Parents take advantage of free classes

In many evening classes, especially languages and business courses, it’s not unusual to see middle-aged adults seated alongside students young enough to be their children. According to the registrar, 84 parents of undergraduates signed up for free classes this fall.

Among them were Steve and Mary Kulseth, parents of sophomore Chris and junior Diane.

The Kulseth couple is taking a third Spanish course together and the classes have already changed one part of the family’s interaction.

Johnnies win in overtime 20-17

An announced crowd of 12,903 watched a thriller as St. John’s needed overtime to pull out a 20-17 win Saturday afternoon, at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville, Minn.

St. John’s running back Kellen Blaser dove into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in the first period of overtime. A delayed signal from the referee caused a moment of hesitation before thousands of St. John’s fans and players rushed the field.

New building could replace abandoned lot

Across from Davanni’s on Grand and Cleveland avenues, a development may be built where students can eat, shop and live.

“It sounds sweet,” junior Felisha Willaert said. “I think as students, we could use more commercial options in terms of restaurants and stores closer to St. Thomas.”

Students carry weight of recession

For students entering college during the recession, the question is not so much “Can I go to college?” but rather, “Can I afford it?” With banks shutting doors on families because of tighter lending restrictions and requirements, students are now struggling to afford a secondary education.

While some students luck out by finding loans through banks, state grants and scholarships, some may inevitably have to face a heartbreaking reality: dropping out of college.

Tommie-Johnnie rivalry starts with Ignatius O’Shaughnessy

The Tommie-Johnnie football game is something that students look forward to year after year. But some students may not be aware of the history behind the two teams.

The rivalry dates back to 1901 when Ignatius O’Shaughnessy began his freshman year at St. John’s. He and a group of his friends had a beer bust in the woods and were dismissed from the school.

Ignatius O’Shaughnessy’s 88-year-old son, Larry O’Shaughnessy, explained how his father ended up at St. Thomas.

Business clubs battle in kickball tournament

After weeks of trash talk and club promotion, the first business club kickball tournament kicked off Friday afternoon at Merriam Park in St. Paul.

With a traveling trophy and bragging rights on the line, the table was set for serious kickball and inter-club competition.

Members from the Financial Management Association (FMA), American Marketing Association (AMA), Accounting Club, Delta Sigma Pi, Entrepreneurial Society and Real Estate Society played in the round robin tournament.

St. Thomas health insurance covering 200 more students

The health insurance that St. Thomas offers its students is covering 200 more students this year.

The St. Thomas student health insurance covered about 700 students last year. About 900 students are currently covered this year, said Madonna McDermott, director of Student Health Services and Wellness Center.

One reason the number of those insured has gone up this year is that some parents of St. Thomas students have lost jobs and need health insurance for their children, McDermott said.

Students protest Super America over ‘cap and trade’ bill

St. Thomas students and community members stood on the corner of Grand and Cleveland avenues in the rain Tuesday afternoon, waving signs and banners in an attempt to encourage the rush-hour traffic to boycott Super America.

The protesters were upset about Super America’s attempts to discourage the public from supporting the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009. The act is currently being reviewed in national governmental committees and if it passes, businesses, including oil companies, would have to meet lower carbon-emission standards or pay a fine.