Stop by for a treat and to register for door prizes.

The lecture is sponsored by St. Thomas’ College of Arts and Sciences and is free and open to the public.

Dr. Deborah Tannen

Tannen’s talk is the third in the university’s annual Public Discourse Lecture Series and one of several St. Thomas initiatives to address the widespread lack of civility in discourse in U.S. society.

Called “the world’s most famous linguist” by The Washingtonian, Tannen is a frequent guest on national television and radio programs and has written extensively about how the language of everyday conversation affects relationships. She is the author of four New York –Times best-sellers, including You Were Always Mom’s Favorite and You Just Don’t Understand, which spent four years on the Times’ best-seller list, including eight months as number one.

Her 1999 The Argument Culture: Stopping America’s War of Words won a Common Ground Book Award and is unique among her books because it focuses on public discourse – in the press, politics, the law and education.

“Our society has become overwhelmingly adversarial, with consequences not only in our ability to solve problems but also in our personal relationships,” Tannen writes on her website.  “The war on drugs, the battle of the sexes, politicians’ turf battles – war metaphors pervade our talk and shape our thinking, urging us to approach anything we need to accomplish as a fight between two opposing sides.

“It’s all part of what I call the argument culture, which rests on the assumption that opposition is the best way to get anything done. … What I’m questioning is the ubiquity, the knee-jerk nature of approaching almost any issue, problem or public person in an adversarial way.”

The author of 22 books, Tannen holds a doctorate in linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley, and has received five honorary doctorates. She also taught at Princeton University and was a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in Stanford, Calif.

St. Thomas’ lecture series and other initiatives, explained Dr. Terence Langan, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, strives to promote discussion of important ideas without the aggression, anger and obstinacy that often cloud such matters in today’s world.

“From its beginning, a guiding principle of the series has been to promote the concept of civil discourse,” Langan said. “From negative newspaper ads, to disrupted city council meetings, to disrespectful treatment of invited speakers, our society has witnessed locally and nationally a breakdown of civility surrounding contentious moral and political issues.”

The idea for the lecture series was developed by the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisers and, in part, grew out of St. Thomas’ experiences in recent years with controversies that have involved speakers, films, books and policies.

In addition to the lecture series, St. Thomas is raising funds to establish an Endowed Chair in Civil Discourse, and College and Arts and Sciences faculty continue to look for opportunities to incorporate principles of civil discourse in their curriculum.

Mitch Hinnenkamp

This December, the UST Phillips Scholarship Committee selected Mitch Hinnenkamp as our university’s candidate for the 2012 scholarship. Mitch is in the process of revising his application for the statewide selection process, which will take place this spring. His proposal, the Youth Empowerment Project, aims to promote self-confidence and address bullying issues with youth between the ages of 9 and 12. He plans to partner with the St. Cloud YMCA for an eight-week program that will include speakers, games and learning activities – the highlight of which will be creating public service announcements at the end of each week.

Mitch loves the continuity behind the Phillips Scholarship. He was impressed that “the scholarship rewards previous behavior but also funds future behavior.” To him, helping in the community is a way of life: “It’s more than just receiving money. It’s actually implementing the process and what the scholarship is all about.” He hopes to create a lasting impression with his program. Not only will they have the PSAs as a takeaway from their experience, he knows there will be more: “If you teach young adults a way of living socially and mentally, they will teach others by example.”

Bryant Ortega, our 2010 Phillips Scholar senior, completed his service project this past summer.

He developed Project HOPE (Health Offers People Enlightenment) to incorporate into Project for Pride in Living SEED Camp, a summer day camp for children ages 5 to 11 held at the Bethlehem Community Center in Minneapolis. Through Project HOPE, Bryant aimed to give youth from lower-income families the “chance to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”

Bryant volunteered at SEED Camp from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, spending at least one hour a day focusing on living a healthy lifestyle. He taught groups of students about nutritional information, led cooking classes and made fruit smoothies, which many students enjoyed. (Bryant said it was “the highlight of their summer.”)

