Friday, November 16, 2012

Voices for Justice a huge success


By Marc Hartmann
Guest Writer

Saint Mary’s University held its first Voices for Justice event on Nov. 9 to raise awareness for different causes and issues that students see in the world around them while raising money to donate, according to Hall Director (HD) Charissa Jakusz. 

Jakusz was one of the primary organizers of the event. The event was held in the Toner Center Dining Hall and consisted of a live auction, musical performances and a presentation from representatives of 10 different causes that were voiced.

“Our goal was that during our centennial year, we could start a program that would tie into our mission of empowering students to ethical lives of service and leadership,” said Jakusz.

The event raised over $2,100. Jakusz exclaimed without hesitation that the event was a huge success.  She said, “Being able to give over $700 to each of the three causes far exceeded our expectations.”

Nominations to voice a cause were sent around campus prior to the event.  During the event 10 students and organizations voiced their cause and gave the audience an opportunity to vote on their top three causes. 

After what Jakusz called “a very close vote,” the three winning charities that split the proceeds were Casa Miller, the Wounded Warriors Project and Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare.  Casa Miller is a school for indigenous boys in Guatemala that was started by Brother James Miller, a SMU alum who gave his life in Guatemala in 1982. The Wounded Warriors Project provides services to severely injured service members during the time from active duty and transition to civilian life.  Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare is based in Saint Paul and provides medical and other care to children with disabilities.

The live auction at the event gave members of the audience the opportunity to bid on items donated by members of the SMU and local community.  Some of the items included gift certificates to local restaurants, a tablet, free rounds of golf and movie baskets.

Pre-fundraising programs to raise money for the causes voiced at the event were implemented by resident assistants (RA’s) around campus throughout the semester.  Some of these events included a car wash, a trash pick-up, a taxi service around campus and a pie your RA/HD.  All proceeds from these events went directly to the causes chosen at the event.

Jakusz hopes that the event will be a tradition carried out at SMU for years to come. “Next year hopefully even more people can get involved, and we can raise even more money for some great causes.”

Jakusz expressed special thanks to everyone who came to support the event, the individuals that donated items for the auction, the RA’s who spent time planning the event and students who voiced a cause.

Bushlack named benefit dance recipient


Mary Nordick
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s community has unanimously chosen Sabrina Bushlack to be honored as this year’s recipient of the annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance (TRBD).     

The Saint Mary’s University community was shocked this past July when one of its own, Bushlack, was involved in a car crash in which she suffered critical injuries. Bushlack is a very active member of the Saint Mary’s community. She is biochemistry major and is on both the volleyball and track teams. Since the accident, Sabrina has been defying the odds as she continues her rehab, getting stronger every day.

“There are a lot of different things going on in our community, but I was happy that we had lots of nominations and they were all for Sabrina,” said Nikki Richmond, mother of Taylor Richmond who the dance is named after. “The community and her peers were the ones that choose her and I am very proud of that.”

Nominations are accepted from all SMU community members who are willing to nominate someone.  Then, the TRBD Committee that plans the event chooses the recipient who will receive all the money collected from the event.

“I’m seriously astonished and entirely grateful, and it means a lot to me and my family,” said Bushlack. “It’s something I never dreamed of and never would have expected.”

The TRBD is a formal dance that began in 2001 and is now entering its thirteenth year, fittingly matching the thirteen that Bushlack wore on her SMU volleyball jersey. The dance will take place on March 23 at 8 p.m. in SMU’s gymnasium.  It is always very well attended by the entire SMU community.

Student Activities Committee utilizes social media


By Alexi Lund
Cardinal Staff

The Student Activities Committee (SAC) of Saint Mary’s University (SMU) is taking steps towards increasing their social media presence on campus with a goal to engage more students in activities that are happening frequently around campus, according to Director of Student Activities Lance Thompson.

As technology advances, groups like SAC are constantly thinking of new ways to advertise and promote events on campus. There will always be ways to utilize flyers and posters that are spread throughout campus, but Thompson thought that SAC needed to be more serious about this opportunity to promote events through social media.

This year, SAC created a new position on their e-board to specifically manage social media for activities and events. The main social media outlets that SAC is present and active on are Facebook and Twitter, where they post daily messages about what is happening around campus. SMU students are encouraged to follow them on Twitter or like their Facebook page.

SAC hosted an event with the mobile device app “OHHLALA” at the beginning of the year, said Thompson. This was a success for being the first time SAC has used this technology at SMU. “I think this will be a useful tool in the future,” said Thompson. “The company is just starting out so we are all learning right now.”

SMU senior Carissa Hahn, who is responsible for SAC’s social media, said, “I really hope to increase our presence on Facebook and Twitter because I want these pages to be the places students go to see what is happening around campus.”

