Sky’s the limit for classes, community events

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The dedication of the new observatory atop the Anderson Parking Facility Tuesday initiated new advances in both the science and educational programs at St. Thomas.

“The primary mission of the St. Thomas physics department observatory is science education,” physics professor Gerry Ruch said. “We want to use this facility to reach as many people as we possibly can and get them excited about science and the natural world.”

Portal users nearly double since last spring

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Portal, a Web application that combines elements of Blackboard, Murphy Online and Outlook e-mail, is growing in popularity. Since its launch last spring, the number of daily visits has nearly doubled.

When Portal was initiated last semester, it averaged 1,800 visits per day, said Elizabeth Houle, Web and media services director for Information, Resources and Technologies. This fall, Portal has received an average of 3,500 visits a day and 14,000 page views per day. But IRT is unable to discern what portion of the students using Portal are undergraduates or graduates, Houle said.

St. Thomas magazine halts profile of Saudi alum

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A University of St. Thomas alumnus from Saudi Arabia said Friday that the university president blocked a school publication from running a profile about him out of concern it would harm efforts to recruit Saudi students.

Ali al-Ahmed, 42, who earned his master’s in international management from St. Thomas, is director of the Institute for Gulf Affairs in Washington, which describes itself as a nonpartisan think tank on Mideast and Islamic issues. The profile was written for B., the magazine of the St. Thomas’ Opus College of Business, and had been in the works for more than a year, al-Ahmed said.

Ordinance would put onus for underage drinking on landlords

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A proposed ordinance holds St. Paul landlords responsible for underage drinking parties on their properties. City leaders will consider an ordinance that punishes adults who knowingly allow parties where minors are drinking alcohol, including landlords. St. Paul Alderman Russ Stark says landlords should bear some of the responsibility. But, landlord Christa Delfiacco says she shouldn’t …

Continue reading “Ordinance would put onus for underage drinking on landlords”

‘Connected.’ – Sept. 24, 2009

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In this week’s edition of ‘Connected.’: St. Thomas H1N1 numbers rise to 60, St. Paul College students return to class after campus lock down, new tuition billing system causes confusion, pinhole sized camera is watching students in the Grill and volleyball team starts season with a win.

Before H1N1: St. Thomas’ history with influenza

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In 1905, the College of St. Thomas built an infirmary on North Campus, now known as the Alumni and Constituent Relations building. Forty years later, math professor Capt. Thomas Gartland was living on the third floor and found graffiti on the walls. The graffiti listed names of students who had died in the building.

According to an article published in The Aquin on April 6, 1966, Gartland found names like “Spike O’Conner, Scarlet Fever, 1921,” and “Harold O’Brien, Mumps, 1924.” He even found written in a corner, “After three weeks in this place I don’t think anything could be worser.”