WSU graduates 700 students in dual ceremonies

WINONA, Minn., May 19, 2000 -- Seven-hundred Winona State University students in academic garb crossed the stage in separate morning and afternoon ceremonies to accept their diplomas. In a last-minute arrangement, former Winona State academic Vice President Doug Sweetland, was signed up as speaker for the Rochester ceremony. Sweetland is retiring as president of Southwest State after six years.

Cable competitor: "Winona nice" means dumb

WINONA, Minn., May 18, 2000 -- Former Winona State University public relations vice president Gary Evans, now the chief at the Hiawatha cable television company, talked his way into a wringer. Evans ran a corny advertisement that encouraged people to be "Winona nice" and say "thanks but no" to bargain deals from the competing cable company. His message: Stick with Hiawatha because it's local. The other company, part of the Charter cable chain, responded with a full-page newspaper ad picturing all its local employees and emphasizing their local roots and their 270-plus years of cable experience. The message: "Don't be fooled. We're local too. Don't be dumb. Go with the best deal."

SMU sports chief quits, stays as hockey coach

WINONA, Minn., May 17, 2000 -- The sports chief at Saint Mary's University, Don Olson, said he has been wearing too many hats and had to give one up. He is resigning as athletic director. Olson will stay as men's hockey coach. During his 20 years as athletic director, the varsity program has grown to 21 sports. Said Olson: "The challenge of creating a competitive environment for our athletic programs has become increasingly demanding." Being both athletic director and hockey coach, he said, had become "prohibitive."

Warriors get new baseball scoreboard

WINONA, Minn., May 17, 2000 -- Grocery owners Ernie Gorman and Tom Thompson donated a new baseball scoreboard for Winona State University baseball. The scoreboard has all the bells and whistles. Said Coach Gary Grob: "You feel like you are in Fenway Park." Gorman and Thompson operate Country Market and Midtown Foods.

WSU student wins materials society honor

WINONA, Minn., May 17, 2000 -- A junior engineering student at Winona State University, Justin Johnson, received a scholarship from the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering. Johnson is an intern at the RTP composites company in Winona, where he works on color cataloging.

Second false fire alarm at WSU dorm in two days

WINONA, Minn.. May 16, 2000 --Firefighters were called to the Prentiss-Lucas dorm at Winona State University at 7:15 a.m. -- the second timed in two days. Again, a false alarm.

Winona cable channel to run Woodworth features

WINONA, Minn., May 16, 2000 -- A Winona State University grad, Judy Woodworth, began producing a series of programs on historic Windom Park homes for the Hiawatha cable channel. Woodworth's first segments, each three minutes, will be in the 5 p.m. newscasts on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Full-length programs called "Spirit of Winona," on soft subjects like weddings, gardens and prom fashions, will follow on weekends.

WSU athletic training program wins accreditation

WINONA, Minn., May 16, 2000 -- The Winona State University athletic training program received accreditation from the national Allied Health Education Programs association. The director of the Winona State program, Shellie Nelson, said the university is the 135th in the nation with the Committee's stamp of approval.

WSU president justifies Sweetland as speaker

WINONA, Minn., May 16, 2000 -- A former academic vice president at Winona State, Doug Sweetland, will be the main speaker at the commencement ceremony for grad students, university president Darrell Kreuger announced. Sweetland, now president of Southwest State in Marshall, Minn., was widely criticized on free expression issues when he was at Winona State. In a prepared statement, Krueger defended Sweetland as commencement speaker. Krueger called him a strong advocate of library and equipment acquisitions "in the difficult resource years of the early 1990s." Krueger said. Sweetland put students first, he said.

WSU faces Rockhurst in baseball regionals

WARRENSBURG, Mo., May 15, 2000 -- The No. 3 seeded berth in the NCAA Division II baseball regionals belongs to Winona State University, the association's national committee announced. The Warriors will play No. 2-seed Rockhurst College of Missouri in the opener of the four-team, double-elimination tournament.

Somebody turned squirrely at WSU dorm; pulls alarm

WINONA, Minn.. May 15, 2000 -- End-of-semester exuberance took a perverted twist at Winona State University. Somebody pulled a fire alarm in the Prentiss-Lucas dorm about 4:40 a.m. Students evacuated, those up studying and those not. Firefighters found no fire.

Burning food draws firefighters to SMU

WINONA, Minn., May 14, 2000 -- Responding to an alarm at Saint Mary's University, firefighters found smoking food at the Heffron dorm about 11:20 p.m. First Mission: Throw out the charred remains. Second mission; Ventilate the second floor. Hungry students decided to eat out instead.

