Exciting Time of Year...

It is an exciting time of the year at SMSU. Students are choosing classes and creating their schedules for the fall. On Wednesday, students met with their advisers to make sure they are on the right track to graduation and get their registration codes. Soon I will be busy with the Office of Admission and SMSU Ambassadors helping incoming freshmen and transfers with their registration days. Also, the weather has been very nice lately! My friends and I have been enjoying the weather with yard games and grilling.

Tony Schwebach
Junior - Dell Rapids, SD

Blood Drive

Each semester here at SMSU, the SMSU Student Association, or more commonly known as the Student Senate, coordinates a campus wide Blood Drive. This event takes place in the Lower Conference Center on April 11 from 11:00am to 5:00pm. This is a great way in which the students of SMSU help give back to the community of Marshall. Individuals come and sign-up on campus before the event, online, and also as walk-ins. Last Spring this event recorded a record breaking 163 units of blood. Each unit, which equals roughly a pint, can save up to three lives. There is always a need for blood transfusions so anyone who is willing to give is greatly encouraged to donate.

If anyone wants more information about appointments or donation questions, they can contact the Public Relations Coordinator, Joe Longshore, by e-mail at daniel.longshore@smsu.edu.

Josh Anderson
Sophomore – Springfield, MN

Advising Day

Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 28, 2012 is advising day at SMSU. No classes are held throughout the day. Advising day is an opportunity for students to meet with their advisor and decide on a tentative schedule of classes for next year. Students look forward to this day, because they have the chance to sit down and talk one on one with a professor about classes and to make sure that they are on track to graduate.

While all classes are canceled until 5:30 pm, many students enjoy the free day to sleep in, relax, and get some much needed end of the semester homework and studying done. Advising day is the last full day of classes that students get off from classes. From now until the beginning of May, students will be in class every day working hard to finish up their work in their classes. It will be a hectic and crazy last month on campus, but it will be all worth it in the end when classes are finished for the summer.

I know that my schedule is booked from here on out, and I can guarantee that I am not the only one who feels this way. Even though the work load at the end of the semester seems endless, students will get all of their work completed. Just take one day at a time, and know that everything will be okay in the end. Finish out the year strong Mustangs!

Tyler Glynn
Sophomore-Jordan, MN

Live Seafood

I’m a Culinology student and taking Culinary Essentials I, a seven hour class! This week we focused on fish and shellfish. We had recipes for clams casino, broiled stuffed lobster, and mussels with white wine and shallots. I was nervous to kill, cook, and eat the live seafood. At the beginning of the class, we examined the shellfish to determine how fresh it was. The lobster was alive and kicking! The clams and mussels had their shells closed tight. After examining, we had to kill the lobster before putting it into boiling water. To do this the quickest way possible, Chef placed his knife right behind the lobster’s eyes, where the brain is. After that the lobster was boiled for a few minutes, we halved and stuffed the lobster. The clams casino had stuffing that was kind of similar to the lobster stuffing. The clams were steamed first, so we could open their shells to stuff them. The last recipe was the mussels, which were steamed and then topped with a white wine sauce. All the seafood tasted delicious! It was a great experience to learn how to prepare seafood.


Katie Langel
Freshman- Remsen, IA

Mid-Semester Fun!

After returning from Cancun, Mexico for Spring Break, I can honestly say it was hard getting back into the swing of things. Now, a week later, I am finally back on track with my old schedule of school, work, clubs, and hanging out with my friends. Although Mexico was a blast, I am glad to be back in Marshall and back at SMSU.

It is right in the middle of spring semester which means mid-terms and classes in full swing! With this beautiful weather we have been having, for me it means more studying outside, as well as the occasional game of kickball. I am still waiting for the weather man to tell me that winter is officially over before I pack up my winter boots. One reason the weather needs to stay nice is so that my friends and I can go watch and support the SMSU Baseball and Softball teams. Last year, many games got cancelled due to poor weather, so I hope this year is a different story. I can’t wait to sit outside and cheer on the Mustangs!

Another exciting event for me is the SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) Regional tournament happening on Thursday. This on-campus organization works on various projects throughout the year and then assembles a presentation team to present all of our hard work at competition. Hundreds of teams will present their 24 minute speeches, hoping to make it to Nationals! I am very excited to show off all of our accomplishments this year, which will hopefully earn us a spot at Nationals. This is just one of the many clubs I participate in and enjoy that will help me in the future!

Laura Johnson
Junior - Maple Lake, MN

Spring Fever!

It’s about that time of year where spring fever begins to kick in! We’re just over the halfway point in the year, and I’m starting to feel the senior-itis “itch” that comes with the season! It’s hard to believe that I will be walking across the stage for graduation in six short weeks. I didn’t really believe it when people told me that college flies by, but I’m starting to understand the true reality now that I realize that these last four years have come and gone in no time!

With the weather being so nice, my buddies and I have definitely taken advantage of this beautiful sunshine! With late-night bonfires and stargazing, walks, runs, bike rides, lawn games, and other fun outdoor activities we have been staying busy! I absolutely love being outside, and it doesn’t hurt that we’ve been able to get a start on our summer tan in March.

