Living history visits Saint Michael's for Sutherland Lecture

Solidarity with Ukraine

Dear Saint Michael’s family,

We at Saint Michael’s College stand in firm solidarity with the people of Ukraine and condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked and vicious attack on Ukraine and its people. I encourage everyone to stay informed and engaged on this humanitarian crisis that is in stark opposition to all that we stand for in terms of democracy, peace, and justice.

I thank all who joined us for the Zoom conversation on Tuesday evening for an important discussion about this crisis. We were shocked and appalled that the event was “Zoom bombed” with racist slurs and vulgarity. We abhor these actions and the harm that they caused. In the face of war, violence, and hate, we continue to seek truth, act for justice, and educate ourselves to live by the values we hold dear.

Thanks to Professor Mike Bosia, we recently learned that a beautiful statue of Saint Michael the archangel [pictured below from AP files: The Archangel Michael statue towers over pro-European Union activists during a rally in Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013] watches over the city of Kyiv, Ukraine. We are honored to have this connection to the Ukrainian people as they courageously defend their independence and their democracy.

In peace and solidarity,
Lorraine Sterritt
President

Faculty experts share insights with community on Ukraine crisis during online conversation

A Saint Michael’s community Zoom conversation about the crisis in Ukraine Tuesday evening sponsored by the College’s new Center for Global Engagement illustrated the important practical utility of such a Center to help people understand and process world issues affecting their lives. President Lorraine Sterritt joined scores of students, college leaders, faculty and staff tuning in by Zoom to hear a panel of Saint Michael’s faculty from Political Science and International Relations, who took turns describing important insights, nuances and undercurrents that might escape Americans who only superficially are following news about Ukraine. The contributing faculty experts were Professors Shefali Misra (second image down at right), Michael Bosia (bottom left), Daniel Simmons (bottom center), Trish Siplon (bottom right) and the event’s host, Jeffrey Ayres (top right), director of the Center for Global Engagement. To start the 7 p.m. event, Ayres said that the Russian invasion of Ukraine last week made him think back to his student days in the mid 1980s when a song by the artist Sting, “Russians,” addressed world dynamics of those Soviet Cold War times, which sadly seem to be repeating themselves today with Putin and renewed heightened nuclear fears. The song contains the poignant repeated refrain “I hope the Russians love their children too” as its basis for common human hope. Professor Misra offered a historical sketch of Ukraine in the 20th Century as part of the Russian empire before other panelists brought their areas of expertise to the conversation.

Read full story on Ukraine community conversation>>

Brizard of physics faculty has key role in ‘building a star on Earth’ through fusion

Fusion energy – the deeply challenging science of “building a star on earth” to possibly save the planet one day with safe and efficient energy — had a major breakthrough in news out of England in recent weeks, commanding close attention from Alain Brizard of the Saint Michael’s College physics faculty. Brizard had been among the world’s leading theorists in theoretical fusion plasma research for nearly 40 years. “Based on the theory, I transform the physics equations into mathematical models that can be used in the computer programs that simulate real experiments,” Brizard said. Such work is a vital step in fusion research and development, which would be too complex and costly to allow meaningful progress absent the predictions of the sort that Brizard and his colleagues make. Brizard’s particular expertise is plasma physics, the realm in which fusion shows its promise. The Saint Michael’s professor’s direct association with fusion initiatives is primarily focused with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) fusion reactor in France. A report from the BBC about this month’s news in early February laid out why it is significant: “The UK-based JET laboratory [that's its JET Tokamak used in the recent test at bottom right] has smashed its own world record for the amount of energy it can extract by squeezing together two forms of hydrogen. If nuclear fusion can be successfully recreated on Earth it holds out the potential of virtually unlimited supplies of low-carbon, low-radiation energy. The experiments produced … more than double what was achieved in similar tests back in 1997. It’s not a massive energy output – only enough to boil about 60 kettles’ worth of water. But the significance is that it validates design choices that have been made for an even bigger fusion reactor now being constructed in France.”

Read full story on Alain Brizard fusion research>>
Hear Alain in interview with WCAX TV anchor>>

Catholic education leader Michael Naughton: Clear purpose illuminates a fuller college life

Considering the time and money Americans spend on higher education, they had best not deprive themselves of a good answer to the question of why they go to school, a leading scholar and author on Catholic higher education said Wednesday evening at Saint Michael’s College. “Are you living in a way at this place that is worthy of the purpose that you want to have?” asked Michael Naughton, director of the Center of Catholic Studies at St. Thomas University in Minnesota and an author whose lecture topic was “Why am I at this School? The Purpose of Catholic Higher Education.” He spoke in McCarthy Arts Center Recital Hall with an online audience too. Sponsoring the talk was the Edmundite Center for Faith and Culture. Naughton opened by urging students to think back on the reason they came to college, be that a job or career aspiration, a hope to make the world a better place, or even wanting to party on their parents’ dime or having no place else to go. A problem with many Americans, he said, is, “we speak highly individualistically, but not institutionally,” thereby lacking common agreement within institutions on what is important most of the time."

