Saint Mary's Newsroom
Campus ConnectionAn update from the president to alumni and parents
Suspension of study abroad for 2021-22 academic year
Are you on the waitlist for a fall class?
Cardinals,
If you are on the waitlist for a fall class, we want to remind you that being on the waitlist does not guarantee that you will get into the course(s). To that end, we strongly encourage you to register for other courses just in case. You can always drop those courses, should you get into the class(es) you are waitlisted for.
You will receive an official notification from the Registrar’s Office if you are moved off the waitlist and into the course(s).
If you have any questions or need help finalizing your schedule, please contact your faculty adviser or reach out to us at studentsuccess@smumn.edu.
Response from the President to shooting of Daunte Wright
Dear Saint Mary’s Community,
I write to you with deep sadness and shared pain as our community and all people in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and the nation try to come to terms with another tragic death. The shooting of Mr. Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center during a stop by a police officer earlier this week hits especially close to home. We have students who went to school with Mr. Wright; colleagues and alums who may know the families of all those involved; students, friends, family and coworkers who live in Brooklyn Center and surrounding areas. This and other recent incidents have, for many, exacerbated feelings of hopelessness, fear, anger, and anxiety.
These are truly heartbreaking times. Sadly, there have been too many of these moments to count and yet we are called to create greater unity and to build a more inclusive community, where diverse voices are valued and heard. While it is not possible to respond with a statement for every injustice, we respond to all injustice through our faith and the belief that all people must be afforded equal dignity and all forms of unjust discrimination must be condemned.
As we grieve and pray for all those affected by the death of Mr. Wright, I invite you to focus on those virtues that form the basic rights for all including justice, prudence, understanding, courage, and temperance. Our care and support for each other will propel us as we collectively work to build a more just world in the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching and our Lasallian Catholic Heritage.
Saint Mary’s University believes that all people are created in God’s image. We believe that Christ’s redemption is for everyone. We are committed to advancing equality, celebrating inclusion, creating belonging and striving for compassion, care and respect. We believe we can achieve a future full of hope.
God bless you.
Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
Vaccination clinic transportation available
On the Winona Campus, if you have transportation issues associated with getting to a vaccination clinic, you can use Lyft, call a taxi (Economy Specialty Services: 507-454-7433), or pre-arrange a ride with the Student Affairs Office by emailing studentlife@smumn.edu at least 48 hours ahead of time (if possible).
In addition, the city of Winona has a dial-a-ride service that allows citizens to call for a city transit bus to pick them up and give them a ride anywhere in Winona, Goodview, or up to 2 miles outside of town. The service has limited hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Riders are supposed to call at least a day in advance, and the service is not available within four blocks of an existing city bus route. Fares are $2.50 per ride. Get more information.
Submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Winona Campus undergraduate students who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination series should submit proof of vaccination.
- To do this, upload a picture of your vaccination card to your Student Health Portal using the “Document Upload” function.
Providing proof of vaccination means you will be exempt from quarantine if you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 in the future.
Questions? Contact wellnesscenter@smumn.edu or call 507-457-1492.
What we know and what we’re still learning about COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 vaccines are new, and we’re continually learning more about the protection they offer. While the vaccines were developed quickly standard safety protocols and processes have been in place to ensure the safety of any vaccine approved for use in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following summary of our current knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination.
- We know that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death.
- We’re still learning how effective the vaccines are against variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Early data show the vaccines may work against some variants but could be less effective against others.
- We know that other prevention steps help stop the spread of COVID-19, and that these steps are still important, even as vaccines are being distributed.
- We’re still learning how well COVID-19 vaccines keep people from spreading the disease.
- Early data show that the vaccines may help keep people from spreading COVID-19, but we are learning more as more people get vaccinated.
- We’re still learning how long COVID-19 vaccines can protect people.
- As we know more, CDC will continue to update our recommendations for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Until we know more about those questions, everyone — even people who’ve had their vaccines — should continue taking steps to protect themselves and others when recommended.
MSW program news
MSW Program Director Suzanne Shatila is co-presenting “Mentorship as a Retention Tool for Adjuncts” with the MSW program director of the University of Tennessee, Kate Chaffin, MSSW, LAPSW, during the Social Work Distance Education 2021 Virtual Conference: Removing Barriers and Expanding Borders Through Social Work Distance Education April 14-16.
Two specialty focuses were added for the 2021 conference to include the 2020 pandemic experience and deconstructing racism. With these additional tracks, the conference is seeking to explore how the 2020 pandemic and ethical responsibility of deconstructing racism impacts all aspects of social work distance learning within the context of the conference’s theme.
