The Woods

By Juliette Faraone
Staff Writer

Last semester, seniors Nicole Weig and Nicole Gilberti were walking around the Conservatory of Music on Saint Mary-of-the-Woods campus, discussing the building’s need of repair and general upkeep. SMWC’s Conservatory is 97 years old, and the two students felt strongly that changes needed to be made in order to preserve the building for future generations.
Weig, president of the music therapy club, said that little changes were mentioned first, such as adding a garden with flowers. However, she went on to say that one of the larger goals is the renovation of the Cecilian Auditorium.
“I feel that it is incredibly important to take on a ‘if you want change than do something about it’ attitude. A new auditorium won’t be handed to us, cracks in the wall won’t magically disappear, and other disrepair won’t fix itself,” Weig said.
Together with SMWC’s student senate, a fundraiser was planned in order to raise money for this worthy cause. A bingo night with the Sisters of Providence was scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 26 in Owens Hall.
Sophomore and music therapy club member Megan Neyer went to play bingo because she had seen the posters around campus and thought it would be a fun way to help the cause. “I had a really great time,” Neyer said. “The sisters are all so nice, but they are serious about their bingo.”
There was a great student turnout, and the night was a success. Sophomore and student senate member Cathleen Flynn said the amount raised totaled $170.
The intention of “Conserve the Conserv” is to motivate current SMWC students to contribute to the school and not to wait until they have graduated before giving back. As Weig said, “Our campus is so beautiful and it is very important to do all that we can to help preserve the beauty that is Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.”

Popularity: 25% [?]

By Juliette Faraone
Staff Writer

The mission statement at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is to “think critically, to communicate responsibly, to engage in lifelong learning and leadership, and to effect positive change in a global society.”
To fulfill the mission statement SMWC is taking steps to address the increasingly important issue of working toward a sustainable society.
Greening the Woods was first brought together by the initiative of Sister Joan Lescinski, former president of SMWC. In 2007 Lescniski sent an email regarding her concern over environmental and sustainability issues at the Woods. In the email she announced a meeting to be held on such subjects and asked those present to recommend faculty and staff members they would like to see on a committee to deal with these issues.
Sister Terri Boland became one of these committee members and now is a key figure in the progress being made at SMWC.
Boland came to SMWC after working for some time as a school principal. In the summer of 2003, after taking a sabbatical to spend time with her mother, she interned at the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. The White Violet Center, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, works to provide opportunities for people to participate in creating systems that support justice and sustainability through organic agriculture, eco-justice education and social advocacy.
Wanting to do more for the environment, Boland began another internship, this time at Genesis Organic Farm in New Jersey.  At Genesis, Boland worked in the Earth Literacy Center for seven months and learned a great deal of information on environmental issues.
Inspired by Father Thomas Berry, Passionist priest and author of The Great Work, Boland began to think more on the matter of ecology. Berry’s writings advocate a transition into the “Ecozoic era,” a time for healing the damage done to Earth and learning to live in harmony with it again. This, as opposed to the “Technozoic era,” which attempts to fix man-made problems with man-made technology.
“We do not want to lose our technology, but rather use it hand-in-hand with ecology to help the earth and its future,” Boland said.
Boland uses her role as a professor at SMWC to develop new ways of thinking about our environment in an educational setting. She is currently developing the ED-366 class, Children and Nature, which can be used with the new Environmental Sciences minor for Education majors.
This course features an outdoor classroom complete with areas for math, science, language arts, and social studies. Many students might recognize the classroom, as it occupies the space of the old kiln in the back of Hulman Hall. Over the summer, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity members from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology helped disassemble the kiln and make room for the shelter and gardens currently behind Hulman Hall. Boland hopes to use this area to get children involved in the outdoors.
There is a weather station surrounded by perennials, which records information such as wind speed, air pressure, humidity, and rain fall. Also featured in the area are traditional four-by-four garden beds with vegetables growing in them.  As well, there is a circle bed with flowers for pollinators like bees. This circle bed was built with an area in the center for directional shadow casting, which is useful for telling both time and direction.
When taken in all together, the outdoor classroom is a way to show what schools can do in their own backyard because.
“What better way to teach our children?” Boland said.
The outdoor garden and the work done by Boland is just one example of SMWC’s efforts to make the campus more sustainable.
The college is starting to realize that students, faculty, and staff are interdependent members of the campus community. They must work together to successfully achieve mutually agreed upon goals to enhance the sustainability of the campus
The Woods also recognizes its unique position as an institution of higher education sponsored by the Sisters of Providence, who have done much to advance the notion and practice of eco-justice and living sustainably.

Popularity: 22% [?]

