The Woods

Photo provided by Peacefield Equine Sanctuary

By Lauren Nelson

Staff Writer

Twenty minutes away from campus is an equine facility dedicated to rescuing horses. Peacefield Equine Sanctuary is a place where horses that have been abused, starved, and abandoned can find a loving home with Elizabeth Lorenzen, who runs the non-profit facility.

“Many of the horses have been rescued from pretty dire circumstances,” says Lorenzen.

Starting this facility had always been a dream of hers; it was having the finances that had kept it from happening sooner.
James E. Carmichael, her veterinarian for many years, was called to put down a horse that had knee problems but still had the potential to be a happy pasture pet.

Carmichael told Lorenzen about the horse, encouraging her to take it. He did not want to euthanize the horse since it did have so much life left. Willingly, she took on the project. This was Lorenzen’s first of many rescue horses.

“The death of the first horse was very hard, and it made me think I was not cut out for this business,” said Lorenzen.

Carmichael believed differently and helped her with the process, encouraging her to continue with the rescue facility.

There have been many ways that community members have gotten involved in the sanctuary, Molly Migliaccio helped design Peacefield’s logo and business card and several Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students, along with other members of the Terre Haute community, spend their time volunteering at the farm.

While trying to think of ways to raise funds for the rescue, Lorenzen became involved with selling Dark Horse Chocolates, a brand of equestrian-themed gift chocolates. She is currently the only retailer of this brand of chocolate in Indiana.

“I became interested in selling Dark Horse Chocolates after I had heard they helped out not for profit organizations. They are classy and well cared for just like my horses and I wanted that to be shown in what I sold, so I chose Dark Horse Chocolates as a fund raising tool,” she explained.

In addition, she also sells other products that have been handmade locally, such as artisanal soap, stationery, and greeting cards. She provided the first place prizes at the Hunt seat show at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on Feb. 12. These prizes included homemade soaps and labels.

One of the future goals of the rescue includes placing the horses back into the community so that they can help others. Other non-profits that use horses, such as therapeutic riding centers, could benefit from a foster care program that provides trained, safe horses for their programs free of charge.

Raising the funds to accomplish this will be a long term goal, but is a big one that Lorenzen is determined to achieve.

There are many opportunities to volunteer through the rescue and internships can be arranged for those who need them. To contact Elizabeth Lorenzen about an internship, volunteering, or to purchase any of the products that she is selling, contact her at liblore@gmail.com. To learn more about Peacefield Equine Sanctuary, visit its website at http://peacefield-equinesanctuary.org.

Popularity: 65% [?]

By Emma Campbell

Staff Writer

The Feb. 28 town hall meeting at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College opened with a round of applause for the newly announced 16th president of the college, Dottie King.

King started the meeting by explaining what went on during the Board of Trustees’ meeting a week prior.

King said one of the ongoing dialogs with the board of trustees is that of budget information. Though she could not disclose certain specifics since the budget has yet been finalized, King stated three main goals that the college intends to focus on.

The first goal was to balance the budget realistically. The second and third, which King said were “in no particular order,” are to keep tuition increases as low as possible, and to continue to make faculty salaries a priority.

“When looked at a negative situation that historically for us might be a report of a recommendation of 0% salary increases, we’re not settling for that, and we’re continuing to work,” King said.

Since it is an ongoing situation, King could not provide actual numbers, but promised to provide the community with “more information as I have it.”

King also took time during the meeting to congratulate several professors who had received promotions as a result of the Board of Trustees meeting.

These professors include Monica Baez-Holley, Rebecca Mollenhauer, and Christine Wilkey, who were all promoted from assistant professors to associate professors.  Sherry Schnake also received a promotion from associate professor to full professor.

Vice President for Advancement Chad Linzy spoke briefly about the Woods Fund and the National Alumnae Board.

