Saint Mary's Newsroom

The Minnesota Department of Health is urging all Winona students to get a COVID-19 test before Thanksgiving. Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the State of Minnesota and the County of Winona, it is likely that most students have been exposed to COVID-19 at some point in the past month. Thus, it is critical that students are tested to learn if they are asymptomatic carriers before returning home to their families to avoid transmitting the virus.

Students can easily get a COVID-19 test. 

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is hosting a mass COVID-19 testing for students in the gymnasium Sunday, Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon. Students will perform the saliva-based test on site and leave the sample with the university, which will ship the test to the lab in Minnesota.  We will employ significant COVID-19 protocols to ensure social distancing is observed throughout the testing process. Participants should:

• NOT Eat or drink 30 minutes before the test.
• NOT Smoke or vape 30 minutes before the test.
• NOT Chew gum 30 minutes before the test.
• Bring a smartphone with them, if at all possible.

Additionally, the City of Winona is host to a no barrier, free regional testing site at the Winona Mall, 1213 Gilmore Ave. Testing is located in the back of the Winona Mall near the DMV (southwest corner), facing Highway 61. The entrance is on the outside of the mall. Hours are Wednesday – Friday, noon to 7 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Schedule an appointment with Vault Health. At this site, you won’t need to show identification; tests are free; and insurance is not required.

While awaiting test results, you do not have to quarantine if you do not have symptoms or have not been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. If you do have symptoms or a known exposure to COVID-19, you should quarantine.

If your test result is positive, this means you currently have COVID-19 and should isolate from others. You must contact the Jay Johnson Wellness Center, 507-457-1492, and they will provide you with important health information about how to keep you, your family, and the community safe.

As our campuses will be closed Nov. 25-27 for the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no CommUNITY newsletter on Nov. 26. The next edition will be Thursday, Dec. 3. We wish you and your families a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving.

We are excited to announce our Psychology of Success group is creating a mental health support group via Zoom. This will be a safe space for students to talk to one another about their stressors. Please consider joining this support group to talk about struggles and relate to other students and their struggles in this student-led peer environment. Although this is student led, our counselor on campus, Kat Freihammer, will be assisting the group to offer ideas and ensure this stays a safe and supportive environment. We hope to see you all there!

When: Sunday, Nov. 22, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Click on this Zoom link

This event is sponsored by the Psychology Department; Psychology of Success class taught by Dr. Dan Bucknam; student led by Madeline Dosser, Kailee Johnson, Mayme Stanton, and Rebecca Turner

Confessions available Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.

While we will not be offering our usual penance service for the semester, priests will be available to offer the sacrament of reconciliation starting at 7 p.m. this Thursday. Come experience the sacrament of mercy in the Thomas More Chapel.

Scripture Kahoot! Friday on Zoom at 7 p.m.

Test your knowledge of scripture against other students! The winner will receive a $50 gift card to the book store. RSVP to campusministry@smumn.edu.

Stories of Kindness

How have you experienced the goodness of others in such a dark year? Share your story with Campus Ministry and enter a drawing for a $20 gift card to the book store. Email campusministry@smumn.edu.

Have to travel?
Traveling home for the holidays means you might bring COVID-19 home with you. You can bring COVID-19 home from an exposure you had before you left or while traveling. So it is important to remember the following tips from the Minnesota Department of Health:

• Lay low before you go! Minimize your contact with others for 14 days before you travel, avoid large crowds, gatherings, bars, etc… Stay away from others as much as possible. Wear a face mask whenever you are outside of your room and distance as much as you can.
• Get tested before you go! If you are negative, continue to lay low until you go. If you are positive, you will need to isolate.
• During travel, wear a face mask, distance as much as possible and wash hands frequently (or use hand sanitizer).
• Lay low once you arrive, because you may have been exposed during travel.
• Mask and socially distance as much as possible while you are home and/or for the first two weeks you are home. You want to be extra careful for your family. Wash your hands frequently!
• Consider testing 5-7 days after arrival, especially if your travel included being around many people (airports, bus rides, larger car pools).
• If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, get tested right away and isolate while the test is pending. If you have a close exposure to a known case of COVID-19, you should get tested 5-7 days after exposure and quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure.
• In general, avoid visiting people who are elderly or have health conditions. If you do visit, you should wear a mask, stay 6 or more feet away as much as possible and wash your hands. It is really important if you are visiting people at increased risk for severe disease to take extra precautions during the 14 days prior to the visit, and consider getting tested a few days prior to the visit

Other Tidbits and Resources:

• Don’t ignore symptoms! Symptoms can be subtle. For a list of symptoms associated with COVID-19
• CDC Resources on Celebrating Thanksgiving during COVID-19
• CDC Resources on what to do if you are sick or caring for someone that is sick

*INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

All rentals are due back by Dec 4. If you have gone home and have not returned your rentals, below are the instructions on how you can print a shipping label via the bookstore website. If you choose NOT to use our shipping label, PLEASE make sure your rental information is enclosed in the box.

