Saint Mary's Newsroom / Campus Notes
Winona Campus NewsletterEnd of the year residence hall checkout
Move-out day for undergraduate students is Thursday, May 6. Students should be completely moved out of their residence halls by 7 p.m. on this day.
Students are required to set a time with their resident adviser before 7 p.m. on May 6 to complete the checkout process. The process includes a room check by your RA, completion of your Room Condition Report found in eRezLife, and turning in your room key. If you are done with finals prior to May 6 and wish to leave early, you can do so, but you still need to check out properly with your RA or hall director.
Your residence hall staff will communicate with you how to schedule a time to check out. If they have not by Friday, April 30, please reach out to your RA or hall director to find out how to schedule a time.
During checkout, residents will view their Room Condition Report with the RA, sign off on the form, and submit it. Once the completed form is submitted and your room key is turned in, checkout is complete.
There is an express checkout option for those who do not wish to schedule a time with the residence hall staff. The express checkout form can be found under “My Forms” in eRezLife beginning on Friday, April 30. When you complete this form, you are waiving your right to appeal any fines incurred for improper checkout. Your key must still be returned to the RA within your residence hall before departing campus.
Graduating seniors need to be moved out of their residence halls by noon on Sunday, May 9. You will also need to properly checkout of your room with an RA prior to leaving. The express checkout option is available, but any fines incurred will be the responsibility of the occupants of the room.
Want some help so you can do well on your finals?
Want some help so you can do well on your finals? Peer learning assistants (PLAs) can help you do just that by giving you personalized tips for studying, time management, and organization. Come visit a PLA in HC19 or by Zoom today!
You can get the help you need by signing up for a peer tutor or PLA at smumn.joinknack.com.
Don’t have the Knack app? Download Knack in the App Store or get it on Google Play.
Get help with any part of the writing process by contacting the Saint Mary’s Writing Center.
Get the most out of your study session using the Pomodoro technique.
Student Senate meeting minutes – April 20, 2021
Student Senate
April 20, 2021
Meeting called to order by president Kendall Archer at 7 p.m.
Prayer by Collin van Waardenburg
Members present: Cece Abel, Kendall Archer, Samantha Carlson, Larkin Clem, Jake Emeott, Sarah Fowler, Mary Furlong, Gabriel Graves (proxy Klaus Friedli), Riley Hall, Noah Kimel, Jonathon Krull, Abigial 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, Elijah Williams
Members absent: Megan Kowalis
Members excused: Gabriel Graves (proxy Klaus Friedli)
Discussion items
- Capital improvement vote
- Two TVs in the library, including mount and network
- $1,440 total cost
- Discussion
- Joseph Schauf raised concerns over the absence of a plan for the second TV, believes senate should fund only one of the TVs
- Angel Sacta Espinoza responded that there are a few final locations, just not a definite one yet
- Lyanna Novak, “Will these be used for commercial purposes?”
- Angel Sacta Espinoza, “They will be used to update students on events and what is going on throughout the campus.”
- Riley Hall agreed with Joseph, maybe save money for next year and just fund one for now
- Joseph Schauf, $645 if we just fund one
- Joseph Schauf raised concerns over the absence of a plan for the second TV, believes senate should fund only one of the TVs
- Motion to fund at $645 by Cece Abel
- Seconded by Collin van Waardenburg
- Motion to fund at $645 passes unanimously
- Nordic ski equipment proposal
- Looking to update some of the Nordic skiing equipment
- $2,000 total cost
- Purchasing second hand to save money
- Discussion
- Lyanna Novak, “Are the costs based on the number of people in Nordic Ski Club?”
- This is not attached to the Nordic Ski Club, it is with the Environmental Center here on campus, the equipment is free for students to use
- Collin van Waardenburg, with the gym classes here that involve skiing, they would definitely be utilized
- Angel Sacta Espinoza, a lot of individuals utilized the equipment this past year
- Motion to fund at $2,000 by Lyanna Novak
- Seconded by Sophia O’Neil
- Motion to fund at $2,000 passes unanimously
- Lyanna Novak, “Are the costs based on the number of people in Nordic Ski Club?”
- Art mural in Saint Yon’s Hall
- $500 total cost
- Design is still in the works, coordinating with Marketing and Communications
- Discussion
- Joseph Schauf, “Is there a timeline for when this will be completed?”
- Kendall Archer replied that it will be quicker than the last one. The proper individuals have been consulted and so it can be started this spring.
- Joseph Schauf, “Is there a timeline for when this will be completed?”
