January 1, 2015 Godly But Gay In the world of fundamentalist Christianity, Joel Barrett of South Bend was taught to strive to be Godly. But Joel was gay. Like in many religious worlds, being godly and being gay cannot coexist. Today Joel shares his story of being godly and gay to audiences around the world. He believes in living an authentic life that is not dictated by fear and denial. His talk, sponsored by the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, will take place on Thursday, January 29 at 5 p.m. in Stapleton Lounge of Le Mans Hall. January 1, 2015 Seeing with the Heart (Today's Catholic) When Morgan Carroll ’15 of Fort Wayne, Ind. graduated this month, she left many meaningful memories, including a service project concerning a South Bend woman living with AIDS. It all started as “a last wish before I die” request from Sheila Muhammad, who had a desire to leave a written legacy for her family about her challenges and triumphs since she her diagnosis 25 years ago. When Muhammad expressed her wish to share her life’s story, her longtime friend Holy Cross Sister Linda Bellemore “got into gear” to find someone to help Muhammad. That someone ended up being Morgan. January 1, 2015 Saint Mary's Mourns Loss of Jerome L. McElroy, Professor of Economics Economics professor Jerome L. McElroy entered his heavenly home on Wednesday morning, December 17, 2014. He was 77. Jerry was deeply invested in the life of the community at Saint Mary’s College. When asked what he wanted to tell his colleagues and students he said, “Tell them I loved them.” January 1, 2015 Improving Vocabulary Intervention Practices: Targets, Techniques, and ... Laura Justice, PhD, CCC-SLP is presenting a workshop on vocabulary development. January 1, 2015 “From These Honored Dead” to Honor the Fallen of 9/11 and Civil Wa... The Saint Mary’s College Department of Music will present a concert entitled “From These Honored Dead” on Friday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theater of Moreau Center of the Arts. The event will feature the Saint Mary’s Women’s Choir, conducted by Nancy Menk, and members of the Euclid Quartet as well as others. There will also be a pre-concert lecture given by composer William Averitt discussing his inspiration for the piece. January 1, 2015 Study Abroad Options in Rome to Broaden (The Observer) Pending final negotiations with John Cabot University (JCU) in Rome, the Saint Mary’s study abroad program will have a “new home in Rome,” the Rome program director Portia Prebys said. Prebys, who has worked with the College’s Rome Program since it began in 1970, personally recommended the JCU program as the best fit for Saint Mary’s students after much research on her part. Mana Derakhshani, associate director of the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CWIL), said the new program will offer students a different kind of experience, immersing them more in Roman culture. January 1, 2015 Sister Germanson, Trustee, on Virtues of Single-Gender Education (Chic... Sister Michelle Germanson, OP, is president of a Catholic girls high school and sits on our Board of Trustees. She told the Chicago Tribune, "If you have guys in the room, (girls are) more reluctant. In fact, the science says that in junior high boys get called on four to six times more than girls, and that increases in high school…When the girls come back and talk to our seniors they will say that not only did the academics make a difference, but the fact they went to an all-girls school made them so confident." Sister brings her wisdom to Saint Mary’s and we are very grateful. January 1, 2015 College to Mark Autism Awareness Month with 5K and More April is Autism Awareness Month in the U.S. and Saint Mary’s College will mark it in a number of ways. The Saint Mary’s College Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders will welcome national speaker and best-selling author David Finch to campus on Thursday, April 9, to give his talk titled “Happily Ever Asperger: Best Practices for Neurologically Mixed Relationships.” Meanwhile, the Students Supporting Autism club ill also host a 5K walk/run on campus on Saturday, April 18. January 1, 2015 Social Work Students to Host Panel Talk on Veterans The Saint Mary’s College Department of Social Work and Gerontology will host a panel discussion entitled “The Battle after the War: Veterans on their Lives and Struggles” on Tuesday, March 31 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Carroll Auditorium, Madeleva Hall. Members of the community are invited to join students, faculty, and staff from Saint Mary’s College for this free and informative event.