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.”

Area artists compete in Art Battle

By Kacie Kusinski

Cardinal Staff

Several area artists competed in the Art Battle, “art face-off of epic proportions,” on Oct. 8 at the Winona Arts Center.

The Battle was structured so that two artists “battled” at a time; they were given a set amount of time to come up with a piece of art on the spot.

The artists performed on a well-lit stage in the back of the room at the Winona Arts Center, and there were chairs set up in front of the stage where viewers could sit and watch the artists at work. Music for the event was provided by DJ Rhumpshaker, and Dr. Bob acted as the “referemcee,” serving as both judge and commentator.

According to the Winona Arts Center website, the contenders included Jamie Harper, Julia Crozier, Lyon Smith, Aaron Rykhus, Theresa Crozier, Jerod Schmocker and Brianna Klapperich.

Downstairs, the artists were able to show previous works they created without the time crunch required by the Battle. The work displayed downstairs was available for silent auction bids.

Men's hockey sets bar high

By Keotta House

Cardinal Staff

The Saint Mary’s University men’s hockey team is drawing to a close its pre-season mindset and gearing up for its first game against the University of St. Thomas on Saturday, Oct. 29.

“It’s just that fine line between being a contender and being a rebuilding program and we were still rebuilding last year,” Head Coach Bill Moore said.

“This year we are very excited and we have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs with the guys we have back and the new freshmen this year.”

Last season was a learning process for the team, as there were over 15 freshmen starters throughout the season, said Moore. Now, the team is intact and ready.

Said senior captain Vince Unklesbay, “We only lost two players last year, so we are a much more experienced team this year and we will be better at both gaining leads in games and holding onto them.”

Unklesbay, who switched positions last year from forward to defense, said the transition is going well. “There are many aspects of [my defense] that need work, but overall I think it is going well, and I work to improve every day.”

There is one line in particular SMU fans and opponents should watch for, according to Captain Tom Healy.

“The Kevin Wentland, Austin Balko and Chase Marshall line really took off toward the end of last season, and I am looking forward to seeing them together again,” said Healy.

The Wentland, Balko and Marshall line put up a total of 22 goals, 32 assists, and 54 total points last season.

“Wentland is focused and ready to go this season,” said Healy. “I think we all are just ready to go.” The hockey team is centered around the chemistry between teammates this year. “For the most part our team chemistry is very good right now and it is part of the reason why we are excited about this season,” said Moore.

Moore believes this chemistry will translate into performance on the ice.

“Playing hard for each other and not just for yourself, that’s team chemistry and team unity, and I think we have that now,” said Moore.

The team has high hopes for itself both on and off the ice. They not only want to make the playoffs, but Coach Moore has additional goals for the team.

“My goal is to make sure [the team] is respectful to everyone on campus and respectful to their education,” said Moore. “I want to make sure they meet a cumulative 3.0 [GPA], get 20 or more players on the academic dean’s list and do more than 500 hours of community service.”

“Your education, your experience, and your integrity build character, and that’s what I preach. We’re crossing our fingers that that comes along with winning; then our program will be where we want it to be.”

Bitter-sweet end for some Cardinal golfers

By Morgan Stock

Cardinal Staff

The Saint Mary’s University men’s and women’s golf teams competed in the MIAC Championships in early October to conclude their seasons, marking the last round for team seniors as Cardinals.

Both Cardinal teams finished 10th in the conference.

Despite the disappointing end, seniors feel that they put forth their best effort and had a good season, said senior Lauren Ulbrich.

“For me, I had my record best this year which was an awesome way to end."

Offering insight to up-and-coming freshman golfers, Ulbrich said, "Practice in the off season—it pays off. Then go out there and have fun."

The men's team had a group that hit well and got along with each other, said senior David Borgen. “We could have done better in the MIAC for our senior year, but we each improved our average team score over the course of the season.”

Defeating Carleton College last year during former coach Jeff Stangl’s final season was one of Borgen’s favorite golf memories. Taking third in the Wartburg tournament was an overall team high on the season.

‘Switching sticks’ not a problem for men’s lacrosse

By Nick Bravos

Sports Editor

For the second time in the clubs’ histories, the men’s and women’s lacrosse clubs battled each other in the “switching sticks” fundraiser game, held Saturday, Oct. 8.

After two 15-minute halves, the men’s team came out with a 10-2 win over the women’s team.

Two years ago, the clubs came up with the idea for the men vs. women game, where players switch sticks and uniforms with the opposite team.

Women’s lacrosse gear differs from men’s. For example, women’s sticks come in only one size with shallow pockets, while men have two different sticks, both with deep pockets. Men’s offensive sticks are similar to what the women use, but their defensive sticks are much longer.

“I had done [a men vs. women game] in high school,” said senior captain Meg Beerling, “and it was a great way to get people to come watch and see what the sport was all about, since it's not a very well-known or recognized sport.”

For this year’s game, switching sticks wasn’t the only rule. This time, all equipment was traded, including sticks, helmets and jerseys -- including skirts.

“Many of our male players were wearing skirts and jerseys that were way too tight,” said Jared Haider, men’s senior captain.

“When the game started, it was pretty back and forth for a while,” Haider said. “Then we started to score some goals and get used to the equipment change.”

Wearing the guys equipment was challenging, said Beerling, but it was easier to use their sticks because they have deep pockets. She said it was difficult “to see out of that helmet, and it was far too big for my head so it kept slipping over my eyes.”

Because the helmets the men use aren’t washable, “it smelled like death,” Beerling said.

This year there was also a condition for the losing team. “We tried to make a funny stipulation that the loser had to abide by, but we did not have adequate time to think of one,” Haider said.

The teams decided that the women’s team will buy pizza at the next team party.

The game displays each club’s dedication and effort to raise funds, according to Haider.

“It also shows that our organizations have a sense of humor and know how to have fun and be competitive at the same time.”

SMU is "Going Google"

By Emma Stenzel

Managing & Advertising Editor

Saint Mary’s University will be transitioning its email platform to Google Apps, effective this semester for all current students, faculty, staff and administration.

Google Apps is a collection of messaging and collaboration applications that mirrors Google’s popular email service, Gmail. It is replacing Office-Logic Interchange Webmail after surveyed respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the outdated email server in a 2009 study.

The Google Apps platform offers six services, including Google Mail, Calendar, Talk, Docs, Sites and Video. These tools will offer several advantages that Webmail does not provide, including nearly 300 times more email storage, enhanced message organization, easy calendar and schedule sharing, instant messaging and more advanced mobile configuration.

Sarah Bearbower, information technology manager of academic systems at SMU, said she is especially impressed with Google Apps’ easy-to-use collaboration features.

“You get so much more from email and calendars with Google,” said Bearbower. “It will really allow users to take advantage of the collaboration features, which will make it much easier to work together with peers and faculty members.”

Bearbower said that SMU faculty and staff have already begun the migration process and will be fully switched to the Google Apps system by Thanksgiving Break. SMU seniors will transition on Oct. 18, followed by juniors on Nov. 1, sophomores on Nov. 8 and freshmen on Nov. 15. The process will be complete once graduate and professional students migrate by the end of the semester.

No email addresses will change after the transition; addresses will still end with “@smumn.edu”.

Bearbower said Information Technology will not move old email messages to the new system for students, but the HelpDesk will provide instructions on how to do so on its website.

For more information about the email transition, visit the HelpDesk website at http://techfaq.smumn.edu or contact the Winona campus HelpDesk at 507-457-7800.

Winona campus to build new residence hall

By Samantha Kleese

Cardinal Staff

In order to draw and retain students and improve its facilities, Saint Mary’s University has finalized plans for a new residence hall on the Winona campus.