Hahn has started implementing a social media calendar for her personal use to ensure more frequent and up-to-date posts are available to students. “I am working on publicizing SAC’s Facebook and Twitter accounts around campus because I do not know if many students are even aware of them,” said Hahn.

Hahn said one of her biggest challenges has been being able to stay on top of it. “There is always something to be posted about, there can easily be more than one post a day,” said Hahn.

SAC’s increased presence on these social media pages is very beneficial for students. “I think this transition will be a very positive thing,” said Hahn. “Most students are busy and use their phones or laptops a lot, which is why using Facebook and Twitter to find out about events on campus can become very convenient.”

SMU students make a difference in the community


By Regina Barbosa
News Editor

This year, 177 Saint Mary’s University students volunteered around Winona, Minn., on national Make a Difference Day.

“Make a Difference Day” is a national day of helping others that was created by USA WEEKEND magazine. It is held on the fourth Saturday of every October.  This is SMU’s fifth year proudly joining the millions of people throughout the nation who are volunteering.

“This was our largest year for need. We had 58 organizations contact us,” said Co-Director of Campus Ministry Chris McClead. Students went out in various groups and did everything from cleaning creeks to helping the elderly and disabled, he said.

Co-President of Volunteer Mentors Jacinta Jude helped organize the volunteer day at SMU. She worked with a group that helped clean up the Winona Visitors Center. “It’s fun to see the difference when you start to when you end, and how appreciative the people are,” she said.

Other groups went to Shives Creek and various homes in the neighborhood. The students did a variety of activities including raking leaves, cleaning behind refrigerators, putting in storm windows and moving furniture. The students put in over 530 volunteer hours combined.

“We try to engage the larger community of Saint Mary’s in service to the residents of Winona,” said McClead. The Office of Campus Ministry and Volunteer Mentors also organize Spruce Up Winona to be held on April 20 and the freshman volunteer day, which was held on Sept. 1.

“To create a positive relationship and to help achieve something simple does feel good and that is the difference that is made,” said McClead. It’s also a great opportunity to share in our Lasallian Catholic mission, he said.

SMU reveals Strategic Plan 2017


By Julianne Bartosz
Editor in chief

Saint Mary’s University’s Strategic Plan 2017 encourages the university to grow on its strengths while maintaining a vibrant community for students, according to SMU President Brother William Mann.

In a town hall forum for students on Nov. 6, Br. William and Senior Vice President of University Advancement Steve Titus discussed SMU’s new strategic plan.  The SMU Board of Trustees approved the plan on Oct. 5.

“The new plan is a five year guide for launching into the next century,” said Titus.  “It emphasizes a collective, collaborative voice.”  He added that this is the university’s first strategic plan in over a decade.

Titus said the strategic plan aims to make SMU “a top tier national university preparing tomorrow’s leaders.”  He said the goals of the plan will be sequenced over the next five years, rather than implementing all aspects of the plan.

The new strategic plan includes three themes: “strengthen and preserve our core mission and identity,” “innovate and grow – the three centers of excellence” and “steward and strengthen our resources.”  Each of these themes has three goals, which have at least one additional objective.

Br. William said that these themes will allow the university to help students grow as a whole person, including both curricular and co-curricular activities.  Titus added that they also allow the university to grow based on the principles of its mission.  He said the mission is important because “a lot of people invest in the university because they strongly believe in the mission.”

Titus said that over 900 people were involved in the development of the Strategic Plan 2017, including “student voices that helped us shape what we’re doing over the next five years.”

“It includes a lot that concerns the student body.  We want students to get more involved,” said Br. William at the Nov. 6 forum aimed at educating students.  Only two students were in attendance.  He associated the lack of attendance with a strong level of trust between students and administration as well as student interest in the U.S. presidential elections.

Town hall meetings were also held on both the Winona and Twin Cities campuses for faculty and staff.

The Strategic Plan 2017 is posted on SMU’s website at www.smumn.edu/strategicplan.

SMU celebrates El Día de los Muertos


By Carissa Hahn
Copy Editor

Saint Mary’s University (SMU) has been celebrating El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) during the month of November through a memorial created in the Saint Thomas More Chapel.

Graduate Assistant for SMU Office of Campus Ministry Keith Donovan said that the main purpose of this holiday is to remember and pray for our loved ones who have passed away and honor them for leaving a lasting impression on us.

The memorial consists of an altar with memorabilia that community members have shared to honor loved ones who have passed, said Donovan. At the center of the table lies a prayer book called “The Book of the Dead,” where people are invited to write the names of their departed loved ones.

Donovan said that the Office of Campus Ministry also held a prayer service on Nov. 2 near the memorial. Community members who were present shared stories of the loved ones that they were remembering, said Donovan. Over a dozen people attended the prayer service.

Lorelle Brune, SMU student and active member of Campus Ministry, read at the prayer service. Brune said the altar also consists of pictures, incense, candles and other artifacts in remembrance of loved ones who have passed.

