Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Art and Written Word Contest
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to help our community reflect on and raise awareness of this critical issue, as well as show support to survivors everywhere by contributing to an Art and Written Word Contest.
Submissions should be an original piece that addresses one (or several) of the following topics:
- Sexual assault
- Gender-based/dating violence
- Consent
- Social norming
Any media may be used including: poem, short story, essay, painting, drawing, sculpture, song, dance, skit, etc.
Submissions must be appropriate and respectful of this serious issue. No piece of art is too minuscule. A committee will judge the works to determine a winner. Winners will receive a $10 gift card to use at Cardinal Coffee or the Market courtesy of Chartwells. Submissions will be displayed in the Hall of Fame Room. To submit a piece, please make arrangements to drop it off at the Office of R.I.S.E. (Vlazny 106).
Entries are due Thursday, April 15, at 4 p.m.
Get more information on the contest and the judging criteria.
If you have any questions, please email the Office of R.I.S.E. at rise@smumn.edu.
Celebrate Easter Weekend!
Thursday, April 1
Egg Dying | 1 p.m. | Plaza
Mass of the Lord’s Supper | 7 p.m. | Saint Thomas More Chapel
Friday, April 2
Mosaic Tiles | noon | Plaza
Ecumenical Service | 1 p.m. | Saint Thomas More Chapel
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion | 3 p.m. | Saint Thomas More Chapel
“The Passion of the Christ” | 7 p.m. | Page Theatre
Saturday, April 3
Holy Walk with Brother Larry | 10:30 a.m. | Meet at Cardinal Coffee
Egg Hunt | noon | Saint Ed’s Field
Easter Vigil Mass | 7:30 p.m. | Saint Thomas More Chapel
Sunday, April 4
Mass | 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. | Saint Thomas More Chapel
Ecumenical Service | noon | Saint Thomas More Chapel
Lawn Games and Refreshments | 1 p.m. | Plaza
Divine Mercy Sunday
Celebrate God’s infinite mercy on Sunday, April 11, at 3 p.m. in Saint Thomas More Chapel. Campus Ministry will host a holy hour, chaplet, and confessions. All are welcome.
Celebrate our Lasallian heritage
Wednesday, April 7, is the Feast Day of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the De La Salle Christian Brothers and patron saint of Christian teachers. Campus Ministry will be in the plaza to commemorate the day. All are welcome to join in the festivities.
Accepting senate class officer petitions
Cardinals,
As a reminder, Student Senate is currently accepting petitions for individuals interested in running for class officer. Class officers fundraise for their class’s senior week and represent their class at weekly Student Senate meetings. Please reach out to me at kxarch16@smumn.edu for more information and to receive a virtual campaign packet! The petition, with 25 unique endorsements, must be returned to Marisa Naryka, Ed.D., adviser, by noon on Tuesday, April 6. Elections will be held Thursday, April 8.
Kendall Archer
Student Senate President
The Scoop – April 2021
SAC Executive Board nominations and elections meeting
The Student Activities Committee (SAC) has put out the call for nominations for the 2021-22 executive board. If you, or someone you know, are an incredible leader, please consider submitting a nomination. Nominations are due Sunday, April 4, at midnight. See below for a description of the executive board and the positions available. If you are nominated for a position, you will be notified via email on Monday, April 5, and will have until Saturday, April 10, to accept or decline the nomination.
The SAC elections meeting will be held via Zoom on Sunday, April 11, at 7 p.m. CST. Anyone in attendance at that meeting will be able to cast one vote per executive board position.
Join the meeting | Meeting ID: 819 1119 1855 | Password: 127193
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to studentactivities@smumn.edu.
Executive officer duties
- Plan and run events for the Saint Mary’s community, serving as the lead for at least three events per semester.
- Obtain a Saint Mary’s drivers certification.
- Attend all executive board meetings and general SAC meetings.
- Attend weekly one on one meetings with advisers.
- Represent SAC in administrative and decision-making capacities.
- Serve a one-year term on the executive board and is eligible for re-election.
President
- Serve as the general support and guidance for the organization.
- Lead corrective measures when appropriate amongst SAC members.
- Run weekly meetings, unless delegated to the vice president.
- Maintain communication between advisor and all SAC members.
