Communication studies professor Michael Kramer, who teaches a a course in political communication, is interviewed about the health care debate among citizens, and how much of the discord is based on misinformation from advocacy groups on both sides of the issue.
Agnes Wright '11 dreamed of singing on the stage of Carnegie Hall. This past Valentine’s Day weekend, that dream came true.Wright, 20, is a member of the Saint Mary’s Women’s Choir. Her director, music professor Nancy Menk, was invited to conduct at Carnegie Hall and she hand-picked a group of choirs to be led by her in the famed locale.
Members of the Notre Dame/ Saint Mary’s College Irish Dance Club danced on morning news shows on St. Patrick’s Day. They also showed off the trophy they won at the Ceili Club Championship at the 2010 All-Ireland Dancing Championships held in Killarney, Ireland last month. The team is made up of five Saint Mary's and three Notre Dame students, but the club is about 50 students strong. Coach Deirdre Robinett '10 is interviewed.
Political science professor Sean Savage is interviewed for a story about mounting pressure on the Indiana Congressional delegation as the health care vote nears.
The Department of Communication Studies, Dance and Theatre at Saint Mary’s College welcomed actress Glenn Close to campus on March 15 as this year’s Margaret Hill Endowed Visiting Artist. Close, one of the most recognizable and award-honored film, theatrical, and television actresses of our time, conducted a master class with College theatre students in the morning and held a public lecture in the evening.
The South Bend Chamber Singers (conducted by music professor Nancy Menk) present Jazz Sings! with Jim Pickley Trio on Saturday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.evening in the Noble Family Dining Hall. Enjoy an evening in a jazz club setting complete with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
Accounting professor John Cergnul is interviewed about how energy-efficient improvements to homes may qualify as tax credits. This could mean adding insulation, upgrading a heating or air-conditioning system, or even adding windows. It’s important to check with the vendor to know whether the items you’re purchasing will qualify for tax credits.
Saint Mary's College students who volunteer at Lincoln Primary Center through the College Academy of Tutoring (CAT) program and members of the Saint Mary’s basketball team helped the school put on “Read Across America Night” on Wednesday evening. The Cat in the Hat (Anabel Castaneda '12) read to the kids. Also included in the story are Maeva Alexander '13 and Amanda Stukel '13. Daisy (Cruz) Navarrette '05, who works at Lincoln, was also interviewed for the story.
Marine biologist Sylvia Earle will deliver the May 15 commencement address at Saint Mary's College and receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree. The college also will recognize Lois Lowry, an author of young adult fiction books, with an honorary doctor of humanities degree.
The Class of 2010 has two valedictorians: Audrey Marrah '10, a biology major, and Carly O’Connor '10, an English literature major. The students not only share the same grade point average (4.0), they share the same hometown (Kokomo, Ind.), the same home parish (St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church) and graduated from the same high school (Northwestern High School). If that’s not enough in common, they also call each other best friend.
This story is about Vietnam vets and how, years ago, they did not return home to a hero's welcome. This contrasts the sentiments veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan encounter today when they come home. Saint Mary's College American history professor Bill Svelmoe is one of the experts interviewed for the piece.
The math, chemistry, biology and nursing departments put on Hypatia Day for area 7th and 8th grade girls. The event, unique to Saint Mary's, is named for the first known female mathematician and encourages girls to stick with math and science studies. Kathryn Danko '10 is interviewed.
In recent months U.S. bishops decided that it is not permissible to remove a feeding tube from someone who is unconscious but not dying, except in a few circumstances. Religious studies professor Joseph Incandela, whose expertise includes Catholic social teaching, Catholic Church matters, and bioethics, is interviewed about the new directive.
Saint Mary's College marks Black History Month with the screening of the documentary “The Souls of Black Girls” and a question-and-answer opportunity with the producer, Daphne S. Valerius. The film examines the relationship between the historical and existing media images of women of color and it's potential effect on black girls/women. Valerius and Marissa Murphy ’10, with the student club that invited her to campus, were interviewed the morning of the event.
Director of Special Events Richard Baxter talks about upcoming events at the College, which are open to the public. The first was "Mad Science Productions presents CSI: LIVE!" which takes place on Friday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. The second is “An Evening with Glenn Close” on March 15 at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, click here.
Senator Evan Bayh (D) announced Monday that he will not run for a third term, a move that stunned Democrats and Republicans alike. The news came just hours before prospective candidates for Indiana's open U.S. Senate seat must turn in signatures to get on the ballot. Political science professor Sean Savage weighs in on the Democratic scramble to find a viable candidate by noon Tuesday.
Education and the empowerment of women are the transformative solutions to gender inequality worldwide, according to Nicholas Kristof, New York Times columnist and author of the best-selling book, "Half the Sky." Kristof spoke at Saint Mary's College Monday night and encouraged students and community members to take action against what he called the shameful injustices inflicted on women worldwide.
In a campus-wide effort to provide food options for the less fortunate, the Saint Mary’s College’s Office for Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE) will be collecting boxed and canned food for a local project called Neighbors in Need this month. Saint Mary’s was invited to participate by local news station WSBT-TV, alongside different agencies that plan to help with the drive. “The food being collected is for the Northern Indiana Food Bank,” Carrie Call, director OCSE, said.
On the Monday after the Super Bowl, there was as much talk about the ads as there was about the big game itself. Saint Mary’s College marketing professor William Shannon says there's no better way to learn about advertising than analyzing its biggest day. “This is real world, hands on. We combine the theory with the reality,” Shannon said. WNDU also spoke with students Lillian Reeves '10, Mary Kate Boyce '11.