The concept of the facility was approved by the SMU Board of Trustees last May. The site plan has already been filed with the City of Winona and SMU has sent out a request for construction bids.

SMU administration will reach its goal of beginning construction this fall with plans to have the building completed for the fall of 2012.

The new residence hall is to be built between the high ropes course and the New Village apartments. It will house sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduates during the academic year, as well as participants in conferences, camps and educational programs in the summer.

The new hall will include single-occupancy suites, double-occupancy suites and two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments. There will also be lounges, study rooms and a kitchen to bring individual students together as a cohesive community and promote a learning environment.

The building is intended to have 141 beds in 45 units, with each room having a private bath. The residence hall will be air-conditioned and provide Wi-Fi Internet access.

SMU to celebrate centennial

By Andrea Allis

Editor in Chief

Saint Mary’s University is quickly approaching its centennial: 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of SMU, and much is being done in anticipation of the milestone.

There will be several events to take part in, starting with a Cornerstone Commemoration Event on June 23, 2012, “to honor the initial cornerstone being laid in 1912,” according to the SMU centennial website. Other centennial events in 2012 will include Young Alumni and Cardinal “M” Club Weekend Sept. 7-9, a Chicago Centennial Event Sept. 22, and Family Weekend and Arts Commission Debut Oct. 5-7.

The main event will be the Centennial Celebration Weekend in June 2013. “This event will invite all former alumni, faculty, staff, Christian Brothers, seminar graduates [and others] back to campus and, for some of the graduate students, to campus for the first time,” said Bridget McCoy, centennial and special events director at SMU. She added that the event will mark the end of the centennial year and “ring in the next century of SMU, which is very exciting!”

More events will be posted on the centennial website as the time draws nearer and dates are set, including a specific celebration that will be designed by the students for the students.

Centennial Celebration planning began about two years ago when a Visioning Committee was formed. The committee included faculty, staff, alumni and students from “the major constituency areas [of] Winona, the Twin Cities and Chicago” to “create a vision around the Centennial Celebration,” said McCoy.

After that, the 15-person Centennial Celebration Committee was formed, also comprised of faculty, staff and both undergraduate and graduate students. The Centennial Celebration Committee has been meeting for the past year “to formulate the concrete plans” for the celebration’s events, McCoy said.

Currently, McCoy said, there are 12 working groups that will complete the planning and execution of the Centennial events.

For more information on SMU’s Centennial Celebration, visit the centennial website, www.saintmary’s100.com.

9/11 anniversary brings memories for SMU community

By Jake Schild

Cardinal Staff

A group of Saint Mary’s University faculty and staff gathered in the Toner Student Center Sept. 8 to discuss how the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks affected them personally and how they felt the U.S. military handled the situation after the attacks.

Dr. Rose Beal, a professor of theology at SMU, was working in Washington on the day of the fatal attacks. She explained how shocked everyone was after the attacks.

“For many it was the first time people actually felt they had a human enemy,” Beal said. “We’ve never had to suffer that kind of territorial attack. It was unfathomable.”

She also conveyed how difficult it was for Americans not to immediately turn their fear into anger.

“People really had to wrestle with the tension of, ‘How do I forgive this enemy? How do I pray not only for the people in the World Trade Center, but also for those involved in the mission?’” said Beal.

Dr. Wes Miller, a professor of sociology at SMU, had a brother-in-law living in New York at the time, and Dean of Campus Ministry Dennis Gallagher was teaching at a Catholic high school in New York.

Miller, who was teaching a global issues class at the time, said he felt a need to change the class curriculum after the incident and bring up more multicultural ideals.

“It was a seriousness in that class amongst students and myself,” he said.

Miller also felt as though he saw little “heroics” all throughout the day, explaining that there was a sense of community on campus that came out of the attacks. Beal also mentioned this, noting that “we were there to support each other, to pray for those who suffered losses.”

In terms of U.S. military action after the attacks, almost all of the forum participants were doubtful that exactly the right methods were used.

“One of the issues we continue to deal with is strategic planning,” said Beal. “We perceive war as a solution, yet we are still intentionally naïve about the costs of war.

“You think it’s going to be like a Bruce Willis movie, and it’s not. It never has been. Until we come to terms with that, we will continue to contribute to the problem.”

Both Gallagher and Dr. Jim Rodgers, a professor of history at SMU, said that the U.S. might have been too confident in their subsequent attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Before 9/11 there was a patriotic feeling that we were the most powerful nation in the world and peacekeepers,” Gallagher said. “We were used to quick actions. We thought we could just solve things because of our power, our money, and our might."

“We’re used to ‘American exceptionalism,’” said Rodgers. “We’re finding out the hard way that maybe we’re not as exceptional as we thought. Maybe all the military hardware is not a solution to these problems. We have to take a much longer-termed view. We’re not used to that. We’re used to short fixes: getting it over with and withdrawing. That’s not really the way the world works.”

Rodgers also said that capturing one terrorist leader is much different than bringing total democracy to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We can accomplish killing [Saddam] Hussein, but it’s much harder to make a free and democratic Iraq. We need to quit running these objectives together. We need long-term nation building. We’re not very good at that.”

Jim Bedtke, vice president for the College, and Dr. Jeff Walter, an SMU counselor, thought also that our invasions on both Iraq and Afghanistan could’ve been executed differently.

“We’re becoming a breeding ground for some of that same behavior we so despised, suffered on 9/11. How do we deal with that?” asked Bedtke.

Said Walter, “Punishment doesn’t work well to shape behaviors.”

Guatemala SOUL trip inspirational for all involved

By Kassondra Burtis

News Editor

Guatemala had ten new visitors last May as nine Saint Mary’s University students and one faculty advisor took part in a 12-day trip sponsored by the Campus Ministry program Serving Others United in Love (SOUL).

“It was an amazing experience,” faculty advisor Dorothy Diehl said. “Being able to meet the people and hear their stories was something I couldn’t have learned from a book.”

The group took a couple tours and traveled to a few different cities throughout different parts of the country and got to spend time with children at an orphanage.

Jamie Cooper, student leader of the group, noted some key differences in the international trip to Guatemala as compared to other domestic SOUL trips taken throughout the school year.

“Well the obvious difference is that you go to a different country,” Cooper said. “Another big one is that the Guatemala SOUL trip is not meant to be a service trip. It is meant to be more of an educational trip about social injustices in other countries.

“It is supposed to open people’s eyes and hopefully inspire them to preach what they witnessed and spread the awareness.”

And that’s just what it did for Diehl.

“Standing on the hill and watching the people working in the dump and hearing a woman talk about how she helped save some orphans during the civil war is something that will stay with me forever,” she said.

It was an eye-opening experience for all involved, and both Diehl and Cooper encouraged others to sign up for the trip in the future, even if they don’t speak any Spanish.

“Even if you haven’t had any Spanish, you will benefit from the experience,” Diehl said. “The happiness on the faces of the children as we played games with them at the orphanage showed that you don’t need words to communicate with someone.”

“It’s a life-changing experience in some way or another,” Cooper said. “You will not have any regrets.”

Students show school pride during Cardinal Days

By Morgan Stock

Cardinal Staff

The Saint Mary’s University Student Activities Committee (SAC) always does its best to present students with fun activities on campus.

This year, SAC presented Cardinal Days, a sort of “homecoming week” that provided events and activities for students and invited them to show off their Cardinal pride.

“Since we don't have a football team, we try to do other things throughout the week to generate school spirit,” said Connie Budin, president of SAC.

This year’s Cardinal Days incorporated different dress-up days and gave students chances to win prizes like SMU water bottles, pens and notepads for their attire. Monday was “Wear Red Day,” followed by “Professional Dress Day” on Tuesday. SAC also sponsored a Tug of War contest Tuesday evening, which took place by the Gazebo. The winning team was awarded a $100 gift card to Godfather’s Pizza.

