2007-09-06

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the record

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CSB/SJU's award-wiirning college newspaper • www.csbsju.edvi/record

? THE NEW CAFE

Gorecki Dining heats up

By Peter MuBin

pmullin@csbsju.edu

A warm, red-bricked facade now sits at the heart of St. Ben's campus.

The baptism for the Gorecki Dining and Conference Center took place Aug. 29. A crowd of 200, including donors Benedict and Dorothy Gorecki, sprinkled the bakery, lounge, kitchen and the dining room with holy water.

"The location of the building is as practical as it is symbolic" President MaryAnn Baenninger said in a press release. 'The center will become the hub of activity for our students, faculty and visitors."

The first week of school has already seen students lounging inside and outside the Gorecki Center, waiting for buses, dining and enjoying time to relax amongst the soothing peach, yellow and green pastel colors.

The building has tested the college's efforts to move forward.

CSB Director of Culinary Services Gary Bradford is wearing a proud smile.

"This is a facility that this campus has needed for a long time " Bradford said. "I think the goal was to provide a food operation on this campus that matched its identity."

After its first week in operation, students seem to be recognizing it as their own.

SJU first-year Abdul Titilope is already comparing it to the Refectory.

"It's way better than the Reef?' Titilope said. "It's extravagant,"

CSB first-year Yasmary Hernandez joined Abdul Titilope for lunch. She agreed.

"It's a homey atmosphere," she said.

Dining experience

The Gorecki Dining Center has introduced a new dining experience for students.

Seven food stations greet diners after they punch in. A bakery, deli, Italian bar, comfort food, salad bar and American grill form an arc around the Mongolian grill.

Despite chefs serving at each station, Bradford and his staff have been unable to keep up with the volume during peak hours.

Numbers at breakfast illustrate the difference between the Gorecki and the Cafe's ability to serve students. The Cafe saw an average of 25 students for breakfast, while the Gorecki is routinely serving 300, Bradford said.

It is these numbers that prompted Sue Palmer to send an e-mail on Tuesday, asking students to be patient

Both Palmer and Bradford reported that they are regularly serving 900-1000 during lunch and dinner.

"We're struggling a little bit mostly because we haven't settled into a pattern," Bradford said.

Gorecld's impact

McGlynn's is suffering in the wake of the Gorecki Dining Center's success.

CSB senior and student manager at McGlynn's Katie Stern knows why McGlynn's only had two people sitting down for dinner on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

"People don't want to come here " Stern said.

Since school opened, 15-20 people have shown up consistently for lunch and dinner, Stern said.

Stern feels changes to meal plans, excitement for the Gorecki Center, menu options and lack of variety at McGlynn's are keeping people away.

Some other changes are also

? See GORECKI, Page 5

See a photo of Gorecki

GSB/SJU instructor aids families after bridge falls

ByNikNadeau

ncnadeau@csbsju.edu

Scott Palmer was driving to his home in Rockville, Minn., on Aug. 1 when he heard over the radio that the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis had collapsed over the Mississippi River.

A few minutes later he received a call from his wife, Sue, who told him that the American Red Cross requested his immediate assistance.

Palmer, Coordinator of Psychological Services at St. Cloud Hospital and a current psychology lecturer at CSB | SJU, arrived on the scene when children were evacuating the school bus that had fallen with the bridge.

*'When I got there they were... tri-aging these kids and getting them to either the hospital or connected with their parents," Palmer said.

"I had to find parking, and everything was taped off and there were police officers all around," he said. "It was very busy; there were a lot of people there offering assistance. Then you go into the Red Cross Headquarters - it was bustling ... the last kids on school bus were with parents and loved ones."

Aid in the Metrodome

Palmer quickly went to work setting up an emergency family assistance center, located first in the

Metrodome and later in the nearby Holiday Inn ballroom.

The center initially served as a place where family members could go to obtain support, connect with other family members and receive updates on the status of their loved ones. Once the relief effort shifted to a recovery mode, the center focused on limiting stress and maintaining what Palmer calls "resilience."

'We provide for their basic needs, which includes trying to promote good sleep and being able to get some food and nourishment down," he said.

Grieving after disaster

Palmer is no rookie in providing mental health treatment to disaster victims.

He has been a member of the American Red Cross disaster mental health team for 11 years, and responded to the scene of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Oklahoma City tornadoes 2003, the school shootings at both Rocori 2003 and Red Lake 2005, as well as Hurricane Katrina.