“Nutrition is my passion,” Bryant said. A Los Angeles native, he volunteered with the California Center for Public Health Advocacy in high school, which inspired him to create Project HOPE. His favorite part of the summer was “seeing the slow transformation of the youth.” He related a story about a boy in his program: When the group was making pizzas, he kept picking off all of the vegetables. After Bryant encouraged him to try a piece with a bell pepper on it, the boy was surprised and said, “Hey! This is good! I like bell peppers on my pizza!”

Amanda McNaughton has been developing a Skills for School program for the East Metro Women's Council, a nonprofit organization that provides resources for the homeless and low-income families.

“I could relate and help them,” Ortega said. “I was able to give them what I had growing up.”

Amanda McNaughton, our 2011 Phillips Scholar, is gearing up to do her service project this summer. A Mahtomedi native, she will work with an organization close to home. She began volunteering at East Metro Women’s Council (EMWC) in White Bear Lake the summer after her freshman year. EMWC is a nonprofit organization that provides resources such as housing, child care and classes for homeless and low-income families. She continued working with the council into the fall of her sophomore year when she learned about the Phillips Scholarship.

For her service project, Amanda has been developing the Skills for School program for EMWC. She will lead approximately 35 3- to 6-year-olds and their moms in an interactive classroom setting to help them prepare for kindergarten. Amanda hopes to work with them on learning activities and social skills, while allowing mothers to have more one-on-one time with their children.

When I asked Amanda if she had any advice for students who hope to follow in her footsteps, she stressed the importance of finding your talents and thinking locally. “Find what you’re good at and start looking in your community. Once you see the need and find an organization that fits, [that connection] never goes away.” Amanda has been preparing for Skills for Schools all year. The program will open its doors this May.

The CILCE staff is immensely proud to be involved in the Phillips Scholarship process. If you will be a sophomore during the 2012-13 academic year and would like to learn more about this opportunity, contact program director Katie Hunt, (651) 962-6801.

An attorney from Moore, Costello and Hart is available for free legal advice from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Wednesday, Feb. 8, in Off-Campus Student Services. Advice is offered on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis. Off-Campus Student Services is located in Room 253, Anderson Student Center.

Free legal advice days also will be held Wednesdays:

• Feb. 29
• March 14
• March 28
• April 11
• April 25
• May 9

U.S. Department of Education financial aid policy requires that students earn their federal aid based on the amount of time they attend classes at UST. In order to earn all their federal aid, students must attend classes through 60 percent of the semester. (April 8, 2012, for spring semester undergraduate, and most standard graduate programs. This date is different for law and cohort programs.)

If a student withdraws before this date, the Financial Aid Office is required to calculate how much of a student’s federal aid he or she has earned and return the unearned portion to the federal government. There are no special circumstances (such as medical emergencies) that can prevent federal funds from being returned when a student withdraws before the 60 percent date.

Federal financial aid includes:

• Direct Loans
• Perkins Loans
• PLUS Loans
• Pell Grant
• Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• Teacher Education Assistance for Higher Education Grant (TEACH)

Note: This federal financial aid policy differs from the UST institutional refund policy. The federal requirement may mean that students will owe UST money because some of their financial aid has been returned.

Students who are receiving aid through any of these programs are encouraged to schedule a meeting with a financial aid counselor to consider the financial aid implications of withdrawing from school. Detailed information regarding the federal financial aid withdrawal policy for undergraduate and graduate students can be found on the Financial Aid Office website.

For more information call the Financial Aid Office, (651) 962-6550.

Semhar Araia

Semhar Araia ’99 was honored by the White House on Jan. 30, as a “Champion of Change” for her work supporting the efforts of women of the African diaspora. She is the founder and executive director of the Diaspora African Women’s Network (DAWN), a group she founded in 2007 that works to bring together women of the diaspora − people living outside Africa who consider their roots to be in the continent, by birth or descent. Araia spends about half her time in Africa and is a frequent guest speaker on U.S.-Africa policy, effective advocacy strategies and community organizing. The Champions of Change program recognizes different groups each week, from educators to entrepreneurs, for work they do to bolster their communities.

