

By Brian L. Thomas
Cardinal Staff

In the past few years, there has seemed to be a major decrease in the attention spans of college students both inside and outside the classroom, according to Saint Mary’s University’s Academic Skills Center Director Joe Dulak.

With the ongoing invention of new technology including smart phones, iPads and the like, Dulak says not only college students, but also adults are affected.

Referencing recent articles that have appeared in the New York Times, Dulak said attention spans are decreasing in the classroom because students are not fully engaged.

“Because students are constantly checking their phones or texting, they use selective listening, catching only parts of a lecture,” he said. This often leaves room for mistakes or misinterpretation of what a professor is saying.

Students seem to agree with Dulak. Junior English major Michael Wolten says technology has affected students’ attention spans tremendously. “It’s hard to text and give a class your full attention at the same time,” he said.

However, students are not all to blame, Dulak said. “As a society, we are all in some way attached to technology,” said Dulak. “We just have to know when to turn our devices off.”

Dulak said that he has found tips to increase attention spans in the classroom, such as having his students research the effects of technology for themselves. He also recommends that students turn off their devices while studying and doing homework in order to develop stronger attention spans.

It’s becoming harder and harder for students to escape technology, said Dulak. He said that the choice may appear difficult, but the results are worth the sacrifice: pay attention today to earn better grades tomorrow.

Beckman: Practice courtesy when arriving late

By Samantha Kleese
Cardinal Staff

It is not unusual for college students to arrive late to class, but actions need to be taken if the problem becomes a repeated pattern, according to mass communications professor Dean Beckman.

Beckman said that arriving late to class does not affect the learning environment as long as the student is not consistently tardy. It may also be disrespectful if the student fails to take others into account by being loud when entering late, Beckman said.

Beckman said if students do happen to be late, they should still show up to class but be respectful to the professor and students who came on time.

Students who are consistently late may be risking their grade in the class, said Beckman. In his classes, if a student comes in fairly late, he does not count that student present, as he takes attendance at the beginning of class.

If it becomes an ongoing problem, Beckman suggested that the professor have a conversation with the student about time management and organization. “The student needs to find a solution with the professor.”

Beckman’s policy doesn’t differentiate between class times. “Students know their class times and must plan accordingly. If a class starts at 7:45, get to bed early.”

Freshman Sandy Sahl, who agrees with Beckman, said, “It is your responsibility to be on time. And you are paying to take the class, so you should be there.”

Hats off to Mary Fox

By Meg Beerling
Feature Editor

As dictated by her syllabus, Mary Catherine Fox, Ph.D., asks that ladies and gentlemen respectfully refrain from wearing hats and caps in class.

Fox allows scarves, headbands, and bandanas, but does not like any sort of hat with a brim where she cannot see a student’s face. Fox said she wants to be able to recognize her students when they are not wearing hats.

Fox said that there are several reasons for this request but that it is not a matter of discipline.

She said she first started her request of cap removal after a colleague of hers passed away suddenly. Arthur Flodstrom was a former chair of the English department at SMU and her good friend, and it was always his rule that students not wear hats. Fox described him as a very classy man who always had high standards, so she adopted his rule in honor of him.

Fox said her rule is also a nod to Arnold Palmer, who once said that ladies and gentleman never wear hats inside. It doesn’t seem appropriate, she said.

Fox said it’s a matter of civil decorum. She said it’s good practice for the real world, where it is in bad taste to wear hats indoors. “Preparing students for the outside world is what I’m is here to do as an educator,” she said. “I’m giving you what you’re paying for.”

Fox also said that a student’s attentiveness can be attributed to his or her clothing choices. If a student is wearing a cap that is tilted down over the eyes, then he or she is not active in what is going on in class, said Fox. “It’s hard to know if the student is paying attention.”

Machinal to provide social commentary

By Paul Schmitt
Cardinal Staff

Machinal, the theatre department’s latest production, promises an interesting and slightly avant-garde look at the impact society can have on women.

Directed by Judy Myers, chair of the theatre and dance department at Saint Mary’s University, the play is based on actual events. It was written in 1928 in an expressionistic style consisting of short scenes, repetitive dialogue and one-dimensional characters.

Myers said that audience members should be prepared to “accept that the style of this piece is different than what they are used to.” Expressionism involves very carefully selected pieces, colors and features in each scene to evoke certain ideas and feelings.