One big event that always happens around this time of year is the Food Drive for the local Food Shelf in Marshall. The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and other organizations such as the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), the SMSU Student Association, and many more clubs and organization have all taken initiative to collect can goods, non-perishable food items, and paper and laundry items for the local Food Shelf. Students have gone and will go door-to-door throughout the town of Marshall to collect these goods.
We’ve learned that some families are hesitant to give their food away to college students (especially big football players), because they think we’re just going to keep it for ourselves; however, we’ve learned that a slip of paper explaining our efforts is usually enough to convince the locals of our right intentions.

It has been so neat to see how much we’ve actually been able to donate as a university to the food shelf. The fact that we get to get out into the community and actually have an impact is extremely rewarding—the weather certainly helps!

Kelly Fitzgerald
Senior - Marshalltown, IA

Spring Break!

During spring break, I did not go to a tropical island where it was hot and sunny; I instead went home to South Dakota. While at home, the weather was beautiful for the beginning of March so it was still enjoyable to be outside. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning over spring break I went to the Estelline Elementary School to shadow the kindergarten teacher for my introduction to education class. I enjoyed spending time in the classroom and getting to help the students with homework or other activities they were doing. I read a book to them every morning to get the day started. While there, I also had to teach a lesson plan. I taught a math lesson it was learning to subtract by two. I was about half way through the lesson when the fire alarm went off. After being outside for a few minutes, it took the students a couple of minutes to calm back down. I finished the lesson and had them complete a worksheet. Some caught on faster than others but by the end they were all starting to understand it.

I think that it is a great idea to have SMSU students get out in the classroom right away their freshman year so that they make sure that they know that teaching is really what they want to do. I enjoyed the time I got to spend with the kindergarteners and I know that I am majoring in the right thing by choosing Elementary Education as my major!

Have a great second half to the spring semester Mustangs!

Shawnalisa Reed
Freshman - Bruce, SD

Beating the Summer Slides

Hey Mustangs! As you are all probably well aware, it has been unseasonably warm here and Marshall. Not that anyone’s complaining, right? The sunny days have allowed students to break out of their dorm rooms, catch a few rays of sun, and enjoy a wider variety of outdoor activities. Walking around campus you will notice students participating in things like ultimate Frisbee, sand volleyball, rollerblading, and even just sitting in the grass and catching up with friends. With all of the possible activities, sunshine, and the fact that there is just over six weeks left to the school year, it’s no wonder that some students may having issues beating the “summer slides”. The Summer Slides refers to having a bad case of procrastination, and putting your homework on the backburner because it’s nice out. Here are a few tips to beat the Summer Slides:

1. Try doing your homework outside for a change. It allows you to be productive, and enjoy the weather.
2. Make a to do list and tell yourself that you have to get at least X amount crossed off your list before you can take a break to do something with your friends for a while. It’s also a good idea to order your list from greatest importance to least importance, and by due date. This will ensure that if you do potentially lose track of time then you’ll be more likely to be on top of important projects anyway.
3. Create a routine for yourself. If you know that you have an hour or two between classes, use that time to do homework in one of SMSU’s many court yards. That way you can catch up, or get ahead on your work. Chances are, your friends are in class during that time anyway, so this will allow you to gain more time at the end of the day to spend time with them when they are free as well. Perhaps set a time at the end of the day in which you have to start homework. Maybe find a study partner so you can help each other stay motivated and on task.

There are only 47 days (including finals week) left until Summer. Hang in there and good luck!

Go Mustangs!

Kaelyn Turner
Sophomore - Sartell, MN

Time's Flying!

With summer easily in view it is hard to believe that this school year will be coming soon to an end. With the weather being so nice, it is really hard to stay focused. I have already been outside rollerblading and running. But now is the time I have to really buckle down and study hard. While trying not to think about all the wonderful things summer will bring. It’s amazing how fast time flies. I can’t believe in seven weeks I’ll be a sophomore! Good luck to everyone and try to stay focused!


Kayla Stenzel
Freshman - Wells, MN

Second Semester Well Underway

After working hard and studying for midterms, taking the midterms, then enjoying a relaxing week of spring break it is safe to say that second semester is moving along fast. With only seven weeks left of this semester it is time to buckle down and try to stay focused while enjoying the beautiful weather we have been having. In the next seven weeks we just have one day off of school, advising day. After advising day registration for fall semester begins! Good luck, Mustangs on the rest of your spring semester!

Kassi Hague
Sophomore-New Ulm, MN

Good Luck Boys!

Here it is ladies and gentlemen, spring break! While most of you are going home today, or are already home, a select few students will still be around. The SMSU men’s basketball team has made it into the semifinals of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference basketball tournament! The guys will play Winona State University this Saturday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. The winner (hopefully us!) will play either Bemidji State or MSU Moorhead in the championship game on Sunday, March 4, at 4:30 p.m. We cheerleaders will be going to the game(s) in Rochester to cheer on our guys.

But enough about basketball, what is everyone’s plans for spring break? I personally will be going to Rochester, but after that, I’ll be going home; no where warm and sunny for this girl. My plans are to hang out with a couple friends, have a doctor and dentist appointment (yuck), and possibly go wedding dress shopping with my sister! I’m stoked about that last part.

Enough babbling for now, I hope everyone has a wonderful spring break and don’t forget to take lots of pictures!

Rebecca Lockwood
Sophomore - Fenton, Iowa