What's JEC $9'°°° MiUstream T • j In Debt Arts Festival
Inside: page 3 Oct. 2 - page
New Cross- Central Country Team America Week
Page 5 Oct. 11-17 —Page 6
4.5 million dollar project nearly completed
by Paula Cutter
"It's a great tribute for a group of women to accomplish an architectural feat such as this," Sister Dolores Super enthusiastically announces as she conducts a tour of the newly renovated Sacred Heart Chapel- *
Begun when the convent was offered the opportunity to buy a new organ in 1979, the project to improve the existing chapel has included the addition of a new entrance, a Gathering Place, and Oratory and an Archival area. The project should be finished when the altar is consecrated by the Bishop on October 24, 1983.
Marking 40 years since the blessing of the original altar, this important date and its link to the past reflect a significant aspect of the design of the new chapel. Parts saved from the main chapel appear in the new addition to provide continuity
in the shift from old to new. Pillars from the sanctuary and the old communion railing have been worked into the new Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
The construction of the Gathering Place was important to the sisters of the convent, all who have had a part in the project. Providing an area in which they can welcome guests who have come from all over the world, the Gathering Place goes along with the Benedictine tradition of hospitality.
Important too, is the added space that makes it easier for the women of the college to celebrate mass with the sisters' community. Before the renovation, entering the chapel through the convent entrance made a student feel as if she was somehow "invading" convent property; now the orange juice that is sometimes offered in the new reception area can make a student feel at home in the chapel that was built for both the convent and the college.
Overseeing this whole undertaking, Sister Colleen Haggerty, a member of the convent administration, supervised the engineering as well as the architectural design. Hammel, Green and Abrahamson Inc., who was responsible for the award-winning Benedicta Arts Center and Mary Hall, is also in charge of the architectural aspects of the chapel. World-renown Frank Kacmarcik is Liturgical and Design Consultant.
The simple style and basic beauty complement the eye-catching structure of the support arches in the chapel. Placed under the dome in the most prominent position is the altar, the center of the congregation. The clear rheamy glass windows from Southern Bavaria allow the outdoors to be incorporated in the sacrifice, as well as provide a link with the past since Southern Bavaria is the area from which the Benedictine community originated.
Constructed below the Gathering Place is the new Oratory, a location where sisters of the convent can come for personal prayer and meditation. Whereas the focal point of the chapel is the altar, the Scriptures are the most important in the Oratory. The sisters gather three times per day in the tiered pews for the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours. Guests are always welcome.
Another new dimension of the chapel is the Archives. Documents from organizations such as the Federation of St. Benedict and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious are housed here. An unplanned addition to this area is the water pump that was added when water unexpectedly rose to a dangerous level.
Financed entirely by convent funds, this $4.5 million project is a source of pride for all of the Benedictine sisters and is also a long-awaited addition to the college campus.
College of St. Benedict
Cable
Volume 8, No. 2 Sept. 30, 1983
New Food Service Program Implemented
by Maureen Graham
The new food contract at CSB has been causing its users problems in some areas, yet has become more efficient in others.
The CSB Food Service made two big changes this fall with the start of the new semester. The first change is the use of the new ID or "Vali-dine" rather than the $25.00 mealcards and Johnny Tickets used in the past. The second change involves the overhead fee and offering new food prices at raw costs instead of "restaurant rates" at the cafeteria.
How are things working out? Food Service Director Sister Cecila Prokosch feels that the new Vali-dines are working out very well. CSB Vali-dine users tend to agree. It is quite convenient, especially since there is no longer the need to run down to get a mealcard when you are low or to use Johnny tickets at St. John's. These Vali-dines can also provide useful information to the Food Service, such as how many people eat at each meal. So the Vali-dines system is running smoothly.
It's the new food prices that are caus-
ing all the problems. According to Sister Cecilia, taking out the overhead prices is theoretically taking a large portion of the student's contract away from her eyes. "Out of sight, out of mind" so to speak. This is in hopes that students on the contract "might feel free to eat more" because they would only be facing the raw food prices. It would feel less like "eating out" and more like "going to a grocery store."
Unfortunately this has more than one student baffled. "I'm always wondering if I'm eating enough or not," confided one CSB sophomore. A solution to this would be to budget yourself to approximately $1.35 per day. This will get you to the end of January claims Sister Cecilia.
But the problems don't end here. The major drawback of the plan is that the prices at the Loft have remained the same as last year. And as a result, cries of "the loft is so expensive" have been heard all over campus. Because of this, more of the eating traffic has swarmed to the cafeteria, often times producing painfully endless lines.
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SILENT VIGIL PROTESTS ROTC
by Mark Delehanty
Have you seen the group of women and men outside of Engel Hall protesting the Army ROTC program's presence on campus? You should know why these people are committed to standing with their banners each week, defying mother nature's rain, sleet and snow with more tenacity than the mailman.
The weekly vigil is new, but the momentum for this action is from two years of organizing. Throughout the 1981-82 school year ROTC's presence was chal-
lenged in debate, in campus publications and by justice and peace groups in the community.
After being petitioned by over a dozen monastic, convent and student groups, the SJU President, Fr. Hilary Themmesh, appointed an eight member advisory committee to consider the following question — "Does sponsorship of ROTC at St. John's University constitute endorsement of values opposed to the Christian, Benedictine nature of the University?" The committee took their task seriously, and for most of last year studied and reflected on the president's question. Finally, in
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Newly renovated Chapel open for service.
ST. JOSEPH BANK AT YOUR SERVICE
by Peter Lawyer
Whether on a trip to one of the local eateries or to one of the watering holes, most people will have noticed the First State Bank of St. Joseph. Bank President Walter Bruns would like to extend his welcome to students to find out what this institution has to offer.
First State is an independent bank featuring the complete array of financial services, such as loans, money orders, travelers' checks, etc. Through its main correspondent banks, Norwest and First Bank of Minneapolis, it is possible to have money wired to St. Joe from virtually anywhere in the world in a matter of hours. For customers there is no charge for cashing checks. (There is $1 per $100 for cashing non-customers' checks.) The bank also services Visa and Mastercard.
Bruns emphasized his commitment to student lending. First State has the second largest number of student loans extended in Stearns County. This year the bank has lent $200,000 to students, but Bruns would like to see that amount increased. As he puts it, "We have plenty of money for student loans."
Two types of loans described by Bruns
were PLUS and GSL. The former stands for Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students. As the name suggests, it is taken out by parents wishing to finance their sons' and daughters' educations. It can, however, be used by students who have declared financial independence. Repayment starts within 60 days at a federally subsidized rate not to exceed 14%. (Presently, interest on PLUS loans is at 12%.)
The second type is the GSL, or Guaranteed Student Loan. This federally subsidized loan is available to those who pass a needs test. Currently, interest payable on GSL's is 897o. Bruns stresses that a GSL brought to First State will be processed in ten days — about half the time it takes the State to process these loans.
Bruns would like to attract more students to First State. Last year he had a CSB and an SJU student conduct a survey to determine student receptiveness to an Automatic Teller machine. The ATM would be an Instant Cash facility, available to anyone with the Instant Cash card. To date, no decision has been made to install the $47,000 machine.
Bruns welcomes comments and suggestions concerning the bank's services. Students in need of financial services will find the people at the First State Bank of St. Joseph both accessible and helpful.