Sophomore Lydia Munroe plays the female lead in the production, a role that Myers said “calls for maturity.” Despite the challenging role, Munroe is “pulling it off well,” according to Myers.

Machinal is also the senior project of Josh Lentner, a theatre arts major who is designing the lighting for the show.

Performances of Machinal are at the Valencia Arts Center on Nov. 16-19 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee show on Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for both seniors and students.

Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries presents professional, student work

By Ashley Von Arx
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s University’s Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries showcased the work of Andrew Rieder, a Michigan artist who characterizes the centuries-old circumstance of class struggles in his series These Things Happen.

Rieder’s method features the mixing of “high art and street art,” said Preston Lawing, chair of the art and design department at SMU.

The content answers to an oppressed working class. His subjects often hold a hammer or engage in anxious activity like dog fighting, enduring a raging inferno or managing a traumatic car accident. The show portrays the human condition as a struggle for survival – a struggle to find strength in an obviously corrupt world.

The Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries, located in the Toner Student Center, “offers a variety of visual experiences,” said Lawing. Not only does it host the work of accomplished artists like Rieder, but it also features the work of SMU students each year, displaying a student show open to all majors; the senior capstone show, featuring the work of senior art and design majors; and a faculty show. The student art show will be displayed Saturday, Nov. 19.

Annual Blue Angel show impresses again

By Alexa Wallick
Photo Editor

The Brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Eta Nu Chapter hosted the annual fall musical variety show Blue Angel in the cafeteria of the Toner Student Center on Nov. 4 and 5.

Students put on live musical performances covering a variety of songs, from popular art-
ists’ hits to original performances. Three shows were given, one on Friday and two on Saturday.

This year’s proceeds went to the Kevin P. O’Connell/Phi Mu Alpha Scholarship Fund, the DAVE Project, Gifts for Winona, the Sinfonia Educational Foundation and the Chotomow Children’s Foundation.

The Masters of Ceremonies this year were seniors Jake Rivet and Sam Callisto. The two exchanged seemingly unscripted banter all night, even as Rivet portrayed characters like Don Corleone from The Godfather and David Bowie.

Noteworthy Performances:

• Tower of Giants performance of metal-core band The Devil Wears Prada’s remixed version of “Still Fly” blew away the audience. Not only was this unlike any other song played in the show, but it may be the first song like it SMU has heard.

•Charolette Deranek’s acoustic rendition of All Time Low’s “Jasey Rae” put a thoughtful, feminine twist on the normally upbeat punk song.

• Andy Bauer’s rapping Minnesota artist Atmosphere’s “Guarantees” was the biggest surprise of the show.

• Jessica Ingvalson provided the most original moment, singing her own song entitled “Now You’re Gone.”

• Katie Sapper and Matt Pollum, also know as The Straight Jackets, managed to top original artist Jessie J., singing her song “Big White Room.”

• Blue Neutral Saltine Crackers rocked the crowd with the sounds of Red Hot Chili Peppers, playing “Suck My Kiss.”

• The evening took a classy turn when Alex Green hit the stage, performing Michael Buble’s “Hold On” with his group PDS.

• The Oldie Moldie All-Stars stepped up to give the final performance of the night, wrapping up the nearly three-hour event with their catalog of oldies hits that entertained attendees of all ages. Many were up and out of their seats for the final act of the night.

Oldie Moldie All-Stars conclude Blue Angel show

By Matt Wagner
Cardinal Staff

The Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity has a long-standing tradition of putting on musical shows Gaslight and Blue Angel. As the Oldie-Moldie All-Stars concluded all three Blue Angel performances, the group of Phi Mu Alpha brothers displayed how they can put on a performance.

“It is amazing to perform for so many people,” said sophomore Miles Dunna, a vocalist for the All-Stars. “I am absolutely terrified of being up on stage and performing, but the people I am doing it for really drives me to sing.”

The All-Stars have been around for over 30 years and have always been exclusively associated with the Phi Mu Alpha fraternity at Saint Mary’s University. Sporting white tuxedos, the group plays Blue Angel, Gaslight and different events and causes around Winona.

“I think the tuxedos have been around longer than we have been alive,” said Dunna. “It is a fun group to be a part of.”

