Warriors rack up league honors
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 29, 2008 -- Winona State University is represented well on both the Northern Sun conference men's and women's all-conference basketball squads. For the women, senior forward Amanda Reimer and junior guard Jenny Steffen were named all-conference second team. Reimer is one of two lone seniors on Winona State's roster. Reimer has contributed an average 11 points and six rebounds a contest. Steffen led Winona State in scoring her first year on the team, accumulating 401 total points and a team-leading 43 steals. Both players helped lead the Warriors to their first 20-win season in program history, going 21-8 overall and 11-7 in conference play. On Saturday, No. 4 seed Winona State hosts No, 5Minnesota State-Moorhead in the first round of the conference tournament.| MORE |
The men's basketball team, which ran off a perfect 18-0 conference campaign, is represented in the all-conference selections by seniors John Smith and Jonte Flowers on the first team. Senior Quincy Henderson was an all-conference third-team choice. Smith, last season's NCAA Division II player of the year, was named Northern Sun Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. The 6-8 forward led the conference with 19 points per game, eight rebounds, and nearly three BPGs. Flowers was honored with his fourth consecutive Northern Sun Defensive Player of the Year award. Flowers led the conference with 3.8 steals a game. Flowers became the all-time NCAA Division II steals leader after recording 10 in a 115-75 Winona State victory over the UM-Crookston last weekend, a game in which he moved his career total to 388. Senior forward Quincy Henderson received a third-team nod after averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds a game.
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Warrior men's head basketball coach Mike Leaf received a fourth consecutive conference Coach of the Year award. Leaf, who has won the award five times during 10 years tenure at Winona State, guided the Warriors to a 29-1 overall record, as well as a perfect 18-0 effort in conference play this season. On Saturday night No. 1 seed Winona State hosts No. 8 University of Mary in a quarterfinal of the conference tournament.
Reporter: Jack Chandler
Background: Complete all-conference teams
 | WINONA COLISEUM? |  |
SEES LONG ROAD AHEAD
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 29, 2008 -- A multi-purpose Winona coliseum for athletics,
the arts, trade shows and conventions is a long ways off, said Winona State
University's major gifts fund-raiser. Carl Miller said that the university's
priority fund-raising projects right now are a new wellness center, the
student scholarship endowment, and the National Child Protection Training
Center. The university is interested in the coliseum project in partnership with
the city. "But there are many other aspects of the university we need to focus
on first," he said.
Proposed in December as a joint city-university project, the coliseum would be a 13-block facility with construction pegged at the moment at $30 million. Planners are looking to locate the coliseum between the main Winona State campus and the Mississippi. Already, the city is asking the Legislature to reassign an existing $250,000 planning grant for a Shakespearian theater to the coliseum, which, planners say, would include facilities for the Great River Shakespeare Festival.
Mayor Jerry Miller has said the city is dependent on the university for the project. The thinking now, as the mayor has articulated it, is for the university to manage the facility. About the plan, Carl Miller said in an interview: "There isn't capability right now for such an arena project, but in the future the community is aware that WSU needs to be backing this idea." Also, the community has to be behind it, he said.
"This coliseum idea has a lot of merit," Miller said, noting that concerts and events that otherwise would pass over Winona could perform at the coliseum. "If this idea passes the legislature, it could bring great economic success to Winona," said Miller. "People would no longer have to go to La Crosse, Rochester or Minneapolis for certain shows or events." Miller has earlier experience promoting arena development at the University of North Dakota, the University of South Dakota and Music Man Square in Mason City, Iowa.
Just focusing on the economic and entertainment benefits this arena could be a mistake, said Miller. The arena would also provide the facilities that WSU needs. With that, Winona State athletics fund-raiser Nicholas Jaguar agrees: "WSU has poor facilities and buildings that definitely handicap activities for all students." Many facilities are outdated and can become crowded easily, according to Jaeger. This coliseum could provide, among many things, physical space for varsity athletes.
"There are definitely some people in the community that would like to see this project happen," Miller said. "But I think the funding and legislature approval is so far off that many people are still unaware that this arena project idea even exists." |  CARL MILLER WSU major gifts director |
Reporter: Courtney Cosgriff
Background: Mega-arena plans announced
| THE SUGAR LOAF MURDERS |
Get-away evidence hearing postponed
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 29, 2008 -- A hearing for a Michigan man accused of helping in the get-away of Paul Allan Gordon after the Sugar Loaf murders has been postponed. After a hearing on evidence against Jonathan Jenard Jackson was delayed Friday as attorneys haggled, Judge Mary Leahy ordered both sides to work out a plea agreement. Come back Tuesday afternoon. The evidence hearing had been set for 9 a.m., but 3-1/2 hours later, Judge Leahy summoned the attorneys, took them into her chambers, and told them to an act together.| MORE |
Jackson was arrested Troy, Mich., in October 2006 on charges that he brought Gordon back to Detroit after the murders and then arranged a second-stage get-away trip to California. This was all while Winona authorities were trying to track down Gordon for the December 2005 slayings of Winona State University psychology major Stacy Smith, her 10-year-old daughter and unborn child. Gordon now is imprisoned on a life sentence.
Background: Court dates set for Michigan drug dealer
Coleman on duplicate letters: Sorry
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2008 -- The re-election campaign for Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., apologized for drafting letters that went to supporters who signed them and sent them out as their own to multiple newspapers. Coleman spokesman Cullen Sheehan said the letters appeared in the Winona Daily News; the Minnesota Daily, a student newspaper at the University of Minnesota; and the Winonan, a student newspaper at Winona State University. The letters criticized Al Franken, who is seeking he e Democratic nomination to challenge Coleman's bid for a second term. The letter was based on a campaign incident between Franken and a conservative Carleton College student. As reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Franken, once a "Saturday Night Live" comedian, grilled the Carleton student on his politics and mocked his elocution.| MORE |
Despite Sheehan's statement on behalf of the Coleman campaign that the letter appeared in the Winonan, it does not appear to actually have been in the paper. The letter doesn't show in any issues this calendar year nor on the Winonan site.
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In the apology, Sheehan said that the Coleman campaign policy does not include providing supporters with outlines for letters to newspapers. "Policy was not followed, and it is inexcusable," he said. Cullen promised that it won't happen again. "Our volunteers were not given a clear enough description of what our policy was," Cullen said.
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Franken campaign spokesman Andy Barr found the Cullen apology insufficient: "Sen. Coleman owes Minnesotans some answers." Barr said Coleman needs to identify who wrote the letter, who approved the distribution, and how many copies were sent out besides those that ended up on newspaper opinion pages. Also, said Barr: "Was this the first time the Coleman campaign has used this tactic, or just the first time they got caught?"
Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 29, 2008 A student reported a medical problem with a pre-existing condition at 2 p.m. in the Guildemeister classroom building. Security guards responded to a trouble alarm at the East Lake dorm at 8:06 p.m. An engineer a called. |
| RECENT DAYS IN THE CITY POSTED FEB. 28, 2008 CAIN'T GET NO RESPECT. Answering a domestic abuse call Thursday, police found a weeping woman and a belligerant man, who, police said, obviously had been drinking. The guy calmed down after being threatened with a shockgun. He was cuffed while an officer wrote a ticket for disorderly conduct and obstructing officers. Then, said Deputy Police Chief Paul Bostack at the daily police briefing, the man stuck his hands down his boxers and wiped them and then wiped them on one officer's arm. The gyy then threw $10 and $20 bills at the officer, ripped up the ticket and walked away. Reporter: Rachel Backer-Cortz
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WSU student photo exhibit to Egypt
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 28, 2008 --Thirty-two photographs that make up the Winona State University Student Photography Showcase, on display at the Winona Arts Center through March 9, will travel to Egypt for exhibition at Misr International University in Cairo. The presentation, in May, will run for two weeks, said masscom prof Tom Grier, who organized the exhibit. During the Misr show, some Winona State masscom students coincidentally will be in Cairo on study-abroad program on Mideast media, Grier said. Several of the exhibited photographers will host an artists' reception in the Misr gallery.| MORE |
Grier said that he had contacted several galleries in Egypt to see if there was interest in the Winona State exhibit. Riham El Sadany, the Misr gallery director, confirmed interest and is working to prepare promotional materials to publicize the exhibit. More than 125 images by 28 students were submitted for consideration for the Winona exhibit.
Background: Photos chosen for exhibit
Texas Christian onto NCCA probation
FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 28, 2008 -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association has placed Texas Christian University on probation for two years because men's tennis coaches improperly contacted more than two dozen recruits. The NCAA Division I infractions committee concluded after an investigation that the university had failed to monitor the men's tennis program from 2002 to 2006. The infractions were more than 100 impermissible phone calls to 24 prospective athletes. Seventy calls were made by a former head coach.Winds Ensemble plan "Mother Earth"
WINONA, Minn., Feb., 28, 2008 -- The Winona Symphonic Wind Ensemble conducted by Winona State University music prof Donald Lovejoy will perform "Mother Earth" by contemporary U.S. composer David Maslanka. The concert will culminate the ensemble's regional tour of high schools next week.
Also on the program: "Funeral March of a Marionette" by Charles Gounod, "Of Lothlorien" by H. Owen Reed, "Hands Across the Sea" by John Philip Sousa, "Symphony on Themes of John Philip Sousa" by Ira Hearshen, "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and "Nilesdance" by David Holsinger. |  SYMPHONIC WIND ENSEMBLE Portrait by Rich Hultman of Big Guy Creative Studios Date: Sunday, March 9 Time: 2 p.m. Place: Performing Arts Center Cost:$3 to $5 Contact: 507-457-5250 |
Upcoming film: Masculinity awry
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 28, 2008 -- The film "Tough Guise" by Jonathan Katz and Jeremy Earp will be screened again at Winona State University, this time as part Women's History Month. The documentary-style film's premise is that violence in the United states as an overwhelmingly male phenomenon. The screening will be followed a discussion later in the week on transforming rape as a part of the culture and a brownbag discussion the following week.Date: Tuesday, March 11
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Student Activities Center, Kryzsko Commons
Cost: Free
Contact: Tom Grier
Athlete, student leader win SMU honors
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 28, 2008 -- A St. Mary's University baseball player, Kevin Black, has been named outstanding senior man, and student government leader Anatastacia Sontag outstanding senior woman, The selections were announced as part of the university's Founder's Day convocation. Black, an accounting major and economics minor, has been a member the Cardinal Athletic Council and the Delta Epsilon Sigma honor society. He has done volunteer work for local agencies. Sontag. a marketing major has been involved with a dance benefit. is a member of the Student Senate Executive Board, and serves a president of the Student Activities Committee.| MORE |
A St. Mary's employee since 1976, Alan Joswick, was presented with the Bishop Patrick Heffron Award for Service. Joswick is the university's Trades Department supervisor.
Cities songwriter-singer at WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 28, 2008 -- Twelve-string guitar player Ann Reed will perform as part of Winona State University's recognition of Women's History Month. Reed, from Minneapolis, has performed on the radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" and occasionally fills in as co-host of Minnesota Public Radio's "Morning Show." In the Winona concert, accordionist and storyteller Dan Chouinard of Minneapolis will also perform.Date: Saturday, March 8
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Masonic Theater
Cost: $13 to $18
Contact: Theatre du Mississippi
Study: 37% of college students unready
BOSTON, Mass., Feb. 28, 2008 -- More than one-third at public high school students in Massachusetts who go bon to college need require remedial preparation, according to a state study. Thirtyseven percent of the students took at least one remedial course during their first semester of college. The study was limited to students going to public colleges in Massachusetts.| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 28, 2008 A trouble alarm was activated at the East Lake dorm at 7:40 p.m. An engineer was called. |
Study: College a factor in voter rates
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2008 -- College-educated young people are participating in the primary elections and caucuses in record numbers, and at a higher rate than peers who who haven't been to college, according to a study by the Center for Information & Research on Civil Learning & Education. Seventy-two percent of voters age 18 to 29 on Super Tuesday had some college experience, the study found. Also, one in four voters in the 18-29 group had college experience voted, compared with one in 14 of their peers without college experience. |  | RYKA PARSI PRESTON HALLECK Ketchup Art Kontest winners |
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AS BEAUTIFUL AS TOMATO GRAVY
KETCHUP HAS ITS DAY
AT WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 29, 2008 -- Grade-schooler Preston Halleck won the Ketchup Art Kontest, which was part of the Winona State University 150th birthday celebration, for entries in the ages 5-14 category. In the 9-14 category Sayna Parsi won first place. Other winners were Eric Paulson and Ryka Parsi in ages 5-14, and Elizabeth Parlin and Kiri Sannerud in ages 9-14.
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For the event, Winona pet laureate James Armstrong unveiled his "Ode to a Bottle of Ketchup":
| Onthe sticky Formica countertop Of the all night diner You stood alone, next to That popular couple, Mr. and Mrs. Salt and Pepper In their matching shiny helmets In front of the chromium napkin dispenser That grinned like a new high school And the stack of sugar packets Printed with advice for tourists. You were the weird kid, Tall, stoop-shouldered, With an East-Indian name And a paper keystonekeystone Glued to your chest Pinstriped in gold and green Like the retro detailing on fire trucks. But you never valued speed: In your swami's hard hat You were the sand in the machine, The branch on the trunk line. Tipped up, you took your voluptuous pleasure -- Shaken, cursed at, cajoled -- Spanked with a coarse palm -- You gave up a damp, hollow sound Which comes back to us now | In a rush of almost -- Nostalgia: as does the raspy clink Of the table knife Plunged down your throat. At last, in a carmine rush You divulged your Drive-in movie gore Spreading like suburbs over The slicker-yellow square Of American cheese on the cheeseburger. O glistening national sauce, Universal antidote To Puritan cookery, O immigrant worker, Compact of Aztec love apples, Onions and vinegar. Lowbrow sublime, Amalgamation of sweet and sour Acid and base, Liquid and solid, Sea and land, Thixotropic alltaste, Brash greeting of my people, All-purpose "Hi!" of the American menu, O song of the open range. |
Forget the popcorn, George?
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 28, 2008 -- Burning popcorn set off an alarm at the Hillside dorm at St. Mary's University at 11 p.m. Firefighters reset the alarm.Florida looks to new mental health fee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb, 28, 2008 -- To meet a national recommendation of one mental health for every 1,500 students, public colleges in Florida may tack an additional fee on students' tuition bills. The governing board of the 11-campus system estimates that $5 million is needed to hire 83 additional counselors. The fee would require approval from the Legislature. Although now an agenda issue in Florida, it has been reported that that many colleges, particularly at state institutions, are short-staffing mental health services.Feminist to speak against "rape culture"
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 28, 2008 -- The editor of the book "Transforming a Rape Culture," Pamela Fletcher, will speak at Winona State University.Date: Thursday, March 13
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Science Laboratory Center
Cost: Free
Contact: April Herndon
Police find some house robbery items
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 27, 2008 -- Police have recovered some items taken in an armed robbery of a student house in the Winona State University neighborhood Sunday evening. In a news release, police did not identify what was recovered or how but listed these as items stolen: a Toshiba laptop computer; a Gateway laptop computer; gaming systems, including an Xbox, a Game Cube, and a PlayStation 2; a Sidekick 3 cell phone; a wallet with credit cards, bank cards, identification cards, $54 cash; a set of keys, a black sparkly purse with checks and identification, credit Social Security cards.| MORE |
Two tenants at the house, at 404 Harriet St., were threatened with a gun, which police identified as a black or dark semiautomatic handgun. The robbers also threatened the tenants with golf clubs, police said. Police list the robbery at 7:52 p.m.
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A fuller description of the suspects was issued:
• Black male, 6-foot-1, stocky, wearing dark khaki pants, navy jacket, black shoes, ski mask.Reporter: David Schneider
• Black male, 5-foot-10, thin, wearing dark khaki pants, black jacket, yellow and black shoes, ski mask.
Background: Masked robbers barge into house
Concert organizer: No flap over Akon
| WINONA, Minn., Feb. 27, 2008 -- The long-time organizer of Winona State University spring rock concerts, Joe Reed, said he has heard no negative reaction to booking rapper Akon. Reed made the statement in an interview with reporter Rachel Smith in the Winonan student newspaper. Reed said he expects a sell-out for the April 5 concert in 3,500-seat McCown gym. Background: Rapper Akon due at WSU Background: Akron lyrics |  JOE REED Concerts chief |
National Geographic photographer at WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 27, 3008 -- National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg will be at Winona State University for a lecture he has entitled "A Life Behind the Lens." Brandenburg has written several books, mostly "Chased by the Light" and "Looking for the Summer." Brandenburg has worked for National Geographic for more than 25 years, resulting in 19 magazine stories, several television features and 19 books. He was named Kodak Wildlife Photographer of the Year by the Natural History Museum in London and the BBC's Wildlife Magazine. Twice named Magazine Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association.Date: Thursday, March 13
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Somsen Auditorium
Cost: Free
Contact: Tom Grier
EDITOR DECRIES
SOCIETAL COMMERCIALIZATION
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 27, 2008 -- The director and editor-in-chief of the University of Minnesota Press fears that society is headed toward the "superstore university." David Armato, speaking at Winona State University, said that the "rise of the entrepreneurial university" has turned students in to customers. Armato wants to reduce this commercialism, especially in the book industry, the majority of whose sales have gone online. Armato said of the University of Minnesota Press books: "Amazon sells more books than Barnes & Noble, Borders and privately owned bookstores combined."
Although online bookstores such as Amazon allow customers to discover and take advantage of more books, sales to library have steadily diminished, Armato said. Librarians, book store employees and professors are becoming less bridge between the reader and the publisher, he said. His point: The traditional "gatekeeper" is being eliminated.
So, what is the danger of using technology to the advantage of today's book reader? Armato and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota Press fear the "homogenizing impact of superstores like Amazon on today's market." The "rampant-deal making" that Armato said takes place between universities and such stores causes the book industry to become more commercial than educational.
Armato fears students will become "customers, thinking about and chasing money," and that universities will lose sight of what is really important -- the education of young minds. To fight this commercialism in the education system, Armato tells students to stand up to the university and be conscious of where money is going. Reporter: Jenna Cameron Background: Scholarly editor: Book here to stay |
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State's first poet laureate: Robert Bly
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 27, 2008 -- A leader of the mythopoetic men's liberation movement, Robert Bly, who spoke at Winona State University in 2001, has been named Minnesota's first poet laureate by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Bly called the title a great honor. "Minnesota has a wonderful literary history," he said. As poet laureate, Bly will be the primary spokesperson, supporter and promoter of poetry in the state. Pawlenty called Bly, who is 81, "a Minnesota treasure."
Although Bly is Minnesota's first official poet laureate, others have borne the title in the past unofficially. Margaret Ball Dickson was named poet laureate of Minnesota by the national Poet Laureate League in 1934. Laurene Tibbetts-Larson was chosen unofficially by readers of the Minneapolis Star in 1973. |  ROBERT BLY Forty years of poetry |
DeKalb shooting site to be razed
DEKALB, Ill., Feb. 27, 2008 -- The classroom building at Northern Illinois University where a gunman killed five students, then himself, will be torn down. University President John Peters made the announcement. Peters said a "state of the art" classroom building, to be named Memorial Hall, will be built on the site. The building where the shooting occurred on Feb. 14, Cole Hall, has been closed since the shooting.Background: Northern Illinois shooter identified
THE FIRST AMENDMENT AT WSU?
KRYZSKO CHIEF DEFENDS
DISALLOWING POSTERS
ISSUE: ALLOWING CONCEALED HANDGUNS
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 27, 2008 -- The director of the Kryzsko student building at Winona State University defended his decision against allowing posters favoring a right to carry concealed weapons. Joe Reed told the Student Senate that he found the posters inappropriate in the wake of the Northern Illinois University massacre in which a crazed gunman killed five students. Reed said he had received many complaints about the posters. He was not specific about how many. "If the students feel these posters are repulsive and not in good timing it is best that they be taken down," he said.
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The posters, featuring a crossed-out gun, had been put up by the club Students for Conceal and Carry on Campus. The posters had been approved by a worker at the Student Union desk, said Alex Paizis, a member of the group. After somebody tore down the posters, the club went to Reed for approval to put them back yp. Responding go Paizis, Reed told senators that an overwhelming number of students objected to the posters. The club felt its First Amendment rights were being trampled, Paizis said, "Originally I was a little upset," he said. "After speaking to Joe Reed, I can see how that would be inflammatory."
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The Student Senate decided for a committee to work with the group to create a poster that wouldn't be offensive. Said Paizis: "As long as we can put up different posters its OK." Three club members were at the Senate meeting.
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Students for Conceal and Carry on Campus is asking the state Legislature for a law to allow concealed handguns on campuses. The Winona State chapter, formed less than two weeks ago, has only a handful of members, which is why the flyers are important, said Paizis.
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Winona State is a weapons-free campus, which Paizis' group wants to change. "In the wake of recent school shootings, it's abundantly clear that gun-free zones serve to disarm only those law-abiding citizens who might be able to lessen such tragedies," said Paizis. There are campuses, including the University of Utah, that allow concealed weapons.
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As a national organization, Students for Conceal and Carry on Campus was founded last spring. The organization is organizing a national demonstration this spring for students to wear empty holsters on campus.
Reporters: Michael Ahlness, Tracy Mueller, and Chris Larson
Florida State imposes self-probation
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 27, 2008 -- Florida State University has placed its athletic program on probation for two years as a result of an academic-fraud scandal involving some 60 athletes. The decision followed an internal investigation. The scandal involved mostly football players. In addition to the probation, the university will cut the number of scholarships in several sports. Personnel changes have included several top positions in athletics and the firing of a learning specialist assigned to the team and a tutor accused of helping athletes cheat. The athletes and the university still face possible sanctions from the National Collegiate Athletic Association.Background: Seminoles may be 25 players short
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 27, 2008 Security guards assisted a student with a medical problem in the Quad dorms at 9:21 p.m. |
WSU entertainment chief clarifies salary
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 27, 2008 -- The director of Winona State University student entertainment, Kelly Clark, said that an Indee report on her salary as $41,000 was misleading. Her contract. she said, covered only 10 months and when annualized would be less. The Indee article, which focused on Clark's resignation, mentioned the salary information incidentally. The information was from public records held by the university.
Clark called the distinction between 10-month and 12-month salaries a "large misconception." Clark said, also, that she took more than a $25,000 reduction in salary from an early entertainment-business job in Las Vegas, Nev., to return to Winona State, her alma mater. Also, Clark said, she earned more in her most recent job in student activities at the University of Chicago.
Clark called the salary information on the Indee an "invasion of my privacy" and "inappropriate." The Indee typically includes salaries in personnel stories as an indicator to help readers assess the value that the university attaches to a position.
About returning to Winona State last fall, Clark said: "I was so excited for this opportunity to return to work in student activities and also obtain my master's degree here." Clark said it was not salary that brought her back to Winona State but "the opportunity to work in higher education as an educator outside of the classroom." She had expected "a great experience," she said. "However. things did not work out like I had highly hoped for." She added that she was leaving behind many great relationships with students. |  KELLY CLARK Claims salary not public business |
Background: Clark: Resignation laid to "bad fit"
Kryzsko chief salary: $69,000
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 27, 2008 -- The director of the Student Union at Winona State University, Joe Reed, is earning an annual salary of $69,080, records show. Reed's salary is unchanged from last year pending a new collective bargaining agreement between the state colleges system and the Administrative and Service Faculty union.Reporter: Rebecca Erdmann
Guilty plea entered in grade scheme
PLEASANT HILL, Calif., Feb. 27, 2008 -- A former student at Diablo Valley College pleaded guilty in a large-scale lucrative grade-changing scheme. Liberato Rocky Servo, who worked as a student in the college records office, is the third person to plead guilty. For $600 for an A, students could have grades changed. Dozens of students and former students have been charged with felonies.Rochester college eyes stadium dome
ROCHESTER, Minn., Feb. 26, 2008 -- A $6.9 million find drive for a second stage of a domed athletic field at Rochester Community and Technical College was announced by the college's Foundation. Phase 2 includes an inflatable fabric bubble to cover the field, 3,500 additional seats, and locker rooms. The $3.6 million first phase, now under construction, includes an artificial-turf field, lights and 1,500 bleacher seats. The first phase underwritten by a local sales tax.RAPPER AKON
SET FOR WSU PERFORMANCE
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 26 2008 -- Controversial rapper Akon will perform at Winona State for the university's annual spring concert. Said a source knowledgeable about the agent negotiations: "Akon has been signed and is a go." The date and other details are expected to be confirmed by the university later this week.
|   AKON Coming soon to McCown Gym |
Background: Sources: Akon due at WSU
Background: Akon lyrics speak for themselves
Background: WSU entertainment chief resigns
WSU tandem sweeps basketball honors
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 26, 2008 -- The Northern Sun conference has recognized Winona State University basketball stars Jonte Flowers and Jenny Steffen as conference players of the week. Senior shooting guard Jonte Flowers averaged 23 points, 8 rebounds and 6 steals per game in leading the Warriors to a pair of conference road victories this weekend against Bemidji State and the University of Minnesota-Crookston. In Saturday's game against Crookston Flowers broke the NCAA Division II record for most career steals. He took away 10 on the game, moving his career mark to 388. The weekend victories completed Winona State's quest of running the conference table and entering the conference tournament 18-0.| MORE |
Junior shooting guard Jenny Steffen had a pair of big games this past weekend in helping the women's basketball team secure a first-round Northern Sun tournament home game. In the Warriors 89-60 victory over Bemidji State, Steffen led all players with 24 points. The next night Steffen came off the bench to score 30 on 11-of-13 shooting from the field for a 98-57 drubbing. The pair of road wins earned Winona State a fourth seed in the conference tournament this weekend.
Michigan Tech faculty drops union
HOUGHTON, Mich., Feb. 26, 2008 -- Michigan Technological University profs have voted 143-136 against continuing with the American Association of University Professors as their collective bargain agent. The faculty had been unionized the past three years.Another agency stops student loans
HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 26, 2008 -- The Pennsylvania student-loan agency has stopped making loans, at least for a while, because of turmoil in the bond markets that make loans unprofitable. Two weeks ago the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency backed out of new loans to out-of-state students and now has done the same for in-state loans. James Preston, acting president of the agency, said prospective borrowers will be directed to banks that are still participating in the federal programs. Several student-loan companies, including the College Loan Corporation, Nelnet, and Sallie Mae, have scaled back loans or stopped making them altogether.Poet can't forget fatal crash
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 26, 2008 -- The joking and humor suddenly vanished at a recent poetry reading when Chad Mikal Oness offered what he had written about his friend Donny, who was killed in a drunk-driving accident. No one in Oness' Winona State University audience missed the depth of emotion. Suddenly solemn, Oness recited the blank verse poem, which used iambic pentameter, no rhyming, about too much champagne at breakfast and then the accident. Oness said it was a life-changing experience, He stopped drinking completely. The memories and regret, however, will never end, said Oness.| MORE |
Oness also read from his books "Water Becomes Bone" and "Oracle Bones." Many of poems use repetition techniques or comprised but five lines. One poem, "Began With a Machine," Oness had written for his 3-year-old son.
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Oness is the founding editor and director of Sutton Hoo Press, a literary fine press that produces hand-made editions of poetry and prose.
Reporter: Taylor Laitsch
Background: Poet to read lauded works
Study: Campus crime declining
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2008 -- Crime is falling off and occurs less than in the society overall, according to a U.S. Department of Justice study. Using the latest available data, from 2004, the study said that campus crimes decreased 9 percent, to 62 per 100,000 students, over 10 years. The data come from the U.S. Education Department, the Justice Department and the FBI. The report also said that campus law-enforcement agencies are better prepared and equipped. The trend is to professionalization of campus officers, the report said.| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 26, 2008 A faculty member reported disorderly behavior at 1:15 p.m. A fire alarm activated in the Maria dorm at 6 p.m. It was a false alarm. |
Where is Guy Noir when we need him?
