In Search of a Just Society; Inspiration from Thomas Merton Each month, the Center for Spirituality co-hosts a webinar series with the International Thomas Merton Society (ITMS), an organization dedicated to the exploration of the scholar and theologian’s life and work through programming, research, and teaching. The Art of Circular Giving As we leap into February, a major winter storm is sugar-coating our beautiful campus with a layer of fresh snow. Although the theme of this message may seem like it could belong to Christmas, it’s in this snowy season—this month, February—President Conboy finds herself thinking about the meaning of gifts. Masking and Booster Updates The following letter was sent to the campus community on January 28, 2022 to provide an update on our masking requirements and the status of our booster compliance. Spirituality ‘Pop-Up Sessions’ Offer Safe Space for Students Every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. students can find Carrie Badertscher in the Student Center offering a safe space for dialogue, community, or a place to have lunch. Badertscher, a Protestant chaplain who serves part time at a local South Bend church, spends the rest of her time on campus holding office hours, and a once-a-week “pop-up session.” A Note From the Cloak Room Campus and Community Events and O’Laughlin Auditorium have undergone a significant physical transformation this year: new carpet, new paint, wall removal, and some long overdue winnowing of files, records, and memorabilia. This summer, crews will transform the lobby restrooms, in hopes they will be ready by fall of 2022. Chemistry Club Works to Encourage Young Girls in STEM Saint Mary’s Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SMAACS) is one of the many clubs and organizations at the College, but their goal is bigger than their presence on campus. Three Undergraduates Named Spring 2022 Gilman Scholars Three Saint Mary’s students have received the prestigious Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad in the spring of 2022. Extending My Mind in Surprising Ways If you are anything like President Katie Conboy, you probably made some new year’s resolutions, and at least some of them might have been about “productivity.” One recent morning, she went out for a long walk and learned some lessons that turned her resolutions inside out. COVID Guidelines for the Spring Semester The following letter was sent to students on January 5, 2022 outlining Saint Mary’s campus protocol for the Spring 2022 semester.