Senior Matt Polum is the leader of the All-Stars with three years of experience in the group.

“I sing, I help with fine tuning things, and I basically lead practices in order to make sure we get stuff done,” said Polum. “We started rehearsing for some of the songs before our first show which was Family Weekend, so we had prepared for the Blue Angel show quite a bit. The show went [really well] and we are already looking forward to Gaslight.”

The group performed for all three Blue Angel shows, singing tunes such as Superstitions, Rock Around the Clock, Brown Eyed Girl and Devil with the Blue Dress. The All-Stars even received encore chants after each performance.

“It was pretty cool getting an encore,” said Polum. “It shows that the crowd really does want to hear us. To know that we have the ability to make people dance and have a good time is really exhilarating.”

The Oldie Moldie All-Stars will be performing at Gaslight in the spring, so watch out for the dedicated group of talented musicians known for putting on a great show.

FAC, SAC spook students with school’s haunted history

By Trisha Stachowski
Arts & Entertainment Editor

The Future Alumni Committee and the Student Activities Committee worked together to present “SMU-OOKY” in Salvi Lecture Hall Oct. 26.

The night began with a slideshow and an oral account of the university’s “eerie” past by Patrick Marek ’79. Marek’s presentation was followed by SAC’s showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two. Students were invited to wear costumes to both events to celebrate Halloween.

Marek’s presentation included both personal testimonies and other alumni’s stories of the ghostly happenings in both Saint Mary’s and Heffron Halls. He also talked about SMU history, including the shooting of Bishop Patrick Heffron, the university’s founder.

Marek has been interested in the school’s supposed haunted nature since he attended SMU and lived in Heffron Hall. This interest motivated him to extensively research SMU’s history and the hauntings.

The SMU-OOKY event was created by last year’s FAC president Sarah McDonough, with the event taking place at the theater in Saint Yon’s Hall. This year, FAC teamed up with SAC in order to “capture a wider audience” said current FAC president Brigid McDonough.

At the beginning of Marek’s presentation, Salvi Lecture Hall was full, with even more costumed students showing up as the night went on. “By combining [Marek’s] presentation with SAC’s movie night, we were able to accomplish our goal,” said Brigid.

FAC meetings are held every other Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Game Room in the basement of the Toner Student Center. For more information on Marek’s presentation or about FAC, contact Brigid McDonough at bmmcdo08@smumn.edu.

SMU swimming, diving hopes to build this season

By Keotta L. House
Cardinal Staff

The Saint Mary’s University swimming and diving team is looking to build off the success it saw at the MIAC Championships last season.

Senior Neil Heacox and juniors Mark Ross and Robert Doyle are looking to lead the way for the men’s team, while seniors Liz Flynn, Nikki Farmer and Linda Tierney hope to lead the lady Cardinals this season.

With over ten upper classmen returning to the team, the expectations for the team are high. “The upper classmen are people that have been successful and are looking at the twilight of their career, and we want to see them go out with a bang,” said head coach Eric Lindquist.

“I want to improve my personal times,” said junior Mark Ross, who has had two standout seasons with the Cardinals. He is also looking to improve his place within the conference and work toward the national cut times.

Disagreeing with the popular belief that swimming is an individual sport, Ross said that team dynamic is important.

“I think our group of new guys and returners are a hard-working team that will help each other to succeed,” said Ross.

Senior diver Liz Flynn is looking for a grand close to her tenure at SMU.

“I really want to do well my senior year, and I have high hopes to make it to nationals on the three-meter,” said Flynn. “I also want to break all three of my records from last year.”

Diving coach Jeremiah Jackson has big goals for Flynn as well.

“We definitely want to try to get her to nationals; I think if we work hard and change some things we can do it,” said Jackson.

This season won’t be all work and no play for the swimming and diving team. This January, the team will take a training trip to the Bahamas to facilitate team bonding and offer special training.

Cross country headed in right direction

By Raquel Romo
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s University’s men’s cross country team has concluded its season, reaching several milestones along the way.

“We took seventh place at the conference meet which is something SMU hasn't done in cross country for many years,” said senior David Feather. “I think the highest finish for an SMU [cross country] team was fifth.”

Feather is pleased with the team’s showing. “I am really proud of the work the guys have put in and wish them the best as I [graduate this spring]. There's a good group of freshmen that came in this year so some hard work in the off season should really pay off for those guys,” Feather said.

