At St. Thomas, it’s not uncommon to see squirrels frolicking in the grass, running up trees or jumping out of garbage cans.

Junior Rae Horton said she enjoys watching interactions between the squirrels and students.

“When they jump out of the trash, it is the funniest thing ever because then they scare people and it’s funny to watch,” Horton said.

However, biology department chair Tim Lewis said the food the squirrels find in the garbage can hurt their health.

“Squirrels will eat just about anything,” Lewis said. “It’s going to be proteins and fats are what they’re after. Most of the American diet is fats…If they can find that in a garbage can, life is wonderful. Unfortunately, they find other things in the garbage can.”

Still, Lewis said that a college campus is a squirrel’s ideal place to live.

“This is what they evolved in, open forests where they could move a lot between the trees and move along on the ground,” Lewis said. “They’re on a place with good food, good shelter, lots of trees, and very few predators.”

This is good news for students like Horton, who enjoy sharing the campus with the furry friends.

“Ever since coming to this campus, I found a new love for squirrels because they’re all over the place,” Horton said.

Rita Kovtun can be reached at kovt1547@stthomas.edu.

WHITEWATER, Wis. – Senior left-handed pitcher Bryce Gapinski’s career-best 11 strikeouts helped the top-seeded St. Thomas baseball team (35-8) defeat eighth-seeded St. Norbert (26-12) 5-1 in the first round of the NCAA Division III regional tournament Wednesday at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The win gave Gapinski his 28th career victory, which is only two behind St. Thomas record-holder Matt Schuld.

He pitched a complete game, walked only one batter, gave up seven hits and one earned run.

“He did a nice job of executing,” coach Chris Olean said. “He threw a ton of strikes, and he threw his curveball down when he wanted and over the plate when he wanted; and they had a tough time with it.”

The first two innings were scoreless until the third inning when St. Norbert’s senior second baseman Matt Hannon drove in a run to put the Green Knights up 1-0.

The Tommies started off slow but finally got their offense going in the fifth inning when senior third baseman Charles Bruchu’s double to left field with the bases loaded scored two runs.

“We weren’t quite playing our best right away and that hit kind of broke the ice, so that was big,” Bruchu said.

The hit swung the momentum in St. Thomas’ favor as the team went up 3-1, and St. Norbert would not score another run.

The Tommies continued to produce on offense as the game went on, scoring runs in the sixth and seventh innings for the final 5-1 score.

Gapinski said the run support he received in the fifth inning was key for his success on the mound.

“That was big,” he said. “I just tried to be a little finer; and when we get a lead, it’s easier to go up there and pitch strikes and go right at hitters. That’s the best way to pitch.”

St. Norbert’s sophomore left-handed pitcher Kevin Nutley also had a complete game. He struck out four Tommie batters and gave up seven hits.

Nutley’s two earned runs show how well St. Thomas was able to capitalize off its opponent’s mistakes.

“That lefty had a little change-up that kind of fooled a couple guys, and we weren’t taking real aggressive swings. We were getting out in front and feeling for it a little bit too much,” Bruchu said.

Nutley made it difficult for the Tommies to score in the early stages of the game, but he began to slide late in the game and walked seven batters.

“Once we adjusted and started having better at-bats, we got into some more hitters’ counts,” Bruchu said. “When he falls behind in the count he’s got to make a good pitch or he can fall behind even further.”

Though St. Thomas was able to score five runs, Gapinski’s performance was the story of the day.

Olean was impressed with how Gapinski played, adding that it “always helps when you don’t have to go to the bullpen in one of these (games).”

“Bryce has been great, and he never throws that many pitches, so I’m sure he’ll be able to come back in two days and be fine,” Olean said.

St. Thomas will face the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (30-15) at 4 p.m. on Thursday. The Warhawks defeated Concordia-Chicago (33-13) 2-1 in extra innings Wednesday.

The Tommies split their doubleheader with UW-Whitewater earlier this season.

“Whitewater is a very good team,” Olean said. “They swing the bats well. They’re aggressive on the bases, and I’m sure we’ll face a good pitcher. We’re going to have to play a very clean ball game, and we’re gonna need some big hits.”

Bruchu said the team is going to need to be aggressive early in counts and just go out there with a “killer attitude.”

“You can’t be tentative in a region like this,” Bruchu said. “There are too many good teams.”

For now, Gapinski said he “feels good” about getting the first win of the tournament.