Linzy said the Woods Fund to stands at $542,000. The Woods Fund supports the operations of the college, such as electricity fees and building upkeep. Linzy encouraged faculty and staff to contribute to the Woods Fund, saying two years ago faculty giving was at 100 percent, but last year had fallen to around 90 percent.

Linzy congratulated the National Alumnae Board, who he said had reached 100 percent giving every year.

“This year they decide that since they had already reached 100 percent, they decided to increase their gift, each member,” Linzy said.

Three new employees were welcomed to the college: Alicia Holloway and Amanda Payne, both hired as assistant directors of Campus Admissions, and Courtney Richey, who was hired as director of Graduate Admission.

Towards the end of the meeting, King allowed for any questions from the audience. She clarified that SMWC is still looking to build a sports and wellness center on campus. King also started that she discussed at the board meeting making sure that the college was looking at the right size of the project.

King also disclosed this year’s commencement speaker as Patricia Crowley, who works in the Chicago area with the homeless.

One question directed at King asked, “What is your vision?”

After a thoughtful pause, King replied, “My vision is for Saint Mary of the woods to do more than survive; for it to begin to thrive.”

“My vision is for us to embrace the fact that we are a Catholic, women’s college; a liberal arts school for women, and to really think about what that means in the lives of young women today.”

Popularity: 48% [?]

Photo by Colleen Daum

By Emma Campbell

Staff Writer

March 26 will mark yet another Ring Day for the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College community. In years past, once families with tickets were seated, a stampede of other attendees would crowd shoulder-to-shoulder into the sanctuary of the Church of the Immaculate Conception to see the ceremony.

The biggest concern, as junior class president, Elizabeth Wright, points out, is the space crunch. An usher for the past two years, Wright has witnessed the discomfort of the audience as they fidget and sweat.

This year, the junior class does not have the option to use the balcony or to allow standing room. As a solution, they created Ring Day tickets. Faculty also will have to reserve spots to attend the ceremony, rather than a section being reserved for all of them.

Students become eligible during their junior year for the coveted onyx ring, which is described by the college’s website as “a symbol of academic achievement and the official entry into the community of “Woodsies” throughout the world.”

This event is arguably the most well known tradition that is associated with SMWC. Students receive their rings in an emotional ceremony in front of family, friends, and faculty in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

These tickets are a requirement for admittance to Ring Day; no one without a ticket will be allowed to attend.

These tickets are in addition to the two reserved-seat tickets each student is allowed for parents or family members. People without reserved-seat tickets will be seated in open sitting.

These tickets are not needed for co-presenters. Co-presenters are SMWC alumnae who have served as a mentor for the student and have helped them during their SMWC career.

Co-presenters are chosen by the student, though they are not required, and stand with the student as they are presented with their ring. They also have reserved seating, though they are not required to have a ticket.

In addition to these changes, the placement of the ring recipients and faculty and staff has been changed in order to better accommodate people. This year the faculty and staff will be seated in the sanctuary behind the altar, while the ring recipients will occupy the area where faculty and staff were previously seated.

Junior class advisor Julie White thinks these seating changes will ultimately benefit the Ring Day ceremony.

“There are 101 participants and limited seating so gaining 40-50 seats that the faculty would use is a nice gain…and the faculty will be an attractive focus for the ceremony … elevated on the altar, facing the congregation” she said.

Other minor changes include added specifics to handicap seating. Any person requesting handicap seating must be using either a wheelchair or a walker, and it is asked that the student reserving the seat specify which is used.

The junior class will also be using new Ring Day banners for this year’s ceremony.

With these changes, Wright is confident that the 2011 ring day ceremony will be memorable for all involved.

“We very slightly tweaked the program to better accommodate our theme, seating situation, and preference.  We are confident that these changes will help to make our Ring Day a memorable and comprehensive ceremony,” she said.

The Ring Day ceremony will take place Saturday March 26 at 3:00 p.m.

Popularity: 61% [?]

