March 19, 2024

Happy Tuesday!

As we find ourselves in the midst of midterm season, I wanted to take a moment to check in and offer some words of encouragement. I know this can be a stressful time and I want to remind you that you're capable, resilient, and equipped to tackle whatever challenges come your way.

Here are a few tips to help you navigate through midterms successfully:

1. Stay Organized: Keep track of important dates, deadlines, and exam schedules. Creating a study plan or using a planner can help you stay organized and manage your time effectively.

2. Take Care of Yourself: Remember to prioritize self-care during this busy time. Get enough sleep, eat healthily, and make time for activities that help you relax and recharge.

3. Break it Down: Break down your study materials into smaller, manageable chunks. Focus on one topic at a time, and don't forget to take short breaks to avoid burnout.

4. Utilize Resources: Take advantage of resources available to you, such as tutoring services, study groups, the library, or professor office hours. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you're struggling with course material. The Tutorial & Academic Skills Center provides free tutoring and has some great resources including testing taking strategies, reading strategies, & time management strategies. Check out those resources here!

5. Stay Positive: Maintain a positive mindset and believe in yourself. You've worked hard to get to this point, and you're capable of achieving great things.



Remember, your well-being is just as important as your academic success. Don't be too hard on yourself, and don't hesitate to reach out if you need support or encouragement.

You've got this!

Best of luck with your midterms,

Fiona Corner 

Assistant Director of Residential Experience & RD of Guerrieri West Townhouse 

2024-2025 Housing Application Info

The 2024-2025 Housing Application is now open!

What does that mean for you?

Housing Application Process Timeline

March 5 - Housing Application Opens

March 26 - Housing Application Closes

March 28 - Residents will receive via email their Room Selection Appointment

April 10-12 - In-person room selection (Madigan Gym)

How are Room Selection Appointments Assigned

Based on feedback from students from last year's Room Selection Process, Campus Housing will be prioritizing earlier room selection appointments primarily based on roommate group sizes. Previously appointments were solely based on how early a student submitted the housing application, but this shift to group size will ensure as many students as possible are able to live with who they want, where they want. Groups of 6 will go first, then groups of 5, etc. The order of all the group 6s will be randomly assigned appointment times within that time period, the same for all the groups of 5, and so on.

Why is Room Selection in Person this Year?

Students shared in their feedback from last year's room selection process that they would be interested in an in person room selection where they can more easily visualize floor plans and more easily ask Campus Housing staff questions. Additionally, students shared that the room selection page in the housing application was not very easy to navigate, that the time crunch of adding rooms to their cart and assigning their group members caused some anxiety, and students with large roommate groups had difficulty identifying spaces together.

Important Campus Housing Updates

The 2024-2025 Academic Year Housing Application will open March 5th and close March 26th. Returning Student Room Selection will take place April 10th-12th IN PERSON at Madigan Gym. In order to participate in Room Selection, students must have completed all health immunization requirements of SMC.  

Based on feedback from this past year's Room Selection, Campus Housing will be prioritizing earlier room selection appointments for students in roommate groups, while ensuring there are a variety of different room types available across the 3 days of Room Selection. Although Room Selection this year is an in-person event, we will be sharing in the coming weeks the process for designating another student as your “proxy” to select a room on your behalf.

Due to increased occupancy, Claeys South will no longer have deluxe suite singles, but Campus Housing will be adding deluxe singles (traditional doubles as large single rooms) in Justin Hall.

Not sure how to apply? Check out our website HERE to learn more about the process, and HERE to start looking at all the different residence halls and room types we have to offer! 

Below are some key dates to mark on your calendars for this upcoming Housing Application Process.

2024-2025 Housing Application Dates

·      March 5th: Housing Application Opens

·      March 6th: Open House, After Dark (Residence Hall Tours)

·      March 20th: Coffee & Questions with Campus Housing

·      March 26th: Housing Application Closes

·      March 28th: Room Selection Appointment Notifications Emailed

·      April 10th - April 12th: IN-PERSON Room Selection

Residential Reminders | Bathroom Etiquette

Recently, we've seen an increase in work orders related to plumbing and bathroom issues. To ensure the smooth functioning of our bathrooms and to avoid any unnecessary inconvenience, please be mindful of the following:

Do Not Flush Non-Flushable Items: Remember that toilets are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper only. Flushing items such as paper towels, feminine hygiene products, or any other non-flushable materials can clog the pipes and cause serious plumbing problems.

