March Madness

for dummies
›› pg. 8
This newspaper, like many other things, is recyclable.

March 18, 2011 - Volume 78, Issue 11

thewheel-scu.tumblr.com
St. Catherine University student newspaper

Fair compensation
• SCU professors’ pay gap
debated
By Alexa Chihos and Rachel
Armstrong with reporting by
Esther Moss, Becky Doucette,
and Jordyn Arndt
Each year, St. Catherine University (SCU)
participates in the American Association of
University Professors  (AAUP) survey. The
information the AAUP receives is then published
in Academe. The 2010 information provided
by Academe has spurred discussion in the
SCU community surrounding professors’
compensation.
According to average salary numbers
reported by Academe in 2010, the mean
professor salary within reporting Associated
Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) schools
(Augsburg College, Hamline University,
Macalester Collge, the University of St.
Thomas, and SCU) is $88,500. The mean
salary for a professor at SCU is $73,700.
  Associate professor of economics James
Ashley reflects on the significance of these
numbers at a women’s university where the
majority of faculty are women.
  “This is somewhat revealing because if
you divide our salary by the average [ACTC]
salary, professors get 83 percent, associate
professors get 86 percent, assistants get
84 percent, and all ranks combined get 81
percent of the salary of their ACTC peers,”
Ashley said.  “The reason that is significant is
because we are sort of like society – because 80
percent of the faculty [at SCU] are women.”
Susan Sexton, director of Human Resources
at SCU, finds comparing compensation based
on Academe numbers problematic.
“In the March-April 2010 Academe issue,
Augsburg [College]...had not reported any
data. Also, [the University of] St. Thomas and
Hamline [University]include their law and
business professor salaries in the data they
report, making it difficult to make meaningful
“We are falling relative to our
peers in theACTC institutions
and are near the bottom in the
Minnesota private schools...”
--JamesAshley,SCUassociate
professor of economics
comparisons,” Sexton said. “Academe will
issue its next report in April 2011.”
 Academe also published reported numbers
from the Minnesota Private College Council
(MPCC), which compared both the salaries
and compensation professors receive from
their respective institutions. SCU professors,
associate professors, and assistant professors
all ranked 13th out of the 15 schools reporting.
  “We are falling relative to our peers in the
ACTC institutions and are near the bottom in
the Minnesota private schools,” Ashley said.
The SCU administration has recognized
these concerns and has attempted to address
them.
“[President Lee] has consistently made
compensation a high priority for the university.
In 2007 [she] established a college-wide
commission to develop a compensation plan
to guide decisions around compensation,”
Sexton said. “The plan situated compensation
as a priority of the highest order within the
school’s priorities. Originally the plan was
to be for a period of three years; however,
due to the stresses of our country’s economy,
our Board of Trustees approved an extension
to the plan.”
For associate professor of French, Francine
Conley, as SCU’s institutional identity changes,
See COMPENSATION, pg. 2

Order up
new and more effective ways to reduce energy these changes are Sodexo’s
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, attempts at contract
conserve water, promote responsible waste renewal.
management, and reduce the use of toxic “We are here to provide
chemicals.” a service to our customers;
• Concerns persist as Despite Sodexo’s commitment to we strive to make  our
sustainability however, some students have locations a destination
Sodexo makes changes been frustrated by the slow progress. that people can come
“It’s clear that students want a greener to eat, visit, and study.
By Devon Arndt campus, and Sodexo is making some attempts There have been quite a
senior staff writer to do that. The changes have been slow, and few changes but most of
there are many things we can do to make it them have been brought
St. Catherine University (SCU) Dining more environmentally friendly. Speaking on by new leadership.
Services and Sodexo, the company that from experience, it has been difficult to get We would hope that our
manages the food on campus, have been certain demands met with Sodexo,” sophomore customers are not under
making changes recently, many of which Liesl Wolf said. the impression that we
have been well received. These include Another change set to begin next fall are only making these
updated and expanded food options, longer is a discount program offered specifically changes because of any
hours, and environmentally friendly options. for resident students. Beginning in the fall contract issues,” Ness said.
However some community members question of 2011, students who live on campus will Despite concerns, many
Sodexo’s motives for many of the changes, as receive a 25 percent discount in the dining see the contract expiration
Sodexo’s contract with SCU is set to expire room, while those not on a meal plan will as an opportunity to work
May 31, 2012. pay full price. with Sodexo.
 Many of Sodexo’s changes have centered Resident Housing Association (RHA) “Perhaps if [Sodexo]
on providing has been working on continues to listen to
sustainable dining
options for the SCU
“We would hope that our this program for years
and Heidi Anderson-
students’ concerns and
their contract is renewed,
community. Sodexo customers are not under Isaacson, Director of we can begin to work more
recently began
offering discounts
the impression that we are Resident Life, encourages
students to offer feedback
efficiently together,” first-
year Jennifer Rowe said.
to customers who only making these changes to either Sodexo or RHA.
purchased and used because of any contract job“Ultimately, it is our Devon can be reached New displays and food options in the SCU dining hall.
reusable cups, and to listen and respond at dvarnt@stkate.edu. Photo by Heather Kolnick.
has begun to provide issues...” Tim Ness, Dining t o o u r c u s t o m e r s’
compostable to-go Services Interim General concerns and we can’t
do that if they don’t
News in brief
containers. A similar to worry the international community.
program has begun Manager share their opinions,” The three St. Catherine Universtity (SCU)
at the Coffee Shop. Anderson-Isaacson said. students currently studying in Japan are
Customers w ho While most feedback • Updates on headlines safe. Two of the students were not in the
bring their own mug will receive a discount surrounding Sodexo’s changes has been vicinity of the earthquake or tsunami, and
on beverage purchases. positive, especially among younger students, from around the globe the third alerted officials that she was safe.
“The reusable cup program began as a some students feel that Sodexo and RHA
national program. It has already been quite should have offered this program sooner. By Rachel
successful at SCU. We have sold out of our “I think it is a good program to benefit Armstrong
reusable cups and are currently ordering resident students, but it is frustrating that it NFL Labor Dispute:
more,” Dining Services Interim General took them until my senior year to implement
associate The National Football League Players
Manager Tim Ness said. it,” senior Caitlin Mans said. “I feel like it editor Association (NFLPA) has decertified for
Ness feels that it is important that would have saved me money and may have the first time since 1989, after 16 days
Sodexo continues to be responsive to SCU’s influenced me to eat healthier, because the Tsunami in Japan: of talks between players and owners. In
environmental concerns, which aligns with healthier food tends to cost more. There are The largest earthquake to hit Japan in dispute are the player compensation gap,
Sodexo’s commitment to sustainability. still some changes to be made.” over a century triggered a tsunami on implementation of year-round health and
According to their website, Sodexo is         Ness agrees and addressed concerns March 11. Authorities estimate the death safety rules, establishment of a new legacy
“committed to developing and implementing of some community members who feel toll to be nearing 10,000 people. Japan’s fund for retired players, and compensation
Emperor Akihito appeared on television reduction for veterans, among other things.
to appeal to the public not to lose hope The owners proposed to “split the differences”
after last week’s disasters. The U.S. military between NFLPA demands; however, without
has delivered more than 7,000 pounds of proper financial documentation, the NFLPA
supplies, and more than $5.8 million in did not accept, and chose to decertify. Ten
U.S. aid has been sent to Japan. players have filed an anti-trust lawsuit
High levels of radiation from Japan’s against the NFL.
Salad options in the SCU dining hall. Photo by Heather Kolnick. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant continue
2 | The Wheel NEWS & OPINION March 18, 2011