Saint Mary's student athletes held its annual Valentine's Day party for children and families from Memorial Hospital's oncology and pediatrics units. Basketball, finger-painting, and other arts and crafts were big winners during the festivities. Athlete and student Michelle Marshall '12 was interviewed for the story.
It's been more than a decade since Dan Coats last took a vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate. But, according to the GOP, the former Indiana Senator appears set to make a run at taking back the seat he gave up 12 years ago. Saint Mary's College political science professor Sean Savage comments on Coat's strengths as a candidate.
Carol Ann Mooney, Saint Mary's College president and chair of the Independent Colleges of Indiana Board of Directors, wrote an opinion piece that appeared in the Indianapolis Star. She writes about how in a year of economic turmoil when many predicted that students and families would turn away from independent colleges to attend lower-cost public ones, Saint Mary's College was not alone among the 31 members of the Independent Colleges of Indiana in posting record or near-record enrollments.
Megan Ryan '09 and Katie Yohe '09 are doing post-graduate work in the town of Kasoa, Ghana, in West Africa. Since August, Ryan and Yohe have been teaching and assisting at Our Lady of Holy Cross School, an educational ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Ryan says there are 23 students in the second-grade class she and Yohe co-teach and about 150 children in the entire school.
Saint Mary's student Randa al-Assadi '12, who is part of the program the Iraqi Student Project, is interviewed by WNDU about her homeland of Iraq and about an Iraqi cultural event tonight from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in St. Joseph Chapel on the campus of Holy Cross College. Randa will read poetry and two Iraqi Student Project students at Holy Cross College will perform music and read poetry.
Communication studies professor Michael Kramer, who teaches a course in political communication, said President Obama came through as far as his presentation of ideas. For one, he reminded citizens that an enormous deficit and the poor economy existed before he entered office. But Obama has been criticized for talking in vague terms. Did he do better last night? Kramer said State of the Unions are known for being short on details. Kramer also noted that the President has brought back his "campaign voice," delivering messages like "I will not quit."
Political science professor Patrick Pierce spoke with Fox 28 about President Obama's address. He commented on how the President's approval ratings may go up because he addressed jobs in his speech. He said "jobs" is part of why a Republican won Senator Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts last week. Pierce noted that Obama brought up health care in the speech, but not until half-way through the speech and the president didn't dwell on it long.
Political science professor Sean Savage talked about the President's Centrist partisan tone and his return to his campaign theme of hope. Savage noted that Obama smiled during the speech and that we haven't seen that a lot lately. The President also used self-deprecating humor, which Savage noted was "Reaganesque." Savage saw other similarities to President Reagan's style Wednesday night with references to patriotism and pride getting Americans through the hard times.
Saint Mary's and Notre Dame students came together for a concert to benefit Haiti Wednesday night.It was standing room only in La Fortune Hall at Notre Dame. People were asked to donate $4 to get in. The money goes to Friends of the Orphans, a charity that is helping the orphans in Haiti. They raised an estimated $2,000. Organizers include Tricia Daly '10 and her brother Michael Daly ND '11.
Perhaps the sign of a true die-hard fan is when the school you root for makes a bobblehead doll in your honor. George Efta and his wife, Saint Mary’s College President Carol Ann Mooney, saw their bobblehead likenesses unveiled before an alumnae basketball game in February. Efta can be seen at many of the Belles’ games, whether it is soccer, basketball, volleyball or softball. Read the rest of the story by clicking above and downloading the article.
On the one-year anniversary of President Obama's inauguration, political professor Patrick Pierce offers his insights on Obama's first year in office. The President gave himself a B+, while some analysts have given him an "incomplete." Professor Pierce gave him a B, while acknowledging that Obama has work to do both domestically and internationally.
Political science professor Sean Savage, a native of Massachusetts, comments on the outcome of the Senate race there and how a Republican won a seat held by a Democrat for over 50 years. What impact might this have on passage of the health care bill? What are the chances that the vote will be taken before the Senator-elect Scott Brown is seated.
Members of Saint Mary’s College Right to Life pose for a photo near a clinic in South Bend after praying the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. They gather there twice a week to pray for an end to abortion.
As the extent of the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti continues to unfold, some local families are still waiting to hear about their loved ones. Slandah Dieujuste, director of residence life and community standards, and her husband have more than 50 relatives living near the quake's epicenter. (UPDATE: A few days after this report, Slandah learned that one relative is confirmed dead, one was still missing and four are presumed dead because their house fell down while they were inside. She and her husband received confirmation that everyone else is OK.)
Slandah Dieujuste, director of residence life and community standards, and her husband have more than 50 relatives living in the Port-au-Prince area, where an earthquake hit Tuesday. She spoke to the South Bend Tribune in hopes of sparking interest in relief donations. If you are interested in learning more about reputable charties that are helping Haiti, contact the College's Office for Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE).
Those who used credit cards to make Christmas wishes come true have something other than presents to open now. They're opening their mail boxes and find bills. So how should holiday spenders go about paying off that debt? WNDU-TV interviews accounting professor Susan Vance about tips for paying off credit cards.
Democratic senators Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Byron L. Dorgan of North Dakota announced they would not seek re-election this year. The announcements reveal the fragility of the Democrats’ 60-vote Senate majority, which is just enough to block Republican filibusters. WSBT-AM turns to political science professor Sean Savage for comment.
Some Saint Mary's College athletes are helping with health care in Uganda. Friday, the Belles presented a check for more than $5,000 to the Sisters of the Holy Cross in Uganda. That money will go towards a medical center and a primary school there. Patty Duffy '10, a nursing student who worked with the Sisters in Uganda last summer, is interviewed for this story.
