Art gallery features exhibit blending old, new media

By Maria Sullivan
Arts and Entertainment Editor

The artwork of two Chinese-American artists will be featured in “Old Media, New Ways and New Media, Old Ways” at the Lillian Davis Hogan Gallery until March 20.
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Jing Zhou is a student at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ. Jing’s work is solely digital photography. Curator Sister Margaret Mear said that Jing almost was not able to show her work because she had a big show somewhere else, but she was able to send what pieces she had left over.

Ming Zhou is a student at the University of Missouri. Ming’s work consists of colorful paintings of Chinese people who are very happy with their new prized possessions.

“This would be the Chinese middle-to upper-class who are able to afford the western luxuries. They’re showing off what she (Ming) says they consider ‘good taste,’ because they can now go to Starbucks and buy American cars and go to America to get a degree,” Mear said.

The next show is the Senior Art Show, which will be featured at the end of March.

Bazaar offers Mardi Gras fun

By Jessica Paulsen
Managing Editor

A Mardi Gras celebration was held on Tuesday, Feb. 24, as part of the Saint Mary’s University’s Founder’s Week events.

Students and staff were invited to attend the Mardi Gras Bizarre Bazaar for a night of games, snacks, live music and prizes.

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Those who attended could decorate t-shirts, eat sandwiches and cupcakes, make masks, play games, listen to music and more.

Various campus clubs and groups provided information, activities and tickets for chances to win prizes later in the event.

“It was a great time,” said senior Maria Sullivan. “It was a fun study break, and everyone seemed to enjoy the food, games and music.”

Senior class to present Gaslight

By Maria Sullivan
Arts and Entertainment Editor

The senior class will present the 44th annual Gaslight show March 13-14.

Along with the Silent Auction and the Senior Dance, Gaslight is the third fundraiser put on by the senior class in order to raise money for senior week, which is held at the end of the year.

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Gaslight is a variety show similar to Phi Mu Alpha’s Blue Angel show. The show is made up of about 25 musical acts put on by students and includes an intermission.

“It is a tradition for these shows to happen, and it’s fun to see people you have in classes onstage in a capacity that you wouldn’t otherwise,” senior class officer Kaitlin Depuydt said. “I hope people consider going to the show.”

Tickets will be sold for $7 in advance before lunch in the Toner Student Center and at the door before the show. The shows will be held on Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the Toner Center cafeteria.

Winter sports in review

Compiled by Alex Conover
Sports Editor

Click here to read more about Saint Mary's winter sports review.

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Men’s Basketball
Final Record: 7-18, 6-14 in the MIAC
Conference Finish: 10th of 11
Impact Player: Will Wright. The sophomore from Chicago, Ill., averaged 18.8 points per game and finished third in the MIAC in scoring. He also led the conference in minutes played and was in the top ten for steals and defensive rebounds.

Women’s Basketball
Final Record: 4-21, 4-18 in the MIAC
Conference Finish: 10th of 12
Impact Player: Cherie Kulig. The sophomore from Independence, Wis., was second on the team in scoring (10.7 points per game) and led the team in three point percentage, free throw percentage and rebounding.

Men’s Hockey
Final Record: 4-20-1, 3-12-1 in the MIAC
Conference Finish: 8th of 9
Impact Player: Steve Murphy. In his first season as a Cardinal, the junior forward scored 11 goals and 18 points overall to lead the squad statistically.

Women’s Hockey
Final Record: 7-14-2, 6-10-2 in the MIAC
Conference Finish: 8th of 10
Impact Player: Dy-Anna Stewart. Although she scored just three points all season, the sophomore from Eden Prairie, Minn., made her mark on defense. She was the lone Cardinal nominated to this year’s All-MIAC First Team.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Final Record: 3-0
Conference Finish: 7th of 8
Impact Player: John Fox. The junior from Winona finished second in the 100 breaststroke at the MIAC Championships, breaking his fourth school record in the process. His effort in the event earned him a spot in this year’s NCAA Division III National Championships.

Women’s Swimming and Diving
Final Record: 2-3
Conference Finish: 10th of 11
Impact Player: Jennifer Salzman. Holding the team’s best times in four events this year, the junior from Hilo, Hawaii, also placed first in the 100 freestyle at the SMU Quadrangular.

New coach brings changes to baseball program

By Suzie Roth
Guest Writer

This year marks a new beginning for Nick Winecke, head baseball coach for Saint Mary’s University, as he enters a new phase in his baseball legacy.