The Big Red Cardinal made an appearance on Wednesday in the cafeteria during lunch hours, and the movie Bridesmaids was shown in Salvi Lecture Hall in the evening.

Thursday was “Thrift Store Treasure Dress Day” and an afternoon presentation of “Can I Kiss You?” was held in the Page Theatre for freshmen.

Friday concluded Cardinal Days with the band The Morning Foreign in the Toner Student Center Game Room.

Each event was free to students and gave them an opportunity to have some fun and show their Cardinal pride.

Look out for more free and exciting activities presented by SAC throughout the year.

English welcomes new professor

By: Ellie Duening

Cardinal Staff

The Saint Mary's University English department is excited about the addition of new faculty member Dr. Erin Clark.

Clark takes the place of Dr. Jenny Olin Shanahan, who left SMU’s English department two years ago, and teaches English Composition, Introduction to Literature, and Dimensions of Literature.

Clark said she most looks forward to the capability and the enthusiasm of the wide variety of students here. And according to English Department Chair Dr. Carolyn Ayers, the students' reaction to Clark's teaching has been "overwhelmingly positive."

Clark said she is also excited to carry out her passion for African American and Holocaust literature.

“The most important task the humanities can accomplish is preparing young writers to communicate with the world around them,” said Clark.

Usually, the hiring process would take place over the course of an entire school year, but in this case it took place over the summer. Before hiring Clark, the English department requested approval to search for a new professor and once it was granted, a short-term search was begun, said Ayers.

Clark was among around 100 interested applicants, according to Ayers, and under a normal timeline, this opening would have generated around 300 applicants. Once the available position was defined, a search committee was formed of English department faculty and professors from different fields, Ayers said.

The committee screened the 100 applications and selected 12 to interview via telephone, said Ayers, and of these, three applicants were chosen to come to campus for a day and to visit and interview. The applicants were then interviewed in a more formal setting, allowing the search committee, the dean and the director of administration to gain a more elaborate understanding of the candidates, Ayers said.

Wellness Center welcomes new counselors

By Jenna Capelle

Cardinal Staff

Two new counselors joined Saint Mary’s University’s Jay Johnson Wellness Center staff last August.

As new faces on campus, Drs. Holly Courtenay and Jeff Walter are anticipating meeting as many students as possible as the school year moves forward.

Walter hopes that students do not hesitate to use the counseling services provided at SMU.

“Students should know that you don’t have to be in an extreme crisis to meet with a counselor,” said Walter.

On a typical day, Walter meets with individuals and couples for counseling, attends meetings, teaches a College Success Strategies class for the Path to Academic Success (PASS) program and gives presentations about different mental health topics, in addition to many other responsibilities. Last week he gave a presentation about overcoming the fear of public speaking.

“I like that my job at [SMU] keeps me on my toes,” said Walter. “I’m not doing the same thing every day.”

Courtenay says she is inspired by how many students utilize the Jay Johnson Wellness Center on campus. She enjoys meeting with students one-on-one and helping them with their problems, consulting with faculty and staff, giving presentations and starting ADHD testing, among other responsibilities.

Throughout the school year, Courtenay hopes to implement new kinds of programs like stress reduction activities and art therapy.

“I’m a huge advocate of art therapy,” said Courtenay. “I think the students would greatly benefit from it.”

According to Courtneay, students’ lives can become hectic when juggling classes, athletics, club activities and social events, and sometimes they can forget to take care of themselves. Courtenay hopes to help students stay healthy.

“Students sometimes forget that mental health is as important as physical health,” said Courtenay.

Outside of their cozy offices, the counselors are advisors of two clubs on campus. Courtenay is the advisor of the new club “Advocates 4 Abilities,” which strives to bring awareness about different mental and physical disabilities. Walter is a co-advisor of the Yoga Club, which meets on Mondays and Wednesdays in the dance studio at 7:30 p.m.

Students who are interested in using the Jay Johnson Wellness Center’s facilities can visit the office located in the basement of the Toner Student Center across from the Residence Life office. Appointments can be made at the front desk or by emailing the counselors at jwalter@smumn.edu or hcourtenay@smumn.edu.

New Student Senate president to lead SMU

By Connie Budin

Cardinal Staff

Student Senate President Bob Rousseau has new and bright ideas for the students of Saint Mary’s University.

Rousseau has compiled an impressive list of credentials leading to his role as Senate president. His experience with leadership began in high school at Cretin Derham Hall High School in Saint Paul, Minn., where he served on its Student Senate’s activities committee his junior year and student life committee his senior year. He was also band president.

As a sophomore at SMU, Rousseau acted as the Senate representative for Gilmore Creek Hall. His junior year, he was a member of Senate’s executive board as vice president of student life, a roll in which he worked with Chartwells Campus Dining and SMU’s Vice President for Student Development Chris Kendall on student issues.

This year, Rousseau was elected as the first male Senate president SMU has seen in four years.

“I’ve never wanted anything more in my life,” said Rousseau.

Duties as president include running Senate meetings and serving as a liaison between the students and administration. Rousseau said he is excited to make an impact on campus and help students.

One way Rousseau plans to impact the university is to create more connections with Senate. He said people often feel that Senate is intimidating, but he plans to change this perception.

Through the involvement of senators and executive board members attending the meetings of clubs and organizations around campus, Rousseau hopes to create a connection that will generate a positive atmosphere between the two parties.

“I want to let them know we care and are present and available for them to contact,” said Rousseau.

Other changes Rousseau plans to implement include volunteer work throughout the Winona community and a food committee with Chartwells.

“We’re going to try to go back towards being a more eco-friendly campus,” said Rousseau. He said this idea has great potential to draw more student involvement on campus and come up with constructive solutions for problems.

Rousseau emphasized that students are more than welcome to attend Senate meetings Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall, located in Saint Mary’s Hall.

He also encouraged students to become involved as additional hall representatives or class officers.

“As long as we are working towards something and having a conversation, I’m for it,” said Rousseau.

Though the role as Senate president is challenging and a great responsibility,

Rousseau said he is enthusiastic and excited about this year at SMU.

“I care about this place and connect with people around campus,” he said. “I want to make it the best it can be, and that comes down to caring and having the ambition to follow the dreams you have for it.”

New faces in business department

By Meg Beerling

Feature Editor

This year Saint Mary's University welcomes two new professors to the business department, Drs. Malcom Gold and Derek Jackson.

Gold currently teaches two sections of Business Statistics, two sections of Microeconomics and one section of an international business class. Jackson teaches several accounting courses, which is his specialty field.

Gold taught at the University of Wisconsin, Marshfield, for two years before coming to SMU, and Jackson was an adjunct professor at Virterbo University in La Crosse, Wisc., for the last three years.

Both Jackson and Gold said that they love the small class sizes here at SMU. Gold said that the small-school atmosphere is something he values for both teacher and student. Similarly, Jackson, a Viterbo alumnus, said he appreciates small class sizes and that it is a “more personal, more impactful way to teach and to learn.”

Gold said the best part of the job is a simple answer for him: the learning. “Education is a positive externality,” said Gold, meaning that the individual or firm making a decision does not receive the full benefit of the decision; the benefit to the individual or firm is less than the benefit to society. Gold enjoys being able to influence the student population, even if it is just a few students, because those students can then go on to influence others.

Jackson said the hardest part of the job is the time commitment. “I want to do a good job,” he said, adding that teaching full time at SMU is a lot different than adjunct teaching one day per week.

Both Gold and Jackson said that they are excited to be here, and they look forward to getting to know people and facing new challenges.

