SMU invests in two electric trucks; campus works to lessen environmental impact

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has purchased two electric trucks for use by its Department of Maintenance. Two extended-length SUV Neighborhood Electric Vehicles have recently arrived on the Winona campus.

These vehicles, made by Columbia, can reach 25 miles per hour and run an average of 30-40 miles per charge. At one charge per week, the university is confident these new purchases will save money as well as lessen the university’s impact on the environment. These electric vehicles cost an average of 2 cents per mile, are much quieter, and emit no pollutants. They are replacing a vehicle that cost approximately 20 cents per mile in fuel.

A few other universities have tried electric vehicles and found them economical to operate and environmentally friendly.

John Schollmeier, director of the physical plant, said he has been looking to purchase electric work vehicles for the past few years, but had not been able to find the right vehicle at a local dealer that could maintain and service the vehicles. The Columbia trucks were purchased from Honda Motorwërks in La Crosse, Wis., and cost approximately $12,450 apiece. Funding for this project came from a reallocation of maintenance funds.

“It is my hope to eventually change out all of the current maintenance vehicles for either electric or biodiesel vehicles,” Schollmeier said.

This is just one way that the university is continuing to “go green” in the 2007-08 school year.

With money from the Student Senate, the university will purchase a Flying F Bio-Fuels complete biodiesel production system as early as this spring. This system allows the operator to process, wash and dry raw vegetable oil into quality finished fuel — up to 80 gallons per week. Cooking oil from the university will be reused to create fuel. The cost of this system is estimated at $9,000.

The university — which has been active in the Adopt-a-Highway and Adopt-a-River programs — is also using more compact fluorescent light bulbs, and has recently replaced cooling units and the dining room refrigeration systems with more efficient equipment. Additionally, an Outdoor Leadership Office will be established on the Winona campus this fall, and the university has partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.

Last spring the Student Senate passed a resolution stating the university should be an “ethical leader in the movement for environmental sustainability.” The resolution cited community support for the principles and practice of energy efficiency, waste and consumption reduction, alternative building designs, and use of renewable energy resources.

Scott and Jeff radio marathon raises $3,203 for Habitat

WINONA, Minn. — The Scott and Jeff Show (a quirky talk show hosted by two Saint Mary’s University business faculty members Scott Deml and Jeff Hefel) raised $3,203 during Thursday’s 10-hour Habitat for Humanity Radio-a-thon.

In 2005, the duo raised $500; last year’s total was nearly $1,500.

The Scott and Jeff Show can be heard on SMU radio station, KSMR, 92.5-FM on the Saint Mary’s campus and 94.3-FM in Winona. Their regular show plays 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays.

Known for being “so bad they’re good,” the duo play music by Jimmy Buffett and Elton John in between their corny contests and bantering.

Students sleep outside to raise awareness of homeless

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University students will sleep in cardboard boxes tonight, April 17, during the annual shak-a-thon, part of Habitat for Humanity’s Act!Speak!Build! Week April 15-20.

Act!Speak!Build! Week is Habitat for Humanity’s national week of advocacy. Saint Mary’s Habitat group has planned a full week of activities to raise awareness about the millions of people who do not have adequate shelter to sleep.

The shak-a-thon will begin at 9 p.m. in the Plaza.

On Thursday at 4:40 p.m., students will meet at the Info Desk to participate in the Walk to Rally with Winona State students. Participants will walk from the Winona State campus to the Winona Habitat office downtown to raise awareness about the need for affordable housing in Winona and the surrounding areas.

On Friday at 3:30 p.m., students will meet at the info desk to do a can collection fundraiser.

For more information, e-mail habitat@smumn.edu.

Noted theologian to speak on torture March 19

WINONA, Minn. — Dr. William Cavanaugh will speak on "Torture, Terror, and Resistance: Theological Reflection on the Political Landscape" Monday, March 19, at Saint Mary’s University.

The event — free and open to the public — will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Salvi Lecture Hall, located in Saint Mary’s Hall.
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Dr. Cavanaugh is an associate professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He brings a radical vision, grounded in a deeply traditional understanding of Catholic teaching, to bear on issues such as consumerism, corporate power, the nation-state, war and torture. He has written extensively on these issues, and his clear, insightful approach has been compared to that of the great Catholic activist and writer Dorothy Day.

Among his recent writing on torture is his book, “Torture and Eucharist: Theology, Politics, and the Body of Christ” (Blackwell Publishing, 2006).

He worked as a Catholic lay missioner in Chile during the Pinochet regime and helped found a Catholic Worker house, Casa Guadalupana, for primarily Spanish-speaking immigrants on St. Paul’s West Side. He is also active in the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), which speaks against torture as a moral issue from a variety of religious perspectives.

The talk is sponsored by a number of departments and offices at Saint Mary’s University including the departments of Theology, History, and Social Science; the Lasallian Core Tradition and the Lasallian Honors programs; the Office of Campus Ministry and the Office for Mission.

The sponsors believe that torture is one of the most important political and moral issues facing our country today; it is their hope that this talk will deepen our understanding and provoke thoughtful discussion. For further information about this event, contact Dr. Susan Windley-Daoust at (507) 457-1995 or swindley@smumn.edu

Renewable Energy program at SMU March 10

WINONA, Minn. — The Midwest Renewable Energy Association, along with a grant from the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, has developed a new program called “Renewable Energy 101 for Universities.”
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The “Renewable Energy 101 for Universities” program will be coming to Saint Mary’s University on Saturday, March 10, the eighth stop on its 10-university tour.

The primary goal of this program is to provide a substantive understanding of different renewable energy technologies. The program includes different advocacy strategies that have historically worked across the nation and Canada.

Presenters will include Chamomile Nusz, executive director of Citizens Energy Cooperative of Wisconsin; Benjamin Nusz, solar hot water site assessor; and Chris Talbot, workshop/promotion coordinator of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.

The schedule will be:

10 to 10:45 a.m. — Energy Efficiency
10:45 to 11:40 a.m. — Solar Hot Water
11:40 to 11:50 a.m. — Break
11:50 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. — Photovoltaics
12:45 to 1:35 p.m. — Lunch
1:35 to 2:30 p.m. — Wind Systems
2:30 to 2:40 p.m. — Break
2:40 to 3:35 p.m. — Other Alternatives (biodiesel, biomass, geothermal, hydro, passive solar construction)
3:35 to 4 p.m. — Campus Energy Challenge

This program, co-sponsored by the SMU Department of Philosophy, will be held in Salvi Lecture Hall, located at Saint Mary’s Hall. The event — free and open to the public — does not include lunch. Space is limited. Register by Friday, March 9, with Jake Olzen at (507) 457-7502 or jxolze03@smumn.edu.

For more information about the program, contact the Midwest Renewable Energy Association at (715) 592-6595.