COMPENSATION continued... than other comparable institutions makes a [give] a lot of time,
statement,” Cecilia Konchar-Farr, professor effort, patience,
compensation must continue to be discussed. of English, said. “The larger problem is the and attention to
“We are in a state of flux as we transition central value of the institution, which is SCU students and
into a new and bigger shape and compared creating knowledge. Ritual and having a I don’t believe they
to colleges at similarly sized institutions, our beautiful campus are secondary.” would st il l b e
salaries are below what would be considered The conversation surrounding compensation around just for the
a ‘starting’ salary for most jobs,” Conley will continue, as administration seeks to salary if they didn’t
said.  “If money is a measure of [our] value address these concerns. enjoy teaching
here, then an outsider might speculate that “We are currently reviewing the data from here,” sophomore
we are not compensated in monetary terms larger group of National Master’s Universities student Caitlyn
for the amount of work we do.” with Religious Affiliation,” Sexton said. “There Witt said.
However, Conley acknowledges SCU’s will be continued communication regarding Senior Cirien
support of faculty, even if this support is compensation and benefits with the faculty Saadeh echoes
not always demonstrated directly through Allocation and Compensation Committee Witt’s sentiment.
compensation.   as the planning proceeds.” “It’s the teachers
  “I appreciate the way SCU embraces faculty Regardless of the discussion surrounding who make things
who, like me, are artists. [Our] performance benefits and compensation, SCU students make sense.
or written work as artists is not discouraged continue to value their professors’ work. They’re the most
as being somehow “unacademic”, “Never have I important people
as it would be at other better- heard a professor to our education,”
paying institutions who only give a poor Saadeh said.
believe publishing in journals or quality lecture or Alexa can be
book form constitutes serious seen a professor reached at

SCU
academic work,” Conley said. unhappy with anchihos@
For some professors, however, what they teach stkate.edu.
this is not enough. at SCU and
“It’s an issue of justice – the blame it on a Rachel can be
fact that we are a women’s p o o r s a l a r y. reached at 
institution and we pay our Our professors rmarmstrong@  
faculty and staff at a lower rate Photo courtesy of stkate.edu  
http://maxinethomashomes.blogspot.com/ Photo Illustration by Heather Kolnick.

Letter to the Editor: The bottle battle Letter to the Editor:

Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter to you on behalf of the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group,
(MPIRG)’s Environmental task-force at St. Catherine University (SCU). MPIRG has been
empowering the students since 1971 on many different issues such as fair trade, campus
sustainability, women’s rights, and youth-voter participation.
This semester, MPIRG is most concerned about the excessive use of plastic water bottles
by SCU students. MPIRG is cooperating with Sodexo, and has begun a campaign to
provide reusable water bottles to students at a reasonable price. The reusable water bottles
are available in the dining hall and the Coffee Shop on campus. MPIRG is also collecting
students’ signatures to petition for the reduction of disposable water bottles on campus.
Since this is a matter of concern to the students, faculty and staff, MPIRG will also be
presenting the signed petition to the Student Senate. Our hope is that Senate will  encourage
the reduction of plastic water bottles on campus.
This is the first step MPIRG is taking towards making SCU eco-friendly. I know it is not
possible for MPIRG alone to establish SCU as a plastic free zone, but we hope to encourage
people to reduce the use of plastics in their day-to-day lives. The use of reusable water
bottles is the most effective way to reduce plastic waste. Additionally, encouraging people
to use recyclable paper bags or biodegradable products will also help minimize plastic
waste on and off campus.   helped prepare for the station’s soft launch.
Sristi Sadashankar Sunar
St. Catherine University
ssadashankarsunar@stkate.edu
ST. CATHERINE UNIVERSITY WHEEL STAFF
Volume 78, Issue 11
Editor-in-Chief: TREZA ROSADO
Layout Designer: SARAH WENTE
Associate Editor: RACHEL ARMSTRONG
Assistant Editors: BECKY DOUCETTE, ALEXA CHIHOS
Copy Editor: DANA BLOOMQUIST
Photo Editors: JESSICA JONES, HEATHER KOLNICK
Adviser: SHEILA ELDRED
Senior Staff Writers: CLAIRE DAVIDSON, ELISSA JOHNSON, DANA
BLOOMQUIST, DEVON ARNDT
Staff Writers: CHEYFAUN BRYANT, BRE BERG, JENNIFER QUAYLE,
JANESSA SCHILMOELLER, MOLLY DAVY, ESTHER MOSS
If you would like to write for The Wheel, please contact us at
wheel@stkate.edu.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Wheel aspires to reflect the diversity and unique atmosphere that
comprises St. Catherine University. We strive to provide an inclusive
newspaper primarily for the students and by the students. The Wheel
promotes the vision of empowering women to lead and influence
as well as an understanding of the university community inside and
outside of the gates. As a staff we aim to meet the highest journal-
istic standards and stand in accordance with the 1st Amendment of
the Constitution of the United States of America and policies of prior
restraint. The Wheel is not a public relations vehicle for any SCU indi-
vidual, group, department or for the college as a whole. We welcome
feedback and encourage an open discourse. The Wheel is supported by
student funds and is distributed free of charge.
Clearing the airwaves
To the Editor,
I am writing to point out some inaccuracies in the article “Radio Ready” that
appeared in the March 7, 2011 issue of the Wheel. I am a 2010 international alumna
of St. Kate’s with a degree in communications. In this article, Rosado and Armstrong
write that the radio station is “the brainchild of communications professor Joshua
Haringa.” This is a misrepresentation. I approached the communications department
in 2009 with the idea to start a campus radio station after presenting the idea in one
of my classes. I then worked one-on-one with Joshua Haringa during my 2009-2010
senior year to brainstorm the station’s mission and work through the protracted
process of getting the station approved by the university. I continued working on the
station the summer after I graduated, and was then joined by two other students who
I am writing because I’d like to set the record straight on how the station started.
The statement in this article directly conflicts with what was written in the February
issue of SCAN magazine (“Log On, Listen In”). It is also inconsistent with the account
published in a previous issue of the Wheel (“Student run station broadcasting soon from
SCU”, September 24, 2010), which mentions that student initiative started the station.
As a women’s university that encourages women to take ownership of their ideas
and work, and whose mission is to celebrate the achievements of its women students,
it is ironic that much coverage of the radio station has chosen to focus sole credit on
the faculty mentor. It is also telling that despite the September 2010 Wheel article
mentioning the names of myself and the other two students as starting the station,
Joshua Haringa is the only source quoted in the article, leaving the “voices” of the
students who started the station unheard. In the latest Wheel article even the students’
names are blotted into oblivion and anonymity. It saddens me to have to challenge
this culture of omission at the university that has minimized the contributions of its
students. In my classes at St. Kate’s I learned how women and minorities have often
made contributions throughout history that have gone unnoticed. Yet, this has been my
experience of starting the station and later seeing and trying to correct the inaccurate
coverage about it. In the future I hope the university faculty, administration and
community will be more sensitive to acknowledging the contributions of their students.
I also want to point out an error in the article about the website of the radio station.
The correct website is http://radiohere.stkate.edu.
Annette Dias
2010 Alumna, Communications Studies
The Wheel strives for accuracy, and sincerely regrets any
and all errors. Comments and questions can be emailed to
tjrosado@stkate.edu.
March 18, 2011 NEWS & OPINION The Wheel | 3