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 26, 2008 -- After the "Prairie Home Companion" network radio performance at Winona State University on Saturday, organizer Ann Kohner issued an all-points bulletin: Two office chairs, one grayish-purple, the other a deeper purple, were missing. The chairs had been used by audio technicians for the Garrison Keillor show. English prof Nicholas Ozment didn't have a clue but a tip. "Sounds like a job for Guy Noir, Private Eye," he wrote Kohner.Background: For a night McCown gym is Wobegone
Cops track car in animal-rights assault
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Feb. 26, 2008 -- Police confiscated computers and other material from the house of three University of California at Santa Cruz students after a witness turned in an auto-plate number from a car fleeing the house of an animal researcher. There were no arrests. At the researcher's house, six masked intruders banged on the door and struck the person who answered. A witness took down the license plate of the car used by the assailants.| MORE |
The scientist studies breast cancer and neurological diseases. When a family member of the researcher answered the door, he was struck by the protesters, who then fled. After the attack the UC-Santa Cruz chancellor, George Blumenthal, issued a statement that the assault was a "criminal act that threatens, intimidates, and stifles academic freedom."
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The attack followed a judge's restraining order over attacks on animal-rights researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles. The order is against three organizations and five individuals.
Background: Judge limits animal-rights extremists
New Pell grant fact: More for fewer
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2008 -- Although many federal Pell grants will be larger this fall, as many as 100,000 fewer students will lose their eligibility, according to an analysis by Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid. At risk are students who are close to the cutoff for eligibility, which has been dropped $69, Kantrowitz said. Further, he said, students who are disqualified from Pells will also be ineligible for Academic Competitiveness and Smart Grants, which go exclusively to Pell recipients. Students who remain Pell eligible, however, can qualify for as much as $4,731. the max will be up $490.WSU, Virginia Tech offer China seminar
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 26, 2008 -- A 13-day travel seminar to China on educational leadership will be offered this summer by Winona State University and Virginia Tech. Winona State prof Mary Jane Guy said students will compare educational and economic issues through formal and informal discussions with Chinese officials, visit several universities, discuss art, literature and culture of China with scholars, and tour ancient cultural sites. The seminar, to cost $3,400, will be June 30 to July 12.Contact: Mary Jane Guy at 507-457-5653
Bank personnel manager joins WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 25, 2008 -- The personnel manager at Winona National Bank, Lori Reed, has been hired as personnel director at Winona State University. Reed begins March 10. She began her career in 1994 at Watkins Inc. as human resources assistant. Later she became the administrator. In 1999, Reed was human resources manager at State Bank of La Crosse in Wisconsin. In 2001, she joined Winona National Bank.Background: WSU sets 4th personnel interview
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 25, 2008 Firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the East Lake dorm at 9:32 a.m. Burned food was blamed. |
WSU shuttle route blocked at Franklin
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 25, 2008 -- The intracampus Winona State University shuttle bus was rerouted for five hours Monday after a Canadian Pacific truck backed into a Franklin Street post supporting a flasher-equipped street crossing gate. The collapsed structure blocked traffic beginning about 9:15 a.m. Some vehicles made their way around the wreckage, but the Winona State shuttle was too large and used alternate streets until the crossing was cleared at mid-afternoon. No one was hurt.Background: Franklin rail signal collapses
Masked robbers barge into house
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 25, 2008 -- Two men, one with a handgun, entered a house in the 400 block of Harriet Street just before 8 p.m., Sunday, and stole two cell phones, two laptop computers, an X-box, and a small amount of marijuana, police said. Paul Bostrack, deputy police chief, said two tenants at the Winona State University neighborhood house, both men, were home at the time. There too was a woman visitor. A third tenant came home as the robbers were leaving, Bostrack said. The robbers, he said, fled on foot, The tenants described the robbers as black, tall, skinny, and wearing black masks and dark clothing. Bostrack quoted the tenants that they did not know the robbers, but, he said, the robbery was not a random act. There were no injuries.Detox after shouted death threat
| WINONA, Minn., Feb. 25, 2008 -- When a man shouted "I'll kill you" into a group of a dozen revelers outside Gabby's bar, the police decided to move in. The man, 45, was cited for disorderly conduct. His blood-alcohol tested at 0.21 percent -- more than twice the legal definition for impaired judgment. The man was taken to a detoxification facility. The incident was about 1 a.m. |  GABBY'S 179 E. Third |
Break-in foiled at Cozy Corner
| WINONA, Minn., Feb. 25, 2008 -- Somebody used a pry bar to broke into the front door Cozy Corner bar after hours but fled, police said. The owner was in his office inside and heard the noise. Outside, a witness reported seeing a man climb through the the window he broke in the door. The incident was about 2 a.m. |  COZY CORNER 901 W. Fifth |
Applicants overwhelm Katrina-hit colleges
NEW ORLEANS, La., Feb. 25, 2008 -- Applications to New Orleans colleges are soaring for fall, apparently from young volunteers who swarmed to the city to help after the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Tulane reported applications are almost double from last year. with 34,000 applications in hand, Tulane is turning applicants. Other colleges: University of New Orleans, up 85 percent; Our Lady of Holy Cross College, 43 percent; Xavier , 28 percent; and Loyola, 24 percent.Franklin rail signal collapses
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 25, 2008 -- A railroad crossing gate fell down on Franklin Street near Winona State University's East lake dorm and blocked traffic. The crossing was expected to be reopened during the afternoon.Nader tosses hat in ring, again
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2008 --Consumer advocate Ralph Nader, whom Democrats call a spoiler who robbed Al Gore of the presidency in the close, close 200 election, announced he would run again as an independent. Nader, 74, made the announcement on "Meet the Press" on NBC television. He accused the Democrat and Republican candidates of more of the same.Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 24, 2008 A trouble alarm went off at Wabasha Hall at 1:45 a.m. An ngineer was caleld. A student was cited for alcohol in the Lourdes dorm at 2:34 a.m. A mother reported at 7:25 p.m. that she had lost contact with her son at Winona State. Security guards located the son. |
R.I.P.: Robert "Bob: F. Steplugh
HOUSTON, Minn., Feb. 24, 2008 -- A Winona State University alum, Bob Stelplugh, died at home at age 71. In college he managed the Houston Liquor Store. He retired from Ace Telephone in 1990.WHY THE RESIGNATION?
"THEY" MADE JOB DIFFICULT
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 24, 2008 -- The student entertainment director at Winona State University, on the job only six months, confirmed that she has resigned. Kelly Clark said she submitted a resignation letter Feb. 7, effective this Friday. In a wide-ranging 45-minute interview, Clark said that the job was not a good fit. "Since I have started in September there have been a couple of situations where certain people have made it clear to me that they didn't trust me to do my job and made it apparent that they were going to make it difficult for me to obtain my master's in a timely manner," said Clark. She is currently in a graduate program in educational leadership at Winona State. She declined to name names but said: "They basically made my master's degree a problem when in regards to my job when it wasn't." Earlier she was in a grad program at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
About rumors about her departure, Clark said: "I resigned on my own accord. I was not asked to resign nor was I let go." About persistent reports that she had lined up controversial rapper Akon for the Winona State spring concert, Clark said: "This also certainly has nothing to do with asking any particular artist to come for the spring concert."
Clark said she had not planned until recently to resign from Winona State, her alma mater, after so short a stay. Clark blamed an accumulation of professional, financial, academic and personal reasons. She emphasized that she did not want to put blame on one single person for her dissatisfaction. In the university's structure Kelly reports to Joe Reed, student union director. Reed reports to Connie Gores, vice president of student life and development. Gores reports to Judith Ramaley, university president. Clark's duties as an entertainment organizer previously had been performed by Reed.
Clark, who was graduated from Winona in 2000, started as student activities director in September. Previously she was at the University of Chicago in student affairs. She said that she had been enthusiastic about returning to Winona and was upset when she realized that the position was not the fit she thought it would be. "There is a certain way you should be treated in the professional world, and I was not treated fairly," said Clark. "But I can't put blame on one person when I know my students still have to interact and work with that person." Clark went on: There is a big distinction between a professional relationship and a personal relationship and that people need to know the difference, she said.
Clark prides herself on her relationship with students, who wandered in and out if her office freely during the interview for this story. "When I felt that it was time I needed to resign I didn't want to be here on Friday and then be gone on Monday," said Clark. "That's why I decided to leave the Friday before Spring Break so it wouldn't be so abrupt for my students. I didn't want this to be a surprise."
Who will replace Clark? She explained that from what she knows an interim person will be taking over for the rest of the semester and that a full search will be done to replace her in the summer.
Clark's last day is this Friday. She said she will move back to Las Vegas where she has previously worked and plans to continue her master's degree at UN-Las Vegas.
Clark stressed that she was upset about her resignation and that her students will always be important to her. "I had a few students in my office crying even before I announced my resignation," said Clark. "I will always be here for the students. They are the reason I do my job." | KELLY CLARK Back to Vegas |
Reporter: Courtney Cosgriff
Background: Entertainment arranger quits WSU
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 23, 2008 Security guards stopped a student who was entering the Prentiss-Lucas dorm because he seemed drunk. An emergency medical team concluded that the student was OK to stay in the dorm. An ambulance crew was called to the Prentiss-Lucas concerning a medical condition involving a student. The student was not transported to the hospital. Firefighters responded to the Lourdes dorm after someone pulled a fire alarm. No fire or smoke. A student was cited for alcohol in the Prentiss-Lucas dorm at 2:16 a.m. At 6:45 p.m. a student reported damage to her vehicle while it was parked in the Sheehan dorm south parking lot. Several students were cited for alcohol in the Sheehan dorm at 9:03 p.m. At 11 p.m. a student reported that she was being harassed via email. |
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Warriors roll in regular-season finale
CROOKSTON, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- The Winona State University men's basketball team made it a perfect 18-0 in conference play for the season, beating the University of Minnesota-Crookston 115-75. The victory was the Warriors 29th of the year and 48th consecutive in the Northern Sun conference. Senior guard Jonte Flowers had one of his most productive games of the year for Winona State. Flowers scored 36 points on 14-of-17 shooting, nabbing 10 steals, grabbing seven rebounds and handing out four assists. With 388 career steals Flowers became the biggest ball thief in NCAA Division II history, passing Missouri Southern State University guard Eddin Santiago's previous record of 383. John Smith just missed a double-double for Winona State. Smith poured in 19 points to go along with nine rebounds in only 25 minutes of play. For the Golden Eagles, guard Eli McVey scored 10 points and collected six rebounds. After a conference record of 18-0, top-seed Winona State will host the University of Mary in a first-round Northern Sun tournament game SaturdayStatistics
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WSU wins home game from Crookston
CROOKSTON, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- Winona State University clinched the fourth seed and a first-round home game in next weekend's Northern Sun conference women's basketball tournament after closing out the regular-season 98-57 win over the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Junior guard Jenny Steffen scored a game-high 30 points for the Warriors. Point guard Ana Wurtz added 17. Pacing the Eagles was forward Gina Jaroszewski with 12 points. On Saturday Wonon State takes on fifth-seeded Minnesota State-Moorhead. Winona State has beaten the Dragons for twice before this season.Statistics
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Cardinals drop final game of season
MOORHEAD, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- Despite a career-high 30 points from freshman Lukas Holland, the St. Mary's University men's basketball team dropped its final game of the season to Concordia of Moorhead 84-77. Holland, who was second on the team with 330 points scored on the year, shot 12-of-16 from the field to pace the Cardinals. Matching Holland's effort was Cobbers forward Luke Linz, who poured in 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Freshman guard Will Wright dropped 21 points for the Cardinals. St. Mary's finished Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season with 2-18 the league's worst record.Statistics
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UW-LaCrosse rolls past WSU
LA CROSSE, Wis., Feb. 23, 2008 -- The Winona State University men's tennis team mustered only two points in falling to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 7-2. Winona State got lone victories from Aaron Lentz at No. 2 singles and Zach Williams and Stuart Booth at No. 2 doubles. Warriors No. 1 singles player Gage Davidson fell to Joey Van Lieshout in straight sets 6-2, 7-6. Winona State's No. 1 doubles tandem, Davidson and Lentz, fell to Lieshout and Dale Wroblewski 9-8. The dual-meet loss dropped Winona State to 4-4 on the year.Statistics
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WSU sweep Cougars in women's tennis
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- The Winona State University Warriors swept all nine matches against the University of Minnesota-Morris in a 9-0 women's tennis victory Winona State scored decisive wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Heather Pierce and Mary Hesterman both won in straight sets at 6-0, 6-0. The Warriors only gave up three sets in sweeping all three doubles matches to complete the sweep. The victory moved Winona State to 2-5 on the year.Statistics
For a night McCown gym is Wobegone
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- A sold-out crowd of 3,500 packed the main Winona State University gym for humorist Garrison Keillor to lead them on a trip, this time live and in-person, not over the radio, to his mythical Lake Wobegon. In the Winona Daily News, reporter Elena Grimm offered a detail account of "Prairie Home Companion" broadcast and reaction from the crowd.Background: WSU hosts "Prairie Home" show
Yelling drunk draws cops
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- Responding to a report of a man yelling at Huff and Sarnia streets about 4 a.m., police found a 19-year-old, his eyes bloodshot, his balance unsteady, who matched the yeller's description. He was ticketed for underage boozing after a breath test showed 0.20 percent bood-alcohol, 2-1/2 times the legal limit.Kitchen smoke riggers dorm alarm
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- Somebody not tending to the stove not only lost a meal but, after a smoke alarm sounded, brought firefighters to the second floor of the Heffron dorm at St. Mary's University u 2 a.m. The stove actually was next door in the Skemp dorm.Prankster? Jerk? False dorm alarm
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- Somebody pulled a fire alarm in a stairwell at the Lourdes dorm at Winona State University at 2:12 a.m. Firefighters concluded that it was a false alarm.Firefighters to SMU false alarm
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- Somebody pulled a fire alarm at the Lourdes St. Mary's University at 2:13 a.m. Firefighters concluded that it was a false alarm.Indiana basketball coach resigns
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Feb. 23, 2008 -- The Indiana University men's basketball coach, Kelvin Sampson, resigned in the wake of alleged recruiting violations. Insiders said that an anonymous donor provided $550,000 to buy out Sampson's contract. Another $200,000 will come from university's athletics budget, the source said.| COURT CONVICTONS WEEK ENDING FEB. 23, 2008 IN WINONA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT UNDERAGE BOOZING Breanne M. Borgfelt, 18, 14816 Wildwood Drive, $177. Jessica L. Ernst, 19, Fountain City, Wis., $177. Benjamin P. Glende, 19, Altura, Minn., 30 days and $602. Andrew G. Hoffman, 20, St. Charles, Minn., $177. Jonathan W. Inselman, 18, Burnsville, Minn., $177. Sierra A. Kramer, 19, 653 Olmstead, $177. Benjamin F. Lehman, 19, Lakeville, Minn., $177. Michelle A. Mitchell, 20, North Branch, Minn., $177. Shawnessy L. Mohawk, 18, Apple Valley, Minn., $177. Katie J. Peterson, 18, Rochester, Munn., $177. Michael B. Price, 19, 1750 Gilmore Valley Road, $177. LOUD PARTYING Scott D. Stigney, 31, 573-1/2 E. King, $277.
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No headlights lead to booze arrest
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- A 19-year-old motorist was arrested near Huff and King streets after cops stopped the car at 1:10 a.m. without its headlights on. The driver's speech was slurred, the car reeking of alcohol. The driver tested with more than 0.08 percent blood-alcohol and was hauled in.
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Warriors push league streak to 47
BEMIDJI, Minn., Feb. 22, 2008 -- The Winona State University Warriors held Bemidji State to 15 first-half points on their way to a 72-47 men's basketball victory. The win extended Winona State's conference streak to 47 games and moved the Warriors to 17-0 in conference play this season. Winona State, whose starters saw limited minutes after racing out to a 37-15 halftime lead, had four players in double figures. David Johnson led the Warriors with 12 points. Jonte Flowers added 10 points and nine rebounds. John Smith contributed 11 points and Ben Fischer 10. Bemidji State guard Ben Fairbanks scored a game-high 16 points. Winona State, which will host the conference tournament next weekend, takes on the University of Minnesota-Crookston Saturday in the final regular-season game of the year.Statistics
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Women notch 20th late-season surge
BEMIDJI, Minn., Feb. 22, 2008 -- The Winona State University women's basketball team used a blistering three-point field goal percentage to down Bemidji State 89-60. The victory also marked the Warriors first 20-win season in the program's history. Winona went 15-of-26 from three-point range on the game, good for 57 percent. Warriors guard Kelsey Homewood led the barrage. Homewood went 6-of-10 from behind the arc on her way to 18 points. Guard Jenny Steffen was 4-8 from three-point range in netting a game-high 24 points for Winona State. Steffen also added four steals.| MORE |
Senior guard Amy Lawson's 16 points led Bemidji State. Rounding out the double-figure scoring for the Warriors was Natalie Gigler with 15 points and Ana Wurtz with 12. Winona State can still host a first-round tournament home game with a victory Saturday against the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
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The Warriors currently are in fourth place in the Northern Sun conference. Earlier in the week the Warriors broke into the regional Top 10 standings. The eight tops teams in the region qualify for the national tournament, so the Warriors will need to make an impressive conference tournament run to put themselves in a position to move up.
Statistics
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 22, 2008 A staff member reported a threatening message over his cell phone at 11:10 a.m. Police were notified. A faulty exhaust fan activated fire alarm in Kryzsko Commons at 10 a.m. A student reported at 5:50 p.m. that another student was placing inappropriate items on a Facebook account. Several students were cited at 9:23 p.m. for a housing violation in the Tau dorm. A driver on the intracampus shuttle reported a student with alcohol on the van at 9:30 p.m. A student was cited for alcohol in the Prentiss-Lucas dorm at 9:52 p.m. Several students were cited for an alcohol violation in Maria dorm at 9:56 p.m. |
Project to save Antioch College falls short
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio, Feb. 22, 2008 -- Antioch University's governing board decided to shutter the college after this semester, concluding that a plan by alumni, donors and friends was insufficient. Millions of dollars, some in pledges, had been raised, but the board of trustees said the project "ran out of time."Background: Antioch doors to remain open
Liver test clears Caitlin Stene
| WOODBURY, Minn., Feb. 22, 2008 -- The sister of the late Winona State University student President Jared Stene does not have the inherited mutated gene that led to his liver failure and death in November. Tests at Mayo Clinic for Wilson's Disease in Caitlin Stene, a Winona State sophomore, came back negative, her father reported. "We are so happy and thankful, said Bruce Stene, He said the family has more meetings with a University of Minnesota doctor to discuss any further implications that the test results might reveal. "However," Bruce Stene added, "we are pausing for the moment to absorb and be happy about this great news." |  CAITLIN STENE WSU student business senator |
Background: Stene sister undergoes liver test
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Candidate: Alts helped save election
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 22, 2008 -- Online ballot glitches didn't play a huge role in the 2008 Winona State University Student Senate elections, according to Brian Pavelka, who wages a losing bid for at-large senator. "I see it more as a principle issue," Pavelka said in an interview. "If Senate is going to invite candidates to represent the student body and submit statements candidates put a lot of time and effort into, the statement should be available to students interested in voting," Pavelka said. Statements appeared erratically or not at all. Pavelka also said that if students were truly interested in voting, they could have found other means of voting and accessing necessary information, such as the Indee, Facebook, and general word of mouth. "Our statements could have been accessed otherwise," Pavelka said.
On a related issue Pavelka called for an investigation into the shaky campus wireless network connections the past few weeks. "Students pay tuition dollars to have internet access," he said. "Tech Support has had the whole winter break to work out connection kinks, but it is something we should really look at." A functioning campus network is especially important during online student elections.
"I think it may have inconvenienced some voters," Pavelka said, "but if they wanted to vote, they did vote, but I'm not aware of any voters being unable to vote because of this issue."
Although losing the six-way race for at-large senator, Pavelka said he will continue to be active on issues. "This is my last semester on campus, so I'm going to continue to be an advocate of the things I believe in," he said. "Senate encourages us to get involved, and I will continue to support my views."
About he at-large race in which he finished third, Pavelka said: "I'm obviously disappointed with the results, but I congratulate my opponents for a well-run campaign, and I obviously learned some things too that I will use these experiences in my future." |  BRYON PAVELKA Third in at-large contest |
Reporter: Shannon Burgess
Background: Election results
Background: Election woes compounding
WSU self-check survey passes 47%
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 22, 2008 -- More than 3,500 Winona State students have responded to an online questionnaire in the university's annual self-assessment, project chief Susan Hatfield said. Hatfield called on profs to encourage students on last time, on the final day of the survey Friday, to participate. The survey is opart of the Assessment day project for which classes were cancelled all day Feb. 12.| MORE |
Hatfield listed this response rate by college:
Science
Health Sciences
Business
Education
Liberal Arts
Total60.8%
54.4%
49.2%
44.1%
41.7%
47.3%
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The response rate by academic department:
Music
Biology
Prof'l Studies
Chemistry
Management
Counselor Ed
Marketing
Info Systems
Theatre/Dance
Health, Exer
Nursing
Accounting
F'gn Lang
Engineering
Special Ed
Physical Ed
Glob'l Studies
Business Ad87.5%
77.2%
70.7%
70.5%
68.5%
59.6%
59.2%
56.2%
55.0%
54.9%
54.3%
53.2%
51.0%
49.7%
49.6%
47.9%
47.1%
45.4%
Education
Comm Studies
Associate of arts
Sociology
Mathematics
Psychology
Statistics
Economics
Paralegal
English
Finance
Political Sci
Masscom
Social Work
Geoscience
Computer Sci
Total44.8%
44.6%
44.4%
44.1%
43.8%
43.2%
42.9%
41.7%
40.9%
40.5%
40.2%
39.8%
38.9%
38.5%
37.0%
35.9%
47.7%
Scholarly editor: Book here to stay
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 22, 2008 -- The director of the University of Minnesota Press, Douglas Armato, will speak at Winona State University on the enduring importance of print material in the digital age, especially in the academic community where the publication of a scholarly book is a significant event.Armato, who calls himself a voracious reader since age 8, has worked at presses at Columbia University, Louisiana State, the University of Georgia and Johns Hopkins. he is past president of the Association of American University Presses.Date: Wednesday, Feb. 27
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Stark Auditorium
Cost: Free
Contact: Douglas Armato at 612- 627-1970.
WSU facilities exec at $137,500
WINONA, Minn, Feb. 22, 2008 -- The interim vice president of finance and administrative services at Winona State University, Scott Ellinghuysen, is earning $137,500 this year, records show . The salary is a about $700 more than last year, In addition, Ellinghuysen earns $4,400 for teaching part-time. His course: PER 626, Planning of Facilities in Physical Education, Recreation, Tourism or Sport.Reporter: Chelsey Swanson
LESS SO AT WINONA STATE
PROFS KEEN
ON NEW CONTRACT
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 21, 2008 -- Faculty at the state universities voted overwhelmingly to accept a two-year contract that will boost most profs salaries 11 percent. The margin was 88 percent to 12. All seven campuses voted in favor of the proposed contract, although at Winona State, where the Faculty Senate had recommended against ratification, the vote was a 60-40 margin -- the lowest in the system. The contract had been negotiation by the faculty union, the Inter Faculty Organization, which represents 3,300 profs in collective bargaining.
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At the state level, the union leadership had recommended ratification. Said state President Nancy Black: "I am convinced that we received every nickel MnSCU had on the table for compensation."
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The contract will now be forwarded to state college system trustees for approval. If the board approves, the contract goes to the Legislature and then the governor.
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Faculty have been working since July under terms of a contract that expired in July. Some of the two-year 11 percent pay increase is retroactive to July.
Bemidji State
MSU-Mankato
Metro State
MSU-Moorhead
Southwest State
St. Cloud State
Winona State
TotalYES
92
248
77
193
69
306
136
1,121NO
10
7
0
2
4
22
92
137
SENIOR SENATOR WINS
VICE PRESIDENCY
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 21, 2008 -- Veteran student senator Rotney O'Shea, who has been acting vice president since November, was elected to the vice presidency in his own right in a campus-wide Winona State University student election.
Tentative election tallies posted at the Student Senate office listed 193 votes for O'Shea and 171 for junior Sen. Charles Moburg, the only other candidate. O'Shea was elected last spring as senior senator and moved into the vice presidency through a constitutionally mandated line of succession triggered by the death of student President Jared Stene.
Results were based on a computer tally, which education Sen. Terri Burke described as "basically pretty accurate." Even so, a hand recount is required for races with a margin of 20 votes or less. A candidate may also request a recount by hand. Burke said that although the O'Shea vote margin for vice president seemed clear, a recount is expected a recount to be sure. For nursing senator, Mathias Mahlum an Jonathan Williams each received 21 votes in the initial tally, which triggers a manual recount.
In the only other campus-wide race, senior Bryce Fogelson won the vacancy for an at-large senator with 147 votes
Alexandra Shoemaker, who was running for multiple seats, won both freshman and College of Business seats with 57 votes for each. She will now have to choose which seat she will accept.
The results: VICE PRESIDENT COMPENSATION: $2,500 A YEAR
AT-LARGE SENATOR ONE SEAT OPEN. COMPENSATION: NONE
GRADUATE SEATS TWO SEATS OPEN. COMPENSATION: NONE JUNIOR SENATOR ONE SEAT OPEN. COMPENSATION: NONE
SOPHOMORE SENATOR ONE SEAT OPEN. COMPENSATION: NONE
FRESHMAN SENATOR ONE SEAT OPEN. COMPENSATION: NONE
BUSINESS SENATOR ONE SEAT OPEN. COMPENSATION: NONE
NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCE SENATR ONE SEAT OPEN. COMPENSATION: NONE
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SEAT ONE SEAT OPEN. COMPENSATION: NONE
|  ROTNEY O'SHEA 55 percent of vote |
Prof wins grant for prairie meeting
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 21, 2008 -- A Winona State biology prof, Bruno Borsari, has won a National Science Foundation Grant to organize the 21st North American Prairie Conference at the university in August.| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 21, 2008 A trouble alarm activated at the East Lake dorm at 8:05 a.m. An electrician was notified. An ambulance crew responded at 8:08 a.m. to Gildemeister Hall for a student who fainted. A trouble alarm activated in Somsen Hal at 8:47 a.m. An electrician was notified. At 5 p.m. window was reported to have been damaged on Feb. 16 in the Prentiss-Lucas dorm. |
SIGNALS OF INTEREST
YEARS OF PLANNING PRECEDED
"PRAIRIE HOME" VISIT
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 21, 2008 -- Landing Midwest humorist Garrison Keillor for a Winona State University performance took persistence. "We really just kept calling and calling," said Ann Kohner, assistant to the university's vice president for promotion. It worked. Keillor will broadcast his weekly "Prairie Home Companion" from McCown Gym on Saturday. "Keillor doesn't plan that far in advance, but he needs to know that people are interested and enthusiastic about his program. If he can tell there is a definite interest, then he will make the effort."
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How much planning? "Keillor made the decision to come to Winona State several months ago, but this plan has been in the workings for about five or six years." Kohner said. Keillor performs network radio show mostly at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.
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At the Winona State gym, about 3,000 fans are expected. As of Thursday, only bleacher seats remained. With that many people attending, there is a certain amount of unseen planning to make sure things go smoothly, said Kohner. "We had to book rooms at the Holiday Inn for the cast and crew, print all programs and flyers at the university, and do a lot of local advertising before the event to get the word out," she said.
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For such a big performance, Kohner needed to make sure that logistic were taken care of. "This is a big performance for us, but we were ready for it considering all the spring concerts we have dealt with in the past," said Kohner. A big help, he said, was the university's director of student activities, Joe Reed, who brought in the same logistics crew from La Crosse, Wis., that he uses for the annual spring rock concert. "They were a big help with setting up the acoustics," Kohner said.
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Traffic was expected to be a problem. The university issued a campuswide precautionary e-mail saying that Main Street would be closed from Thursday morning to Saturday night to allow setup for the performance.
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The university's financial commitment was not large, Kohner said, The university paid for the local advertising and the printing of flyers. There was no advance outlay for the performance. The Keillor organization took 60 percent of revenue from tickets, which ranged from $10 to $45. "This program attracts more adult viewers, but we are hoping with the low student price that we can see some students at this show too," said Kohner.
