Saint Mary's Newsroom

This free, four-week, virtual series will address topics including stress management, time management, test anxiety, and self-esteem. Participate in the entire series or select the topics of interest to you. The program is being offered by Saint Mary’s University graduate student Emerald Yeshidagne as part of her work in the counseling and psychological services program. 

Sessions are held virtually on Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Register at Stress Reduction Series

Questions? Call 651-440-9159 or email eyeshidagne@lotuscounselingmn.com.

Program overview

April 1: Stress Management  

• What is stress and its purpose?
• Effects of stress on the body and mind
• Dealing with stress and other mental illness
• Stress management techniques to practice

April 8: Time Management    

• Benefits of learning time management skills
• Barriers often faced to using time management skills
• Time management and relationship to mental health
• Techniques that can be practiced

April 15: Test Anxiety       

• What is test anxiety?
• What’s the difference between test anxiety and anxiety disorders?
• Working with test anxiety and mental health
• Techniques to help manage test anxiety and be more successful

April 22: Self-Esteem 

• Core beliefs
• Reframing negative self-talk to positive self-talk
• Self-esteem and mental health
• Techniques to help increase self-esteem and self-worth

For additional mental health resources, see the Wellness Center Website

If you do it on purpose, your college career can be a great launching pad for your working career. By actively engaging in internships, work study, clubs and activities, and more, you can develop your career readiness skills and make yourself even more marketable when you are ready to enter the job market.

This session will identify a few key strategies for ensuring that your college career will make you ready for the world of work. It will include such topics as building your résumé with the right kind of experiences, participating in internships during college, and more.

Using College To Launch Your Career: Internships, Résumés, and More
Date: Tuesday, April 6
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Salvi Lecture Hall (also available via live stream, link forthcoming)

This event is sponsored by the Student Athletics Advisory Committee (SAAC).

There will be no newsletter Monday, April 5, but CommUNITY newsletters will continue as usual later in the week. Please check your calendars and plan accordingly. Have a wonderful Easter.

The Student Activities Committee (SAC) invites the entire Saint Mary’s community to the following events:

Easter Egg Dying
Thursday, April 1

1 p.m. in the Plaza (Hall of Fame Room is the inclement weather location)

Come dye some REAL EGGS! Each student will receive half a dozen eggs to dye how they please. Eggs, dye, and decoration supplies are all included.

DIY Mosaic Tiles
Friday, April 2

Noon in the Plaza (Hall of Fame Room is the inclement weather location)

Calling all seniors (and other classes)! This is your chance to leave your mark on campus. Using cement and glass tiles, create a mosaic tile that will live on campus. Mosaic tiles will be placed in flower beds and buildings around campus as a part of a campus beautification effort. Supplies are limited, so come early.

Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 3

Noon in Saint Ed’s Field (next to Toner Student Center and Vlazny Hall)

Yes, that’s right! A good old fashioned egg hunt. SAC has stuffed 600 eggs in preparation for the hunt of the year. All participants will receive a bag to fill with plastic eggs on the Easter Bunny’s command! Some eggs are filled with candy; some have incredible prizes. One egg includes the grand prize, which is a pair of BEATS HEADPHONES! Coffee, water, and cookies will also be available before and after the hunt. The Easter Bunny is also preparing for his 15 minutes of fame, so make sure to have your camera ready!

Olympics
Thursday, April 8, through Saturday, April 10

Events all weekend. Please see posters around campus for specific details. Sign up in teams of four or less. Together, with your team of four, compete to win points! The team with the most points will be award gold, silver, and bronze metals! Winners will be announced during the intermission of Fire Angel on Saturday night.

Sign up my team

For more information, follow SAC on Instagram @smumnsac.

Questions? Email studentactivities@smumn.edu.

Receive the SAC weekly meeting invite and events list. 

Want to join SAC? Contact SAC president Sarah Fowler at safowl17@smumn.edu.

The brothers of the Eta Nu chapter of Phi Mu Alpha and the sisters of the Kappa Sigma chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota are teaming up for a brand new FREE outdoor variety show!

