In This Issue

Living a life less than “normal”:the fight for prosthetic parity
There’s a sort of tunnel vision that affects people when it comes to health—a very “it won’t happen to me or my children” attitude—especially on a topic that might seem implausible and irreverent, like prosthetics care. And with luck, they won’t ever have to think about it. For those whose lives do take a turn that way, it can be a devastating surprise to find out that their insurance coverage doesn’t extend to prosthetics. Metropolitan State University graduate student Jennifer Klein has worked with prosthetics at Gilette Children’s Hospital for almost five years, and recently helped found a subcommittee of the Minnesota Society of Orthotists, Prosthetists and Pedorthists, lobbying for...

Tentative labor agreement with state university faculty
The Inter Faculty Organization (IFO), which represents more than 3,000 faculty members at Minnesota’s seven state universities, and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system reached a tentative labor agreement that calls for no across-the-board salary increases or annual step increases for the next two years. The agreement would leave current terms and conditions in place. The IFO Board of Directors will review the tentative agreement and make a recommendation to the faculty at large, who must approve the agreement if it is to take effect. It will then be forwarded to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees for approval...

The art of collaboration
Dustin Suggs is passionate when talking about the possibilities of interdisciplinary studies in working as a fine arts therapist with autistic children. “Theater and helping children grow are my two big passions,” he said following rehearsal on the set of Metropolitan State University’s spring theater production, The Water Engine. A senior at Metropolitan State with a theater major, Suggs was born in Connecticut and raised in the Twin Cities. Following graduation from Eden Prairie High School in 1999, he enrolled at Iowa State University as a history major.One year later...

Travel ... With a humanitarian focus
Dabbling outside of the United States territory wasn’t exactly a short-term goal of mine a few months back. And understandably so with the white-knuckling fear of job layoffs contagiously spreading nationwide and, not to mention, the gnawing thought of homework galore awaiting my attention upon return. The consideration of traveling was a bittersweet confection neatly packaged and sheltered in the back sector of my mind. Nevertheless, one unforeseeable day, a good friend of mine pulled out the rug from under my feet and offered—rather, she essentially gave me—a golden ticket to experience the trip of a lifetime: spending a week with her and a few others in the Netherlands’ strikingly beautiful island of St. Martin...

MAARS moves in
Local bird shelter Midwest Avian Adoption and Rescue Services (MAARS) has moved into a new location in St. Louis Park. Founded in July 1999, MAARS is dedicated to educating the general public and bird owners on proper captive bird care. Their hope is that through increased education and awareness, they can decrease the number of birds that come through their doors. Lately that education has focused on the link between wildlife and pet trades, an issue centered on captive birds. Dale Rueber, a shift manager and MAARS’ resident contractor/handyman, said the move was long past due. Renting a retail space in St. Louis Park was never part of the long term plan...

Store to Door Providing chances for Metropolitan State University students to help aging adults live independently
Store to Door is a non-profit organization that delivers groceries and prescriptions with a purpose and a passion to people who are unable to shop for themselves due to age or disabilities. Store to Door’s vision to “support a community where people age with dignity” is becoming clear as 500 households a week receive Store to Door service. Some Metropolitan State students are helping to make this service possible and you can contribute, too. With service to the Twin Cities metropolitan’s seven county area, Store to Door delivered to over 1,300 customers, fulfilling over 18,000 orders in 2008. The invaluable service is only available to clients with the help of over 575 volunteers who take grocery orders, shop for and deliver the groceries...

Everyone’s doing the ChaCha!
You won’t need your dancing shoes to do this ChaCha, but you will need your mobile phone, an inquisitive mind and nimble fingers. ChaCha, a free text message service launched in January 2008, provides prompt, colloquial answers to one’s inquiries. Want to know if the local coffee shop is open on Sundays? Need the conversion rate from Celsius to Fahrenheit? Looking for an appropriate wine to pair with a lobster dish? The answer is only a text message away. Text ChaCha (242242) any question, anytime. Within minutes, an answer will be delivered via text message to your mobile phone¬—and it’s free, though standard carrier charges may apply...