By Jena Thralls

Staff Writer

When you hear about two car-loads of college girls headed to Florida for spring break, you might be thinking about a lot of bikinis and margaritas. But that’s not why fifteen students from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College were headed to Florida.

Each year for spring break, the Campus Life department of SMWC sponsors an alternative spring break trip for students. While taking these trips, students serve others in need.

In previous years students and chaperones have traveled to places like New Orleans to repair hurricane damage; or New York City to serve the homeless. This year students traveled to Pensacola Florida, where they worked in various places to help restore the environment.

Campus Life Director Jeff Malloy said, “A lot of our other mission trips have always been human-story-based. They are generally more inspirational and emotional.”

Malloy believes that students have helped those people see hope when they have fallen at hard times. And he said the environment has a very similar story in itself.

“It goes through times of ups and downs and it needs the strength of others to rebuild and put it back together,” he said.

Seniors Erin Pugh and Brianna Davis have served on this trip all four years during college.

Pugh said, “I really liked the variety of work we got to do compared to previous years.”

Serving on this trip has taught Pugh and Davis to appreciate giving back to the community. “It has really shown me the need for service in every single place,” said Pugh. “Not just New Orleans, New York, or Florida, but in my hometown too.”

Pugh and Davis believe that participating on this trip has played a tremendous role in shaping their lives.

“Looking back, I realize these trips have helped me become the person I am today,” said Davis. “I don’t ever think of it as ‘sacrificing’ my spring break because I couldn’t ever imagine doing anything else with them.”

Students served at a different location in Florida each day of the week.

The group arrived late Saturday night at the Timpoochee 4H camp ground near Pensacola. They stayed in cabins where they bunked 10 people to a cabin with two showers.

Several other groups from colleges across the country also stayed on the campground. There were over 200 students total on the campground.

“It wasn’t crowded but it also wasn’t extremely spacious,” said Davis of her living arrangements. Davis believes that their living circumstances for the week added to the experience.

“If we stayed in a hotel we wouldn’t get as much out of these trips and it would totally take away from the bonding that goes on between us,” she said.

Sunday was a free day for students to sight-see in Pensacola. However, on Monday students were put to work.

They spent the day restoring and organizing material for a thrift store at Muscogee Nation. They packed used material into sheds in order to organize the clutter. The students and their guide joked that it was a “bad episode of Hoarders”.

Pugh said, “I’m happy with my professional packing skills, I could be a hoarder if I wanted to!”

On Tuesday students were sent to Topsail State Park in Destin, Florida to clean and repair trails and beaches.

“It was really cool that we got to work in our bare feet on the beach and still do good work,” Pugh said. “It was the best of both worlds.”

On Wednesday, the group was taken to Valparaiso Park where they were assigned to restore a creek. They removed unnecessary plant growth from the creek and replanted irises.

“We really surprised the other schools that were there with our willingness to work and get dirty,” says Pugh. “We turned hard work into fun and even had a mud fight!”

On Thursday, the group traveled to a Navy base located near Panama City where they cleaned up trash. The original plan was to build oyster bays, but the tide was too high. Students cleaned up trash across the Navy Base as an alternative.

Students finished work each day between 3 and 4pm. When they were finished, they looked for entertainment in a nearby town.

“The chaperones are always really good at finding us something to do,” said Pugh.

The group surprised themselves in several ways during the trip. Freshman Denae Sallis says she was surprised at how much fun she actually had.

“I was surprised about how well everyone worked together and how we all got along,” Sallis says.

Malloy agrees that everyone got along great. “There are certain pockets of people who signed up to go. Seeing the entire group come together to serve others in such a short period of time to serve others was great,” he said.

This year was Malloy’s 5^th year chaperoning the trip. He said “We are always under estimated, but we always over exceed the sexist expectations.”

Pugh said, “They see a group of girls and they don’t expect a lot out of us and when we’re done, they’re like, ‘Wow these girls can really do some work’”.

