The Start to a New Year!

Hey Everybody!

I cannot believe that we are already into our second week of school. There has been so much happening on campus; this past Saturday there was a band called Roxbury that played in the alumni plaza which was really fun! This week there is even more going on. Today we have the Club and Organization Activities Fair where you can find clubs that you are interested in joining. There are over 100 clubs and organizations to be a part of at SMSU, including Dance Team, Mustang Maniacs, SIFE (Students in Fee Enterprise), and SAC (Students Activities Committee). If SMSU somehow doesn’t have one you’re interested in, you can always start your own! This week the Mustang Football and Volleyball teams are playing their first games of the season. Next weekend we have our annual Ag Bowl and first home football game. Go Mustangs!!

Andrea Hanson

Senior - Monticello, MN

Done with Classes for the Year!

My first year of college has been the best ever. I can't believe it's already over! Life at SMSU has been crazy busy between classes, homework, hanging out with friends, and going to all the activities around campus. Last night was the "end of the year" bash here at SMSU, and it was so much fun! My friends and I ran around in giant hamster balls, which was hilarious because you felt ridiculous and everyone would watch and laugh. There was also a mechanical bull, and I lasted for a solid 2.4 seconds! That was pretty lame, but it was surprisingly hard! There was also a photo booth, and my friends and I were probably in there for like a half hour laughing and taking pictures. Studying for finals is going to take over my life this weekend and next, but thankfully I only have two final tests to study for! One of the fourth floor study lounges, which is one of the really quiet floors, is going to be the home of my friends and I for the next few days, as it is a lot more fun to study with friends than by yourself. I love that there is a place to study besides my room, because my dorm room in Sweetland Hall is full of distractions (AKA my computer, which has Facebook, and my friends right across the hall!).

I'm going to miss my friends that I have met this year so much. It's going to be hard this summer being away from them, because most live a few hours away from me. That is the one of the worst parts about college; being so far away from your friends over the summer! But thankfully, summer is only a few months, and we'll all be back in Marshall! I cannot wait for my sophomore year!

Have a great summer everyone!

Mackenzie Kegley

Freshman from Burnsville, Minnesota

Fine Arts Celebration

Happy Spring!!

Things have been crazy here on the campus of SMSU! As classes come to a close and finals are starting, it’s about this time of year when students go NUTS! Thankfully, the campus has provided a plethora of opportunities for students to stay active, be involved, and have fun! This year marks the 5^th Annual Fine Arts Celebration at SMSU put on by the Department of Art, Music, Speech Communication and Theatre, along with the Creative Writing Program and the English Department. Events began on April 1^st and will continue through the week until May 7^th; events range from special guests like Dana Yost who did a reading on April 6^th, to the performance of musical Lucky Stiff, to the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra Liszt Festival Concert. Along with these events include readings from SMSU professors Susan McLean, Marianne Murphy Zarzana, and Liz Blair; The SMSU Forensic Showcase and student readings also were included in the celebration.

One of my favorite things about the Fine Arts Celebration is all of the exhibits in the William Whipple Gallery, which is located right next to the Library. Throughout the celebration, there have been a number of amazing displays presented in the gallery; the Art Graduation Exhibit displays a lot of the graduating seniors’ portfolios as well as collections by various artists. My absolute favorite collection is done by senior artist Kate Fineran, whose collection includes a number of ceramic safari and jungle animals, a safari spread, an animal print canvas, as well as ceramic animal masks; the pieces alone are phenomenal, but the collection as a whole is simply amazing.

The Fine Arts Celebration has been just one of the great opportunities that SMSU provides for its students during this time of year. I absolutely love the spring and all of the fun activities that go on during this hectic time of year; keep on keeping on and finish strong!

Kelly Fitzgerald
Junior - Marshalltown, IA