“You gotta get on the right side of the bracket; that’s the best way to take our momentum forward,” Gapinski said.

Nick McAndrews can be reached at mcan1933@stthomas.edu.

Students join in praise and worship at Shine in Koch fireside. Shine is one of two nondenominational groups on campus available for all students to attend, regardless of their religious beliefs. (Sara Kovach/TommieMedia)

Many students are attending on-campus worship services like Shine or Ignite instead of celebrating traditional Mass. The shift follows data taken from the national 2010 census report summarizing that mainline Protestant and Catholic churches in the U.S. lost an average of 17.8 percent of its active members since 2000.

“I started coming to Ignite because I found genuine community. Also, music is how I best express prayer and it is a way for me to personally be fed spiritually,” senior Julia Reinisch said.

The Rev. Eric Rutten said providing a welcoming atmosphere for young people is a growing problem for many local parishes.

“I think the vast majority of people are looking for belonging, a place to call home. So, if people are feeling not welcomed, like nobody said ‘hello’ to them or if they’re feeling that people are very different from them, they can’t connect or relate as easy,” Rutten said. “They then go to a nondenominational church and see people are singing and have more young people around, so they can relate better than at a traditional church.”

The two largest nondenominational religious groups on campus are Ignite and Shine. Ignite meets every Sunday at 9 p.m. and Shine meets every Tuesday at 9 p.m., both in Koch Fireside. Both groups teach Christian ideals, but are open for all students to attend, regardless of their religious beliefs.

“I like that Ignite is a safe place for anyone and everyone to come express themselves before the Lord. It is a genuine community where people can come exactly as they are,” Reinisch said. “I love the acoustic style of the music, and that we start the evening with prayer as a whole group.”

Despite the shift, the census reported Roman Catholic as the largest religious denomination in Minnesota.

Freshman Erin Kimball said attending Shine and Ignite does not replace the importance of going to church for her.

“Clearly, college is a time to explore, but I would not consider myself to be exploring other faiths in the hope of converting, rather exploring other faiths to confirm my love for the Catholic faith,” Kimball said.

Rutten said St. Thomas will not downplay its Catholic identity just to be a more marketable university.

“We as Catholics should do as much as we can to make sure that everybody feels comfortable here and welcomed here. That everyone’s point of view can really add to the mix, can add to the search for truth, which is hopefully what we’re about at a university,” Rutten said.

Campus Ministry, which is rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition, uses many methods to reach out to students. For those who appreciate tradition, there are daily and weekly traditional masses and liturgies available on campus. Also, for those who appreciate more community-based services, peer ministers often help plan engaging events like United We Praise.

“Besides holding religious services for other faiths, I think the University of St. Thomas does a good job of supporting most faiths,” Kimball said. “Students do have to remember that this is specifically a Catholic university though, and so obviously, religious activities will slant toward the Catholic faith.”

Reinish said she hopes St. Thomas will continue to work on adding more prayer opportunities for unity between nondenominational boundaries.

“They (peer ministers) have been great at advocating for unity among believers and personally attending many of the events here on campus. I think it would be great if other ministry leaders followed that example,” Reinish said. “Even having some sort of prayer connection where the ministries can actively be praying for one another would be a step forward in increasing unity among believers here on campus.”

Sara Kovach can be reached at kova7636@stthomas.edu.

The Rev. Dennis Dease announced his retirement Thursday, May 10. (Courtesy of St. Thomas)

A crowd of more than 50 students attended a student forum Monday, May 14, afternoon in Schoenecker Arena to voice what qualities they want in the next potential university president. Current university president the Rev. Dennis Dease announced last week that he will retire after the 2012-2013 school year after serving 22 years as university president.

Students like junior Nick Sacren put an emphasis on finding someone who understands how to accommodate different departments and classes for students.

“What was unique about St. Thomas and why I decided to come here was the integration of liberal arts with the business program,” junior Nick Sacren said. “If it wasn’t for that integration… I could have chosen (University of Minnesota) Carlson.”

Sophomore Nathaniel Binversie said he almost transferred to the University of Wisconsin but chose to stay at St. Thomas because of its mission and vision. One thing that he said he’d like the future president to make a priority is “Tommie pride.”

“One of the many free T-shirts I remember seeing being handed out was a T-shirt that read ‘Tommie Pride,’” Binversie said. “This school is low, very low, when it comes to Tommie pride among students. If you can’t see that, you haven’t been to a playoff football game or playoff basketball game.”