Dr. Massimo Faggioli, Theology Department, College of Arts and Sciences, is the author of “The New Elites of Italian Catholicism: 1968 and the New Catholic Movements,” published in January issue of The Catholic Historical Review, pp.18-40, and “La riforma liturgica conciliare e il futuro del Vaticano II: a proposito del ‘dialogo’ coi lefebvriani,” (The Liturgical Reform of the Council and the Future of Vatican II: About the ‘Dialogue’ with the Lefebvrites), published in the December 2011 issue of Horizonte (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais – Brazil).

Dr. Habiba Hadziavdic, Modern and Classical Languages Department, College of Arts and Sciences, is the author of an article, “When the Evening Bells Ring:  Wenn die Abendglocken läuten,” published in Directory of World Cinema:  German” (University of Chicago Press, 2012).

 Dr. Michael Hollerich, Theology Department, College of Arts and Sciences, is the author of “Catholic Anti-Liberalism in Weimar: Political Theology and its Critics,” published in The Weimar Moment: Liberalism, Political Theology, and Law, (Leonard V. Kaplan and Rudy Koshar, eds., Lexington Books, 2012, pp. 17-46).

Dr. Valentine Pakis, Modern and Classical Languages Department, College of Arts and Sciences, translated from German Iris Runge: A Life at the Crossroads of Mathematics, Science, and Industry Science, Networks/Historical Studies 43, by Renate Tobies (Basel: Springer, 2012).

James Rogers, Center for Irish Studies, is the author of a personal essay titled “Outside Metaphor,” published in the winter 2011 issue of Ruminate Magazine, a quarterly print journal dealing with faith, literature and art. The essay reflects on the experience of watching his mother age; the title plays off  Outside History, a collection of poems by the Irish poet Eavan Boland.

Dr. John Wendt, Opus College of Business, and Dr. John Miller of Troy University, are co-authors of an article titled “Tragedy at Fujairah: Risk Management and Legal Issues on the Death of Fran Crippen” that has been accepted for publication by the University of Denver Sports and Entertainment Law Journal.

The theme for the Senior Retreat is “The future is as bright as the promises of God!”

Cost is $15. Register by Sunday, Feb. 26, on Campus Ministry’s Retreat Calendar website.

Questions? Contact Vanessa Walsh, (651) 962-6562.

To win, find the laminated heart and return it to the Wellness Center to receive an autographed copy of What Happy Couples Do, written by Professor Carol Bruess, and other “Happy Couples” merchandise, a $25 gift card to Coffee Bené, and a $100 gift card to Axel’s Bonfire restaurant.

Clues will be given out daily – published in Bulletin Today, and posted on the Wellness Center website, Facebook and Twitter. Clue No. 3 and a healthy relationship tip (as well as earlier clues and relationship tips) are listed below:

*  *  *

 Clue No. 3: Don’t sit down on the job.

Have a healthy relationships with yourself: A healthy relationship with another begins long before the first date or the first kiss. It begins with you. Accepting yourself. Loving yourself. Respecting yourself. You need to be able to take care of yourself and be kind to yourself before you can provide these things for someone else.

(From: College of Saint Benedict, Saint John’s University, Healthy Relationships.)

*  *  *

Clue No. 2: A breathtaking view marks the spot.

Fighting fairly: A major stumbling block in any relationship is settling disagreements, which often are reduced to emotional shouting matches rather than caring problem-solving. Basic ground rules for effectively facing conflict in a relationship include:

1. Maintain a spirit of good will – remember: you care about this person.
2. Avoid attacking one another – discuss behavior, not personalities.
3. Share your feelings – explore and discuss them.
4. Focus on the present – past disappointments cannot be changed. Concentrate on the here and now.