MSW students attend Virtual Field Fair 2021 April 12
The master of social work programs of Augsburg University, St. Catherine University, St. Thomas University, and the University of Minnesota have partnered with a plethora of agencies to provide students with an excellent opportunity to prepare for professional social work practice. Each year, the Spring Field Fair gives MSW students and agencies the chance to informally meet, exchange information, and arrange for full internship interviews at a later date.
This year, Saint Mary’s MSW students had the opportunity to participate in the virtual field fair.
Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance and Online Silent Auction, April 15 and 16
It is time again for the annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance Silent Auction. On behalf of the Office of Recreation, Involvement, and Student Engagement (RISE), and the Taylor Richmond Benefit Committee, we would like to remind you that all proceeds for the 21st Annual Taylor Richmond Benefit are to be donated to AT Children’s Project in honor of Taylor Richmond. Taylor was the son of former Saint Mary’s staff member, Nikki Richmond, and was born with ataxia-telangiectasia, a degenerative genetic disease that severely limits movement, depresses the immune system and leads to a host of debilitating symptoms. AT Children’s Project works to fund international research in an effort to find life-improving therapies and a cure for ataxia-telangiectasia. With this year’s fundraising efforts, we are looking to provide monetary support to this group, providing a host of information and resources for individuals with ataxia-telangiectasia and their caregivers.
The benefit dance and silent auction has become an annual student tradition since its start in 2000, in honor of Taylor. Each year, this event benefits some person or organization in need who has ties to the Saint Mary’s community. Although Taylor passed away in 2013, his memory lives on at Saint Mary’s.
The silent auction for the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance will be held online Thursday and Friday, April 15 and 16, 2021. Our silent auction will be entirely virtual this year, taking payment via the University Tickets system. Because we are hoping to reach the greater Saint Mary’s community, auction items may be mailed this year for an additional shipping charge. All other baskets can be arranged for pick up during the week following the online silent auction. Payment information will be communicated to those who win each silent auction basket.
The Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance Committee has arranged their own silent auction site in the 32auctions.com system. We appreciate any participation in our silent auction and hope to make it the great success it has been in years past.
If any alternate arrangements for picking up an auction basket is necessary, please contact Marisa Naryka at mnaryka@smumn.edu or Caroline Cummings at cacumm17@smumn.edu.
If there are any other questions about the silent auction, including payment, shipping, or any other information, please contact Caroline Cummings at cacumm17@smumn.edu.
We are so excited to share our auction with you and we are so thankful for all the support we receive. Anyone is welcome to visit our auction site between April 15 and 16, 2021. Thank you in advance and we hope you enjoy this continuation of such a wonderful tradition.
Sarah Fowler, president
Caroline Cummings, co-vice President
Catie Schiltz, co-vice president
Gigi Centeno, secretary
Marisa Naryka, adviser
Hegarty, Egan receive Presidents’ Awards
The 2021 Presidents’ Awards from the Minnesota Campus Compact recognize, celebrate, and tell the story of great individuals, projects, and programs in Minnesota. The Presidents’ Awards are selected each year by the president of each member campus recognizing outstanding accomplishments in Student Leadership, Civic Engagement Leadership, and Community Partnership.
This year, Bridgette Hegarty, a junior student, was recognized with the President’s Student Leadership Award. This award is for an individual student or a student organization that models a deep commitment to civic responsibility and leadership, evidenced by initiative, innovative and collaborative approaches to addressing public issues, effective community building, and integration of civic engagement into the college experience. During this pandemic, Bridgette has evidenced a deep commitment to students at Saint Mary’s, and, especially, as an RA, her students in Skemp Hall. She has developed creative programming in her hall to create a sense of community there. She also worked as a new student orientation leader where she devoted her energy and many gifts to welcome new students to campus during this difficult time — once again creating a sense of community for them. She has been a role model for other students.
Ryan Egan, head coach for Men’s Hockey, was recognized with the Presidents’ Civic Engagement Leadership Award. This award is for a member of the faculty, administration, or staff, or for a group that has significantly advanced their campus’ distinctive civic mission by forming strong partnerships, supporting others’ civic and community engagement, and working to institutionalize a culture and practice of engagement. Prior to the pandemic, Coach Egan had high expectations for the men on his hockey team, both on and off the ice. The men were regular volunteers for numerous community service and campus service projects. During the pandemic, the men on the team could be counted on to assist the university with meal delivery for students in quarantine and isolation or with mass testing events for COVID. Coach Egan is clearly advancing the university’s mission to develop ethical leaders.
Congratulations to Bridgette and Coach Egan on these awards!
The Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D.
President
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
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