Palmer said his most significant accomplishment at the bridge collapse scene was obtaining permission from the city of Minneapolis and emergency workers for a grieving family to go to the riverfront as a way to bring closure to the death of a family member.

"They said it would help them go through the grieving process," Palmer said. 'That's very significant for people to see the site and to be able to touch or involve as many of their senses as possible."

Palmer and his wife Sue live in Rockville and have two adult daughters, Cathy and Stacy.

Sue works as CSB Vice President for Finance and Administration and is proud of her husband's efforts.

"Thank goodness there are people like Scott and many other people who are willing to volunteer and help out when it's needed in a crisis like that," she said.

Scott said that his role in disaster relief enables him to maintain a positive attitude and healthy lifestyle.

"Through my experiences in responding to disasters, I have very clearly recognized how valuable life is, and how quickly life can change," he said.

"(Disaster relief) has really en-

Photo by Erin Buss • eebuss@csbsju.edu

The American colors hang over the Stone Arch Bridge near Interstate 35W.

couraged me to live life in a healthy way... and to help others when they experience unexpected loss."

REVITALIZING ST. JOE

Lofts and shops to arrive on Minnesota Street

®^

Photo by Jess Handwerk •jhandwerk@csbsju.edu; Graphic from Mill Stream Shops and Lofts

Construction works begin foundation work on new retail and condo space on Minnesota Street in St. Joe. Goto page 5 for more information on what the latest additions to St. Joe will mean for CSB/SJU students and faculty.

Donors bring global centers to campus

By Alex Kurt

apkurt@csbsju.edu

CSB/SJU students have often impressed observers with their work outside the classroom.

Thanks to $10.3 million in new gilts, they'll soon have more opportunities to expand that work.

CSB received a $5.3 million commitment from Tom Petters, Co. of Petters Group Worldwide, for the creation of the Thomas J. Petters Center for Global Education.

Petters, a St. Cloud native, is a member of the CSB Board of Trustees.

SJU received a $5 million gift pledge from Dan and Katherine Whalen for the creation of the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement Dan Whalen is a 1970 graduate of SJU and immediate past chair of the SJU Board of Regents.

According to a CSB/SJU press release, the aim of the Petters Center is to help broaden understanding and strengthen the engagement of students and faculty in a global community. It will also build off of CSB/SJLTs nationally-recognized study abroad program.

"The future is dependent upon our youth having abroad understanding of other cultures" Petters said. "It's essential to teach students about the importance of understanding cultural differences and exchanging ideas that can be used to enhance the lives of all people, and encourage dialogue for a

This place really does transform people, and it's a first-rate education.

—Dan Whalen

SJU alum and benefactor

more peaceful world."

The McCarthy Center is named for the late Sen. Eugene J. McCarthy, a 1935 graduate of SJU. According to the press release, the center will expand the academic exploration of public policy, governance and citizenship at CSB and SJU and their record of bringing the classroom into the wider world.

"I've seen what Saint John's and Saint Bens does for students," Dan Whalen said in a press release. "This place really does transform people, and it's a first rate education. I can't think of a better investment."

"[The Wlialens'] generosity is a gift primarily to the students of St. Ben's and St. John's," said Matt Iindstrom, an associate professor of political science and the director of the McCarthy Center. "This endowment will greatly enhance opportunities for student research, internships, study tours, additional classes, career networking and more. The Whalens are true leaders in furthering civic engagement, democracy and student learning."

Both gifts were announced nearly two years after the institutions jointly publicly announced the largest fundraising drives in their respective histories, together totaling $230 million. To date, the institutions have raised $212 million in current and deferred gifts and pledges toward the $230 million goal.

? EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Luberts tries to move on after sex charges

By Kelly Smith

knisniitli@csbsju.edu

A former running back for the Johnnie football team who was charged with third-degree sexual conduct earlier this summer talked Wednesday about how life has changed for him.

"It's tough" said Craig Luberts, 21, the former St. Johns University junior and standout football player who was charged in July after being accused of having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old. "I'm just trying to take care of stuff now."

The Pierz, Minn., resident said he lives back home and works for a sprinker system installation company. He said he still supports the Johnnie football team. He acknowledged cheering the team on at its first game last weekend.

'A lot of my best friends are still on that team," Luberts said, adding that he's stayed in touch with them even after withdrawing from the team and SJU.

Luberts will make his second appearance in court this month. He said he couldn't comment

? See LUBERTS Page 5

SJU, Gagliardi read to charges