Read full story on Naughton talk>>

Vocal happenings on tap for campus: Sessions to feature composer, voice coach

Erin Grainger, adjunct music faculty in the Fine Arts Department focusing on vocal music, shares about two “happenings” in the choral and singing world in the coming days: “Happening No. 1: Harmony & Stomp: On Sunday, March 6, Saint Michael’s College will host a workshop for the Vermont Collegiate Choral Consortium (VCCC), which includes Castleton University, Northern Vermont University-Johnson, and Saint Michael’s College. The event is sponsored by the Vermont chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Vermont composer Moira Smiley (top photo at right) will work with the students of these college choirs on her own musical works, focusing on the unique elements of her composition. There is also a special morning session for music educators and choral leaders, during which Moira will address her process of composing & arranging, body percussion, and teaching groups to embody the music, as well as teach the group another one of her compositions. In the evening at 6:30 p.m. will be a workshop presentation showcasing the day’s work. This presentation is free and open to the public (proof of vaccination required). Moira has taught extensively in North America, Europe, and England. Her subject is the singing voice and its ability to encompass an astounding range of expressive, linguistic, and stylistic colors. By exploring the particularities of traditions, styles, and periods, she’s found something uniquely her own. Moira continues to develop new experiences for singers and is excited by the opportunity to share music with singers of all experience levels. Happening No.2: Voice Masterclass. The Fine Arts Department is pleased to welcome guest Artist Erik Kroncke (bottom photo at right), who will give a singing masterclass on Monday, March 7 at 3:15 p.m. in the Recital Hall. Students of Professor Erin Grainger will perform art song to be workshopped by our guest. All singing enthusiasts are invited to observe the class.”

Campus Ministry observes Lent with reflections

Each year, a group of Edmundite Campus Ministry staff, faculty and students study the Sunday readings of Lent to extract a focus statement to center our prayer during this season of reflection. This year the College’s Lenten focus is:
“Forget what lies behind and become a new creation in Christ.”
Students, faculty, staff, and members of the Sunday Worshipping Community have written reflections based on the daily liturgical readings in Lent. We encourage those who are interested to go to the Lenten Reflections blog to read these daily reflections. New reflections will be posted daily. To request a printed booklet by mail, please email Laurie Sabens.

To read the Lenten Reflections, click here>>

Three Saint Michael’s students share about adventures abroad

The study abroad experience at Saint Michael’s College is one of the most sought-after aspects of a Saint Michael’s education by current and prospective students. The College’s Study Abroad website states that Saint Michael’s “offers programs in five categories: intensive language, university liberal studies, community-engaged learning, international internships, and field-based research.” Peggy Imai, the director of the Study Abroad Office (top photo left), engages with students during the planning process and helps them select the best program for each individual scholar. Some experiences this year include Will Coppola '23 (top center), Aisha Naverette '23 (seen in Tanzania, top right); and Alexis Brulé '23 in Sweden where she took the photo at right of the Northern Lights.

Read full story on Study Abroad Adventures>>

In Kenya, ethnobotany stirs student interest

Anna Juarez ’23 is studying abroad this semester in Kenya, and writing an interesting blog about her experiences that Peggy Imai, director of the College’s Study Abroad Office, shared this week. Here’s a recent excerpt by Anna about Masai ethnobotany: “A few days ago we met in groups led by Maasai elders knowledgeable in local botany. Our group had a man name Colman, who was so lovely. With the help of a translator, Colman led us through the plants located around camp and just outside of it. We learned medicinal, medical, constructional, ceremonial/traditional, and many miscellaneous uses each plant held within the Maasai community. It was wild how intuitive all of this information seemed to Colman, I can’t imagine having that sort of connection to the flora around me. I look outside and I see trees and grass and flowers, but there is nothing that distinguishes them from each other.”