The SMWC students believe they left a good impression behind of the school. “We made every site fun,” said Pugh.

Malloy also says the group was really good about entertaining themselves on and off the worksites.

The students listened to music and sang loud in and out of the car rides. And they were said to have presented phenomenal team work.

Pugh said, “Aside from being crazy, I think we impressed people.”

Popularity: 53% [?]

By Allison Foster

Staff Writer

Feb. 22 marked the last game of the season for the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College basketball team.

SMWC played Robert Morris, ranked sixth in the USCAA and 2010 Women’s National Basketball Champions.

The Pomeroys shot 70 percent from the 3-point line and tallied up 25 assists for the game for an 87-67 victory.

It wasn’t enough to send the Pomeroys to nationals this year. But the hard work work they put in on and off the court  has given them the opportunity to become closer as a family, said team members.

“We are all disappointed we fell short of the national tournament, but lessons come hard sometimes,” said Head Coach Deanna Bradley.  “Basketball is a very long season, and we know every game is critical when you are fighting for a position in the tournament.”

On Feb. 17, the Pomeroys played Spalding University for a tough loss. The score was constantly back and forth between SMWC and Spalding but in the end came up short with a final score of 43-53.

“Spalding has always been a good rivalry for us,” said Brittney Shaner, sophomore.  “They always come ready to play.”
On Feb. 12,the Pomeroys took on University of Cincinnati-Clermont. It was an important game for the Pomeroys since they were celebrating senior players Abby McKee and Brooke Brown .

Hours before the game started, the Pomeroys decorated the Community Recreation Center with balloons and signs that said “Congratulations!” and “Go Abby and Brooke!”

There were more than 60 people in attendance for this game to help celebrate all of McKee’s and Brown’s hard work and dedication to the team.

“The team put a lot of effort into everything and it just made everything very special,” said McKee.
The Pomeroys began the game with two points from freshman Jordan Barton and a 3-pointer from junior Chelsey Barron.
UC-Clermont caught the lead in the first half with a score of 20-25 with 7:52 left.

Bradley called for a quick timeout and gave the team a pep talk to help them get back in the game.  The first half ended with a score of 35-38.

With only 50 seconds left in the game, Brown caught herself in a scramble with an opposing team player and suffered a dislocated finger. But she did not let it stop her. She had the finger put back into place, and went back into the game.

“You cannot replace people like Brooke and Abby…,”  said Bradley.  “They have given so much of themselves to almost every possible avenue on this campus and they will be missed.”

The Pomeroys were victorious and came out with the win with a final score of 81-79.

After the game, the team celebrated with cake and ice cream, and gifts for Brown and McKee.

Popularity: 57% [?]

By Emma Campbell

Staff Writer

On Feb. 11 – 13 several Saint Mary-of-the-Woods students volunteered their time with the Terre Haute Humane Society at an adoption event hosted by PetSmart.

Junior Morgan McMillian notified Student Development Specialist Deb Light of this event. Light then sent out a campus wide email encouraging students to attend.

McMillian has been volunteering with the Terre Haute Humane Society since late 2008. She works with both the Quality Team (walking shelter dogs) and also acts as a foster home to some shelter cats and dogs.

Around 20 SMWC students volunteered at the event. Assistant Director of Campus Life Elizabeth Coley also attended. Coley and her husband, who also attended the event, signed up to be future volunteers for the shelter.

The adoption event at the Terre Haute Petsmart included several other humane societies, including Sullivan County and Parke-Vermillion County, ect.

For Freshman Ashtyn Dowden, this adoption event was her first time doing volunteer work since starting college.

“I had so much fun seeing friends who were already there and meeting new people from Indiana State University.” She said.

Dowden enjoyed the event so much; she attended another adoption event the following weekend.

“If anyone has just an hour of their time to help out THHS (Terre Haute Humane Society) I would definitely encourage them to do so!” she said.

