While the nation has been on the edge of its seat waiting to hear the latest update on the presidential election, Aquinas College has been having its own, quieter, version of the presidential race. The search for a new Dean of Students has been going on since the summer, and they have finally come down to their final three.Provost Chad Gunnoe is heading the search committee, which also includes Dave Wienandy, Jennifer Dawson, Shelly Jefferies, Steve Wolf, and Aquinas student Rachel Koval.

According to Dr. Gunnoe, the committee is looking for “someone who has had deep experience in terms of number of years, but also broad in different aspect of student affairs and development.” Those aspects of student affairs include experience in Residence Life, Career and Counseling, Campus Ministry, or Diversity Initiatives to name a few. Essentially, they are looking for a well rounded individual who also has managerial experience, at least at a directorial level.

With the search finally narrowed down to a manageable three, the committee will be conducting interviews of the candidates on September 18th, 25th, and 29th. During those days the committee has also scheduled presentations to be done by the candidates for all members of the Aquinas faculty and student body to watch.

These presentations will be held at 1:00 p.m on each of the previously stated days in the Wege Ballroom. In offering this unique opportunity for the students to see what each candidate has to offer them, Dr. Gunnoe encourages all students to attend stating, “We have student’s interest in mind, but because we started the search in the summer, we were not able to receive a lot of their input, but now that the candidates are presenting on campus their interest is vital…they need to come see the candidates.”

By now it’s old news — the writer’s strike is over and now thousands of anxious voyeuristic persons can once again live vicariously through the lives of Meredith and friends, the women of Wisteria Lane and the crime solvers of Grissom and Co.

Reality television can once again be put on the back burner and re-runs will become a soon forgotten dream. Or will they?

Since the writer’s strike has ended, many of our favorite shows are proclaiming the most horrid of phrases — season finale!

So many couch potatoes’ hopes of finding out if Meredith and McDreamy will finally be together forever and if Lincoln and Michael will finally make their acclaimed “Prison Break” must be once again put on hold until after the heat of summer has given way to brown leaves.

I will be the first to admit that I watch quite a bit a television, but I actually had high hopes for myself when I discovered the writers would be going on strike back in late October.

I pictured my TV acquiring a fine layer of dust as I read the classical works of Dickinson and Austen and writing the next great American novel.

However all my childish optimism was thrown out the proverbial window when I discovered how many marathons “America’s Next Top Model” could have.

Those studio heads are crafty little tricksters and I was soon bombarded with an array of mind-numbing “reality” television shows which I could not look away from.

I soon discovered that reality television is like a really bad accident, or someone eating live tarantulas — no matter how disturbing it is, you just can’t seem to look away.

Over the months I soon found my books gathering dust as my mind turned to goo from watching the likes of Tila Tequila search for love (male, female, she wasn’t picky) and anorexic blonds use their manicured claws to get a chance to become America’s Next Top Alcoholic… I mean, model.
But don’t judge me too quickly. A lot can actually be learned by these shows!

I learned from “America’s Next Top Model” that in order to take a good picture sometimes, “you gotta toot the booty.” I learned the fine art of conniving and backstabbing from various “Real World Road Rules” challenges.

From “Rock of Love,” I was taught that it is a bad idea to go to bed early when you are trying to win the heart of a hard-core, washed up rock star with diabetes. This also taught me that when you are dating someone with diabetes, if they go into shock you must jab them with penicillin right in the buttocks.

These shows teach us all how not to behave and allow for self-refection, upon which we can discover that maybe we are not quite as screwed up as we may have originally thought.

I may have my odd ticks and idiosyncrasies, but at least I don’t have New York’s mother and Hulk Hogan for a dad.

I also do not feel the need to expand my vocal horizons and inevitably have an angry British man named Simon tell me, “If you had lived 2,000 years ago and sung like that, I think they would have stoned you.”

I am secure enough in who I am to admit that although I see the horrors and long term effects of watching a lot of television, both reality and scripted (and in some cases scripted-reality), I will probably continue to watch my daily doses of television.