A SMU graduate of 2007, Winecke became the new head coach for the SMU baseball team this year. In the last two years, he has made the transition from player to assistant coach and now to head coach.

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Describing his coaching style as “intense, passionate and demanding,” Winecke’s drive for success is evident. Although he may demand a lot from his players, he is also the first to acknowledge them when they are doing a good job.

While some may consider baseball to be a slow-paced sport, it is a very “demanding mental game, and each baseball player must be able to keep himself under control,” Winecke said. He described how the team works at being “one percent better” every day at every drill.

For some, coaching athletes they once played with may pose some problems, but not for Winecke. He said that for any relationship to work there has to be trust and respect, which he has from the team and former teammates.

With a new coach came the chance for a fresh start for the program. Winecke began by trying to change the culture of the baseball team. The team got new hats and is also taking a spring trip to Arizona for the first time. The motto of the team has also evolved. “Dominate, Don’t Participate,” turned into “Expect Victory,” representing what they do every day.

Adopting the new motto can be seen not only in the players’ attitudes, but also on their wrists. Each player has three different colored wristbands with the motto imprinted on them. Each color represents a different performance level. Following each practice, a decision is made on what type of practice the team had. The corresponding colored wristband is then worn that night and during the next practice. The team members, however, took it upon themselves to wear the band throughout the entire next day as well.

This year Winecke is most excited for the journey that the team has already started. He expects his team to “compete and work (their) butts off.” There is just “something about them,” he said, that makes this year a special one.

Along with a new head coach, the baseball team is eager to begin playing on their new fields. No longer will they have to practice on a soccer field or downtown in Winona. The Cardinals finally have a place to call home. Winecke expressed this as being “long time overdue; being able to practice on a baseball field is going to be a sight for sore eyes.”

The home opener will be held March 26 against Viterbo University.

Spring sports preview

Compiled by Alex Conover
Sports Editor

This spring season is in full swing for the Cardinals. Click the link to learn more about the teams.

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Baseball
Last Year’s Conference Record/Finish: 4-16, 10th of 11
Key Returners: SS Brandon Haugh, C Alex Schmitt, P Andy Pass, 1B Robbie Johnson, 2B Kyle Ryan, P Will Shetka
Statement from Coach Winecke: “So far, the guys have been willing to buy into our new system and work hard. If this continues, we’ll see great success.”
Softball
Last Year’s Conference Record/Finish: 13-9, 5th of 12
Key Returners: OF Cassie Otte, OF Danielle Geske, IF Katy Gannon, SS Hanna Schmitt, P Mal Betzold
Statement from Coach Miller: “We return a solid core of athletes, and we remain very optimistic about the season.”
Track & Field
Last Year’s Conference Finish: 11th of 11 for the men, 10th of 12 for the women
Key Returners: Chris Fisette, Josiah Ryks, Derek Wherley, Teri Heinzen, Brittany Kuehn, Sara Harstad
Statement from Coach McMahon: “We hope to improve our performances at the MIAC meet. We’ve got quite a few contributors returning...the new track will definitely improve our team and give recruiting a boost as well.”
Tennis
Last Year’s Conference Finish: 7th of 10 for the men, 5th of 11 for the women
Key Returners: Pawel Szczepkowski, Andy Weigman, David Reckase, Sara Clements, Brianna Placek
Statement from Assistant Coach Sokolowski: For the most part, our players have exhibited a great attitude and strong work ethic. We’re looking forward to a fun season.”

Caf offers new options

By Greg Freeman
Cardinal Staff

The Saint Mary’s University Toner Center Dining Hall will give students new menu choices, an option to get food to go and an option to fill personal bottles with drinks.

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With the money saved by going trayless, Chartwells was able to add many new items that improved the old menu, said Chartwells Foodservice Director Curt Coshenet. Changes include new additions to the salad bar, new meat options in the deli bar, soymilk, frozen yogurt and new hot items, such as Roman Chicken.

One item that will be added to the menu is baked cod. “This will be a great addition for Lent,” Coshenet said. “Typically, Catholics do not eat meat on Fridays of Lent, and the added cod will give a meatless entrée option.”

In addition to the added extras on the menu, Chartwells is allowing students to have a take-out option in the cafeteria. Students will be allowed to get an 8-10 ounce take-out box when scanning their ID cards to grab food to go.

“This allows students busy with athletics, (activities or work) to get their full hot meals on the run,” said Coshenet.