All students are encouraged to attend FIRE ANGEL at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 10 in the plaza. Admission is for Saint Mary’s students in their pods only, but there will be a livestream for alumni, family, and friends.

Students must pre-register. If you want to become a sponsor, pre-register, or are interested in learning more, visit our website. If you have any questions, reach out to Hanna Hagberg at hshagb16@smumn.edu or Mark Kubista at mxkubi16@smumn.edu, or scan the QR code on any of our posters around campus.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Meeting called to order by Mary Furlong, vice president of Academic Affairs, at 7 p.m.

Prayer by Collin van Waardenburg

Members present: Samantha Carlson, Larkin Clem, Jake Emeott, Sarah Fowler, Mary Furlong, Gabriel Graves, Riley Hall, Noah Kimel, Jonathon Krull, Abigail Lang, Thomas Magnavite, Allison Moysis, Tara Nikolich, Nicole Noreen, Lyanna Novak, Enitan Onayiga, Sophia O’Neil (proxy Tiffany Freyman), Angel Sacta Espinoza, Joseph Schauf, Ryan Stoynich, Collin van Waardenburg, Destiny Walker, Elijah Williams

Members absent: Megan Kowalis

Members excused: Kendall Archer, Sophia O’Neil (proxy Tiffany Freyman)

Discussion items

• Academic request
  • Tri Beta (BBB) academic request
    • Graham Lorsung present
      • Looking for funding to present their research and findings
      • Four people that have to go, expecting up to eight who will present
      • Gives students the opportunity to show what they do and promote Saint Mary’s
    • Requested funding at $320
      • Registration costs for eight people-$320
    • Recommended funding at $320
    • Motion to fund at $320 by Joseph Schauf
    • Seconded by Tara Nikolich
    • Motion to fund at $320 passes unanimously
• Financial request
  • BSA budget
    • Bernadette Bikyeombe present
      • Looking to promote and teach the black experience in America
    • Requested funding
      • Movie nights-$100
      • Paint-$50
      • Halloween Party-$275
      • African Night decor-$200
      • Canvas-$65
      • Advertising-$20
      • Hotel for African Night host and DJ-$120
      • African Night drummers-$640
      • African Night host-$240
      • African Night DJ-$400
      • African Night dancers-$320
      • African Night poet-$320
    • Recommended funding at $3,930
    • Motion to fund at $3,930 by Cece Abel
    • Seconded by Sam Carlson
    • Motion to fund at $3,930 passes unanimously
• Habitat for Humanity budget
  • Laura Alice present
    • Work at the ReStore downtown
    • Assist with building, driving, demolition, whatever needed
  • Requested funding at $750
    • Advertising-$10
    • Travel-$41
  • Recommended funding at $560
  • Motion to fund at $560 by Lyanna Novak
  • Seconded by Collin van Waardenburg
  • Motion to fund at $560 passes unanimously
• FCA budget
  • Tanner Moris present
    • Fellowship of Christian Athletes
  • Requested funding at $30
    • Advertising-$20
  • Recommended funding at $20
  • Motion to fund at $20 by Riley Hall
  • Seconded by Gabriel Graves
  • Motion to fund at $20 passes unanimously
• Deprecor budget
  • Angela Spors and Gabriel Bickerstaff present
    • Faith-based community that hosts five events each semester
    • Puts on night prayer (20 members attend)
    • Membership of 60 individuals
  • Requested funding at $1,181
    • Rosary cord-$30
    • Alarm clocks-$100
    • Retreat materials-$105
    • Blue Angel/Fireside/Gaslight ad-$75
    • Posters-$42
    • Speaker at retreat-$280
    • Mileage-$128
  • Recommended funding at $660
    • Budget increase limitations according to the senate bylaws
    • Angela Spors details how the club was restructured last year and was limited with how much they could request since they have set events they were hoping to get the full amount
  • Questions
    • Abi Lang: With the rosary request, do people make and keep the rosaries?
      • They are made by the club and given out to the community
    • Joseph Schauf: So the rosary cord would not be able to be inventoried then?
      • It will remain within the community and with the club members
  • Motion to fund at $660 by Joseph Schauf
  • Seconded by Riley Hall
  • Motion to fund at $660 passes with one abstention
• USITT budget
  • Erin Grams present
    • United States Institute of Theatrical Technology
    • Working to make the USITT conference accessible to students on campus
      • A learning and networking event
        • Virtual this year
  • Requested funding at $2,000
    • Refreshments and decorations at fundraiser-$148
    • USITT conference membership-$1,110
    • Transportation to USITT-$32
  • Recommended funding at $1,280
    • Budget increase limitations according to the senate bylaws
  • Motion to fund at $1,280 by Jake Emeott
  • Seconded by Enitan Onayiga
  • Motion to fund at $1,280 passes unanimously
• Chemistry/Physics Club budget
  • Catie Schlitz and Molly Cary present
    • Looks to support chemistry and physics students and promote programs on campus
  • Requested funding at $650
    • Membership dues for Honors Societies-$150
    • Posters-$15
  • Recommended funding at $170
  • Motion to fund at $170 by Lyanna Novak
  • Seconded by Collin van Waardenburg
  • Motion to fund at $170 passes unanimously
• Executive board updates
  • Kendall Archer, president
    • Dress business casual for next week, we have a guest speaker
  • Jonathon Krull, VP of Media and Communications and executive assistant
    • Class officer elections are coming up! Reach out to Kendall Archer if interested in running, nomination forms are due April 6
  • Angel Sacta Espinosa, VP for Campus Affairs
    • Capital improvements will be coming up to e-board next week
  • Nicole Noreen, VP for Financial Affairs
    • Budgets are still underway
    • Special requests coming in the next few weeks
  • Destiny Walker, VP for Multicultural Affairs
    • BSA art museum ending this week
    • MIX is looking for performers for Multicultural weekend
      • Contact me if interested
    • SAGA is taking art submissions for Pride
  • Mary Furlong, VP for Academic Affairs
    • Met with the dean to discuss the fall schedule
      • Reach out to me with any feedback
  • Elijah Williams, VP for Student Life
    • Housing selections begin April 1, view your time on eRezlife
    • The food services committee will be meeting next week
    • Summer on-campus jobs are now posted on Handshake
    • Vaccinations are now open to all of us, check your email for information from Ann Merchlewitz
  • Sarah Fowler, SAC president
    • Soap Making tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the Game Room
    • Easter Egg Hunt is on Saturday at noon
  • Marisa Naryka, adviser
    • Fill out your travel requests if you are going home for Easter!!