(From: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Relationships)

*  *  *

Clue No. 1: Find the heart at the center of campus.

Healthy relationship tip: Keep expectations realistic. No one can be everything we might want him or her to be. Sometimes people disappoint us. It’s not all-or-nothing, though. Healthy relationships mean accepting people as they are and not trying to change them!

(From: Kansas State University, Healthy Relationships.)

The session is geared to students who are seeking top scores and will include a comprehensive review of all content tested on the LSAT. To reserve a seat (recommended but not required), register at PrincetonReview.com.

For more information email Lauren Trout.

NESC is looking for energetic individuals from a variety of departments and service areas who are interested in advancing NESC’s mission to build a strong and healthy workplace by fostering communication with the university’s administration, advocating for common interests, focusing on cooperation, and building community within the university.

Because NESC serves and advocates for all hourly employees, it encourages people from all departments and campus locations to consider running for election. The nomination deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 14.

NESC members serve two-year terms and generally devote two to five hours per month to council duties, which include attending monthly meetings, serving on university committees, coordinating social events for nonexempt staff, working on council management projects, representing the council at UST events, and organizing the annual Nonexempt Staff Appreciation Breakfast

Because council members provide an important service to the university, NESC activities will be considered part of an employee’s duties, and supervisors will approve NESC-related absences. Those who serve also have the opportunity to learn more about UST while meeting colleagues from throughout the campus community.

Serving on the council does require a commitment of time and energy but the benefits are plentiful, notes council member Kathy Sauro, Schulze School of Entrepreneurship.

Election timeline

• Nomination deadline – Tuesday, Feb. 14
• Nominees contacted about willingness to run – Feb. 15-21
• Nominee bio deadline – Monday, Feb. 27
• Call for online voting – Wednesday, Feb. 29
• Voting deadline – Wednesday, March 14
• New NESC members announced at Nonexempt Staff Appreciation Breakfast – Wednesday, March 28

To nominate yourself or a nonexempt co-worker

• Online: Visit the Nonexempt Staff Council website. Click on the “Questions? Comments? Write us!” link and enter the nominee’s name and department in the comment section.
• Email: scnonexempt@stthomas.edu
• Mail: Send to NESC Election, Mail SCH435.

For more information call Kathy Sauro, (651) 962-4149, or Christine Igielski, NESC president, (651) 962-5727.

For details and registration materials see the Career Development Center website or stop by the office in Room 350, Murray-Herrick Campus Center. Details about the fair and the employers who will attend can be viewed on the Job and Internship Fair website.

The seminars will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays in Room 251, Owens Science Hall:

• Feb. 24
• March 2
• March 9
• March 30
• April 13
• April 20
• April 27
• May 4

These workshops are designed for students and recent alumni who are applying to M.D. or D.O. medical schools in the 2012 application cycle. Discussions will cover topics such as how to approach the MCAT, how many and what type of schools to apply to, details of the AMCAS application, the personal statement and interviewing.

“Like” UST Health Professions Advising on Facebook for more announcements.

To register or for more information email Dr. Roxanne Prichard.

Other campus events this week not mentioned in the videoblog include:

• Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., Fanamaniac Redemption, Campus Way in the Anderson Student Center
• Thursday, convo hour, Fanamaniac Redemption, Campus Way in the Anderson Student Center
• Thursday, 9 p.m., Isis Speaks, Scooter’s
• Friday, 9 p.m., Salsabrosa, Scooter’s
• Saturday, 1 p.m., Fanamaniac Women’s and Men’s Basketball, Schoenecker Arena, AARC
• Saturday, 10 p.m., Tommies After Dark, Dance Lessons, Dance in the lower level of the Anderson Student Center

(And remember to Follow STAR on Twitter at @USTSTAR.)