Theory to action:
Global activism Crime update
from your couch The suspect in the sexual assault case near
Augsburg College and St. Catherine University
(SCU)’s Minneapolis campus, Jerome David
accosted. While we wish that women did
not need to learn situational awareness
Roy, 41, was arrested Friday and charged with and self-defense (and that men who make
One Count Gross Misdemeanor Criminal a living teaching self defense to women
By Elissa Johnson Sexual Conduct in the Fifth Degree. Suspect would spend equal time teaching men not
political columnist remains in custody. to be violent against women), the public
safety department offers self-defense classes
Laura Goodman, Director of Public and safety escorts and encourage campus
That’s what we all want to hear, right? You can make a difference in the world by barely Safety, issued this statement in regards to community members to use these services.”
lifting a finger. Door-to-door canvassers and mail-out donation asks pride themselves on the sexual assault near Augsburg College
this idea. There is a huge population of people with some disposable income who would and St. Catherine University. The SCU community should report
back most any organization that fronts to be on “their side” without thinking about it too any suspicious activity to Public Safety
much. As long as they can write a check, toss a twenty or sign on some line, their good “It is an unfortunate state when a woman right away. For more information, contact
will is complete. They can rest easy knowing they will be kept abreast of the goings-on of cannot walk down a city street without being Department of Public Safety, x8888.
their favorite public radio station, community-supported art gallery, the shelter puppies,
or that endearing kid in Africa. But does this count as activism? Where is the line between
saving face and saving a movement? Who wins the “best activist” award: the philanthropist
who cut a giant check or the twenty-something community organizer? International Column:
There may not be any real answer to these questions. The fact is that it takes money
to get things done. Campaigns cost a lot to produce signs and pay the people who are
Getting the most out of undergrad
working long hours for what they believe in. Services that allow broadcasts like public
television and radio cost money for airtime, copyrights, and again those pesky wages. By Esther Moss
There are issues that take lobbying, fliering and picketing to defend rights and create a guest columnist
better world for everyone. Individuals who cut checks to the organizations doing the work
they enjoy help to make that work doable. Without funding we see organizations like the We’re all familiar with some unfortunate aspects of St. Catherine University (SCU). Tension
Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), scrambling for between the administration and students is never fun. Neither is listening to a classmate use
the dollars of the people they know benefit from their existence. large group classroom discussion to debrief about her recent breakup/surgery/tangential
stream of consciousness. I’ve been disappointed by the academic standards of SCU on more
But what if it stopped there? Organizations need more than money. People, not dollars, than one occasion. However, it’s been more than three years since I first wanted to roll my
are the ones who fill lawns in protest of motions to deny rights to workers at the Wisconsin eyes at a “St. Kate’s overshare,” and it is no longer low academic standards that  get me down.
capitol. Real bodies, not checks, are the ones who speak their stories and bring legislatures What really upsets me is hearing my peers complain about feeling under-challenged and
to tears when lobbying for equal marriage rights. When I say “agents of change,” I don’t then seeing those same people do just enough to get by. We need to take more advantage of
mean the coins in your pocket. I mean bodies of this movement. But when your body the professors and opportunities that an undergraduate experience at SCU offers. Granted,
can’t move with the crowd any longer, then you can cut that check and feel good about it. many of us are so over-burdened we can’t imagine taking on one more project. However,
nothing looks better on a resume than collaboration with a faculty member or an extra-
It takes more than money and it takes more than bodies. Think about putting your curricular project. Initiatives such as the Assistant Mentorship Program (AMP) offer such
money toward some of the organizations that are doing work you respect or depend on. opportunities in a structured environment, and places like the Center for Women have
If you don’t have money, volunteer to mail letters, call people who might have the funds, money to help students do extra-curricular research.
or carry a sign for your cause. America tends to speak with its money, so be conscious of Feeling uninspired? That won’t last long – just keep in mind that these four years are the
where yours is going. Social activism doesn’t pay well in dollars but, with some help, it best, most resource-rich time of your life in terms of academic support. And, considering
sure feeds the world some justice. the current crisis of higher education, the support and money may only get scarcer as the
years go on. Nothing gets creativity flowing like a ticking clock.
Elissa can be reached at ejjohnson@stkate.edu. At the risk of shameless self promotion, I think it worthy to mention how I’ve taken
advantage of such opportunities. After returning from study abroad in Ecuador, I wanted
to find a way to return to the country and do research . The first step, for me, was to send

Editorial: that desire out into the universe. I thought through what my research might look like and
started talking to everyone I knew about how I might make that happen. Sure enough,
after many dead ends and much frustration, I found funding through the Faculty-Student
Living the Research Collaborative Grant and academic support with Spanish professor Kristina
Bønsager. We spent a month in Ecuador this January, interviewing indigenous women and

Liberal Arts
By Tréza Rosado
editor-in-chief
You might have heard that the 2010-2011 academic year has been declared the “Year of
the Liberal Arts” by St. Catherine University (SCU). The campus has been host to several
special events and lectures throughout the humanities in celebration of the launch of the
School of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences. The Year of the Liberal Arts reaches its peak
with the arrival of Azar Nafisi, author of the bestselling novel “Reading Lolita in Tehran.”
Nafisi is this year’s Bonnie Jean and Joan Kelly Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence and
will visit the campus April 18-20.
learning about the connections between gender and cosmology in the Andes. It wasn’t easy,
but it was definitely worth it, and the support I received from Academic Affairs certainly
took the edge off.
My point here is that SCU faculty and staff are hungry for bright, motivated students to
work with them on projects of either’s choosing. We might not have as hefty an endowment
as some of our neighbors but in my experience, the affirmation and encouragement of
the professors I’ve worked with made up for any finances that were lacking. So, the next
time you are sitting in class feeling bored, pull out a piece of paper and jot down ideas
for the next great SCU international research project. Then, when your class ends, talk to
your professors about how they can help you make that happen. I promise, they won’t roll
their eyes.
Esther can be reached at ebmoss@stkate.edu.

ON:
e l e c t ron i c a l l y v i a em a i l to
SCU has spent a considerable amount of time and funding on art exhibits, film screenings,
T E N T I globalstudies@stkate.edu or
and guest speakers to accompany the highly publicized School of Humanities, Arts, and
AT G
RNIN AD
on a CD to the Office of Global
Sciences. This increased attention on the liberal arts has led to an elevated debate regarding
E T U S t u d i e s , D e r h a m Ha l l 3 0 5 .
the changing place of the liberal arts at SCU. As we come to the end of another school year R
U D Y ABRO NTS...
ST E
STUD
and as the university approaches the culmination of the Year of the Liberal Arts, the Wheel • Photos must be submitted in
will be providing a different perspective each issue on the successes and shortcomings of JPEG format and 4x6’’ size. Please
notify us if you have questions.
the year’s humanities-centered celebrations. These articles, roundtables, audio interviews,
and editorials aim to situate the Year of the Liberal Arts in the larger context of the future ANNUAL STUDY • Complete the Study Abroad Photo

