In This Issue

Convocation held to prepare for new school year
Metropolitan State’s St. Paul Campus was abuzz the week before fall classes started; President Sue K. Hammersmith gave her second annual convocation, the University Aci-tivities Board (UAB) met to continue planning the upcoming FallFest celebration and members of the Student Senate met with representatives from student organizations to offer support. On Aug. 21 faculty, staff and administration met in the Founder’s Hall auditorium to hear the school’s state of affairs. As President Hammersmith reviewed her first year at Metropolitan State, she discussed triumphs and...

Changes ahead for scholarships
Metropolitan State University’s system of publicizing, processing and awarding scholarships and grants will be reorganized under the direction of the school’s president. Dr. Sue Hammersmith’s decision is based, in part, on continued problems with the applications and lack of publicity of university-awarded scholarships and grants. According to Robert Heuermann, Vice President for University Advancement, Hammersmith has asked the university’s new Vice President of Student Affairs, Trenda Boyum-Breen, to oversee a complete overhaul of the scholarship committee involvement and process. Hammersmith has given specific directives: Abolish the...

The Catalyst goes online
The Catalyst, the university’s newsletter for students, is no longer being printed in its previous format and is now only available online at: http://www.metrostate.edu/msweb/community/catalyst/index.cfm The Catalyst is full of information for students, such as new staff announcements, internship opportunities, awards that students and staff have received, information about student groups and any additional information the University feels that the student body needs to know. The Catalyst also announces important information such as construction on campus, building closures, safety concerns and holiday and summer hours...

Student Senate accepting applications for 2009-10 school year
The Student Senate at Metropolitan State University is currently accepting applications for places on the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee (SAFAC). Members of this subcommittee of the Student Senate assists in deciding funding for student groups at Metropolitan State and are paid a modest stipend. You can request an application from Philip Fuehrer in the Student Life and Leadership Development office in Founders Hall, Room 209, on the 7th Street campus...

University committees Wondering how you’re represented in front of Administration? Here’s how
Research on student retention and satisfaction indicates that the more engaged a student is, the more likely it is that they will graduate in a timely manner, be more satisfied with their college experience and graduate with higher GPA. Thus, the Student Senate is looking for students to not only participate but provide input on the university programs and events by serving in university committees...

New First College student association offers support to students
This fall a new student association, started by First College students, offers support and resources for the student body. “We want to offer First College more visibility both within the university and within the community as well,” says founding president Danisa Farley. “[We’re here to help] anyone struggling with learning or their program.” First College is an interdisciplinary, individualized program that allows students to chart the course of their education based on skills, past experiences and future goals. In the spirit of First College, the student association wants to include all of the student body. The goal is...

SSC Corner
Students for Social Change (SSC) is a student organization seeking to engage, educate and empower the Metropolitan State community. The group was formed for the purpose of giving students an avenue to explore the many ways they can enact positive social change both locally and globally. For some, this may mean putting together on-campus events around various current issues. For others, it may mean attending workshops to learn about socially conscious volunteer and career opportunities...

The UAB starts off the year right with FallFest
The University Activities Board (UAB) bids you greetings and hopes your summer break was relaxing and refreshing. The UAB is the programming board for the university consisting of an advisory board and coordinator Lori Yang who plans, implements and executes student activities and programs throughout the school year. At the beginning of each school year UAB coordinates and leads the FallFest Celebration, our welcome back celebration. This year the theme is Going Places with Many Faces, celebrating and embracing the rich diversity on our campus. The UAB is requesting your assistance in implementing FallFest. There are many ways to participate and students are strongly encouraged to participate in more than one way...

Metropolitan State University takes part in United We Serve campaign
Metropolitan State University takes part in the nationwide service initiative, United We Serve, by offering the Metropolitan State community a chance to volunteer on Sept. 10. As part of the United We Serve’s 81 days of service, the Civic Engagement and Center for Community-Based Learning (CCBL) and Student Activities have brought together eight great organizations the Met-ropolitan State community can volunteer for...

Metropolitan State (re)opens clinic
A small clinic in St Paul’s Roosevelt Community Center was reopened thanks to the efforts of Metropolitan State University faculty member Joanne (Jody) Orfield. The site was formerly known as the East Side Clinic and went vacant a few years ago when it merged with the West Side Clinic and moved to a new location...

Parking problems: Why shouldn’t we all just take classes at Midway?
There is no doubt that college students need to be a bit more frugal than most. Tuition, books, time away from work, the daily commute: this all must be factored into a student’s budget before enrollment, full- or part-time. Add parking fees to that list and it feels as if short-term losses outweigh the long-term gains of an educational investment. Paying $2.50 or even $5 to park at the downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses when parking is free at the Midway facilities, the issue appears to be less about financial burden and more about fairness...

Community garden connects students and the environment
The Metropolitan State University St. Paul campus houses a community garden that has had positive effects on students, faculty and the surrounding residents. The garden is located on the east side of the St. Paul campus library. It was started by Associate Professor August Hoffman of the psychology department after he started teaching at Metropolitan State last year. The approx. 20 ft. by 20 ft. plot is next to an unused greenhouse originally built by the state Department of Agriculture for insect research...

Remembering the fallen
If you were on any of Metropolitan State University’s campuses or near any state buildings on July 28, you may have noticed the flag being flown at half-staff. Governor Tim Pawlenty ordered it so in honor of soldiers that died in service of our country earlier that month. On July 16, a missile strike killed three members of the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Red Bull Infantry Division...

GoTo bus pass returning in increments
Metro Transit’s GoTo College Pass has returned at the normal price to Metropolitan State University. The card permits students at several Twin Cities universities unlimited rides on buses and light rail for an entire semester. The cards sold out during the 2008-09 school year and while the initial quantity available will be smaller, administration is leaving open the possibility of acquiring more cards. The card is similar to the popular U-Pass offered at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; the GoTo Pass provides students the opportunity to ride buses and trains operated by Metro Transit, Minnesota Valley Transit Authority...

Modern MacBeth in November
The classic story of MacBeth, by William Shakespeare, is being adapted into a modern piece at Metropolitan State University. Camille D’Ambrose will direct the play, which Gail Smogard, theater department director for Metropolitan State, said will be, “a modern Macbeth with a lot of surprises.”D’Ambrose, a theater arts faculty member, has a career of acting, directing and writing for the stage across the country. She has performed in the Twin Cities area at the Guthrie, Chanhassen Dinner Theater and the Jungle Theater.D’Ambrose says that she has rearranged scenes and put together a shorter version of Macbeth. The production will be two scenes, compared to the usual five, with one intermission...

Metropolitan State announces art exhibit to open Sept. 17
Metropolitan State University’s Third Floor Gallery is pleased to present The Diva Project: Minneapolis Community and Technical College’s Annual Fashion Competition.This exhibit features 10 winning designs created by current and former Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) students from the apparel technologies pro-gram. DVDs of previous runway shows will run on a monitor, setting the garments into context and demonstrating the vitality of the original runway productions...

Women link on the links
Perhaps you watched the women of Team USA win the Solheim Cup on TV a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps you sawY.E. Yang’s astounding defeat of Tiger Woods the week before at the PGA Championship, either on TV or in-person at Hazeltine National in Chaska. Whatever the case, if you are a woman who is thinking about taking up the game but you’re unsure of how or where to start, the Minnesota chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association has plenty of members who have been where you are...