Saturday Salons engage TRW students

As a way to fully engage students in "The Reflective Woman" (TRW) core course and weekend life on campus, a series of Saturday Salons took place during September. Students were required to attend three of the four events, which emphasized key themes embedded in TRW as well as in the University's mission and vision statements.

The first salon focused on the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet: their history, their contributions over the years and the inspiring work they are engaged in today. The second salon focused on understanding the liberal arts. Students visited various "stations" around campus that offered topics on the intersection of poetry and math, and theater and art. In the Catherine G. Gallery, students met Jay Wittenber, an artist who shared his engaging portraits of women poets. "This is great!" one student said. "Sure, it's Saturday morning and it was hard to get up, but it's wonderful to see St. Kate's spending so much effort on helping us understand the liberal arts."

The last two salons focused on "Identity and Race" and "Civic Engagement." TRW instructor Shanon Custer said the camaraderie and critical thinking skills were as critical as the information shared. "Students recognize they are part of a community of scholars," she said, "and that is about more than attending class. The conversations they have with their peers and with their other faculty are just as important."

A number of social events throughout the weekend encouraged students to remain on campus. Your student should refer to the calendar of events on the Student Center and Activities website for the ongoing list of activities planned.