Dispose of Waste Properly: If you have any non-flushable items, please dispose of them in the designated trash receptacles provided in the bathroom. This simple act helps maintain the hygiene and functionality of our facilities.

Report Any Issues: If you notice any leaks, clogs, or other plumbing issues in the bathrooms, please report them promptly to facilities or submit a work order. Your cooperation in identifying and addressing these issues is crucial in ensuring the well-being of our campus community.

By adhering to these guidelines, we can all contribute to a cleaner and more efficient campus environment. Let's work together to maintain the integrity of our facilities for the benefit of everyone!

We want to know!

What are you looking forward to for the remainder of the spring term?

Looking for a summer job?

Campus Housing & Meetings, Events, and Conferences are hiring Gael Guides!

Job Description & Key Responsibilities: From June through August, SMC hosts an array of conferences and summer camps for internal and external groups and guests, many of them repeat clients. In order to help facilitate these programs, we are seeking to employ students who have strong initiative, decision-making and problem solving skills, the ability and drive to provide remarkable customer service, and those who can work both independently and as part of a team. Join Campus Housing and Meetings, Events and Conferences as a Gael Guide this summer. Scan

Click the link to apply for the job through Handshake!

(https://app.joinhandshake.com/stu/jobs/8798269)

Opportunities from the Intercultural Center

FOR GRADUATING SENIORS

CULTURAL GRADUATE CELEBRATIONS - APPLY HERE

Application is OPEN NOW (March 18) and closes April 22 

For many historically underrepresented and traditionally marginalized students, graduating from college signifies success not only for themselves but also for their family and friends.

The IC recognizes the importance of this milestone with intimate ceremonies. These celebrations offer Saint Mary's students the opportunity to thank the people who helped them on their journey publicly. They also honor the importance of overcoming barriers within higher education and affirm the paths leading to academic success. 

**Please note: These are celebrations and not official graduation ceremonies.**

The Intercultural Center will also be tabling at the Grad Fair on March 28th, and will be able to answer any questions you might have about Cultural Graduate Celebrations. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 

o Lavender Grad: 5/16/24 at 4:30PM in Hagerty Lounge

o API Grad: 5/18/24 at 9:00AM in the Chapel 

o Black Grad: 5/23/24 at 6PM in Theater and Ferroggiaro Quad

o Latinx Grad: 5/24/24 at 8:30AM in the Chapel

FOR THE 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR

THE IC IS HIRING

The IC is hiring! There are many ways to get involved with the Intercultural Center, and if you have a passion for social justice education and community building, check out some of the IC's paid hourly student staff positions. Click here to see job descriptions for our open positions, and apply! The application portal will be open through April 3. Interviews will take place during the weeks of April 8 and April 15, and applicants will be notified of job offers by April 22. 

If you know someone who you think would be a great fit for our team at the IC, you can use this link to recommend them, and we will reach out to them directly!

Contact Kimiya Shokri at kss5@stmarys-ca.edu for questions and accommodations.

ARTHOR WINN-CURLEY BOOK SCHOLARSHIP 

Application for Fall 2025 OPEN NOW (March 18) - apply here 

This fund provides students in financial need with up to $250 toward textbooks. Arthor was an alumnus from the class of 2008 who passed away. He was a very active student leader in the Intercultural center and other areas of campus, such as the High Potential Program, student government, and DOC Orgs. He went on to become a Lasallian volunteer and then a teacher for The Doe Fund, an organization in New York that works to break the cycles of homelessness, addiction, and criminal recidivism.