- Motion to fund at $500 by Sophia O’Neil
- Seconded by Cece Abel
- Motion to fund at $500 passes unanimously
- $500 total cost
- Updated plaza furniture
- $10,000 requested from Senate, $40,000-$50,000 total price
- 4 chairs and one table in each unit, looking to purchase 21 total units
- Motion to fund at $10,000 by Sophia O’Neil
- Seconded by Sam Carlson
- Motion to fund at $10,000 passes unanimously
- $10,000 requested from Senate, $40,000-$50,000 total price
- Two TVs in the library, including mount and network
- Student Wellness Club budget
- Maggie Heuer, secretary of the club and Rebecca Turner, club president, both present
- The club promotes wellness on campus
- Requested funding at $530
- Climbing wall passes-$70
- Craft supplies-$21
- Conference-$140
- Advertising-$11
- Recommended funding at $250
- Discussion
- How many members does the club have?
- It’s a new club, we have 70 people on our email list but we haven’t had club member meetings
- How do the climbing wall passes work? Are they for individuals?
- They are able to be used by any of our club members
- How many members does the club have?
- Motion to fund at $250 by Cece Abel
- Seconded by Enitan Onayiga
- Motion to fund at $250 passes unanimously
- Maggie Heuer, secretary of the club and Rebecca Turner, club president, both present
- Ballroom Dance Club budget
- Maggie Heuer present
- We teach lessons for ballroom dance to anyone interested
- Lessons are broken down by experience level
- Typically a coach teaches these lessons
- We teach lessons for ballroom dance to anyone interested
- Requested funding at $3,150
- Advertising-$40
- Professional coaching sessions-$1,768
- Recommended funding at $1,810
- Discussion
- How many people are in the club?
- Due to the lack of lessons this semester, we have laid low, 30 students on the email list
- Last semester at lessons we would have 6-10 people attend
- Will you have the same coach next year?
- Yes, she has shown interest in returning
- Is this the club’s first year?
- No, it has been around for a while
- How many people are in the club?
- Motion to fund at $1,810 by Cece Abel
- Seconded by Enitan Onayiga
- Motion to fund at $1,810 passes unanimously
- Maggie Heuer present
- Ultimate Frisbee Club budget
- Jack Pierazek, club president present
- Fosters friendship and an opportunity for students to be active
- We travel to a few tournaments each year and host two
- 30 members and growing
- Requested funding at $2,500
- Advertisement-$32
- Travel-$906
- Recommended funding at $940
- Discussion
- How far in advance have you had to cancel hotels in the past?
- It came up last year in River Falls with COVID-19, we were a day away from not making the cancellation
- Do you do any fundraising? How much do you make from it?
- Yes, we order jerseys and our players pay for them. Each jersey is about $80 each.
- How far in advance have you had to cancel hotels in the past?
- Motion to fund at $940 by Lyanna Novak
- Seconded by Sophia O’Neil
- Motion to fund at $940 passes unanimously
- Jack Pierazek, club president present
- TRBD Club budget
- Sarah Fowler club president, present
- The Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance helps an individual connected to Saint Mary’s with medical needs or other needs
- The money raised goes to the beneficiary
- In the past, we have raised $25,000 and $18,000
- The Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance helps an individual connected to Saint Mary’s with medical needs or other needs
- Requested funding at $7,932
- Band-$6,400
- Decorations and food-$750
- Advertising-$45
- Entertainment and hospitality-$360
- Recommended funding at $7,940
- Motion to fund at $7,940 by Sophia O’Neil
- Seconded by Joseph Schauf
- Motion to fund at $7,940 passes unanimously
- Sarah Fowler club president, present
- Executive board updates
- Kendall Archer, president
- Next week is our last meeting of the year, we will be meeting in person at 7 p.m. in Salvi Hall
- Masks and social distancing required
- Next week is our last meeting of the year, we will be meeting in person at 7 p.m. in Salvi Hall
- Jonathon Krull, VP of Media and Communications and executive assistant
- No updates
- Angel Sacta Espinosa, VP for Campus Affairs
- Finalizing the approved capital improvements
- Nicole Noreen, VP for Financial Affairs
- Budget season is over!
- Looking into bylaws that need to be updated
- Destiny Walker, VP for Multicultural Affairs
- Gay Pride week!
- Open mic on Thursday at 8 p.m.
- Day of Silence this Friday
- Gay Pride week!
- Mary Furlong, VP for Academic Affairs
- Next Wednesday, April 28, is the wellness day
- Elijah Williams, VP for Student Life
- Meal plan updates are due May 7
- If fully vaccinated, please update that in the health portal
- Move-out information will be coming out in the upcoming CommUNITY
- May 6 at 7 p.m.