Volunteer students helped several of the shelters unload supplies and dogs and set up their stations.

Students walked the dogs around the store while socializing with people who were interested in possible adoptions.

“I was extremely impressed with the THHS organization as a whole and thought the event was a major success”, said Coley. “A highlight of our time at the Adoption Day was to be able to give the dogs a little one-on-one time and show each of them off to prospective homes.  If I could, I would have taken every dog home with me!”

The Terre Haute Humane Society was incorporated in 1913. It is a private organization, meaning it relies solely on adoption and owner relinquish fees, as well as donations and volunteer work.

For questions about adoption or volunteer opportunities, call the Terre Haute Humane Society at 812-232-0293 or visit their website at www.thhs.org.

Popularity: 50% [?]

By Danya Long

Staff Writer

Buck Rogers was thrown into the 25^th century when a NASA mission in 1987 catapulted him into another orbit. Co-writers Troy Brownfield, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College assistant professor of journalism, and Matt Brady take on the character of Buck Rogers in a new Buck Rogers Annual 1 comic book that has been received well in the community and around the country since its release on Feb. 9.

Brady and Brownfield depict Buck Rogers on his birthday, a day when his situation is really sinking in—a day when he realizes he is never going home. Doctor Huer makes Buck aware of an annual music transition he receives, which makes Buck go and investigate it, knowing that somehow this is a message from his dead girlfriend. This signal takes Buck and Huer to a neglected but functioning data storage center where they find a recorded message from his girlfriend. The message, which was recorded near the end of her life, tells Buck that he needs to get on with his life even though he is essentially alone. In come the killer robots and the roaming herd of cannibals. The action reaches it high point during the gunfight and the flight to safety. This story helps Buck end a chapter of his life and allows the next heroic story to begin.

Brownfield isn’t new to the world of comics and entertainment. He has worked as a writer for Newsarama.com for seven years, an Associate Editor for Fangoria Comics, and writer for “The Tales of Wonderland: The White Knight,” among other things.

Brady brings his own comic credentials to the table. He founded Newsarama.com in the 1990s and ran it until 2009 when he stepped down. According to Brownfield, Brady has interviewed everybody and been to countless conventions.

“Matt was part of the comic landscape for a long, long time,” said Brownfield.

With Brady off the comic grid and Brownfield still actively writing, the two paired up when Brady pitched an idea to Brownfield and took it to Dynamite Entertainment. At the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo in April 2010, Brownfield was talking to a publisher at Dynamite Entertainment; the suggestion came about the Brownfield and Brady should take on a Buck Rogers annual.

An annual edition in comics usually happens about once a year and is typically a stand-alone story. The Buck Rogers Annual takes place within the framework of the first 12 issues and sets the scene for the next series.

At the time of the convention, Brownfield had no idea what struggle to face Buck with for the annual.

“I went to cover a panel that Marvel was doing. So I’m on my way there in this McClintock Convention Center in Chicago (it’s huge),” said Brownfield. “I’m walking from one end of it to the other, and while I’m on my way there, I get this idea for a Buck Rogers story.”

Brownfield discussed the process of making a comic book and what went into the annual edition. He and Brady wrote the storyline in July and August of 2010, then presented it to Carlos Rafael, the regular artist for the Buck Rogers series. Rafael took his work to Carlos Lopez, the colorist for the series.

“I think that people don’t necessarily understand that in the comic realm it can take a few months,” suggested Brownfield.

Not only does the process of making the comic take months, but the process of selling the comic takes even longer. The cover and detailed description of the comic go in about three months before the comic even comes out. The preview catalog goes out to retailers about two months ahead of time. Then after those two months the comic will hit the stands ready for consumers. Brownfield said that last week Dynamite Entertainment put out their solicitations for comic books that will be released in May.