Biniversie also said he doesn’t expect the next president to be a member of the clergy, but he said that he believes that students expect and desire candidates who will stay true to the St. Thomas mission statement.

Several students also expressed a concern for the lack of student body campus involvement. Many would like to see an increase in Greek life on campus and the sense of family and community that Greek life offers.

Dennis Barton, a representative from the executive search firm Witt/Kieffer, is in charge of finding possible candidates. He said this is the third start-up for a presidential search he has performed in the last three weeks, and said the forum had a high student turnout.

“From my perspective, that’s an index of the degree to which you and your fellows out there in the student body care about the future of this institution,” Barton said.

Barton said a presidential search website will launch within the next few weeks where students and other community members who weren’t able to attend the forum can offer their opinion on what qualities they would like to see in the next St. Thomas president.

“I want you to know your voice is heard and respected in this process,” Barton said. “The future of this institution is your future.”

Kristopher Jobe can be reached at jobe1276@stthomas.edu.

Senior Dan Bock designed an iPhone application for the Binz Refectory. (Meghan Sheldon/TommieMedia)

As a student manager at the Binz, Bock decided to help students and the dining service by creating a Binz iPhone application.

“I work at the Binz, so I just thought it would be cool to make a Binz app,” Bock said. “I wanted to make it easier for people to see the menu of what we were having each day so they would know if they wanted to walk down here or not.”

The app includes information on the Binz’s location and hours, as well as a link to its Facebook page and a menu that expands over the course of seven days.

When Bock proposed the idea, Binz Manager Andrew Casale said he thought it was simply “fantastic.”

“When they built the Anderson Student Center, they had all of these neat screens and menu boards and our first thought was (the app) could be the digital menu board to go. You can take it with you anywhere,” Casale said. “They’re certainly not going to buy us 25 screens to put in here. So from that perspective, I thought it was a cool idea.”

Bock developed the app on his own time, with pictures from Casale, in hopes of increasing the Binz’s business. Bock said that after the student center opened, the business at the Binz dropped dramatically.

However, Casale said that after the app launched the week after spring break, he saw a serious increase in business, putting the Binz back on the St. Thomas dining map.

“We had a lot of people comment on it (the app), so it has been effective,” Casale said.

Freshman Angela Koppen said she noticed the app was offered on one of her two daily trips to the Binz.

“I was eating at the Binz and they had the advertisement in the napkin holders,” Koppen said. “Now I can use the app to see what is for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In fact, I use it every other day at least.”

So far, the Binz is the first dining service on campus boasting an app.

“As far as I know no one else is working on, or has an app,” Bock said. “So that’s kind of exciting for the old Binz.”

Bock said he has many ideas for the app’s future.

“I had thought of notifications, like if I really like sweet and sour chicken, my phone would send an alert. So that’s a possibility,” Bock said.

An Android phone app is also a possibility, but was not part of the immediate launch as Bock and Casale wanted to get a feel for its popularity.

“People should email us or post on our Facebook if there is any new features they would like to see,” Bock said. “If we think people will download it, we will do it.”

Meghan Sheldon can be reached at shel9069@stthomas.edu.

A survey of about half of the St. Thomas 2011 graduating class found that more than 50 percent had a job within a month of graduation. TommieMedia takes an in-depth look at how students can prepare for a job interview and set themselves apart from competition in the job market.

The Loft invested in a machine that measures, grinds and mixes the brews automatically. Baristas are still officially trained by the corporate coffee giant to create concoctions, but some students believe the machine makes drinks that consistently taste the same.

The Loft invested in a coffee machine that brews and mixes the order for the barista. The machine was installed for the January opening and aims to create consistency in the drinks. The manager of The Loft said she believes that the cost of the machine was around $1,000. (Anastasia Straley/TommieMedia)

The Loft’s supervisor Stephanie Starr-Manley said the technology is high-end machinery that only the newest Starbucks locations use. Not only is the mechanism supposed to make orders more efficiently, but she said it also reduces waste.

“Everything is more automated. It makes sure everything is done properly,” Starr-Manley said. “All of the milk is steamed to the proper temperature and we have less waste in coffee beans, which helps the costs.”

Starr-Manley said she is unaware of how much the appliance costed, but said students have had positive responses.

“Students have given us good feedback,” Starr-Manley said. “We waited (to survey customers) until March so that students had the opportunity to try a variety of drinks since our opening in January, and we received mostly good reviews.”

