Saint Mary's Newsroom

It is the beginning of spring election season for the Student Senate, and we are currently accepting nominations for Student Senate President 2021-22.

Any Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota undergraduate student who has had at least one year of experience on the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Student Senate is eligible to run for Student Senate president.

If you are interested in running for president, please reach out to current President Kendall Archer at kxarch16@smumn.edu to receive your campaign packet. This will contain the presidential petition, guidelines of the process, responsibilities of the role, and information about how campaigning will look. The presidential election timeline is:

• • Monday, Feb. 22, president petition available
  • Monday, March 8, president petitions due by noon
  • Tuesday, March 9, presidential town hall at senate meeting
  • Tuesday, March 16, president election day

This election season, ballots will accessible from three entrance points:

• 1. The ballot will be sent in the CommUNITY newsletter email the Monday prior to the election. The ballot, however, will only be live on election day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
  2. The link to the ballot will also be posted on the Saint Mary’s Student Senate Instagram @SMUMNsenate.
  3. QR codes on election day will be posted around campus for students to scan throughout the day.

Information on the executive board and class officer elections will be released soon. We look forward to your participation throughout this busy season!

The Cardinal Community is invited to the following Student Activities events:

Virtual Board Game Night

Thursday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. via Zoom
Sign up

Have you ever heard of JackBox games? Think of it as the child of classic social games like charades. It’s especially fun if you have good friends to join you!

Blanket Making — Keep or Donate!

Saturday, Feb. 20, at noon in the Game Room
Sign up

Ready to get comfy? Want to make a blanket for yourself or to donate? Come make a blanket for someone in need in our community!

Upcoming SAC events: 

SAC Coffee and Cocoa – Thursday, Feb. 25, 8 a.m. to noon on the first floor of Saint Mary’s Hall

Disney Bingo – Friday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m. via Zoom – Sign up

Alcohol Tile Art – Thursday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in the Game Room

Movie Night and Discussion – On the Basis of Sex – Friday, March 5, at 8 p.m., location TBA

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 First Generation Initiative (FGI) announces the First Generation College Student Graphic Design Contest, open to all Saint Mary’s students. We are looking to establish a graphic design that highlights and showcases our first generation students and their supporters. The design is intended to be a source of pride and membership to our first generation community.

First generation college students are defined as those in which neither parent has completed a bachelor’s degree. FGI offers specialized support services for students who identify as first generation, such as guided study hall with peer mentors, individualized academic coaching, and community-building social activities.

We are seeking two different designs: one for Saint Mary’s first generation college students that should read “First Gen Proud,” and the other is for first generation college student supporters that should read “First Gen Supporter.” The two designs should be similar or complement each other.

Read contest guidelines and enter your submissions.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions: $100 for first place; $75 for second place; and $50 for third place.

The contest is open until Monday, March 1. Winners will be announced on Thursday, April 1.

Meeting called to order by President Kendall Archer at 7 p.m.

Prayer by Collin van Waardenburg

Members present: Cece Abel, Kendall Archer, Samatha Carlson (proxy Alica Schurrer), Larkin Clem, Jake Emeott, Sara Fowler, Mary Furlong, Gabriel Graves, Riley Hall, Noah Kimel, Megan Kowalis, Jonathon Krull, Abby Lang, Thomas Magnavite, Allison Moysis, Tara Nikolich, Nicole Noreen, Lyanna Novak, Enitan Onayiga, Sophia O’Neil, Angel Sacta Espinoza, Joseph Schauf, Ryan Stoynich, Collin van Waardenburg, Destiny Walker, and Elijah Williams

Members absent: None

Members excused: Samatha Carlson (proxy Alica Schurrer)