El Día de los Muertos is a Hispanic holiday. The traditions of acknowledging the dead and the spiritual world at this time of year dates back to ancient times, said Donovan.

The first was held thousands of years ago when Pagans and Celts celebrated the feast of Samhain. Samhain represented the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. People believed that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest during this time. In order to remember the dead on the night that falls halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, they would use prayer and ritual. The American term “Halloween” comes from contractions of “All Hallows Eve” or “the holy evening.”

Each year, the Catholic Church recognizes Nov. 1 as All Saints Day and Nov. 2 as All Souls Day. Donovan said, “The Church uses the month of November to continue to remember those who have gone before us.” This tradition is sometimes referred to as “Novembering.”

“I think people wanted to celebrate Day of the Dead because it is a Hispanic tradition, and at SMU there seems to be some intentionality to involve students of different cultural backgrounds,” said Brune. “It was a way to unite both our Catholic identity, and our multicultural campus community.”

‘Meet the Pros’ event offers career insight to students


By Megan Hafner
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s University’s Public Relations/Business (PR/B) Club visited prominent professionals to gain insight at PDI Ninth House in Minneapolis, Minn., on Nov. 15.

About twenty students from SMU attended the “Meet the Pros” event hosted by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), according to Coordinator for Mass Communication Dean Beckman. Students also visited the Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota to hear about the experiences of two SMU alumni who work in the communications office there, said Beckman.

“These types of field trips are a great way for students to take a step toward their professional development by learning about what others do in the industry,” said Beckman. Some of the representatives at the “Meet the Pros” event included the Vice President of Weber Shandwick Tracy Kurschner and the Editor in Chief of American Craft magazine Monica Moses. Weber Shandwick is an international Public Relations Firm.

PR/B Club Secretary Shannon Nelson said, “This is a great networking event for students to meet professionals in this field.” She said this was a field trip open to all students to listen to professionals talk about what they do and the path that they took to get to where they are today in the public relations field.

“The ‘Meet the Pros’ event is a great way for juniors and seniors to get their name out there, and networking is a good way to get a job for out of the classroom, real-world experience,” said Nelson. Seniors and juniors were encouraged to bring their resumes and cover letters for the professionals to look at and improve, while also asking questions about the public relations industry.

SMU student publishes book


By Joua Xiong
Cardinal Staff

A Saint Mary’s University senior published his first book, The College Life Guide 101, to provide helpful tips and resources for students who are heading off to college.

SMU senior Brian Thomas published his book in March 2012. His book offers tips on handling student loans and the process of the financial aid application. The book also gives advice on how to manage and balance a college schedule as well as choosing the right major.

The College Life Guide 101 is the perfect preparation tool for college,” said Thomas, who hopes to guide future college students. “I wanted to help future students with the same kind of struggles that I had coming to college.”

Thomas enrolled as a freshman at SMU in 2009 with some of his difficulties adjusting to college life. “College has a lot more responsibilities,” said Thomas. “It was a major transition from being a high school student.” He said his struggles motivated him to start the book in 2010.

According to Thomas, his goal is to have the book translated into other languages. In the future, Thomas hopes to create a new edition that features additional series of the college life guide.

Thomas, from Chicago, Ill., is majoring in English and minoring in art. He is the Student Senate’s vice president for public affairs and a member of the men’s varsity basketball team. He writes for the Cardinal newspaper and enjoys creating poetry.

The College Life Guide 101 is now available and can be purchased at www.collegelifeguide101.com and Amazon.com. 

Habitat promotes recycling


By Kelsey Hulbert
Feature Editor

Habitat for Humanity collected aluminum cans to fundraise and promote awareness of a more eco-friendly campus, according to SMU Habitat for Humanity President Desiree Caballero.

Habitat set up collection areas in each dorm to allow all students the opportunity to make a difference, said Caballero.

“Recycling does not get taken care of as it should,” said Caballero.

Caballero said she wants to spread awareness of an eco-friendly campus because the current recycling system is not convenient and is not used properly by students.  The aluminum cans collected, including beer cans, were given to Habitat to cover chapter fees and raise funds to help students go on a January trip to Fergus Falls, Minn., said Caballero. The trip will focus on building houses and teaching students home-building skills. 

“You can still make a difference even if you don’t know anything about construction,” said Caballero. “It’s a great way to learn to do something you wouldn’t normally do.” 

Habitat also participated in trick-or-treating for cans and change in the Winona community. They collected seven trash bags of cans and $170. 

“It’s great getting the word out and letting people know what SMU is about,” said Caballero. She said that Habitat will also be selling tool-shaped cookies to fundraise for supplies that Habitat is in need of.