Thanks to gains in stock investments and home values, inch by inch, Americans are recovering some of their loss of wealth from the recession. Saint Mary's College finance professor Michael Robinson has noticed it, on professional and personal levels. His comments are included in this AP story that ran in dozens of newspapers and news websites, like the Chicago Tribune and the Dallas Morning News.
Carrie Call, director of the Office for Civic and Social Engagement, is interviewed on WNDU's morning show about Friday's Christmas Craft Show. She had a lot of artists' work to share with viewers. The holiday bazaar is Friday from noon until 6 p.m., in Le Mans Hall. The craft show helps to raise funds for OCSE’s Twelve Days of Christmas program, an effort that provides holiday gifts and necessities to area families and individuals in need.
In recent weeks a number of large companies, including JP Morgan Chase, Federal Express, and Black & Decker, have announced plans to reinstate suspended 401(k) matches, and two surveys suggest that more such announcements are to come. Could this be another sign that the recession is coming to an end? Finance professor Mike Robinson comments for WSBT-TV.
For the 15 million Americans who suffer from social anxiety, anxiety associated with the holidays is very real. But there are ways to control anxiety, during the holidays and beyond. A new book by psychology professor Catherine Pittman and library assistant Lisa Karle, who suffered from debilitating anxiety, examines whole brain strategies to relieve anxiety.
It was a "For Girls Only" event at Coquillard Primary Center in South Bend this week. Third and fourth graders worked with Saint Mary's College students who are members of the Future Women Doctors Club on everything from dissecting a fish to making a volcano to planting seeds.
Saint Mary’s student Remi White '12 has made about 500 rosaries to date as a part of the Ranger Rosary Ministry, which works with military chaplains to provide rosaries to troops deployed to combat zones and those at stateside bases and military hospitals.
WSBT-AM 960 and Fox 28 turned to the expertise of political science professor Marc Belanger this morning to get his perspectives on President Obama's decision to send another 30,000 U.S. troops into Afghanistan by summer. Click above to see the TV interview.
This year retailers are offering big discounts, especially online. Retailers hoped "Cyber Monday," the Monday following Black Friday, would boost sales. Saint Mary's economics professor Jerome McElroy comments on the Internet shopping day phenomenon and what's got people logging on and ready to shop.
Saint Mary’s Dance Marathon hosted a conference with representatives from Marian High School in Mishawaka on Sunday afternoon as a learning experience for Saint Mary’s associated “mini-marathon.” A mini-marathon is a dance marathon hosted by a high school that is supported by a college. Dance Marathon president Kelly Deranek '10 is interviewed for the article.
Senior Dads’ Weekend at happened over the weekend, but you could say Dad’s been here for weeks now. Dad’s Root Beer is now on tap in the Noble Family Dining Hall, and it’s like a taste of home for Micki Hedinger ’10. Her father, Keith Hedinger, is president and CEO of The Dad’s Root Beer Company, located in Jasper, Ind.
Mariel R. Rose '12 of Granger, was among the 32 outstanding first-generation college students and their high school mentors honored this month at the 2009 “Realizing the Dream” banquet in Indianapolis. The students attend 32 independent college campuses in Indiana.
Kathleen Sabol '08, an English major, wrote and opinion piece for her hometown paper, the Orlando Sentinel about her frustrations of finding a good job in a bad economy. She writes, "My advice: swallow your ego, take any job or way to gain new experience..." Read how Sabol is beefing up her resume with extracurricular activities as she works on finding her dream job.
Bishop Kevin Rhoades will officially be installed as the Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend on January 13. Rhoades, 51, has served in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the past five years and he's been a priest for 26 years. Saint Mary's College President Carol Ann Mooney issued a statement, picked up by local media, welcoming the new bishop and thanking Bishop D'Arcy for his service. Click on the above links for coverage that includes the statement.
In its "Catholic News Around Indiana" section of its Web site, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis highlights the Office for Civic and Social Engagement's Christmas Craft Show. The bazaar, held from noon-6 p.m. on December 11 in Le Mans, helps to raise funds for OCSE’s Twelve Days of Christmas program, an effort that provides holiday gifts and necessities to area families and individuals in need. Scroll down to see the story.
On the eve of the announcement of a new bishop for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese, WSBT-TV turned to religious studies professor Joseph Incandela, who also serves on Bishop D'Arcy's lay review board, for his thoughts. "Vatican II says a bishop is to be a teacher; someone who is pastoral and who is able to relate to people and understand their needs and wants and sufferings and desires, their hopes and fears for the way the Catholic church will continue to evolve," Incandela said.
The original play “Confessions of the Chaff” by communication studies and theatre lecturer Susan Brabant Baxter premieres tonight and runs through the weekend. The story line takes on the controversial subject of abuse by a priest, the resulting betrayal of trust, and the impact on the lives of those in the parish community. It's a subject that Baxter, a self-described traditional Catholic, does not take lightly. Theatre professor Mark Abram-Copenhaver directs the play.
In a weekly letter from Bishop John D'Arcy posted today on the Website of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Bishop wrote about saying Mass on Sunday night at Saint Mary's. Look under the sub-headline of "A long day ahead" for the reference. Bishop wrote that he enjoyed visiting with the students after the service during a question and answer segment.
The St. Joseph County economy, like many others in Indiana and Michigan, is driven by its small businesses. So many small business owners are anxious to hear how the new health care reform bill passed by the House of Representatives would affect them. Political science professor Patrick Pierce says any of the proposed packages will help small businesses.
With the number of students choosing to study music increasing nationwide over the past four years, Saint Mary’s music department has also seen an increase in number of students choosing music as their major, music professor Dr. Jeffrey Jacob said. Jacob, who is a graduate of Julliard and has been teaching at the college for 30 years, said despite the today’s economy and the difficulty graduates are having, there are 17 freshmen joining the music department.