Students will also be allowed to use their own drink containers in the cafeteria and will be allowed to use 24-ounce bottles to take a beverage of their choice out of the cafeteria.

To supplement these new changes, Chartwells is conducting an online survey open for SMU community members to take. Students can find the survey on the Chartwells website. “We want to do our best to meet every (student’s) need,” said Coshenet.

Be sure to read the following issues of the Cardinal for the answers to popular questions asked by students. Anyone can email their concerns to UGStudentconcerns@smumn.edu.

A lesson in flirting

By Betsy Baertlein
Cardinal Staff

I have almost hit the two-month mark of my time in Italy, and each day I seem to discover new aspects of the Italian culture. One aspect that has proven to be especially intriguing is the culture of romance, which I never realized the full extent of before coming here.

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Being a young, blonde, athletic American female in Italy has put me at the receiving end of much flirting from Italian men of all ages and appearances. The most overt and persistent flirter I’ve encountered was a 39-year-old man on the ski slopes named Dario.

During our first conversation, Dario told me that I have beautiful eyes. This may seem like a cliché compliment, but he seemed very sincere. Shortly after, he told me that I make his heart beat like thunder and lightning, and he asked me if I would like him to get me a room in his town by the sea. I must admit that at this point I began to get a bit creeped out, but this is a prime example of the flirting that is considered normal in Italy. If a man perceives even the slightest chance that a woman may be interested in him, he proceeds at full throttle.

Another story of an Italian flirter comes from an anonymous female faculty member who is currently on sabbatical and traveling and studying in Italy. Said faculty member was in a restaurant with her travel companion, being served by their friendly waiter, when the owner of the restaurant came out, put his hand on her shoulder and said with a heavy Italian accent, “This iz my wiiifffeee.” The owner went on to insist that the faculty member have her picture taken with him, and, as she paid her bill, he reached across the bar and kissed her! What a way to do business!

Lastly, I would not do Italian flirting justice if I failed to mention the ways Italian men of all ages address young women on the street. A couple of common phrases are “Ciao bella!” which means “hello beautiful,” and “Mamma mia!”

However, some men opt for more original methods, such as one who neighed at my girlfriends and me as we walked past. Sometimes I cannot help but laugh at the ridiculousness of these methods, but they do make some great stories, and I think I will miss the romance culture when I return to the States.

Music Review

By Eric Hills
Guest Writer

In the writing of this article, I hope to inform people about bands that don’t get a whole lot of press. You won’t hear most of these bands on any radio station (with maybe the exception of the Current).

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I also would like to preface my musical taste with this statement: I’m often told that I am a music snob. While this is probably true, I think it is necessary. I currently possess about 10,000 songs on my computer, that are a mouse click away.

Music is very abundant these days, so it seems to me that we should be picky and not only be exposed to music that is propped up by major record labels seeking profit. Instead, we should seek music that is propped up by talent, creativity, innovation and love.

So to preemptively answer any questions: no, I will not be suggesting you listen to Fall Out Boy or Taylor Swift. I hope you enjoy my suggestions!

1.) …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – “The Century of Self”

This is the sixth studio album by Trail of Dead, and they seemed to have departed with Interscope Records with a renewed vision. Recording this record live to create a more raw feel may seem a little disingenuous, but it makes the record sound real, and it actually works well, capturing the essence of Trail of Dead that seemed to be missing from their past two records. For fans of Trail of Dead circa 2001.

2.) Andrew Bird – “Noble Beast”

Andrew Bird is a soft-singing multi-instrumentalist, probably capable of playing more instruments than you have fingers. His songs are often hard to describe by genre, though he incorporates indie, folk, classical and jazz. “Noble Beast” is no exception to his brilliant career. For fans of Bon Iver, Final Fantasy and Beck (just because of his cross-genre appeal).

Albums to watch out for:
1.) Mirah – “(A)Spera”

Mirah (pronounced Me-rah) is a symphonic pop singer with a playful and sincere voice. She often seems a little sad, but her songs are hauntingly beautiful. For fans of Jenny Lewis and Stars.

2.) Kevin Devine – “Brother’s Blood”

I saw him tour alongside Brand New in March of 2007 and thought he had some great potential. Apparently, this young man has grown up quite a bit since that magical show two years ago. Now he’s ready to release a post-Capitol Records album, and I’m excited to see what this guy can do. For fans of Death Cab for Cutie, Brand New and Manchester Orchestra.