Peace and Justice Club’s Fair Trade Friday offers free treats


By Kelsey Hulbert
Feature Editor

SMU’s Peace and Justice (P&J) Club promotes sustainability and supports small scale farmers by offering free Fair Trade coffee, tea and hot chocolate every Friday from 7-10 a.m. in Saint Mary’s Hall.

Fair Trade is an organized social movement that aims to promote sustainability and help producers in developing countries to make better trading conditions like fair and equal wages without exploitation.

“Fair Trade Friday is a club tradition that also raises awareness of a social justice issue,” said P&J Club President Meghan Campbell.

Even though Fair Trade Friday items are given to SMU students, staff and faculty for free, Campbell said that donations are greatly appreciated.  “We have received a record amount of donations this year,” said Campbell.

The donations collected help the P&J Club replenish supplies for their weekly Fair Trade Friday, which are bought at Winona’s Bluff County Co-op.  Additional funds are put toward other club activities like their trip to the annual School of the Americas (SOA) Vigil at Fort Benning, Ga.  

The P&J Club will also hold a Fair Trade sale Nov. 28-30. The sale will include items like coffee, candy, chocolate and crafts. Campbell said that all purchases will directly support the person or people who created the item, which can often play a major role in their survival.

Another future event is the club’s Common Threads clothing drive, which will take place second semester. For this event, the club accepts clothing donations from the SMU community and sells them to raise funds for the club.  Campbell said the remaining clothing is donated to Winona Volunteer Services.

Further club initiatives include promoting going green. The club has purchased mugs from the Salvation Army and urges students to use the reusable mugs to eliminate using paper cups. 

Campbell said her favorite part of being in involved in the club is educating others and learning about social justice issues.  “I’m big on social justice, equality and helping people become aware of things that are going on around the world,” she said.  

S.O.U.L. trip to Milwaukee teaches students about urban agriculture


By Kelsey Hulbert
Feature Editor

On an October Serving Other United in Love (S.O.U.L.) trip to Milwaukee, Wis., ten SMU students learned about problems in agriculture today while working at Growing Power.

Growing Power is an organic farm in the heart of the city that focuses on providing healthy food to urban areas.  The organization focuses on sustainable food production and the growth of communities through local gardens.

Present agricultural problems that SMU students learned about center around the reliance on processed and pre-packaged food.  By furthering the reliance on processed food, people are giving up their right to have safe, affordable and plentiful food.

­­­SMU students also had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience like mucking chicken pens, picking tomato plants, spreading mulch, sifting dirt and weeding.

Will Allen, the CEO of Growing Power, is hoping to create a foundation of urban agriculture in order to bring the benefits of a community food system to the needs of a large city.

Agriculture has become increasingly more industrialized and reliant on unsustainable practices while creating a huge gap in between the food source and the consumer.  This forces people in large urban areas to buy inexpensive and low-quality food and sacrifice fresh fruits and vegetables for low-cost processed food.  This has an avalanche affect on healthcare and social welfare and especially harms the poor.

Tips for Going Green


By Kelsey Hulbert
Feature Editor

       Ride a bike into town instead of driving and plan ahead to combine your weekly errands into one           
         trip 
       Make use of the recycling facilities around campus
       Unplug cell phone chargers when not in use
       Power down your laptop when not in use
       Turn the light of in your room when you leave for more than one minute
       Reuse containers and bags
       Use reusable coffee mugs and water bottles
       Turn the water off while you’re brushing your teeth
       Reduce your paper use by utilizing e-mail more
       Donate and shop at the thrift shop 

Blue Angel stuns once again


By Keotta House
Cardinal Staff

The Brothers of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Eta Nu Chapter hosted the annual musical variety show Blue Angel and once again it left the crowd stunned and awed by the talents this year.

The show was held in the cafeteria of the Toner Student Center on Nov. 2 and 3. Students performed the live musical acts from a wide variety of genres, from Taylor Swift’s newest hit single to one of Aretha Franklin’s old time classics.

There were three shows on Friday and two on Saturday. The late Saturday show was standing room only. Half of the proceeds from the show were donated to charities aimed at fighting men’s cancers. 

Juniors Rebecca Krueger and Eli Arnold had the honors of being the mistresses or hosts of ceremony. They kept the crowd laughing in all three shows. The two even performed an act of their own singing Starland Vocal Band’s hit single “Afternoon Delight.”

Although every performance was special there were some standouts.

The Trio of Shelby Clarke, Colleen Morgan and Jessica Drake performed a crowd-silencing rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s hit song “Dark Side,” garnering a standing ovation.

Bill Van Wagner brought the crowd to their feet with a mash up of Beyoncé’s hit song “Halo” and The Notorious B.I.G.’s classic “Juicy.”

Jessica Ingvalson got the crowd singing with her rendition of Taylor Swift’s hit “Never Ever Getting Back Together.”

Charlie and the Keys wowed the audience with their rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing.”