The Multicultural Services and Student Programs office welcomes actress and playwright Rohina Malik to the College to perform her solo play "Unveiled" this week. The play tells the stories of five Muslim women living in a post-9/11 world. Malik draws upon her Indo-Pakistani culture for inspiration for her art.
The Office for Civic and Social Engagement's upcoming Christmas Craft Show is showcased in this article. The bazaar helps to raise funds for OCSE’s Twelve Days of Christmas program, an effort that provides holiday gifts and necessities to area families and individuals in need. Interviewed in the article are Alma Bravo '12 and Carrie Call, director of OCSE.
Social networking sites are all the rage these days, and it's not just young people hopping online. Many people are using the sites as a way to stay connected with friends and share details of your life. But employee beware. Some companies are monitoring what their workers do online. Business professor Mary Studer, who covers what not to post on Facebook in her Business Communication class, comments.
With flu season in full swing, people turn to hand sanitizers that promise to kill 99.9 percent of all bacteria and viruses. But do they actually work? Biology professor Kara Eberly and her students Elyse Nylin '10 and Valerie Kommer '10 talk to WSBT-TV about a recent class project testing the effectiveness of hand sanitizers.
Kids and grandkids of the staff and faculty did a little early trick-or-treating through the campus residence halls. While they went door-to-door enjoying the non-traditional trick-or-treating, the students were just as excited to see little people roaming the halls.
In communication studies professor Terri Russ’ Public Communication course, students have the chance to experience the classroom from a different angle. Russ and her students volunteer at the Center for the Homeless each Thursday, teaching communication skills to its guests.
While some students went home or relaxed on the beaches in places south of Indiana over fall break, a group of seven Saint Mary’s College women went on a pilgrimage to Monterrey, Mexico. Supervised by College Campus Minister Sr. Veronique Wiedower, the group met consistently over the fall semester in preparation for their journey.
Political science professor Marc Belanger is interviewed about Iran and its nuclear capabilities/desires. Last week the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that Iran had agreed to ship about 75 percent of its current stock of nuclear fuel to Russia where it would be converted into fuel rods for Iran nuclear reactors. In this form, the fuel could not be used for weapons. Within a day or so of the announcement, Iran was telling a different story. The professor it sorts out.
Saint Mary's College biology professor Richard Jensen kind of hopes he's wrong. Right now, he's predicting rather dull fall color in the area. "If we get two weeks of good sunny days it could change," he said. The South Bend Tribune link to the story has expired, but photos are still available online of Jensen with his ecology students conducting a tree survey near the University of Notre Dame.
That's the question a WSBT-TV viewer had, and the station came to economics professor Jerome McElroy for the answer. Simply put: “The stock market is not the economy,” said McElroy. He says eventually a rising stock market will lead to good things in the overall economy. Investors will have more money and feel better about spending it both privately and on new business ventures.
Political science professor Marc Belanger was interviewed about the possibility of a U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan.
Members of the Social Work Club treated families at Hope Ministries in South Bend to a trip to a pumpkin patch on Saturday. The kids went on a hayride, chose a pumpkin, walked through a corn maze and visited the animals in the petting zoo. This is the second year for the event with the South Bend homeless center. The South Bend Tribune posted a gallery of the photos online.
Students hosted the second annual Trot for Tots 5K on campus on Sunday. The event is a prelude to the students’ spring Dance Marathon. Both events raise money for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis that services families from around the state. Dance Marathon president Kelly Deranek '10 was interviewed live on "16 Saturday Morning" the day before the event.
Grace Lape '10 spent her summer in New York City interning with a pro-life organization. The Tempe, Ariz. native counseled pregnant women who were considering abortion. Grace, co-president of the Right to Life Club on campus, is featured in a blog on her hometown diocese's Web site.
The Trot for Tots 5K and Fun Run is coming up on Sunday, October 11. Trot for Tots, like Dance Marathon, benefits Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. Among those interviewed are Sally Fraser '10 and her sister Sheila, a sophomore at a South Bend-area high school who has been treated at Riley for cancer. Since Saint Mary's students brought Dance Marathon to the College in 2006, they have raised approximately $245,000 for the hospital.
Although the number of reported cases is low, rape and other instances of violence against women is a big concern on college campuses nationwide. Saint Mary's College has been awarded a three-year, $299,893 federal grant to create an on-campus program to address and educate students on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Karen Johnson, vice president for student affairs, is interviewed.
President Barack Obama recently stated American kids don’t spend enough time in school. WSBT-AM 960 interviews Professor Dale Banks, chair of the education department at Saint Mary's, about whether American kids are in school enough compared to other countries. Should there be year-round school? How about a standardized national curriculum? Banks responds.
The working poor are in a highly undesirable position when it comes to marital status and taxes, writes Claude Renshaw, emeritus professor of accounting, and Ken Milani, professor of accountancy at the University of Notre Dame, in this Forbes opinion article.
Saint Mary’s College announces its highest enrollment in 18 years. This fall semester there are 1,664 students—1,561 on campus and 103 studying abroad. In a global recession, news of an increase in enrollment at a private college is note worthy, says Saint Mary’s College President Carol Ann Mooney.
In anticipation of Halloween—a holiday that celebrates scaring people—IN Michiana magazine interviewed psychology professor Catherine Pittman about fear and anxiety. The article introduces the new book Pittman co-wrote with library assistant Elizabeth Karle called “Extinguishing Anxiety: Whole Brain Strategies to relieve fear and stress.”