It isn’t necessary for students to have completed a structured eating disorder treatment program, but they should have an awareness and acceptance of a current or previous unhealthy relationship with food, eating or body image and be committed to continuing recovery.

Meeting with other people to share common concerns is a great way to gain support and learn new coping strategies when feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed or confused. Being in a group can help people feel more connected, explore issues, gain insight, learn new skills and help others grow.

The group will meet weekly from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays in Room 370, Murray-Herrick Campus Center on the St. Paul campus.

Interested students are asked to schedule a brief screening appointment. To register for an appointment call (651) 962-6780 or email the group leaders, Deb Broderick or Emily Buoen.

UST Music Audition Days, the annual music major and scholarship auditions, give prospective students and their families a chance to learn more about St. Thomas. Music major candidates complete a performance audition, an interview, an evaluation of piano and vocal skills, and a brief music theory and ear-training assessment. Candidates also participate in an open panel with current music majors, brunch at the Binz Refectory and a Q-and-A session with Admissions staff. More than 75 people will visit UST for this event.

Scores from the assessments will be evaluated and scholarships will be awarded in the areas of fretted/bowed strings, keyboard, voice, and woodwind/brass/percussion.

Guests will park in surface Lot O on the south campus and will attend sessions in Brady Educational Center. For more information call Kara Bradshaw, (651) 962-5874.

Byron, 88, of Edina, was a Word War II veteran, an Abraham Lincoln scholar, and a member of the Civil War Round Table. A private interment was held yesterday at Ft. Snelling. A celebration of Byron’s life will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 50th and Wooddale, Edina.

An obituary and guest book can be viewed at legacy.com.

To win, find the laminated heart and return it to the Wellness Center to receive an autographed copy of What Happy Couples Do, written by Professor Carol Bruess, and other “Happy Couples” merchandise, a $25 gift card to Coffee Bené, and a $100 gift card to Axel’s Bonfire restaurant.

Clues will be given out daily – published in Bulletin Today, and posted on the Wellness Center website, Facebook and Twitter. Clue No. 2 and a healthy relationship tip (as well as yesterday’s clue and relationship tip) are listed below:

*  *  *

Clue No. 2: A breathtaking view marks the spot.

Fighting fairly: A major stumbling block in any relationship is settling disagreements, which often are reduced to emotional shouting matches rather than caring problem-solving. Basic ground rules for effectively facing conflict in a relationship include:

1. Maintain a spirit of good will – remember: you care about this person.
2. Avoid attacking one another – discuss behavior, not personalities.
3. Share your feelings – explore and discuss them.
4. Focus on the present – past disappointments cannot be changed. Concentrate on the here and now.

(From: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Relationships)

*  *  *

Clue No. 1: Find the heart at the center of campus.

Healthy relationship tip: Keep expectations realistic. No one can be everything we might want him or her to be. Sometimes people disappoint us. It’s not all-or-nothing, though. Healthy relationships mean accepting people as they are and not trying to change them!

(From: Kansas State University, Healthy Relationships.)

ECA works with local schools to host campus visits and give off-site presentations to help demystify the college experience for students in fourth through eighth grade. Most visiting youth will eventually be the first in their families to attend college and are from diverse and low-income backgrounds.

One hands-on activity of the Early College Awareness program looks at sensory persception.

The ECA program staff and student coordinators will create developmentally appropriate hands-on activities such as College Jeopardy, College Mad Libs, and a college simulation to show the youth what college is all about. A typical visit includes a general college introductory activity, a mock class or college simulation, lunch and a mini tour of campus.

While ECA student coordinators work behind the scenes with staff to develop and run the program, volunteers are needed to help lead activities, hang out with the youth at lunch and lead mini-tours of campus. Each volunteer is guaranteed 10 hours of community service by helping at three visits. (There is an option to choose to help at more visits.) These hours can count toward club requirements, Business 200, and other requirements.