WSU probably has Division II baseball berth

WINONA, Minn., May 14, 2000 -- Winona State University's baseball team may get the No. 2-seeded berth in the Division II NCAA Central tournament, Coach Gary Grob said after winning the Northern Sun conference title. The Warriors had been virtually assured the No. 3 seed going into the Northern Sun championship game against Southwest State. Grob said he would put money on staying at 3, but 2 was a possibility.

SMU takes Division III softball title

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, May 14, 2000 -- Saint Mary's University won its first regional softball title, defeating Coe College 4-3 in the NCAA Division III Midwest tournament. The Cardinals jumped to the lead when Shalyn Swarthout hit a solo homer in the second inning. The championship puts Saint Mary's into the NCAA Division III nationals in Salem, Va.

SMU graduates 286 seniors, 546 grad students

WINONA, Minn., May 13, 2000 -- Those weren't flying saucers at Saint Mary's University. They were graduation caps flung by 286 seniors after receiving their diplomas. In commencement ceremonies at the Winona campus, commencement speaker Thomas Meagher, a Chicago industrialist, told the graduates to smile, be positive and be loyal. In a separate ceremony later in the day, 546 advanced degrees were awarded.

Tech aviation pioneer awarded citation

WINONA, Minn., May 13, 2000 -- The machinist-journeyman who crusaded to launch the Southeast Tech aviation mechanics program, Bill Hemsey, was awarded a presidential citation for lifetime achievement. President Jim Johnson also credited Hemsey with campaigning for funds to build the Tech student center.

WSU afternoon grad speaker: Chris Pfender

WINONA, Minn., May 13, 2000 -- An accounting senior, Christopher Pfender, will be the student speaker at the afternoon commencement ceremony at Winona State University on May 19. Pfender, a regular on the dean's liust, has been president of the campus Accounting Association. On graduation he joins the Wipfli Ulrich Bertelson accounting firm in Wausau, Wis.

Northern Sun baseball crown belongs to WSU

WINONA, Minn., May 13, 2000 -- The Warriors of Winona State University won the Northern Sun baseball championship. It was the Warriors over Southwest State all the way from a 3-0 first inning to the 10-3 finale. Derek Johnson pitched five solid innings for Winona State. Also in the pitching rotation: Andy Davis, Dan Weinkauf.

Interm excercise gym coming to old WSU library

WINONA, Minn., May 13, 2000 -- An exercise gym will be up and running in the old Maxwell library at Winona State University by fall classes if all goes according to plan, Athletic Director Larry Holstad said. The workout facility will include a weight room and aerobics areas with some new equipment. Holstad said the project is budgeted at $150,000 from a $7 per semester student fee. A health and wellness professional will supervise the facility, Holstad said.

Where, oh where, have all the chairs gone?

WINONA, Minn., May 12, 2000 -- The folding metal chairs that are hauled out for Winona State University's graduation have been disappearing. Amy Welch, of the graduation committee, issued a pleas for anyone who has walked off with a chair to leave them in a hallway, no questions asked, to be picked up and moved to the Memorial gym. Otherwise, it may be a BYOC ceremony.

Retired Tech teacher honored for nursing work

WINONA, Minn., May 12, 2000 -- Retired Southeast Tech faculty member Jane Kohner was awarded a presidential citation for lifetime achievement. Kohner, now retired, was instrumental in building Tech's nursing program, said President Jim Johnson.

Tad of uncertainty still marks state WSU funding

WINONA, Minn., May 12, 2000 -- Decision-makers at Winona State University were keeping fingers crossed that three money provisions approved by the Legislature at the 11th hour would be signed by Gov,. Jesse Ventura. Legislators seemed confident about the governor going along but also allowed for his unpredictability. At stake for Winona State:

• A share of the college system's $11.6 million to help cover expenses created by enrollment growth.
• $6.1 million for new boilers that are key to the campus heating system.
• Funding for architectural design work on a new science building.

WSU nursing senior to address fellow grads

WINONA, Minn., May 12, 2000 -- An honors student in nursing, Laura Letourneau, will be the student speaker at the morning commencement ceremony at Winona State University on May 19. Letourneau has been active in student orientations. Her nursing studies have taken her to internships in Jamaica and Kenya. After graduation, Letourneau will be in pediatrics at Fairview University Children's Center in Minneapolis.

SMU shifting two dorms to classrooms

WINONA, Minn., May 12, 2000 -- The new dorm going up at Saint Mary's University will open up new classroom and office space in Griffin and Saint Mary's halls. Sixty students live in the two buildings. The new dorm overlooking Gilmore Creek, will have 100 beds.

U.S. House says OK to Army-WSU land deal

WASHINGTON, May 11, 2000 -- The House Armed Services Committee agreed to transfer abandoned Army property on Sarnia Street in Winona to the non-profit fund-raising arm of Winona State University to build a 310-unit dorm. The dorm project isn't home free, however. The plan for the WSU Foundation to borrow money for the $10 million project still needs state approval. The issue is whether the Foundation can retain its tax-exempt status if it finances the dorm on a 30-year pay-as-you-go basis.