The Oldie Moldie All-Stars wrapped up the exciting show with their performance and nearly had the whole cafeteria out of their seats. 

At the Movies: ‘Argo’


By Brian Thomas
Cardinal Staff

The critically acclaimed film Argo starring Ben Affleck (The Town), Bryan Cranston (Emmy Award winning actor from AMC’s Breaking Bad) and John Goodman (The Artist) manages to please its audience without complicating its plot.

Based on actual events, Argo is the amazing story about a CIA mission to rescue six Americans held captive during a conflict with Iran and the people who were brave enough to make it happen.

In true Hollywood fashion, a CIA operative played by Affleck hatches a plan to film a movie in order to disguise the hostages as the production crew and safely transport them out of the country. The film’s best moments come during the planning and setup of the mission in hilarious exchanges between veteran actors John Goodman and Alan Arkin. They both portray Hollywood big shots that use their connections to assist the CIA.

If a movie is being made about a CIA mission, it is a success. The overall execution of the plotline and script accompanied by superbly acting by the all-star cast. Affleck, who stars and directs this spy-thriller, manages to display the key roles of a real event and capture the raw emotions of each character. He once again shows that he belongs in the same conversation with Hollywood’s elite directors with his other films, especially his The Town in 2012.

The very fact that the CIA approved a mission like this may raise some eyebrows of the American people, but the film itself will warm the hearts of moviegoers around the nation. With a certified fresh rating of 95 percent approval from the movie critic site RottenTomatoes.com, audiences are guaranteed to enjoy it. 

Movie Review: Not taken by ‘Taken 2’


By Petey Brown
A&E Section Editor

Yet again Brian Mills (Liam Neeson) and his family are in another situation overseas where someone has been taken in the hit movie Taken’s sequel, Taken 2.

Mills is a retired CIA operative who is working security in Istanbul.  He invites his ex-wife and daughter to come visit him after he finishes his job.  Mills ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen) is upset because she is going through a divorce with her husband and accepts Mills’ offer to visit.  Lenore and her daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) come to Istanbul for a nice visit. But that is not in store for them.

Albanian human traffickers are targeting the Mills family. They are seeking revenge for the family members that Mills killed to save his daughter in Taken. The Albanian traffickers manage to capture Leonor and Brian, but not Kim.  Brian manages to warn Kim to watch out for the takers, and she evades them. 

In this movie, it is now Kim trying to rescue her father.  Kim does not go to the United States Embassy. Instead, she tries to help her father herself.

Taken was awesome, but its sequel is a bit disappointing.  The movie did not seem as realistic as the first. It was just plain silly at times.  At one point in the movie, Kim throws grenades to try finding her father.  She does not get arrested doing this either.  It was as if Director Oliver Megaton was trying too hard to one up his last film and it did not end well. 

Many critics were not fans of this movie. RottenTomatoes.com, a website that compiles movie reviews together to make a rating for the movie, gave Taken 2 a 21 percent.  However, viewers gave this movie a 57 percent, which is not bad at all. 

The movie was not awful. Liam Neeson he did a good job in this movie. The plot was too much like a generic action movie.  This movie is a good mindless action flick. If you liked the first movie, then go see it.  Taken 2 had a lot of good things from Taken. It just did not do anything special.   

Music Review: ‘Night Visions’ by Imagine Dragons


By Allison Christensen
Cardinal Staff

Emerging from the chaos of showgirls, slot machines and bright lights in Las Vegas, they call themselves Imagine Dragons.

They have broken away from typical casino entertainment and have created a new, intense sound that captures listeners with its throbbing percussion and emotional lyrics. Each song on their debut album, “Night Visions,” emits a certain mood that manifests emotions in the listeners that enable them to connect with the music on a deeper level then just listening.

Formed in 2008, the band consists of frontman Dan Reynolds (drums and vocals), Dan Platzman (drums and viola), Wayne Sermon (guitar) and Ben McKee (bass guitar).  Imagine Dragons blends rock and synthetic instruments to create a fresh, contemporary sound.

“We are gearheads. We do a lot of experimenting with percussion that’s electric and acoustic on top of each other,” said guitarist Wayne Sermon.

Each of their songs has a powerful beat that gives the listener a sense of forward motion.  This is especially apparent with the pounding bass drum in their songs “Radioactive” and “Demons.” Emotional pain inspires each song written by Imagine Dragons.

Their first hit “It’s Time” was inspired by front man Dan Reynolds’ struggle with discovering who he is and figuring out how seriously he wanted to take music. It is featured in The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie trailer.

Their goal is to channel their pain into songs that will inspire others. Songs like “It’s Time” and “Underdog” address common issues that everyone can relate to, such as moving on and being misunderstood.