Feather has also had a great season individually, hitting the second-fastest 8K time in SMU history at 26:24 at the MIAC championships and finishing 22nd individually.

Cardinal soccer hungry for improvement

By Nick Bravos
Sports Editor

In his first season as Saint Mary’s University’s men’s head soccer coach, Pete Watkins implemented the same coaching philosophies he used during his eight years at Aurora University, where he accumulated a 101-48-13 overall record.

In 2003, Watkins inherited a 1-19 Aurora Spartan program. Throughout his time with the Spartans, his focus was on recruiting quality players with winning mentalities.

“It’s a players’ game,” Watkins said. During the recruitment process, he said he looks into players’ backgrounds and what programs the players are affiliated with to see if the programs are competitive or not.

“It’s hard to turn on the switch of competitiveness if they don’t come from a club that’s known for that,” Watkins said. “The mold we’re looking for is an overall athlete who will put the time in, especially in the off-season, who will go above and beyond.”

Attacking soccer 12 months out of the year should be a staple for the team, not an exception for one or two players, Watkins said.

“It’s that culture shift; we want players who are hungry to get out and get better.”

The “hunger” described by Watkins sparked internal competition between players for spots this season. Watkins started players who showed potential in practices in terms of overall performance and hard work, said junior mid-fielder Jacob Bina.

“This gave other people the opportunities to prove themselves not only to Watkins but to the rest of the team,” Bina said. “This also made the team more competitive in a way that helped overall, because we knew that we had depth.”

Watkins also implemented many new aspects of team coordination to help jump-start the inherited 2-16 program.

Compared to former coach Dembiec’s 4-4-2 formation, Watkins’ 4-1-4-1 formation took into account different strategies of play that he thought would best fit the team’s abilities.

Watkins used the “poor man’s blanket” analogy to describe formations in soccer. While using a new formation to cover one problem, new problems are often uncovered.

Watkins also conducted position-specific practices featuring drills designed to accommodate the different roles of offensive, mid-field, defensive and goalie positions.

“Another nice addition to this year was that the goalies had their own practices,” Bina said. “These occurred before regular practices, so they would have practices that were twice as long as the rest of the team. The team could tell the goalies were learning much more than in previous years.”

Watkins also implemented regeneration practices for high-minute players. Players who could expect high minutes of game time would split off from those who saw no or low game time and do 25 minutes of cardio and core work.

“This helped a lot with building back our legs,” Bina said.

Players who could expect no to low minutes of game time would continue to fight for game spots in an 8 vs. 8 scrimmage.

Watkins’ ended his first season with an overall 2-13-2 record. He said that it was “disappointing to lose those five games in overtime,” but that the team did manage to steal a 3-2 conference win against Concordia College, whereas the team went winless in conference play last season.

“We were competitive in most games, which is something that is nice to see, because the future looks bright for the program,” Bina said. “It was an overall good first building year for Watkins and the team, even if the record doesn’t show it.”

“An immediate goal for next year is to be 500, then after that to compete in the MIAC tournament,” Watkins said. One of his overarching goals for the program is to earn respect in the soccer community, not just in Winona, but regionally in the MIAC as an on-the-rise program.

Bundle up in style

By Gabby Limonciello
Cardinal Staff

As the holidays are drawing near, everyone’s calendars are most likely beginning to fill up with holiday events and gatherings.

The one time to go all out in shimmer and glitz is New Years Eve, unless you’re like me and prefer to wear a little something bedazzled with every outfit. Otherwise, there are two words to keep in mind when dressing for the holidays: simple and elegant.

A casual yet trendy look for this winter season is a pair of white skinny jeans paired with a loose gray tee under a black blazer. To top off this outfit, add a patterned scarf with a pair of round-toed heels.

Dresses seen on the runway this holiday season are mainly fitted or pleated in the colors of red or black, and some are worn with a wide belt.

An essential piece for everyone’s wardrobes this winter is a good winter jacket or coat. The North Face is advertising its jackets that hit just below the knee in length. This urban look is great because it keeps you even warmer than the fleece jackets that have become so popular.

Celebrities are also wearing knit ponchos this season, which are cozy and an easy cover-up.