Discussion items

• Student Voices introduction
  • New COVID friendly (virtual) version of Day at the Capitol
  • Mandatory for student senators
  • Megan Kowalis will send out the sign up form
  • Will be meeting virtually with Minnesota legislators in a group setting
  • Training for this will take place at next week’s senate meeting; dress code is business casual
• Executive Board updates
  • Kendall Archer, president
    • Election season coming up
      • Presidential election
        • Petitions available Feb. 22
        • Petitions due March 8
        • Vocal nominations March 9 at senate
        • Election March 16
      • Executive board election 
        • Petitions available March 15
        • Petitions due March 22
        • Election March 24
      • Class officers election
        • Petitions available March 22
        • Petitions due April 6
        • Election April 8
  • Jonathon Krull, VP of Media and Communications and executive assistant
    • No updates
  • Angel Sacta Espinosa, VP for Campus Affairs
    • Continuing to hold capital improvement request meetings
    • Look for more information next week
  • Nicole Noreen, VP for Financial Affairs
    • Budgets are due Feb. 22 at midnight
  • Destiny Walker, VP for Multicultural Affairs
    • No updates
  • Mary Furlong, VP for Academic Affairs
    • Feb. 22 is coffee with the provost; all are welcome
    • March 9 and April 28 are Wellness Days
  • Elijah Williams, VP for Student Life
    • Thursday is the first meeting of the Food Service Committee
      • Agenda
        • Quarantine meals
        • Vegan and vegetarian options
        • Organizational issues
      • Pass on more information to Elijah Williams and he will try to address it at the meeting
    • Housing application information for next year will be coming out in upcoming CommUNITY newsletters
    • Club fair coming up, more information next week
    • RA applications are due Feb. 19
      
  • Megan Kowalis, VP for Public Affairs
    • If anyone wants to help Twigz and Megan plan CleanUp Winona, feel free to reach out
  • Sarah Fowler, SAC President
    • Virtual Board Game night at 7 p.m.
    • Saturday at noon, Blanket Making
  • Dr. Marisa Naryka, adviser
    • No updates

• Class officer reports
  • Freshman: No updates
  • Sophomore: No updates
  • Junior: No updates
  • Senior: No updates
• Senator concerns
  • Students are concerned with the CommUNITY newsletter; are people reading it?
    • The idea to make the COVID-19 update CommUNITY come from the COVID-19 email instead
    • Possibly removing the links and putting the whole articles in each issue
    • Concern expressed for CommUNITY as the primary vehicle for COVID-19 information dissemination, especially with regards to ResLife policies and guest policy 
  • Senator asked if Campus Safety has the ability to jump cars. Dr. Marisa Naryka will follow up with Campus Safety as they should be able to but unsure if all officers have the necessary training
  • Suggestion for additional snow removal emergency signage to be placed by Brother Leopold in the morning, so students see physical reminder before leaving the proximity of their car
  • Dr. Marisa Naryka asked students if they wish for a campus app
    • Senators mention that they would like it to have the Chartwells menu on it and also a calendar of events
    • A separate app exists for the menus already (Dine on Campus); will discuss at a later date to see if there is interest
• Motion to adjourn
  • Motioned by Joseph Schauf
  • Seconded by Colling van Waardenburg 
  • Time 7:31 p.m.

Cardinals,

You are invited to the 2nd annual Declaration Day!

When: Monday, Feb. 22
Where: Science and Learning Center hallways OR virtually
What: You can declare your major, a second major or minor, and your Integratus minor. Declaring automatically enters you into a drawing to win a $5 Cardinal Coffee card!

If you are still unsure of your major or Integratus minor, schedule an appointment with your faculty adviser to talk more about your interests and available options as you discern your path. Additionally, the Student Success and First Generation Initiative Office and the Career Services Office both have available resources to help you make this exciting decision. Don’t hesitate to reach out, as we’re here to help!

Have you been vaccinated for COVID-19?

Students who have been vaccinated for COVID-19 should upload proof of vaccination to their Student Health Portal. This will allow Wellness Center staff to verify that you are exempt from quarantine if you are identified as a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

In order to qualify for exemption, students must meet the following criteria, defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥ two weeks following receipt of the second dose in a two-dose series, or ≥ two weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
• Are within three months following receipt of the last dose in the series
• Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure

Have you had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 90 days?

In addition, students who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 90 days and have not already provided that information to the Wellness Center should upload documentation of their positive test to their Student Health Portal. Documentation must include: student name, date of test, and test result. Students who have had a positive test within the past 90 days will be exempt from weekly surveillance testing.

Questions? Contact wellnesscenter@smumn.edu or 507-457-1492.