Some students, such as junior Sue Yang, did not realize how consistent the taste of her coffee has been since she started visiting The Loft until the new machine came.

“It tastes like regular coffee…but so far it’s been really good and I’ve had no complaints,” Yang said. “Usually when I go to coffee shops, it tastes too bitter. I really prefer the tastes of this coffee to others.”

Others students like freshmen Haley Snow and Tyana Sophy have noticed the consistency, but both students said they think the coffee is repeatedly blasé.

“I visit (The Loft) maybe once a week,” Snow said. “Their smoothies are great, but I’ve gotten a frappachino here before, and it tasted really bland.”

“I got a coffee (at The Loft) once, but I didn’t like it,” Sophy said. “I got my regular drink, and it didn’t taste sweet enough…I think it was because the machine made it instead of a barista.”

Sophy agreed and said, if she was looking to buy Starbucks brand coffee on campus, she would much rather go to other sources, such as Beaker’s.

“When I go to Beaker’s, I notice that they hand-grind a lot of their coffee beforehand and have it ready to go when I order; I think that makes a big difference in my drink,” Sophy said.

Freshman Kirby Parsons said he is not much of a coffee drinker, but he has been impressed with the quality of The Loft’s other products and would consider drinking coffee after learning about the machine’s capabilities.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Parsons said. “You don’t have to risk being a buyer and getting one really good coffee or smoothie and having a bad drink the next time.”

Anastasia Straley can be reached at stra0669@stthomas.edu.

In the past, orientation leaders showcased live skits for students and their guests. However, after feedback from previous years was reviewed, the skits have been erased from this year’s program to make room for a longer, more personal registration process.

Before freshmen take their traditional walk through the arches, most attend orientation in the summer. Svoboda said the vast majority of institutions require a fee and this year St. Thomas will also require a fee to attend. (Terese Quarberg/TommieMedia)

Associate Dean of Students Tori Svoboda said the challenge has been trying to find a happy medium for students.

“We had a lot of feedback from students that while the course registration was one of the more important parts of the day, it also felt like one of the most chaotic,” Svoboda said. “And that’s a bit of unnecessary anxiety that we don’t think is healthy or helpful.”

To reduce the anxiety, students will now have a 15-minute, one-on-one meeting with an academic counselor or adviser to assist them with their already scheduled courses.

Svoboda said students’ registered courses are not set in stone when they attend orientation.

“We’re asking students a lot more information this year about their interests and then registering them for their courses before they get here,” Svoboda explained. “When they get here, if there’s anything about their schedule that doesn’t work for them, we’ll be able to make some adjustments.”

Sophomore Brandon Miranda, who was an orientation leader last summer, said that the new one-on-one registration process will create less confusion for freshmen.

“To a degree, it does get kind of hectic,” Miranda said. “You’re all sitting in a room trying to register and people are raising their hands; the orientation leaders are running around trying to answer all of the questions.”

Miranda also said while registration might be easier on the students, they will miss out on the legendary live skits.

“Live skits brought us (orientation leaders) together,” Miranda said. “Some of the best memories from orientation were skit practices, where we mess up and can’t help but laugh about it. It bonded us, and I think the degree of bonding might go down for the future leaders.”

Various skits from previous years will be pre-recorded and shown throughout the day to students, parents and guests.

For freshman Mariann Kukielka, live skits were her favorite part of summer orientation, and said she thinks that the new freshmen class will be missing out.

“They (the skits) were not only creative, but they taught me so much about what to expect,” Kukielka said. “I honestly think it’s really disappointing.”

Another change to the program will be the opportunity to use the Anderson Student Center for the first time. Lunch will be served in The View and the information fair will take place in Campus Way.

“Using this space is definitely something to look forward to,” Miranda said. “I think it will be more efficient.”

Sophomore Xavier Vergara will be an orientation leader this summer and will experience the changes first.

“I think the changes will help make the orientation day more relaxed for students,” Vergara said. “The incoming freshmen can now focus on getting comfortable with campus and with each other.”

Svoboda is also excited to see the changes go from paper to reality.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing how it’s all going to play out,” she said. “We spend all year planning this and then there are some things you can’t know until it begins. So when it begins, we’ll be excited to see how it really unfolds.”

Miranda has high hopes for the orientation leaders and the incoming freshmen, and said the changes are really only an adjustment.