1. Go to www.st-marys.bncollege.com and rest your cursor on “Textbooks.” Select the “Textbook Rentals” option from the drop down menu.

2. Next, scroll down and click on the link labeled “Rental Return.”

3. Lastly, enter your Order ID and the email address you used when you placed your order. If possible, you can combine multiple orders together and ship in one box with one shipping label. Please make sure to use packing material to keep the books in good condition. Also, include your name, email, and phone number inside the box. Contact the bookstore by phone (507-457-1569) or email (w-bookstore@smumn.edu) if you have any questions or you are not able to create the label.

Thursday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m.

Farewell BINGO

Join the Student Activities Committee for our LAST Bingo of the semester! Bingo prizes will be Cardinal gear from the bookstore, so it is a great opportunity to stock up for the long break!

All are welcome; please sign up here.

You can participate from anywhere, and if you win, your prize will be shipped directly to you.

Student Senate – Nov. 17

Meeting called to order by President Kendall Archer at 7:01 p.m.

Prayer by Collin van Waardenburg

Members present: Kendall Archer, Samantha Carlson, Larkin Clem, Jake Emeott, Sarah Fowler, Mary Furlong, Gabriel Graves, Noah Kimel, Lillian Klein, Megan Kowalis, Jonathon Krull, Abigail Lang, Thomas Magnavite, Allison Moysis, Nicole Noreen, Lyann Novak, Enitan Onayiga, Marcos Pedroza, Angel Sacta Espinoza, Joseph Schauf, Ryan Stoynich, Collin van Waardenburg, Destiny Walker, Elijah Williams

Members absent: Cece Abel, Tara, Nikolich, Sophia O’Neil

Members excused

Discussion items

• Executive Board Updates
  • Kendall Archer, President
    • Tonight is the final meeting of the year
    • Watch your emails for next semester’s first meeting
    • Our social media will be posting our agenda and minutes as well
  • Marcos Pedroza, VP of Media and Communications
    • Follow SMUMNSENATE on Instagram!
  • Angel Sacta Espinosa, VP for Campus Affairs
    • No updates
  • Nicole Noreen, VP for Financial Affairs
    • No updates
  • Destiny Walker, VP for Multicultural Affairs
    • No updates
  • Mary Furlong, VP for Academic Affairs
    • Good luck with finals!
  • Elijah Williams, VP for Student Life
    • Fill out your break form before you leave. It is found in your email from ResLife or at this URL:  https://smumn.erezlife.com/login/
    • Had a conversation with Chartwells, the club menu will be changing for next semester
      • Salads and wraps will be added
      • Chicken nacho bowl
      • Open to more ideas, if you have any bring them to Elijah
        • Working on bringing back the omelet bar when things change with COVID
        • Will there be more drinks next semester at Cardinal Club?
          • Will look into it
      • Salads will be offered as a side next semester in the Cardinal Club
  • Megan Kowalis, VP for Public Affairs
    • No updates
  • Jonathon Krull, Executive Assistant
    • Ethics Committee met with two Senators this past week in regards to attendance, warnings were issued
    • Watch your emails, communication will be coming soon outlining the attendance policy and expectations for next semester
    • Please read over the Senate Constitution and bylaws and familiarize yourself with them
  • Sarah Fowler, SAC President
    • SAC events
      • Wednesday at 5 p.m. they will be handing out painting kits
        • 7 p.m. zoom with Bob Ross to paint along
      • Friday they have stress kits available, handed out at dinner
        
  • Marisa Quinn, Adviser
    • No updates

• Class Officer Reports
  • Freshman: No updates
  • Sophomore: No updates
  • Junior: No updates
  • Senior: No updates

• Motion to Adjourn
  • Motioned by Joseph Schauf
  • Seconded by Collin van Waardenburg
  • Time 7:15 p.m.