ABROAD PHOTO
of liberal arts at SCU. Contest entry form. Include titles,
locations, terms abroad, and a
As the only student-led newspaper, we are uniquely situated to explore the issues most 2-3 sentence description of the
significant to our university community. In that regard, we recognize your voices as the
most important element of the paper we produce. The Wheel would like to encourage its
CONTEST image. The entry form is posted
on the Global Studies website.

readers as students, faculty members, staffers, administrators, alumnae, and SCU community Study Abroad Photo Contest Instructions:
SSubmit
t u dupyto 4Aphotos.
b r oYouamay
d enter
P htwoo pho-
to • 4 Winners will be chosen, two
members, to contact us with ideas, opinions, or commentaries centered around the liberal Ctosoinneach
t e category
s t I n(Katies
s t rAbroad
u c t and
i o Cultural
ns: in each categor y, and CASH
arts and SCU. PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED!
Connections). Descriptions of categories are
• Submit up to 4 photos. You may
available on the Global Studies internal website.
enter two photos in each category • Entries must be submitted by March
Submit questions and thoughts to The Wheel site (thewheel-scu.tumblr.com) or email
(Katies Abroad and Cultural 28, 2011.
any editor (ie. tjrosado@stkate.edu). Photos should be submitted electronically viaof
Connections). Descriptions
emailcategories
to globalstudies@stkate.edu
are available or on
ona the
CD to
We look forward to your input as we close out the 2010-2011 school year. the Office of Global Studies, Derham
Global Studies internal website. Hall 305. SCU Office of Global Studies
305 Derham Hall
(651) 690-6472
Tréza can be reached at tjrosado@stkate.edu. • PhotosPhotos
must be submitted
shouldinbe
JPEGsubmitted
format and globalstudies@stkate.edu




 




 




Complete the Study Abroad Photo Contest entry

form. Include titles, locations, terms abroad, and
4 | The Wheel
Yes and no
• The Wheel sits down with PRIDE and MPIRG
members to discuss radical consent culture
By Alexa Chihos and Becky
Doucette
assistant editors
The Minnesota Public Interest Research
Group (MPIRG) and People Respecting
Identity Differences and Equality (PRIDE)
have collaborated on developing St. Catherine
University’s (SCU) first workshop centered
on radical consent culture.
Sophomore PRIDE President Emily
Monson (EM), first-year MPIRG and PRIDE
member Rachel Thompson (RT), and first-
year Women and Gender co-task force leader
Leah Matz (LM) sat down with The Wheel
to discuss the importance of consent.
What is radical consent culture?
LM: Radical consent culture is a culture that
applies heavy communication to anything
that has to do with bodies, minds, or spirits,
and assumes that everyone has their own
beautiful and unique boundaries. People
do not have the right to assume what those
boundaries are with any individual and we
have the responsibility to communicate
and ask questions to know when we are
overstepping boundaries.
RT: “Yes means yes” is respecting people’s
boundaries, triggers, and histories to make
sure that nothing uncomfortable happens
[between individuals].
What is the consen t wor k sh op ?
Workshop facilitators Caitlin Snodgrass and Emily Monson perform a
skit. Photo by Jessica Jones.
Alumnae
spotlight:
Carol Eiden
•SCU graduate takes women’s
education to the workplace
By Brie Berg and Jennifer
Quayle
An avid intramural participant, English
Club member, and Honors student, Carol
Eiden was a busy and involved student who is
now among the countless successful alumnae
of St. Catherine University (SCU).
Eiden graduated from SCU, then the
College of St. Catherine, in 1990 with majors
in English and mathematics.  She then went
on to earn her law degree from the University
of Minnesota Law School.     “I learned right before
For Eiden, the hardest part about transitioning
from a student to the professional world came
after she graduated from law school.  Upon
entering the workforce, her first job made her
much more aware of the existence of sexism.  two years, three years etc.,” Eiden said. “At
FEATURES
LM: The consent workshop was an
opportunity for students at St. Kate’s to
talk about what consent is, their ideas about
consent, how that applies to sexuality, and
how that applies to our everyday lives and
our everyday interactions with people.
EM: We also highlighted a lot of the
important everyday interactions, and
stressing that those interactions that we
feel are okay (but don’t usually think of
as consent) are actually a part of consent.
Is consent only important in intimate
relationships?
LM: No! That’s the point of a radical
consent culture...Consent is important in
any kind of personal relationship that we
can ever have.
RT: Consent is not only in intimate
relationships. It applies to any interaction
you have with anyone at any time, including
both physical and verbal interactions.
EM: Consent is important with any person
that you might encounter on an everyday basis.
It has to do with hugging people, asking if you
can sit with them, asking to borrow something.
Why is radical consent important in our
culture and on the SCU campus?
 
LM: It is so important to remember the high
frequency of sexual violence victims that are
female and how many of those victim survivors
are on this
campus...
The eventual
goal is that
we have
students
come to this
wor kshop
[ w h o ]
understand
radical
consent and
understand
what it looks
like, and are
integrating
it into their
lives.   recognizing that there are multiple different
E M : We
have been
trying really
hard and
being really
“I was the first woman to ever work at the school you are isolated from sexism, but
law firm and I had to break a lot of ground once you step out into the real world, it is
there,”  Eiden said.
Eiden was taken aback by the apparent
sexism in her workplace
and eventually left that
firm after four years.  Her
experience served as a
sig nificant lear ning
experience because she
realized success is not
always about good grades
or skills.
“All throughout school,
I learned that if you work
hard and perform well,
you would be rewarded.  clients regularly, document
It was when I entered my
first job out of law school
that I realized how different
the real world could still
be,” Eiden said.
The sexism she
experienced was also
reflected in her paycheck.  office than the members
Carol Eiden. Photo courtesy
of Carol Eiden.
I left [the law firm]that I
was never paid what the male attorney who with her husband Jon.
was about 5 years ahead of me was paid at
any step of the way after I had been there said.
conscious about avoiding gendered language
in the creation of this workshop and making
sure that this information is accessible to
anyone.
RT: Consent is not a gendered issue although
various identities experience it in different
ways. It’s a woman’s job to ask whoever her
partner is for consent as equally as it is a man’s.
How did you decide on what content
was going to be covered in the event?
Small group discussion at the consent workshop Wednesday night .
Jessica Jones.
LM: We recognized that within the programs
that are offered to students at [SCU], any type
of consent workshop is not offered. This is
generally incorporated into the orientation
programming in most other colleges. We took
it upon ourselves as PRIDE and as MPIRG
to come together to develop this workshop.
EM: We have the perspectives of all the
students who are able to participate in the
two-part workshop development that we put
on between these two organizations; all of
their voices are present in this workshop.  It
was community-focused and community-
created, and will also be community-facilitated.
What is the importance of bringing the
Women and Gender task force and PRIDE
together to collaborate on this workshop?
EM: The consent workshop touched on
the fact that consent isn’t a gendered thing
and since PRIDE does a lot of work in
kinds of genders. [It] makes sense that what
our group represents paired with the Women
and Gender task force.
LM: The MPIRG Women and Gender
task force is widely understood to be the
completely different.”
She worked at that firm for four
years before joining
Oppenheimer Wolff &
Donnelly, a Minneapolis
law firm that represents
businesses.  Eiden has
worked at Oppenheimer
since 1997 and now is a
partner at the firm.  The
typical day-to-day tasks
associated with Eiden’s
position consist of
communicating with her
drafting, and negotiating
with other attorneys.
Although Eiden is proud
of the successful career
she has built for herself,
nothing means more
to her after a day at the
of her family: her children,
Aubrey and Alycia, along
“They are the highlights of my life,” Eiden
Reflecting on her experience as an
March 18, 2011
only student group that explicitly works on
women and gender issues. With the idea of
this consent workshop coming from within
MPIRG and considering who we might want
to work with in developing this workshop,
clearly when we want to incorporate the
ideas and perspectives of as many different
identities as possible, it just seemed like the
most sense to pair with PRIDE.
Did the administration have a role in the
consent workshop?
Photo by
EM: The only SCU staff member that
was directly involved in the making of the
consent workshop was Brigette Marty and
[The Taskforce to Eliminate Violence Against
Women] here at SCU. They gave us the
funding, provided us with the space, getting
the catering, and publicity. Otherwise the rest
of the workshop was formulated by students.
LM: It’s not necessarily, intentionally
exclusive of the administration, as much
as it was created by students. We would
certainly love to work with administration
in the future.
What do you think SCU will do with this
in the future?
LM: We have had some conversations
about taking this and putting it in different
contexts on the campus. There is conversation
happening but nothing set in stone at this
point.
Alexa can be reached at
anchihos@stkate.edu
Becky can be reached at
rjdoucette@stkate.edu.
undergraduate at SCU, Eiden credits the
critical thinking skills she developed as a
result of her liberal arts education as one of
the biggest benefits she took away.  
“St. Kate’s is all about questioning,
researching and learning. There was always lots
of opportunity to do research, presentations,
and big papers.  St. Kate’s provides in-depth
study that students can present in a variety
of ways,” she said.
Eiden has been in the “real world” for a
number of years, yet she has still maintained
relationships with professors she had while
attending SCU.  She cites her relationship
with former SCU English professor Margery
Smith, CSJ, SP ‘49, as a prime example of the
unique features of this school.  
“St. Kate’s allows students to develop
close relationships with professors and
the professors really take interest in their
students,” Eiden said.  
Based on what she knows now, Eiden has
some advice for current SCU students.
“Take advantage of the opportunities you
can in order to both educate yourself but
also prepare yourself for future leadership
positions...It will benefit you later in life,”
she said.
Brie can be reached at bmberg@stkate.edu.
Jennifer can be reached at jequayle@stkate.edu
March 18, 2011 FEATURES The Wheel | 5