As for the story of Buck Rogers, who has been around since 1925, any normal person would crumble under this abnormal situation. As Brownfield puts it, the characters in the comic are “wondering when the caveman’s going to crack.” Buck knows how to use the technologies of the future, but each of them is expecting him to lose it.

“The grief of losing a single loved one multiplied by the loss of your entire civilization,” says Brownfield, trying to put into perspective Buck’s feelings.

Since its release, the Buck Rogers Annual 1 has been received well. There have been many positive reviews by writers from sites, such as MajorSpoilers.com and Newsarama.com. The press coverage of the comic helped propel the sales, as well. The writing duo was also interviewed by MTV before the release.

Speaking of sales, good luck finding a copy. Stores around the country have sold out and are waiting for more copies to arrive. Even SMWC’s bookstore is waiting for more, after selling out quickly and having an autograph session with Brownfield.

Brownfield jokes, “It sold really well at The Woods.”

He says that the sales aspect isn’t really the main focus for the team. It was more like “planting a flag as a writing team.” This is important for both Brownfield and Brady because, as a team, they have more in development for the future. Some of these projects are being kept quiet, and some are already at publishers and very close to the green light.

As the interview came to a close, Brownfield left with a lasting comment.

“There’s a lot, lot worse things you can do with your time than write comic books.”

Popularity: 56% [?]

By Emma Campbell

Staff Writer

Sophomore student, Leonora “Nora” Dalipi spent her winter vacation volunteering at Greenpeace, meeting several Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College alumnae, and exploring the nation’s capital.

The process started when Dalipi decided that she wanted to do something “creative” for her winter vacation.

“I just wanted to have a new experience,” she said.

Dalipi, who is also an international student from Kosovo, does not go home over the four week winter break.

Unsure of how to begin, Dalipi asked Associate Professor of Paralegal Studies Kathryn Myers. Once Dalipi decided she wanted to stay and volunteer in Washington D.C., she contacted the Alumnae Relations Office to ask for assistance.

Alumnae Relations then contacted several alums who lived in the D.C. area, asking them if they would be willing to house a current student for some time during her winter vacation, and also if they knew of any Non-For Profit organizations at which Dalipi could volunteer.

Dalipi said the response from alums was amazing. Not only were there several offers of places to stay, but one alum in particular, Jeanne Rewa (’02), who works at Greenpeace, offered a volunteering position to Dalipi during her vacation.

While in D.C., Dalipi stayed with three families. The first was Jay and Anna Keller, a family Dalipi knew outside of SMWC, and friends of her family. They prepared Dalipi for big city life including teaching her how to ride a metro.

After her first week with the Kellers, Dalipi stayed with SMWC alumn Dannielle Beitzell (’10), and her third week with Michelle Parris (‘97). Her fourth and last week in D.C. was spent again with the Keller family.

Dalipi spoke very fondly of her work at Greenpeace.

“Every morning those people came to work to make a difference,” she said, “Not for themselves, but for everyone else.”

Dalipi worked in different offices during her time there. Her first position was in the Executive Office, working under the Executive Director of Greenpeace, Phil Radford.

Here, Dalipi worked on formatting and editing a newsletter for Greenpeace and even wrote a few articles for it.

Next, Dalipi worked with the Global Warming Team. It was with this team that Dalipi gained another perspective.

“We get scared, even as students, to make a difference, because we always see ourselves as small…but I really learned at Greenpeace that if you have the love and passion for whatever you’re doing, you can do whatever you want,” Dalipi said.

Dalipi’s last weeks at Greenpeace were spent working with the Development Team. Here Dalipi saw the donations that Greenpeace receives being a Non For Profit Organization.

All of Dalipi’s hard work did not go without some fun. After working every day from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Dalipi took the rest of the day to explore the city.

Some of her tourist attractions included visiting the Museum of Natural History (three times), a tour of Capitol Hill, a tour of the White House, the National Zoo, and a day trip to Boston.