• Class officer reports
  • Freshman: No updates
  • Sophomore: No updates
  • Junior: No updates
  • Senior: Meeting with Marisa to finalize senior week details
• Senator concerns
  • In regards to the sex offender moving into the neighborhood are we implementing any new policies to keep us safe?
    • Keep an eye out and report any suspicious activity to campus safety
    • There is currently no direct threat to us here
    • Campus Safety will continue patrolling
  • Are visitors allowed to campus to park and walk around campus?
    • No, they can only use the hiking trails in the bluffs or allowed to attend outdoor sporting events
  • If we see guests walking around campus is this something we should report to Campus Safety?
    • No, it will create a larger issue with the community. We will continue to communicate to the community that the campus is not open to the community
    • If they are acting strange or harming anything, you can report it to Campus Safety but otherwise do not report it.
  • Has the issue with Alumni Relations and Development been addressed?
    • The written complaint was submitted, a meeting between the committee, Alumni Relations, and Development is in the works.
• Motion to adjourn
  • Motioned by Cece Abel
  • Seconded by Ryan Stoynich
  • Time 7:45 p.m.

Have you ever wondered, “What is this statue about?” Saint Mary’s Winona Campus has an abundance of important but sometimes overlooked statues, sculptures, and other areas of significance. Explore all of these with Brother Larry Schatz, FSC, and James “Twigz” McGuire on Saturday, April 3, as they visit 12 of the statues and sculptures on campus. Brother Larry will give a brief history and explanation of each, as well as lead us in a moment of deeper reflection, meditation, and prayer.

All are welcome — whatever your interest! Please wear shoes for walking.

We will meet at Cardinal Coffee in the Toner Student Center at 10:30 a.m. and go from there.

For more information, email RISE@smumn.edu.