Requirements

• Be available for at least two hours between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. (convo hour is not enough by itself) on Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Attend Training on Sunday, Feb. 19; Reflection on Thursday, March 29; and Final Celebration on Friday, May 11
• Be excited about working with the community and talking to kids about college and your experiences

To apply, fill out an application and turn it in at the CILCE Center by Monday, Feb. 13. An application is available online here, and for pickup at three locations:

1. CILCE in Room 153, Murray-Herrick Campus Center
2. Diversity and Inclusion Services in Room 224, Anderson Student Center
3. Dean of Students office in Room 241, Anderson Student Center

For more information email ECA or call program director Katie Hunt, (651) 962-6801.

Knights, 77, of Owatonna, died Tuesday, Jan. 31. She was a caring, thoughtful person who loved quilting, rug hooking, visiting family and friends, and giving tours at the Village of Yesteryear.

She is survived by her husband, Neal Knights, two daughters, two sons, three sisters and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. An obituary can be viewed at michaelsonfuneral.com.

The Event Service website allows users to search by venue or campus location to find which facility within the university will best accommodate their needs. Inquiries can be made via the website to each individual property.

Each campus provides unique and flexible spaces with audiovisual services, renowned cuisine and superior service.

Conveniently located on historic Summit Avenue, the St. Paul campus is minutes from both downtowns, the state Capitol, Xcel Energy Center and RiverCentre. The St. Paul campus also provides space for youth athletic camps and clinics, banquets, corporate conferences, association expos, meetings, music events and weddings.

The downtown Minneapolis campus is home to more than 50,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, located a few blocks from the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Minneapolis campus can accommodate day meetings, training seminars, conferences, banquets and weddings.

The Gainey Conference Center, in Owatonna, is the university’s full-service conference and retreat facility. Located one hour south of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the center is nestled in 180 acres of rolling country hills and provides a distraction-free setting for meetings, conferences, retreats, banquets and weddings.

For more information visit the Event and Conference Services website.

On Friday, Feb. 10, the AARC will hold free 45-minute demo sessions of several of the fitness classes offered this spring semester. Demo Day sessions will be taught by the AARC’s professional fitness instructors and are open to all UST undergraduate students and current AARC members.

Demo sessions will begin promptly at the following times, and each session will run approximately 45 minutes. (Click on the hyperlink to view a description about each class.)

Demo Day sessions

• 8 a.m. – TRX
• 11 a.m. – Spinning
• Noon - Sculpt
• 1 p.m. – Yoga
• 4:45 p.m. – Zumba

Demo Day sessions will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. To participate in Demo Day, come to the AARC 20 to 25 minutes before the beginning of the session and swipe your ID at the front desk. All Demo Day sessions will take place in the AARC’s aerobics rooms (Room 112 or 113). A Demo Day representative will be present to greet you outside of the room. All participants must be current AARC members and present a valid UST ID to be admitted to the AARC.

For more information about Demo Day email arcfitnessclass@stthomas.edu.

Harriet, 74, died Friday, Feb. 3, in Long Prairie, Minn. She was a loving wife and mother, a “Sports Mom,” a surrogate mother to many, and a woman of deep faith and devotion.

Visitation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Long Prairie, with a Memorial Mass to follow at 1 p.m. In addition, a celebration of her life will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 530 Victoria Street S., St. Paul.

An obituary and guest book can be viewed at Williams Dingmann.

Click to open the Wellness Center's channel.

The Wellness Center has posted the YouTube icon link pictured here to its YouTube channel on the Wellness Center website. Current videos include projects from fall 2011 Nutrition (HLTH 345) students.

The Wellness Center also offers this reminder: “Like” the Wellness Center on Facebook and follow it on Twitter for a chance to win valuable prizes.

The presentation features insights from their research and book of the same name. Learn the five communication behaviors to avoid in a relationship, how to handle conflict and create rituals of emotional connection.

The lecture begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, in the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium. Cost is $15, but students with a UST ID are welcome to attend at no charge.

For more information visit the Learning for Life Series website