Outstanding Seniors

By Sarah McDonough
Cardinal Staff

Ten seniors were nominated from the class of 2009 to receive the Outstanding Senior award. Each nominee has some advice to offer for a successful college career.
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*Outstanding Senior award recipient

Jakub “Kuba” Szymanski*
Hometown: Opole, Poland
Major: Accounting, with a statistics minor
Plans after graduation: To earn a graduate degree in accounting and start a professional career as a Certified Public Accountant.
Advice for underclassmen: Get the most out of your four years here by getting involved. I have learned so much and have grown from the shy person I used to be to the person I am now.



Emily Berg*
Hometown: Owatonna, Minn.
Major: Spanish and K-8 education with a concentration in language arts
Plans after graduation: Teach through Teach for America, Alliance for Catholic Education or Lasallian Volunteers.
Advice for underclassmen: Try to get involved right away. It provides lots of challenges and opportunities.



John Nolte
Hometown: Owatonna, Minn.
Major: Chemistry
Plans after graduation: Applying for the Master of Arts in Instruction program at SMU, and eventually teaching junior and senior high school science.
Advice for underclassmen: Make sure you do what you love to do. The four years go by fast.




Maria Borgerson
Hometown: Bellingham, Minn.
Major: Biology
Plans after graduation: Attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth for medical school to become a family practice physician.
Advice for underclassmen: Get involved right away and don’t hold anything back even though it might be something you’ve never done before. Four years down the road, these will be the things you remember.


Neil Leibundguth
Hometown: Westchester, Ill.
Major: Political Science
Plans after graduation: To pursue a doctorate in Political Science and to teach at the college level.
Advice for underclassmen: Find a club on campus, work hard and possibly move your way up and get a head leadership role.




Kaitlin Depuydt
Hometown: Mankato, Minn.
Major: Pastoral and Youth Ministry
Plans after graduation: Hopes to work in campus or youth ministry and eventually do pastoral ministry within parishes.
Advice for underclassmen: Get involved. Find something you are passionate about and become a leader.





Julia Jergenson
Hometown: Houston, Minn.
Major: English Education
Plans after graduation: Find a teaching position in the Twin Cities.
Advice for underclassmen: Devote yourself to the passionate pursuit of your goals. There is no limit to what you can achieve if you are willing to risk everything.




Ryan Langr
Hometown: Mankato, Minn.
Major: Theology, and a psychology minor
Plans after graduation: Eventually earn a doctorate in theology, and possibly psychology and teach at the university level.
Advice for underclassmen: Get involved in a crowd that you can find your niche in.




Teresa Gill
Hometown: Fort Collins, Colo.
Major: English
Plans after graduation: Attend graduate school and eventually teach at the university level.
Advice for underclassmen: Form relationships with professors because they are good mentors.





Gary Borash
Hometown: North Pairie, Minn.
Major: Environmental Biology, with a music minor
Plans after graduation: To earn an advanced degree and live on a farm.
Advice for underclassmen: Get involved and enjoy it.

Ca$ino Night kicks off winter week

Above left: Students play Texas Hold’em at Casino Night.
Above right: Leslie Paquette won a Wii game system.

Approximately 100 students attended Casino Night, which was hosted by SAC. Prizes included a Wii, a digital camera, Shamwow, iLive, movies, giftcards, CDs, and toilet paper. Casino Night was originally scheduled for Feb. 1, but was moved to Jan. 25, to accomodate those students who want to watch the Super Bowl. Winter Week will be held Feb. 2-7.

New website to be launched soon

By Sara Eisenhauer
Cardinal Staff

Design challenges and content fine-tuning have delayed the release of the new Saint Mary’s University website for at least another week, according to SMU Vice President of Communication and Marketing Bob Conover.

“We assured faculty and staff that we would launch the new site when it works well technically and the content is accurate,” said Conover.

The redesigned website, which was originally estimated to be accessible Dec. 1, has presented challenges for the SMU Web team because of formatting changes.

Because the new site will focus on reaching external audiences, the SMU “Inside Pages,” or www2. pages, have been revamped to concentrate internal information for current students, faculty and staff into one common area. The new “Inside Pages,” which now feature new links and updated content, have been up and running since the beginning of the new year.

“This is very different from our old website,” said Conover. “It has been a challenge to design a site that works well for the entire university.”

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The new site will not only serve the Winona campus, but will be completely functional for all programs at all levels and locations, Conover said.

