[slidepress gallery=’nin21010-broadwell’] This is News in :90 for Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010.
Faculty members seek explanations for study abroad cuts
About 30 faculty members gathered Friday afternoon to learn more about the recent reduction in J-Term study abroad courses for 2011 and express their concerns.
“There are a lot of issues to discuss,” business professor Dawn Swink said. “I’m concerned because it seems like we are cutting out international study abroad opportunities.”
Joseph Kreitzer and Angeline Barretta-Herman, associate vice presidents for Academic Affairs, discussed the factors that led to the administrative decision to allow fewer J-Term study abroad courses this coming year.
Budget concerns mean fewer J-Term courses abroad
Senior Hannah Forstrom thinks other students should have the same opportunity she did to study in Italy over J-Term as part of the “Pilgrimage in Italy” theology course.
“It was such an enriching experience,” Forstrom said. “The benefits are endless.”
But students won’t have that chance in 2011 because “Pilgrimage in Italy” is one of several J-Term courses the university won’t offer for financial reasons.
Aid shouldn’t require earthquake’s initiation
Ever since the earthquake hit Haiti, I’ve been proud of America’s reaction. From the very first day, astonishing amounts of food, money and aid have poured into Haiti from all parts of the nation.
Text message campaigns have raised millions of dollars for the relief fund. Many doctors, including one from St. Thomas, have gone to Haiti to perform surgeries and treat diseases such as dysentery.
Invisible Children chapter spreads word of war-torn Uganda
The Invisible Children group has only nine core members, no budget and is not even an official St. Thomas club.
But the group is slowly starting to attract students’ attention.
Globally minded shoppers flock to Fair Trade Sale
Students can run their hands over textured silk scarves, browse through displays of intricately beaded jewelry and examine handmade cards at the 12th annual Holiday Fair Trade Sale that features one-of-a-kind gifts from all over the world.
“I got a cool ring here last year,” junior Meghan Durkin said. “Now I’m looking for a gift for my mom.”
Solar panels to top Brady Hall Dec. 19
Twenty solar panels will be installed on the edge of the Brady Hall roof while students are away for winter break.
A student group has been working for months to get the panels installed on the roof of a St. Thomas building. Contractors from Innovative Power Systems, who will install the panels, made the final decision to put the panels on Brady Hall.
Structural problems create ‘bulge’ in Brady Hall
Opus Construction will analyze Brady Hall and decide how to fix a structural “bulge” in the building’s exterior.
An orange fence now surrounds part of the building and metal beams were added to the east wall Wednesday afternoon for reinforcement.
Writing program boosts interest in potentially tedious material
Students in Sherry Jordon’s theology class write out instant message conversations between themselves and famous Protestant reformers, create dialogues for a mock debate on Oprah and pretend to be bloggers in 16th-century Geneva.
“These kinds of writing assignments engage the students and make historical figures come alive,” Jordon said.
Graduation ceremonies moving to off-campus sites
Commencement ceremonies for this year’s seniors have been pushed off-campus due to construction on the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex. Students graduating in December will attend the ceremony at the RiverCentre and those graduating in May will do so at the Metrodome.
‘Faith and Fiction’ book reading kicked off Sacred Arts Festival
Author Ron Hansen spoke at St. Thomas Thursday night about his newest novel “Exiles,” which tells the story of 19th-century poet and priest Gerard Hopkins and the tragic shipwreck which inspired one of Hopkins’ poems.
Minority enrollment rises to record high
Undergraduate minority enrollment jumped nearly 21 percent this fall, reaching an all-time high of 14.5 percent of the undergraduate student body. Last year, undergraduate minority enrollment was 12 percent.
Students protest Super America over ‘cap and trade’ bill
St. Thomas students and community members stood on the corner of Grand and Cleveland avenues in the rain Tuesday afternoon, waving signs and banners in an attempt to encourage the rush-hour traffic to boycott Super America.
The protesters were upset about Super America’s attempts to discourage the public from supporting the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009. The act is currently being reviewed in national governmental committees and if it passes, businesses, including oil companies, would have to meet lower carbon-emission standards or pay a fine.
Ordinance would blame landlords for underage drinking
The St. Paul City Council is considering passing a social host ordinance that would make it a crime to host or allow a party where underage drinking occurs.
But this ordinance has a twist. If it passes, all adults, including landlords, who knowingly allow underage drinking parties, would be guilty of a misdemeanor and could face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail.
Fall Art Tour brought ‘good art’ to college campuses
The Fall Art Tour on Saturday evening provided a unique opportunity for students and the public to explore the art galleries of nine Twin Cities colleges and universities in a span of just three hours.
Participants could hop on one of the shuttle buses running between the different campuses and see clay and metal sculptures, glass vases, photographs, prints and interactive exhibits.