SURVIVING DEATH ROW
This coming Monday, January 16, our Martin Luther King Day keynote speaker Juan Meléndez will present a free, public talk, “Amazing Grace,” in the lower level of the Campus Center at 7 p.m. Melendez spent nearly 18 years on Florida’s death row for a crime he did not commit. Upon his 2002 release, he became the ninety-ninth death row inmate in the country to be exonerated and released because of innocence since 1973. Melendez’s story is featured in the acclaimed documentary film Juan Meléndez 6446.
A Puerto Rican migrant farm worker unable to read and write in English, Meléndez was convicted and sentenced to death for murder. At the time, he did not know crucial evidence was being withheld by prosecutors, including a confession by the true killer and further evidence questioning the credibility of the state’s two key witnesses against him. The Florida Supreme Court upheld his conviction and Meléndez remained on death row until 2001, when the withheld evidence came to light. Prosecutors remained unapologetic about the way they had handled the case. “I was not saved by the system. I was saved in spite of the system,” Meléndez says.
MLK IS SERVICE DAY
MLK Day is also our national Day of Service, and to mark it appropriately Fr. Jerry Lowney, sociology professor emeritus and MLK Day event organizer, will celebrate a Martin Luther King Day Mass at noon in Borromeo Hall chapel with Professors Anne Perkins and Jack Oberweiser providing music. Fr. Jerry will then lead student, faculty and staff volunteers on an afternoon of service work from 1 to 4 p.m. at God’s Love homeless shelter and Helena Food Share. If you want to participate and have not yet signed up, contact Fr. Jerry at jlowney@carroll.edu
WINTERDANCE II
With snowflakes now arriving like dancers on the wind, Carroll’s in-residence Ballet Montana Academy gives us a fitting seasonal show, Winterdance II: Four Movements Forward this Saturday, January 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Carroll Theatre (Old North, St. Charles Hall). Admission is $10 at the door for an evening of ballet presented by the academy’s high-flying, talented pre-professional students. The production is directed and choreographed by Carroll artist-in-residence Sallyann Mulcahy, the founder of Ballet Montana and the academy. Audiences will also be treated to Cathy Champion-Predmore on piano and a reception with light refreshments after the ballet.
IF THE ROD HAD BEEN ROUND
On Thursday, January 19, Carroll’s Hunthausen Center for Peace and Justice is hosting guest speaker Bridget Harris Volden, Native American author of If Only the Rod Had Been Round, discussing Catholic school abuse and the long road to healing at 7 p.m. in the lower level of the Campus Center. It is free and open to the public.
Volden’s mother was from the Chipewyan tribe in northern Canada, and her Irish father served as Indian agent in the Northwest Territories. Volden suffered abuse while she was a student at Fort Providence Indian Residential Schools established by the Canadian government and run by the Catholic Grey Nuns. At the age of 87, she was invited to testify by the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada regarding possible wrongful treatment at Fort Providence. In 2008, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a public statement of apology in the Canadian Parliament’s House of Commons for the treatment of indigenous children and their separation from their families and villages in the residential school system. In his apology, Harper recognized “Two primary objectives of the residential schools system were to remove and isolate children from the influence of their homes, families, traditions and cultures, and to assimilate them into the dominant culture. These objectives were based on the assumption aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal. Indeed, some sought, as it was infamously said, ‘to kill the Indian in the child.’
In her Carroll talk, Volden will discuss the abuses she suffered at the Fort Providence school, her resulting alcoholism, and her ultimate triumph over fear and bitterness as she rediscovered her Christian faith. She would ultimately co-found The American Indian Bible Fellowship in downtown Minneapolis, Minn., where she served as director for ten years and fed up to 250 Indian people weekly.