Planning for the new site began in early 2007 when the Communication and Marketing team decided the university needed a website that is more externally focused and easier to navigate.

Monta May, director of web communication, has been working with a team of designers and programmers to develop a site that will make it easier for external audiences such as prospective students to find the information for which they are looking.

“We don’t need to have prospective students’ parents having to wade through all of our internal business office forms when they are looking for financial aid information,” said May. “They just need to be able to go there and have the information right in front of them without all this other stuff mixed in- that just confuses things.”

To iron out some of the problems with the new format, faculty and staff were shown a draft of the site in mid-December. Making suggested changes to the navigation and content of the site is contributing to the delay in the site’s release, Conover said.

Students head west to present papers

By Lauren Rothering
Copy Editor

Saint Mary’s University students Teresa Gill, senior; Ryan Briscoe, junior; and Lauren Rothering, sophomore, will attend the ACTC (The Association for Core Texts and Courses) Student Conference at Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga, Calif., to present papers originally written for courses at SMU.

Gill, Briscoe and Rothering all submitted one-page proposals of their respective papers and their relation to the conference theme, “Core: Tradition and Arts, Culture, Justice,” to members of the ACTC board in early November. All three were notified of their acceptance to the conference in December.

The conference will host around 40 students from colleges and universities across the United States. Students will meet in groups of five, present their papers and have the opportunity to discuss ideas with other students outside the realm of the classroom from their home institutions. Three of the best papers delivered at the conference will be selected for publication in the online literary journal Agora, which is published out of Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Va.

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Gill’s paper is an adapted version of her senior thesis project, while Briscoe’s and Rothering’s papers were written for courses in the Lasallian Honors Program. The theme of the conference coincides with the Honors Program’s “Great Books” curriculum.

The proposals and papers themselves differ about as much as their authors. Briscoe will be speaking to “Dostoyevsky as reactionary to Western thought in his novel The Brothers Karamazov,” while Rothering will present a paper entitled “The ‘Wild Boys of Gilgamesh’: Truth in Humanity.”

Although their intellectual pursuits may differ, all three students seem to relish the thought of briefly escaping the Minnesota winter and hearing feedback from peers outside the sphere of SMU academia.

“I’m excited to travel,” said Briscoe, “but beyond that I’m looking forward to other criticisms of my ideas. I am also thoroughly excited to hear what our peers are thinking and writing about in their courses.”

While at the conference, Gill, Briscoe and Rothering will have the opportunity to participate in panels, listen to guest speakers and even explore Moraga and the surrounding San Francisco Bay area.

The conference will take place Feb. 6-8.

Grad program expo on Feb. 26

By Danielle Larson
Co-Editor in Chief

The Saint Mary’s University Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs (SGPP) is hosting “Go Red to Get Ahead,” an event on Feb. 26 that showcases the variety of SMU continuing education.

Activities for the event will last throughout the day and light refreshments will be provided.

As part of SMU Founder’s Week, the SGPP event will include informational sessions, an open house for the general public and informational displays throughout campus.

Students are encouraged to stop by the displays to explore SMU’s graduate programs and learn more about the benefits of continuing their education, according to Graduate Programs Assistant Geri Sharpe.

During the 2007-08 academic year, the SGPP had a record enrollment with 7,539 students in 54 academic programs, according to the most recent SMU annual report.

Classes are offered on the Twin Cities and Winona campuses, at the Rochester, Minnetonka and Apple Valley Centers and at 110 instructional sites throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to the annual report.

WSU adopts campus-wide smoking ban

By Robby McGuire
Cardinal Staff

In early January, Winona State University enacted a new policy to make their campus 100 percent tobacco-free.

The movement to go tobacco-free began last spring with “overwhelming” support from the student body, said Dr. Karen Johnson, the interim dean of students at WSU. She described the policy as “an extension of the previous 25-foot policy,” a policy similar to the policy at Saint Mary’s University that says people must smoke at least 20 feet away from building entrances.

The purpose of the policy is to demonstrate the core value of health and wellness at WSU, as well as provide a healthy learning and working environment for students, faculty and visitors. It is also an effort by the campus to conform to a Minnesota statute banning smoking in state buildings.

Under the policy, the use of all tobacco products, smoking and smokeless, is prohibited on campus property. The policy also provides tobacco cessation programs, which are intended to help students who wish to reduce or quit tobacco use.