“What are you Would you rather?

wearing?” • SCU students share their ideal spring break

Set up camp in front of the T.V. and not get off

• A look at St. Kate’s most fearless and fashionable the couch for days on end,
OR
Compiled by Jessica Jones Head out to see that museum you’ve always
been telling yourself you’d get to?

Call and catch up with old high school friends,

OR
Plan a trip with your new college friends?

Have game nights cuddled up on the couch,

OR
Hang around the St. Thomas campus to see if
there are parties you can crash?

Do assignments assigned for break the first

weekend to get them out of the way,
OR
Save them until the day before classes start?

Finally spend time making an elaborate meal,

OR
Let Chinese takeout containers slowly pile up
on all surfaces around the house?

Stay on campus where you would be alone but

would finally have that flatscreen in the lounge
all to yourself,
OR
Go home and deal with your parents’ well in-
tended but misguided smothering tendencies?

Compiled by Dana Bloomquist

Listen local:
Remembering
Tanell Green  
First -year
Nitomi Wong
Senior
Eyedea
What are you wearing? What are you wearing?  
Jacket from Forever 21, shirt from A black military-inspired collared By Claire Davidson
Price by the Pound, pants from Urban shirt, black knit tube scarf, black music columnist
Outfitters, universal scarf from H&M, pin stripe skirt from Express, floral
and boots from Heartbreaker for 8 tights, knee length black boots from It’s a common scene in my life: I’m driving in my car with 89.3 The Current turned up full
dollars! Nine West brand from Herberger’s - tilt. A few bars or verses hit my ears and suddenly I’m in love. Mostly, and quite conveniently
modified by me. for this column, the hymns of heartache or sound bites I encounter are from local artists
Any deals?  right here in the Twin Cities. Last Sunday was no different, except for one thing: although
Any deals?  the track itself was unfamiliar, the voice was most definitely an old friend. It was someone
Any and every thrift around the who had been making me think and inspiring independent hip-hop for years. I was listening
nation. Shirt was a gift, the tube scarf is to Eyedea, of Eyedea & Abilities. It was, of course, an old song because there isn’t going
handmade and the boots were originally to be any new music from the man behind Eyedea & Abilities; he’s not with us anymore.
What inspires your fashion sense?  $129 but I got them for $85.
The fact that people can portray It’s hard to believe that it was only five months ago that Minneapolis rap legend Michael
a sense of their personality through Where do you like to shop? Larson aka “Eyedea” passed away at the age of 28. Though memorial services were held at
clothing without even having to speak. Online! Well, I don’t really have a the time of his death, I’ve been meaning to commit a column to one of the most inspiring
It’s beautiful. favorite place. I shop almost anywhere. young artists of my generation, a local music mainstay of what it means to create not only
independent hip-hop but independent thought. Along with his best friend Max Keltgen,
What is one thing you would never What inspires your fashion sense? aka “DJ Abilities,” Larson formed Eyedea & Abilities and became part of the Rhymesayers
wear?  Alternative, sub culture. crew in its early years.
Neon colors. More than a rapper, Eyedea was a true philosophic spirit and not enough people knew of
What is one thing you would never him until his death. On one of his most thought-provoking tracks, “Void-Internal Theory,”
What excites you most about fashion?  wear? he spits a beautiful rhyme containing the kind of paradox and reflection that is found in
Being able to show people that I Flip flops, sweats, jeans (I don’t even the best poetry. “Violence saturates our surroundings, my heart is pounding, I am one of
have no limits. own a pair) - basically boring things. the strong that noticed the sirens sounding/Striving to wake you up, so we can grow to
  maturity/While we’re all buyin the government’s repent from social security/ Patterns of
emotion change shape from different situations, lanterns shed light on the dark side of
imagination/Scattered is good and evil, through various people and areas of ego, but we
know we can be peaceful with the right participation.”
Think your department or major has some exceptionally
stylish students or professors? Let us know and your Though any sort of “review” I could give you of Michael’s music would scarcely do
it justice, keeping the spirit of independent hip-hop alive is the most important thing
department may be featured in a future fashion article. to take away from his art, and one that I hope local artists continue to support after his
death. While there will always be days when you are pushed to think yourself in circles,
Contact wheel@stkate.edu with suggestions. and mind-numbing music or television or thought sounds like a beautiful escape, there
is a true beauty in celebrating the philosophy found in underground rap. Larson was an
inspiring example of the kind of thought-provoking hip-hop that increases our personal
awareness and elevates our consciousness.

Claire can be reached at cedavidson@stkate.edu.