Reporter: Courtney Cosgriff
Background: WSU hosts "Prairie Home" show
WSU GRAD HOLES UP
FOR "BIG BROTHER" PRIZE
| WINONA, Minn., Feb. 21, 2008 -- A 2005 Winona State University grad has parlayed her poise from years in beauty pageants and athletics into a spot on the CBS reality show "Big Brother" and a chance at a $500,000 prize, the Winona Daily News reported in an article by Kari Knutson. Amanda Hansen, 23, now from the Twin Cities suburb of Fridley, auditioned in Los Angeles. For as long as she remains in competition in the "Big Brother" house Hansen doesn't have contact with the outside world. Friends and family catch her three times a week on television. Her mom, Debra Hansen, of Web Lake, Wis., isn't surprised: "Wherever the spotlight was, that was where she wanted to be." At Winona State, Amanda Hansen majored in paralegal. Background: Amanda Hansen's quick bionote |  DEBRA HANSEN First show she wore a purple WSU T-shirt |
Duke targeted in new lacrosse lawsuit
DURHAM, N.C., Feb. 21, 2008 -- A lawsuit by 38 men's lacrosse players at Duke University has been filed as a result of the prolonged investigation into charges that three team members had raped a strip-dancer at an off-campus party. The charges have since been dismissed, but the players claim that the university breached special duties of care it owed the athletes. The breach, says the suit, left the players vulnerable to harassment, harm to their reputation, and an unwarranted criminal investigation. In a news conference, the players' attorney, Charles Cooper, noted that there had been pot-banging protests, banners to castrate the players, and wanted posters. The city also names the City of Durham and several officials.| MORE |
Cooper said that Duke officials rushed to judgement in canceling the team's season and firing the coach. He said also that Duke officials had issued public statements that served that imputed guilt. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages but does not specify how much.
Background: Ex-lacrosse coach sues over departure
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JACOB:
COUNT ME OUT
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 21, 2008 -- Former student Sen. Jon Jacob, on the ballot to return to the Senate as a at-large representative, said he is so fed up with election irregularities that if elected he will not accept. "When it comes down to it, if the election is not invalidated and I am elected, I will not accept," he said an interview. To him, Jacob said, it is a matter of principle. His statement was before the Senate decided Wednesday evening to let the four-day online election continue despite ballot-access problems and the failure of some candidates' campaign statements and photos to be posted properly and in some cases not at all.
Jacob criticized the Senate elections committee for complacency: "I believe it wasn't intentional, but it could have been caught before the elections started." About the garbled and incomplete candidate statements on the ballot, Jacob said there is no question that the elections should be invalidated. "The people should elect the best candidate," he said. "Without the candidates' statements in full, they don't necessarily know who the best candidate is."
In two terms on the Senate, Jacob served on the Student Fee Management and the Student Activities Fee committees. |  JON JACOB Won't be part of a flawed election |
Reporter: Tracy Mueller
Background: Election chief: Not a big deal
Background: Student Senate ballot taking shape
Clerk sees pair cart out beer
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 21, 2008 -- Two young men were caught on camera stealing two cases of beer Wednesday night from the Kwik Trip convenience store at Huff and Sarnia streets near Winona State University. Police arrived shortly after the pair, believed in their 20s, had left, said Deputy Chief Paul Bostrack. The attendant at the counter told officers that she saw them walk out with two cases of Budweiser. Both men were described as average height with lighter colored hair.Reporter: Rachel Becher-Cortez
Judge limits animal-rights extremists
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 21, 2008 -- A judge ordered five people and three animal-rights organizations not to harass researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles. Judge Gerald Rosenberg issued the temporary restraining order after the university sought protection for its animal researchers. Over the past two years, researchers have been subject to three firebombings and other harassment.| MORE |
The university blamed the UCLA Primate Freedom Project, which is not affiliated with the university; the Animal Liberation Front; and the Animal Liberation Brigade. The university also named five individuals, three of whom it quoted as saying during a protest that "we know where you sleep at night."
| MORE |
Judge Rosenberg's order not only barred harassment directed that demonstrators not come within 50 feet of the researchers . The ruling also ordered that personal information about the researchers be pulled off the defendants' Web sites.
Background: UCLA prof's house firebombed
SENATORS FAVOR CORRALS
FOR SMOKERS
COMPROMISE REACHED ON PROPOSED TOBACCO SMOKE BAN
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 20, 2008 -- The Winona State Student Senate rejected a proposed campuswide smoking ban in a setback for the campus Health Office that had campaigned for two years for a ban. Instead, the Senate proposed several designated smoking areas around campus. The Senate acted after an open forum teh day before. More than 30 students attended , most of whom favored a compromise between between the current university policy, which bans smoking inside buildings and within 25 feet of doors and windows, an all-out ban.
| MORE |
Unanswered in the Senate's compromise position were costs for designated smoking areas and what this areas would look like, and where the money would be coming from.
| MORE |
At the forum, students favoring an all-out ban argued that the current policy is effective and hard to enforce. Some argued that smokers have rights. One student, identifying herself as a bio major, said, secondhand smoking is a danger that designated smoking areas wouldn't address. "It is a health issue above a rights issue." Yes, the woman said, students rights, plenty of them, such as speech and freedom of press, but, she emphasized, smoking does not need to be one of them.
| MORE |
Freshman Sen. Jacob Hite responded that, yes, it is a health issue but everyone has the ability to choose. "Maybe we should ban soda pop, high sodium foods and anything remotely unhealthy," Hite said.
| MORE |
Bryon Pavelka, a past Senate candidate, said: "This isn't a ban against smokers. It's a ban against smoking."
| MORE |
At the forum, 19 students voted for designated smoking areas.
| MORE |
At the Senate meeting, Student Vice President Rotney O' Shea agreed that tobacco smoke is dangerous. "It kills people," O'Shea said, citing 100,000 deaths a year due to secondhand smoke. But O'Shea favored the compromise: "We have to come together. This is a fair compromise."
Reporters: Rachel Becker-Cortez and Jenna Cameron
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Cardinals go cold in loss to Auggies
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 20, 2008 -- The St. Mary's University men's basketball team scored a season-low 19 second half points en route to falling 72-57 to Augsburg. Freshman Will Wright led the Cardinals with 18 points and five steals. Fellow freshman Lukas Holland added 15 points. The Auggies were led by wing Jon Cassens' 24 points. Post Femi Solaja scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a winning effort for Augsburg. St. Mary's wraps their season Saturday with a road game against Concordia of Moorhead.Statistics
Parking tickets, cocktails do in motorists
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 20, 2008 -- Police knew a warrant was out for Ryan Thomas Plachecki, 2, for parking tickets, so they pulled him over when the spotted at Fifth and Liberty streets. The parking tickets turned out to be the lest f his worries. He was drunk and tested for -.24 percent blood-alcohol, triple the legal limit. He admitted to having downed eight cocktails.|
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VOTING PROCESS UNAFFECTED
ELECTIONS CHIEF: LET
ELECTION RUN ITS COURSE
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 20, 2008 -- Technical flaws with the online ballot do not justify invalidating student elections underway this week at Winona State University, the chair of the Student Senate Elections Committee told senators. The Senate accepted a scheduled report from Jake Hite, the freshman senator in charge of the elections. Hite that the election process was not affected by the glitches. Candidates at Wednesday's Senate meeting supported Hite's decision to avoid invalidation.
Candidates at the meeting favored letting the election run its course. Bryon Pavelka, running for the at-large seat, said it was "disrespectful to candidates" to have their online platform statements appear in less than their entirety and that Hite's committee should have been aware of the problem but that in his view, the election results should not be invalidated. Justin Hiniker, also a candidate for the at-large seat, agreed. Melissa Goodwin, running for both the freshman seat and the business seat, said that she was "slightly annoyed" that statements on ballot were messed up but that didn't see why the elections should be invalidated.
Hiniker and Goodwin pointed out that students have had avenues besides the ballot to learn about candidates, including reading their full statements on the Indee or Facebook or simply approaching candidates on campus and talking about issues.
Elections end Thursday at noon. Hite and his committee will meet at 7 Thursday night to tally the votes. |
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Reporter: Rebecca Erdmann
Background: Webmaster takes blames for glitches
Background: Election woes compounding
Background: Student Senate ballot taking shape
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Auggies clamp down, drop Cardinals
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Feb. 20, 2008 -- The St. Mary's University women's basketball team ran into a second-half brick wall in falling 64-46 to Augsburg. After going into the locker room at halftime with a 38-34 lead, the Cardinals were held to 19 second-half points. The Auggies stacked up 38. Post Jess Miller led St. Mary's with 12 points. Kristina Lurken led the Auggies with 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Shannon Lenne hit five three-pointers in notching a game-high 15 points for Augsburg.Statistics
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 20, 2008 A suspicious note was reported at 7:37 a.m. An initial investigation found nothing to substantiate the contents. Police were notified. |
Prof examines Southeast Asia funerals
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 20, 2008 -- A Winona State University geography prof, Jerry Gerlach, made a presentation,"Funerals and Tourism in Southeast Asia," to the Fulbright Association at its spring meeting.WSU ACCUSED
OF ASBESTOS VIOLATIONS
UNIVERSITY IS CONTESTING THE ALLEGATIONS
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 20, 2008 -- After an on-site inspection, a federal agency has charged Winona State University with seven violations of safety regulations involving the cancer-causing building material asbestos. The university is disputing the allegations. The university's vice president of finance and administrative services, Scott Ellinghuysen, said the charges involved how records were kept and how signs were posted, among other things. The charges originated in an inspection in mid-August by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
| MORE |
The university was notified of the charges in November. Toward the end of January, Ellinghuysen issued a campus-wide e-mail that, obscure in its wording, led to confusion about what had happened. Ellinghuysen';s main point, however, was clear: The university regards the campus as safe. In a recent interview he underscored the point: "Very safe."
| MORE |
The issue, however, is unresolved, he acknowledged. The university faces a possible fine. Also, the charges might be dropped. So what was the problem? Ellinghuysen said he believes that the OSHA inspectors did not look at the correct documents or at all of the documents.
| MORE |
Ellinghuysen said that the Winona State and OSHA agree that a large fine would be pointless since both are government agencies. It would just be transferring money within the government, he said.
| MORE |
Asbestos was a common insulation material during the early 1900s. Around the 1970s, studies began to show that asbestos has adverse health effects.
| MORE |
Asked about asbestos exposure, nursing prof Cynthia Bork said that two main diseases have been linked to the material. Asbestos, she said, affects the respiratory system and lungs. It can also cause rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Its uses once spanned a wide range of products, including fire-proofing in construction and as part of sprayed-on fiberglass in boats. Also, asbestos may have been used in silicone breast implants. Workers who applied asbestos didn't wear respiratory masks in the old days and are at greater risk of health problems, Bork said. Also, if breast implants break, women would be at risk.
| MORE |
In an undisturbed state, Ellinghuysen said, asbestos is not harmful. However, if an asbestos-insulated pipe leaks, for example, that would be a problem, he said. Winona State has spent years removing asbestos from older campus buildings, including Howell Hall, which once was used for elementary-grade children in a campus lab school. When the university becomes aware of an asbestos exposure problem, Ellinghuysen said, an abatement contractor is hired immediately. He also said that before the remodeling or destruction of a building, all asbestos is abated or removed. The largest recent project was the old Lincoln School at Huff and Sarnia. Asbestos was removed before the building was razed for a parking lot.
Reporter: Chelsey Swanson
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BALLOT SNAFUS
STUDENT SENATE WEBMASTER
TAKES BLAME
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 20, 2008 --The webmaster for the Winona State University Student Senate, Brian Nielsen, acknowledged that technical problems with the the online student elections were his fault. A link to the voting page was not provided on the election site until more than six hours after voting began. Students who voted before Nielsen made the fix used links provided by candidate Facebook pages and by the Indee. Why the delay for hours after students reported problems finding the ballot? Nielsen was unreachable until Monday night.
| MORE |
Glitches included not only the missing link. Some candidate platf9orm statements were cut off midway, some in midword. Some candidate photos were posted, others not. The problems have led for calls to invalidate the election and start over.
Reporter: Rebecca Erdmann
Background: Election woes compounding
Background: Student Senate ballot taking shape
City, WSU split softball upgrade costs
WINONA, Minn, Feb. 19, 2008 -- The City Council voted to split the costs with Winona State for fixing up the city's Lake Park softball field used by the university softball team. The city will take $412,000 from its facility fund and $100,000 from its field development account for Bambenek Field No. 1. The university will put up $242,500 with state dollars earmarked for stadiums and fields. The deal ends a Winona State quest for almost three years to find a permanent home field for the women's varsity softball team.| MORE |
Development is scheduled to begin May 20 with completion by the beginning of the 2009 spring softball season. Included is a new infield, outfield, irrigation, fencing, enclosed dugouts, press box, scoreboard and lights.
| MORE |
The university's athletics director, Larry Holstad, said that the project, once built, will be cost-free to Winona State. Noting that the city uses some of Winona State facilities and that Winona State leases Babmanek Field No. 1, Holstad said there will be no additional money involved. He called it an even trade-off. Softball coach Gary Jones concurred that the partnership is a good deal for financial and upkeep reasons.
| MORE |
The softball team has played in the university's football stadium since 1999. The stadium, however, is not compliant with NCAA standards for softball. As a result, Winona Sate has been precluded from hosting regional tournaments.
| MORE |
For Bambenek Field, a contract gives Winona Sate precedence over the city during softball season. The city has priority in the off-season. Jones said, "We are looking forward to something that is our own, something nice to show the recruits, something to show pride and ownership of. That this is ours, this is our field."
Reporter: Amie Hylton
Background: 14th annual cook-off
NEW SMU WAR MEMORIAL
CARRIES PEACE THEME
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 19, 2008 -- A proposed memorial to honor the World War II service of St. Mary's University alums has been redesigned to tone down a triumphant war theme that triggered campus debate, the Winona Daily News reported in an article by Nolan Rosenkrans. In response to complaints that the original design spoke against Catholic teachings that emphasize peace over war, the chancellor of the church college,e , Louis DeThomasis, asked art prof Preston Lawing for another theme. Lawing's new design is centered on a glass slab engraved with an olive branch and the words "Peace Through Service." Inscribed, also, is a quote from Catholic teaching about the concept of a "just war."
The original design, dating to 2005, featured five arches rising to a central point, each arch representing a branch of the U.S. military. Ironically, the military had only four branches in World War II, but the issue on campus was whether the memorial was too much of a endorsement of the military, rather than he sacrifice of St. Mary's alums. On another plane, the issue as whether the memorial was mindful of Catholic theology on war.
The new Lawing design, after endorsement by the college's governing board and the alumni board, was unveiled at a forum Jan. 29. After the forum, DeThomasis said construction would begin when the ground thaws and be completed by mid-June. |
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Northern Sun nod to Flowers
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 19, 2008 -- Winona State men's basketball player Jonte Flowers was honored by the Northern Sun as conference player of the week after scoring 58 points in two games this past weekend. On Friday Flowers scored 18 points in Winona States 84-59 victory over Concordia of St. Paul. The next night he went for a career-high 40 on 15-of-21 shooting in the 85-63 victory over Minnesota State-Moorhead. Flowers, a senior shooting guard, has been instrumental to the Warriors success this season, averaging 16 points and five rebounds per contest. He also leads the conference in steals with 83 on the year.Ramaley talks chili, Leaf burps
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 19, 2008 -- An annual chili contest raised a record $1,700 in chili sales and $6,000 in donations for the Ready Set School organization for school supplies and clothing for low-income children, coordinator Judy Richter said. At the event, conducted now for 14 years, Charlie's D&D Bar won both the spicy and mild categories. Said Winona State University basketball coach Mike Leaf, one of the judges: "I'm looking forward to using my Gas-X and Rolaids." Winona State President Judith Ramaley, another judge, was more elegant. A good chili, she said, is more then just spicy, has rich flavors, complex tastes, and must have a taste underneath the main flavors that is intriguing. In second place for spicy was Good Harvest Cafe for mild Signatures. In third for spicy was first-time entry Erbert & Gerbert's and Winona Rivertown Lions for mild.Reporter: Amie Hylton
Background: 14th annual cook-off
MAYOR:
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 19, 2008 -- Mayor Jerry Miller has drafted a letter to state highway planners that a replacement for the Highway 43 bridge across the Mississippi River should avoid rechanneling traffic onto Huff Street, the Winona Daily News reported in an article by Mark Sommerhauser. In the draft, Miller expressed concern about any plan to rechannel traffic from the bridge onto Huff. That, he said, would lead to problems at Winona State University, whose main campus is bordered by Huff, and the causeway across Lake Winona. The mayor specifically cited "significant university-generated pedestrian activity" at the university and "significant environmental problems" at the lake.
Highway 53 traffic off teh brudge from Wisconsin now courses sharply to the east at Fourth and Winona streets; then through downtown; then south on Main Street, which, like Huff, also borders Winona State; then east of Sarnia; then south on Mankato; then to points west like Rochester, Austin and Albert Lea.
In the draft, Miller does not lay out alternatives. Winona State, already expanding east across Main Street, would prefer less traffic on Main as well as Huff. Alternatives could be a bridge as much as two miles upriver and downriver that would avoid both the downtown and campus neighborhoods.
Miller also would like state plans for the bridge to include pedestrian and biking trails. |
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The dildo was only a joke, officer
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 19, 2008 -- A Winona State University student was ticketed for disorderly conduct after hanging an eight-inch dildo from his waistband and walking around the Kryzsko Commons cafeteria. Police quoted the student that it was joke. Two women, who called security, were not amused.Reporter: David Schneider
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 19, 2008 A student was cited for disorderly conduct in Kryzsko Commons by police at 5:46 p.m. An ambulance crew responded at 4:49 p.m. to the Prentiss-Lucas dorm where a student had fainted. The student was not taken to the hospital. |
STENE FAMILY
GATHERS UP MEMORIES
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 19, 2008 -- The parents of the late Winona State University student president, Jared Stene, have completed a painful trip to clear his things out from a house he shared with college friends. Jared's father, Bruce Stene, said that he and his wife had been "secretly dreading" the task.
On some level I'm sure that I was deluding myself that Jared was not gone, that he was simply in Winona, going to class, and that any moment he was going to come walking through the door and ask his favorite question, 'I'm hungry, what's for dinner?' his father said. But last week, 1-1/2 months after Jared's death from an insidious copper build-up in his liver, the trip was made.
"When we started to load the truck with his possessions the feeling came over me that we were taking Jared 'home', just like we did so many years ago when we brought him home from the hospital for the first time," his father said. "It was a sense of peace. To be sure his spirit and presence is still felt every time I go to Winona, whether it be while walking on campus or having coffee at Mugby's, it is a presence that I am sure will always be there for me."
The father describe in heart-wrenching detail the continuing emotions of Jared's death. |  JARED STENE HIS DAD, BRUCE At a family gathering at Garvin Heights this fall |
"Recently it was his shoe, believe it or not. It had fallen out of the closet, his big size 14 Converse tennis shoes, and I couldn't help but think of all the memories related to his shoes. The bowling shoes he stole and then wore until the bottoms fell out. The story that the funeral director told us about when she received Jared's shoes for burial. She couldn't believe the size of them and had to try them on over her own shoes. The memory of Jared as a baby and how he hated to wear shoes at all and walked around on his tippy toes all the time.Background:Sister recalls final hours
Poet to read lauded works
WINONA, Minn, Feb. 19, 2008 -- A rural Winona County poet, Mikal Oness, will read from his book, "Oracle Bones," at Winona State University. The book holds the 2007 the Lewis-Clark Expedition Award in 2007. The work has been described ghosted by "by fish and by birds."Date: Wednesday, Feb. 20
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: North Lounge, Lourdes Hall
Cost: Free
Contact: James Armstrong
Obama, McCain win Wisconsin primaries
MADISON, WIs., Feb. 19, 2008 -- Illinois Sen. Barack Obama won the Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary. With almost all the votes tallied, Obama held 58 percent to 41 percent for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. In Hawaii, where Obama's grew up, he took 76 percent to Clinton's 24 percent. In the Wisconsin Republican primary, Arizona Sen. John McCain won with 55 percent over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
WSU STUDENT ELECTIONS "GOOD ENOUGH" NOT GOOD ENOUGH BY JON JACOB CANDIDATE FOR AT-LARGE SENATOR I am disappointed in the current election being held by the Student Senate of Winona State University. I believe the elections should be invalidated and restarted after all the bugs are worked out of the system for several reasons, first and foremost among them being that, in all honesty, the students at Winona State, the students that I hope to represent with all the zeal and passion I can muster deserve more, much more from those currently elected and running this election. To allow this farce to continue to completion not only undermines what little credibility Student Senate has left with the students, and would, in my opinion, hinder any and all efforts not only by this year's Student Senate, but efforts by previous senate bodies as well.
To those currently on Senate that may be reading this, simply ask yourself a simple questions, slightly altered from its original meaning: WWJD? What would Jared do? It is my belief that he would not allow this SNAFU, this FUBAR to continue, and that he would have shut it down less than 6 hours in, and scheduled a restart for next week, a restart that he would personally oversee.
I, as a candidate, question the sense of fair play here, and also the logic used by senators to allow this to continue. While it is true that almost all, if not all, of the candidates for the multiple open seats have had their statements cut off, sometimes even in mid-word, saying that everyone is at a disadvantage because of this seems like the cheap way out. Would a newspaper, news website, or TV news organization cut off a presidential candidate in mid-sentence, or even in mid-word? They would not, on purpose, and if it happened in some sort of technical glitch, they would make every effort to complete the sentence, complete the thought, complete the statement, and probably apologize profusely to the audience for the error.
And, before someone retorts with, "Well, presidential candidates pay for their time in the news media," I have a news flash: I pay tuition, and I pay taxes in the State of Minnesota, therefore I have paid for, at least in part, the creation and implementation of this particular program for use here at Winona State, as well as a portion of the entire Student Senate budget, as taken out of the Student life fee each and every student at Winona State pays.
When it comes right down to it, I get the feeling that the election committee believes, "Well, it's good enough, let's just get it over with." I am sorry, but in my opinion, for something that could very well change the course of one of the candidates lives, and could potentially impact the future of Winona State University, "good enough" just isn't good enough. |
Background: Balloting woes deepen
TRY TO STAY WITHIN 300 WORDS |
Entertainment arranger quits WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- The assistant director of student activities at Winona State University, Kelly Clark, has resigned, sources said. Clark was out of town and not immediately available for confirmation. Clark, a 2000 Winona State grad, had been hired in September to assist long-time student activities chief Joe Reed with lining up student entertainment. Her major project has been the spring rock concert. An act for the concert, only two months off, has yet to be announced, although the Student Senate has escrowed $65,000 to back up a contract offer. Clark has denied several reports that rapper Akon has been signed.
Clark arrived at Winona State from the University of Chicago, where she held responsibilities in student affairs for the three years. At Winona State her10-month contract was $41,000.
In her first months at Winona State, Kelly developed a following among members of the student government. Student senators bestowed the unofficial title "adviser" on Clark. When student President Jared Stene was stricken with a fatal disease in November, it was to Clark that his sister Caitlin, a Winona State sophomore, turned as an exclusive conduit of information from the family. In November, also, the Winona Daily News lavished Clark with a cover story that emphasized a collection of entertainment memorabilia she displayed in her office.
About the spring concert, Clark has tried to keep a tight lid on planning to protect negotiations with performer agents. She objected firmly to reports that leaked in the press before she was ready to make an announcement. Peeved at an Indee report that Akon had been lined up for the spring concert, Clark said that journalists had no business leaning on inside sources about her concert committee's work. "You should do your jobs and stop trying to undermine mine," she said. | KELLY CLARK Assistant student activities director at WSU |
Background: Concert choice due by March
Background: Clark: Akon not a done-deal
WSU lunar black: Last chance 'til 2010
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- A Winona State University astronomer, prof Jennifer Anderson, is rounding up telescopes for an observation of a total lunar eclipse at the gazebo at the center of campus. The eclipse is the last of the moon until December 2010. The event starts at 8 p.m. and totality lasts from 9 to 9:50. Anderson said he whole community is invited. "Bring binoculars," she said. Also, dress for the weather and bring a jug of a hot beverage. The weather is forecast to frigid. Unless the moon is obscured totally by clouds, the event will go on, Anderson said.Date: Wednesday, Feb. 20
Time: 8 to 10 p.m.
Place: Campus Gazebo
Cost: Free
Contact: Jennifer Anderson at 507-457-2457
| WSU STUDENT SENATE |
Longer grace period for pass/fail option?
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 19, 2008 -- A proposal to give students more time to choose a pass/fail option for classes, rather a letter grade, is being considered by the Winona State University Student Senate academics committee, said Chair Josh Martin. In a report to the Senate, Martin, who represents juniors on the Senate, said that extending the deadline for choosing the pass/fail option would protect from risking academic probation if they end up with no choice but to drop class that's not going well.| MORE |
A new federal mandate this fall precipitated the issue, Martin said. Now students must have a cumulative satisfactory course completion rate of at least 67 percent of all credits attempted at the university -- in addition to the old standard of 2.00 grade-point average.
| MORE |
Liberal arts Sen. Ian Galchutt said he likes a longer period for students to switch into the pass-fail option, which generally cushions a student's grade-point average. Students now have one week to get a feel for how they are going to do in the class."When you're in there for a week of classes you're not going to be able to gauge how it's going to be for you," said Galchutt.
Reporter: Jessica Reinhart
Annual fall hoopla dates: Sept. 18-21
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- Homecoming for Winona State University has been scheduled for the weekend beginning Sept. 18. JaNell Scott, in the university's alumni office, said invitations will be sent to more than 40,000 alums and friends.|
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Candidate: No room for 1,693 characters?
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- An at-large Student Senate candidate at Winona State University, Jon Jacob, said he was dumbfounded at the explanation of elections chair Jake Hite that some candidates' statements on the online ballot were cut off midway through. Hite said in a document to candidates Monday that although they had been told they could write 500 words, a technical ceiling of 4,000 characters had also been set. Candidates, however, had not been advised of the 4,000-character cap. Say what? asked Jacob. He counted 1,683 characters in his statement without spaces, 2059 with spaces -- far short of 4,000.
The larger question, meanwhile, remained unanswered: Why Hite's election committee told candidates they could write 500 words, which, short of a monosyllabic vocabulary, could not be accommodated by 4,000 characters. | JON JACOB Former student senator seeking return as at-large candidate |
Background: Hite issues half-way apology
Grant to promote water quality awareness
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- A project to incorporate water quality as a theme in classes and other Winona venues has won a $20,000 state grant. The project director at Winona State University, prof Joan Francioni, said plans include highlighting and decorating public drinking fountains on the Winona campuses and around the city to raise awareness. The project includes visual art and performance to promote an understanding of water quality and stewardship, Francioni said. Statewide $170,00 was awarded to nine campus-community partnerships. The Winona partnership comprises Winona State, St, Mary's University, Southeast Tech, the Southeast Minnesota Water Resources Board and the City of Winona. Classes, service-learning projects, presentations and community activities will begin in the fall, Francioni said.|
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Moburg firm against free speech obstacles
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- A candidate for student vice president at Winona State University, junior Charlie Moburg, says student should have every freedom to express themselves and hear others express themselves. There should be no hurdles for free expression, Moburg said in an interview. About a controversial anti-abortion campus demonstration by a Wisconsin group in September, Moburg said: "They have every right in my book." Moburg, a masscom major, opposes creating more channels for demonstrators group has to go through in order to express an opinion on campus: "Someone shouldn't have to go register first in order to complain on campus, that's not the way it should be at a public university," said Moburg.
Moburg, an incumbent junior senator in his second Student senate term said in a wide-ranging interview that new technology funds from the Legislature should be fairly within the state colleges system. The system has been under criticism for centralizing technology spending at its St. Paul headquarters. He also listed battling tuition increases as a priority.