A last suggestion to keep in mind this holiday season is to save up Christmas money to buy a nice designer bag in a color that will go with everything. This way, you can wear it with every outfit!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

SMU plans for future

By Emma Stenzel
Managing & Advertising Editor

The Saint Mary’s University Strategic Planning Committee began planning early October for the future of the university and its students, staff and faculty.

Brother William Mann, members of the President’s Cabinet, the committee’s co-chairs and 40 of SMU’s faculty and staff from both the Winona and Twin Cities campuses met with Patrick Sanaghan, consultant on strategic planning, to learn various methods of gathering data from university stakeholders.

Brother Patrick Conway, co-chair of the committee and assistant professor of education and interdisciplinary studies, said that the committee will divide in pairs and gather stakeholder data. This includes thoughts and opinions from current and prospective students and parents, current and retired faculty and staff members, SMU alumni, diocesan officials, civic leaders, post-secondary high school counselors and the Board of Trustees. The committee will use its findings to determine long-term university goals.

“This process is going to be very transparent, so once data is collected, it will be posted online all along the way,” said Brother Patrick.

The committee has established four specific data gathering “designs” which they will use to communicate with SMU stakeholders, focusing on past university accomplishments; current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; feedback retrieved through stakeholder interviews; and comments received regarding the university’s future timeline.

Brother Patrick said that the opinions of the university’s stakeholders are crucial in determining how SMU will grow, develop and thrive in the future.

“It’s a collaborative effort,” said Brother Patrick. “The stakeholders’ voices will be heard. I believe that people will be excited and willing to take ownership because they will be a part of this.”

Brother Patrick said that October’s assembly was the first of five meetings to be held during the 2011-2012 academic year. Once the committee gathers its data, it will meet again in December to evaluate the results and assess the issues and trends that SMU could be confronted with in the future. It will meet in February and March to determine its vision and goals before the committee presents to the Board of Trustees in May and June.

“SMU has a wonderful story and we hope to get that story out,” said Brother Patrick. “We need to ask ourselves, ‘How can we get that story out to the public?’ That’s one thing I’d like to know.”

Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance to aid alumnus, veteran

By Kassondra Burtis
News Editor

The 12th annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance (TRBD) will honor Josh Misiewicz, a former Saint Mary’s University student and military veteran who was wounded while serving his country this past summer.

Misiewicz was injured on July 20 in Afghanistan when he stepped on a bomb and lost both of his legs and some of his hearing.

“Josh is a trooper,” said Nikki Richmond, whose son Taylor was the first beneficiary of the dance. “He is already on the climbing wall, and it just happened in July. He has a heart of gold and [his injury] is not going to stop him.

“He can push himself, he’s got courage, he’s got stamina. He has his hard times too, but it’s neat to see that he’s taking what happened to him to the next level and saying, ‘I can still do what I want to do.’”

The annual event honors someone in the SMU community who is in need. The recipient must first go through a nomination process and then be selected by the TRBD committee.

SMU men’s hockey coach Bill Moore originally sent the request through the alumni relations office for Misiewicz to be this year’s recipient. Richmond heard of this and then contacted a couple of Misiewicz’s former hockey coaches growing up. They then officially nominated Misiewicz, and his nomination was accepted by the TRBD committee.

The original idea behind the TRBD came from SMU students who wanted to hold a benefit for Taylor and brought the idea to Nikki. Taylor had been diagnosed with ataxia telangiectasia, and the students wanted to send him on a trip. After the first benefit, the students decided they wanted to make the benefit an annual event and keep it in Taylor’s name.

“It’s very humbling, and I don’t know how to thank people for that, because it was the students who did it, and it was [they] who wanted to keep it in his name,” Richmond said.

“And Taylor loves it. Our family loves it, and it’s very humbling that it’s in his name.”

The 2012 Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance is scheduled for Sat., March 24, with a performance by the Johnny Holm Band.

Advocates 4 Abilities new on campus

By Jenna Capelle
Cardinal Staff

Advocates 4 Abilities (A4A), a new club at Saint Mary’s University founded by seniors Bethany Hastings, Rachel Elbert, and Diana Lundeen, offers a positive support system for those with disabilities and educates the SMU community about different disabilities.

The three seniors want to take away the negative connotations of “disabilities” and put a greater focus on people’s abilities.

“The purpose of A4A is to educate and advocate about different capabilities,” said Elbert. “We’re changing the language to make [disabilities] more positive.”