New smoke-free apartment in Saint Paul
The Pointe at River Crossing in Saint Paul is a brand new smoke-free apartment building opening this month. The smoke-free policy covers the entire building, including all rental units. Brenda Hvambsal, director of marketing for Steven Scott Management, says the company chose to put the smoke-free policy into effect as a way to prevent secondhand smoke exposure in the building. “The health and well being of residents is our top priority. A smoke-free building is safer and contributes to a better living environment,” she said. “We want The Pointe to be a home all residents will enjoy,” said Hvambsal. “In addition to being smoke-free, The Pointe at River Crossing offers other great amenities for renters.” The property is located in Saint Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood and completes the Gateway re-development. Community amenities include a media room, game room, swimming pool, hot tub, WI FI clubhouse, business center, fitness center and underground parking...

Metropolitan State University appoints admissions counselor and Asian-American liaison
Xy Johnson, Mahtomedi, was appointed admissions counselor and Asian- American liaison at Metropolitan State University. This full-time probationary position was effective Feb. 2. Her duties include counseling and advising prospective and admitted students, assisting transfer students and participating in orientations and recruitment events. Johnson has been working as a transfer specialist at Saint Paul College and as faculty at Maranatha College in Brooklyn Park. Earlier, she served first as senior admissions counselor and then academic counselor at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul...

SSC Corner: Fighting domestic violence
Domestic violence is a very real, debilitating aspect of many people’s lives, and reaching out for support can be difficult once the effects have rendered a person fearful. In light of a very serious situation, Minnesota unemployment law supports victims having to leave a job due to these circumstances. What this means is that financial assistance is available for someone that needs to leave a job because they fear for their safety due to a domestic violence situation. Minnesota has recognized that one’s ability to provide financial support is an important aspect of overcoming domestic violence. A call to the local unemployment office can provide more detailed information regarding this benefit, or if Internet access is available, a good resource is...

Metropolitan State receives 2008 Community Engagement Classification
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching selected Metropolitan State University for its 2008 Community Engagement Classification. Announced in late December 2008, 119 US colleges and universities were selected from 147 applications to join the 76 institutions identified in the 2006 selection process. Of the 119 institutions, 68 are public and 51 are private. Metropolitan State and Augsburg College were the only two Minnesota schools selected this year. Colleges and universities with an institutional focus on community engagement were invited to apply for the classification. Unlike the Carnegie Foundation’s other classifications that rely on national data, this is an “elective” classification—institutions elected to participate by submitting required documentation describing the nature and extent of their engagement with the community. Classifications were in one of three categories...

Good(rich) for golf, even in winter
We Minnesotans are living through one of the coldest winters in recent years (so much for global warming…). What can a person do when the game of golf beckons, but snowflakes are flying and bitter winds buffet everything in sight? You can do the Dome. A tent of Teflon The Goodrich Golf Dome sits adjacent to Goodrich Golf Course and Aldrich Arena off White Bear Avenue in Maplewood, less than five miles northeast of Metropolitan State University’s St. Paul campus. The all-year, all-weather dome is owned and operated by Ramsey County’s Parks and Recreation division, and contains 36 practice stalls facing a variety of targets in the hitting area, along with a sizable practice green for putting and chipping. Each stall contains a hitting mat that allows you to hit from a tee, off shorter grass (simulating a fairway) or from taller grass...

Building beyond the border
Americans know the job market has been tough, and the market’s response to President Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus spending package has been more layoffs and sluggish finances. Many people have responded by cutting back on purchases and trying to “simplify” their lives. But in contrast to giving up things, some people are taking a different approach—adding a personal challenge by taking on volunteer work through faith-based and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These groups continue to draw more and more volunteers from North America, and among them is Projects Abroad, a London-based organization with offices in New York City and Toronto which matches volunteers from around the world with opportunities in more than 20 developing countries...

Artymiw’s awesome artistry: a review of the most recent Minnesota Sinfonia concert
If you haven’t yet attended a Minnesota Sinfonia concert at Metropolitan State’s Founders Hall Auditorium, you should, but I have some helpful advice: Get there early. On Friday evening, Feb. 13, hundreds of people—including kids—did, resulting in an overflow crowd for a thoughtfully programmed concert (especially for Valentine’s Day) by the Sinfonia, conducted by their Artistic Director, Jay Fishman. So on Fri., March 13, be at Founders Hall early as the Sinfonia and saxophonist Eugene Rousseau will perform classical music with flavors of Italy, Russia, Spain and Argentina...