THE REAL HOARDERS OF HELENA, MONTANA
Sounds like the next big reality-show hit! If you’ve been hoarding plastic trays and bottles, it’s time to let go: the next SAVE Foundation Community Plastics Recycling Drive in Helena starts today and continues to the end of Monday, January 16, at the usual location in the YMCA parking lot, 1100 N. Last Chance Gulch. Hours for collection of type 1 and 2 plastic containers are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
STUDENT NEWS
The last day for Carroll seniors to make their 2012 Senior Grateful Saints gifts to their alma mater in the amount of $20.12 and receive a star on their alumni brick is January 31. Make your gift, and earn your star, today by giving online at: http://www.advancement.carroll.edu/gratefulsaints2012 Donations go to make Carroll the very best education at the most affordable price for future Saints. If you got, it’s time to give!
For the latest student news and activities, go to www.carroll.edu/students
ALUMNI NEWS
Events
At Graduation 2012, we’ll be honoring our 50- and 60-year Golden Grads, with a reunion of alumni from the classes of 1952 and 1962. Stay tuned for more details on this May 4 -5, 2012, gold-standard event!
Homecoming is September 21-23, 2012, with the big game pitting the Saints against Eastern Oregon and reunions for anniversary class years 2007, 2002, 1997, 1992, 1987, 1982, 1977, 1972, 1967, 1962, 1957, 1952 and 1947!
In the News
Sheridan Levi Jones, who attended Carroll 2001-2004, is engaged to marry Tara Teleah Hanley at Sandals Grande Antigua in March. With a doctorate in chiropractic from Northwestern Health Science University, he practices at Big Sky Chiropractic and Montana Workcare in Helena.
Sarah Marie Messinger, class of 2006, married Nicholas James Smith on May 29, 2011, at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Helena. She is completing her master’s degree in communication at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. (Newlyweds in photo left)
Sarah Wear, class of 2007, recently accepted a position as a strategic analyst at the central headquarters for the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington D.C. Sarah has been working for the Department of Veteran Affairs since 2009. In her new assignment, she manages program initiatives that are driving the Veterans Benefits Administration toward a national transformation.
At a recent Helena City Commission meeting, new firefighter Owen Koeppen, class of 2008, was confirmed onto the Helena (Mont.) Fire Department after finishing his probationary year. As a student, Koeppen played football for Carroll and was named NAIA Player of the Year.
Drew Miller, class of 2009, is engaged to marry Kendra Halverson this May in Choteau, Mont. He is employed by Intermountain as a mental health specialist.
In Memoriam
Diana Mae Williams (photo right), class of 1990, of Helena, died January 9, 2012, after a three-year battle with cancer. In her career, she taught school in Gardiner and also served as an aide at Montana City Schools with special needs children, in addition to working with her family at Williams Construction Company. Diana was very active at Canyon Ferry Lake, serving on the board of the Canyon Ferry Rec Association for many years. For more on her life, read: http://helenair.com/news/local/obituaries/diana-mae-williams/article_a2c43cd2-3c24-11e1-8e9e-0019bb2963f4.html
FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS
Annette Ryerson, Business Department associate professor of marketing, has co-authored an article published in the December 2011 issue of Tourism Economics. The article is entitled “Correcting for selectivity bias in the estimation of tourist spending surveys.”
CAMPUS MINISTRY
The annual Headlights Immersion Program Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser will be served up on February 11 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Community in Helena. Students will be preparing and serving all of the food, with proceeds going to raise money for 30 students and advisors to spend spring break serving the poor and witnessing Catholic social teaching in action in three US cities: Kansas City, Cincinnati and Rochester (NY).