Moburg, who is from Long Lake, Minn., says the student senate needs a vice president who is progressive in thought and who can give a fresh perspective on things. For the vice presidency he faces senior Sen. Rotney O'Shea, who is acting Senate vice president. The position pays $2,500. |  CHARLIE MOBURG Vice president candidate |
Reporter: Chris Larson
Background: Moburg campaign statement
Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
Psych prof: How to grow leaders
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- A consultant on organization productivity, Charles Crowell, will speak at Winona State University on mentoring to improve management and leadership. Crowell is a professor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame.Date: Tuesday, March 25
Time: 11:30 a.m.; pre-registration encouraged
Place: Rotunda, Tau Center
Cost: $15
Contact: Blandine Berthelot at 507-474-3900
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HALF-WAY APOLOGY
HITE PASSES BUCK TO TECH CREW
WINONA, Minn., Feb, 18, 2008 -- The current student elections at Winona State University will not be invalidated despite escalating concern over technical glitches and charges of questionable judgment in administering the election. Jake Hite, election chair, told candidates, many of whom had expressed alarm at irregularities, that his election committee "feels there is not reason to invalidate the elections, as of this time." Hite, who earlier had been reluctant to put his name of messages about the election, signed the e-mail message to candidates. In the message Hite came close to an apology: "I apologize to any of you who feel mistreated."
The message explained that some candidates' platform statements were cut off midway because of technical limitations. The Hite election committee had told candidates they could write as much as 500 words." The system, however, was created to only accept 4,000 characters per statement," he said. He did not explain why his committee had missed the fact that 500 words easily can exceed 4,000 characters, especially when punctuation alone eats up hundreds of characters.
What about campaign photos that candidates had been invited submit but that did not appear on the ballot -- although some did? "All of the pictures that were given to me were given to our IT guy that helps out with the elections," Hite said. "I didn't get any more pictures than were submitted to IT."
Hite had been inundated with complaints about the irregularities from almost the moment that four scheduled days of online voting began at noon. His response to candidates was issued 5-1/2 hours later. The apology, addressed to candidates only, was not shared with students at large. Background: Verbatim: Hite message to candidates Hite tells O'Shea to explain lapses Balloting woes deepen Comment: Election must be invalidated |  JAKE HITE Election chair Hite conceded that his election committee had considered invalidating the election but decided not to "as of this time." In one of the most embarrassing moments in Senate history, the Student Senate had no choice in September but to validate the fall elections and, after two weeks of delays, restarted the process from scratch. The election chair then was Emily Feehan, who since has moved into the presidency of the Student Senate. She placed Hite, a Senate newcomer, in charge of elections. |
Sugarloaf landscapes in St. Paul exhibit
| WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- A pair of photographs featuring the Winona landmark Sugarloaf, by Winona State University masscom prof Tom Grier, are in a 29-piece exhibit at Wells Fargo Place in St. Paul, Minn, where the state college system has its headquarters. The pieces, by 15 artists, were selected from across the MnSCU system. The images will be on display for one year beginning this March with an artist's biography and statement of purpose. Grier's selected images are "Sugarloaf Winter Sunrise" and "Sugarloaf Birch
Frame." Background: The Grier photos |  TOM GRIER Masscom prof |
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CANDIDATE STATEMENT ROTNEY O'SHEA VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE
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Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
Latin folk concert at WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- The music group Calle Sur, known for Latin-American acoustic folk," will perform at Winona State University. The group comprises Karin Stein, who is of German decent an who was raised on a farm in Colombia, and Ed East, whose musical roots are in the cosmopolitan Panama.Date: Thursday, Feb. 28
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Place: Rotunda, Tau Center
Cost: Free
Contact: Cathy Schmidt at 507-457-5256
THE INDEE IS YOUR NEWS SOURCE OF RECORD |
Blame put to tech folks, tech limits
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- This is the text of a message from freshman Sen. Jake Hite, chair of the Winona State University student elections committee, to candidates in the current online election:| MORE |
| From: Hite, Jacob B Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 5:32 PM To: Hite, Jacob B; Wahl, Kylie R; Arriola, Mari-lyn E; Pavelka, Bryon K; Jacob, Jonathon L; Hiniker, Justin J; Fogelson, Bryce R; Cady, Alex J; Mahlum, Mathias A; Anderson, Jennifer K; bunn2007@hotmail.com; Brignull, Christopher W; Moburg, Charles J; OShea, Rotney A; jbwilla4638@winona.edu; Shoemaker, Alexandra A; Williams, John J Subject: RE: Student Senate Elections Senate Candidates, Many of you have sent me emails wondering why there was no pictures, your statements had weird characters, among other things. The statements had a 500 word cap, according to the informational sheet on the Application. The system, however, was created to only accept 4,000 characters per statement. I apologize about this, but it will not invalidate the elections. Also all of the pictures that were given to me were given to our IT guy that helps out with the elections. I didn't get any more pictures than were submitted to IT. I apologize to any of you who feel mistreated, but the committee feels there is not reason to invalidate the elections, as of this time. Thank you, Jacob Hite |
Author to assess media truth, fction
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- Author Ruth Ozeki, whose book "My Year of Meats" was widely read as part of the Winona State Common Book project, will return to the university for a series of presentations. Ozeki will examine the complex relationship between fact and fiction in novels, the news and television in a session entitled "Telling Lies, Telling Truths." In a two-day visit, Ozeki also will conduct class presentations. She also will show her semi-autobiographical film "Halving the Bones." Date: Tuesday, Feb. 26 |  RUTH OZEKI BOOK 2,000 Winona readers and counting |
WSU STUDENT ELECTIONS NO CHOICE: INVALIDATE BUMBS? RASCALS? BUMPKINS? THIS ELECTION CREW MUST LEAVE The Winona State University student elections are another disaster. This time isn't only technical glitches. An e-mail message from election chair Jake Hite to Student Senate Vice president Rotney O'Shea revealed that O'Shea had a role in administering the elections in which he himself was a ballot candidate. This is a corruption of the election process that undermines public confidence. It's akin to having John McCain running this week's Wisconsin primary. Even if McCain did an honest job, nobody would trust the results.
Heads must roll. No other way is it possible for the Student Senate to regain any semblance of student confidence. His judgment in serious doubt, O'Shea has no choice but to resign as acting vice president and leave the Senate.
Jake Hite, election chair, must also leave. Either Hite had allowed O'Shea to be in cahoots in running the election or was so naive about perceptions of conflicts of interest that he thought that O'Shea should sign an e-mail message explaining election procedures. This comes on top of earlier Hite mistakes, like refusing to identify candidates who had filed self-nomination documents with him. In effect, Hite cheated voters by short-circuiting essential access to candidates and dialogue. In fact, when the ballot was posted at noon Monday, when voting was to begin, there were surprise candidates there. Either through an ignorance of how elections work or through deliberate engineering, you decide, Hite offered us ambush candidates.
And where was student President Emily Feehan in all of this? Who knows. She wasn't around as the disaster unfolded Monday afternoon. And how did she let this all happen? As a former election chair, Feehan should have had the experience and knowledge to head off not only the technical glitches but also the corruption and moral issues that have surfaced.
At the very least, the election must be invalidated. And when it's restarted, we hope that an entirely new crew, sensitive to the necessity of honesty, transparency and competence, will be in charge. This means everyone tainted by with any level of responsibility this time must bow out. This includes O'Shea, Hite and election committee members Kelly Leland, Savannah McKinley and Caitlin Stene. |
Background: Hite tells O'Shea to explain lapses
Background: Balloting woes deepen
TRY TO STAY WITHIN 300 WORDS |
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 18, 2008 Firefighters responded to the Tau dorm at 7:30 p.m. for a fire alarm. A student reported at 9:40 a.m. that her vehicle was struck while parked in the Sheehan dorm south parking lot sometime between Feb. 11 and Feb. 16. A student reported his vehicle missing from the Lincoln School parking lot at 10:45 p.m. He couldn't recall where he parked it. |
DeKalb in post-trauma training
DEKALB, Ill., Feb. 18, 2008 -- Employees at Northern Illinois University were asked return to work Tuesday for training on how to help students deal with shootings that left six dead Thursday. Students have been asked return to classes Monday. A campus memorial service has been scheduled the night before. An extra week of classes will be added to the end of the spring semester to make up for the lost time. The building where the shootings occurred, Cole Hall, will not be reopened this academic year.Background: Northern Illinois shooter identified
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CANDIDATE TO EXPLAIN LAPSES
WINONA, Minn.,, Feb. 18, 2008 -- To a student query about ballot problems after the Winona State University online election began Monday, election chair Jake Hite drafted an e-mail to student Vice President Rotney O'Shea on how to answer the question and asked O'Shea to sign it. Through inadvertence apparently by either Hite or O'Shea,the message ended up in wide distribution. The e-mail raised manifold questions, including the role of O'Shea in running the election. O'Shea is on the ballot for the $2,500-a-year Senate vice presidency.
| MORE |
The message was a response to a question from junior Spencer King about problems with access to the ballot. O'Shea had passed King's query on to Hite, who then drafted a response that he wanted O'Shea to sign.
| MORE |
The message:
Send him this: Spencer, The elections are open and did open at noon today. If you take a look and go to the Election website (www.winona.edu/studentsenate/elections) you can go ahead and cast your vote. There is, however, no link on the Senate Webpage as of yet due to the Webmaster being unavailable. That will be corrected, as soon as he is able to get it done. Thanks for the head's up. (Rotney) DON'T PUT MY NAME OUT THERE! Also have Caitlin draft an all student email and send it out about this. I am going into a series of meetings, I will call you when I get out. Jake |
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O'Shea, who has been acting vice president of the Senate since November, has a constitutional responsibility to run elections. But as a candidate he recused himself, at least for the record, which is consistent with past Senate practices to perceptions of avoid conflicts of interest. The Hite-O'Shea exchange, however, revealed that Hite saw O'Shea, his mentor, as having a role in running the election.
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Hite's all-cap exclamatory statement to shield his name raised further questions: Why would Hite not be willing to sign the response? Did Hite see O'Shea as a puppet, akin perhaps to an election committee member? Did Hite see O'Shea as a partner in running the election? For two weeks Hite has declined interview requests by news reporters about the election and encouraged his election committee members, Kelly Leland, Savannah McKinley and Caitlin Stene, to do likewise.
| MORE |
King, whose query led to the Hite e-mail to O'Shea, said he put his concern to O'Shea because he was confused and concerned, as a voter, that a link to the ballot was missing from the Senate website. King is a former webmaster for the Senate but resigned in September to become managing editor of the CyberIndee news site. King has since left the Indee to take on duties as an editor at the Winonan student newspaper.
Background: Balloting woes deepen
WSU prof leaders: No to contract
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- The Faculty Senate at Winona State University voted to recommend that profs vote against ratifying a tentative contract agreement with the state colleges system. The Senate took its position after lengthy discussion. There was no dissent against the vote. Chemistry prof Bruce Svingen, faculty president, said that sliding nine-month faculty contracts in the proposed settlement would create two classes of faculty. That is unacceptable, he said. Also, the creation of a category of profs designated as university scholars is a veiled attempt by Chancellor Jim McCormick to move toward merit salaries determined by administrators rather than negotiated with the faculty, Svingen said. Any arrangement that allows university administrators to play favorites with monetary rewards is unacceptable, he said.| MORE |
The tentative contract includes a 2 percent pay increase retroactive to July plus 4.8 percent this July. Also, the salary schedule would be higher overall with additional steps for senior-most faculty to move into.
| MORE |
Winona State profs vote Tuesday through Thursday on whether to ratify. Their votes will be compiled with those of faculty at other state universities governed by the contract.
Background: Negotiators settle on profs' contract
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WALKS OUT
SENATORS FLOUNDER
AS BALLOTING WOES DEEPEN
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- Problems worsened with the online ballot for Winona State University student elections in the first few hours that voting was open. Because a link from the Student Senate web page was not posted, an e-mail was being drafted to all students to give them direct access to the ballot at https://w3.winona.edu/elections/index.asp. Meanwhile, several candidates said their biographical and platforms were not showing on the balloting site or had been cut off. Some candidates went to the Facebook networking site to coach their backers on how to find the ballot.
| MORE |
Some students, after finding the online ballot, were mysteriously unplugged while voting. "After I submitted votes for the two listed seats and Professor of the Year, I was promptly logged off and notified that I am unable to vote again," said one student.
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As the ballot crisis worsened, the chair of the election committee, Jake Hite, wrote an e-mail message to the acting vice president of the Senate, Rotney O'Shea, that he had more important matters to tend to:
"I am going into a series of meetings, I will call you when I get out."To O'Shea, Hite also wrote, in all-caps and an exclamation mark: "DON'T PUT MY NAME OUT THERE!" Hite has been sensitive to mounting criticism of how he has administered the election. Two weeks ago he refused, for example, to publicly identify candidates who had filed their nomination papers. The result was that many student voters had no advance information with which to consider candidates or even know who the candidates were so they could put questions to them.
| MORE |
Hite's message to O'Shea ended up in wide distribution, apparently through inadvertence. The Hite message raised questions about the election because it was addressed to O'Shea, himself on the ballot for the Senate vice presidency, a position he is holding on interim basis. The Hite message was interpreted to suggest that Hite saw O'Shea as some kind of election administrator. A smoking gun? To O'Shea, Hite wrote: "Also have Caitlin draft an all student email and send it out about this." That apparently was a reference to business Sen. Caitlin Stene, a member of the election committee.
| MORE |
About the irregularities, one Senate critic said: "These elections will surely be invalidated."
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Mindful of a humiliating election fiasco in September, in which the election was aborted at midcourse and restarted two weeks later, several senators tried to put an upbeat spin on what seemed deja vu. Some senators, hanging around their Kryzsko Commons office, characterized the problem as "brief technical difficulties." They expressed confidence that that the voting page would be running smoothly by evening. Meanwhile, election committee member Caitlin Stene drafted an e-mail to send to all students with a lengthy web address for backdoor access to the ballot. There were delays in sending the e-mail, but nobody wanted to sign the e-mail. Student President Emily Feehan, whom most senators in the office thought should sign the document, was not around. Hite was in his "series of meetings." For Vice President O'Shea to sign the message would unveil his involvement as a candidate in running the election.
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Some candidates were peeved. Jon Jacob, a veteran senator seeking to return to the Senate as an an-large seat, said he was "disappointed with technical issues." Jacob noted that the election committee, headed by frosh Sen. Jake Hite, had a whole week to hammer out problems. Jacob said he managed to vote but only by using a link provided by fellow candidate Melissa Goodwin on her Facebook page.
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When the first problems surfaced early Monday afternoon, Education Sen. Terri Burked was surprised. "I did a run-through last night, and everything seems fine," Burke said. She acknowledged, however, that the Senate web site didn't have a link to the ballot. Students needed to figure out somehow to go to their address winona.edu/studentsenate/elections. Burke said she wasn't worried that voter turnout would be affected. "I have not gotten any emails so far about it being down or running into complications," said Burke. 'The process is very easy once you get into the right sections." Her comments, however, came before problems compounded, including voters being disconnected while voting and the missing candidate statements.
| MORE |
At-large Sen. Dylan Bensel, a junior, told a news reporter to look beyond the glitches: "We are still really excited that there will be new and full senators after these elections are finished."
| MORE |
Junior Sen. Josh Martin said he voted at 12:15, 15 minutes after voting began. The election site worked perfectly, Martin acknowledged, though, the lack of a ballot link from the Student Senate website. Martin said that several senators had been trying to reach webmaster Brian Nielsen to add a link. With a link, he said, there should be no more confusion. In the meantime, Martin said, he knew of three Facebook groups, a social network, that were promoting the elections. These groups, he said, sent out messages with a link to the election website.
Reporters: Courtney Cosgriff, Chris Dillmann, Rebecca Erdmann, Chelsey Swanson and others
Background: Election again off to faulty start
Background: Student Senate ballot taking shape
HOLD THE KETCHUP
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- Nobody entered the Ketchup Kontest sponsored in connection with the "Prairie Home Companion" radio broadcast at Winona State University. The event is canceled, said organizer Beth Halleck. Shucks, Judith, weren't you going to unveil your raspberry infusion recipe?
Background: Could happen only in Minnesota
Background: WSU hosts "Prairie Home" show
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Election again off to faulty start
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- Students intending to vote early in the Winona State University student elections couldn't find the ballot online at the noon opening time for the ballot to be posted. It appeared that no link to the ballot had been posted on the Senate website. Frosh Sen. Jake Hite, election chair, did not respond to calls from reporters on what was wrong. The problems raised the specter of what happened last fall when election chair Emily Feehan, now Student Senate president, failed to conduct test runs on software and programming. The fall election to be aborted on the second day of four days scheduled for online voting.
Jacob was chosen by Feehan to supervise this new election. Other election committee members are at-large Sen. Savannah McKinley, business Sen. Caitlin Stene, and freshman Sen. Kelly Leland.
The Senate website carries a note that it was last updated 1-1/2 weeks ago on Feb. 7. | JAKE HITE Election chair |
Background: Hite; No snafus on my watch
Background: Student Senate ballot taking shape
FEBRUARY BALLOT
TAKES FORM
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 18, 2008 -- These are candidates who have announced for Winona State University Student Senate vacancies in a mid-term election Feb. 18 to 21:
VICE PRESIDENCY
COMPENSATION: $2,500 A YEAR
Charlie Moburg. Has filed nomination papers. Now junior class senator. Campaign statement: Moburg submitted a biographical and platform statement and portrait on Feb. 13.
Rotney O'Shea. Has filed nomination papers. Now senior class senator and acting vice president. Campaign statement: O'Shea submitted a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 18.
| MORE |
AT-LARGE SEAT
ONE SEAT OPEN
COMPENSATION: NONE
Bryce Fogelson. Has has filed nomination papers. Campaign statement: Fogelson would have been asked to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 19, but he has asked that his e-mail address not be made available.
Justin Hiniker. Has has filed nomination papers. A junior. Campaign statement: Hiniker submitted a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 15.
Jon Jacob. Has announced his candidacy. Had hed Senate seats earlier and once was a candidate for president. Campaign statement: Jacob submitted a biographical and platform statement Feb. 6.
Mathias Mahlum. Has filed nomination papers for an at-large, a nursing and a freshman seat. Campaign statement: Mathias was asked to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 19.
Bryon Pavelka. Has created a group on the social networking website Facebook to to build support for his candidacy. Campaign statement: Pavelka submitted a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 11.
Alexandra Shoemaker. Has filed nomination papers for an at-large, a bsiness and a seat. Campaign statement: Shoemaker was asked to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait on Feb. 19.
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GRADUATE SEATS
TWO SEATS OPEN
COMPENSATION: NONE
No one has filedJUNIOR SEAT
ONE SEAT OPEN
COMPENSATION: NONE
Alex Cady. Has announced his candidacy. Campaign statement: Cady submitted a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 12.
Jonathan Williams. Has filed nomination papers for an at-large, a nursing and a junior seat. Campaign statement: Williamss was asked to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 19.
| MORE |
SOPHOMORE SEAT
ONE SEAT OPEN
COMPENSATION: NONE
Mari Arriola. Has filed nomination papers. Campaign statement: Arriola submitted a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 14.FRESHMAN SEAT
Kylie Wahl. Has filed nomination papers. Campaign statement: Wahl was invited Feb. 14 to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait.
ONE SEAT OPEN
COMPENSATION: NONE
Chris Brignull. Has filed nomination papers for freshman senator. Campaign statement: Brignull submitted a biographical and platform statement and portrait on Feb. 18.
Melissa Goodwin. Has filed nomination papers for both a freshman and a business college seat. Campaign statement: Goodwin submitted a biographical and platform statement and portrait on Feb. 13.
Mathias Mahlum. Has filed nomination papers for an at-large, a nursing and a freshman seat. Campaign statement: Mathias was asked to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 19.
Alexandra Shoemaker. Has filed nomination papers for an at-large, a bsiness and a seat. Campaign statement: Shoemaker was asked to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait on Feb. 19.
| MORE |
BUSINESS SEAT
ONE SEAT OPEN
COMPENSATION: NONE
Melissa Goodwin. Has filed nomination papers for both a business college seat and a freshmn seat. Campaign statement: Goodwin submitted a biographical and platform statement and portrait on Feb. 13.NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCE SEAT
Alexandra Shoemaker. Has filed nomination papers for an at-large, a bsiness and a seat. Campaign statement: Shoemaker was asked to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait on Feb. 19.
ONE SEAT OPEN
COMPENSATION: NONE
Mathias Mahlum. Has filed nomination papers for an at-large, a nursing and a freshman seat. Campaign statement: Mathias was asked to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 19.SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SEAT
Jonathan Williams. Has filed nomination papers for an at-large, a nursing and a junior seat. Campaign statement: Williams was asked to submit a biographical and platform statement and portrait Feb. 19.
ONE SEAT OPEN
COMPENSATION: NONE
No one has filedReporter: Rebecca Erdmann
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Junior candidate against smoking ban
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2008 -- Winona State University junior senator candidate Alex Cady opposes a proposed campus tobacco ban. Cady said in an interview that a ban, which the Student Senate has been considering, would violate student and faculty rights. Cady, himself a nonsmoker, believes a tobacco-free campus would be discriminatory against smokers, who currently are allowed to smoke outside campus buildings. "Future students are going to Winona State because the university isn't a tobacco-free campus," he said. "They would definitely go elsewhere if this decision were put in place." Cady agrees that the current rule on the smoking should be adjusted but going tobacco-free campus would be going too far.
According to Cady, his only past experience in student government was running for a student council in eighth grade. He lost.
Cady is majoring in law enforcement. He is active member in the Computer Science Club, a volunteer at Goodview Police Department, and a part-time employee at Target. Last fall, Cady said, he helped clean up parts of suburban Goodview after the flood.
Cady, who is from Minnetonka, Minn., said he feels that he can balance his schedule if elected to represent junior class. Cady has started a Facebook group and looks to support from fellow Computer Science Club members. He also is campaigning around campus. |  ALEX CADY Junior Senate candidate |
Reporter: Jason Fitzenberger
Background: Cady's campaign statement
Background: Student Senate ballot taking shape
PlayStation theft in WSU neighborhood
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2008 -- A thief stole a $600 PlayStation video game machine and three to six games from an apartment at 318-1/2 Center St., tenant Jay Michael Cannon, 20, told police. Cannon reported leaving home around 1 p.m., Friday, and returning to find a broken window and items stolen. The games were worth $60 each, he said.Reporter: Jacqueline Boyum
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Arriola to seek compromise options
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2008 -- A Winona State Student Senate candidate, Mari Arriola, sees major issues including a proposed smoking ban, tuition and textbook prices. Arriola said in an interview that she has decided not to take sides on these issues quite yet but to listen to everybody's voices and concerns. Her strategy, she said, is to talk to students on each side and perhaps work out a compromise. Arriola is running for sophomore senator.| MORE |
Arriola, majoring in photojournalism and minoring in Spanish, a has a part-time job at McDonald's. She also a campus job as a darkroom assistant. Arriola noted she is good about attending Student Senate meetings. Finding time be a senator would not be an issue, she said.
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How does she plan to win the two-way contest against Kylie Wahl for the sophomore seat? By campaigning, word of mouth, Facebook, and talking to a lot of students and friends, she said. "I want to be the voice of the sophomores and see what problems they have so I can bring them forward," said Arriola.
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Arriola comes from a big family and is family-orientated.
Reporter: Emily Laudon
Background: Student Senate ballot taking shape
Judge trusting Henderson: No bail
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2008 -- Pending a court hearing April 7, Winona State University basketball player Quincy Henderson is free without bail on two domestic violence charges. After his arrest Jan. 27, on a complaint from womanfriend Jamie Richter, Henderson was given a choice for release -- either post $3,000 bail and be free without condition or be free on his own recognizance without bail providing that he:• Stay on good behavior.
Basketball coach Mike Leaf has allowed Henderson to suit up for games the past two weekends. Against Minnesota State-Moorhead on Saturday he scored 10 points. |   QUINCY HENDER- SON Police mugs the morning of Jan. 27 |
Reporter: Chelsey Swanson
Background: Henderson pleads innocent
Most candidates' court record clear
WINONA, Minn., Feb, 17, 2008 -- Most candidates in the Winona State University student elections have had no local scrapes with the law, a check of court record shows. An exception:• Rotney O'Shea, candidate for vice president, has had numerous alcohol-related convictions, one as recently as January. DetailsWith no criminal record in Winona County District Court:
MORE
• Mari Arriola, candidate for sophomore senator.Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
• Chris Brignull, candidate for at-large senator.
• Alex Cady, candidate for junior class senator.
• Melissa Goodwin, candidate for both freshman and business senator.
• Justin Hiniker, candidte for at-large senator.
• Charlie Moburg, candidate for vice president.
MORE
• Jon Jacob, candidate for an at-large senator, has no Winona County criminal court record, but he did file a civil suit in 2006 against his landlord, Michael Forsythe, to have a damage deposit returned. Jacob won the suit. Jacob claimed that Forsythe had failed to provide a written notice as to why he was withholding the deposit. Forsythe counterclaimed for $1,200, citing "excess damages over and above the security deposit plus uncollected late fees." The judge found that Forsythe was unable to produce evidence to support his claim. Jacob as awarded $634.11 plus his costs for filing the case.
• Bryon Pavelka, candidate for at-large senator.
• Kylie Wahl, candidate for sophomore senator.
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 17, 2008 At 1:27 a.m. a student reported bringing a highly intoxicated friend to the Sheehan dorm. Am ambulance took the friend to the hospital. |
Loud party leads to pee ticket
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 17, 2008 -- A 19-year-old man was ticketed for underage consumption and public urination by police who had been called to a loud party at 667 E. Fifth Street at 12:36 a.m. The guy was peeing against a fence.
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Stars surge Warriors to weekend wins
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2008 -- Jonte Flowers scored 40 points for Winona State University in one game and John Smith became the Warriors' all-time leading scorer in a memorable weekend for the Winona State men's basketball. Smith, who needed four points going into game Saturday against Concordia of St. Paul to pass David Zellman on the all-time list, scored the first two baskets of the game for Winona State and finished with 22 points. That put him at 2,079 for his career. Winona State went on to defeat Concordia 84-59. On Saturday night Winona State shooting guard Jonte Flowers posted Winona State's highest single-game scoring total of the season, dropping 40 points on 15-of-21 shooting. Flowers' performance led Winona State to an 85-63 victory over Minnesota State-Moorhead. With the victories the Warriors extended their consecutive-win Northern Sun conference record to 46 games.| MORE |
Winona State was led by three players who scored in double figures in topping Concordia. Besides his 22 points, senior all-American John Smith had eight rebounds and five blocks. Sophomore David Johnson went 6-of-9 from behind the arc to finish with 23 points for the Warriors. Concordia got 16 points a piece from post Craig Heiman and guard James Metcalf.
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In Winona State's victory over MSU-Moorhead, Jonte Flowers, John Smith and Quincy Henderson combined to score 71 of the Warriors' 85 points. Flowers was game-high at 40. It was the first time a Winona State player has scored 40 points in a game since Carter Glad dropped 47 in 1989 against MSU-Moorhead. John Smith added 21 points and seven rebounds. Quincy Henderson chipped in 10 points and six rebounds. Pacing the Dragons was junior guard Justyn Burgess with 16 points and six rebounds.
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The weekend sweep clinched the Northern Sun postseason-tournament's No, 1 seed for Winona State. The Warriors will host the bracket of the top six conference teams.
Friday statistics
Saturday statistics
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Warriors hold ground in league
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2008 -- The Winona State women's basketball team held on to fourth place in the Northern Sun s standing with a 78-63 victory over Minnesota State-Moorhead. Guard Molly Anderson paced Winona State with a game-high 19 points and five assists. Rounding out the double figure scoring for Winona State was Amanda Reimer at 15 points and Anna Wurtz at 13. Reimer also pulled down a game-high nine boards in the win. Allison Swenson scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Dragons. The victory moved Winona State (19-8, 8-7) into a tie for fourth in the Northern Sun with Moorhead. The Warriors wrap their regular-season schedule next weekend with away matchups against Bemidji State and the University of Minnesota-Crookston.Statistics
Tornado decimates Union campus
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 6, 2008 -- A tornado whipped through the Union University campus, injuring 50 students and destroying a dorm complex of 13 buildings. Nine studies were listed in serious condition. Twenty-five students were stuck or even pinned in the rubble. It took a backhoe digging into the rubble to reach some trapped students.Party finale: Backyard police chase
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 6, 2008 -- After a chase into an alley, police nabbed a 19-year-old Winona State University student whom they said had fled a noisy party at his place at 66 E. Mark St. Police had been called by neighbors about 1:30 a.m. When questioning the man, police said, he took off running. They found him hiding behind a garage. He was cited on multiple counts -- underage consumption, fleeing officers, and possession of drug paraphernalia.WSU prof judges web contest
WINONA Minn., Feb. 16, 2008 -- A Winona State University computer prof, Gene Lundak, was selected as a judge for the Lions 5M1 Web site contest at a seasonal conference.| COURT CONVICTONS WEEK ENDING FEB. 16, 2008 IN WINONA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT UNDERAGE BOOZING Joshua Robert Bothun, 20, 1290 E. Burns Valley Road 4, $277. Roy C. Glissendof, 19, Fountain City, Wis., $177. Nathan L. Sanford, 20, Lake City, Minn., $377.
