Upcoming special elections were discussed, three clubs were funded, and one guest presented at the Feb. 7 Undergraduate Student Government general council meeting.
Upcoming elections discussed, three clubs funded in Feb. 7 USG meeting
News in :90 – Feb. 12, 2019
Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar has apologized for tweets suggesting that members of Congress support Israel because they are being paid to do so, retired astronaut Mark Kelly announced that he will run to finish John McCain’s last term in the U.S. Senate, and schools closed across Washington state as a larger weather system wreaked havoc in the region. Business Manager Amanda Strodtman has today’s News in :90.
Upper Quad renovations to improve student experience
In an attempt to move the university toward the two-year on-campus residency requirement and make new opportunities for first-year students, St. Thomas announced three renovation projects for the upper quad. The St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel will be expanded and two new dormitories will be added.
Truth and transformation: Changing racial narratives in media
Through a statewide conference in March titled Truth and Transformation: Changing Racial Narratives in Media, ThreeSixty Journalism hopes to change the representation of racial narratives in local news. The project is funded by the Kellogg Foundation and involves a number of partners but is spearheaded by Minnesota Public Radio.
President gifts faculty, staff three days of paid leave
St. Thomas will be giving faculty and staff three extra paid days off between fall semester and January Term to spend with their families over the holidays. The gift days tradition was started by previous president Father Dennis Dease.
University announces 2 new dorms, renovations to existing buildings
The university announced plans for two new dorms, which will be built where John Paul II and Faculty Residence currently sit. The projects are expected to be complete in 2020 and will not use tuition money.
St. Paul passes landmark minimum wage law
The St. Paul City Council passed a $15 minimum wage ordinance Wednesday afternoon. Large businesses, including the University of St. Thomas, will increase minimum wages to $11.50 by July 1, 2020 and reach $15 an hour by 2023.
News in :90 – Nov. 16, 2018
The California wildfires claim at least 63 lives, St. Thomas announces plans to renovate the Aquinas Chapel, and St. Thomas Public Safety investigates a potential threat to campus. Ad/PR Representative Zoe Carlson has today’s News in :90.
Esten named athletics director, vice president
St. Thomas alumnus Phil Esten was announced in a press conference Monday as the next athletics director for the university. He will begin his role in January.
AP: Trump forces out Jeff Sessions as US attorney general
AP: Attorney General Jeff Sessions was pushed out Wednesday as the country’s chief law enforcement officer after enduring more than a year of blistering and personal attacks from President Donald Trump over his recusal from the Russia investigation.
St. Thomas precincts 6 and 7 voting results
The 2018 election results for the two precincts on or near the St. Paul campus, where many St. Thomas students live and vote.
Rep. McCollum re-elected easily
Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL-St.Paul, has been elected to her 10th term in Minnesota’s Fourth District seat, defeating Republican Greg Ryan in the 2018 midterm election.
St. Thomas awarded grant, assistance to encourage young voting
The Campus Engagement Election Project awarded a grant and assistance to St. Thomas to help encourage students to vote. CEEP is a national nonpartisan project that connects with students from colleges and universities and engages them in federal, state and local elections.
‘Bias-motivated Incident Report’ issued after poster discovered
The university issued its first “Bias-motivated Incident Report” after a poster declaring “It’s OK to be white” was found on the southeast corner of Cretin and Summit avenues.
Community meets in first step of anti-racism action plan
One of the largest crowds in St. Thomas history gathered to discuss a collective commitment to a new action plan to combat racism at the university Wednesday afternoon in the field house of the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex. All afternoon classes were canceled in order for students, staff and faculty to attend.