College is prepared for the flu season

There has been much talk in the media about a potential widespread outbreak of H1N1 (swine flu) this fall in the general population and at college campuses. As of this writing, there are no reported cases of H1N1 flu at the Winona campus. However, I want to assure you that Saint Mary's is planning, strategizing and taking action to prepare for this possibility.

Messages and updates on prevention, vaccinations and treatment have gone out to students, faculty and staff. On September 17, open forums were held for the campus community. The university has distributed hand sanitizer to students, and germicidal wipes have been placed at key spots around campus. In the event of a large-scale outbreak, faculty have been advised to work with students so that they have the opportunity to complete coursework in spite of the flu. We will use conferencing and other technologies to help capture classes for students. Contingency plans for necessary isolation or travel home are being prepared.

To see Saint Mary's flu information and links to government resources, go online to http://www.smumn.edu/flu.

Saint Mary’s reports 1,404 undergrads

The 2009-2010 freshman class

Official 10th-day-of-class statistics at our Winona campus showed a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,404 — just down from last year’s record enrollment of 1,413. The third-highest enrollment was in 2002, when Saint Mary’s reported a total Winona undergraduate enrollment of 1,376.

This year’s total of 1,404 includes 1,343 full-time Winona-campus undergraduates and 61 part-time students. A total of 330 freshmen are enrolled. Numbers for the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs will be released later this fall.

Dr. Tom Mans, Vice President for Academic Affairs, notes that event though the uncertain economy might have impacted the freshman class, retention from the upper class years was good. One way the university adjusted to economic conditions was to increase the maximum number of credit hours students could take paying standard tuition, bumping it from 17 to 18 hours. Many students have taken advantage, leading in part to students taking the largest-ever total number of credits.

‘M’ Club Weekend fun for alums and athletes

Tom Pepper, Sue Otto, Chad Doerre

The Cardinal ‘M’ Club weekend has grown tremendously in the last seven years. The weekend offers alumni the opportunity to reconnect, reminisce and socialize with old friends and teammates, and to connect with current athletes. Faculty and staff were also invited to join in the festivities.

This year’s events, held on September 11-13, provided something for everyone: Hall of Fame inductions, athletic awards, golf, alumni games, a social and a picnic.

The men's hockey "alumni game" kicked off the weekend on Friday evening, with a social following. Saturday brought the golf outing, buffet dinner and alumni reception. I had the opportunity to speak to a large gathering of alumni and students at the awards reception. I congratulated the award winners, and reminded current athletes of both their special roles on campus and of the legacy left by their predecessors.

On Sunday, it was time to take the field, court, pool or ice as we held the rest of our alumni games. In addition to men's hockey, eight sports (men's soccer, tennis, women's soccer, swimming and diving, baseball, softball, women's hockey, and volleyball) held competitions. The campus was alive as over 150 athletes participated in the games. The weekend ended with a community picnic and pig roast. It was a great way to relax together, and rest up from all the weekend activities.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees were Tom Pepper '74 of Chicago, a three-year letterwinner and an NAIA All-District basketball player; Sue Otto '90 of Santa Monica, Calif., a four-year letterwinner in soccer; and Chad Doerre '96 of Joliet, Ill., a four-year letterwinner in baseball.

Visit our website for more information on the Hall of Fame inductees.

SMU’s 2008-09 postseason award-winners, as well as last year’s outstanding male and female athletes and outstanding scholar athletes were also recognized during Saturday night’s ceremony. For information on last year's outstanding athletes, go to the SMU Athletics website.

Young Alumni Weekend attracts recent grads

Reconnecting at the first Young Alumni Weekend: Dr. Jenny Shanahan,
Mel Drake, Jeff David '08 M'09 and Lance Thompson '05

We invited graduates from the last decade back to campus for the inaugural Young Alumni Reunion Weekend, September 11-13. As part of the weekend, a Faculty/Staff & Young Alumni Social was held Friday evening in the Toner Student Center Lounge.

 The special weekend of events continued with a bonfire, a community outreach project, ropes course activities, disc golfing and a pig roast picnic. The weekend coincided with Cardinal ‘M’ Club Weekend, giving SMU alumni opportunities to cheer on Cardinal athletics. A special barbecue was hosted for the 5-year anniversary class of 2004.

Young Alumni Weekend 2009 was full of fun opportunities to catch up with classmates, connect with current students, socialize with faculty and staff, and explore the newest spaces on the Winona campus.

Weekend information and followup comments and photos are  on a special Facebook page. Sign in at Facebook.com and search for "SMU Young Alumni Weekend." Feel free to post your favorite moments or stories from the weekend, or make suggestions for next year's event.

Speaker adds Lasallian context to college

Brother Charles Kitson and Brother William

All faculty, staff, and students were invited to attend the College Convocation and Mass of the Holy Spirit on September 1. These events marked the official opening of the academic year at the undergraduate College.

Remarks at the convocation were especially aimed at freshmen. Brother Charles Kitson, FSC, engaged students with an informative presentation about “GOOGLING GOD: A Lasallian Search.” Brother Charles used the Gospel challenge to follow Christ by getting out of our “boats” — within a Lasallian context.

Brother Charles serves as the De La Salle Christian Brothers' Secretary for the Lasallian Family and Association. This position finds him traveling around the Lasallian world fostering and animating lay partners to greater participation in the charism of Saint John Baptist De La Salle. He helps coordinate the many Lasallian Volunteer movements around the world as well as mentor the newly formed group known as “Young Lasallians.”

Students host Mexican celebration

Students enjoyed food and late-night fun at El Grito

Members of our student Intercultural Awareness Association hosted “El Grito” on September 15 and invited the entire college community. This was a fun and social event in the plaza celebrating Mexico’s independence from Spain. Students enjoyed authentic Mexican food catered by a local restaurant, and danced to music by a live Mexican mariachi band.