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!