There were a lot of claims and promises made during President Obama's recent speech to Congress on health care reform. So what's fact and what's fiction? WSBT-TV turned to political science professor Sean Savage for insights.
Three local TV stations and one local talk radio program turned to communication studies professor Michael Kramer this week for comment on President Obama's address to school children Tuesday and to Congress on Wednesday night. Professor Kramer, whose expertise includes political communication, political campaign communication, and presidential communication, analyzed the speeches for substance and style. He was interviewed by WSBT-TV, Fox 28, WNDU-TV and WSBT-AM.
The Chicago Women’s Baseball League, which is composed of four teams, play Saturday mornings in Bedford Park all summer. Players range in age from 15 to mid-40s and skill sets vary just as greatly. One of the coaches is John Kovach, archivist at Saint Mary’s College and an archivist for women’s baseball, who believes there are hundreds of thousands of young females who would choose baseball over softball.
Communication studies professor Terri L. Russ, author of "Bitchin' Bodies," a book about female body dissatisfaction, is quoted in this article about reality shows that focus on overweight people. According to the article, rather than preaching acceptance, the shows portray heavy people as wrong, striving to be right.
Gayla Spenney '97 is featured in the fall issue of Charities USA, the national magazine of Catholic Charities USA. Spenney is the shelter supervisor at My Sister’s Place, a domestic violence shelter for women and their children operated by Catholic Charities Community Services in Phoenix. The article is about how the Alumnae Association of Saint Mary's College recognized her with the Outstanding Young Alumna Award in the spring.
Two players of the multi-state lottery Mega Millions on Friday won a jackpot totaling $333 million. Political science professor Patrick Pierce, who has analyzed the politics of legalized gambling , comments on how and whether states benefit from lottery ticket sales. His findings may surprise you.
U.S.News and World Report lists Saint Mary's College as one of the nation's "best liberal arts colleges. The College comes in at 97 out of the 249 schools listed in the magazine's "2010 America's Best Colleges" guidebook. A national standing for a third consecutive year indicates the College is on course to meet a key goal in the its strategic plan, to provide "educational excellence equal to the best colleges in the country."
Political science professor Sean Savage reflects on the life and legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy. He will be remembered for fighting for causes like civil rights, rights for the disabled, Medicare/Medicaid, and health care reform. He will also go down in history as having been a liberal democrat who was able to work with moderate democrats as well as republicans to find compromise on key issues.
For nearly a half-century, Senator Ted Kennedy was a steadfast champion of the working class and the poor, a powerful voice on health care, civil rights, and war and peace. What was the legacy of the man known as the Liberal Lion? Who will replace him? Political science professor Sean Savage comments.
Ashley Charnley '11, Saint Mary's College editor of the student newspaper The Observer, writes a column about her apprehensions as a first-year student on her decision to attend an all-women's college. She writes: "for those of you who were like me and worried about moving to the all-female world that is Saint Mary's, you should know that this is one of its strengths, not one of its weaknesses. This is a place where women can thrive, find themselves and form bonds that nothing can break."
Ella Harmeyer, associate professor of nursing and president of the Indiana State Nurses Association (ISNA), is interviewed about proposed national health care reform, which is being hotly debated on Capitol Hill. ISNA and the American Nurses Association have long supported health care reform to try to address the 45 million citizens who are not covered by private health insurance.
Remi White '12 of Wyoming, Michigan and a high school classmate are part of a quiet nationwide effort to place rosaries into the hands of servicemen and women in harm's way. "I'm just so in awe that there are soldiers wanting these," White told a reporter. "These troops are giving their lives for us, so it's the least we can do."
A bill to refuel the government’s Cash for Clunkers program is on its way to the White House after the U.S. Senate approved a new injection of cash. Supporters say it will boost sales well into the fall, but some experts suggest the program could take cash away from other sectors of the economy. Saint Mary’s College economics professor Jerome McElroy comments for this story.
A Senate committee voted Wednesday to confirm Anne (Meagher) Northup '70, a former Republican congresswoman from Kentucky, to help oversee the regulation of consumer products. Northup, who still needs full Senate confirmation before she can take the post, would be part of a shake-up at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a long-neglected agency that oversees the sale and manufacture of more than 15,000 consumer products.
Elkhart County, often referred to as the "RV manufacturing capital of the world," has suffered tremendous job losses and has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. That's why President Obama has come to the area three times since becoming president, this time to make an announcement about electric vehicles. Saint Mary's political science professor Patrick Pierce comments.
President Obama was in Elkhart County today to announce that a local company would receive $39 million of the $2.4 billion in federal stimulus funds designated to develop electronic vehicles. The county has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Saint Mary's political science professor Sean Savage was interviewed on a radio program hours before the president's arrival about the significance of the visit to Elkhart County from a political perspective.
Monica Murphy '13, an incoming freshman, wrote an article for Today's Catholic on the service trip she took in June with the St. Joseph Parish Youth Group (South Bend) to Appalachia. She and her group replaced the floor in a woman's home, while also getting to know the people of a poverty-stricken community.
Megan Ryan '09 and Katie Yohe '09 are headed to Ghana, West Africa on August 15. Ryan, an elementary education and communicative disorders double major, and Yohe, an elementary education major, are sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross to teach at one of the sisters' mission sites where a new school has been built. This story was featured in Megan's hometown diocesan paper.
President Obama has nominated Anne (Meagher) Northup '70, a former Republican Representative from Kentucky, to the only remaining vacancy on the five-member Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) panel.
Elizabeth DeBauche '83, Director of Division I at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) since 2002, has been named Commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). DeBauche will be one of just five females to be the head of a Division I Conference in 2009-10, and one of just eight to lead a Division I Conference all-time.