New improvisation class offered

By Raquel Romo

Cardinal Staff

The start of this academic year also meant the start of a new class offered at Saint Mary’s University, as an improvisation class became part of the SMU theatre department’s curriculum.

This class allows theatre majors who have taken Introduction to Acting to also learn the art of acting on a whim. SMU senior Maggie Allexsaht, a current student in this class, said, “It is a really good class and the great part is we only meet four times in one semester in the month of September.” The class met for the last time on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The class is not exclusively for theatre majors; all students are welcome, pro

vided that they have passed Introduction to Acting.

Guest professor Patrick Sutton was described by Allexsaht as “a really great instructor [who] really knows how to make [students] think and get into [their] roles.”

SMU freshman Ashley Curry, who is considering adding the class to her schedule, said, “Improv. is my favorite type of theatre because it releases my inner thoughts and lets me connect to people more.

“Improv. feels different from regular theatre because you are able to step outside of lines and blocking and everything with structure.”

Contact the Registrar’s Office for more information on when this class is offered.

Prints in art gallery support Japan

By Julianne Bartosz

Copy Editor

Saint Mary’s University’s Lillian Davis Hogan Galleries are displaying printmaking pieces that aid tsunami and earthquake relief in Japan.

Printmakers from around the world have contributed to the exhibit, titled “Inspired by Japan: Aid Through the Art of Printmaking.” The exhibit is being shown internationally by a group of artists who together formed the Baren Forum. They gathered with the goal of helping the Japanese victims of the tsunami and earthquake of 2011. The Baren Forum will aid victims by selling its prints and donating proceeds to MercyCorps in collaboration with Peace Winds in Japan.

The pieces in the gallery have been made by woodblock printmaking, many in the traditional printmaking Japanese style. Woodblock printmaking is a relief matrix, meaning areas showing white when printed are cut away from the block used. The design of the print is the original surface level of the block. The block is then inked and pressed firmly on desired material to make a print, a challenging task because the design of the print is cut in reverse to create a mirror image when printed.

SMU’s Art and Design Department Chair Preston Lawing created one piece on display in the gallery. His piece is called “Kamakura Omikuji” and displays a tradition practiced when visiting a Shinto temple. The description of his piece in the gallery explains the tradition and notes that his print’s message is, “We do not accept this disaster as our fate, and we will continue to be strong.”

The exhibit will be open through Sunday, Oct. 2. More information about the

exhibit and the purchase of pieces can be found online at http://barenforum.org/japan/index.html.

Student music groups to perform Family Weekend

By Krista Barnes

Cardinal Staff

The Saint Mary’s University choirs and Concert Band will be performing for Family Weekend, Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. in the Page Theatre.

Dr. Patrick O’Shea, director of both the SMU Chamber Singers and Concert Choir, said there are “250 students on campus involved in some sort of music. This concert is almost like a sample concert for our Lessons and Carrols Concert on Dec. 10.”

The Concert Choir will be performing songs in French, as well as pieces from Gilbert and Sullivan. The Chamber Singers will be performing Swedish pieces, in addition to a song called “Sing to the Lord”. The Women’s Choir, directed by Lindsy O’Shea, and the Concert Band, directed by Dr. Janet Heukeshoven will also be performing.

Tickets for the concert will be $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. For more information, visit www.pagetheatre.org.

Jazz Ensemble, Combo to play Family Weekend

By Trisha Stachowski

Arts & Entertainment Editor

The Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I will be performing a concert in the Figliulo Recital Hall on Friday, Sep. 30.

According to Dr. John Paulson, director of both the Jazz Ensemble and Combo I, the groups have been preparing for this concert since the start of the school year. “We’ve got our selections pretty well picked out,” said Paulson. “Jazz Combo I is going to start things off with three selections and then the [Jazz Ensemble] has five or six that it will play.”

The jazz groups have been involved with Family Weekend since Paulson started teaching at SMU 30 years ago, and “it was going on before then, so probably since the beginning of the music department,” said Paulson.

“We had a good crowd during Family Weekend [last year],” said SMU sophomore Katy Kosiek. “Usually we perform in the Page so it was a very confined space for Family Weekend, but it was good.” Kosiek, a member of both the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I, will be playing solos during both performances. Kosiek said the audience of last year’s concert was a good mix of students, siblings and parents of the students performing.

Tickets for the concert are $5 for seniors and students and $10 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at the Page Theatre.

In addition to the Family Weekend concert, The Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I will be teaming up with the jazz groups from Winona State University for a concert to benefit Somalia. It will be held at Signatures Event Center in Winona on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

Said Paulson, “Its an idea I got to do for a fundraiser for Somalia. There’s so much starvation and suffering and I just couldn’t stand it. I usually try to get the groups off campus at least once before our concert in December.” For more information, on the benefit concert, visit the Signatures website at www.signatureswinona.com.

SMU volleyball rises to new challenges

By Keotta House

Cardinal Staff

Despite having a 21-10 record last season, the Saint Mary’s University volleyball team was left out of the NCAA Division III national tournament.

Head Coach Mike Lester said this year’s squad is starting with a clean slate.

“The team went into this season with a completely different attitude,” said Lester. “We have a lot of talented players, a lot of great incoming players.”

Despite graduating seven players at the end of last year, the remaining returners, two seniors and five juniors, keep the team a close-knit group, Lester said.

“As much as I hate to say it, we as coaches don’t have to work as hard anymore,” Lester said. “The upper classmen have taken the reigns and have made the new girls feel part of the team.”

The team has already started the season with a pair of triple victories in the Ground Round Sugarloaf Classic at home and in the Endicott Tournament in Boston, Mass.

Tournament victories aren’t enough for the Cardinal volleyball team, according to senior captain Amy Kujak: “We want to finally win a national championship, that’s our goal.”

Winning is not the only key to a successful season for the team, and they intend not to become one-goal oriented.

“If the team can look back and say they had fun, they made life-long memories and they played their hardest each and every time they stepped on the court, then they have had a successful season,” Lester said.

Round one of intramurals running smoothly

By Matt Wagner

Cardinal Staff

Intramural athletics have begun at Saint Mary’s University, and with heavy enrollment between all four of the sports, the level of competition has risen.

With the first session consisting of sand volleyball, flag football, basketball, and ultimate Frisbee, there is plenty to keep intramural participants occupied, with games occurring one to two times per week.

“Our team participated in a sand volleyball tournament during Welcome Week and did pretty well, so I figured we would sign up for the first session of intramural volleyball and see how it goes,” said freshman Jake Holzer, captain of French Toast Mafia. “The competition is a little bit more intense than I had thought it would be, but we are still a strong contender.”

Returning upperclassmen seem confident in their playing abilities, not only due to their familiarity with the sport, but also with knowledge of their fellow upperclassmen opponents. Many are convinced that a championship t-shirt is in their future during this intramural season, especially SMU sophomore Matt Traxler, who is leading the team Kick Some Ace.

“Of course we are going to go undefeated. We have yet to lose a game,” said Traxler.

His teammate, SMU sophomore Ryan Menden, added to Traxler’s comment: “There is some fierce competition this session, but I think we will come out on top.”

While the players involved may reveal their competitive side every once in a while, the coordinators and referees have noticed a sense of sportsmanship and character displayed by the intramural athletes.

“It never seems to get too competitive,” said SMU sophomore Denard Covington. “Everyone seems to be having fun and playing nicely; I haven’t seen anything too crazy so far.”

The first session of intramural sports will soon come to a close, with winning teams of each sport being crowned champions. And although many teams will fall to what may be heartbreaking losses, the competitiveness of intramural sports at SMU will continue through the upcoming sessions.

What’s college without some Frisbee, right?

