WINONA, Minn., June 10, 2001 -- A national organization that encarges politically activism, Influencing State Policy, recognized Winona State University sociology prof Ruth Charles for a class project that immersed students in the 2000 campaign. Charles won ISP's Plus IV award for class guidelines that put students into a campaign as volunteers for 10 hours -- any party, any candidate. Students did literature drops, staffed campaign offices and phone banks, and went door-to-door with candidates. Students attended candidate forums and election evening parties to watch the returns. Charles said feedback was positive: "Many students said being involved in a political campaign is something they never thought they would do, but they were glad they did." Candidates explained their campaign experiences and strategies in class. Candidates were accessible, Charles said. One measure of the project's success, she said, was that a significant number of students actually voted, many for the first time. "The true success will be seen in five to 10 years when we have more social workers as candidates for state office," said Charles.

WSU Rodrigo festival includes photo exhibit

WINONA, Minn., June 9, 2001 -- A photographic exhibit featuring Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo will be part of a Rodrigo festival at Winona State Universuty in November, planner Suzanne Draayer said. The exhibit will be in the Watkins gallery. The festival marks the 100th anniversary of Rodrigo's birth. Rodrigo, who died in 1999, composed hundreds of pieces of music for piano, guitar, orchestra, voice and choir despite being blinded by diphtheria at the age 3.