Indiana Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Bennett has a plan to change the licensing requirements for teachers would make them more qualified and could bring more federal dollars to Indiana's education system. There are mixed emotions about the proposal. Saint Mary’s College education department chair and professor Dale Banks offers his insights.
The Princeton Review included Saint Mary's as one of the 158 Midwestern colleges and universities in its region-by-region Web site feature. Of the nation's 2,500 four-year schools, only 640 were named in the Princeton Review's regional lists. That puts Saint Mary's in the top quarter of America's colleges, according to education services company.
College tuition rates are going up at schools across the country, and it can be expensive to attend college. But Saint Mary's is hoping to make it easier for veterans to afford an education. Starting this fall, Saint Mary's is one of the 700 colleges and universities across the nation included in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Immediately following the death of Michael Jackson, Newsweek magazine asked music professor Daniel Party to write an article about Jackson's legacy for Newsweek Japan. Jackson, of course, had a huge international fan base. Party teaches one of the most sought after courses at the College, American Popular Music (there's always a waiting list of students wanting to get into the class). The musicologist wrote the article in English and it was translated into Japanese for Newsweek Japan's 7/22/09 issue.
Katie Yohe '09 and Megan Ryan '09 are headed to Ghana, West Africa on August 15. Yohe, an elementary education major, and Ryan, an elementary education and communicative disorders double major, are sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross to teach at one of the sisters' mission sites where a new school has been built. This story was featured in Katie's hometown diocesan paper.
Saint Mary's political science professor Sean Savage is interviewed about two public figures currently in the national spotlight, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) and U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Palin recently announced her resignation and there is much speculation about her future plans, political and otherwise. Sotomayor is testifying this week on Capitol Hill before the Senate Judiciary Committee in anticipation of her confirmation.
Earlier this month, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) announced she is resigning from office. Could this mean the former VP candidate is planning to run for president in 2012? What about Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R)? Could he be planning a run? Saint Mary's College political science professor Sean Savage is interviewed.
It's early, but there is already speculation over who will run for president in 2012 on the GOP ticket. Saint Mary's political science professor Sean Savage comments on whether Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) could run.
Saint Mary's College communication studies professor Linda Berdayes is interviewed about the media coverage surrounding the death of Michael Jackson. She told Fox 28, "We are seeing a memorial service that used to be fitting for a king or a President. We are now seeing that happen with a pop star." Berdayes studies media trends and says she has never seen media coverage like this.
Ft. Wayne area alumnae of Saint Mary’s College gathered in June for a luncheon. The guest speaker was Jessica Stuifbergen '99, assistant director of alumnae relations. Stuifbergen shared news about the completion of the new Spes Unica academic building, current programs and an overview of the upcoming freshman class statistics. Alumnae at the luncheon represented graduates over a 50-year period.
A memorial service for Michael Jackson is scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles. How will the King of Pop be remembered? Saint Mary's College music professor Daniel Party, a musicologist specializing in popular music of the Americas, offers his insights. Jackson's work is a component of the professor's American Popular Music course, a favorite among Saint Mary's students.
Currents magazine, a bi-monthly publication of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), interviewed Saint Mary's College president Carol Ann Mooney for an article in the July/August 2009 issue about the value of a college education in a bad economy. President Mooney and other leaders discuss the shift from thinking of education as a tool for individual fulfillment to considering it as the primary driver of social and economic progress. President Mooney's comments begin on page 18.
In its summer newsletter, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) features a student project from Saint Mary's College religious studies professor Joseph Incandela's Catholic Social Thought class. In the spring of 2008, three students spent several months at the Center for the Homeless in South Bend tutoring adults as they prepared for the GED, a high school equivalency exam. The students soon found themselves working with clients on writing poems, which led to weekly poetry jams and a ultimately a booklet of completed works.
Faith Magazine's first Teen of the Year has lived up to her reputation as a faithful servant of Christ. Saint Mary's College chose Meghan Larsen '09, a religious studies major, as the recipient of its highest student recognition- the Lumen Christi Award, recognizing a senior who is an outstanding Christian woman. She's featured in the July issue of the magazine.
Saint Mary's College archivist John Kovach and his personal collection of women's baseball memorabilia are featured in the New York Times. His exhibition, titled “Linedrives and Lipstick,” continues its tour of the U.S. and is currently on display at the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey.
Alicia Wilkins ’11 of Mishawaka, Ind. is the recipient of the St. Catherine Medal, given each year to a College sophomore or junior who has shown personal excellence and scholarship and Christian leadership.
Political science department chair and professor Marc Belanger, chair of the the political science department at Saint Mary's College, is interviewed about the unrest in Iran and whether the U.S. should get involved. The news anchor remarks on how President Reagan had an impact on the fall of communism in Russia and asked Belanger whether President Obama could have a similar impact in Iran.
Political science department chair and professor Marc Belanger is interviewed about the protests in Iran related to the election there. The unrest comes just as President Obama is trying to improve the United States' relationship with Iran. Can the U.S. play a constructive role in the current crisis?
Saint Mary's College has hired Richard Speller as the college's new vice president for finance and administration. Speller will begin July 1. He most recently was vice president for finance and administration at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., where he served for eight years.
The Tribune Business Weekly , a publication of the South Bend Tribune, recognized two Saint Mary's alumnae as "Forty under 40" young professionals. The designation recognizes forty individuals under age 40 who have carved a niche for themselves through their professional contributions in the workplace, dedication to community service and volunteerism. Recognized are Janet Horvath '00, a South Bend attorney, and Stephanie Leniski '97, an Elkhart banker.