By Nick Bravos

Sports Editor

As a spectator, ultimate Frisbee has an electrifying effect on me, and hopefully I’m not the only one whose eyes are glued.

Two weeks ago, you probably noticed something odd about campus. Those who passed by the practice soccer field might have asked, “Why are people wearing goofy-looking jerseys, sprinting back and forth chasing a Frisbee?” Perhaps the more pertinent question is “Who would willingly do that from 9 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon?”

The answer is simple: the MUTS, Saint Mary’s University’s ultimate Frisbee club. The MUTS hosted the First Blood Tournament Sept. 17 and 18 to kick off their fall season. Winona State University’s team, Experience, came out on top, turning in a solid 6-0 record on the tournament.

This year’s First Blood Tournament, the second annual, attracted seven teams regionally, with teams from Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota in attendance. It is the largest tournament the MUTS have brought to our home fields. The MUTS have hosted other multi-team tournaments in the past, such as HalloWinona, in which SMU and WSU pool together fields to accommodate the massive tournament of nearly 80 teams.

First Blood was a tiring weekend for the MUTS this year, to say the least, ending Saturday and Sunday with 2-2 and 1-1 records, respectively. “Concluding with a 500 record against other experienced opponents [like Saint Cloud State University, Michigan Technological University, and Wartburg College] is a great achievement,” said junior captain, Adam Billings.

There’s a common theme about SMU sports with the coming of each year, whether it’s a varsity or club sport. Pressure is put on the returners to step up and prove they can pull their weight in a newfound leadership role. That is definitely the case with the MUTS this season, especially after losing nine seniors last spring, who were part of the original 14 that founded the team.

There will always be gaps that need filling at the beginning of a season when team roles haven’t yet been established. Said Billings, “This had led to incorporating many freshmen into our main lines. It's impressive that this year's freshman have stepped up and already made an early impact on the team.”

Ever since the club’s birth in 2007, the MUTS have become more eager each year to compete in tournaments. This season, they’ll lace up for 10 tournaments, six in the fall alone, compared to last year’s seven-tournament season. The MUTS will also be scrimmaging WSU’s team every Friday.

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that competition – in any sport – is the fastest way to progress in overall ability and situational know-how. And if it’s competition the MUTS want, they’re going to get just about all they can handle.

Leinenkugel speaks on legacy

By Lauren Rothering
Editor in Chief

Thomas Jacob “Jake” Leinenkugel spoke at Saint Mary’s University about entrepreneurship and the business of brewing on April 28.

Jake is the fifth generation of Leinenkugels to act as president of Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company. Located in Chippewa Falls, Wis., Leinenkugel’s was founded in 1867 by Jake’s great-great grandfather, Jacob Leinenkugel. After starting with just one beer—now called “Leinenkugel’s Original”—the brewer now offers 11 different styles of lager, including the ever-popular seasonal selections, such as Oktoberfest and Summer Shandy.

“Beer is one of life’s simple pleasures, and most of you have done your market research,” said Jake with a laugh.

In his speech, Jake explained that the craft beer industry is different from “big beer” in many ways. Beer giants, like Anheuser-Bush and MillerCoors, control about 80 percent of the market. Imports, like Corona and Heineken, control another 10 percent, leaving just 10 percent for domestic craft beers.

Despite this, the craft beer industry is growing rapidly. According to Jake, 97 percent of all new breweries opened in the U.S. in 2010 were craft breweries. While U.S. beer sales were down in both 2009 and 2010, craft brewing sales increased dramatically.

According to Jake, a driving force behind the “renaissance of craft brewing” has been college-aged students. Because the millennial generation is always looking for variety, said Jake, they are always looking for the newest beer selection, which many times are new craft brews.

Aside from the business success of Leinenkugel’s, Jake also emphasized the company’s dedication to the environment, specifically water conservation.

Leinenkugel’s made a pledge to reduce their water usage by 50 percent over five years. Just two years into the project, they have already reduced their usage by 54 percent.

Ultimately, Jake said, Leinenkugel’s is not just a brewery—it is a family company strongly rooted in the Midwest that will never lose its hometown base.

“The story of who we are is Chippewa Falls,” said Jake. “I want Leinenkugel’s to be famous for family, friends and fun.”

SMU history will not be a mystery

By Becca Sandager
News Editor

Saint Mary’s University Class of 2011 has announced the creation of the “Heritage Project” as its senior class gift to the university. The “Heritage Project” includes a chronological mural design of SMU’s 100 years of history that will include pictures and inserts from significant SMU historical events, including a picture of the 2011 senior class.

“Currently, our campus displays almost no history about Saint Mary’s, but thanks to the class of 2011, the rich history of SMU will be proudly displayed for all students, faculty, and alumni to see and learn,” said Senior Gift Committee member, Ben Eirikson.

The “Heritage Project” will be designed by graphic design professor Brother Rod Robertson, and will measure approximately 25 x 10 feet. The mural is proposed to be located along an inside wall of the Toner Center and be in place by May 2012, just in time for the SMU Centennial celebration.

“The timing for the Heritage Project is ideal with the Centennial right around the corner,” said Eirikson. “It is a project the Class of 2011 can be proud of for years to come.”

Senior Gift Committee members have been asking for pledge commitments from the senior class to help fund the “Heritage Project.” Pledge payments do not need to be made immediately and can be done over a span of three years. Payments may also be deferred for seniors who are attending graduate school or long-term volunteering.

“I hope all seniors will pledge money to this project, which ensures SMU’s history will no longer be a mystery to the current, past and future SMU community,” said Eirikson. “The ‘Heritage Project’ is something the entire SMU community can be proud of.”

Student Life Awards given

By Emily Dee
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s campus recognized seniors Hilary Ethan and Sean Ohl as the 2011 Outstanding Seniors, as well as other individuals in the SMU community for Student Life awards, according to Chris Kendall, vice president of student life.

The women finalists for Outstanding Senior were: Hilary Ethen, Jennifer Koezly, Ali Kremer, Libby Perkins and Sami Traxler. The male finalists were: Santiago Escobar, Lukas Holland, Benton Kodet, Sean Ohl, Dan Streefland and Ryan Wockenfus. Kendall said six finalists were selected for the men’s side due to a tie for the fifth spot.

According to Kendall, members of a committee selected finalists from the first round of votes from students, faculty and staff who submitted candidates’ names.

Kendall said finalists wrote an essay based on the following questions: What has an SMU education done for you? What have you done for SMU? How have you supported the mission of the university?

Students, faculty and staff voted a second time, and the committee determined the winners according to their essays, GPAs, the amount of votes and co-curricular involvement, according to Kendall.

Ethan and Ohl were chosen as Outstanding Seniors during the Founder’s Day ceremony on April 5 and will speak at graduation on May 14.

For Student Life Awards, Kendall said recipients were chosen on non-academic based criteria, unlike those recognized at the Senior Honors Banquet. Recipients of the Student Life Awards are recognized for making a significant impact on student life at SMU through co-curricular honors and accomplishments.

Kendall said Dr. Marilyn Frost, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs, received the Brother Finbar McMullen Award. This award is given to the individual who unselfishly meets the needs of the students.

Dan Streefland, senior, was awarded the Winona Community Service Award and Santiago Escobar, junior, received the Brother James Miller Award, according to Kendall.

Other awards included were: Charlene “Char” Tjaden Outstanding Resident Assistant Award, Club and Organization Advisor of the Year, Organization of the Year, Intramural Official of the Year, Volunteer of the Year Award, Outstanding Student Senator of the Year Award, and Student Service Award.

Three's company for Traxlers

By Andrea Allis
Copy Editor

For this year only, siblings Sami, Jake and Matt Traxler all call Saint Mary’s University “home.”