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Why not just go? Cautious? Drunk?
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2008 -- A 22-year-old Winona State University student, an open beer can in his car, was cited for drunken driving at 1:57 a.m. at Fifth and Washington streets. Officers said his blood-alcohol level was 0.19 percent, almost 2-1/2 times the allowable max to be behind the wheel. An officer became suspicious when the man stopped at a flashing red traffic light and just sat there.POLITICS AS EXPERIENTIAL OBAMA-MANIA PUBLIC DISCOURSE, THIS? Excitement about a political candidate can burst into exuberance. We've seen this for more than two centuries in U.S. politics. Great candidates can be electrifying, their rallies with electricity in the air. That's positive. But when enthusiasts show up for Barack Obama rallies in face and body paint, the core essential of a political campaign -- discourse on important public issues -- is in danger of being subsumed into irrelevancy.
Fans go to Packer games for the mindlessness of being there. It's diversion, harmless by and large. The same with a rock concert, also entertainment, also mindless. But when people show up for a political rally for no reason other than "being there," we have problem. Public discourse has been lost to experientialism.
Obama is a charismatic, highly motivated political leader with a record of serious contributions to the commonweal. He ain't no Packer quarterback. He ain't no rock star. He needs to rethink the campaign events he arranges to avoid the scary prospect of fueling a Brown Shirt mentality in American politics. |
TRY TO STAY WITHIN 300 WORDS |
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Tommies pummel Cardinals
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2008 -- The St. Thomas University men's hockey team (10-3-1) outscored the St. Mary's (5-9) 10-1 over a weekend series, sweeping the Cardinals with a 5-1 Friday and 5-0 Saturday. The consecutive losses all but eliminate St. Mary's from Minnesota Intercollegiate conference playoff contention. The Cardinals currently sit in seventh with 10 conference points. The Tommies solidified their position as a conference powerhouse with the victories, moving past Hamline into sole possession of second place in the MIAC with 21 points. Fifth-ranked St. Thomas can still capture the conference title next weekend against St. Olaf. Bethel is only two points ahead of the Tommies with 23 team points.| MORE |
On Friday at St. Mary's, Nick Pernula and Rob Johnson scored two goals apiece for the Tommies. Teammate Andy Panchenko recorded three assists. Junior forward Karl Reinke scored St. Mary's lone goal. Goalie Tyler Chestnut made 19 saves for the Tommies.
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On Saturday, after a scoreless first period, the Tommies skated off after the second two with a 4-0 lead. Cardinals senior goaltender Dan Smith made 36 saves.
Friday statistics
Saturday statistics
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St. Thomas sweeps Cardinals women
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2008 -- The St. Mary's women's hockey team (5-10-1) lost both the home and away games of their weekend series against the University of St. Thomas (12-4), falling 4-1 on Friday and 5-0 on Saturday. The sweep moved the Tommies conference point total to 24 -- good enough for a second place conference standing. St. Mary's remained tied with St. Olaf for seventh place with 11 points.| MORE |
On Friday the Tommies got a goal and an assist from winger Kara Ledel on their way to topping St. Mary's 4-1. St. Thomas goaltender Lauren Bradel gave her team a solid effort, facing 26 stops and turning away 25 of them. The Cardinals lone goal came from freshman Cierra Lopis 3:52 into the second period. It was Lopis' first goal of her collegiate career.
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Saturday evening St. Thomas forward Marie Omann scored two goals. Sophomore Rachel Zilles recorded two assists. The Cardinals were not given many opportunities in the game. St. Thomas goaltender Lauren Bradel only faced 17 shots the entire match.
Friday statistics
Saturday statistics
WSU students pinched for booze, drugs
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 16, 2008 -- Two Winona State University students, 20 and 19, were cited on several alcohol and drug charges after cops spotted them carrying down a street at 11:38 p.m. near Fourth and Market streets. The charges: Underage consumption public consumption, marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia possession.|
CANDIDATE STATEMENT CHRIS BRIGNULL FRESHMAN CANDIDATE
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Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
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STILL LOOKING FOR
RADIO REFORMS
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 15, 2008 -- Winona State radio station KQAL has won a reprieve the university's academic vice president. Sally Johnstone told the chair of the Mass Communication Department that she is willing to "move toward the next stage of analysis" on what to do with the station. A year ago Johnstone raised the specter of cutting off funding for essential upgrades, which would either immediately or gradually have pulled the plug. The masscom faculty, ostensibly the station's governing board, asked Johnstone for more time to get control of the station. The faculty promised to re-integrate the station into the masscom curriculum, revise programming to reflect an academic institution, and restore the station as a recruiting showcase for incoming students.
In a letter dated Jan. 18, Johnstone said she appreciates the willing of the the masscom faculty "to take greater responsibility in integrating" the station into the overall curriculum. Weis, to whom the Johnstone letter was addressed, didn't notify the department faculty of the Johnstone letter until Jan. 30.
Originally Johnstone had put the masscom department on a short leash to come up with a plan for the station. First there was an Oct. 15 deadline for action. The faculty dallied, but managed an 11th-hour response that led to Johnstone's new willingness to allow more time. No deadline for a proposal was listed in Johnstone's Jan. 18 letter, but she called for "a detailed budget projection" with costs and sources of funding.
The Johnstone letters have hinted that she wants the station to be less reliant on university financial support. She has talked of sponsorships, something akin to advertising. Also, in the latest letter, she came close to rejecting a faculty proposal to make the station independent of student-fee funding that gives the Student Senate a vehicle for a role in station policy. Student fees now account for $10,000 of the station budget. The faculty had argued that control of the station as a curricular activity needs to be squarely with faculty control. Said Johnstone:
"The one aspect of your recommendations I would like to ask you to reconsider is the rejection of student-fee generated funds, Perhaps you would want to have student funds dedicated to a different activity within the overall operation of KQAL and television cable-casting. It may be difficult to replace $10,000 of funding."
Although the masscom faculty promised in October to incorporate KQAL into the curriculum, there have been no on-air changes that reflect any change. Nor have any curricular changes been proposed by the faculty. Internal uncertainties at the station, created in September when Ramaley out the station's long-time faculty manager, Ajit Daniel, on leave pending a budget investigation, have been reconciles. After an audit, Daniel returned to half-time teaching this semester, with the station's engineer, Mike Martin, who was acting general manager in Daniel's absence, taking on the title of general manager. Background: Verbatim: Johnstone memo Masscom's maximum mea culpa Prof's suspension clears way for probe KQAL chief on suspension Ramaley: Solve issues by Oct. 15 |  SALLY JOHN- STONE Winona State academic vice president
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Northern Illinois shooter identified
DEKALB, Ill., Feb. 15, 2008 -- The gunman who opened fire in a lecture hall, killing five students, then himself, was a 2006 grad, Steven Kazmierczak, sources said. He was 27. Sources said Kazmierczak had stopped a medication recently and become erratic.
In early confusion campus Police Chief Donald Grady said there had been seven deaths. On Friday he lowered the number to six. The dead, besides Kazmierczak: • Gayle Dubowski, 20, Carol Stream, Ill.
Kazmierczak was enrolled currently as a grad student in social work at the University of Illinois. Earlier at Northern Illinois he was vice president of the Academic Criminal Justice Association. He wrote an article on self-injury in prisons. Sources said his Northern Illinois academic record was good. |  STEVEN KAZMIER- CZAK Why berserk?
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Background: Shooter bursts into class, kills seven
THE INDEE IS YOUR NEWS SOURCE OF RECORD |
NORTHERN ILLINOIS MASSACRE
WSU PRESIDENT
EXTENDS CONDOLENCES
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 15, 2008 -- Responding to the mass slayings at Northern Illinois University, the president of Winona State, Judith Ramaley, issued this statement:
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| WSU Faculty and Staff, Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the students, faculty and staff at Northern Illinois University. As colleagues, peers and friends within the higher education community, we are all affected by the tragic shooting that occurred on the DeKalb campus yesterday afternoon. Many of us have friends and family in or near NIU, so the experience is very real to us. We are holding all of you in our thoughts today. Judith Ramaley President Winona State University |
Background: Shooter bursts into class, kills seven
Weekend WSU sweep would clinch title
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 14, 2008 -- The Winona State University men's basketball team can clinch a fourth consecutive Northern Sun conference title with home victories against Concordia of St. Paul and Minnesota State-Moorhead this weekend. The Warriors (25-1, 14-0) are winners of 19 straight and hold an conference record of 44 successive wins. Winona State has not lost a Northern Sun match up since falling 84-79 to Bemidji State back on Jan. 7, 2006. Both of the Warriors weekend opponents will be playing in the conference tournament in two weeks. Concordia and MSU-Moorhead will attempt to fend off a sixth seed that would likely deliver a first round game against Winona State at McCown Gym.| MORE |
Winona State hosts Concordia (13-10, 7-7) on Friday night. In the teams' first meeting of the season, senior forward John Smith dropped 29 points to lead the Warriors to a 93-55 road victory. Sophomore forward Craig Heiman and junior guard Matt Cadwell, who are averaging 17 and 13 points a game, respectively, lead the Golden Bears.
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On Saturday night Winona State takes on MSU-Moorhead (14-9, 7-7). A monster 25-point, 17-rebound, six-block performance from All-American John Smith paced the Warriors to a 64-59 victory in the teams' first game. Junior guard Justyn Burgess leads four players who average double figures for the Dragons with 13 points a contest.
Reporter: Jack Chandler
Warrior women look to climb league
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 15, 2008 -- The Winona State University women's basketball team will look to move up the Northern Sun conference standings with home games against Concordia of St. Paul and Minnesota State-Moorhead this weekend. The Warriors (18-7, 8-6) are winners of 6 of their last 8 and could jump the University of Mary into the third-place conference slot with a weekend sweep. Both Concordia and MSU-Moorhead are positioned to play in the postseason conference tournament. Concordia is ranked No, 5 in the nation and could clinch the regular-season Northern Sun title by defeating the Warriors on Friday night. MSU-Moorhead is currently tied with Winona State for fourth in the conference with a record of 8-6.| MORE |
On Friday Winona State hosts Concordia (22-1, 31-1). The Golden Bears pulled out an overtime victory against Winona State 83-79 in the teams' first meeting on Jan. 12. Forward Amanda Behnke, who averages 17 points and nine rebounds a game, leads Concordia.
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Saturday Winona State takes on MSU-Moorhead (14-9, 8-6). In the teams' first matchup this season the Warriors ground out an 85-83 double-overtime victory. The Dragons will look to split the series when seniors Allison Swenson and Jessica Fesenmaier lead the Moorhead team into McCown Gym. Moorhead point guard Swenson is averaging 15 points and eight rebounds. Senior averages Fesenmaier records 16 points and seven rebounds.
Reporter: Jack Chandler
President on leave after new DWI
KIRKSVLLE, Mo., Feb. 15, 208 -- The president of the A.T. Still osteopathic school, James McGovern, put himself on medical leave after a newspaper reported that he was arrested a second time for drunken-driving. McGovern, 68, was arrested in November after police spotted him turn into the wrong lane and nearly hit a median. The arrest had gone unnoticed on campus until a Kirksville Daily Express report last week. Three years ago McGovern faced a similar charge and acknowledged that enough evidence existed for his conviction. On the new charge McGovern is scheduled to appear in court in March.| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 15, 2008 A student was cited at 3:15 a.m. for attempting to bring alcohol into the Sheehan dorm. A student reported at 7:49 p.m. that she was unable to locate a friend and was concerned. Security guards located the other student. Security guards administered first aid at 8:40 p.m. to a student who had cut her finger at Memorial Hall. An ambulance crew was called to the Lourdes dorm at 11:26 a.m. regarding a student who fainted in the cafeteria. An automobile accident at 3 p.m. in the north Sheehan dorm parking resulted in property damage. Police were notified. Several occupants of a Sheehan d room were cited for alcohol at 10:17 p.m. A mother called at at 3:15 p.m. that she was unable to contact with her daughter and hadn't heard from her for awhile. Security guards located the daughter. |
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CANDIDATE STATEMENT JUSTIN HINIKER AT-LARGE CANDIDATE
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Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
Shooter bursts into class, kills seven
DEKALB, Ill., Feb. 14, 2008 -- A gunman burst from behind a screen in a Northern Illinois University megasection lecture hall and shot and wounded the instructor and 20 students, killing seven. The shooter was among the fatalities, turning of his weapons on himself. About 120 students in the Cole Hall auditorium fled when the shooter, in a black shirt, dark pants and black hat, kicked open door at the front stage. One witness reported hearing perhaps 30 shots, apparently from a shotgun. The man also had two handguns. The shooting was about 3 p.m.| MORE |
Campus Police Chief Donald Grady declined to release the name of the shooter immediately, but said the man had been enrolled as recently as spring semester in a graduate program. One source said the man had been in sociology but transferred this fall to another university. Other sources said the man had no previous local police record. Grady said a motive had not been ascertained. Students described the shooter as a thin, white man.
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Three students and the shooter died in the lecture hall. Three died at a hospital. Seven of the wounded were listed in critical condition. Wounds were mostly head and chest injuries, a hospital spokesperson said. Witnesses said the shooter had a blank stare and didn't even seem to be aiming at anyone in particular.
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The class was in oceanography, being taught by graduate assistant Joseph Peterson.
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The university cancelled classes. Most students at the 25,000-enrollment university, 70 miles west of Chicago, left campus for their hometowns. In a candlelight prayer vigil, remaining students comforted each other. The university set up hotlines and seven counseling areas around campus. A Facebook site, "Pray for Northern Illinois University Students and Families," quickly picked up 14,000 members.
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Grady, the police chief, said the man used three guns: a shotgun, a Glock handgun and a small-caliber handgun, The man was still on the stage when he turned one of the guns on himself, Grady said.
The way to his heart: "Hmmm"
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 14, 2008 -- A relationship expert, dating doctor David Coleman, told Winona State University college students what it takes to win over someone who makes you stop in your tracks. To men Coleman offered three "magic rules" for eye contact -- glance, look away and stare. To women, he also had advice for getting your "hmmm." He meant "him" but dragged it out. His tip: Just say, "Hmmm." Take the initiative, Coleman said: "You have to be a fat penguin to break the ice."| MORE |
Coleman spoke recently to 450 men and women, mostly college students, including football players, track athletes, sorority and frat members, in a ramp-up to Valentine's Day. He also had examples of what not to do, including some of the worst pick up lines ever. One of them: "I hope you know CPR, because you just took my breath away."
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On the positive side, Coleman suggested the perfect Valentine's Day gift for men on a college budget -- 14 $1-priced gifts. Of romance, Coleman said: "It is performing an ordinary act of love at an unexpected time." He gave the three things to look for when pursuing a relationship: "attract-ability, believe-ability, and chemistry."
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When the floor was opened for questions, a woman asked: "Do you believe in love at first sight?" Coleman chuckled: "No, I believe in lust at first sight but not love."
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What did he have to say about Valentines Day. Coleman said he hates it. Picking up on stereotypes, he said Valentine's was invented to defeat men, to make them fail, only to give them another day to forget.
Reporters: Jenna Cameron and Amie Hylton
WSU STUDENT SENATE STUDENT SENATE UNDERMINES ESSENTIAL GRAVITAS In the current Winona State University student elections, candidates again are calling for the Student Senate to connect with students. It never seems to happen, but no goal could be more worthy. How to do it? For starters: • Focus as a parliamentary body on the students' business.This mean dropping activities like a Senate nominee for Mr. WSU. The pageant is more appropriately for clubs. The Senate never should put itself in competition with student clubs, not even in fun-and-games activities. To do so relegates the Senate to being just another club. |
Background: Nathan Lynn as beefcake
TRY TO STAY WITHIN 300 WORDS |
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Background: Exhibit includes 29 pieces
Burglary suspect faces bond violation
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 13, 2008 -- A Winona man arrested during a student apartment burglary near Winona State University, Brent James Ingham, 28, has new legal problems. Ingham was arrested after a short chase. Officers had tried to talk with him as he stumbled around drunk outside Gabby's bar at Third and Market about 12:30 a.m. His conditions for bail in the burglary case specified no booze. In the burglary, Ingham was arrested inside an upstairs apartment at 215 E. Sanborn. Police said he was hiding under a bed with a laundry basket of electronic gear and other items that he was stealing.Background: Felony charges in WSU-area burglary
CHELSEA TALKS MOM'S ISSUES,
ALSO MOM
LA CROSSE, Wis., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Military veterans are on the top of her mom's priority list, former first daughter Chelsea Clinton told a University of Wisconsin La Crosse audience in a question-answer session intended to build support for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. A crowd of 200, mostly college students, had loads of questions after Chelsea spoke briefly. She was ready to talk about veterans benefits. More complete funding for the Veterans Administration is one promise that Chelsea said will not be broken if her mother becomes president.
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On other issues Chelsea said that her mother will push for more unemployment insurance and a longer period for families whose homes have been foreclosed on to find other accommodations. She also cited her mother's platform on issues as diverse as prescription drugs and global warming.
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While taking all the questions from the audience, about 15 in all, Chelsea talked warmly about her mom. She started almost every answer with "My mom" and spoke directly with easy eye contact with the crowd. To questions about personal things and memories of her mom and family growing up, Chelsea described a happy relationship. She still calls her mom when she is sick and needs someone to take care of her.
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Chelsea is not the only Clinton campaigning in Wisconsin. Her father, former President Bill Clinton, will be in La Crosse on Thursday.
Reporter: Jenny Baldridge
Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
TO PRINCESS WINONA?
SPEAKER: INDIAN MYTHS
PERPETUATE STEREOTYPES
WINONA, Minn. Feb. 13, 2008 -- The first American Indian to receive a Ph.D. in folklore told a Winona State University audience the often-retold, generations-old story of Princess Winona likely is a fabrication. Rayna Green, a Cherokee, told the story of Princess Wenonah leaping to her death from a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River rather than marry a man she does not love. It's a common story in folklore with lots of Indian princesses in different places.
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In fact, Green said, the name Wenonah itself is not an Indian name but a role. "Wenonah means elder sister," said Green. Focusing on popular Native American stories, such as those of Pocahontas and Sacajawea, Green said that society needs to rid itself some of the stereotypes about American Indians that come with these stories. "Most people do not know Indian people," said Green, who is American Indian curatorat the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
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The image that most people in the American society have of the American Indian culture is one from a late 19th century school book story. Most of these stories, which are completely one-sided, are according to Green "justification for displacing these people." In other words, if Pocahontas and Sacajawea let the American people in, and helped them, then they were inviting them to take land, people, and culture from the Indians, Green said.
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Green said she would also like to retire the Eskimo Barbie.
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The reality of today's American Indian is something that Green believes no one wants to see. Nobody can visualize an Indian in a suit and tie or an Indian with lots of money, she said. But the reality, he added, is that today's American Indians are just like everyone else in society.
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About the confusion with the Indian identity in today's society, Green said: "It's an issue about a failed opportunity to join a different world."
Reporter: Jenna Cameron
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 13, 2008 A staff member reported at 9:17 p.m. that he was being harassed by someone from an off-campus location via email. At 7:35 p.m. a student reported the theft of a piece of clothing from the Prentiss-Lucas dorm laundry room. |
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CANDIDATE STATEMENT MARI ARRIOLA SOPHOMORE CANDIDATE
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Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
Snowboard class ends in car smashup
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 14, 2008 -- A Winona State University snowboarding student, Dan Glenn, is recovering from injuries when a driver plowed into his girlfriend's car as he was loading up to head home after a class Feb. 6 at Coffeemill ski hill near Wabasha, Minn. Glenn's girlfriend, Britty Dautel, also in the class, witnessed the accident. Glenn was thrown two car lengths and started to bleed from the forehead, Dautel said. Glenn took a direct blow, Dautel said. He suffered a concussion and a bruise to his left leg. Another snowboarder, Mike Nielsen, suffered from a cut on his lower lip and a sprained thumb.| MORE |
Glenn and Nielsen were taken by ambulance to the Wabasha hospital. They weree released at 12:45 a.m. The accident had been about 8:45 p.m.
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Police said a driver was exiting the parking lot in a minivan ande backed into another vehicle and panicked. Changing gears, the driver hit Glenn and Nielsen, police said. The driver hit two cars. Witnesses said the driver refused to leave her vehicle until police arrived and claimed to be sick and suffering from a migraine and was on flu medication.
Reporter: Sean Gau
2008 "Vagina Monologues" set at WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 14, 2008 -- The Eve Ensler play "Vagina Monologues" will be performed at Winona State University for the sixth year in a row. The peformance us a benefit for the Winona Women's Resource Center as aprt of the global V-Day movement against violenceon women and girls. This year, more than 600 colleges have V-Day events.Date: Friday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb, 23
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Somsen Auditorium
Cost: $8 to $10
Contact: April Herndon
Pipa master to perform at WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 14, 2008 -- Chinese musical prodigy Gao Hong, who began performing professionally at age 12, will present a concert on the pipa at Winona State University. Hong is a graduate of China's premier music school, the Central Conservatory in Beijing, where she studied with pipa master Lin Shicheng.Date: Thursday, Feb. 21 |  GAO HONG WSU International Music Series |
WSU assessment turnout: About normal
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 14, 2008 -- The annual Winona State i navel-watching exercise, on classes-canceled Tuesday, generated survey and other participation on par with previous years, said project director Susan Hatfield. The Assessment Day project, Hatfield said, went well. An academic proficiency exam was taken by 358 sophomore, the same turnout as last year, she said, The exam was also taken by 202 seniors to whim it was administered for the first time. took that exam. "We actually had a waiting list of students willing to participate," Hatfield said.| MORE |
So far, 1,246 students have completed online surveys surveys, H about the same as last year, Hatfield said. Participation was a little lower than she would like, Hatfield said. The goal was to exceed 4,000. Students have until Feb. 22 to compete questionnaires.
Colleges delay on Microsoft Vista
ALFRED, N.Y., Feb. 14, 2008 -- A survey of college technology offices found hesitation about installing the new Microsoft operating system Vista. Gary Roberts, director of information technology at Alfred University, found in an online survey that 28 of 33 colleges had not adopted Vista. Further, 25 don't plan to do so in the next four to six months. There has been concern in the techno-community that Vista does integrate smoothly with other widely used college software.New Brunswick janitors reach agreement
FREDRICTON, N.B., Feb. 14, 2008 -- After a 4-1/2-week strike that closed, community college students throughout New Brunswick, custodians and the government reached a tentative contract agreement. If ratified, 6,000 students at 11 colleges will return to classes Monday. If union vote against the settlement, province leaders plan to reconvene the legislature to force the custodians back to work rather than let students falling behind in heir studies.Background: Custodians shut down campuses
SENATORS DIVERT ATTENTION
TO IMPORTANT STUFF
WINONA, Minn,., Feb. 13, 208 -- After lots of laughs, student senators tabbed education Sen. Nathan Lynne to represent them in the Mr. WSU pageant. Vice President Rotney O'Shea issued the call for nominees. Senior Sen. Dave Obray, the first to be nominated, chuckled and declined. Nominations continued for 10 minutes. There was senior Sen. AJ Schuler. Then O'Shea himself. Then liberal arts Sen. Ian Galchutt; junior Sen. Charles Moburg; then another junior, Josh Martin; then Lynne;, then at-large Sen. Kevin Hoffman; and parliamentarian Ezra Kazee. Amid giggles, guffaws too, most nominees declined. Galchutt, Kazee, Lynne, Martin and Rotney played along.
The nominees were drilled with questions, some ridiculous. What would you do for a talent? "Jesus I have so many talents," said O'Shea. The Senate burst into laughter. Who's your favorite Disney character? How would this change your life?
Student President Emily Feehan, presiding over all this, took the vote and announced the winner. Lynne responded: "Thank you very much," Lynne said. "We have to represent this beast." Reporter: Rachel Becher-Cortez |  NATHAN LYNNE Beefcake pageant senator Imagine Hillary Clinton taking time out as a Miss America candidate How about John McCain for Mr. America? |
Pawlenty seeks education reforms
ST. CLOUD, Minn., Feb. 13, 2008 -- A world-leading summer training institute for Minnesota teachers was proposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty in his annual State of the State address. The institute, Pawlenty said, would focus on teaching methods, curriculum technology, and subject matter. In the address, Pawlenty made no mention of higher education but emphasized improving teaching, a theme that has rankled education profs who feel the governor is taking swipes at present teacher-preparation programs.
The governor renewed his call for phasing out seniority as a basis for teacher retention and pay increases. "In our current system, teachers have probationary status during their first three years and during that period of time, regular reviews are usually conducted and improvement plans are instituted," said Pawlenty. Pawlenty said the time had come to implement a system of post-tenure review. The system, which he said would be designed in cooperation with teacher unions, would include annual evaluations, access to additional training for improvement, and a reasonable amount of time to correct deficiencies.
Last year, the governor noted that funding for regional math and science academies was less than what was needed. Pawlenty said he would ask the Legislature for a 50 percent increase for these academies. These academies, he said, would give teachers specialized knowledge and enhanced skills that would improve student performance.
On another familiar theme Pawlenty called for improved K-12 technology. He proposed a digitally stored, always available teaching toolbox accessible to all teachers and students. The system would be a resource for districts to use voluntarily to ensure access to the highest quality curriculum for students to get extra help, complete a course, take an exam, get credit and speed ahead. Reporter: Chris Larson |  TIM PAWLENTY Governor leaves higher-ed unmentioned in State of State address |
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Weisbrod nets 1.000th in Cardinal loss
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 13, 2008 -- St. Mary's University senior forward Jess Weisbrod scored her 1,000th career point on the way to a game-high 16 as the Cardinals fell to St. Catherine's 74-66. The loss was St. Mary's fourth in a row. Guard Rachel Berglund led four Wildcats in double figures with 16 points. St. Mary's forward Alyse Coates scored 11 points and grabbed 12 boards to record her first double-double of the season. The Cardinals take on Bethel Saturday in what will be the final home game for seniors Kelly Tanke and Jess Weisbrod.Statistics
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Education secretary defers on text prices
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2008 -- College students shouldn't look to the federal government for answers to rising textbook prices, said President Bush's education secretary, at a national meeting of the Association of Community College Trustees. The issue is one for state governments and colleges themselves, Spellings said. "I'm having a hard time kind of getting a bead on what would we do, other than bring attention to it, provide leadership, and highlight best practices," Spellings said during a barrage of questions and comments from students at the meeting. "If you have suggestions, other than giant cash infusions around textbooks, I'm all ears."| MORE |
One suggestion to Spelling was for Bush Administration support of legislation approved by the House of Representatives recently to require book publishers to make books available as stand-alone products that are not packaged materials like CDs and workbooks. Spellings did not comment on the provision The U,S. Senate meanwhile, has not included in the the provision in its version of the Higher Education Act renewal.
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Frosh sees Jared Stene as model
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Freshman Melissa Goodwin, running for two seats in the Winona State University student elections, said she found the motivation for her candidacies in how moved students were by the death of student President Jared Stene in November. "I never got to meet Jared, but the week he was sick is when everyone came together," Goodwin said in an interview. Since then Goodwin has been a regular at Student Senate meetings. "I've been to four meetings and none have been dull. I want to be more than just a part of the gallery."
Goodwin has filed for two Senate vacancies -- a freshman seat and a College of Business seat. She had also considered an at-large vacancy. But, noting that she has a double major in business administration and Spanish, Goodwin said, "It would be easier to get into the College of Business seat as a freshmen rather than running for the at-large seat."
To support her candidacy Goodwin cited leadership experience in Spanish National Honors Society and her church youth ministry. "My church was kind of a mess and going through transition," she said. "I was the secretary and found a donor so the church was able to do more things."