While in D.C., SMWC helped Dalipi to set up a meeting with Sen. Richard Lugar. Dalipi met him in the Vice President’s Room in the Capitol. There, they spoke briefly and posed for pictures. Dalipi gave Sen. Lugar an SMWC Christmas ornament, which he later sent her a thank you letter for.

Dalipi also got to sit in on a law class at George Washington University Law School. She spoke to SMWC alum Valerie Despres (’89) who attended law school there, and assured Dalipi that she could call her with any questions.

During her stay, Dalipi met and had dinner with SMWC alum Bobbie O’Brien (’67). During dinner, they spoke of the Woods ring, and the meaning it still carries today.

With the help of the Alumnae Relations Office and the Career Development Center, Dalipi said, “The experience was 10 to 15 times better than I thought it would be.”

When asked if she would encourage other students to make similar trips while staying with alums, Dalipi said she has been trying to encourage students choose a destination and go.

Dalipi said that the experience does mature students, and forces them to talk to people outside of their comfort zone. She emphasizes that alums are more than willing to open their homes to students, stating that, while she was there she “felt like family.”

“It really is a step out of your comfort zone…but it’s so worth it at the end of the day.”

Popularity: 51% [?]

By Jade Scott

Editor-in-Chief

William Shakespeare.  The minute an audience hears that name the normal response is to run away as quickly as possible in the opposite direction.

So what made the difference with Saint Mary-of-the-Woods production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’?  Tragedy sprinkled in with dancing, music, comedy, oh and a giant dancing bear.

The SMWC production of this particular play, a tragicomedy, was split into two acts.

Act one (Once Upon a Time) dealt with all of the heavy tragedy whereas act two (Happily Ever After) took a turn and the audience found themselves being entertained with live music, dancing, and then the Satyr Dance with the cast in costumes of part human and part goat.

‘The Winter’s Tale’ follows two kings, Polixenes and Leontes, who have been good friends since childhood.  Tragedy begins when Polixenes (King of Bohemia) believes that his wife, Hermione, had been unfaithful with Leontes.  Jealousy clouds his judgment and he tries to imprison his wife who is with child as well as poison his childhood friend.

Leontes is able to escape back to his home in Sicilia and Hermione is proven innocent after she gives birth to a daughter but not before her son is found dead over distraught of his mother’s possible imprisonment.

Polixenes looses his son, his wife, and even banishes his newborn daughter for he feared she was not his own blood.

“Even though I could not understand the play the entire time, I still enjoyed it,” said Alyssa Flynn, sophomore.

Act two follows the banished daughter of Polixenes, Perdita who was raised by a Shepard.  She falls in love with the son of Leones, Florizel.  In the end everyone finds their ‘happily even after’ with Polixenes regaining his family with Hermione and Perdita who is able to marry Florizel.

Freshman Sherry Bube played the role of Hermione as if she was directly out of the 17^th century.  With this being her first SMWC production with a large role she handled the pressure well and delivered stunning performances.

“I had played a role ‘The House of Barnada Alba’ so this time I was anxious but in an excited way,” Bube said.  “I was most anxious about how I was going to portray my character.”

While this production was not an exact representation of the original the play and story line was left in tact as a whole.

One large difference from an original Shakespearean play and SMWC’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’ was the fact that women were playing several male characters instead of an all male cast.

“It wasn’t as bad for me since I played a younger male character, but some of the others had to wrap their chests to keep a flat male appearance,” said Lauren Sutton who played King Polixenes son, Mamilius.

After almost two months of rehearsal and five productions starting on Feb. 24 and ending on Feb. 27 the large cast and crew of more than 50 students, professor and guest actors came away with a successful spring performance.

“It was completely stressful but rewarding at the same time to be able to see the progression the cast made from the beginning to the last show,” said Assistant Director and Stage Manager Danielle O’Conner.

Popularity: 48% [?]

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Popularity: 32% [?]