Sami, a senior, said she really likes having the support of family present on campus.

“It’s fun to actually see the things they’re involved in!” she said. “I can go watch Jake run cross country or track whenever he has a home meet and I got to watch Matt play intramural volleyball.”

Jake agrees that it’s fun to support his siblings: “I've gone to more band concerts for Matt this year in college than I did in high school, which makes me feel better about how many I missed last year.”

Jake, a sophomore, and Matt, a freshman, have their own reasons for choosing SMU, but having a sibling—or two—to show them the ropes certainly didn’t hurt.

Sami said she may have had some influence on her brothers’ college decisions but did not want to pressure them into attending SMU.

“I know I had a strong opinion and said lots of positive things about Saint Mary's,” Sami said, “but I wanted it to be their own decision. I stopped talking to both of them about it once they were ready to get serious about choosing a college.”

Jake agreed, saying he would “avoid talking to [Matt] about the subject so he didn't affect [Matt’s] decision.”

But Matt admits that Sami and Jake played a large role in his college choice.

“Even if I pretended I made the decision by myself, it would be a total lie,” Matt said. “Sami and Jake always talked about all the fun they had here, and they made me really interested in the university. Whenever I came here, I felt really welcomed and I really liked the atmosphere.”

Although the Traxlers say they don’t see each other too often, they do share a few things in common at SMU. Sami and Matt are both involved in Student Activities Committee (SAC) and see each other at weekly meetings. Matt and Jake are both science majors and have a few mutual friends.

All three agree that it’s important to make a point of catching up from time to time, even if it’s only for a few minutes over lunch.

Streeflands reflect on time together

By Kassondra Burtis
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s University has been called “home” by many siblings in its almost 100 years, and one of those sibling duos is a familiar name to many in the Saint Mary’s University community today – the Streeflands.

Lynn is a current co-director of Campus Ministry and Dan is a senior theology major. Both Lynn and Dan believe that having a sibling that is also a part of the Saint Mary’s community has been a great experience.

“My sister and I have been able to grow closer as siblings and have been able to enjoy many of the same experiences,” Dan said.

“For us, we are sharing some of the same experiences rather than just sharing the stories about the experiences,” Lynn added.

One of those experiences Dan mentioned was the T.E.C. – Together Encountering Christ – Retreats.

“Working closely together on T.E.C. 63 will forever be one of my fondest memories with her,” Dan said. “It has also been nice to have a family member that is always there to help out.”

Lynn and Dan have two more siblings who are between them in age, both of whom also attended SMU. Dan sees this as a positive experience that many students aren’t fortunate to be a part of.

“Not only having a sibling present during the majority of my college experience, but also having other siblings that have attended the university before me has allowed my experiences to be relatable,” Dan said. “We are able to share stories of college experiences.”

“I’ve been at SMU with both Bryan and Dan,” Lynn said. “During these times, we make an effort to have brother-sister dinners…the purpose was to spend time with each other and be there for one another.”

Lynn and Dan’s overall experiences at Saint Mary’s have been great ones that have been made even better by having someone as close as a sibling to share it with.

Ethens strengthen bond at SMU

By Andrea Allis
Copy Editor

While many Saint Mary’s University students are close with their siblings, very few can say that going away to college has made them even closer; Hilary and Dylan Ethen, however, have seen SMU bring them together.

For Hilary, a senior, this is the first year she’s spent at SMU with Dylan, a freshman, and she had nothing but good things to say about the experience.

“My favorite part about having my brother here at SMU is being able to share the college experience with him. It’s a lot of fun to play on the same sports team, go to the same events and have a lot of the same friends,” said Hilary.

Dylan said it was comforting to know that Hilary would be at school with him. Dylan said, “I knew I already had some friends here before my first day on campus.”

Their time here has only strengthened their relationship. “I feel like we’ve grown a lot closer and developed a pretty special bond,” Dylan said. “It’s nice to know that we’re always here for each other.”

Hilary and Dylan said they run into each other fairly often around campus: on the way to class, in the cafeteria, in the plaza. But they also try to set aside time to hang out. “We plan a lunch or dinner every so often, and occasionally we’ll go to a game or event on campus together,” said Hilary.

It’s clear that they both enjoy having each other around. But Dylan’s least favorite part of sharing campus with his big sister? “That everyone knows how much cooler she is than me.”

Mocklers build a stronger friendship

By Jenna Capelle
Feature Editor

The great friendship between the Mockler siblings can be seen throughout campus of Saint Mary’s University.

Michael “Mocha” Mockler, a junior, and Katherine Mockler, a freshman, were born in Worchester, Mass. and raised in Dubuque, Iowa. They both run for the Saint Mary’s University Cross Country team and Track team.

The siblings share Spanish minors but are majoring in different types of biology. Michael is an environmental biology major and Katherine is a biology pre-physical therapy major.

Michael and Katherine share some of the same friends and frequently see each other around campus because of their similar interests and activities. “I see her a lot at practice and at church,” said Michael. “Every once in a while we see each other on our own time.”

The Mocklers agree that attending SMU has made their friendship stronger. “We’re closer (now), even though we got along well in high school,” said Katherine.

Joking around as kids, the Mocklers accidently sustained some physical injuries. “When we were little, I pulled a chair out from under him and he had to get stitches in his chin,” said Katherine. Michael remembers spinning around, holding hands with his sister when she slipped from his grip, bit her lip and had to get stitches.

Michael decided on SMU because he wanted a small, Catholic school. Katherine visited her brother a few times before she chose SMU. “I wanted to go far from home, but once he had the brain tumor, it kind of put things into perspective,” said Katherine. “I wanted to be closer to him and I could run here.”

This summer, Michael will stay on campus and work for the SMU Office of Admission. In his free time, he’ll be doing field research with his favorite professor, Dr. Cochran. “I’ll be driving down to Iowa and shocking fish to study the distribution of lamprey in a river,” said Michael.

After finals are over, Katherine is going on the Serving Others United in Love (S.O.U.L.) mission trip to Montana with other SMU students. She’s hoping to volunteer at a summer camp for low-income families called the Christian Appalachian Project located in Kentucky. If she does not go to camp, she will work at Culver’s in her hometown.

Spitzmueller sisters run side by side

By Jenna Capelle
Feature Editor

The Spitzmueller sisters, Jill and Amy, are great friends who have grown closer since attending Saint Mary’s University together.

Both Jill, a junior, and Amy, a freshman, run distance for the SMU Cross Country team and Track team.

“A majority of the time we spend together is related to cross country and track practice… or with our friends on the teams,” said Jill.

The sisters, being runners, science majors, and even similar looking, caused doubt in Amy’s mind about choosing the same school as Jill. “Part of me worried that coming here would make us the same person, but I think that it’s worked out a lot better than both of us had ever imagined,” said Amy.

Jill has seen her sister grow and gain independence during her first year at SMU.

“It’s nice having someone here who understands my home life, too,” said Amy.

Besides athletics, Amy is involved with Campus Ministry’s Together Encountering Christ (T.E.C.) retreats and the Buddies program. Buddies allow students to spend an hour with disabled adults and includes activities like playing basketball or coloring, said Amy.

In her spare time, Jill is a member of the Serving Other United in Love (S.O.U.L.) Council, which plans volunteer-based mission trips for students at SMU. She also helps raise scholarship money for CTIE in Nairobi, Kenya. The money raised aids students in achieving an education degree so they can teach in their smaller tribes and villages, said Jill.

For the last few summers, Jill and Amy have gone strawberry picking in a field by their house. They’ve made it a tradition to make strawberry jam at their house by cutting and mashing the strawberries and adding sugar.

“It gets really intense” said Amy. “We’ve entered our jam into the Minnesota State Fair and have won a blue ribbon and two pink ribbons.”