Meetings are typically held once per week with SMU Counselor and A4A Advisor Holly Courtenay present. Information shared by students in group discussions is kept confidential between those attending the meeting.

“We want to help people experience interacting with those with abilities and help people become more comfortable talking about different capabilities,” said Lundeen.

The club also intends to spread awareness about various types of mental and physical disorders.

“We want to cover any topics that people are struggling with such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, depression, and Asperger’s Syndrome,” said Lundeen.

In the spring, A4A hopes to hold an “Awareness Day” for students to experience a sensory walk or utilize wheelchairs. The club also plans to organize a few events with the Special Olympics of Winona.

For more information about A4A, send inquiries to Hastings (brhast08), Elbert (raelbe07) or Lundeen (drlund08).

New group to focus on culture

By Keotta House
Cardinal Staff

When Saint Mary’s University failed to celebrate Black History Month during the 2009-2010 school year, freshman Ciera Patrick was shocked and decided to take action.

She performed an unofficial survey of 80 SMU students and concluded that many minorities on campus felt they were not being represented by groups and activities on campus.

Patrick included Vice President for Student Development Chris Kendall in her research, and Kendall began to hold panels to discuss diversity issues on campus, which led to the creation of a new organization called Black Students and Allies (BSA).

BSA’s founding members are sophomores Ciera Patrick, Krista Barnes, Jamal Arnold and Miles Dunna.

“Black Students and Allies is an organization on campus that was not only created to give minorities an opportunity to openly express themselves, but also to give them a chance to present to SMU a realistic view of their cultures,” said BSA President Ciera Patrick.

BSA has already thrown a pajama party in September, raised money for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and celebrated inner beauty for a week in October. The organization has many more events planned for the future.

“We have a soul food dinner on Nov. 19 that [students] are excited for, and we have a month’s worth of events we have planned during Black History Month,” BSA Vice President Krista Barnes said.

PR and Communications Coordinator Jamal Arnold is especially excited about one particular event.

“Karaoke night is going to be a blast,” he said. “Everyone loves good karaoke, and what better way to bond members of the SMU student body than with the universal language of music?”

These events are important for Black Students and Allies to establish their efforts and help them reach their goal of enduring as a campus club.

“We want to be around to usher in a new attitude toward black culture not just at SMU, but throughout Winona,” said Arnold.

Campus Safety talks fire pit regulations

By Meg Beerling
Feature Editor
Campus Safety Director Phil Gaddis and Associate Director Clint Estle discussed the responsibilities students have while utilizing the fire pits that Saint Mary's University offers for student recreation.

According to the 2011-2012 Resource Guide & Daily Planner, fire pits are to be reserved 48 hours in advance.

“Now that’s what we like it to be,” said Gaddis.

Students are allowed to come in within less than 48 hours have Campus Safety hear the request, said Estle.

“If someone came in today and said that they’ve got friends [visiting] and would like to have a bonfire tonight, I’d probably approve it,” said Estel.

“We are willing to work with students,” he said. “We take things on a case-by-case basis.”

For about a week before SMU’s Autumn Recess, the state issued Winona County as a “No Burn Zone,” said Gaddis. Even though SMU is on the outskirts of that zone, it was under orders to have no fires because of how dry it was, he said.

Wild fires were turning up and it was a strict safety precaution, said Gaddis.

“Then we got some rain, and it was back to approving requests,” said Estle.

“The fire pits are a wonderful resource,” said Estle. “We want to encourage students to go out and do those things, but there are responsibilities that come with that.”

Said Gaddis, it all comes down to responsibility, and the regulations regarding the SMU fire pits are similar to those of other locations with like facilities.

Students must make sure that the fire is extinguished completely once they are done, said Estle.

Should the rules be broken, the next step is a conversation with the permit holder, said Gaddis. He said Campus Safety want to have someone to talk to about the regulations and to make sure they know about their responsibilities as a fire permit holder.

There is not a set time frame for having bon fires but Gaddis advises students not to be out in the bluffs past 1 a.m. Camping is not allowed in the bluffs, so if students are out much later than that, it starts “getting into camping territory,” he said.

Also, in accordance with the campus-wide policy of not having alcohol outside of residence halls, alcohol is not permitted at these events, said Estle.