Meghan Larsen '09 was chosen for the prestigious Lumen Christi Award, which goes to a member of the senior class who is recognized by the college community as an outstanding Christian woman. It is the highest award the college confers upon a student. Last month, the College also honored Larsen with the Sister M. Olivette Whalen Award for General Service.
A revised forecast projects Indiana will take in nearly $1.1 billion less in revenue over the next two years than expected. State lawmakers must craft a new budget that compensates for the loss, while still grappling over whether it should be a one or two year budget. Saint Mary's College economics professor Jerome McElroy cautions that a "longer term" plan could be risky.
Experts say there's still a nursing shortage and jobs will open up when the economy improves. Caitlin Brodmerkel '09 says her experiences at Saint Mary's helped her get a job. She worked for four years at a health clinic in South Bend and spent a summer working at a clinic in Uganda. The link to this article has expired. Please contact Gwen O'Brien , director of media relations, if you are interested in the story.
Francesca Johnson '09 attended the Indy 500 this weekend as one of 33 young women who were part of the 500 Festival Princess Program. The princesses spent this month participating in festival events and volunteer programs. The festival's organizer points out this is not a beauty pageant.
Elizabeth Majewski '13 will start at Saint Mary's in the fall as a member of the Class of 2013 and the cross country team. She's a fighter. She battled with cancer when she was two years old and fights daily with asthma. The link to this article has expired. Please contact Gwen O'Brien , director of media relations, if you are interested in the story.
A report by the Commonwealth Fund last year showed that 34 percent of college graduates will spend some time uninsured in the year after graduation. Susan Vance, professor of business law and accounting who teaches a popular financial literacy course at Saint Mary's College, is one of the experts offering ideas how new graduates can get needed health insurance.
Jayne Kendle , acting chair of the Saint Mary's College Department of Nursing, comments on how the recession is affecting hospitals. Kendle says some consumers with jobs and benefits are afraid to seek medical care out of fear they may not having a job to come back to if they are gone for an extended period of time.
Three Saint Mary's College students from the Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend receieved three of five new service awards given by the College. Those students are Alma Bravo '12 of South Bend, Caitlin Brodmerkel '09 of Ft. Wayne and Alicia Wilkins '11 of Mishawaka.
Incoming first year student Zamantha Lopez '13 of Mesa, Ariz. received the Presidential Scholarship to attend Saint Mary’s College. She found the College while researching civil engineering programs that also provide a liberal arts environment. She wants to major in civil engineering and plans to open her own company.
On Saturday afternoon, seniors at Saint Mary's College celebrated the school's 162nd commencement. Three hundred and forty graduates received their diplomas on the green in front of Le Mans Hall under blue skies.
On the eve of President Obama's appearance as Commencement speaker at the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College political science professor Sean Savage comments on what to expect. Savage compares what he thinks Obama will say in his address to the Notre Dame Commencement addresses made by other sitting U.S. presidents.
Courtney Parry '09 of Michigan City, Ind., a math and economics double major, is Saint Mary's College's Class of 2009 valedictorian.
Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff has done documentaries on Generation Next and their impressions as they enter the world as working adults. Woodruff, who will be giving the Commencement address at Saint Mary’s College, talks about what the Class of 2009 faces as they break into the business world during a recession.
Saint Mary's Commencement speaker and broadcast correspondent Judy Woodruff is interviewed about what she calls a "dark and scary time" for journalism. People can get their news for free on the Internet, which is causing newspapers to shut down or downsize. It's also a scary time to enter the workforce, no matter what the field.
Saint Mary's College communication studies professor Michael Kramer comments on what President Obama may say in his Commencement address at the University of Notre Dame, given the controversy related to his appearance. Kramer teaches courses that examine political rhetoric, including one called the "History and Criticism of Public Addresses" and another called "Political Communication."
Nicole Beier '09 was named this year's recipient of the Competitive Spirit Award and Caitlin Brodmerkel '09 was named the recipient of this year's Leadership Award. Both students are from Ft. Wayne.
Jacqueline Botello '13 was co-valedictorian of her class at Washington High School in South Bend and plans to attend Saint Mary’s College this fall as part of the incoming Class of 2013. In high school she played soccer and volunteered more than 200 hours while managing to keep a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
A key index of national housing sales is on the rise for the first time in more than a year, fueled in large part by those buying a home for the first time. Saint Mary's College economics professor Jerome McElroy says while new homebuyers make up a small portion of the housing demand, they may be the essential portion.
Many people are experiencing rate hikes and credit line drops. A so-called Credit Card Holders’ Bill of Rights, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, aims to get rid of sudden rate increases and excessive fees. The Senate is working through similar legislation. Saint Mary's College finance professor Michael Robinson explains what's driving the credit card companies' actions.
Meghan Larsen '09, a religious studies and psychology double major from Coudersport, Penn., recently received one of the college's seven unique service and volunteer awards and was featured in her hometown paper, Endeavor News. "Meghan is a dynamic and active student, full of energy and enthusiasm," said Joe Incandela, professor of religious studies at Saint Mary's.
Judy Woodruff, broadcast journalist and Saint Mary's 2009 Commencement speaker, is interviewed for this feature in Currents magazine, a bi-monthly national publication by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Woodruff shares her thoughts on commencement, college life, and the state of the news industry today.
Saint Mary’s College students and fourth grade girls from the Warren Primary Center in South Bend have been exchanging letters for an entire semester and finally met face-to-face for a day of activities on campus. The pen pals program is an effort by the college’s Office of Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE).
Saint Mary's College political science professor Sean Savage talks about how President Barack Obama has done in his first 100 days, compared to the first 100 days of other presidents in the past 50 years.