Running for two positions, she said, will "hopefully double my chances of getting elected. Getting elected for both would be really cool." If elevated to both seats, she would need to choose one.
Goodwin would like to see students spend weekends in Winona. She would like to help create more activities and possibly join UPAC amusements committee. She said also that she would like to help clubs with fundraisers.
A major Senate problem, she said, is stability. About the January impeachment of Stene's successor, Emily Feehan, Goodwin said: "Transitioning from Jared's death and coming together under Emily is really important. We need to solidify as a team." |  MELISSA GOODWIN Candidate for frosh, business seats |
Reporter: Tara Putzy
Background: Goodwin's campaign statement
Background: Student Senate ballot taking shape
College Democrats overwhelm caucus
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Democrats turned out in high numbers for the party's Winona caucus, with college-age participants almost overwhelming the high school site. A volunteer at the caucus, Denise Bernatz, wife of precinct chair Mike Bernatz, contrasted the turnout to the last caucus. That session had only about eight people, none of whom were college studenys, said Mike Bernatz. Increased participation means that Minnesota areas that have been under-represented, including small towns like Winona, can have a say in who is running the country. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., won the presidential vote 1,252 to 471 over Sen,. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.| MORE |
Denise Bernatz said that the college student participation was a good chance for them to become a part of things, including seeing first-hand to become delegates of the caucus. Also nominated during the caucus were a caucus chair, tellers, secretary, precinct chair, associate chairs and election judges.
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Opening the caucus, Mike Bernatz said that this year's election is the Democrats' time and chance to "take back the White House." Ashley Lopez, a Winona State student , for instance, spoke up for the Obama position on college tuition for the state party platform. Afterward, Lopez said that she was pleased she attended because she felt she was able to represent not only herself but other people affected by the same issues.
Reporter: Annah Benson
Background: Obama wins Winona; McCain, Romney tie
Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
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CANDIDATE STATEMENT CHARLIE MOBURG VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE
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Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
Survey: Rosier job outlook for grads
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2008 -- Job prospects for new college grads this spring are improving, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Also, salaries are 4 percent ahead of a year ago. The largest salary increases are in marketing, engineering and technical fields. The average offer for computer science majors rose 7.9 percent to $56,900.| WSU STUDENT ELECTIONS |
BALLOT CANDIDATES
NOW TOTAL 10
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Candidates have applied for ballot spot for every Winona State University Student Senate vacancy except three, elections chair Jake Hite reported. In all, Hite said he had applications from 10 students. There were no applications, he said, for science, nursing and the consistently vacant graduate student seats.
In a report to the Senate, Hite listed the number of students intending to run, but said he would not release their names. He offered no explanation for withholding candidate names -- a departure from past election practices. No senators pressed Hite on his secrecy about who has filed nomination papers.
Candidates themselves have made no secret of their candidacies. Most have created groups on the social networking site Facebook. These include these recent candidacies: • Mari Arriola, a photojournalism major, for sophomore senator. Arriola is secretary for the Alliance of Student Organizations.
Hite said that his election committee was looking into the possibility of debates for the vice presidency, the only executive seat on the ballot. | JAKE HITE Keeping election info close to his vest |
Reporter: Rebecca Erdmann
Background: Hite: No snafus this time
Symphony to honor Gertrude Kohner
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 13, 200 -- The Winona Symphony, conducted by Winona State University music prof Paul Vance, will perform Benjamin Britten's "Simple Symphony," the Piano Concerto No. 17 of Mozart and Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in a concert is dedicated to the memory of long-time symphony supporter Gertrude Kohner. Kohner died in 1996. Supper will follow the performance in the East Hall of Kryzsko Commons.Date: Sunday, Feb. 24
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: Main Stage, Performing Arts Center
Cost: $5 to $15; dinner $25
Contact: 507-457-5250
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CANDIDATE STATEMENT MELISSA GOODWIN FRESHMAN CANDIDATE ALSO BUSINESS CANDIDATE
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Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
Obama takes Democrat delegate lead
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2008 -- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama routed Hillary Clinton in primaries in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, building a narrow edge in delegates. Obama now has 1,224 delegates, Clinton 1,198. For nomination 2,025 delegates are needed. Republicans in the three contests favored John McCain, but rival Mike Huckabee, who campaigned that McCain isn't a true conservative, made a strong showing in Virginia.Background: Clinton delegate lead narrows
Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 12, 2008 Two individuals got into a fight on the intracampus shuttle bus at Huff Street at 2:30 a.m. Security guards broke up the fight. Security and Firefighters responded to an alarm in Conway dorm at 2:45 a.m.. Burning food had set the alarm off. |
Study: More boozing, more vulnerable
BUFFALO, N.Y., Feb. 12, 2008 -- College women who pick up an alcohol pattern their freshman year are at greater risk of physical or sexual victimization, according to a study by the State University of New York at Buffalo. The SUNY-Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions found that new drinkers have greater odds of experiencing physical harm, especially if they have a history of anxiety, depression or other psychological symptoms. The study measured drinkers whose weekly intake increases, decreases or stays the same. Female freshmen who increase their drinking are at greater risk of sexual victimization, more so with each sexual partner, the report said. The study surveyed nearly 900 women. Other conclusions: Increased drinking diminishes the ability to do homework.ELECTION MONIORING PROJECT CALLED POLITICAL MEDDLING
RUSSIAN UNIVERSITY CLOSED
ON EVE OF ELECTIONS
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Feb. 12, 2008 -- A Russian court has shut down a university that offered courses in election monitoring. European University of St. Petersburg had been accused by Russian President Vladimir of meddling in politics, but the court did not mention politics or the pending national elections. The court said a fire inspector had determine the university's campus, which includes several historic buildings constituted a fire hazard. Several faculty, however, blamed politics. University President Nikolai Vakhtin said there had never been complaints since Eastern opened in 1996.
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Eastern University has fewer than 200 students. Never in memory has an entire university had been closed for political reasons in Russia. The university has financial from the Ford, MacArthur and Soros foundations for master's degrees in economics, ethnology, history, sociology and political science. The university has a reputation for liberal ideas in courses on human rights and democratic institutions.
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With a $900,000 grant from the European Commission the political science faculty set up a regional network to provide research materials on regional and federal elections and prepared a course for political-party workers on election law. Prof Grigory Golosov said he has no doubt that the university was closed because of his project. The project had already been suddenly discontinued in January, fueling suspicion of government pressure.
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As president of Russia, Putin has wielded a heavy hand against human rights groups, nongovernmental organizations and political parties. Closures have been blamed usually on technical reasons, but critics have seen a pattern of political motivations.
CHARGE: WSU DORM BOSSES
IGNORING OWN POLICIES
STUDENT RIGHTS TRAMPLED
WINONA, Minn,, Feb. 12, 2008 -- A former executive of the dorm council at Winona State University, Travis Carlson has demanded that the authority of student supervisors on dorm floors to issue disciplinary warnings be taken away. In a formal complaint, now in the hands of dorms czar Paula Scheevel, Carlson charges that the disciplinary warnings are filed for use in later disciplinary actions without students having an opportunity to dispute them. This, he said, violates the rights of students guaranteed in university policies for a fair hearing to answer disciplinary charges.
The current warning system gives the power of policeman, judge and jury to the live-in student floor supervisors, Carlson said. He stops just sort of using the word "tyrants" to describe floor supervisors, whom the university calls "resident assistants" and all of whom are students compensated with room with board, but, he says, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Carlson added: "I would not be surprised to find Resident Assistants developing reputations as tyrants."
Carlson filed his complaint Dec. 31 with Tracy Rahim, the university's salaried director of the Sheehan dorm. Rahim did not respond. Frustrated at being ignored for almost a month, Carlson decided to go public with a demand to be heard. He released two letters to campus news media. In one letter, addressed to dorms czar Paula Scheevel, Carlson demands a meeting to discuss dorm policies. He also released his original complaint to Rahim.
Carlson's initial complaint followed a Dec. 10 incident in the Sheehan dorm in which fifth-floor supervisor Elizabeth Robinette issued a disciplinary notice for excessive noise. It is not the incident, however, that rankled Carlson as much as the broad issue of student rights. Now, ignored for more than a month, he suspects his complaint has gone to an administrative backburner in hopes it would go away. Not this time, he said. Carlson cited dorm Regulation 4-2 that requires a hearing be granted within 14 days. The clock stated ticking Feb. 4, the date of Carlson's letter to Scheevel.
Carlson said in the past, when he was treasurer of the old Inter-Residence Hall Council, that dorm authorities put him off as long as three months on tenant issues. This time, he said, he is unwilling to wait so long. He demanded a meeting by Feb. 19 with Scheevel and Sheehan dorm Director Tracy Rahim. Carlson cited chapter and verse of dorm policies in alleging inconsistencies between the university's stated policies and disciplinary practices.
Carlson does not live in the dorms anymore but did as a freshman and sophomore. He was IRHC president his sophomore year. Although the dorm council functions mostly as a Scheevel puppet to keep students occupied with fun, game and diversions, the council also represents student rights. As council president, Carlson led 2,400 students living in the dorms and developed a following that he parlayed last spring into election as Student Senate treasurer in a campus-wide elections. In an interview, Carlson emphasized that he is acting only as an aggrieved student in his current complaint. It cannot go unnoted that Carlson also is on a short list of likely candidates for the student presidency in March elections for next year.
Carlson's complaint, now escalated to the level of Paula Scheevel, which likely has put it on the desk also of university Vice President Connie Gores, to whom Scheevel reports directly. A year ago Scheevel found herself the target of a student protest for bypassing her own policies in the dismissal of four popular student dorm-floor supervisors. The protest led to a student hunger strike, which was resolved only after state Chancellor Jim McCormick got wind of it and instructed Winona State President Judith Ramaley to get a handle on the situation. It is unclear whether legal action threatened by the fired students against the university has led to any monetary damages.
The university doesn't comment on out-of-court settlements and routinely tries to impose gags on aggrieved students as part of settlements. Although the specter of legal action against the university was a factor throughout the 2007 firings issue, Carlson's complaint suggests remedies within the university's policy-making structure. Background: Verbatim: Carlson letter of Dec. 17 Verbatim: Carlson letter of Feb. 4 |  TRAVIS CARLSON Former WSU dorm council treasurer Now junior and Student Senate treasurer
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THE INDEE IS YOUR NEWS SOURCE OF RECORD |
STUDENT RIGHTS
WSU EX-DORMS LEADER
DEMANDS GRIEVANCE HEARING
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 12, 2008 -- This is a letter from Travis Carlson, former dorm council executive at Winona State University, to dorms chief Paula Scheevel, following up on a complaint about disciplinary procedures:
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Travis M. Carlson Third-Year Student, Winona State 266 West Fourth Street Apartment 1 Winona, MN 55987 Paula Scheevel Director of Residence Life Housing Office, Kryzsko Commons Winona State University P.O. Box 5838 Winona, MN 55987
Director Scheevel, I am writing you today in regards to a letter I wrote to Hall Director Tracy Rahim detailing numerous student rights violations created by the practice of letting Resident Assistants issue Administrative Warnings to students without utilizing the proper conduct processes. In the final paragraphs of that letter, I asked for a series of remedies, among which was a meeting with Hall Director Rahim and yourself to discuss the situation. I submitted the letter to Hall Director Rahim on the 31st of December, believing that, in accordance with Regulation 4-2, which indicates that my written grievance would be responded to within 14 days, I would be contacted long before the February 1st deadline I set out in my conclusion.
Today is Monday, February 4th, however, and I have yet to hear anything from Hall Director Rahim. As I am still seeking the remedies I listed, I am forwarding you a copy of my letter, in hopes that you might be in a position to produce them.
I have worked with Housing and its staff to resolve similar issues in the past, and reflecting back on the lessons I garnered from last time, I find myself unwilling to wait three months this second time (as I waited over three the first time through) for redress. For this reason, I would like a meeting with Hall Director Rahim and yourself sometime before February 19th Please note that the date I am listing is a scant 15 days from now, and a whole day longer than is required by Regulation 4-2.
I feel student rights are of fundamental importance, and submit to you that I will continue to pursue this issue until the situation is satisfactorily resolved. Toward this end, I have taken the liberty of forwarding this and my previous letter to both the Winonan and the Independent. I am more than willing to watch and wait. This second time, however, I will not be the only person waiting -- or watching. Sincerely, Travis M. Carlson Junior, Winona State 266 West Fourth Street Apartment 1 Winona, MN 55987 Tmcarlso7459@winona.edu 651.276.5254 |
Background: Carlson: Dorm bosses ignore rules
Background: Verbatim: Carlson's original complaint
THE INDEE IS YOUR NEWS SOURCE OF RECORD |
STUDENT RIGHTS
IRREGUALRITIES, INCONSISTENCIES
ALLEGED IN DORM PRACTICES
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 12, 2008 -- This is a letter from Travis Carlson, former dorm council executive at Winona State University, to the director of the Sheehan dorm, Tracy Rahim, in complaint about discilinary procedures:
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Travis M. Carlson Third-Year Student, Winona State 266 West Fourth Street Apartment 1 Winona, MN 55987 Tracy Rahim Residence Hall Director Sheehan Hall Winona State University P.O. Box 5838 Winona, MN 55987
Residence Hall Director Rahim, I am writing to you today on behalf of myself and on the behalf of Sheehan Resident Bethany Ignored (Resident Name Changed to Protect Privacy), in regards to an incident which occurred during finals week of this semester. The incident to which I am referring took place on Monday, December 10th, 2007, and consisted of the fourth and fifth floor Resident Assistant, Elizabeth Robinette, knocking on the door of room (Room Number Omitted to Protect Privacy), asking permission to enter, and when it was granted, entering, remarking that 24-hour quiet hours were in effect, and issuing Resident Ignored and the rest of those present (excluding myself and one other non-resident) a slip of paper entitled "Finals Week Quiet Hours." Resident Assistant Robinette then exited, pausing only to threaten a write-up and a meeting with the Hall Director if the noise continued. While I have my doubts as to validity of Resident Assistant Robinette's claim to a violation of Residence Hall noise policies, I will lay this objection aside un-argued in favor of deeper concerns for process and student rights.
The slip Resident Ignored and others were handed contains more import than verbiage. Its first paragraph, as you well know, details the starting and ending dates of finals week quiet hours, and then briefly mentions Courtesy Hours. Its second paragraph is the one to which I found myself objecting however, and I will reproduce it here in full. It is comprised of a scant two sentences: By receiving this slip, you have been found in violation and are being issued an Administrative Warning. If you violate this policy again, you will be required to meet with Tracy (Sheehan Hall Director) in a conduct hearing.
A good deal of bolding and underlining is involved, but this fact is beside the point. The document closes with a one-line paragraph asking its recipient to "please respect everyone's need to study and do well on finals." For anyone who has been involved with either side of the conduct process, I would think that the slip's verbiage evokes feelings of an important process gone awry, and I can only say that this feeling was compounded for me when, looking over what my fellow students had been handed, I noticed that one half-sheet of paper was marked "Resident's Copy" in the upper left-hand corner, and another was marked "Tracy's Copy" in the lower-left, but both were given to the students as "their" copy. This is, again, a small detail, but a disturbing one nonetheless. Surely no Resident Assistant, especially a returning one, would be in so much of a hurry, even during finals, so as to cut corners or skip out on processes designed to protect students. It must have been simply overlooked.
The conduct process, as I understand it, and as it is laid out by the 2007-2008 Student Planner and Handbook given to every student at the start of every academic year, is fairly straightforward. Reading it over again at the close of this past semester, I noticed a number of rights are provided for by housing in order to protect students when they are accused of misconduct in the Residence Halls. Reviewing these rights with the aforementioned incident in mind, I must raise a number of what I feel are reasonable objections to the issuing of Administrative Warnings to students, without hearing, by Resident Assistants.
Most disconcerting to me is that this practice violates a student's right to a basic conduct process. Page 150 of the 2007-2008 Student Planner and Handbook lays out the basic rights of students in a section entitled "Students Rights and Responsibilities." Under the "Rights" subsection, listed as number two on the list, is verbiage stating that "[Students have a right to] [r]eceive advance notice of the disciplinary proceeding and the nature of the alleged misconduct." Later on the page, in the second paragraph of an "Overview of the Conduct Process," the handbook states that, "[w]hen alleged misconduct is reported by staff or another student and the Department of Residence Life determines probable cause to initiate disciplinary proceedings, the student is given written notification of the specific charge(s) and the requirements to arrange an administrative hearing with a specific hearing officer (usually, the Hall Director)."
Going further still, the section on "Students Rights and Responsibilities" lists, as a student's third right, the "opportunity for a hearing," wherein students are provided their fourth and fifth basic process rights: the right to "[t]estify on their own behalf," and to "read all written reports concerning the alleged incident and to question all evidence against them." These two basic rights, given to students in the same subsection as the others, are supported by further wording, as provided in paragraph three of the "Overview of the Conduct Process" section, which states that "[d]uring the hearing, the student is allowed to review the reports(s), pertaining to the alleged violations. The student is also given an opportunity to provide information on his/her behalf."
It seems to me that the issuing of Administrative Warnings, which are listed as sanctions on Page 152, "Explanation of University Sanctions," via slips of paper handed out by Resident Assistants, would constitute a breach of process, and thus infringement upon these rights. This infringement becomes doubly evident when one considers that, Resident Assistants, as I understand it, are neither hearing officers nor conduct officers, and that it is these officers who, according to the handbook (again, page 150), "ha[ve] the sole responsibility for all decisions relative to a hearing, including the determination of responsibilities and the imposition of a disciplinary sanction, if any." Add to this mess the fact that no report was written for the incident to which I am referring, and the road muddies further.
The denial of any of the above rights would be, as indicated on page 153, in one of "Appeal Process," grounds for appeal. Therein lies the rub, however, as the "over-looking" of not one but four basic process rights, in this case, means the denial of an appeals, or advanced conduct process, as this same paragraph requires residents to "appeal the decision and/or sanction imposed by the hearing officer . . . within three working days of the disciplinary hearing," and goes on to note that the "[f]ailure to submit an appeal or request for extension within that time period constitutes a waiver of any right to request an appeal." It seems difficult, if not impossible, for students to file an appeal appropriately if the deadline for such an appeal is based upon a process which never takes place. In this way, giving Resident Assistants carte-blanche to issue sanctions violates two more student rights, which brings the total number of rights disregarded by this practice to six, one less than the seven listed on page 150 of the handbook. For reference, these last two are a student's right to "[r]eceive notification of the hearing results," and to "[h]ave an opportunity to appeal the decision."
While these process rights violations would be enough to justify most any appeal, it seems pertinent to me to mention once more that the processes quoted above are listed on pages found in the 2007-2008 Student Planner and Handbook, a document produced and distributed by the Housing Office, which has been given nearly total control of the conduct processes in use by the University, short of higher offices. It would be safe to assume, I believe that the processes established by the handbook are designed around an assumption of innocence, and the creation of equitable, fair, and predictable methods for assigning responsibility and maintaining accountability. As such, this practice violates the very philosophies espoused by the Housing Office and the University itself, which is listed in paragraph one of the "Overview of the Conduct Process" as being "to help all students in the pursuit of an education, promote growth for each resident, and foster development within the residence hall community."
One must here pose the question of how the above process works toward these ends. It is neither predictable, nor equitable, nor fair; instead it assumes an infallibility of Resident Assistant judgment and that every Resident, when accused of violating policy, must surely be guilty of doing so. Seeing that this practice violates not one, but six, student rights, as well as the standards to which the university itself claims to adhere, I feel justified in asking the following remedies to this situation.
First, if this is common practice in and/or beyond Sheehan Hall, I ask that its use be immediately discontinued or radically modified. Not only is it contrary to the conduct process as laid out in the handbook given to every student living in the Residence Halls, but it endows upon Resident Assistants the power of acting as policeman, judge, and jury, the latter two of these being specifically reserved for hearing officers, or hall directors. This reallocation of power, in turn, reduces the hall director oversight, as they never see reports regarding the incidents for which their residents are being given sanctions, only notifications of their having been sanctioned. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely," and I would not be surprised to find Resident Assistants developing reputations as tyrants, which means that this practice, in addition to being bad for student rights, for oversight, and for policy and process, is equally bad for Resident Assistants reputation.
Second, I ask that incoming and returning Resident Assistants be better-educated in regards the conduct process and its terms, as well as that Resident Assistant Robinette, specifically, be given a copy of the process, as well as a thorough explanation of its terms, processes, and requirements, so as to avoid the recurrence of such an incident, and moreover, a recurrence of such an incident by the hand of Resident Assistant Robinette. I ask this remedy for two main reasons, the first being that, when Resident Assistant Robinette was asked for a copy of the incident report the following day, she told Resident Ignored that such a report "was not necessary." This seems contrary to the process to me as, on page 150 of the handbook, in the second paragraph of the section entitled "Overview of the Conduct Process," students are told that "[s]taff members are instructed to thoroughly document all violations of University or residence hall policy whether or not disciplinary action is appropriate."
Secondly, Resident Assistant Robinette made it a point, during the incident, to tell Resident Ignored and others sighted that this was a warning, but that such a warning was not necessary. In a sense, she was correct, in that while the above-referenced paragraph suggests that "[if] a staff member observes a student violating Residence Life Policy and Procedures or University Conduct Policy, the staff member will inform the student the behavior is inappropriate and request that she/he discontinue the behavior," it also notes that "[d]epending on the situation and the seriousness of the alleged behavior, the staff member may initiate the disciplinary process without warning." This verbiage, however, refers to a "verbal warning," which is to come before the initiation of the disciplinary process, if it all.
The warning arbitrarily handed out to Resident Ignored and others, on the other hand, is an "Administrative Warning," which the handbook defines on page 152, "Explanation of University Sanctions," as a warning "given to inform the student that a specific behavior does not meet the minimum expectations for residence hall living. It is generally imposed after isolated and less serious incidents of misconduct or contract violations." Such a warning is to occur only after the completion of the conduct process, and only "[i]f a student is found to be in violation of an offense of the Residence Life or University conduct code[.]" Laying aside the contradiction created by the fact that the incident was of such "severity" that a verbal warning was waived, but also so "isolated," and lacking in seriousness that its parties were given Administrative Warnings, it still stands to reason that Resident Assistant Robinette, and most likely other newcomers and returners, could use a review, as there should be little or no gap between that which students read, and that which students are told.
Third, I ask that I be granted a meeting with Paula Scheevel and yourself to discuss this practice, and that that meeting occur no later than Friday, February 1st. Surely a letter of this length would most often necessitate a meeting, but I wish to make sure it does so. I know you all are overly busy, but I must put a deadline upon such a meeting as, previous times have found these sort of issues on the back burner. I would like also, by the time the meeting takes place, for someone at the meeting, besides myself of course, to have read this letter in its entirety, as this would facilitate discussion of the problems here raised.
Fourth, I ask that this letter be considered a formal appeal on behalf of Resident Ignored. As noted earlier, because the conduct system laid out on pages 150 to 153 of the "2007-2008 Student Planner and Handbook" was written to "describe the Residence Hall Conduct Process for alleged violations of any Residence Hall Policies and Procedures," one would assume that, by the wording of the slips handed out to Resident Ignored and those others present at the time of the incident, those present were being considered "guilty" of "[d]isruption of a residence hall, through excessive noise, practical jokes, and/or the flagrant violation of other rules and regulations set by the Department of Housing and Residence Life." Regardless of whether this is or is not an accurate claim, an appeal is still justified, as Resident Ignored and the rest of those cited have experienced what could easily be termed a "[v]iolation of hearing procedures or process that substantially affected the outcome of the hearing," as well as, more grievously, a "[v]iolation of students' due process rights."
Finally, in this same vein, I ask that any parties whom, by the sanctioning rubric, were given a second, stiffer sanction due to a subsequent violation of the noise policy have their second sanctions reduced to Administrative Warnings, with the Administrative Warning issued by a Resident Assistant being erased from their records. I ask this last remedy because, while it is unlikely that any government agency or employer would go through the trouble of looking up sanctions such as these, it is still a possibility. More importantly at present, I ask this remedy because "[r]epeated violations or violations occurring after a student has already received a disciplinary sanction usually result in further, more serious disciplinary action." It seems wise to me to eliminate any unjustly determined sanction, so as to eliminate further injustices, and reduce the footing those suffering such injustices would have for appeals of this nature.
In closing, let me touch once more upon the reasons for which I am writing you today. I believe the practice of letting Resident Assistants issue Administrative Warnings, on the spot, to students suspected of violating Winona State University or Residence Life policies violates student rights and runs contrary to the philosophies offered by Housing as those which guide its actions. I have served you and your office as the Student Coordinator for the Peer Conduct Board (as run by former Residence Hall Director Sarah Olcott), and I continue to serve you and your office through my work to create a letter-writing program to aid in your communications with students regarding conduct and conduct expectations. Still, I cannot in good conscience sit idle while the processes which I have worked and am working to better are undercut and undermined by practices such as these. When students are, in fact, in violation, they should be sanctioned; I am not arguing against this belief. I am simply arguing that such oversight should be extended to those in charge of conducting the proceedings which govern the lives of those living in the Residence Halls. In short, I believe that it holding students accountable for their actions is of the utmost importance. I only ask that this sort of accountability be extended to those in the position of policing and prosecuting them and their actions.
Sincerely, Travis M. Carlson Junior, Winona State 266 West Fourth Street Apartment 1 Winona, MN 55987 Tmcarlso7459@winona.edu 651.276.5254 |
Background: Carlson: Dorm bosses ignore rules
Background: Verbatim: Carlson's follow-up complaint
William and Mary president resigns
WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Feb. 12, 2008 -- The president of the College of William and Mary, Gene Nichol, under fire on diversity and academic freedom issues, resigned effective immediately. Nichol announced the resignation after he college's governing board voted against renewing his contract, which expires June 30. Nichol said the board offered him a financial settlement to leave without a fuss. The board responded to Nichol's announcement by issue a fuzzy statement that its decision had not hinged on "ideology or any single public controversy."| MORE |
Nichol had drawn national attention as an advocate of free expression and diversity. In 2006 he ordered that an 18-inch brass cross be removed from permanent display in the college's chapel to, he said, make the chapel more welcoming to students of different faiths. More recently, he allowed an art show featuring sex workers to visit the campus. The show, on a national campus tour, was billed as "an eye-popping evening of visual and performance art" by strippers, prostitutes, and other sex-industry workers.
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Already the target of traditionalists, Nichol drew further conservative ire for a project to expand financial aid for lower-income students. It didn't help with a growing voice of talk-radio and blog criticism when he proposed increasing the number of students, faculty and administrators from minority groups. One donor withdrew a $12 million pledge. Some alumni joined the criticism, especially about the cross in the chapel, pointing to William and Mary's Christian past and should always be on display. Although removed, the cross had been kept available on request for ceremonies.
Prof to discuss common learning site
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 12, 2008 -- A Winona State University education prof, Jim Reineke, will discuss copyright and intellectual property issues associated with open educational resources. Winona State has a pilot project for academic departments to add instructional materials to the Winona State educommons site, which Reineke endorses.Date: Wednesday, Feb. 20
Time: 1 p.m.