Read more from blog of Anna Juarez>>

Heroux to develop national chemistry progams

Professor David Heroux of the Saint Michael's chemistry faculty was recently appointed to the executive committee of the American Chemical Society’s Committee for Community Activities. A member of the committee for three years he will now serve as the National Chemistry Week Chair of the Program Development and Promotion Subcommittee. The PDP Subcommittee is responsible for all new and developing programs of CCA. They provide guidance with respect to the development of Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW) and National Chemistry Week (NCW). He also continues to write articles and create activities for ACS’s ‘Celebrating Chemistry’ publication. The purpose of the Committee on Community Activities is to improve the public perception of chemistry by providing programs to connect chemists with their communities. CCA's vision is promoting understanding and appreciation of chemistry, and CCA's mission is supporting the global chemistry community through engaging outreach, resources, training, and recognition. CCA works as an advisory group to the American Chemical Society’s Office of Science Outreach.

Something different on tap for McCarthy Gallery -- A Student fashion show 'Fille Materialiste'

Here's the latest McCarthy Art Gallery news from its Curator/Director Brian Collier of the Fine Arts/art & design faculty: "For the next McCarthy Gallery Exhibition we have something a bit different on tap, a fashion show by Mikaela Dorsey, “Spring 22 collection: Fille Matérialiste.” The show will be on Friday, March 4 at 6 p.m. Come a few minutes early to get a seat along the “runway.” The event will be filmed and all next week a video of the show will be projected in the gallery during open hours. The show on Friday is immediately followed by a modern production of “Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night” on the Theater’s Main Stage at 7 p.m.

Read more about it on Gallery website>>

Guard spotlights Sgt. Bordonaro '23

Ken O’Connell, Saint Michael’s College’s director of military community enrollment and resources, transfer coordinator., reposted on Facebook a nice feature about a Saint Michael’s student who is a member of the Vermont Army National Guard, courtesy of recent social media publicity from the Guard in its regular “Warrior Wednesday” posting: According to the item, “Sgt. Brennan Bordonaro enlisted into the Vermont Army National Guard in April of 2017 as a Healthcare Specialist (68W). Sgt. Bordonaro is a member of C MED 186 BSB - Coyotes and just came back from a deployment. He is currently a junior at Saint Michael's College and is working on completing his Biology Major and Chemistry Minor. His hobbies: "I love my civilian EMS job, it doubles as my hobby. Outside of that, anything outdoors like kayaking, fishing etc."

Alumni from the beer and cider industry share some career tips

Nearly 100 students and business faculty gathered in the Roy Room late Monday afternoon to hear the perspectives of four Saint Michael’s alumni who work in the craft beer and cider industry. Organizers of this event were Paul Olsen, chair of the Business Administration and Accounting Department and Ingrid Peterson, director of the Career Education Center. The event had a great turnout, with nearly every chair filled in the large room. Each alumnus offered students career development advice while sharing personal stories of finding work after college. The 5 p.m. presentation also was an “UpLIFT” event. This program through the Student Life Office “enhances and diversifies the student experience through a myriad of opportunities including workshops, presentations, leadership opportunities and interactions with students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community... ” Panelists, top photo from left: Amy Cronin '06, Tim Costello '17, Jeff Baker '06 and Nick Kyratzis.'14.
(photos by Ingrid Peterson)

Read full story about beer and cider panel>>

Do what you love, learn from failures, advises leading scientist James Fallon ’69

Although he might not have realized it at the time, Dr. James Fallon ’69 H’02, an award-winning scientist, scholar and internationally known expert on psychopaths and killers among countless other topics, was finding his path to success in the late 1960s by learning from mistakes and wise mentors at Saint Michael’s College who ranged from scientists to priests. The personable, good-humored and brilliant scholar, a professor emeritus of anatomy & neurobiology and professor of psychiatry and human behavior at University of California Irvine, presented a late-afternoon Zoom talk primarily for Saint Michael’s science students on Monday, February 28, titled “From Immature Goof-ball to Award-winning Scientist.” Biology and neuroscience faculty led by Ruth Fabian-Fine along with Adam Weaver and Mark Lubkowitz arranged for and joined this offering, one in a series of campus Career Conversations. Fallon was an open book about his life’s triumphs and challenges, so students learned about his complex brain chemistry that, by his own expert account, made him an immature narcissist with obsessive-compulsive disorder during his Saint Michael’s student days. He went off the rails a bit his senior year with too much partying and overconfidence, he said. Later in his career Fallon was to learn that a brain scan showed him to share many traits in his brain’s scan with psychopaths and killers, leading to wide public interest in his writings and presentations about how he came to terms with that self-knowledge and managed to stay on a most constructive professional path to contribute abundantly to society, always learning from mistakes.

Read full story about Fallon presentation to students>>