Already I have become somewhat addicted to “That’s Amore!” the newest got-to-find-love-right-this-second among fake-breasted, plastic and platinum women reality show.

It stars the cute little Italian Dominico who had his heart broken on “Shot at Love.” At least these shows are smart enough to recycle their talent and I will continue to watch.

But I draw the line at watching a show about the cockroaches trying to find true love, although I hear that plot line is in the works at FOX.

Ladies and gentlemen, guys and gals, get ready to rock and jam to some of America’s hottest new talents.

Josh Rouse and Matt Wertz will be performing at the Wake Up People Blowout this Friday and their fresh new sounds will be the perfect addition to all the outrageous happenings.

Rouse released his first and second albums, “Dressed Up Like Nebraska” and “Home,” before 2000. Since then, he has toured with Guster, opened for John Mayer and released several albums including “1972,” “Nashville” and “Subtitulo.”

“He’s kind of mellow, has a 70’s vibe and just puts you in a good mood,” said junior Kasey Baker. “I was absolutely ecstatic when I found out he (Rouse) was coming to Aquinas.”

Baker saw Rouse play at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor this past semester and throughly enjoyed the experience.

“He’s a little different then the rest of the music out there. He just knows how to perform.”

Although his albums are generally only released in small numbers and for sale only through his website or at live performances, he has still built up a fairly big fan base across the U.S. and the globe.

Rouse’s newest album, “Country Mouse City House,” was released in July 2007 and was followed by both a U.S. and European tour. His style is a blend of folk and alternative country and along with writing his own songs, he plays the guitar and harmonica.

Wertz will also be performing. This singer/songwriter, who calls Nashville, Tenn. home, has put out several albums including “Somedays,” “Twentythree Places,” “Today & Tomorrow” and most recently “Everything In Between.”

In addition to his four albums, Wertz is currently recording “Under Summer Sun,” which is due out late this spring or early summer.

Wertz has toured with an amazing plethora of performers including such names as Jason Mraz, Jamie Cullum, Gavin DeGraw, Matt Nathanson and Jars of Clay. He has even headlined several tours nationally in the early to mid-2000s.

On top of all his major performances, his songs have been featured in shows like “Brothers and Sisters” and “Wildfire,” and in the movies “Employee of the Month” and “My Super Ex-Girlfriend.”
As a wonderful contrast to Rouse, Wertz’s style is more rock with great guitar riffs, which he plays himself.

“I’m a big fan of his and I like his style of music,” said senior Lauren Wasco.

“I guess the fact that he is really really ridiculously good looking doesn’t hurt as well.”

These two performers are just a musical taste of the festivities which will be held on Friday in and around the Cook Carriage House. With these outstanding musicians performing live, everyone can be sure Friday will be an event which cannot be missed.

Last weekend, Michigan let out an enormous yell of triumph when Kirsten Haglund became the first Miss Michigan to become Miss America in 20 years.

Her win was the result of hundreds of hours of preparation made possible by a beating heart of assistants and consultants who became more like her family then her staff.

A crucial vein in this team was Aquinas’ own Dave Weinandy, Special Assistant to the Provost for Campus Life and Communications professor by day, Communications consultant to Miss Michigan by mid-day and weekends.

It all started in 1999 when Weinandy was called by the state organization for the Miss Michigan pageant to become a part of the team. At first Weinandy was hesitant thinking, “I’m probably not going to do this…there are a lot of stereotypes” but somehow over the course of the meeting, his mind and his life was changed forever when he said yes.

Weinandy has coached nine Miss Michigans with several women making it to the top 10.
Weinandy drills the pageant hopefuls with prospective interview quest-ions, helps them build their plat-form and gets them out into the public eye.

This last part of the job includes Weinandy sending out brochures to different institutions telling them about his girl and from there, appearances and public speeches are booked.