“We feel that we have finally created something we are all truly proud of and that can hopefully inspire others and help them feel a little less alone. That’s what music is about. It’s the greatest communicator I know,” explained Reynolds. 

Check out Imagine Dragons’ official site, www.imaginedragonsmusic.com, where you can listen to the album “Night Visions,” check tour dates and purchase merchandise.

Second Page: The laughter never ends


By Skylar Finkelstein
Cardinal Staff

Saving laughter and humor, one joke at a time was the goal of the Second Page Super Hero clan.

Second Page is an improve group at Saint Mary’s University that specializes in actors doing improve comedy. The club puts on a production before Halloween to showcase their talents and bring a laugher to SMU’s campus.

This production had a theme of super heroes with ludicrous powers like Haley McComb being “Snack Pack Girl.”  She flew around the world bringing people joy in the form of a simple pebbling cup. These hilarious powers brought tummy-tickling happiness to the audience.

The cast left the crowd laughing long after the act was complete.  This was accomplished by a lot of crowd interaction. Second Page members had a bowl full of games that audience members picked for the cast to act out.

One game included was “Inner Thoughts,” which creates a scene where two actors have to act out a thought given to them.   The game continues with two acts and two people stating thoughts to be acted out.

Also, a crowd favorite was the picture scene portion of the show, which was also the grand finale. This is when Kylie McElarth and Molly Nocera told a story of a vacation they took based on what the other actors positioned themselves in. This sent Second Page out with bang.

Second Page meets every Wednesday in the Common Room at Saint Mary’s Hall from 10 p.m. until midnight.  SMU students are welcome to join in and act out scenes or be audience members. 

Open Mic Night encourages all students to perform


By Midge Reller
Cardinal Staff

All Saint Mary’s students are encouraged to perform at Open Mic Night (OMN) whether students have no performance experience or ample amounts of it.  It takes place one Thursday each month at 9 p.m.

OMN Co-President Andy Bauer said, “It is a place for performers of all sorts of talent varieties, performance abilities or performance histories to perform with an encouraging audience.”

Paul Schmitt, OMN social media guru, described OMN as casual and open to all sorts of acts.  He said, “You can read poetry, do something musical, a comedy sketch or whatever you want to do—we’re very open.”

Both Bauer and Schmitt said one should expect free coffee, a variety of talents and a very accepting atmosphere when attending OMN. 

Each OMN is a different experience with different performers and performances, said Bauer. He said, “The best thing to do is to go in with an open mind.”

Schmitt encourages students to go to support not only friends that might be performing but other people, too. “It’s a good outlet for a lot of people,” he said. “People who wouldn’t typically perform get to, and it helps to get that out.”

Bauer added that OMN builds community.  “You’ll see a lot of people there that you didn’t know had talent,” he said.

The group plans to try new things this year to increase OMN attendance. Bauer said this may include doing an event off campus. He also said he would like to get both WSU and Saint Mary’s involved because it “would help build more community between campuses.”

If interested in performing at OMN, simply show up to the event and sign up for a slot that night. Schmitt said that the event will go as late as necessary to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to perform.

Bauer encourages people interested in performing to take advantage of the opportunity. He said, “There’s no other place where you’ll get the support or the ability to go up and put yourself out there and have that much support and positivity coming from the audience.”

Chamber and Concert Choir to perform annual Lessons and Carols


By Anna Segner
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s University’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will present the Christmas service of “Lessons and Carols” on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chapel of Mary of the Angels, located in Winona, Minn., on Wabasha Street.

The Chamber and Concert members will sing various Christmas carols and hymns. “Lessons and Carols” will also include some short readings in the Christmas spirit.

“Both choirs have been working very hard to prepare for the service,” said sophomore Lauren Salonek.  Salonek is a soprano in both choirs.

Chamber Singers is a group of 25 students that perform their pieces a cappella. Concert Choir is a group of about 70 students that will be performing accompanied by both piano and organ. 

Winning isn’t everything


By: Samantha Borawski
Sports Editor

Seventy-five percent of Saint Mary’s University students participate in some type of intramural during the academic year as a fun and competitive way to get involved on campus.

Intramurals offer a variety of sports each session. Session one offers a selection of outdoor sports such as sand volleyball and flag football. Sessions two and three offer indoor sports like soccer, volleyball, bowling, wiffleball and hockey. Finally, session four offers softball and other outdoor activities.

There is a lot of diversity in participants involved in one or more of the sessions, including student-athletes. Some of SMU’s varsity teams like to make their own individual team for certain intramural sports.

“The best part about playing intramurals is the relaxed setting and being able to be with my team in a different environment,” said sophomore Jessie Burns, who is a member of SMU’s cross country team. “We put together a team because we like to hang out and find fun things to do outside of practice.”

Intramurals are unique because of the difference in teams. There are teams that have played together since they were freshmen and dominate one particular sport.  There are also teams that serve solely as a social opportunity as they include a mix of students who have never met one another.