WSU seeks contractor to relieve laptop load

WINONA, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- Winona State University advertised for bids for a company to take over servicing hundreds of laptop computers on campus in the fall. Joe Whetstone, computing vice president, said his staff cannot keep up with growing laptop population -- 1,900 now and perhaps double that in the fall with the arrival of new frosh, each required to have a laptop. The new contractor will operate on campus, probably on a four-year contract, Whetstone said. Shifting to an outside contractor makes sense, Whetstone said: "The university is in the education business, not the technology business."

Barat College admissions chief offered WSU job

WINONA, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- The admissions director at Barat College in Lake Forest, Ill., Doug Schacke, was offered the chief recruiting job at Winona State University. Terms of the offer were not announced. Schacke had been recommended highly by a search committee.

Profs' contracts still in legislative limbo

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- A loose end facing the Legislature when it reconvenes May 17 is whether to ratify contracts that have been negotiated by 10 state employee unions, including state college profs. Unless the contracts are explicitly approved, employees will go back to contract terms from two years ago. Said faculty lobbyist Russ Stanton: "I think legislators have every intent of passing the ratification bill, but lots of things can go wrong on the last day of the session."

WSU team examines cross-generation mating

CHICAGO, May 11, 2000 -- Two Winona State University psychologists added their two bits to the older man-younger woman debate. In a paper at a regional psych convention, prof Kerry Williams and student Kathleen Romack reported on a hypothesis that psycho-sociobiology and evolution relate to mate selection and age.

SMU self-report on finances looking strong

WINONA, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- Saint Mary's University is financially healthy -- flush, some might conclude, according to documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service. In mid-1998, assets totaled $60.5 million, offset by $40.5 million in liabilities. The largest liabilities were loans totaling $11.8 million. Revenue for the year was $42.4 million -- exceeding expenses by $4.2 million.

Northern Sun pressed WSU to restore cross country

WINONA, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- Winona State University is adding men's cross country as a 15th varsity sport in response to pressure from the Northern Sun Conference. Athletic Director Larry Holstad said the conference needed balance in its tournaments. Holstad also said there was "great student interest."

New Tech building to have truck-driving simulator

WINONA, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- Before going on the road, truck-driving students at Southeast Tech will put their foot to the floor in a simulator. The simulator is part of the $1.2 million facility that Tech is putting up on the Homer Road campus. Completion target: This Winter. Plans also include a drive-through instructional bay and garaging for 12 tractors.

Software entrepreneur is WSU graduation speaker

WINONA, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- An entrepreneur who was graduated from Winona State in 1965, Jeb Griffith, will be the spring commencement speaker, the university announced. Griffith started Winnebago Software in Caledonia, Minn., from scratch to create and market automation software for microcomputers. When he sold Winnebago in 2000, the company had 300 employees and $25 million in sales. Griffith also owns Miken Composites.

DORM BY SPRING 2001. Winona State University dorm planning running late.

WSU dorm timetable extended six months

WINONA, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- Hopes for a new Winona State University dorm to be available by Fall 2001 classes were dashed by opposition to the project. Now that county support is on the record, the goal is to finish the Sarnia Street dorm the following spring, said John Ferden, campus housing chief. Ferden noted that the federal agency holding the land, formerly owned by the Army, has yet to transfer the property.

Bio student wins grant for diabetes research

WINONA, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- A biology student, Katy Wiecorek, received a $500 Winona State University research grant to help with her studies on the effect of diabetes on the heart. Wiecorek's hypothesis is that diabetes shrinks small bloods capillaries in the heart over time.

Rechristened Tech graduates 339 students

WINONA, Minn., May 11, 2000 -- The first class of students whose diplomas will bear the name Minnesota State College Southeast Tech were graduated. The ceremony, the first since Red Wing/Winona Tech changed its name, included 58 graduates in truck driving, 44 in the practical nursing, and 27 in basic machining. In all, 339 diplomas were awarded. The ceremoney was Tech's 50th commencement.

Wisconsin offers free college to seniors

MADISON, Wis., May 11, 2000 -- Tuition will be waived for people over 60 at University of Wisconsin and state tech colleges under a bill signed by Gov. Tommy Thompson. Two provisos: Tuition-paying students get in first, so when a class is full it's full. Also, profs must be willing to take on the extra load.

Scholar finds "Hand That Rocks" patriarchal theme

NEENAH, Wis., May 11, 2000 -- A Winona State University communication prof, Rebecca Bruflat, wrote a paper, "Rhetorical Analysis: The Establishment and Perpetuation of a Patriarchal Hierarchy in 'The Hand That Rocks the Cradle." It was accepted for presentation at the Wisconsin Communication Association convention.