6 | The Wheel
In the eyes of the beholder
• Amy Herman ties art to
medical observation
By Molly Davy
staff writer
Amy Herman, a contributor to St.
Catherine University (SCU)’s Year of the
Liberal Arts, visited campus last week to
share interdisciplinary applications to the
real world.
In the spirit and celebration of the liberal arts,
SCU couldn’t have chosen
anyone more suited than
Herman, who shared her
presentation entitled
“The Art of Perception”
with SCU students,
staff, and community
members. “The Art of
Perception” analyzes the
positive repercussions of
combining analysis in the
arts with observation of
patients in the medical
field. The seminar seeks
to teach professionals
how to enhance their
observation skills by
viewing works of art
Spotlight: Sr. Florence
Steichen
• Campus Ministry volunteer
celebrates 60 years as a CSJ
By Janessa Schilmoeller
staff writer
Sister Florence Steichen, enjoying a gather-
ing commemorating her 60 years as a CSJ.
Photo by Sarah Wente.
FEATURES
and using the critical and analytical skills
of art historians and others in the art field
in their own work.
Herman began her academic career as an
undergraduate in art history, later going to
law school and practicing law for several
years. Eventually, she went back to school for
a Master’s in art history and became head of
education at the prestigious Frick Collection
in New York City. It was through a fellow
gallery volunteer at the Frick Collection that
Herman heard of an interesting and highly
innovative program instituted at Yale Medical
School and designed for medical students.
Sr. Florence Steichen recently celebrated
her 60th anniversary with the Sisters of St.
Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ). Born on June
6, 1928, Steichen grew up in right here in
the Twin Cities. Back in 1950, joining CSJ
“seemed like a natural evolution” Steichen,
who went to CSJ schools from third grade
through her time at St. Kate’s, said.
A friend from high school had joined CSJ
and told her, “This is the life!” So after a
sister at St. Kate’s suggested it, Steichen
jumped on board. Steichen’s fellow
CSJs have been some of the greatest
mentors in her life. However, it was
through experiences at Bethlehem
University that Steichen learned the
most about patience, adaptability,
and justice.
In 1987, leaders at the CSJ
encouraged Steichen to apply for
the position of registrar at Bethlehem
University located in the West Bank
in the Middle East. Steichen arrived
in Bethlehem that summer before
taking over as the registrar.
On Oct. 27, 1987, the students
were having a nonviolent rally on the
property and waving a Palestinian flag,
which was illegal. Steichen vividly
remembers how “an Israeli sniper shot
and killed one of [the] unarmed student
leaders, and closed the university for
three months.” On Feb. 1, 1988, when
the three months closure was over,
the university re-opened only to be
closed again at the end of the day. “We
then began to work off campus with
students in small groups who were
closest to graduation” recalls Steichen,
who was in charge of scheduling off-
campus class and finding safe, private
locations. Classes were small at first
March 18, 2011
This program would later be What it all comes down to for Herman,
adapted into Herman’s The Art of is that these small inferences can make or
Perception seminar, designed for break how we view the visual information
law enforcement. The program has we are presented with. Herman’s exercises
allowed Herman the opportunity in viewing art works are a testament to the
to travel all over the world teaching fragility of making definitive statements
for organizations such as the using the crutch of our personal experiences.
Federal Bureau of Investigation “Assumptions are sometimes detrimental
(FBI), the Transportation Security to visual analysis,” Herman said.
Administration (TSA), and the The lecture, as a whole, was enlightening for
Department of Homeland Security. members of the art and nursing departments
Most recently, the nursing, art,and alike. Any chance to realize crossover between
art history departments at SCU such polarized areas of the academic world
have benefited from the seminar. as the arts and health sciences is certainly
At her seminar, Herman something to experience. Herman’s lecture
introduced the idea of “inattentional was a true testament to SCU’s attempt to
blindness,” in which viewers bring unite the liberal arts and sciences.
their experiences into a scene they Herman’s advice to nursing students in
are viewing, and let that personal art classes and art students in science classes
experience overshadow their would most likely be a phrase she used often
way of interpreting the visual throughout her lecture: “appraise, analyze
information they see. and articulate.”
Herman urges us to divorce
from this urge. For example, she shows the Molly can be reached at
audience Thomas Eakin’s portrait The Cello mcdavy@stkate.edu.
Player which shows a person with a cello. She
asked the audience to describe
what they saw.
“How much more effective
things would be if we could
communicate clearly and
effectively,” she told the audience.
To many people’s surprise, the
audience’s attempts at observing
the presented scene were actually
inferences. Rather than objectively
describing the painting as perhaps
a person playing an instrument,
many people are inclined to
instead make assumptions about
the subject. For example, even
assuming that the cello player is
a cello player at all (Herman says
Eakins could have easily arranged
to pay for a model he meets off
the street) is an inference rather
than an observation. Also, the
fact that the subject holds the Above: Amy Herman facilitates a discussion with SCU
cello bow in his right hand is students at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
an assumption that he is right- Title Photo: SCU Nursing and Art History students
handed; the subject could just analyze works of art at the MIA as a part of the Art of
as easily be ambidextrous or Perception workshop.
following a directed pose for Left: SCU students consider a painting at the MIA.
the artist. Photos by Heather Kolnick.
because Israeli law required a permit for any resources and all aspects of daily life that
gatherings of more than five people. As time entails.”
went on, class sizes expanded to 15, and the Since returning to St. Paul, Steichen remains
rest of the students were allowed to take the active in advocating justice for all Palestinians.
underground classes as well. She is the former president of Middle East
Steichen learned to be patient and adaptable Peace Now, a member of the Women Against
in the face of many daily challenges under Military Madness Middle East Committee,
Israeli occupation. Steichen had to keep track and stays involved with the CSJ social justice
of which students were pregnant to avoid group, book clubs, and more.
sending them to classes in areas subject to Steichen is a phenomenal woman with a
frequent tear gassing. She also made sure lively spirit and courageous heart. Steichen
that students with yellow plates took classes enjoys swimming, conversation hours with
in Jerusalem and those with blue plates took friends, the occasional concerts or plays, and
classes in Bethlehem, in accordance with even jet skiing. Sr. Florence is also celebrating
Israeli travel laws. Steichen even created 15 years with Campus Ministry this year.
special make-up work policies for students She volunteers once a week coordinating
in prison, some of whom would be gone up opportunities such as room blessings and
to 15 years, so they could come back and retreats between the sisters and SCU, and
finish their degrees. she also keeps an active list of CSJs who are
This continued until Oct. 1, 1990, when available for TRW class interviews.
the university re-opened two years and 11 Please stop by to thank her for the great
months after the initial closure. Steichen work she is doing for social justice and
returned to Minnesota in December 1992, congratulate her on 60 years as a CSJ!
but her experiences are still fresh. Her hope
“is for justice for all the people, which will Janessa can be reached at
necessitate the end of Israel’s occupation jlschilmoeller@stkate.edu.
of Palestinian land and all the control of
Steichen and friend Julius Gernes jet skiing in August of 2010. “This was was my
first, and most likely last, time on a jet ski. It was fun; I was hanging on for dear
life,” Steichen said. Photo courtesy of Sister Florence.
March 18, 2011
Ask
Katie!
• The Ask Katie! peer health
advisers answer your health-
related questions
Compiled by Dana Bloomquist
This week, Ask Katie! explores endometriosis,
how this disease affects women, and what
can be done about it.
Endometriosis is when the tissue that
normally lines the uterus (the endometrium)
migrates to areas outside the uterus. The new,
misplaced tissue growing outside the uterus
forms what are called implants. Usually the
areas affected are usually nearby, and may
include the uterus, ovaries, Fallopian tubes,
or the bladder. Endometriosis is problematic
because:
1) It’s painful. The endometrium sheds