However, this summer will be different than ones past for the Spitzmueller sisters. Jill has accepted a 10 week pharmaceutical internship with the University of Kentucky.

“I’ll be working on a research project of developing a better way to administer drugs,” said Jill.

Amy will be working at Metropolitan Mosquito Control near her hometown, New Brighton, Minn. “I’ll be treating water sources to reduce the number of mosquitoes,” said Amy. “I’ll also spread awareness of the possible diseases that people can get from mosquitoes.”

Although their paths will be different this summer, they are looking forward to coming back to SMU in September.

Senior Art Show on display

By Trisha Stachowski
Cardinal Staff

Part two of the Senior Art Show is currently on display in the Lillian Davis Hogan Gallery.

Senior art majors Rachel Sievers and Cody Harvey are two students who have work on display.

For Sievers, a graphic design major with an emphasis on photography, her interest in art began in high school.

She explained, “Discovering the dark room and being able to develop my own photos was an amazing experience and technique that helped me to find my love for photography.”

Sievers said finishing her artwork was a long process, but there was a reward in seeing her art hanging in the gallery.

According to Sievers, she started to prepare for the art show the first week of the fall semester and worked up to the show itself.

Sievers stated, “I think the student art show is a great way to end four amazing and crazy years of learning, experimenting, designing and finding your inner creativity.”

Harvey, also a graphic design major, was always interested in media art, animation and film. Harvey explained that preparing for the final show was his most memorable art experience at SMU.

According to Harvey, “not only do you get to show off what you are good at, you get your name put out there for potential jobs.”

Harvey said that he was both nervous and excited to have his artwork displayed in the gallery. To Harvey, the Senior Art Show gives SMU seniors who are not necessarily art majors the chance to showcase their talents and express themselves creatively.

Part two of the Senior Art Show, “Through the Lashes,” is currently on display in the Lillian Davis Hogan gallery in Toner Center. The artwork will be up until May 8.

Gaslight 2011 in review

By Alex Conover
Sports Editor

Another Gaslight has come and gone. For this writer, it was bittersweet — the show was good, but it was a little sad to watch my last Gaslight from the audience instead of the stage.

Every year, there are concerns raised about how the graduating seniors will be replaced in these sorts of shows. The great thing about Gaslight 2011 was that plenty of young talent stepped up and proved that the campus variety shows will be strong for years to come.

Best vocals — Tied between Matt Kirk (“Highway to Hell”) and Dan Streefland (“Love Shack”)
Kirk’s British swag was a great way to kick off the show. Streefland wowed me in his Gaslight debut with an impressive robotic singing/talking combination that was highly appropriate for “Love Shack” (complete with Hawaiian shirt and safari hat).

Best keyboards — Kalin Bangasser (many songs)
Bangasser held down the keyboards in the corner for several tracks, most notably in the cover of Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You.” She proved her versatility by immediately playing a hip-hop cover afterwards.

Best drums — Rachel Lamberty (“No Scrubs”)
While her friends rocked TLC’s vocals up front, Lamberty kept the groove going with a NASTY hi-hat pattern that could only be described as mid-90’s. Ever since transferring to SMU this year, Lamberty has repeatedly impressed me with her rock-solid play on the drumset.

Best guitar — Andy Bauer (“Around the World”)
While the lead guitar was… inconsistent, Bauer tackled the incredibly tough bass groove made famous by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Look this song up on YouTube and then imagine a mere college student playing the bass part. Yeah.

Best stage presence — Ben Scott (“Wake Up”)
I admit it — I’m a sucker for songs with over 20 people on stage. I’m even more of a sucker for songs where the lead vocalist is arbitrarily beating a large drum with an angry passion. With shades of Gaslight 2008’s Flaming Lips cluster-jam, Scott looked like he could have led a revolution.

Best energy — Cook ‘Em Up (“All the Things I’ve Done”)
Following up a powerful performance at Relay for Life, SMU’s latest cover band came with a solid sequel. Rookie Tom Conry impressed on lead vocals while supplemented by the electric duo of Matt Polum and Katie Sapper on backup.

Best marriage proposal — Lance Thompson
After performing a song by a certain teenage Canadian sensation, Thompson climbed down from the stage and whipped out a ring for his girlfriend, who said yes. Massive amounts of “awww” and “oh my gosh” comments emerged from the female portion of the crowd. I have to say that this is the best wedding proposal I have ever seen at a SMU Gaslight show.

Jazz performance is a success

By Jessica LaCanne
Arts and Entertainment Editor

The Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo I performance in the Page Theatre on April 15 featured a guest soloist and was a success, according to one of the directors.

Eric Heukeshoven, music instructor at Saint Mary’s University, said he co-directed with Dr. John Paulson, who normally directs the performance.

“Jazz is a very collaborative endeavor,” said Heukeshoven. The students were very flexible and willing to make it work.

With the collaborative work of Heukeshoven, Paulson, Dean Sorensen (the trombone soloist) and the students, everything came together and worked out. According to Heukeshoven, Sorensen is the head of jazz studies at the University of Minnesota. Having Sorensen there really made the students rise to the occasion, said Heukeshoven.

“Students go away with a sense of pride and accomplishment” after performing so well, said Heukeshoven, which makes the professors happy. Heukeshoven said “it was a really nice crowd,” especially for a Friday night and with it competing with all other events.

Each semester there is a jazz performance, including a performance by the Jazz Ensemble during family weekend. There will still be another performance this semester on May 8, from 2-4 p.m. at Acoustic Café. Heukeshoven said this performance is “a lot of fun because it is a very relaxed Sunday afternoon.”

Can’t make it to a performance? The SMU Jazz Ensemble released a CD last year, called “Staycation,” that is still available for purchase. Contact either Dr. John Paulson or Eric Heukeshoven for more information.

2nd Annual Woody's Sports Awards

Male athlete of the year: Andrew Brueggen, Track and Field

Even with the Track and Field season still in progress, this pick was a no-brainer.

Brueggen, winning this award for his second straight year, earned MIAC Field Athlete of the Week for the third time this season after automatically qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw. Brueggen also set the school record in the process.

During the indoor season, Brueggen traveled to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the Division III Indoor National Championships in the weight throw. He finished 10th in his event, which was a disappointing mark, according to him. He won a MIAC conference championship during the indoor season with a school and conference-record throw of 19.68 meters; if he would have thrown that distance during the National Championships, he would have taken home the national title.

Female athlete of the year: Sarah Gardner, Volleyball

Winning the same award for the second consecutive year, Gardner was an easy pick.

Her accolades are numerous; she was named First-Team All-MIAC, AVCA All-Central Region and Honorable-Mention All-American. She led her team in kills (429) and service aces (47). Cardinal volleyball achieved a 21-10 record, finishing just shy of the national tournament. Their season ended with a loss to Saint Benedict in the MIAC tournament.

Gardner finishes her career near the top of several school records, including third in all-time kills (1419) and fourth in kills per set (3.20).

Newcomer of the year: Austin Balko, Hockey

Balko, a freshman from Midland, Mich., did very well for the men’s hockey team in a conference that is often dominated by upperclassmen.

Balko was named to the MIAC All-Rookie Team along with being selected honorable-mention All-MIAC. He was the only first-year player in the MIAC to average more than a point per game, as he accumulated six goals and a team-high 12 assists during conference play. Balko was part of a large freshman recruiting class that will contribute to Cardinal hockey for years to come.

A few MUTS leave the pound

By Nick Bravos
Cardinal Staff

Now that spring has finally woken up from its hibernation, birds aren’t the only things flying around.

The SMU Ultimate Frisbee Club, the MUTS, hosted its third annual Hilltop Huck-A-Thon outdoor tournament recently.