Place: Second floor, Krueger Library
Cost: Free
Contact: Kendall Larson at 507-457-5147
26 Southern Maine programs in doubt
PORTLAND, Maine, Feb. 12, 2008 -- Twenty-six undergrad programs at the University of Southern Maine have been placed on probation because of falling enrollment. Interim Provost Mark Lapping said resources are short at the university. Faculty in the departments have until July 1 to submit turn-around plans or be barred from accepting new students. Under scrutiny are programs in economics, gender studies, and several scientific fields.currently enrolled students will not be affected, Lapping said.St. Olaf string trio at WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 2008 -- The Melius Trio, founded in 1988 by music profs at St. Olaf College, will perform Franz Josef Haydn's Trio in E-flat Minor, Hob.XV/31, at Winona State University, Also on the program: Anton Stepanovich Arensky's Trio in D Minor, Op.32, and Johannes Brahms' Trio in C Major, Op.87.Date: Tuesday, Feb. 19
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center
Cost: $3 to $5
Contact: 507-457-5250
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 11, 2008 A trouble alarm went off in Memorial at 4:45 a.m. An engineer was notified. A student fainted and struck her head in the Science Building at 9:47 a.m. An emergency medical team responded but did not take her to the hospital. |
Delaware State execs lose tenure
DOVER, Del., Feb. 12, 2008 Six Delaware State University executives, including President, Allen Sessoms, have lost their tenured status as part of a settlement with the faculty union. The union had challenged a decision by the university's governing board to grant tenure, a kind of job security to protect academic freedom, to attract administrators. The union said administrator tenure violated increases, faculty contract and was inconsistent with the traditional rationale for tenure. With tenure, administrators had been assured of faculty positions after leaving administrative posts. The union's success with its contract grievance over tenure is against a background of faculty discontent. secret report from an executive search firm, which was leaked on campus recently, described the Delaware State work environment as "toxic."Audit: North Dakota buyout excessive
BISMARCK, N.D., Feb. 12, 2008 -- An audit committee criticized the state Board of Higher Education for paying former chancellor Robert Potts $200,000 to step down. The board removed Potts early from a three-year contract in 2006 but kept him on board, on paper anyway, as a consultant. In effect, Potts was paid to do nothing, the audit said. The separation agreement was negotiated after public clashes between Potts and Joseph Chapman, president of North Dakota State University. The consultancy was a sham, and Potts left almost immediately to become president of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. "Essentially, the chancellor was paid $200,000 and some and did nothing," said state audit manager John Grettum. The state higher-ed board called the settlement in the university system's best short-term and long-term interests.Police: No explanation for murders
BATON ROUGE, La., Feb. 12, 2008 -- Police have been unable to establish connection between the woman who shot and killed two fellow students on the Baton Rouge campus of Louisiana Technical College on Friday before killing herself. The police issued a statement said the motive may never be known. The shooter, Latina Williams, had recently given away many of her possessions and was living out of her car. The day before the shootings she purchased a .357 revolver and a single box of ammunition.Background: Classroom shooter kills two, then self
I'M INNOCENT
JURY TRIAL AHEAD
FOR WSU BASKETALL PLAYER
| WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 2008 -- Winona State University basketball player Quincy Clay Henderson pleaded not guilty to two charges of misdemeanor domestic assault stemming from complaints from his long-time woman friend. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 7 and a jury trial April 21. The charges are domestic assault, one alleging that Henderson scared Jamie Richter, 22, in her apartment on Jan. 27 during a spat and one alleging that he caused her harm. Henderson, 23, could be sentenced to as much as 90 days in jail and fined $1,000. Background: What happened that night |  QUINCY HENDER- SON In court Monday |
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CANDIDATE STATEMENT ALEX CADY JUNIOR CLASS SENATE CANDIDATE
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Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
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Pipers foil Cardinals, Weisbrod's milestone
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 11, 2008 -- The Hamline Unuversity Pipers used a stifling defense to hold St. Mary's star Jess Weisbrod to four points on their way to beating the Cardinals 73-57. Weisbrod, who needed eight points coming into the game to become the eighth player in St. Mary's history to score 1,000 career points, was forced by Piper double-teams into shooting a poor one of eight from the field. Jessica Heinen led the Pipers with a game-high 17 points. Stephanie Ayers paced the Cardinals with 15.Statistics
WSU junior wins volunteer award
ROCHESTER, Minn., Feb. 11, 2008 -- A Winona State University junior studying social work, Diane Tlougan, was named Volunteer of the Year by the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, Minn. In an internship with the club, Tlougan coached coaching youth sports. She has worked with the Rochester Senior Center board of directors and with Victim Services of Olmsted County. Also, she has been a member of the Rochester Committee on Urban Design and Environment. Twice she helped with clean-up after Hurricane Katrina, she is treasurer of the Rochester chapter of the Student Association of Social Workers and co-chair of Christmas Anonymous Senior Food Boxes.| MORE |
Also in a recent ceremony, Winona State was awarded the Helping Hands Award by the Rochester Boys and Girls Club. Gender studies prof Tamara Berg and Boys and Girls Club united director Maria Peterson led a program to help teens develop skills for healthy relationships. The Date Smart program has become what berg described as "a living laboratory" for Winona State students to gain hands-on experience with teens.
Funds denied for WSU kung fu trip
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 2008 -- A $1,000 request by the Kung Fu club to participate in a tournament in California was rejected by a student fees committee. The chair of the Student Activity Fee Committee, Travis Carlson, said the club had failed to justify the request. Carlson advised club President she Wong to address ask the club's faculty department adviser for help on fundraising and donations. Carlson said the fee committee is wary of funding travel for small groups. "A lot of times in these situations where only four members are attending such a costly event," he said.Reporter: Jason Fitzenberger
Clinton delegate lead narrows
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11,2008 -- Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton maintained the lead, albeit narrowing, over Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination after the latest string of state primary elections and caucuses. The Clinton lead winnowed to 27 delegates, 1,148 to 1,121. Nomination requires 2,025. Clinton's lead is wider among superdelegates, who are party leaders and office-holders, whose votes count for more at the convention. of 796 superdelegates Clinton leads 243 to 156.| MORE |
In the Republican race, Arizona Sen. John McCain maintains a comfortable lead in delegates over Mike Huckabee, despite the former Arkansas governor's weekend Saturday in Kansas and Louisiana and a strong showing in Washington state. The national Republican Party does not have superdelegates, but 123 members of the party's national committee are not required to make a commitment ahead of the convention . Of those committee members, 26 support McCain, three support Huckabee. A total of 1,191 delegates are needed to win the GOP presidential nomination. McCain leads with 723 delegates. Former Arkansas Gov, Huckabee has 217, Texas Rep. Ron Paul 16.
Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
Walz pleased with new college law
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2008 -- Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., reported he voted for the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, which he described as "a victory for middle-class families." The bill would increase Pell Grant awards and cut interest rates on subsidized student loans. Walz said the bill, also, encourages colleges to control tuition; simplifies the federal aid applications; and increases college aid for veterans.HOW GREEN IS WSU?
PEEK INTO JANITOR'S CLOSET
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 2007 -- Winona State University dorms are going green. Dan Bjornson, chief of maintenance for the East Lake, Lourdes and Tau dorms, said that between one-quarter and one-third of the products on janitors; are environmentally and socially friendly products. In the future, Bjornson would like at least half of all the products to be green. He points to H2Orange2, the most widely used dorm cleaner made by EnvirOx that can be used for anything from mirrors to carpets. Bjornson said that green products are not only good for the environment but are also safe to use. With general-use products like H2Orange2, the university needs a narrower range of products in its inventory, he said.
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In his 31 years at Winona State, Bjornstad said that safety has always been his No. 1 concern. H2Orange 2, for example, isn't the only cleaner. For blood spills, every janitor's closet has more potent disinfectants.
Reporter: Chelsey Swanson
Charge: College gouges for foreign study
NORTON, Mass., Feb. 11, 2008 -- The father of a Wheaton College student filed a lawsuit charging the college with profiteering from a study-abroad program. James Brady said Wheaton to charged $23,000 for a semester in South Africa in a program that costs around $18,000. "Wheaton provides no services whatever for that program," Brady said. "This is the crudest kind of commercial gouging." He called the pricing "deceptive and unfair." Like many colleges, Wheaton charges its standard tuition for overseas programs that it arranges with low-cost provides.Business author at WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 2008 -- Corporate consultant Keith McFarland, author of "The Breakthrough Company," will speak at Winona State University. McFarland is founder of McFarland Strategy Partners, whose clients include Winona-based Fastenal, Chico's FAS, Express Personnel and Intuit.
McFarland is also speaking a reservations-recommended lunch earlier in the day at the Winona State Tau Center.Date: Wednesday, Feb. 13 |  KEITH MCFAR- LAND Clients include Fastenal |
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CANDIDATE STATEMENT BRYON PAVELKA AT-LARGE SENATE CANDIDATE
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Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
Poet offers Valentine's love verses
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 008 -- Winona Poet Laureate Jim Armstrong, a Winona State University English prof, will perform "Winter Warm-Up: Love Poems for a Cold Night" in celebration of Valentine's Day. Armstrong said he has selected poems to set a romantic mood. people are encouraged to bring their favorite love poem to share. Chocolate cake and refreshments will be available.Date: Thursday, Feb. 14 |  JIM ARM- STRONG Winona poet laureate |
Walz pledges support to Obama
MANKATO, Minn., Feb. 10, 2008 -- With the victory of presidential hopeful Barack Obama among southern Minnesota Democrats, Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., pledged his support of Obama at the party's national convention. As a member of Congress, Walz is a so-called superdelegate whose vote carries extra Walz weight to break a convention deadlock. After caucuses in 24 states Tuesday, Sen. Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hilary Clinton, seemed headed for a deadlocked convention. Of 2,025 delegates needed for nomination, Clinton led 825, Obama 732. Said Walz: "The voters of southern Minnesota overwhelmingly supported Sen. Barack Obama and his hopeful vision for positive change." Walz said he would honor the decision of caucus voters and support Obama.Background: Minnesota Democrats for Obama
Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
Miles Davis-inspired dance at WSU
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 2008 -- A visiting dance prof at Winona State, Dustyn Martincich, is rehearsing "Flicker," inspired by the words of Miles Davis and Omar Mallick, in the annual February production of Dancescape at the university. Martincich said the routine focuses on the intense, magnetic pull toward a goal or desire. Dancescape features original choreography and performances by Winona State students, faculty and guest choreographers.Date: Thursday, Feb. 14, to Saturday, Feb 16
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Matinee: Saturday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m.
Place: Main Stage. Performing Arts Center
Cost: $5 to $7
Contact: 507-457-5235
MODERN ART LEAVE YOU COLD?
PROF: NEED NOT
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 2008 -- A Winona State University art prof, Vittorio Colaizzi, will discuss the emergence and development of non-representation in Western art by starting with Impressionism and moving through Post-Modernism. Colaizzi has tips on how non-specialists can understand and enjoy abstraction.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 13
Time: 1 p.m.
Place: Second floor, Krueger Library
Cost: Free
Contact: Joe Mount at 507-457-5147
NEXT PRESIDENT:
CLINTON, MCCAIN, OBAMA?
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 2008 -- Important dates leading up to the November 2008 elections:
March 15: Democratic county convention, Winona
April 26: Democratic congressional district convene, Albert Lea
June 6: Democratic state convention, Rochester
Aug. 25-28: Democratic national convention, Denver
Sept. 1-4: Republican national convention, Minneapolis
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Races that Winona campus people are watching:
U.S. PRESIDENCY
Hillary Clinton (Democrat): New York senator
Mike Gravel (Democrat): Former Alaska senator
Barack Obama (Democrat): Illinois senator
John McCain (Republican): Arizona senator
Mike Huckabee (Republican): Former Arkansas governor
Ron Paul (Republican): Texas member of House
| MORE |
U.S. SENATE
Minnesota
Norm Coleman (Republican): Seeking second term
Mike Ciresi (Democrat): Tobacco Settlement attorney
Al Franken (Democrat): Former Air America host
Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer (Democrat): University of St. Thomas prof
U.S. HOUSE
District 1
Dick Day(Republican): State senator from Owatonna
Brian Davis (Republican): Mayo Clinic physician
Randy Demmer (Republican): State representative from Hayfield
Tim Walz (Democrat): Expected to seek second term
| MORE |
MINNESOTA HOUSE
District 28-B
Mostly Wabasha County
Steve Drazkowski, Wabasha (Republican): Has announced candidacy
Linda Pfeilsticker, Wabasha (Democrat): Has announced candidacy
Distict 31-A
Mostly Winona County
Gene Pelowski, Winona (Democrat): Expected to seek 12th term
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MAYOR
Jim Galewski: Retired newspaper editor says no
Jerry Miller (incumbent): Expected to seek re-election
Todd Ouellette: Former City Council candidate has expressed interest
CITY COUNCIL
1st Ward (Far West End)
Al Thurley (incumbent): Expected to seek re-election
CITY COUNCIL
3rd Ward (Central city, including WSU)
Deb Salyards (incumbent): Expected to seek second term
CITY COUNCIL
At-large
Debbie White (incumbent): Expected to seek second term
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COUNTY COMMISSION
2nd District
Dwayne Voegeli (incumbent): Expected to seek re-election
Wayne Valentine: Retired newscaster has considered running
COUNTY COMMISSION
3rd District
Jerry Heim (incumbent): Expected to seek re-election
COUNTY COMMISSION
4th District
Dave Stoltman (incumbent): Expected to seek re-election
| MORE |
SCHOOL BOARD
Vicki Englich (incumbent): Expected to seek re-election
Kelly Herold (incumbent): Expected to seek re-election
Fred Peterson (incumbent): Expected to seek re-election
HENDERSON, RICHTER ACCOUNTS
DON'T SQUARE
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 11, 2007 -- The arrest of Winona State University basketball player Quincy Henderson early on Jan. 27, a Sunday morning, which led to two charges of domestic violence, are detailed in court documents. This is an account, at times contradictory, of the sequence of what happened that night, as revealed in the court documents and from other sources:
The night before, the Winona State varsity basketball team showed its Northern Sun conference supremacy. The Warriors defeated the University of Mary 95-45, the team's 41st in a conference victory in a row. After the game Henderson, 23, and his girlfriend of about three years, fellow Winona State student Jamie Richter, 22, partied. The court documents are unclear whether they were together.
At 4:45 a.m. Richter called police for help. Arriving at Richter's apartment, offices Doug Cichosz and Murphy found her emotional. Makeup was running down her face because of the tears. Richter said that Henderson had come to her apartment because, she said, he was jealous of her sleeping in a male housemate's bed and thought Richter was cheating on him. The male roommate was not at the apartment at the time, Richter said.
Richter said Henderson began yelling and arguing in the living room. She said he "freaked out" and pushed her in the chest. she fell onto the couch and hit her head on either the wall or the back of the couch, she said. From there, Richter said, she got off the couch and yelled at Henderson to stop hurting her because he was bigger and could easily overpower her. She said that Henderson ignored her and pushed her again. She fell and hit her head again, she said. Richter said she told Henderson she was calling police and he said to go ahead and do it because he would say that she attacked him first and the police would side with him. Richter said that Henderson stormed out and went home.
Cichosz quoted Richter that Henderson had assaulted her four to five times in the past but none had been reported. She said that Henderson has a bad temper and had punched holes in her bedroom wall the previous week, she said.
Cichosz asked Richter if he could feel the back of her head and felt two lumps that were even with her left ear. She winced when he touched them.
Murphy spoke to a second Richter housemate, Winona State student Lays Sheehan. Sheehan said she was downstairs when Henderson came over. She heard yelling and walked upstairs to see Henderson storming out of the apartment. Sheehan said that Henderson had assaulted Richter before. The previous weekend, she said, he put holes in the wall and broke a chair. She also said that in the past, Henderson had thrown a remote control at a wall and broken it.
Before leaving, officer Murphy photographed the scene.
Cichocz and Murphy drove to Henderson's place. They parked out of view of the house and went to the door. Henderson answered and agreed to speak with them. He stepped outside on the sidewalk. Henderson was calm, his appearance was neat and clean. Henderson said he knew why the police were there and offered his side. He said that he went to see Richter and they argued. He said he suspected she was unfaithful and they had a long history of arguments on that topic. He said that Richter had assaulted him in the past.
Henderson said that Richter slapped him across the face. When she attempted to slap him again, Henderson said, he stopped her hand midair. He said that after repeated attempts to slap him, she tried to jump over the coffee table and kick him. At that point, Henderson said, he pushed her away and she fell onto the couch and she hit her head. But, officer Murphy noted in his report nothing on the coffee table at Richter's had been disturbed.
Henderson said Richter came after him again, and he grabbed her and threw her onto the couch again. He said that he knew she hit her head again. He felt bad for that, Henderson said.
Murphy asked Henderson about the hole in the wall at Richter's apartment. Henderson evaded the question, Murphy said. Henderson said that the chair at Richter's broke because Richter pushed him into it. He admitted to throwing the remote and breaking it.
After speaking to Henderson, officers Murphy and Cichosz spoke privately and determined that Henderson was the primary aggressor. They arrested him. | QUINCY HENDERSON From Warrior basketball team files |
Reporter: Chelsey Swanson
Background: Tales of tumultuous relationship
Turkey moves reinforcing scarf ban
ANKARA, Turkey, Feb. 10, 2008 --The Turkish Parliament has voted 400-90 by secret ballot to amend their country's Constitution to forbid Muslim women to wear head scarves at universities. The Constitution bans scarves at universities, but a rising conservative religious movement has pressed for reform. The issue has sparked street riots.SMART TRAFFIC LIGHTS
SPEAKER: INNOVATION
CAN HELP ENERGY-HOG SOUTH
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 10, 2008 -- In the next 20 years an additional 19,000 power plants will be needed in the United States, a Wisconsin environmentalist told a Winona State University audience recently. Chris Schneider, owner of Honda Motorwerks in La Crosse, said more than 50 percent of all household electricity comes from coal and even more in areas of the Southeast where air-conditioning has become a way of life almost year-round. In some Southern states 11,000 kilowatts of energy are used every month per household, he said. Something can be done, he said, showing his film, "Journey into the Green Zone," which showed energy efficient LED traffic lights that are using 90 percent less energy in Birmingham, Ala., and saving the city $220,000 a year.
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In more and more businesses, universities, homes and even the auto industry, everyone is trying to save energy in any way to cut back on pollution and saved thousands of dollars, Schneider said. Today energy-efficient cars are becoming popular with electric and hybrid models leading the way, he said. Honda, he noted, is currently a leader with five models. He said the Civic GX, Honda's most fuel-efficient car, runs on clean compressed natural gas, which reduces carbon monoxide by 70 percent. The 2008 Honda Accord and Civic electric cars get about 80.9 miles per gallon, each tank going about 700 miles with zero emissions.
Reporter: Jason Fitzenberger
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 10, 2008 Security guards cited an individual in Prentiss-Lucas with a drug paraphernalia at 12:55 a.m. |
Frozen River film fest increases turnout
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 10, 2008 -- Almost 900 students, mostly from Winona state, attended at least one event in the four-day he Frozen River Film Festival at the university last month, according to Zach Foster, vice president of the Frozen River Film Festival Club. Foster contrasted the student turnout with 300 last year. Student admittance as free because the Winona State Student Senate, as well as St. Mary's University, helped fund the festival. Foster as pleased also with community participation: "This year there was not only a huge increase in who showed up but for how many films they stayed for."Reporter: Courtney Cosgriff
Background: Film fest opens with frozen thrills
BLUE HERON PERFORMER
LET DOWN AT CLOSING
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 10, 2008 -- Wisconsin singer Colleen Raye, who performed a ago at Saturday at the Blue Heron coffee house, was disappointed to learn the Second Street coffee house is closing. Her performance, her first in Winona, had gone well., "Some of my colleagues told me how I would love the Blue Heron and that the people in Winona are so appreciative of the Arts," Raye said in an interview. "They were right." Owners Larry and Colleen Wolner said, however, that patronage was insufficient to keep going. The Wolner had operated the Blue Heron since 1998 across Huff Street from Winona State University and then on Second Street.
"The arts and music portion of our business was part of our goal to provide a venue to enhance the existing opportunities in the community," Larry Wolner said. "We struggled to get the turnout for all of our events that we felt would indicate we were successful." Even with small turnouts, the Wolners maintained an inviting setting. Said Raye: "From the moment you walked in you could tell the Blue Heron was something special. Every person we encountered made you feel like this was going to be a special experience for all, from the food, service, setting to the exceptional patrons of the establishment."
Never having been in Winona before, Raye said she didn't know what to expect but called it "one of the best experiences." She does shows in theaters and performing arts centers and has appeared across the country over the years. "It is rare to have an intimate setting to share your craft with such an appreciative audience and staff," she said.
Larry Wolner said that "plenty of our customers have expressed their disappointment." is the Blue Heron concept dead? Said Wolner: "The venue still exists and could still serve the community if someone else wanted to take it on." |  LAST MUG Cappucino- maker unplugged |
Reporter: Courtney Cosgriff
Background: Blue Heron caught in downturn
WSU RINGS
LIKELY TO COST MORE
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- The company that supplies Winona State University class rings, Jostens, has signed a pledge with Earthworks Organization to use gold only from environmentally and socially responsible mining. The result? One probably will be higher prices. Karen Krause, manager of the Winona State bookstore, said she would not be surprised if the price of rings rose because of the costs of changing mining methods. The retail for Jostens rings ranges from $392 for an 10-karat ring to $990 for 18 karats.
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Krause said some students still may opt for "dirty gold" from other sources if they want a class ring bad enough. In an inter view Krause compared gold mining and beer brewing. No matter how it is made, it will still be bought and drunk, she said. If someone wants something bad enough, they don't care how it is made, she said. Krause also likened rings to hybrid cars or recyclable paper. It costs more to be environmentally safe and sometimes to be socially responsible and when these prices rise, it is natural to see fewer people purchasing these products, she said.
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In all, 23 ring companies have signed on to Golden Rules Earthworks' campaign. Jostens, among the largest, also supplies athletic rings, nurse pins and the other class jewelry for Winona State.
| MORE |
Earthworks is, a non-profit organization that works to protect communities and the environment, maintains that traditional gold mining threatens the environment, human rights and the community. It does this through poisoning water, polluting air, creating solid waste, threatening natural areas, violating human rights and displacing communities, including those of indigenous people, reports the organization.
Reporter: Chelsey Swanson
Background: Texas drop "dirty gold" rings
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 9, 2008 Security guards checked on a report at 6:50 p.m. that a student banned from the dorms was at Lourdes. Guards were unable to locate the student. Security guards checked on the welfare of a student in the Quad dorm at 12 p.m. Security guards responded to the Quad dorm at 7:33 p.m. regarding a student who had a fight with a roommate and left. The student was located. |
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Warriors overmatch Mustangs
MARSHALL, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- The Winona State University men's basketball team used a game-high 24 points from senior John Smith to streak past Southwest Minnesota State 72-54. For the No. 3-ranked Warriors it was the 25th victory of the year and their 44th consecutive Northern Sun conference victory. The loss dropped the Mustangs into a two-way tie for third place in the Northern Sun with Wayne State, both at 9-6. Smith, only three points shy of becoming Winona State's all-time scoring leader, also led Winona State with six rebounds and four blocks. The Warriors also got help from Jonte Flowers and David Johnson, who scored 12 points apiece. Southwest Minnesota State was led by Andrew Peschong's 11 points and two steals. Winona State closes out the home portion of their NSIC schedule nest weekend when they host Concordia- of St. Paul and Minnesota State-Moorhead.Statistics
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Warriors survive game of turnovers
MARSHALL, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- The Winona State University and Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball teams managed a rare feat, both schools combining for 34 turnovers in a game that only saw 28 field goals. In the end it was the Warriors who staved off mistakes down the stretch, winning their eighth conference game of the year 50-40. Winona State was led by senior wing Amanda Reimer, who contributed 12 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. Southwest Minnesota State got 10 points apiece from posts Liz Grider and Abby Oakland. The Winona State victory created a logjam in the Northern Sun conference, the difference between a third and seventh place conference standing only two games. Winona State is in a three-way tie for fourth with a record of 8-6. The Warriors close out the home portion of their Northern Sun schedule next weekend when they host conference champions Concordia of St. Paul and Minnesota State-Moorhead. MSU-Moorhead is one of the two teams currently tied with Winona State in the conference.Statistics
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Warriors sweep Lewis
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- The Winona State University men's tennis team got two wins from each player in sweeping Lewis 9-0. The Warriors got wins in singles play from No. 1 Gage Davidson, No. 2 Aaron Lentz, No. 3 Zach Williams, No. 4 Stuart Booth, No. 5 Taylor Rens, and No. 6 Tanner Bishop. In doubles play Winona State got wins from Davidson and Lentz, Williams and Booth, and Rens and Bishop.
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Women's tennis gets first win
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- The Winona State University women's tennis team got its first win of the season, topping Lewis 5-4. Winona State got straight set wins from Heather Pierce at No. 1 singles, Holly Peltier at No. 5 singles, and Kaycee Moore at No. 6 singles to pace the victory. Also getting wins for the Warriors were Ericka Richae and Peltier, who won their No. 2 doubles match 8-3.
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Warrior gymnasts take 2nd
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- Winona State University scored one of the highest vault totals in school history while placing second at the four-team Best of Minnesota at the University of Minnesota. The Warriors posted a season-best 186.375. The Minnesota won the meet with a 194.275. At 47.050, Winona State posted the sixth highest vault total in the program's history. Leading the Warriors was Alexandra Nugent, who placed third in the all-around behind a career best 37.725. Winona State got nine career bests and ten season bests overall at the meet.WSU EXECUTIVE:
NOT AT CLOSED SENATE MEETING
| WINONA, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- The vice president for student life and development at Winona State University, Connie Gores, said she did not attend a closed session of the Student Senate on Jan. 23 at which impeachment proceedings against student President Emily Feehan were withdrawn. In response, statements on the Independent campus news site, that Gores participated in the meeting, have been withdrawn. Gores said that she arrived late for the Senate meeting, while senators were in closed session down the hall. Her arrival just ahead of the returning senators led some observers to conclude that Gores was returning from the closed session, but, according to a preliminary review by the Indee, no one confirmed the appearances. Said Gores: "I was not a part of the closed meeting, and I have no idea why anyone would think I was a part of that ." |  CONNIE GORES WSU vice president |
BURKE: SENATE BACK ON TRACK
AS STUDENT VOICE
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- Education Sen. Terri Burke is optimistic that the Winona State University Student Senate, having survived an impeachment crisis against student President Emily Feehan, can get back on track for the rest of spring semester. "As bad as the whole deal was, it served as a good reminder of why we're here" Burke said in an interview. "Students have a voice and opinion." Will the impeachment, triggered by Feehan firing six committee chairs, have had any negative impact on the relationships among senators? No, said Burke, who was among this fired but who has been restored to a $600-a-year job as chair of the Senate diversity committee: "There's no rift between anyone, I think it made us as a group come together."
That the issue was resolved, with the impeachment proceedings called off, is good for the Senate and students in general and for the university, Burke said. "Things are finally looking upward," Burke said. "We're moving in a positive direction, and we're back to serving the students." Reporter: Joe Ellestad Background: Feehan impeachment called off |  TERRI BURKE Education senator |
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SMU drops season finale to Cobbers
MOORHEAD, Minn., Feb. 23, 2008 -- The St. Mary's Universty women's basketball team lost its final game of the season to Concordia of Moorhead 65-40. St. Mary's post Jess Weisbrod just missed a double-double in her final collegiate game. Weisbrod scored 13 points and nine rebounds. Stephanie Ayers chipped in 13 points for the Cardinals. Cobbers guard Jenna Freudenberg led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points. Reserve Ashley King scored seven points and eights boards for Concordia. The loss dropped SMU to 3-19 on the year in theMinnesota Intecollegiate Athletic Conference -- last place.Statistics
| COURT CONVICTONS WEEK ENDING FEB. 9, 2008 IN WINONA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT UNDERAGE BOOZING Krisi L. Chamberlain, 18, Onalaska, Wis., $177. Brian D. Chaput, 20, Mahtomedia, Minn., 30 days and $77. Stephen L. Grala, 18, Cary Ill., $177. Matthew J. Grimley, 20, Frontenac, Minn., $277. Taylor J. Wieck, 19, Lake City, Minn., $277. LOUD PARTYING Anthony M. Bohn, 22, Sring Hill, Fla., $177. Eric M. Dahl, 22, St. Cloud, Minn., $177. Katherine M. Loichinger, 20, 265 E. Fourth (lower), $177. Matthew H. Staehely, 21, Shorewood, Ill., $177.