when you have your period, and then builds
up again during your menstrual cycle.
Implants swell as the endometrium builds
up, but don’t shed when you have your period
(because they are trapped in the body, there
is nowhere for the lining to leave). This
means that they grow over time and can
cause painful pressure in the pelvic area and
lower abdomen.
2) It can affect your fertility (ability to
bear children). If endometriosis is present
in areas of the ovaries and/or Fallopian
tubes, it can cause scarring that can impede
the passage of eggs into the uterus (where a
fertilized egg can be implanted). In some
cases, endometriosis can even cause enough
damage to the ovaries that a woman’s reserve
of eggs is compromised.
Luckily, not all women who have
endometriosis experience fertility problems.
It can, however, still be a painful condition.
Some studies estimate that up to ten percent of
women in the United States have endometriosis
to some extent, and there is a variety of
relatively effective treatments for it.
Endometriosis is usually diagnosed in
women’s twenties or thirties, but it is estimated
that the condition can actually begin when
menstruation begins. There are some early
warning signs and symptoms to look out for
to help ensure early diagnosis and treatment
of endometriosis:
Family history and risk: If you have a
mother or sister who has been diagnosed
Ask Katie stall in St. Mary Hall. Photo by Heather Kolnick.
HEALTH
with endometriosis, you are relatively likely
to have it as well.
Menstrual history and risk: if you started
menstruating when you were particularly
young, or have periods that last longer than
a week, you are at a slightly higher risk of
endometriosis.
Symptoms: the main symptom of
endometriosis is pain. This comes in the
form of painful periods, abdominal pain
before menstruation, pain during sex, and
lower back pain, and irregular vaginal bleeding.
Warning sign: if you have been trying
to get pregnant for a year with no success,
endometriosis may be part of the reason why.
It’s important to note, however, that
endometrial implants can be present in
a variety of places, so symptoms and the
severity of the condition can vary greatly
between individuals. For example, some
women with very mild endometriosis (small
implants) have intense pain, while other
women with severe endometriosis feel no
pain whatsoever.
Treatment of endometriosis often involves
hormone therapy. This is because implants
grow due to hormonal signals that stimulate
the growth of the endometrium. The idea is
that if you can stop the hormones that make
endometriosis grow, you can stop it from
getting worse. Hormone therapy usually means
pills that contain estrogen and progesterone
to induce a state of “pseudopregnancy”
to prevent the ovaries from emitting the
hormones.
There are also surgical treatments for
endometriosis. For severe cases, especially if
an individual does not want to have children,
a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) can
be performed. This is often accompanied
by the removal of the ovaries and Fallopian
tubes. A less invasive surgical treatment is
called laparoscopy. This involves inserting
small scopes into the uterus to see if there is
an incidence of endometriosis and removing
what is found.
All this information and more was found
at the National Institutes of Health Pub Med
Health’s endometriosis website (ncbi.nlm.nih.
gov.pubmedhealth) and endo-resolved.com.
Please note that the Ask Katie! advisers
are not trained medical professionals;
contact your health care provider with
immediate questions or concerns. AskKatie!
should not be used in place of professional
consultation.
If you still have unanswered questions
about STDs, don’t forget to go to the Ask
Katie! stall in your residence hall and write
a question on the anonymous notepad. If
you live off campus, email questions to
healthwellness@stkate.edu.
The Wheel | 7
Spring
“I would remind students that the legal
drinking age is 21. If you are under 21, you
should not drink. If you are of legal drinking
age and decide to drink, do not drink in
Break safety excess. Students should designate a ‘sober’
group member so that students do not drink
and drive a car or drink and do something
• Suggestions for a great dangerous or stupid,” Mueller-Harmon said.
break According to the National Institute of
Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, women appear
By Rachel Armstrong
associate editor
to me more vulnerable than men to many
of the consequences of alcohol use.
Spring Break is almost here. Hopefully, “Women achieve higher concentrations
most of you are doing things that are more of alcohol in the blood and become more
interesting than my plans, which include impaired than men after drinking equivalent
lying on my mother’s couch and eating amounts of alcohol. Research also suggests
non-microwavable food for once. Whether that women are more susceptible than men
you’re staying on campus, traveling to visit to alcohol-related organ damage and to
family or friends, or taking a car or plane as trauma resulting from traffic crashes and
far south as you can get, the St. Catherine interpersonal violence,” a report from the
University (SCU) Health and Wellness Center Institute said.
has a few tips for having fun and staying
safe over break. Whether you do plan to drink over break,
or are spending the majority of your time
With incidents involving binge drinking on your mother’s couch like me, enjoy your
on college campuses making news, Jeannine Spring Break responsibly.
Mueller-Harmon, Nurse Practitioner at SCU
has a few words of advice for SCU students Rachel can be reached at
who decide to drink over break. rmarmstrong@stkate.edu
According to American Congress of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, alcohol use is linked with:
• About one half of fatal car crashes
• Two thirds of drownings
• One half of fires
• One half of severe falls
• Violence (including domestic violence)
• Suicide
• Damage to the fetus and newborn that lasts a lifetime
Drink responsibly.
The Melting Point:
Feminist forestry
By Dana Bloomquist
copy editor
About five hours due north is a place you probably have not seen and probably do
not know much about: the Chippewa National Forest. One of two national forests in
Minnesota, the Chippewa consists of one and a half million acres of land and water. It is
home to some of the nation’s largest populations of bald eagles and goshawks, according
to the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, a publication of Minnesota’s Department of
Natural Resources (DNR), and is one of the most aquatic national parks in the United
States, with tens of thousands of acres of lakes, streams, and wetlands. Many biologists
call the Chippewa National Forest home: the Forest provides one of the United States’
largest research forests.
But the Chippewa was not always a protected national forest. Around the turn of the
twentieth century, federal arrangements had been made to sell much of northern Minnesota’s
forests to be logged and possibly destroyed forever. Luckily, that never happened. But
why? Who provided a voice for the forest and a call to action? The people who provided
the impetus to preserve the great north woods were a group of passionate women. Maria
Sanford, a professor at the University of Minnesota, provided the driving force behind
a movement that resulted in federal protection for the forest. Sanford wrote a scathing
and urgent editorial in The Courant, the publication for the Minnesota Federation of
Women’s Clubs. The Federation proved instrumental in advocating for scientific forestry
and conservation of the forest, although it advocated for much more.
The Federation of Women’s Clubs, after its inauguration in 1895, quickly became known
colloquially as the “Brainy Women of Minnesota” for its membership of outspoken and
progressive women, and for its goals (among others) of advancing education, expanding
library resources, and streamlining the garbage disposal system in the Twin Cities. Among
the Federation’s broad goals was the preservation of health and beauty, so the call to
forest conservation arose. It was this organization that called attention to the fact that
no government representatives from Minnesota at the time stood for the creation of a
national forest; it was this organization that put enough pressure on the U.S. Congress to
designate the land as federally protected.
In my experience there is usually a compelling story behind why things are the way they
are, and the story above is no exception. As members of a women’s university whose history
very much parallels the history of the Chippewa National Forest in terms of who created
it and why, perhaps we can pay the forest a visit soon. Perhaps we can walk through the
woods and better understand what a small group of women had to do, and how they had
to struggle, for us to have the privilege.
Visit the DNR’s website at dnr.state.mn.us or the National Forest Foundations’ website
at nationalforests.org to schedule your adventure in the North Woods.
Dana can be reached at dlbloomquist@stkate.edu.
8 | The Wheel SPORTS March 18, 2011