While the MUTS ended up on top of the Hilltop Huck-A-Thon, it will be the last time the founders lace-up and go long. In 2007, when the MUTS became an official club, nine of the 14 original members were freshman, and since then they have been braving the rain, snow or shine together for the past four years. Over the years, the number of players steadily increased and now has a dedicated group of 25.

In the beginning, there were a handful of freshman that were invited to play in some scrimmages and pick-up games by a few other upperclassmen.

“After that, we all just loved it and ended up starting a club,” said senior captain John Delmundo. “I just love how far we've all come.”

Just last year, the MUTS traveled to Illinois for their first on-the-road tournament, and since then the growth of the team has showed more than ever.

“Now we are a legit Frisbee program that hosts tournaments and we have coordinated, strategic practices,” said senior Captain Nick Sweeney. “We have jerseys, casual apparel and travel to tournaments; on top of that, we compete at a high level.”

This year’s season is the best the MUTS have ever had in tournament play, with a final record of 34-26. The team also upset large schools to come in third in the HalloWinona tournament with a 6-1 record, and winning the Hilltop Huck-A-Thon with a 3-1 record were high points for all of the seniors this year, said Sweeney.

Although the SMU campus played host to the D-III College Conference Championships April 16 and 17, due to “some very disappointing misunderstandings and miscommunications,” the MUTS were not among the competitors to go head-to-head on the field.

“This was a huge blow to all of us; this tournament was very important to us all, not just the seniors,” senior Tim Sheedy said.

A team-wide vote was taken to decide whether to remain or withdraw as hosts for the tournament after hearing they would not be competing, and the team unanimously concluded they are to remain as the original host to better the future image of the club.

“It stings that we’re not competing in our own Conference Championships,” said Sheedy. “But still hosting the tournament will progress the image of the club and may create future opportunities.”

Next fall, however, after the seniors have left, the MUTS will be lacking the same caliber of leadership it’s been used to.

“New people are going to have to step up and become leaders of the team,” said Sweeney. “I think Santiago Escobar, Adam Billings and Tim Sheedy will be great captains who can recruit new players, and I know they will do a great job.”

After graduation this spring, the founders will part ways, leaving behind the foundation of the team, deepened friendships and unforgettable memories.

“Over the past four years we have played together, lost together, won together, traveled together, grown together, matured together and even studied together,” said senior Captain Ben Eirickson. “We’ve become arguably one of the most successful athletic teams on campus.”

Men’s hockey shares success off-ice

By Julianne Bartosz
Cardinal Staff

SMU’s men’s hockey players are often recognized for their skills on ice, but they also deserve recognition for their work off ice in the community of Winona.

These Cardinals work hard in their off season to make a difference in the SMU community. They have done so by painting two local elementary school cafeterias on Make a Difference Day, by helping sand bag for flood prevention, and by reading to elementary students. Furthermore, these skaters see volunteering as a privilege.

Hockey Captain Vince Unklesbay said, “The coaching staff does not need to twist arms to get people to volunteer, guys are usually willing to help out.”

Sophomore goalie Jason Horstman also supports the various ways that the team volunteers for its advantages on the ice. He said, “This impacts our team in a positive way. Things like this bring our team together as a group off the ice which can translate to our play on the ice.”

The men’s hockey team also included SMU in its good deeds during its first annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans were encouraged to bring teddy bears to their game on Nov.19, 2010, against Hamline to toss on the ice after the Cardinals’ first goal.

Unklesbay said, “It was good because it made all of us want to work hard to score the first goal so we could see all the fans throw the bears on the ice. Also, from the fans’ point of view, I think they were excited to see the first goal so that they could throw stuff on the ice without getting yelled at!”

This season’s Teddy Bear Toss was so successful that the team is looking forward to doing it again next year.

Success in the classroom, too
The men’s hockey team is balancing more than just their time skating and volunteering. The team is held to certain academic expectations by their coaching staff, who has set up weekly study tables in season to ensure the team sets aside time for homework. In addition to these study tables, many of the members of the team are frequently seen in the second floor of the library.

At the beginning of the year, five men’s hockey team players received MIAC Academic All-Conference honors for their success on and off the ice for the 2009- 2010 school year.

The team also demonstrated academic success this previous semester. Both the varsity and junior varsity teams finished the semester with a cumulative team GPA above 3.00. In addition, 17 players were on the Dean’s List for first semester.

Sophomore Kevin Wentland said, “Being part of a small school has really helped me become more focused when it comes to school. I have really wanted to thank all the professors at SMU because they have been so helpful and supportive for me and many other student athletes.”

Their bonding off the ice through their time spent volunteering and their dedication to their studying had a great impact on the team. Unklesbay said, “I have never been on a team in which every guy on the team is like a best friend, but this team I feel that way. This team is special and is such a good group of guys.”

‘April Fool’s’: an editor’s take

By Lauren Rothering
Editor in Chief

The “April Fool’s” edition is a long-standing tradition among many college and university newspapers around the nation. From college to college, spoof issues are undoubtedly the most popular issues all year. Private and public, large and small, nearly every higher-education institution with a newspaper produces a spoof issue.

This year, our staff decided to resurrect the April Fool’s edition, not seen at SMU for several years. If you were to take a look around at our racks, you would see that not a single April Fool’s issue is left. However, unlike most colleges, it is not only because of the issue’s popularity.

Only a few hours after being online, the paper quickly disappeared from our Cardinal publications site. After a mere four days on the stands, the hard-copy papers were likewise pulled. Currently, there are stacks of hundreds of unread April Fool’s issues (representing hundreds of dollars from students’ activity fees) sitting idly in the Cardinal office.

It’s situations like these that make my retirement from the Cardinal more bitter than sweet. This year will be marked as one of constant struggle to produce a quality paper, while at the same time adhering to the “guidelines” of the administration. The April Fool’s issue was no different—although I received support from our advisor, Bob Conover, ultimately it was the complaints of a few SMU administrators that overpowered the positive comments and appreciation from countless SMU students, families, faculty and staff.

I can honestly say that malice was not our staff’s intent—we merely wanted to join the hundreds of other colleges and universities who poke fun at themselves each year, giving you a fun, light-hearted look at SMU in 2011. I think the pulling of this issue represents a much deeper problem that continues to plague SMU. If we refuse to make fun of ourselves, how can we really see ourselves objectively? How can we make improvements if we cannot acknowledge our own faults?

But for now, I bid the Cardinal farewell, armed with a disenchantment of bureaucracy and enough leftover Cardinals to wallpaper my new apartment.

Misato: a student's own perspective

By Julie Frederickson
Guest Writer

In 2007, I had the privilege of being an ambassador to Winona’s sister city, Misato in the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan. Within hours of arriving in the small Winona-sized city, we were immersed in the culture of Japan. A band, the mayor, seemingly half the community, and an array of gifts and performances greeted us upon arrival.

The people of Misato were eager to share their culture with us and see to it that we were comfortable and cared for. They were equally as thrilled to hear about our culture. I cannot forget the remarkable compassion within the people of Misato.

When the earthquake hit, I frantically tried to contact my two home stay companions, Azusa and Hitomi. Both remained unharmed by the Earthquake, but Hitomi lost the roof to her family home. Azusa sent me pictures of the destruction in Misato that is still to be dealt with.

Misato will forever hold a special place in my heart and I wish to extend as much help as possible to my friends and their deserving community. I hope you will join me in this campaign.

Please support Misato Relief through the purchase of a Misasto band or making a contribution in one of our Red Misato jars.

Together, we can help this town rebuild itself. For more about relief efforts taking place in the city of Winona please visit
http://misatorelief.hbci.com