“I don’t think it will make that big of a difference. From our perspective it will, but not to theirs,” Miranda said. “I just hope they have a good time because it was the time of my life, and I hope they have the time of theirs.”

Terese Quarberg can be reached at quar3707@stthomas.edu.

However, what surprised me the most was learning that there wasn’t a bar on campus at St. Thomas. And while alcohol sales shouldn’t be the definition of an accredited university, it does give students a safe and responsible option for drinking with their friends while bringing life and activity to campus.  

Since the first day that the Anderson Student Center opened its doors, I noticed room for improvement. Let me clarify, it is a beautiful facility and I am grateful for it, however, I think that there could have been more done in order to accommodate and welcome students in the space.

A recent article written about The Loft in the ASC really sparked my interest. It highlighted how the juice-bar has not yet made a profit or broken even in their sales since its opening in January. It seemed as though a transformation was in order. If The Loft transformed into a bar, I guarantee it would create revenue and drive students to campus.

First, the school needs a motivating factor in order to even consider putting a bar on campus, and money is a good motivator. If The Loft has failed to make a profit due to pricey drinks and three flights of stairs, something needs to be done in order for the school to keep it afloat and competitive with the other campus food outlets.

A bar would be the perfect solution to this problem. The Loft would be the only place on-campus to be able to purchase alcoholic drinks, giving it a competitive edge and a reason to drive students up to the third floor, acting as a motivator for the school and students. The school needs to make sales and students want to grab a brewski on-campus. It’s a win-win.

Second, a bar would drive a targeted group of students to campus. Many upperclassmen over 21 often neglect the student services available to them on campus. Many of the activities offered to students seem juvenile, even to those under 21. Double dutch tournaments and screenings of The Muppets Movie don’t sound all that enticing to many over the ages of 13. So, many either go home on the weekend or to the bar, leaving little life at St. Thomas. By adding a bar to campus, the university would begin to steer away from the suitcase college stereotype by allowing a place on campus for students to kick back and relax with their peers.

Alumni would also take advantage of a campus bar. Not only would it be a place for them to hang out while they’re visiting, but it would create memories for current students and serve as a walk down memory lane when they come back to visit their alma mater with friends and family.

Another benefit to having a bar on campus would be that it would improve student relations with Public Safety officers. It isn’t news that the university has a no-tolerance policy when it comes to underaged drinking, and many students take that out on the officers. By having a bar on campus, students would be able to observe Public Safety regulating student drinking in a comfortable and friendly environment.

The bar would also create different job opportunities for students. I know a couple of people who have bartending licenses and aren’t employed in the field due to a lack of experience or a lack of transportation. The on-campus bar would provide a safe and accessible way for bartenders to learn the tricks of the trade and get the experience they need to potentially continue in that field after graduation if the job market is still in a lull.

There is also the argument that other Catholic universities in Minnesota, like St. John’s and St. Mary’s, have on-campus bars, so why can’t we? Vice President of Student Affairs Jane Canney said location plays a huge role in that decision making process. St. John’s and St. Mary’s both are situated in small towns, whereas St. Thomas is in the heart of a metropolitan area, offering many more opportunities for nightlife.

Although there doesn’t seem to be a huge push for an on-campus bar at the moment, the university does sound open and receptive to ideas.

“I’m always open to talking about new possibilities,” Canney said. “I’ve been in student affairs work for several years and have worked on campuses, none of them have had bars. But, I’m always open to look at that, but I think there’s more to student life than alcohol.”

Olivia Cronin can be reached at cron2722@stthomas.edu.

St. Thomas students couldn’t resist the first annual Wellness Center Beach Volleyball competition on Saturday, May 12.

“I thought this would be a great idea to have at the end of the year, right before finals, relieve some stress and have some fun,” senior Wellness Center Event Coordinator Kathryn Lasher said.

Students entered the volleyball competition to win, but their confidence didn’t hinder these Tommies from enjoying the day to the fullest.

“I’m cutting up (my teammate’s) shirt because we’re Zombies in today’s volleyball tournament,” senior Bridget Kelly said. “Trying to get a little intimidation going.”

The volleyball competition was what initially drew students in, but the event also included a hula-hoop contest, water-balloon toss and connect four.

“I think its just a way for people to know that you can have fun on a Saturday,” Lashner said. “but next year and in the years to come, I’m sure it’ll get a lot bigger. I’m really excited to see what happens.”

Katherine Curtis can be reached at curt1354@stthomas.edu.