- Graduating seniors have until May 8 to move out
- May 6 at 7 p.m.
- Sarah Fowler, SAC president
- Cocoa and Coffee this Thursday
- Stress kits on Thursday
- Harry Potter Trivia 8 p.m. Friday
- Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance this Saturday
- Marisa Naryka, adviser
- No updates
- Kendall Archer, president
- Class Officer reports
- Freshman: No updates
- Sophomore: No updates
- Junior: No updates
- Senior: Finalizing Senior Day plans, seniors should have received an email to sign up for T-shirts; fill out the Google form Dr. Marisa Naryka sent out
- Senator concerns
- Students are frustrated regarding the university’s response to the Daunte Wright shooting and lack of response to previous incidents involving Asian hate.
- Anonymous letter-writing campaign to the administration to recommend changes in regards to inclusivity; email your letter to Crystal Chavel who will collect and submit.
- Please fill out bias reports for incidents that involve these instances; responses are reviewed and followed up on. These can be done anonymously or named.
- Reports on meetings with administration and students involved in the Solidarity Movement will be coming up in the future.
- Students are frustrated regarding the university’s response to the Daunte Wright shooting and lack of response to previous incidents involving Asian hate.
- Motion to adjourn
- Motioned by Joseph Schauf
- Seconded by Sophia O’Neil
- Time 8:04 p.m.
Brown Parking Lot closing tonight
On Thursday, April 22, beginning at 10 p.m., the Brown Parking Lot on the Winona Campus will be closed until Monday, April 26, afternoon. This closure is to facilitate the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance on Saturday, April 24. All vehicles must be out of the Brown Lot area by Friday morning or they are subject to being towed. This includes the faculty/staff parking spots along the back of the Page Theatre building and the other reserved parking spots in the Brown Lot.
If you have any questions, please contact the Campus Safety office at 507-457-1703 or winsafety@smumn.edu.
Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance this Saturday
Come on out to the 21st annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance this Saturday, April 24, in the lot behind the Performance Center!
Sign up for one of two time slots: one starting at 7 p.m. and going until 8:15 p.m. and one starting at 8:45 p.m. and going until 10 p.m. The dance will feature live music from The Johnny Holm Band and will be the same exact set for the first and second time slots. The tickets will be $15 a person for all students. Please purchase your tickets at smumn.universitytickets.com.
Please note that non-Saint Mary’s students are not allowed at the dance this year and that all COVID-19 protocols will be enforced at the dance.
Come out and support a great cause! Hope to see you all there!
— Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance Committee.
Salute to Seniors response requested
Hello Seniors,
We are inviting you to participate in the Salute to Seniors this year to remember all the memories we shared.
If you are interested in being included in this issue, email Mike Hagarty, director of Career Services, at mhagarty@smumn.edu with:
- A photo of you (a photo of you with friends/participating in a Saint Mary’s activity is even better)
- Your answers to the following:
- Name
- Hometown
- Major(s), minor(s)
- Favorite memory at Saint Mary’s
- Plans for after graduation (short-term) and dream job/plans for the future (long-term)
- Any comments, messages, etc. to the faculty, staff, and students of the Saint Mary’s community
Submit your responses no later than Sunday, April 26.
Register for your summer or fall internship today
Are you planning on doing an internship for credit this summer or next fall? If so, register for your internship before you leave campus!
Get more information and learn everything you need to learn about an internship for credit, including:
- Are you eligible?
- What are the benefits of an internship?
- How do you register for an internship?
- And much more!
Complete the paperwork by Thursday, May 4.
Contact the Career Services Office at careerservices@smumn.edu with any questions.
Cardinals Connecting Cardinals seeking student members
Alumni Relations and Development needs your help. We are rebuilding the previous alumni club on campus. The club, Cardinals Connecting Cardinals (CCC), aims to build connections with Saint Mary’s alumni, educate and promote philanthropy on campus, and build stronger engagement with students. We would like to invite you to become a founding member of the CCC!
You can find more information on the CCC and the commitments we are looking for from our members. Please read through the document and determine if the CCC would be a good fit for you this coming year. If you are interested in becoming a found CCC member, please sign up for a 15-minute intro session where we will go through the initial details for the upcoming year. During this meeting, we can answer any questions you might have as well.
Choirs to perform Saturday
The Saint Marys Choirs return to live performance with their spring concert under the direction of Dr. Patrick O’Shea on Saturday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the beautiful Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels in Winona. While the concert will be for a limited internal university audience only, it is the first public performance since March 2020 for the choirs. The repertoire includes works by Fauré, Monteverdi, Betinis, Brahms, Alfven, Paulus, and others. The Concert Choir will present the world premiere of “Ubi caritas” for SATB choir and piano composed by Dr. O’Shea.