“The fire pits are there for students to use and enjoy,” said Estle. “[They] just have to know it comes with responsibilities just like anything else.”

Goal of alcohol policy explained

By Meg Beerling
Feature Editor

Nikki Hodous (formerly Nikki Peters) spoke of the practical reasons for Saint Mary's University’s alcohol policy as well as her feelings about the restrictions placed on students.

“It’s been easier for the administration at other places I’ve worked,” said Hodous, director of residence life at SMU. Other schools would rather segregate their student populations based on age so the administration does not have to sort out underage drinking, she said. However, she said that SMU cares about its students and takes a practical approach to health, safety and good decision making.

“SMU really does listen to its students,” said Hodous. Last year, as part of his duties as a student senate representative, Bob Rousseau approached Residence Life with the student concerns that one case of beer or two bottles of wine or one bottle of liquor per Village apartment was not a practical amount. This year, the amount of alcohol allowed per Village apartment was doubled.

“It’s just proof that the senators listen, and the school does too,” said Hodous.

Hodous said that the administration doesn’t want to prohibit students from having fun. She said the goal of alcohol regulations is to help students learn responsibility for alcohol in social settings.

“Our fines and punishments are a lot different from the law and court systems,” said Hodous. SMU policy tries to provide a more educational punishment rather than huge fines or worse consequences, she said.

Underage drinking is punishable in different ways on campus. According to the policy, an underage student may be required to take one of three alcohol courses accompanied by $25, $50 or $100 fines, depending on the violation. These punishments are not linear. Each violation is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, said Hodous. SMU is also willing to work with students by giving them community service options, she said.

“We all make mistakes,” said Hodous. “The more willing a student is to be honest, the easier it is to help [him or her].”

The breath test is the biggest thing, said Hodous. If a student hasn’t been drinking, it is his or her responsibility to take the test, she said; it is not the responsibility of the staff to remind students.

“I try to tell students that at the beginning of the year because that’s important,” she said. “And if you have been drinking, don’t take it; it’s just going to get you in more trouble.”

Residence Life tries to be reasonable by allowing students to associate with peers of all age groups, said Hodous.

“It’s not like we go around looking for violations,” she said. “It usually goes along with a noise complaint or some other violation, so be smart about social gatherings.”

Tobacco use policy discussed

By Gabby Limonciello
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s University prohibits the use of chewing tobacco as well as the presence of hookah and all other drug paraphernalia on campus, according to the SMU handbook. The smoking of cigarettes, cigars and pipes is permitted when 20 feet away from any building entrance.

Any individual who violates any of these regulations will face disciplinary action, according to the handbook.

“Ten years ago these rules were not stated in the handbook and were not considered as much of a problem as they are today,” said Marc Hartmann, hall director and graduate assistant of student life.

This policy is important because it provides our campus with a safer and healthier environment for students, said Hartmann. Had this regulation not been set, the atmosphere students see now would be completely changed, he said.

Hartmann believes this rule is considered fair because it still allows students to smoke if they so choose, as long as they are the appropriate distance away from a building.

By not banning tobacco completely, students are able to engage in activities as they smoke, while also providing a safe environment to non-smokers, said Hartmann.

Students have questioned why hookah is not allowed on campus. The reasons for banning hookah are that hall directors and resident assistant are not certain if the student is smoking hookah or an illegal substance, said Hartmann. He also said it comes down to trust, and that is partially why it is not allowed.

Said Hartmann, “It could be worse – smoking could be banned on campus, which I am sure would cause some major issues.”

Johnson: Class attendance policy benefits students

By Sam Kleese
Cardinal Staff
The class attendance policy at Saint Mary's University states that students are expected to attend all class meetings, according to the student handbook.

The policy gives the student responsibility to notify the instructor prior to missing class and to submit work that is due prior to the missed class meeting.

SMU professor Peggy Johnson agrees with the attendance policy. Johnson’s goal is to help students succeed, she said.

“Attending classes teaches responsibility and discipline and establishes a stronger relationship with the teacher and other students,” said Johnson. Students are held accountable in attending classes through a private school, said Johnson, so teachers taking attendance become more mindful of a pattern. This can help the student make sure they attend class, said Johnson.

The policy is reflected by student grades, Johnson said; they will be negatively affected if a reliable excuse is not given before the absence.