- Serve as a liaison between other clubs and organizations on campus.
- Sit in on weekly Student Senate meetings.
- Assist adviser with elections meeting.
- Includes basic oversight of SAC budget.
- Attend National Association of Campus Activities conference (spring).
Vice president
- Transitional executive board member for the purpose of handing over SAC responsibilities from class to class.
- Serve as general support and guidance to organization.
- Cannot be a graduating senior.
- Lead SAC meetings as delegated by SAC president.
- Assist adviser with elections meeting.
- Basic oversight of SAC budget.
- Attend National Association of Campus Activities conference (spring).
Executive assistant
- Responsible for note taking during all meetings.
- Maintenance of SAC events calendar and Google Drive.
- Maintain record of attendance at SAC meetings and events.
- Sending weekly event reminder emails and SAC meeting reminders.
- Oversight of the SAC email account.
- Maintain oversight of SAC budget, in collaboration with SAC adviser.
Outdoor leadership representative
- Serve as a liaison between SAC and Outdoor Leadership Club.
- Serve as the main point of contact and consultant for all outdoor events.
- Plan and execute events that encourage the Saint Mary’s community to participate in responsible outdoor activities.
- Maintain knowledge of outdoor equipment owned by SAC, outdoor leadership, and the environmental awareness center.
On campus and virtual events
- Serve as a liaison/person of knowledge for Zoom and online-based programs, softwares, and systems.
- Plan and execute at least one virtual event per month.
- Maintain username and passwords for SAC systems, including email account, Zoom and Kahoot.
- Serve as a liaison for all in person events, attending as many as schedule allows.
Signature events and R.I.S.E. representative
- Responsible for the planning and execution of Cardinal Fest (fall), Snow Daze (winter), and Plaza Palooza (spring) on campus.
- Serve as a member and liaison to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance Committee.
- Meet bi-weekly with the coordinator of R.I.S.E.
Social media and advertising chair
- Manage SAC Instagram page.
- Advertise events in advance using various methods of advertising.
- Provide resources for advertising events.
- Create TV slides and posters for all SAC events.
- Attend all SAC events, as schedule allows, in order to obtain photos of events.
- Create a monthly “In the know, while you go” calendar for campus restrooms.
- Responsible for coordination of posting “In the know, while you go” calendar.
Update on work-from-home arrangements
Governor Walz’s most recent Emergency Executive Order 21-11 has raised a number of questions related to Saint Mary’s working arrangements implemented over the past year. The governor’s latest executive order adjusts limitations on certain activities, and we have been working on how the order impacts university operations. The order eases restrictions on social gatherings and occupancy limitations for certain industries, and it lifts the work-from-home mandate for employers of any industry, effective April 15.
Our protocols and remote working arrangements have been successful in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. And while vaccination access and efforts are escalating throughout the state, we must remain steadfast in following the protocols of wearing masks, washing our hands, and observing a social distance of 6 feet. Accordingly, Saint Mary’s will maintain its current campus protocols and remote working arrangements through the end of June. If you are currently working from home, please review the duties of your position for the next 90 days with your direct supervisor and determine if you need to return to campus or if you can continue to work from home.
All employees currently working at home are welcome to return to campus at any time and should work with their supervisors regarding their individual schedules.
As a Lasallian Catholic university where community is core to our work, we look forward with excitement to returning to campus and coming together to serve our students. Planning for the return this summer is underway for all campuses. Additional information will be available in early May. Please know that we will continue to observe safety protocols on all campuses. If you have specific questions, please discuss them with your supervisor or contact Human Resources at hr@smumn.edu.

All adults are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in Minnesota
As of March 30, all Minnesotans 16 years of age and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Minnesota has directed providers to prioritize vaccine appointments for people most at risk of getting COVID-19, or those who could develop severe illness if infected. This includes older Minnesotans, those with underlying health conditions, and those in essential jobs.
How to get your vaccine:
- Sign up for the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector. The Vaccine Connector will inform you about vaccine opportunities in your area.
- Use the Vaccine Locator Map to find vaccine providers near you.
- Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
- Vaccine Connector users may also be randomly selected to make an appointment at one of the state’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program sites.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Benefits of getting a COVID-19 Vaccine