To raise the needed travel and lodging funds, students will also be selling Firetower coffee for $12 a bag and raffle tickets, with prizes including gift cards to Silver Star, Brewhouse, Downtown Helena and Firetower Coffee. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 20 tickets for $15. Raffle tickets and coffee will be on sale at the basketball home games on January 19 and February 9 and again in the Campus Center at lunchtime the week before the dinner. Or, you can purchase now by contacting Headlights Director Colleen Dunne at cdunne@carroll.edu
For all Campus Ministry news, Mass and sacraments schedules, homilies and much more, go to: http://www.carroll.edu/ministry/
ATHLETICS
Basketball and track and field are all away this weekend. For all Athletics news and game schedules, visit www.carroll.edu/athletics
COMING EVENTS
Ongoing: The annual Student Art Exhibit runs through February 17 in the Carroll Art Gallery in St. Charles Hall. Included are over 90 works in painting, drawing and ceramics created by 30 students in recent Carroll art classes taught by Professor Ralph Esposito. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, closed on weekends and holidays.
February 4: Carroll Up ’Til Dawn fundraising crew presents a Zumbathon in the Carroll PE Center from 2 to 4 p.m. Proceeds go to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on a perfect day: World Cancer Day. Open to the public, the event is geared to all experience and fitness levels and people of every age. A kid-friendly choreography session occurs from 2 to 2:30, and the rest of the time join the full-out Zumba dancing extravaganza—high energy cool dance moves to the best club and Latin music, led by several different local instructors. Prizes and free t-shirts, all for admission of only $10 per person, $30 per family or group (up to 6), and $50 per team (up to 10 participants). Work up a Latin sweat for the kids at St. Jude! For more info, email uptildawn@carroll.edu
February 16-26: Lend me a Tenor, a hilarious farce performed by the Carroll College Theatre Dept. directed Carroll alumnus and thespian John Rausch. A sensation on Broadway and in London's West End, Lend Me a Tenor is guaranteed to leave you teary eyed with laughter. Our story: on the biggest night in the history of the Grand Opera Company, world famous tenor Morelli is to perform “Otello,” his greatest role, at the gala season opener. However, Morelli shows up late and drunk, then appears to drop dead. A nervous amateur takes the star’s place, but Morelli revives and hits the stage, with a grand farce resulting. Shows are Thursdays through Saturdays (Feb. 16-18 and Feb. 23-25) at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees (Feb. 19 and 26) at 3 p.m. In the Carroll College Theatre, Old North, St. Charles Hall. General admission is $10, students/seniors $8. For more info, call 447-5415.
February 24-25: Parents Weekend, sponsored by the Associated Students of Carroll College, with Parent Appreciation Lunch, entertainment, campus tours, basketball game night, a Mass and more.
February 24: Comedian Johnny Cardinale in the upper level of the Carroll College Campus Center. The 7 p.m. show is free and open to the public. Johnny Cardinale began his comedy career at the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, Calif., and has since gone on to perform at all the major clubs in Los Angeles, write and direct a short film that screened at Cannes, and hosted Clean Shots on the Game Show Network. He was also featured on the Emmy Awards in a spoof of the hit show Heroes and has been featured on Chelsea Lately on the E! channel. Often compared to Adam Sandler and Jimmy Fallon, Johnny's act is clean and upbeat.
February 27: Reno 911! stars Carlos Alazraqui and Cedric Yarbrough perform comedy in the Carroll Campus Center starting at 9 p.m. Free.
March 15-25: The Mound Builders, directed by Carroll Theatre Director Chuck Driscoll. This is the final play by the great American playwright Lanford Wilson. Curtain is Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 3. In the Carroll Theatre, Old North, St. Charles Hall.
March 22: Carroll Jazz Combo Concert, 4 p.m., in the Campus Center. Free and open to the public.
April 12: Charlie’s Film Festival in the Carroll PE Center.
April 13-14 and 20-21: The Commedia Puss in Boots by Lane Riosley, a Carroll children’s theatre production, at 7 p.m. in the Carroll Theatre, Old North, St. Charles Hall.
April 18: Honors Convocation
April 21-22: Softball Weekend
April 26: Carroll Jazz Combo Concert, 7:30 p.m. in the Carroll Theatre. Free and open to the public.
April 27: Last Day of Classes
May 5: Commencement