The handbook states that professors can lower grades if they aren’t notified prior to an absence. Instructors are under no obligation to provide make-up exams or quizzes or to accept late work if a student fails to speak with the instructor prior to the absence, according to the handbook.

Johnson believes that this policy is important to students because it can help them learn how to independently manage their work and start to take control of their academic lives. This policy also teaches students about respecting instructors and being courteous when informing instructors of absences.

New frights at annual Walk of Horror

By Julianne Bartosz
Copy Editor

The Walk of Horror at Saint Mary’s University is in its 15th year and still scaring people of all ages from the Winona community. The screams will be heard throughout SMU’s bluffs on Oct. 21-22 and 29-31 from 7 to 10 p.m.

About 1,100 people walk through the haunted forest every year, according to SMU head fastpitch softball coach Jen Miller. The Walk of Horror is the fastpitch softball team’s main fundraiser, said Miller. This year the money raised will help the team pay for it’s spring trip for a tournament in Clermont, Fla.

The Walk of Horror is a fun and safe event for all ages, according to Miller. She said that the scare level is decreased for younger children and increased for only the bravest of groups.

“It’s a good team-building activity that [also] serves the Winona community,” said Miller.

The softball team gets to know each other while working together to design, plan, and carry out all the scenes in the haunted walk, said junior fastpitch player Paige Carter. “We get to know teammates as players during our fall ball season, but the haunted forest lets us get to know each other outside of softball. We bond as a team and get to see everyone’s goofy side,” said Carter.

The Walk of Horror covers the same path every year, but scenes and scares change every year. Miller said that the same advertising design has been used for several years now and “it’s become a trademark.”

Approaching her third year of work with the haunted forest, Carter said, “It’s amazing that people come back for the scare even after 15 years, but we change it up every year, and half of our team is new so I’m interested to see the new spin.”

It is freshman softball player Sam Borawski’s first year working the haunted forest and she “cannot wait to scare people when they least expect it.” She said, “I don’t know what was done in the past, but the [returning players] said that people want more things that will make them jump, so we planned them. It was important to them to plan new things while considering people’s comments from last year after walking the trail.”

This year, the softball team will be assisted by the women’s hockey team.

Said Carter, “We do the majority of the work and the scaring, but other people help, too. Our coaches are the biggest help we receive.”

After all of their hard work, Carter said, “The biggest reward is hearing that people like it and come back a second time [in the same year]. It is nice to know our time and effort was not wasted.”

Borawski also said that the upperclassmen believe the outcome reflects the effort put in. She said that returning players “take pride in it, but the enjoyment that visitors show make it worth it, especially when they return year after year.”

Brave community members who walk the trail meet on the path between the baseball and softball fields.

The cost is $5 for adults and $4 for students with ID and children 12 and younger. For more information, contact Miller at 507-457-6923.

SAC offers Valleyscare visit

By Matt Wagner
Cardinal Staff

The Student Activities Committee (SAC) hosted a trip to the Halloween Haunt at Valleyscare on Oct. 22, at an attractive price of only $10 per person.

The event takes place at Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee, Minn., located about three hours northwest of Winona, making it a fun day trip for those who attended.

“I have been to Valleyscare a few times over the past couple of years,” said freshman, Tore Anderson. “They have a lot to do other than just rides and shows. A lot of the attractions they have are different than other haunted houses in the Twin Cities.”

Valleyscare features nine separate haunted mazes and zones in addition to its rides that are also open to the public. These haunted zones include Mr. Cleaver’s Bloodshed and the Mangler Asylum. With live entertainment such as Blood Drums and Mick Mangler’s Madness and Mayhem Show, the park has a lot to offer haunted house enthusiasts during the fall season.

“It was a ton of fun. A lot of people ended up attending the event, and everything about it was great,” said freshman SAC member Joe Budin. “We rode rides and then went through the different haunted houses; they had a pirate ship themed haunted house, one with clowns and a vampire castle. It was better than I had thought it would be.”

The event sign-up sheet filled up quickly, with more than 40 students attending, making it quite a successful event for SAC.

“It filled up a lot faster than I thought it would,” said Lance Thompson, assistant activities director of SAC. “We originally had to have 40 people for the event, but we ended up with 55. I would say it is a good possibility that we could be going next year and in future years as well.”