But it was not until this year that one of Weinandy’s girls made it all the way. Although Haglund was as close to perfect as possible during the event, from her gown and swimsuit, to her talent and interview, Weinandy was still filled with anticipation and hope for Haglund saying, “It’s almost like preparing for the Olympics…you don’t want to change a young lady, but you want her to peak.”

When Haglund won, Weinandy found himself filled with pride, and his cell phone overloaded with text mess-ages and voicemails from Aquinas students.

This particular Miss Michigan had a very large following at Aquinas, as Haglund had visited the campus with Weinandy several times. Weinandy was overjoyed to learn that so many students had tuned in on their Saturday night to watch and support Haglund.

Although Weinandy, who does all his pageant consulting on a volunteer basis, has helped for some local pageants, he has remained loyal to Miss Michigan. He called this particular win “Amazing…we won the Super Bowl.”

Weinandy offers this piece of wisdom to all students and dream chasers alike, “If you work hard and prepare and practice, you can do anything.”

Yes, it’s true: the end really is near.

But not in the usual post-apocalyptic, Ben Affleck in Armageddon sense.

After months of loud jackhammers, incessant pounding, and class interruptions — by the end of spring — the second floor of the Academic Building will finally be finished.

No longer will students sit in class wondering if the ceiling will come crashing down upon them, nor will professors be forced to make multiple stops in their lectures just to ensure they will be heard above the noise.

Rest assured, the delays and inconveniences will be more than worth the hassle. Geometrically decadent carpet lines the hallways of the renovated second floor, while rich, environmentally friendly, earth tones cascade down the walls.

Interim Provost Dr. Don Chaffee is excited about the progress being made upstairs and reports construction is moving ahead of schedule. Chaffee was more than eager to share information about what exactly this new addition will be like.

“The management school and education school will be up there,” said Chaffee. If a student is lucky enough to have class on the second floor, they will enjoy “comfortable seminar rooms and comfortable seating.”

One interesting aspect of the second floor will be located above the first floor lobby.

“At the intersection….will be a place where people can gather,” said Chaffee. “There will be furniture, tables, vending machines, etc…a place where students can gather, chat and eat.”

Also included in the mix of this trendy upgrade is a copy machine. Chaffee said it would be placed “in response to student concerns after the moving of the library.”

As many students know, the second floor of AB used to be home to the library. Since its move across campus, many students have felt the pitfalls of having to walk to the new library in order to make a copy or use a computer when the labs on the third floor of AB are full. Therefore, along with the copy machines, there will be a number of computer terminals to meet student needs.

As reported in The Saint earlier this year, the construction has, at times, resulted in damage to the third floor. In mid-November, English professor Dr. Daniel Brooks was in his office talking to Adrian Proctor of Housekeeping when a drill bit bore through the floor near their feet; and a walk down the third floor hallway discovered loose tiles and further evidence of errant drilling. Just a few weeks ago, students in Dr. Penny Avery’s Understanding Mass Media course in room 102 reported witnessing a watery, blackish green slime trickling from the ceiling.

Despite such complaints, Chaffee said the construction nonetheless “went smoothly and ahead of schedule,” and he is looking forward to the finished product.

In terms of the second floor construction, then, the end is really just the beginning.

For as long as I can remember, I have worn black on Valentine’s Day.

It was my own form of protest against the commercialized holiday invented by Hallmark and the candy companies.

But then a friend of mine tried to convince me that this pink and fuzzy holiday is really a wonderful thing that everyone should look forward to. So, with the idea in mind to never knock something until you have tried it, I am going to find a date for Valentine’s Day.

Therefore, for the sake of investigative journalism at its finest, I am putting myself out there and asking all you single guys one question, “Are you interested?”

I am a 5’10″ brunette who enjoys movies, long walks on the beach, “The Office” and rainy nights. I am currently a sophomore here at Aquinas and I plan to graduate with a double major in English and Sociology and a minor in Writing.