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Johnson said the feedback has been “mostly positive, though some students have not been pleased, of course.” On the whole, she feels that the transition to the policy has gone very smoothly.

“We understand that smokers are smokers, and we realize the addictive nature of cigarettes,” Johnson said. “We wish to emphasize that smokers are not bad people, but that smoking is simply a bad habit. We respect our students that smoke and hope that they respect non-smokers as well.”

While many students at SMU would be in favor of a tobacco-free policy, quite a few would be opposed. Of 25 students questioned in St. Edward’s Hall, 21 would support a similar policy on campus. Freshman Annie Garrigan was one of the students in favor of a smoking ban policy.

“Secondhand smoke is a potentially deadly chemical, and I just don’t think the doorways are the best place for harmful tobacco,” Garrigan said. “If it’s a method of stress relief, I think our campus could adopt more anti-stress programs.”

Kyle LeBarre, SMU freshman, finds a policy such as this one to be unreasonable.

“I’m all for sanctions of where (a person can use tobacco), but I think it would be a little unfair to leave a smoker nowhere to go on campus,” LeBarre said. “The biggest factor I see is that no matter what you do to ban a common practice, people will still find some ways.” His solution would be to change the policy to allow tobacco users to smoke in a more acceptable way, such as the construction of designated “smoke houses” across campus.

Survey offers chance for a prize

By Karina Rajtar
Co-Editor in Chief

Students recently received emails with a link to the Multi-Institutional Survey of Leadership, a survey that tracks what students are involved in on campus and whether or not they feel they have learned anything in their experiences.

Jason Richter, assistant dean of students for activities, leadership and service, said Saint Mary’s University is one of 150 schools in the nation completing the survey and is also one of the smallest.

The survey will help to determine whether students gain benefits such as strong relationships and confidence through their involvement in the university community.

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“It’s going to help us develop programs that will help (students),” Richter said. He also said the survey will give the school a “benchmark to measure ourselves internally,” adding that the survey may be repeated in two to four years.

Richter encourages all students to complete the survey and warns that students who do not will receive emailed reminders from the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership until they do, up until February break.

As an incentive, students will have a chance to win one of seven prizes for taking the survey. The prizes include receiving the highest housing priority number for the winner’s class, three $100 gift cards to Barnes & Noble, dinner with three friends and the president of the university, a Page Performance Series year pass for the 2009-10 season and payment of the registration fee for one service trip (through S.O.U.L. or Volunteer Services) within the United States. Students will have the opportunity to decide which prize they want according to the order in which their names are drawn.

In addition, the residence hall with the highest percent of participants will receive a pizza party.

The raw data results of the survey will be available to the university in March, and comparisons with other participating universities will be available in August. The prizes will be awarded in March before priority housing takes place.

Former international students make new plans

By Pat Howard
Cardinal Staff

After the fall semester of the 2008-09 academic year, more than 20 Saint Mary’s University international students withdrew from the university.

At the beginning of the spring semester of the 2007-08 academic year, SMU played host to a group of roughly 20 students from Nepal.

“This cluster was one of the largest the university has ever accepted at one time,” said Tony Piscitiello, vice president for admissions.

The Admissions Office was pleased to find so many international students who were interested in attending SMU, Piscitiello said. However, the trend for larger groups of students has typically been to make collaborative decisions rather than individual ones. After the conclusion of this first semester, one of those decisions was to pursue new opportunities.

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There are many possible reasons to explain why some of the former international students have left. The state of the economy may very well have played a factor. Scott Song Zhe, Saint Mary’s Student Senate vice president for International Affairs, said, “other indications included the want to live off campus, the pursuit of other scholarships and the want to stay together as a group.”

Students and faculty alike agree that accepting international students has many benefits. Together, domestic undergrads can learn about other cultures just as international students are able to participate first-hand in an American college experience.

Despite the Nepalese group decision to depart, SMU is still the home of students from all over the world.

“It is a vital attribute of the university,” said Piscitiello. “We are committed to having international students.”

STI fights stereotypes

By Maria Sullivan and
Tamika Robinson
Arts and Entertainment and
Feature Editors

In its fifth year, the Saint Teresa Leadership and Service Institute for Women (STI) is still trying to find its feet.

Since its inception, some have stereotyped the women of STI as feminists practicing to become nuns, according to Robyn Perez, senior and fourth-year STI member. Peg Winters, director of STI, said she is aware of these different perceptions that exist about the institute.