CDC guidance and COVID-19 university policy clarification
Over the last few weeks, there have been articles published outlining the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for fully vaccinated individuals as it pertains to masking and social distancing. These articles were for informational purposes only. University policy regarding masking and social distancing has not changed. Due to our highly residential setting, masks and social distancing continues to be required of all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of their vaccination status. Although vaccinated individuals are less likely to become more severely ill, they can still be infected with COVID-19 and be carriers, which could quickly cause the disease to spread and affect in-person learning. Therefore, the university is erring on the side of caution to ensure the safety of our community.
COVID-19 test kits available for end of semester travel
Free saliva-based COVID-19 test kits will be available for Winona Campus students prior to travel at the end of the semester. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends COVID-19 testing 1-3 days prior to travel.
To access free saliva-based COVID-19 testing:
- Stop by the Wellness Center to pick up your kit.
- Use a Zoom-enabled device to test at the time/location of your choice.
- Mail the test using the pre-paid UPS envelope provided for overnight shipping.
- Allow 1-2 days for results once your test has shipped.
Questions? Contact the Jay Johnson Wellness Center at 507-457-1492 or wellnesscenter@smumn.edu.
Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines
“We [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)] understand that some people may be concerned about getting vaccinated now that COVID-19 vaccines are available in the United States. While more COVID-19 vaccines are being developed as quickly as possible, routine processes and procedures remain in place to ensure the safety of any vaccine that is authorized or approved for use.” Safety is a top priority and accurate vaccine information is critical.
It can be difficult to know which sources of information you can trust. Learn more about finding credible vaccine information.
GET THE FACTS from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.
Can a COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?
No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines or COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
There are several different types of vaccines in development. All of them teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.
It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and still get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.
After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, will I test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?
No. Neither the recently authorized and recommended vaccines nor the other COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.
If your body develops an immune response — the goal of vaccination — there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results.
If I have already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes. You should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible — although rare — that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again. Learn more about why getting vaccinated is a safer way to build protection than getting infected.
If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Experts are still learning more about how long vaccines protect against COVID-19 in real-world conditions. The CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.
Will a COVID-19 vaccination protect me from getting sick with COVID-19?
Yes. COVID-19 vaccination works by teaching your immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19, and this protects you from getting sick with COVID-19.
Being protected from getting sick is important because even though many people with COVID-19 have only a mild illness, others may get a severe illness, have long-term health effects, or even die. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you, even if you don’t have an increased risk of developing severe complications. Learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work.
Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?
No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way.
There are currently two types of COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for use in the United States: messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines and viral vector vaccines.
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines, which teach our cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. This means the mRNA cannot affect or interact with our DNA in any way. Instead, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop immunity to disease. Learn more about how COVID-19 mRNA vaccines work.
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. Viral vector vaccines use a modified version of a different, harmless virus (the vector) to deliver important instructions to our cells to start building protection. The instructions are delivered in the form of genetic material. This material does not integrate into a person’s DNA. These instructions tell the cell to produce a harmless piece of virus that causes COVID-19. This is a spike protein and is only found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19. This triggers our immune system to recognize the virus that causes COVID-19 and to begin producing antibodies and activating other immune cells to fight off what it thinks is an infection. Learn more about how viral vector vaccines work.
At the end of the process, our bodies have learned how to protect against future infection from COVID-19. That immune response and the antibodies that our bodies make protect us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.
Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I would like to have a baby one day?
Yes. If you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, you may receive a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to you.
There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In addition, there is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines.
Like all vaccines, scientists are studying COVID-19 vaccines carefully for side effects now and will continue to study them for many years.
Call for reflection and action
Dear Saint Mary’s Community,
We at Saint Mary’s University, like the rest of the nation and the world, are emotionally reacting to Derek Chauvin being found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. As a Lasallian Catholic University, we are called to advocate for justice, particularly for those historically marginalized and silenced, including Black citizens.
The university encourages the entire community to peacefully reflect on this verdict in memory of George Floyd, which is consistent with the wishes of his family. Winona Campus students are reminded that the Jay Johnson Wellness Center is available for support. As emotions run high, we ask all of you to be especially kind to one another; this is a difficult time for everyone. Saint Mary’s supports each other and all who have been treated unjustly.
I invite your prayers for our community, our state, and the entire nation. We know that conversations and actions must continue to address racial injustice on a university, state, and national level.
In peace,
Rev. James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., President
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