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Knights beat buzzer, Cardinals
NORTHFIELD, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- Carleton University senior Tommy Drake corralled teammate Zach Johnson's errant shot and scored the game-winning layup at the buzzer to beat St. Mary's 72-71 in men's basketball. Freshman guard Will Wright, whose layup with three seconds left gave St. Mary's a brief one-point lead, led all Cardinals with 28 points. Guard Lukas Holland scored 19 points in the losing effort. Carleton was led by Zach Johnson's game highs of 36 points and nine rebounds. Facing a 65-47 deficit with 7:30 remaining, St. Mary's poured on the three-point attempts, eventually catching the Knights and putting them in a position to win the game. The loss dropped St. Mary's to 1-15 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics Conference, good for 11th place in the conference.Statistics
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Carleton doubles up SMU
NORTHFIELD, Minn., Feb. 9, 2008 -- The St. Mary's University women's basketball team was outscored 2-1 in falling to Carleton 84-41. St. Mary's got a combined 13 points from its starters in the loss. The Knights had four players in double figures. Jess Weisbrod led the Cardinals with eight points. Hannah Oken-Berg paced Carleton with 21. The loss dropped SMU to 3-14 in the conference.Statistics
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 8, 2008 A trouble alarm sounded at Wabasha Hall at 1:46 a.m. An engineer was called. A student was stopped at 1:56 a.m. for tampering with a vehicle in the north Sheehan dorm parking lot. The student had alcohol. Security guards were called to the Quad dorm at 2:43 a.m. to check on a drunken student. The student was OK. Several students s were cited for alcohol outside the Sheehan dorm at 11:10 p.m. A staff member reported being threatened by another staff member on campus at 3:39 p.m. Police were notified. Police reported that stopping a student exiting a campus parking lot for erratic driving on Jan. 23 and was makig an arrest for drunken driving. |
Classroom shooter kills two, then self
BATON ROUGE, La., Feb. 8, 2008 -- A student shot and killed two classmates and then herself in a classroom at a Louisiana Technical College campus. Responding to a 911 call about 8:30 a.m., police found the three already dead. Twenty other people were in the classroom at the time, police said. A motive was not immediately clear. The victims' names were not immediately released. Police said the shooter was 23 years old, the victims were 21 and 26. Classes have been canceled.screaming drunk blocks cops
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 8, 2008 -- A juiced-up Winona State University man jumped in front of a police car, screaming, on Third Street between Center and Lafayette streets about 1 a.m. The man, 22, was cited for disorderly conduct.Profs' leaders lack unanimity on contact
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 8, 2008 -- The directors of the statewide university faculty union split on whether to recommend that member profs accept the tentative contract negotiated with the state system chancellor. The vote was 15 in favor, with four members of the board making no recommendation to members, said Winona State faculty leader Bruce Svingen. One board member voted against the deal and one abstained, said Svingen. He has scheduled two informational sessions on Monday, Feb. 18, to brief Winona State faculty on the tentative agreement -- ahead of a statewide vote on whether to ratify.| MORE |
Terms of the tentative settlement have not been disclosed. Said Svingen: "There are significant changes from our previous contracts that will affect our terms and conditions of employment far into the future. As you can see by the vote of the Board of Directors there was not unanimity in their assessment of the tentative contract. You, our members, will make the final decision on ratification.
Background: Negotiators settle on tentative contract
This a rape culture? WSU discussion set
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 8, 2008 -- The Books for Feminists club at Winona State University begins discussions next week on its spring selection "Transforming a Rape Culture," edited by Emilie Buchwald, Pamela Fletcher and Martha Roth. Fletcher will speak on campus next month.Date: Thursday, Feb. 14
Time: 5 p.m.
Place: Minne 105
Cost: Free
Contact: April Herndon at 507-457-5443
Cops cites drunken student at lourdes
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 8, 2008 -- A Winona State University student was cited for underage drinking after polce were summoned to the Lourdes dorm at 1:41 a.m.Medical alert: Managing flu symptoms
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 8, 2008 -- An alert about influenza was issued to Winona State people by the university's health services director. Diane Palm said the peak of the flu season appears imminent. To manage symptoms, Palm referred queries to the Centers for Disease Control. "In some cases medication can be prescribed to prevent or treat symptoms if the symptoms have developed in the past 48 hours," Palm said, Local cost of medications runs about $95, she said. Some insurance covers, some doesn't, she saidExpert: SWAT challenge is "getting in"
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 8, 2008 -- The challenge in most crisis situations involving police SWAT team is "how do we get in?" said Winona State University criminal justice prof Helen Dachelet. That first step, she said, is most crucial to any task. Asked to comment on the death of SWAT officer Randy Simmons in Los Angeles, Dachelet that Los Angeles SWAT members are mobilized in an emergency from a variety of units within a police department. Each team member person has been screened thoroughly and interviewed before for their assigned tasks, she said. "It takes a very special person to volunteer," she said. "The risks are always in the back of their mind. It's their love. It's what they want to do."| MORE |
A thorough internal investigation is conducted when death does occur, addressing what happened and how to prevent it from happening in the future, Dachelet said. Rigorous new training can be expected to better prepare each individual for the possibility of it happening again.
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SWAT forces are used in "higher risk" situations, when there is a need for greater efficiency and a higher level of danger than the police can handle with their everyday resources, Dachelet said. With special devices, protective gear and warrants to search, the SWAT officers are more inclined to force their way into areas of danger, she said. Although dangerous work, Dachelet said officers are rarely killed.
Reporter: Allison Schuebel
Background: SWAT officer killed in police raid
Prof: Death notification process varies
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 8, 2008 -- A criminal justice prof at Winona State University, James Parlow, called the death of Los Angeles SWAT officer Randy Simmons "a tragedy for his family and friends that knew him." Parlow, new to Winona State, formerly was a death notification officer for the La Crosse, Wis., police department. He also was a critical incident stress team member for Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in a Crosse. "The protocol for the death of an officer varies from department to department, and I would imagine that Los Angeles, being as big as it is. would have counseling throughout the departments for the police members that knew Simmons," Parlow said.| MORE |
Death notifications are always a major impact for families and friends. he said There will probably be an investigation conducted by the Los Angeles police, he said. "If something like this happened in Winona, it would be a major impact to our community, and it's such a sad incident to hear," Parlow said.
Reporter: Courtney Rappa
Background: SWAT officer killed in police raid
Prof: Risk associated with police work
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 8, 2008 -- A criminal justice prof at Winona State University, responding to the death of a Los Angeles police officer in a raid on a house where hostages were held, said it takes "a unique individual" for police work. Mark Norman, chair of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department, said in an interview that risk exists everywhere -- whether it be a large city like Los Angeles or a smaller city like Winona. The city of Winona, he noted, has an emergency response team just as larger cities do. Simmons was on the Los Angeles SWAT team. "If you choose as an officer to be a part of the SWAT team you are knowingly putting yourself in higher risk situations," Norman said. SWAT teams focus mostly on a tactical situations that require efficient responses.| MORE |
Asked how common it is for an officer to be killed on duty, Norman said deaths fall into two categories: felonious and accidental. Accidents are more common, he said. On average 40 to 60 felonious police deaths occur a year in the United States, he said. Officers, he said. are trained in tactics and policies -- and they rely on the brotherhood that exists within law enforcement. The mental health and well-being of officers has gained more emphasis over the last 20 years, Norman said. Officers are now able to get access to in-service counseling, and the force is more aware of the needs that are associated with the stress of the job, he said.
Reporter: Jessica Reinhart
Background: SWAT officer killed in police raid
Jury: Cop innocent in student death
MUNCIE, Ind., Feb. 8, 2008 -- A federal jury has exonerated a former Ball State University police officer of civil liability in the 2003 shooting death of a student who charged at him during a disturbance. Officer Robert Duplain earlier already cleared of criminal wrongdoing , but the family of the student sued him and the Ball State police chief for $100 million. In the trial Duplain said he was investigating a complaint about somebody banging on the back door of a house near campus about 3 a.m., when the student, Michael McKinney, 21, charged at him. He shot McKinney four times. McKinney was unarmed. McKinney, his blood-alcohol level four times the legal driving limit, apparently had confused the house for his friend's.Within a day, cops recover laptop
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 7, 2008 -- Acting on numerous descriptions of a woman who has hastening her way out of the downtown public library, police found her to ask about a laptop stolen Tuesday from another library patron. Confronted the next day at her apartment, the woman confessed. The woman, 26, faces a theft charge. Now, Alexander John Stevens has his Apple iBook back. Stevens had told police that had plugged the laptop in at a desk at 6:45 p.m. and left it unattended for a short while. When he came back the laptop was missing and a woman was leaving the area in haste, he said. Several witnesses described the woman in fairly accurate detail, which led police to her.Reporter: Jacqui Boyum
Warriors ink 22 football players for fall
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 7, 2008 -- Winona State University announced the signing of 22 high school football players for next season on national signing day. The incoming class will consist of 13 defensive players, eight offensive players, and a kicker. Linemen on both sides of the ball were the Warriors biggest target, as WSU signed five defensive lineman and four offensive lineman. Of the 22 high school athletes who chose to don royal purple, 12 hail from Minnesota, five are from Wisconsin, four are from Illinois, and one is from Iowa.| MORE |
The Warriors also announced the arrival of five transfers who hope to play during the 2008 season. Many NSIC followers say Winona State's transfer commitments helped boost WSU's incoming class to the top of the conference.
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The signees, with height, weight, position and school:
MINNESOTA
Evan Aber, 6-2, 175, quarterback, Bloomington (Kennedy)
Alex Coulter, 6-2, 250, outside linebacker, St. Cloud (Tech)
Chris Ewanika, 6-3, 230, linebacker, Elko (Lakeville South)
Pat Falk, 6-5, 285, offensive line, La Crescent
Lewis Johnson, 6-2, 245, offensive line, tight end, defensive line, St. Paul (Como Park)
Derek Kubicek, 5-11, 170, running back, La Crescent, MN
Otis Norris, 5-8, 160, defensive back, Libera (St. Cloud Tech)
Chris Norgaard, 5-10, 170, defensive back, Spring Lake Park
Tommy Platek, 6-3, 245, defensive end Inver Grove Heights (Simley)
Nick Power, 6-1, 250, eefensive line, Minnetonka (Hopkins)
Brady Roden, 6-3, 200, defensive end, Foley
Thomas Vanasek, 6-1, 190, outside linebacker, Lakeville (North)
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WISCONSIN
Greg Kopacz, 6-0, 190, defensive back, Sheldon (Flambeau)
Troy Rolli, 6-2, 280, offensive line, Madison (East)
William Sherard, 6-3, 235, defensive end, Brown Deer, WI
Justin Waldvogel, 6-3, 265, offensive line, Defensive Line, Galesville (G-E-T)
Ryan Zaporski, 6-3, 200, defensive end, Jackson (Kettle Moraine)
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IOWA
Andrew Tindall, 5-11, 195, defensive back, Cedar Falls
| MORE |
ILLINOIS
Cullen Fahey, 6-2, 175, kicker=punter, Crystal Lake, (Prairie Ridge)
Jim Montgomery, 6-4, 225, tight end, Carol Stream (Glenbard North)
Tim Ohlrich, 6-0, 180, wide receiver, St. Charles (North)
Ryan Williams, 5-11, 175, defensive back, Paddock Lake (Carmel Catholic)
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TRANSFERS
Curt Dewberry, sophomore, 5-8, 180, running back, East Ridge (Orlando, Fla._
Michael Kasten, senior, 6-2, 210, wide receiver, (Plainview/Elgin-Millville (Plainview, Minn.)
Shaun Leonard, sophomore, 6-1, 195, cornerback, Catholic Memorial (Boston, Mass.)
Chris Petersen, junior, 6-4, 290, defensive tackle, Antioch (Ilinois)
Greg Preston, junior, 6-3, 210, quarterback, Dixie Heights (Taylor Mills, Ky.)
SWAT OFFICER KILLED
IN POLICE RAID
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Feb. 7, 2008 -- A former college football player with Winona connections, Randy Simmons, part of the elite Los Angeles police SWAT team, was shot and mortally wounded while rushing a house to end a stand-off with a man barricaded inside. Simmons, 51, took the bullet in the neck. He died a half hour later at to Northridge Medical Center. A fellow SWAT officer also was shot but was expected to recover. Inside the house, which an erupted in flames after an 11-hour stand-off, police found four bodies. The stand-off was in the middle-income northwest Winnetka neighborhood of Los Angeles
In college, Simmons majored in sociology. That was at Wasington State University, contrary to an early report that he had attended Winona State.
The Winona Daily News quoted Simmons' sister, Valjean Adams, who lives in Winona, that he regarded police work as a "dream job." After being graduated from Washington State, he was a first-round of the National Football League draft for the San Francisco 49ers. Adams said that her brother decided to hold out and try to make the Dallas Cowboys team as a walk-on, but the call never came. he then decided on a police career law enforcement.
Adams called her brother spiritual. "As believers, we believe our spiritual reward for living for the Lord is eternal life," she said. "We know we'll see him again." Simmons also ran a street ministry and preached to children to get them out of gangs, Adams said. He was an ordained minister at the Glory Ministry in suburban Carson. His nickname was "the Deacon." His soster said that Simmons worked hard for the kids and dressed as Santa Claus at the holidays. Simmons coordinated Christmas toy drives at Los Angeles hospitals for the children of needy families. On the SWAT tean Simmons served as a mentor and peer leader. He was the most tenured member of the police department's crisis negotiation team.
Said Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell: "If I had a kid and he told me he wanted to be an officer, I would have told him this is someone you should aspire to be like," he said. McDonnell called Simmons "the consummate SWAT officer."
Simmons had been with the Los Angeles police for 27 years. Survivors include his wife, two teen-age children, parents, and three sisters.
Simmons' death was the first in the 27-year history of the Los Angeles SWAT unit, said McDonnell, assistant police chief. The SWAT team, shirt for Special Weapons and Tactics Unit,was created in the 1960s to deal with especially dangerous situations. The unit handles about 100 barricaded suspect incidents and 120 high-risk warrants each year.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said: "It's a sad day in the city of Los Angeles to have lost an officer." The mayor ordered city flags to be lowered to half-staff.
The incident began about 9 p.m., Wednesday, when Edwin Rivera called police to say that he had killed three family members. The SWAT team was mobilized when police concluded that Rivera might be holding hostages. About 200 officers surrounded the house and blocked off several surrounding blocks. This sequence of what followed has been assembled from witnesses and other sources: Just after 5 a.m., police threw a tear-gas canister into the house. Rivera's stepmother ran out the back door. A fire erupted, and, police said, Rivera ducked between mattresses. Simmons and fellow SWAT team member james Veenstra rushed through the front door and exchanged sots with Rivera. Wounded, both officers were pulled from the house by fellow officers.
Police tried to contact Rivera and persuade him to surrender. Apparently overcome by smoke and flames, Rivera the came out. He was shot in the head by a police sniper. |  RANDY SIMMONS Washington State sociology grad Los Angeles Police Department photo |
UCLA prof's house firebombed
LOS ANGELES, Calif., Feb. 6, 2008 -- Animal-rights extremists are suspected un the firebombing of a University of California at Los Angeles professor's house. The bomb was let at the front door in an attack before dawn. No one was hurt, but the door was damaged. An unerground group calling itself the underground Animal Liberation Front. The attack was the second attack in four months against Edythe London, a professor of psychiatry and of molecular and medical pharmacology who uses primates in her research on nicotine addiction.Background: Animal-rights vandalize escalate attacks
WITHOUT CALIFORNIA,
ROMNEY DECIDES TO QUIT
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2008 -- Wealthy investment banker Mitt Romney, whop poured $39 million of his money into a presidential bid, withdrew from the national political stage. The former Massachusetts governor had lost the critical Republican primary in California earlier in the week and, his Mormonism a negative among many right-wing Christians, had hurt him in Southern states where Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee did well. Romney's withdrawal reduced field for the GOP nomination to front-runner John McCain, an Arizona senator; Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor; and Ron Paul, a Texas congressman.
Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
WEBMASTER:
NEW FUNCTIONALITY
ON SENATE SITE
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 6, 2008 -- The webmaster for the Winona State University Student Senate said a revamped Senate web site has been launched. Brian Nielsen called the site more user-friendly. Nielsen called the former site crowded and hard to read. Finding information was difficult, he said. "I simply added drop-down menus to each category of the website and this will add a lot more space," he said. One drop-down menu, for example, is "About Us" on top of the website. A click brings up links to Members, Mission Statement and other subjects.
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A new addition, Nielsen said, is a new page with upcoming events and news about the Student Senate and the Winona area. Also new, he said, is a Google calendar with dates for Student Senate meetings and activities, meeting minutes and a photo gallery which rotates through cycles of pictures.
| MORE |
Nielsen detailed features of the site at a Student Senate meeting, two weeks after junior Justin Hiniker rose from the Senate gallery and, in proposing the impeachment of student President Emily Feehan, criticized the Senate web site as poorly maintained.
| MORE |
Navigating senators through the site, Nielsen emphasized members the new look and features. On site are e documents, including the university's student handbook and a new calendar of events.
| MORE |
Nielsen conceded that the site had not been maintained as well. He said that he had discussed improving the site with former student president Jared Stene before Stene died in November. Nielson promised to be "more than willing to fix things" and that users should feel free to send him an email regarding problems with the site.
Reporter: Tracy Mueller and Courtney Rappa
SENATORS FAVOR SHIELDING
BOOZERS FROM MOM, DAD
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 6, 2008 -- The Winona State Student Senate voted to favor an alcohol policy that would prohibit the university from contacting the parents of under-age 21 students who get caught consuming alcohol. Under the proposed policy, a student prefers that parents be notified would have to sign a waiver allowing the university to do so. Senior class Sen. David Obray said the system would preserve students' right to privacy. Exceptions would be medical emergencies, such as hospitalization.
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In the wake of six alcohol-related college deaths in Minnesota in the past year, the Legislature is considering a proposal for mandatory notification of parents. The proposal, sponsored by Reps. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, and Paul Marquardt, D-Dilworth, would create an alcohol exception to privacy protections in state law.
Reporter: Michael Ahlness
Background: Collegiate boozing in Legislature's sights
WRITER CALLS FOR COURTESY,
RESPECT, RESTRAINT
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 6, 2008 -- A Winona State senior criticized university leaders for handling handled several student deaths in recent months, including that of student President Jared Stene. In a letter to the Winonan student newspaper, Andrew Hamilton, said that the publicity of Jared Stene's death in particular was excessive, blown way out of proportion, and thus extremely disrespectful of other student deaths. The death of sophomore Lee Wells in November and Jenna Foellmi were afforded brief attention, he said.
Hamilton noted that students were barraged with notifications and follow-ups on Stene's death and memorial services. Hamilton expressed upset that buses were being made available for transportation to Stene's funeral. A funeral is not a "sporting event," he said. "It is not a field trip," Nobody proposed buses to the Wells or Foellmi funerals. Hamilton questioned where the money was coming from for the buses. If from the Student Senate's budget, he said, "they need to seriously reconsider what their job is and who they serve."
Hamilton clarified that he was not meaning to rip on Stene but on how the situation was handled by university leaders, mentioning student President Emily Feehan specifically, and how deaths have been handled in the past. Notifications to campus people should be made out of courtesy without making a production of the death, he said.
Hamilton said he was shocked at the poor grammar of one e-mail to students about Stene's hospitalization. He called it "arrogant" for Feehan to decide to "set the rumors and stories straight" and addressing students in that tone was inappropriate." Reporter: Shannon Burgess |  ANDREW HAMILTON Calls for less arrogance, more courtesy And who was paying for the buses anyway? |
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CANDIDATE STATEMENT JONATHAN JACOB AT-LARGE SENATE CANDIDATE
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Background: WSU student ballot takes shape
| WSU SECURITY REPORT FEB. 6, 2008 At 2:30 a.m. an ambulance crew took a student with personal problems from the Maria dorm to the hospital. |
MUST LIVE WITH DISPARAGING PRESS COMMENTS>
LAWSUIT DISMISSED
AGAINST ST. CLOUD STATE PAPER
ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 6, 2008 -- A state appeals court upheld the dismissal of a libel suit brought by a former St. Cloud State University dean against the campus newspaper. The newspaper had quoted a student that alleged she had bee unfairly treated in grading and that the dean, Richard D. Lewis, used anti-Semitic and racist language, but a trial had concluded that as a public figure Lewis had no legal recourse. The Minnesota Court of Appeals agreed.
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The article, which appeared in October 2003 in the Chronicle, included several statements attributed to Robbi Hoy that Lewis considered defamatory. One was a Hoy claim that Lewis "mistreated" her by changing a grade from an A to an incomplete. Also, Hoy accused Lewis of anti-Semitism and racial slurs. A month later the Chronicle retracted parts of the article that implied Lewis was anti-Semitic: "There is no factual basis for these assertions. The newspaper regrets the error and apologizes to Dr. Lewis."
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Lewis originally sued the university and the state colleges system. A district court ruled that the university was not liable because students, not school officials, controlled the Chronicle's content. The state Court of Appeals concurred. The Minnesota Supreme Court declined to hear Lewis's appeal. Lewis then filed suit against the Chronicle itself. The second suit was dismissed by the appeals court on grounds that a dean at a public university is a public figure. As such, Lewis would need to prove that the article was published with reckless disregard for whether it was true. That burden, said the court, was not met.
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Cardinals men drop 10th straight
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 6, 2008 -- The St. Mary's University men's basketball team lost its season-high 10th consecutive game, falling to Gustavus Adolphus 93-60. The Cardinals were led by freshman guards Lukas Holland with 1 points and Will Wright with 13 points. Senior wing Trevor Wittwer scored 17 points for the Gusties and dished 5 assists in 23 minutes of play. Guard Kane Sivesind scored 13 points for the Gusties. The loss dropped St. Mary's to 1-14 in conference play.Statistics
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Gusties edge SMU women
ST. PETER, Minn., Feb. 6, 2008 -- Senior Jess Weisbrod's 24 points and 12 rebounds were not enough. Gustavus Adolphus University beat St. Mary's 58-55 in women's basketball. Jess Vadnais paced the Gusties with 19 points . Also contributing to the Cardinals was Jess Miller, who added 15 points and 6 rebounds. The double-double was Weisbrod's seventh on the season and 16th of her career. The loss moved the Cardinals to 3-13 in the MIAC.WILL SHE SPUTTER? GAG?
COME SEE
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 5, 2008 -- Whether Winona State University's president has iron taste buds may be tested soon. Judith Ramaley, along with the university's men's basketball coach, Mike Leaf, have accepted invitations to judge Winona National Bank's 14th annual chili cook-off. Local restaurants are brewing the beans and peppers and who knows what else. Proceeds go for school supplies for children. Entertainment is provided throughout the event. Winona State men's basketball players will autograph photos.
Date: Thursday, Feb. 14
Time: Judging at 10:30 a.m.
Place: Winona Middle School, 1570 Homer Road
Cost: $6 all-you can eat, $1 hot dogs, chips, soda
Contact: Judy Richter at 507-457-6213
WSU STUDENT SENATE WHAT'S SO TERRIBLY WRONG AT THE CLUBHOUSE? Of 24 seats on the Winona State University Student Senate, nine are vacant. That's 37.5 percent. This is more than the apathy that senators rail against but do nothing to address. Something is major-league wrong at a university with an enrollment of 8,000 when the student governance apparatus, supposedly the voice of students, cannot stir enough interest, let along enthusiasm, to fill a ballot.
Our explanation: The Senate has disconnected itself from students in general. Part is a clubhouse mentality. Senators rarely venture beyond their comfy quarters in Kryzsko Commons. They enjoy each others' company too much and mingle too little with the hoi polloi. Then there's the outright arrogance symbolized in recent months with, metaphorically, smoke-filled backrooms and secret closed meetings.
Some senators are more guilty than others of the insular, club-house mentality that, to most students, has rendered the Senate out of touch.
In all this we would like to be wrong. But now, two days into the filing period for nine Senate vacancies in upcoming elections, plus the vacant vice presidency, nobody has filed. |
Background: Ballot largely empty
Background: Comment: Time for post-Hofland vision
TRY TO STAY WITHIN 300 WORDS |
OBAMA WINS WINONA;
MCCAIN, ROMNEY IN TIE
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 5, 2008 -- In a record turnout, Democrats gave Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 71 percent of their vote in Winona County party caucuses. Of roughly 1,700 votes, Obama received 1,252 to New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's 471. The pattern coincided with a preference for Obama in many college towns in caucuses and primaries around the nation.
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Among Winona Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney tied for with 128 votes each. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee received 108, Texas Rep. Ron Paul 104.
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At the Democratic caucus in Winona, at Southeast Tech, so many college students showed up that that people were shuffled from a classroom into a lecture hall. Republicans, caucusing at the middle school, had to go searching for more chairs so everyone could have a seat.
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Statewide, Obama beat Clinton 67 to 32 percent. It appeared that Obama will carry 49 Minnesota delegates into the national Democratic convention, Clinton 24. Minnesota Republicans chose Romney with 42 percent. McCain trailed with 22 percent, Huckabee 20 percent. Republican rules in Minnesota are winner-take-all, which gives Romney all 36 state delegates to the national GOP convention.
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In all, 24 states had presidential candidates on primary and caucus ballots Tuesday. The results gave Clinton a lead over Obama with delegates, 825 to 732. For the Democratic nomination, 2,025 delegates are needed. Among Republicans, McCain moved to 508, Romney 259, Huckabee 166. The Republican nomination requires 1,091.
Background: Campaigns that campus people are watching
BLUE HERON CLOSES;
CAUGHT IN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
WINONA, Minn., Feb, 5, 2008 -- The Blue Heron coffee house, once a campus neighborhood fixture in the Winona State University neighborhood, is going out of business after a three-year run near downtown on Second Street. Owners Colleen and Larry Wolner, who called themselves the "chief cooks," blamed the weak economy that has hurt sales. "We find it necessary to close," they said in a message to patrons, "We have no financial or emotional reserves to attempt to recover in this current market and economy. This has been a terrific struggle for us."
The Blue Heron featured locally grown seasonal and organic dishes prepared from scratch. Espresso, teas, soups, salads, sandwiches and pastries were a favorite among people seeking vegetarian and vegan options. It also was a gathering place for artists and musicians and traveling politicians. "We still believe in what Blue Heron Coffeehouse is about," the Wolners said, "but we feel this course of action is our only way to maintain financial and personal health."
The Blue Heron started in 1998 in the former McVeys ice cream shop at Huff and King streets. The space was rented from a Lutheran group, which shared the space but later decided to expand. The Wolners moved to 162 W. Second St. After the Lutherans remodeled their Huff and King building, a smaller coffee house with a more limited menu, Mugby Junction, moved in. | LAST MUG No more espresso to pour |
University offers $4 million in fraud case
CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb. 5, 2008 -- Charleston Southern University agreed to pay $4 million in a lawsuit over a former econ prof who has admitted swindling people through investment schemes. The settlement is intended to shield the university from further legal action resulting from its association with Albert E. Parish Jr. The university itself lost $8.4 million, which had been invested with Parish. A federal investigation concluded that more than $80 million had been lost to other investors."FOUR OR THREE, OCCIFER"
WHEN ROTNEY O'SHEA
HIT THE CURB
WINONA, Minn., Feb. 5, 2008 -- Only three or four, Rotney O'Shea told the cop when, red lights flashing, he was pulled over and asked how much he had been drinking. Actually, according to the police report, O'Shea's words were syntax-blurred: "Four or three." A curbside breath analysis showed otherwise for the veteran Winona State University student senator. Alcohol comprised 0.248 percent of the blood coursing through O'Shea's veins that April night -- triple the legal limit to be behind the wheel.
O'Shea, 26, who has a police record of alcohol incidents going back to his freshman year, faced possible jail this time. On Jan. 11, 10 months after the incident, Judge Margaret Johnson fined O'Shea $477 and gave him a choice -- 30 days in jail or one year probation. A stop sign violation charge was dismissed.
Here, according to documents filed with the court, this is what happened: After a Saturday night of boozing, O'Shea was driving west bound on Fourth Street. He drove through a stop sign at the Huff and Fourth streets. He then turned southbound on Huff, kind of. Swinging his car onto Fifth, he missed the right-of-way and struck the west end of the curb. Officer Doug Cichosz, who witnessed the wide turn, pulled O'Shea over at 1:43 a.m.
Asked if he knew why he had been pulled over, O'Shea mumbled something that Cichosz couldn't understand. Sure that O'Shea was intoxicated, Cichosz asked O'Shea how many drinks he had. O'Shea replied: "Four or three." His odd syntax seemed a tip to a possible a synapse dysfunction, something not functioning quite right with the neurotransmission function in O'Shea's brain. |