APPLICATION CRITERIA:

· Any undergraduate and graduate student with demonstrated financial need (verified by the Financial Aid Office)

· Good academic standing

· No unresolved conduct issues

· Applies only to fall and spring semester (No Jan Term)

· Cap per student: 1 semester per academic year/every other semester

· Max # of times a student can receive scholarship: 3

· Only complete applications

· First 20 eligible applicants will be considered

FOR SPRING 2024

BEYOND OUR SILHOUETTES: Cultural Night Showcase 

SAVE THE DATE for our second annual Cultural Night Showcase, “Beyond Our Silhouettes” for a night of community, vibrance, and celebration.

When: Friday, April 26th

Tix & Food: 4:00pm tickets open, food trucks, activities, and musical entertainment

Show Time: 6:00pm show begins (includes intermission w/ beverages and dessert)

Where: Soda Center

Partners, colleagues, kids and friends welcome. We have seating and food for 400. Please come support our students who will be showcasing their cultures and identities through song, spoken word, dance and creative media.

Our show is dedicated to welcoming folks of all backgrounds to share their different forms of artistic expression with the Saint Mary’s community. We hope that you will join us for a captivating evening of music, food, pre-show entertainment, and performances. Please reach out to the IC Assistant Director, Kimiya Shokri (kss5) if you have any questions.

Collective Hour: Affinity Spaces

Queer Thoughts - March 20 & April 1 - 4:00-5:00PM

Queer Thoughts is a confidential space for anyone on campus who identifies as LGBTQ+ to connect, converse, and build community. This semester, we will center our discussions around our experiences at St. Mary’s and ways to navigate difficult situations. 

POC@SMC - March 21 & April 26 - 6:30-7:30PM

A space and time for students of color to connect, create community, and share their This event is meant to create a space for students of color at Saint Mary's College of California to come and create community, connect, and share their stories and experiences as students of color on a Predominantly White Campus. 

Beyond Assimilation - March 26 & April 30 - 5:30-6:30PM

First the worst second the best? Being a first generation student in college can feel difficult enough when navigating the unknown, but what happens when also having to navigate the pressure to fit in? In this collective hour, first gen students will have the opportunity to discuss impacts of such pressure within our college campus. Together we will create a brave space where we can share our direct and indirect experiences.

Locker Room Talk - April 9 & May 2 - 5:30-6:30PM

Locker Room Talk is an affinity space for all current and former (student)-athletes to come reflect on our individual and collective sporting experiences with respect to mental health and identity formation. Throughout the semester, we will be reflecting on our individual and collective experiences with the multiple, and sometimes competing, expectations of sport. This Collective Hour is a confidential space where all are invited to take ownership of their voices and build community.

Upcoming Events

Dining Updates

Observing Lent in Oliver Hall

Why we does Saint Mary's participate in Meatless Fridays during Lent?

As a Lasallian Catholic Institution in the context of the United States of America, it is tradition to abstain from eating meat during the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays.

In the US, meat is greatly integrated into our diets as the "main source of protein." It is readily available to us and is not the only source of protein. As an act of love and penance, we are encouraged to go without meat to see where God is working in us and see a reflection of the sacrifice Jesus made.

During the Lenten season we encourage you to consider:

Where are you finding the divine/the good working in you?

Oliver Hall will not be serving meat on these dates:

Ash Wednesday | Wednesday, February 14

Friday, February 16

Friday, February 23

Friday, March 1

Friday, March 8

Friday, March 15

Friday, March 22

Questions? Please contact Mission & Ministry

South Arcade | (925) 631 - 4366

LOCKED OUT?

WHO TO CONTACT

* Contact your roommate/suite mates first*

Monday - Friday

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM | Campus Housing Office | Bottom Floor of Augustine

4:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Campus Safety | 925-631-4282

8:30 PM - 8:30 AM | Residential Advisor

Saturday-Sunday

Residential Advisor OR Campus Safety (925-631-4282)

There is no charge for your first lockout | Any subsequent lockouts are $25.00

Need to get in touch?

Office of Residential Experience | reslife@stmarys-ca.edu | 925-631-4236

Campus Housing | housing@stmarys-ca.edu | 925-631-4241