“(STI) is trying to become more visible in the community,” said Winters. “The hope is to be able to change that perception so that it more accurately reflects what the Institute is all about.”

Serious exploration of leadership, experiential learning through development of an individual’s leadership skills and engaging in service are the main ideals held by STI, Winters said.

Maria Pechacek, sophomore and first-year STI member, said STI helps its members become stronger women and gain confidence through leadership activities.

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“There are some women that I know that really need that boost,” Pechacek said. “I think STI would be a great place for them.”

Perez said STI is about helping women who want to become leaders in the world.

“I think (STI) is more like service and leadership and just trying to make a difference and trying to make change,” Perez said.

STI is currently comprised of 17 members, but Winters welcomes all women of the SMU community.

To become a member of STI, contact Peg Winters at pwinters@smumn.edu or visit STI’s office in Saint Mary’s Hall room 103B.

Kick the cold, cheat the chill

By Tamika Robinson
Feature Editor

With the weather reports of more snow coming our way, it is easy to get depressed and want to stay inside, but what you may not know is that you could be exhibiting a sign of “winter blues.”

“Winter blues is kind of a generic term,” said Angel Weisbrod, director of health services at Saint Mary’s University. “People are cold, they don’t want to go outside as much, and so they are a little inactive and feeling down.” Weisbrod also said that winter blues can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, which is a form of depression.

Symptoms of winter blues include feeling lethargic, having a hard time waking up in the morning as the days get shorter, difficulty concentrating and thinking creatively in comparison to the summer months, misplaced blame on yourself for things that go wrong, difficulty performing tasks that normally seem to be easy and enjoyable and an increase in craving carbohydrate-rich foods and drinks like chocolate and soda.

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To get the most out of winter, Weisbrod suggests that students stay on a regular schedule, eat right and get some exercise.

“It’s really important to do for a lot of people because it’s cold outside, and they don’t tend to go outside as much,” she said. “Using the RAC would be a really good idea...(and) finding some activities to do that are indoor ones that will keep you active and interactive with people. Get some fresh air though at the same time. Even if it is cold, bundle up warm and go outside and go for a walk.”

Liz Therneau, senior, said that during the winter she likes to go for walks in the bluffs with friends. “When we’re cooped up inside we’ll get blankets and watch movies and try to relax and do homework,” she said.

Students feeling any of the symptoms of winter blues can visit the staff in the Wellness Center for help or for more information on SAD.

Dear Angel,

My roommate is almost always grumpy or stressing out over the smallest things. She wasn’t like this when we started school last fall. We had a lot of fun hiking in the bluffs, going out, and hanging out with friends. Now she won’t do much of anything. She’s always complaining that she doesn’t feel well and is tired.

I told her she should go get checked out, that maybe she has a bad flu or something. I don’t want to catch it if she does. She got really mad at me and told me I should quit bugging her. She says she doesn’t have much resistance and this happens every winter. She says her mom has the same thing and once the weather warms up she’ll be fine.

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I have a lot of classes this semester and don’t want to get sick, what can I do to protect myself?

-Sick and Tired of Sick and Tired


Dear Sick and Tired,

While it is possible that your roommate is less resistant to the “bugs of winter,” the symptoms you mentioned may well be related to a chemical imbalance rather than a virus or bacteria. I suggest this because of the comment she made regarding feeling better as the weather warms up and the fact that her mom has the same problem. There are some people who experience a seasonal depression referred to as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). While the exact cause of this is not fully understood, it is suspected that a decrease in sunlight impacts certain chemicals (melatonin and serotonin) that impact sleep and wake cycles. Often, this condition can be found in members of the same family. Unlike an occasional “down day” that anyone can experience, the symptoms usually appear in the later fall and go away as spring and longer daylight returns.

In spite of the fact that the symptoms may well go away on their own, it is important to understand that this should not be ignored since these symptoms can be serious. Additionally, there are multiple approaches to treatment, including light therapy, medication and counseling which can ease the symptoms and allow your roommate to enjoy every day, not just the spring and summer.

My suggestion for you is to take care of yourself – get adequate rest, exercise, eat healthy and wash your hands frequently. You might also consider meeting with someone in counseling (you can make an appointment by calling ext. 1773) if you are feeling the pressure of your roommate’s mood or are concerned about her emotional state.

Sincerely,
Angel

Questions can be directed to Angel via email at aweisbro@smumn.edu
***This is not a substitution for medical evaluation and care