By Juliette Faraone and Rebecca Tracy
Staff Writers
Legislation of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” legally known as “Military Personnel Eligibility Act of 1993,” was implemented under President Bill Clinton’s administration.
This act restricted the United States military from discovering gays and lesbians serving in the army.  The act included that homosexuals did not have to disclose their sexual orientation on their military applications and did not have speak about any type of sexual relations while they served in the United States military.
The “don’t ask” part of the act restricted superiors from investigating members of the army who they suspect might be homosexual.  Since the Clinton administration this act has been debated about but has begun receiving more attention under President Obama.
On Tuesday, Sept. 21, the federal court case of Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America challenged the constitutionality of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. In her ruling last month, Judge Virginia Phillips agreed with the policy’s detractors, finding no compelling grounds to have “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” still in effect.
However, soon after this finding, the Obama administration argued for a temporary stay, saying that the policy was ultimately the job of Congress and not the courts to repeal the law.
This latest move serves to illustrate Obama’s somewhat ambivalent feelings toward the 17-year policy. After overlooking the issue during his initial year in office, Obama declared his intention to overturn the policy.
Voters question why Obama does not simply overturn DADT by executive order, like President Truman did to desegregate the armed forces in 1948. Obama’s defense has been that the situation is not analogous, because with DADT, Congress had actually passed a law imposing this discriminatory rule. Therefore, Congress alone should repeal it.
After making this statement, the president requested a study of the issue.
Officials say they want to implement a procedure that ensures new policies are in place before the military undergoes its biggest change since 1976, when women were allowed to serve.
Questions of health benefits, spousal perks, housing, policies on sexual harassment, and even sensitivity training and support must also be addressed.
Currently, the Pentagon is still waiting for the release of the results from a survey of nearly 400,000 service members. These members were polled on a variety of military issues, primarily concerning attitudes toward morale and ability to participate in active combat if homosexuals are allowed to openly serve.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he feels this is, “an action that requires careful preparation, and a lot of training. It has enormous consequences for our troops.”
But groups like OutServe, which calls itself an “underground network of actively serving the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community”, advocates for lifting the ban.   They say that attitudes are more tolerant since the policy was created during the Clinton administration in 1993.  Many of OutServe’s members don’t see the hurdles that the United States Department of Defense anticipates in repeal of the 17-year policy that bans homosexuals from openly serving in the military.
In 1993, a Rand Corporation study reviewed militaries in 26 countries that have already allowed openly homosexuals serve. Canada, Britain and, Australia said initial fears about morale and combat readiness proved to be unfounded when it came to homosexuals in the military.
According to a 2010 poll by The New York Times, 58% of Americans favor homosexuals serving openly, compared to 28% opposed.
At the Victory Fund’s Gay and Lesbian Leadership Awards in October, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that by the end of the year, ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will be gone; it will just be a sad memory.

Popularity: 39% [?]

Orientation leaders Bailey Birt, left, and Nora Dalipi, right, point freshman Ashley DeMoss in the right direction during move-in. / Photo by Danya Long

By Juliette Faraone
Staff Writer

(Appeared in the Sept. 7 print edition of The Woods)

Sophomore Laura Kempton became an orientation leader because she wanted to welcome new students to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and make sure they felt comfortable here.

Kempton was one of 25 orientation leaders who volunteered to introduced new Woodsies to the campus life. Orientation ran from Aug. 19 to Aug. 23. This session is just one way to help entering students adjust and transition into life at SMWC.

On the first day, students were led into the ballroom of Le Fer Hall, where they filled out general forms and received important papers. Incoming students began orientation, meeting for lunch and a welcome address in O’Shaughnessy Dining Hall. After the meal, students split into smaller groups to become better acquainted. Each group had  at least one upperclassman as Orientation Leaders. These OLs had been on campus the week before, training for their roles as student guides.

Kempton worked alongside fellow sophomore Nora Dalipi, as leaders of the Fountain group. Being a returning international student, Dalipi recognized the possible difficulties of the shift from high school to college. As she said, “The first few weeks are always tough, so I wanted to be their support system. I wanted to help them have an easier transition to the Woods.”

Dalipi is not the only international student on campus. This year, SMWC had 20 new students from China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Northern Ireland as well as four returning international students. Because the change in countries can be difficult at times, the 20 incoming global students arrived a week before freshman orientation for their own international orientation.

Junior Samantha Gavin decided to become an international orientation leader for just these reasons. Gavin’s main motivation was “helping the internationals adjust to American and campus life before new student orientation.”

For many of the international students this extra week helped, though at times the schedule seemed too full. Marketing major Lu Yu enjoyed all of the activities at orientation but felt it would be better if there was more free time to rest between activities.