“Intramurals are about just having fun and playing with friends,” said sophomore Luke Buehler.

For each sport in each session, there are playoffs and a championship game that can be very competitive. Only the top teams get to compete, and the winner receives a student-designed intramural champions t-shirt.

“We strove to make it to the championship game all season,” said sophomore Sadie Lange, who is a member of current sand volleyball championship team “French Toast Mafia.” “It was exciting to win the championship game, but it was also cool to get a free t-shirt.”

Aside from a creative student-designed shirt, each team entered in a session needs to pick its own name. Teams normally have creative and catchy names that are a play on words. Such names during this current intramurals session include: “The Boston Three Party” for 3-on-3 basketball, “Dodge Fathers” for co-ed dodgeball and “Take a Wiff of This” and “Wiffle While You Work” for co-ed wiffleball.

Intramurals are offered for anybody who wants to get involved, regardless of their physical activity level. 

A new look at the game


By Haley Jung
Cardinal Staff

Senior Erin Stenseth has traded her days as a player on the Saint Mary’s women’s hockey team for a role on the team’s coaching staff after suffering a torn labrum.

This season the women’s hockey team has a new assistant coach with a familiar face to the players. It was only last year that Stenseth was a member of SMU’s women’s hockey team as well as the fastpitch softball team.

However, Stenseth is unable to play both sports this year due to a shoulder injury that occurred during last year’s softball season. She said the doctors found she had a torn labrum, which required surgery to fix.

“The whole view of the game has changed for me,” said Stenseth.

Knowing that she was unable to compete after her surgery, Stenseth said women’s hockey Coach Terry Mannor offered her a chance to be on the team as a coach. Still wanting to be part of the team and be around her friends, she accepted the role.

“It is still fun to be around the team,” said Stenseth. “At practice, I am comfortable telling the players what they can work on because I know they will give me feedback so I can improve as a coach as well.”

Stenseth said the hardest part about being a coach is seeing the frustration the team is feeling.  “Seeing them struggle is hard to see,” she said. She said she knows she can’t be out on the ice playing with them and helping them in game settings.

Good health knows no season


By Carissa Hahn
Copy Editor

Working out in the off-season is crucial because this time presents the biggest opportunity to make gains, according to Saint Mary’s Performance Coordinator and Instructor Jamie Herrick

“Many athletes have an off-season of four to six months, which is a great amount of time to improve,” said Herrick.

SMU baseball player Paul LaNasa agrees that working out in the off-season is important. He said, “I think it is important for athletes to work out in the off-season because it provides the physical strength and endurance that will allow an athlete to be ready to go 100 percent on the first day of practice.”

Herrick said that it is important for athletes to tailor their workouts to their sport. He noted, for example, that athletes don’t want to do a lot of long distance running if their sport is mainly power or aerobic. Instead, he said it’d be more beneficial to focus on training with sprinting or jumping.

For most sports, Herrick said he implements two days per week during the off-season to focus on quickness and agility. As the season approaches, he will make the workouts more specific to the sport.

Setting goals is another factor that Herrick said is important. He suggests that athletes not only write down their goals but also post them somewhere they can read them every day.

Working out in the off-season can also help build team unity, according to SMU volleyball player Lexi Assimos. She said this is because teammates are working toward a common goal that does not directly involve the sport they play. “Having goals can help push one another to have a better and stronger season,” said Assimos. “Pushing one another creates unity and comfortableness on and off the court, field or rink.”

Herrick also said working out is not only important for athletes but for non-athletes as well. He said working out is important to one’s overall health and fitness, and the exercise can relieve stress as well.

One last piece of advice from Herrick is to not be scared to ask people why they are doing things. He gave an example about being in the weight room and observing someone working out. Ask what the purpose of the activity is, or why a particular exercise is helpful. Herrick said it’s important to never stop learning and asking questions. 

Work out tips


By Carissa Hahn
Copy Editor

Saint Mary’s Performance Coordinator and Instructor Jamie Herrick offered three tips for students interested in working out:

1. Create a plan: have someone help you design a workout plan. Make sure to institute a logical focus or goal.

2. Listen to what your body tells you: If you’re working out and you are in pain, stop. If your body is tired, make sure to take the right steps to restore your energy.

3. Eat well and get eight hours of sleep: doing these things can help you with your physical and mental health. It can help you with your schoolwork and help you better retain information. 

Women’s hockey geared for success


By Julianne Bartosz
Editor in chief

Saint Mary’s women’s hockey team’s chemistry and talent are expected to lead the Cardinals to a successful season, according to Women’s Hockey Coach Terry Mannor.

The Cardinals are 3-1-0 (overall) at the beginning of their season.  Two of their wins were consecutive conference games against Hamline University on Nov. 9 and 10.  This was the first time since 2003 that the Cardinals opened conference play with a sweep.