Saint Mary's College political science professor Marc Belanger, whose expertise is foreign policy, is interviewed about President Obama's first 100 days in office. Belanger comments on whether the president has had an impact yet on improving foreign relations. The professor also discusses how the swine flu outbreak may be the first true test of the President's leadership abilities.
President Obama has been in office for 100 days and his popularity remains high. With high unemployment, the recession, and wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, how long will the honeymoon last? Saint Mary's College political science professor Sean Savage comments.
Student performers preparing for this week's opening of "Candide" received direction last week from someone with 21 Tony awards. Acclaimed Broadway director Harold Prince was at the school as a Margaret Hill Endowed Chair Visiting Artist. Emily Woller '09 and Amy Barker '09 are interviewed.
With unemployment and foreclosures still on the rise, hundreds across the area are suddenly turning to the only option they have left: bankruptcy. Saint Mary's College economics professor Jerome McElroy comments.
With Tax Day just two days away, Saint Mary's College accounting professor John Cergnul shares tax tips, like what to do if you can't afford to pay what you owe.
It's been called the worst job market in a generation, and the class of 2009 is headed right into it. The Career Crossings Office (CCO) at Saint Mary's College hosted a Speed Networking Night this week so students could network with professionals and get practice interviewing. Erin Smith '09, Megan Griffin '11 and Career Crossings Office director Stacie Jeffirs are interviewed for this story.
This year’s annual Dance Marathon at Saint Mary's College brought in $91,538 for Riley Hospital for Children. The student-led fundraiser was started four years ago by the class of 2009. Sarah Voss ‘09, president of Dance Marathon, is interviewed about the event.
Students who are Citizen Scholars with Saint Mary's Office for Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE) will host a walk for the hungry on Sunday. Olivia Barzydlo Critchlow, assistant director of OCSE, explains how walkers can donate money or non-perishable food items to participate.
WNDU-TV attended Dance Marathon at Saint Mary's College when it started Friday night and followed up on Saturday with the final amount of money raised for Riley Hospital for Children, which was $91,538. Interviewed for these stories are students Nicole Gans '12, Meg Varty '09 and Sarah Voss '09.
An influential government-appointed medical panel is urging doctors to routinely screen all American teens for depression — a bold step that acknowledges that nearly 2 million teens are affected by this debilitating condition. Saint Mary's College psychology professor Catherine Pittman comments.
Sarah Kletka '12 was among about 250 Indiana college students who traveled to Indianapolis recently to thank legislators for their commitment to financial aid funding. Kletka, from Granger, Ind., is a nursing major at Saint Mary's who works two jobs trying to cover the costs of books, tuition and living. She is profiled in this article in Inside Granger magazine.
Tax Day is coming up April 15; are you ready? Saint Mary's College accounting professor John Cergnul answers questions about tax credits and deductions, among other things.
Janice Thomasson, chief information officer at Saint Mary's College, wrote an article about how to develop IT leadership at colleges and universities. Projections indicate a potential shortage of skilled IT workers in the future and Thomasson advises that the time to identify and groom talented internal staff may be now.
Kathy Hausmann, coordinator of student computing at Saint Mary's College, was interviewed as an IT expert about what the Conficker worm computer virus is and how to remove it fom your personal computer. The virus threatens to cause problems on April 1 for Windows users.
Sarah Voss '09, Saint Mary's College Dance Marathon president, is interviewed about the student-led event and fundraiser for Riley Hospital, which takes place Thursday and Friday. Voss talks about how she is motivated by the kids she’s met who’ve been successfully treated at the children’s hospital.
Sister Kathleen Dolphin, director of the Center for Spirituality at Saint Mary's College, is interviewed about the last lecture in a series called “Hope During Hard Times.” Tonight’s speaker is Barbara Quinn, RSCJ, director of the Center for Christian Spirituality, University of San Diego who will talk about “The Hidden Face of Hope.” The lecture will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Stapleton Lounge, Le Mans Hall. Sister Dolphin also spoke briefly about The Quest Project Conference .
Nationally known actor Anthony Zerbe is at Saint Mary’s this week for a weeklong workshop with 10 students. He will direct the students’ individual performances of selected texts at 6:30 p.m. Friday as the conclusion of The Quest Project Conference, which will be held at the College Thurday and Friday.
Students in social work professor Frances Kominkiewicz’s “Human Behavior and the Social Environment II” class hosted a community forum on the economy at the College last night . The event focused on how the weakened economy affects not only jobs and home ownership, but also education and family violence. The link to this article has expired. Please contact Gwen O'Brien , director of media relations, if you are interested in the story.
Kate Doornbos '10 is interviewed about the economic forum that students in a Saint Mary's College social work class hosted for the community on Thursday evening.
The fourth annual student-led Saint Mary's College Dance Marathon benefiting Riley Hospital is next Friday and Saturday, April 3-4. The Indianapolis children's hospital serves countless kids from the South Bend-area, like four-year-old Brenna Blosser. Brenna and Sarah Voss '09, Dance Marathon president are interviewed in this story.
It's a throw back to the Boston Tea Party in colonial times. People are having "tea parties" to protest taxes and spending in Washington. Saint Mary's College political science professor Sean Savage comments.
College seniors across the country are wondering whether they will find a job in this tough economy. Some are choosing volunteer or graduate school opportunities. Andrea Ortiz '09 says she's actively looking for a job.
About 50 Washington High School (South Bend) students were among those who attended this year's Diverse Students' Leadership Conference (DSLC) at the College. The event is put on by Saint Mary's students and tackles issues like elitism, intercultural skills and social justice with speakers and workshops. Communication studies professor Terri Russ is featured in the article for her workshop on women's body dissatisfaction. Russ has done extensive research on the subject and released a book about it last year.
