Squirrely WSU frosh yank two alarms

WINONA, Minn., Aug. 31 -- Somebody pulled two fire alarms at the Prentiss-Lucas dorm at Winona State University, one on the first and one on the second floor, at 6:53 p.m. There was no fire. Firefighters and janitors reset the alarm system.

Admissions organization honors SMU exec

WINONA, Minn., Aug. 31, 2001 -- The admissions vice president at Saint Mary's University, Tony Piscitiello, received the President's Award from the Minnesota Association of College Admission Counseling. The association's president, Dan Davidson, cited Piscitiello for long, meritorious service. Piscitiello himself was president of the association in 1987 and set in motion plans to bring a national conference to the Twin Cities.

SMU attracted 5,700 summer guests

WINONA, Minn., Aug. 31, 2001 -- Over the summer an estimated 5,700 people visted Saint Mary's University for seminars, conferences and campus. Twenty-nine groups used campus housing, racking up 10,768 bed-nights, said Darlene Paulson, conference center director.

SMU future being worked up in-house

WINONA, Minn., Aug. 31, 2001 -- The strategic planning process for the future of Saint Mary's University will be conducted in-house, university president Louis DeThomasis decided. Although DeThomasis discussed the process at fall orientation meetings, university spokesperson Bob Conover said that neither DeThomasis' speech nor the strategic planning process is of interest to the general public: "We're not going to do a press release or post his speech. When some decisions are actually made, we will make those public." Background: SMU prez readies strategic plan DETHOMASIS For now, our business only

WSU performs payroll favor for retired exec

WINONA, Minn., Aug. 30, 2001 -- A retired Winona State University vice president, Denny Nielsen, was put on the payroll last spring for $474 to qualify him for a higher pension without a requirement to do any work, a reliable source said. Disbursement records confirm the $474 payment. The payment put Nielsen over a threshold for larger retirement checks, the source said. University personnel director Tess Kruger confirmed the $474 payment but was hazy on what it was for. She said it might have been for a presentation at an administrators' meeting or something. "I can't recall," she said. Kruger did not respond to a followup query for details. Honorariums for presentations almost always are in even dollars, like $400 or $500, although reimbursed expenses, like auto mileage, can make for odd cents. Nielsen joined the Winona State faculty in 1970. Later he was named science dean, then academic vice president. He retired as vice chancellor of the state college system.

Heavy campus turnout in strike vote

WINONA, Minn., Aug. 30, 2001 -- The Council 6 union Local 945 opened its Winona State University strike vote desk three hours early to span more shifts. The 2 p.m. start time was advanced to 10 a.m. By 1:30, 98 of 190 campus members had voted. Voting was scheduled to continue to 7 p.m.