“We usually have a short sleep after lunch in China, so sometimes we will be depressed and tired all the time left without it,” Yu said. “I guess it’s the difference of culture.”
International students Jingwen Chen, also from China, and I-Chieh Wen from Taiwan agreed that orientation could benefit from having a more relaxed schedule, but when asked about campus, both expressed enthusiasm.

Chen said, “The school is so beautiful, and our international orientation leaders’ smiles really impressed me.”

Other students had the same first thoughts regarding SMWC. Freshman Lauren Waters appreciated the peacefulness of campus.

New students high five each other at the beginning of Playfair, a part of freshman orientation at SMWC. / Photo by Danya Long

Waters said, “When I first toured SMWC, I thought the campus was quiet, quaint, and peaceful.”  She went on to say that she “liked how the campus was really ‘in the woods.’”

After moving in and getting organized, students participated in games presented by Playfair, a company specializing in New Student Orientations. The activities featured by Playfair are crazy, fast-paced, ice-breakers through which the entire first-year class gets to know each other in a comfortable environment. The games played during Playfair’s presentation are designed as team-building experiences– powerful programs to encourage campus unity.

Freshman Heather Ennis thought Playfair was beneficial to the orientation experience.

“Though embarrassing at times, it really did help us freshman become familiar with each other,” Ennis said. “It forced you to put yourself out there.’”

Overall, orientation was a success. Though some students felt the schedule was a bit too crowded, most enjoyed the chance to meet and interact with other new classmates. This is essential– if students feel comfortable the first few days, they’re more likely to continue with their higher education.

Nora Dalipi summed up her role as OL by saying, “I also had to make sure they felt comfortable with each other and that by the end of the week, they were ready to start school as college students.  I also had to be available for any questions, concerns, or complaints. Basically, I was one of their first college friends.”

Orientation ended Monday when the new students were released to first Monday check-in. Jeff Malloy, director of Campus Life, said he was pleased with the work the OLs did. “Our evaluations have been very positive of both the leaders and the orientation program.

Popularity: 81% [?]

By Juliette Faraone

Staff Writer

(Appeared in the Sept.7 print edition of The Woods)

For the fourth year in a row, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has been listed by the magazine U.S. News and World Report as one of the best undergraduate colleges in the Midwest.

SMWC moved up in its ranking from number 20 last year, to number 18 out of 71 Tier One regional colleges, according to the magazine.

Schools with Tier One status receive higher amounts of research funding, which attracts a larger number of students pursuing careers in research and development. Large corporations view such institutions as providing highly skilled workers that establish a competitive advantage in the marketplace, according to the magazine.

In addition to the honor of being listed among these schools, SMWC was also recognized as having one of the highest percentages of “under-20” classes, with 94 percent of classes having less than 20 students.

“We are proud to be consistently recognized as one of the top colleges in the Midwest,” said Dottie King, interim president of SMWC. “Our commitment to our students continues to focus on academic excellence where students engage in leadership and service; stretch their minds and imagination in and out of the classroom; and see ways to affect positive changes in our global society.”

First published in 1983, the U.S. News college ranking system has grown to become the most complete research tool for students and parents considering higher education. U.S. News and World Report sorts viable schools based on classifications created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

In order to rate the schools, U.S. News first combines the nine Carnegie categories into four main groups: National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities and Regional Colleges.

The group that SMWC falls into is that of “regional colleges.”

Regional colleges, as defined by the Carnegie Foundation, have their primary focus on providing an undergraduate education, which makes them similar in many ways to liberal arts colleges. However, regional colleges award less than 50 percent of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. This means that at these schools, at least 10 percent of undergraduate degrees granted are bachelor’s degrees.

There are 319 regional colleges in the United States. The magazine ranks these institutions within four regions: North, South, Midwest, and West.

Of the many aspects that shape the rankings’ key measures of worth are peer assessment, retention, graduation rates, faculty, resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and high school counselor ratings of colleges.

Established by Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and the Sisters of Providence in 1840, SMWC has the reputation of being the oldest women’s Catholic liberal arts college in the United States.

As noted by U.S. News and World Report, SMWC gives students access to a broad liberal arts-based education, as well as scholarships and financial aid opportunities to make college more affordable. Small class sizes mean more attention to the individual.

According to the U.S. News website, SMWC provides “a value-centered education in a Catholic tradition,” and an extensive assortment of student activities.

The latest rankings, which also include rankings of more than 1,400 schools nationwide, are available to view at http://usnews.com/colleges. The rankings are also in the September print issue, which hit newsstands Aug. 31.

Popularity: 40% [?]