I’m from Bay City and I went to the only Catholic high school in the area. That’s right, I wore a uniform to class everyday.

Okay, now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The stuff no one ever reveals until you are too far into the relationship. I’m talking, serious, third or fourth date material.

One time, when I was four, I took the fish out of my family’s fish tank in the hopes they would sprout legs like Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” and become my new best friend.

I have no money and my car’s driver’s side door is broken so I always have to crawl through the passenger’s side.

The windshield wipers are also constantly getting tangled which makes driving in the rain and snow a bit of a challenge.

My father just retired from the post office.

In unrelated news, while he worked there, several people on his rout received explosive packages.
I absolutely love Jelly Belly jelly beans — to the point of minor obsession.

I also have one thumb that is shorter than the other and I tug at my ear when I’m nervous, uncomfortable or thinking.

I have never seen “The Sixth Sense” for no reason other than when it first came out someone told me that Bruce Willis was dead the whole time.

I know the entire Doublemint gum song by heart and I do an amazing Elvis impersonation.

Even better, I can sing exactly like Cher and I am a huge fan of her and Barbra Streisand.

When I was in the first grade, I went through a phase where I pretended to be an alien from Saturn. It would have only lasted a day as part of a joke, but it made my sister so mad it lasted for over a month.

Looking for a non-smoker with good sense of humor and doesn’t live in his parent’s basement.
Adventurous, but studious, please have goals that don’t include the belief that your band will one day make it big if only you could afford a set of drums.

Most of all, you have to be a nice guy — those still exist right?

Although looks are not the most important thing, I am still human and I do believe in attraction at first sight.

Good hair is a must (though only on the head, hairy gorilla chests really freak me out) and dark eyes are always a plus.

Being tall helps, but if you are short and can accept the fact that I love to wear high heels, then big kudos to you.

Turn offs include insecurity, too many piercings and puppy kicking.

Think you are up to the challenge of converting a non-believer? Send an e-mail to roczkche@aquinas.edu and you just might get to spend your Valentines Day with The Saint’s newest member.

Let’s play a game! Guess what (or who) I’m describing: Wearing knee high cherry red patent leather stiletto boots with white furry trim, a cherry red velvet skirt barely making it past the buttocks with white furry trim, velvet cherry red top exposing a dangerously thin stomach with white furry trim on the collar and cuffs and topped off with a tiara. The face has eyes lined with mascara and black eye shadow up to the eyebrows, cheeks caked with blush and collagen-enhanced lips topped off with a festive sparkly pink gloss.

OK…what is it? Could it be a lady of the night from Division Street, decked out in her holiday finest? Or one of Vicky Secret’s Angels displaying the latest in holiday undergarments?

Well, if you know a female between the ages of five and fifteen, she just might be under the tree this Christmas.

Santa Baby indeed!

The previously mentioned “gift” is Holiday Cloe, and she is the latest in the line of the ultra trendy, “mom I have to have at least twelve of them for my Birthday or I’ll die” Bratz doll collection.

That’s right, this season’s holiday hooker comes in the form of a doll and can corrupt your daughters and sisters for only $28.99 and comes with a limited time offer of future eating disorder and the compulsion to use feminine entrapment as a means of getting the boys to like you.

With her disproportionately large breasts and waist the size of a thumb (not to mention an excess of makeup and “come hither big boy” stare), Cloe and friends are digging their polished nails into the subconscious of innocent girls everywhere. Not to mention a vast array of accessories and barely-there outfits, a movie, books, and other dominatrix paraphernalia are making their way under your tree this year.

Whatever happened to the good old days of Christmas by the fire, unwrapping Monopoly, bikes, Tinker Toys and other bright eyed innocence?

Apparently those days are over and every time I hear an eight-year-old say “sexy” or “oh my gawd!” I can’t help but shed a little tear for times gone by.

I just wonder how many more Christmases are left before little girls everywhere line up to sit on Santa’s lap and say, “Santa, for Christmas this year, I want a boob job.”