“It’s always great any time you sweep anyone,” said Mannor.  He said the team did not play well on Nov. 9, but the girls came together on Nov. 10 to prove themselves with their 4-3 win. 

Mannor said that the team needs to learn from their mistakes to improve and work hard because the women’s hockey team can be as good as anyone in the west.  He also emphasized that the team needs to keep in mind that anything can happen.

This uncertainty is something that the returning members on the team know too well after playing nine over-time games last season.  The eight freshmen on the team got a glimpse of this in their first game of the season against St. Norbert College, which the Cardinals lost 6-3 after having a two-goal lead.

Mannor said the new players bring individual talent, including freshman goalie Tori Herrmann.  “We have a strong goal tending tandem, which we haven’t had in a while,” he said.  Mannor added that freshmen have raised the bar while returning players have also shown improvement.  He said, “Our new players will impact the season in a positive way because returners are leading them in a very positive way."

Junior captain Haley Coolsaet said the new players are willing to work hard and that they have a will to win.  “The best part is that the team chemistry is amazing,” she said.  “We all get a long well.  We are a family.”

Freshman Katie Ehlenfeldt said she is excited to be on such a close team that is dedicated to working hard.  She said, “I want to help the team out as much as possible, not necessarily with points but as a whole.  I want to help the team grow.”  After scoring her first goal against Hamline, Ehlenfeldt said, “It feels good to prove to the team that I can make an impact on the ice.”

The Cardinals are using their conference wins as a boost into their next games, said Mannor.
    
Coolsaet said, “We couldn’t have asked for a better start to our season.  We have definitely set a good tempo for it.”

As the Cardinals move forward in their season, both Mannor and Coolsaet expect the team to continue to work hard. 

“Just because we won doesn’t mean we can’t keep improving,” said Coolsaet.  She said her goals for the season are to never take a shift off, play all three periods and be prepared for anything that may come her way.

Ehlenfeldt said she looks forward to showing the SMU community what the team is capable of doing.  “Hockey isn’t an easy sport,” she said.  “Students should come to see how hard we work and to share the pride we have when we win.” 

Cardinals take the shot


By Katie Krull
Cardinal Staff

Another promising year has approached for the SMU women’s basketball team.

Their season unofficially started Nov. 10 with a scrimmage against Winona State. The Cardinals held a steady lead to win 74-68. The Cardinals beat the Division II ranked Warriors on their home court, heading into the North Central Tournament with a win under their belt.

The roster has jumped from 15 to 19 over the last year, with 11 returners and eight freshmen.  The team has four senior captains: Courtney Athnos, Brittany Begrowicz, Jamie Stefley and Jessica Thone.

“We have the right people in the program, and we continue to get better just because of the kind of people that they are,” said Head Coach Mandy Pearson.

Over the past four seasons, the Cardinals have improved their record substantially. Last year, they had a .519 season. They are looking to continue their improvement with a young group of student-athletes.

This year the Cardinals have recruited eight new freshmen and only graduated one senior. Some would say that having a young team could bring about losses through lack of chemistry and inexperience, but the scrimmage against Winona State proved differently.

Pearson has been coaching the team for the last five seasons, helping transform the team into the fighting force they are today.

Fifth-year returning senior Brittany Begrowicz also saw the progression of this team and compares their success to their experience. “We are a really experienced team,” she said. “We have a lot of freshmen, but they are doing well in this first couple weeks.”

This season the Cardinals are hoping to improve their record and return to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoffs with some vengeance after last year’s loss to St. Thomas in the second round.

This year SMU’s greatest rivalry is against the Gustavus Adolphus Gusties. The Gusties were the Cardinals’ only substantial losses last season. There has been an upset in the conference though because top ranked Gustavus has lost four starters as well as their head coach.

The Cardinals are getting stronger and stronger with every practice. So come support your Saint Mary’s Cardinals this season!

B.T.’s Corner: The season of hibernation


By Brian Thomas
Cardinal Staff

One of the great aspects about being in the Midwest, especially in Winona, is watching the beautiful seasonal changes. The bluffs change from forest green to bright orange.

Nevertheless, every year it’s still a surprise to many of us to see the first snowfall. Once again autumn has come and gone, and the time of great hibernation, winter, is here to stay. Like bears in the frozen Tundra, we bundle up, stay inside for warmth and sleep more often.

The first snowfall brings both joy and sadness to college students. On one hand, it begins the countdown to family holidays and term break. On the other hand, it brings us one day closer to final exams and saying goodbye to dear friends for a short time.

Challenge: Embrace this winter season by coming out of hibernation. Cherish this time with friends and teammate, make the most of your opportunities to succeed and put a smile on your face. A new winter season awaits! What are YOU waiting for? P.S. Don’t forget your hat and gloves!