c h M a d n e s s
Mar The NCAA for dummies

By Cheyfaun Bryant
staff writer
As many sports fans in the United States
gear up for March Madness 2011, there are
some of us who may be a little less in tune
with their athletic side.
Here is a quick summary of the NCAA
tournament: the teams, the rivalries, the
madness.
March Madness is the championship
tournament for qualifying National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s and
women’s basketball teams. This three-week
long tournament usually begins on the third
Thursday in March, but the anticipation of
March Madness begins earlier. To be able
to participate in the NCAA championship
tournament, a college or university must
be a Division I, II, or III NCAA team, and
must be invited to play.
This year there are 68 spots for men’s
teams and 64 spots for women’s teams. The
competing teams are chosen by a selection
committee of NCAA athletic officials, and
the men’s and women’s divisions each have
a separate committee. The committee
automatically picks 31 teams to be invited
to the tournament based on the teams’
regular-season records while the remaining
teams require further review before they
can be chosen to participate. At the end of
the selection process, the decisions of the
committees are announced on television
in an event called “Selection Sunday.” When
choosing the teams the committees take into
account the team’s rating percentage index
(a number used to rank teams according
to their number of wins and losses and
difficulty of opponents in comparison to
other teams), national ranking, conference
record, and other factors.
Once the final choices are made, the 68
men’s teams and 64 women’s teams are placed
into one of four regions and given a seed to
determine their rank within the region. Each
team in a region is given a number between
1 and 16, with the best team in that region
getting the number 1 spot. Each region has a
regional championship and the champions
of the regions make up the final four. The
lower numbered teams are considered
possible “Cinderella” teams because they
have a chance at unexpected success in
the tournament.
Once all of the teams are in their
respective regions, the excitement of
March Madness really begins. In the
first two days of the tournament, the
first round of games begin and the 68
or 64 teams are cut in half. In the next
round the teams are cut in half again,
making the “Sweet 16”, the last 16 teams in
the tournament. During the second week of
the tournament the 16 teams are cut down
to the “Elite Eight,” and then cut down to
four. The four remaining teams create the
illustrious “Final Four” and are one step
closer to winning the NCAA championship.
This year, March Madness began with
Selection Sunday on March 13, and the first
round on March 15 and 16. The Final Four
and NCAA Championship games will be
held April 2 and 4, respectively. The following
men’s teams are predicted to make the final
four this year: Clemson College, Michigan
State University, St. Mary’s University, and
Virginia Commonwealth University. The
University of Alabama, Colorado State, the
University of Memphis, and Pennsylvania
State University are predicted to fall out of
the race very early.
A few favorites who are predicted to make it
to the Final Four in the women’s tournament
are: the University of Connecticut, Stanford
University, the University of
Tennessee, and Baylor
University.
The St. Catherine
University (SCU)
basketball team and
coaching staff had
their own picks for
March Madness.
Head coach Gary
Rufsvold expressed
his experience with the
tournament.
“I always participated in selecting teams
for office pools at my old job, however since
I became a college coach the NCAA does not
allow coaches to be involved in this activity,”
Rufsvold said. “I usually have different teams I
support every year. This year I am supporting
Brigham Young [University] because they
have an exciting player and team.”
Assistant coach Carrie Cooley also has a
background with March Madness.
“I catch as many televised and live games
as possible, but as college coaches we have
to share these March Madness days with
recruiting at high school basketball games. It
is good to watch the March Madness games
for new and exciting ideas and to see how the
game is evolving. If the coach’s plan works,
I love listening to the reporters praise them.
If their plan doesn’t work, I love listening to
the reporters say how they should have done
the opposite.” Cooley said.
Usually Cooley roots for the University
of Minnesota’s Gophers. But this year she’s
rooting for Ohio State University on the
men’s side and anyone but UConn on the
women’s side.
Senior forward Sonja Ellingson, one of the
three captains on the SCU basketball team,
also gives into the madness.
“I don’t necessarily have a favorite team
but I always enjoy seeing underdogs win or
go far in the bracket, and I must say I enjoy
it when Duke [University]loses!” Ellingson
said. “My favorite part of March Madness
is watching awesome basketball. It’s the best
offensive and defensive basketball anyone
can see.”
Everyone has their opinions about this
year’s tournament, and millions of people
will be tuning in to watch it all happen.
With all the excitement this year’s March
Madness is sure to be one of the most thrilling
tournaments yet.
Cheyfaun can be reached at
cvbryant@stkate.edu.

The other side of March Madness

• Four NCAA women’s teams
to watch for
By Tréza Rosado
editor-in-chief
If you only paid attention to ESPN and
your brother’s bracket-obsessing, you might
think the NCAA Men’s Championship is
the only trophy on the line. However, the
NCAA Women’s Championship, typically
a footnote to the men’s March Madness,
includes several more thrilling match-ups
than the bracket setup for the boys. Although
the men’s Final Four could go to anyone,
the women’s Final Four could very well be
a collection of the top-seeded teams from
each conference.
Below are some teams to watch out for in
the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship,
from the perennial favorites to the 2011
dark horses.
University of Connecticut Huskies (1)
Even if you don’t follow college basketball,
there’s a good chance you’ve heard of the
UConn Huskies, the dominant force in the Big
East Conference. Headlines for the Huskies
have most recently centered on the team’s
remarkable winning streak (90 consecutive
wins across two seasons) which finally ended
in a loss to Stanford this past December. The
Huskies have won seven NCAA Division I
Championships in their storied history; they
were recently named the third greatest sports
franchise of the decade by Sports Illustrated.
Their coach of 25 years, Geno Auriemma,
has overseen 767 total victories in his time
with the champion Huskies.
Stanford University Cardinal (5)
That’s not a typo--the Cardinal (singular)
rallied to the top seed in the Pac-10 Conference
and paved the way to another Final Four
appearance. Stanford, the team that curbed
UConn’s winning streak in 2010, also managed
to unseat the Huskies in the 2008 Final
Four. Stanford has manged to appear in
the Final Four for the past three years but
hasn’t won a championship in 19 years. That
long-simmering drive could finally push the
Cardinal (singular) into the winner’s circle.
University of Notre Dame Fighting
Irish (10)
Seeded second (tied with DePaul) in the
Big East, Notre Dame finished its regular
season strong and is headed into the chaos
of March Madness with one of the highest
scoring percentages in the league. Led by
sophomore star Skylar Diggins, Notre Dame
could provide a challenge for the Huskies.
Although they lost both of their regular
season games against UConn, the third time
might just be the charm.
Baylor University Lady Bears (4)
If Baylor can get past their Big 12 conference
rivals, Texas A&M, the Lady Bears could
find themselves in the Final Four for the
second consecutive year since their NCAA
Championship in 2005. The returning
Lady Bears (including star center Brittney
Griner) will provide helpful March Madness
experience for their first-year point guard,
Odyssey Sims. As one of the best defensive
teams in the country, Baylor is likely in it
for the long haul this year.
Tréza can be reached at
tjrosado@stkate.edu. Drawn by Heather Kolnick and compiled by the Wheel staff.

For more information on teams, access to blank brackets, and broadcasting times for games,
visit ESPN’s website at http://espn.go.com/ and click on NCAA-BB.