On Sunday, February 19, at 6 PM, Caitlin Baummer of the Catholic Volunteer Network will host a dinner and conversation about service opportunities in the College Church Ballroom.

This event is a leadup to the Post-Graduate Volunteer Fair (scheduled for April 12th), as Caitlin will be talking about what to consider when looking into one-year service opportunities. Regardless of where you’re at in your SLU education, if the thought of volunteering for a year after graduation has ever crossed your mind, you should plan on being at this event. Caitlin is a great resource and has connections with numerous organizations. Plus, there is going to be free pizza and soda! Yay.

If you plan on attending, make sure you fill out this RSVP form.

Catholic Volunteer Network Pizza Dinner
Feb. 19 6PM
College Church Ballroom
free

All those hours of watching cartoons on Saturdays is finally going to pay off! And I’m not just talking about when you were a child.

Bring three friends to join Billikens After Dark in the Billiken club Thursday from 9:15p.m.-10:00p.m. to show off your knowledge of classic Nicktoons, Animation Domination, and Cartoon Network.

The Billiken Series of Pop Culture – Animation Domination
Thursday, Feb. 9th: 9:15p.m.-10:00p.m.
Billiken Club
free

The Public Health Undergraduate Student Association is hosting a free roundtable discussion on Wednesday, February 8, from 8 PM to 9 PM in BSC room 251. Here’s more info:

Having written a book on improving health outcomes, Dr. Atul Gawande will unveil to us in his speech on Tuesday, February 7th, the preventable errors he sees committed in public health and medicine. Reducing such errors and making improvements can save human lives.

With Ron Levy as our guest speaker from the School of Public Health and many SLU professors as our moderators, we proudly present to you a round table event on Wednesday, February 8th, aimed at creating meaningful dialogue between students and faculty members on improving systems within medicine and public health. We hope to engage Dr. Gawande’s ideas and show SLU students a broader vision of healthcare and medical practice. All research will be provided.

This event is being brought to you with the collaborative efforts of Political Round Table, The Great Issues Committee, and Public Health Undergraduate Student Association (PRT, GIC, PHUSA).

What motivates people to participate in interfaith work? Can we explain our different beliefs with psychology? How are your morals linked to your personality?

Want the answer to some of these questions? Go to the dialogue on “Psychology and Interfaith Work ” Wednesday, Feb. 8th. The Interfaith Alliance is holding this meeting at 7:30p.m. in the BSC room 253C.

Dialogue “Psychology and Interfaith Work”
Wednesday, Feb. 8th: 7:30p.m.
BSC 253C
free

Help Student Activities Board (SAB) figure out a name for their Spring Festival. They wanted to get help from all of the SLU community to name such an awesome event.

Need more incentive than that? The winner will receive a prize and be recognized the night of the concert.You have until February 17th so get those creative juices flowing and submit your ideas here!

Name the Spring Festival
Before Feb. 17th
here

If you are looking for awesome food and new cultural experiences you should attend the International Banquet this Saturday, Feb. 4th.

When you go, you will get to try dishes from four different countries (Ethiopia, Spain, India, and China) and you will be entertained by some of the awesome groups on campus; Bare Naked Statues, League of Laughter, Astha, just to name a few.

Dinner starts at 6:00p.m. and the show at 7:00p.m in the Wool Ballrooms of the BSC. The VIP cost is $12 and the regular cost is $10. To get your tickets email the International Student Federation at isf@slu.edu.

International Banquet
Saturday, Feb. 4th; 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m.
Wool Ballrooms; BSC
VIP: $12, Regular: $10

SLU Karate Club is hosting classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Club President Dan McFarlane has more:

SLU Karate has been active on campus for over 20 years and continues a tradition of Cheezic Tang Soo Do Karate here at SLU. Spring classes have begun but we are gladly accepting new students until Feb. 13. Class runs 7:30-9:00pm on Mondays and Thursdays in multipurpose room 1 of the Simon Rec. We operate like a neighbor hood school with 2 Master Belts as instructors, grading opportunities each semester and chances to participate in demonstrations and workshops. No prior martial arts experience is necessary to join! It is a great workout that also gives you confidence, self  discipline, and constant challenges you to push yourself both physically and mentally. We hope to see you in class soon!

The class are free up until February 13, when the club expects $95 dues for new students.

January just ended, but does that mean you should forget about all of those goals you had for the New Year? No way!

We found a few people that had some awesome goals for the new semester. Watch this video to see what they’re up to and then tell us about your goals for the new semester. Just post a video (an awesome PG-rated video) to our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SLUConnection.

There’s a blood drive tomorrow, Wednesday, February from 12 – 7 PM in the St. Louis Room, BSC. To sign up, visit redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code “SLU”. If you have any questions about donating, call (866) 236-3276. One person donating blood can save three people’s lives!

But wait, there’s more! AED and Be The Match will also be hosting a Bone Marrow Registry during the blood drive. It only takes a cheek swab to join the marrow registry and no appointment is necessary.

Nominations for this semester’s last lecturer will be accepted through February 8th, 2012. To nominate somebody, visit http://www.slu.edu/lastlecture.xml or attach the nomination form and send via email to lastlect@slu.edu.

On February 1st, from 3 – 5PM, Kellie Willis from the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers will be in the Campus Ministry Center on SLU’s campus to talk with students who are interested in volunteering for a year of service after they graduate from SLU. The Gateway Vincentian Volunteers program offers rewarding opportunities for recent college graduates to grow spiritually while living in community and working among the poor.

SAB and Billiken Dining are holding a “Wing Fling” – a hot wing-eating contest – this Tuesday, January 31 from 7 – 9PM. The contest takes place in the Fusz dining hall and costs $5 to enter.

If you aren’t competitive, don’t fret. There will be plenty of chicken for those not entering the contest too.

Like community service? Enjoy meeting new people? Then consider checking out APO, the nation’s largest co-ed service fraternity.  Rush events are this week:

Monday, Jan. 30th 7-9 pm, BSC 251 – Making cards for patients at MO Baptist Hospital

Tuesday, Jan. 31st, 7:30-8:30 pm, DuBourg 157 – Ice Cream Social

Wednesday, Feb. 1st, 6:00 pm – Meet outside Salsaritas to go to the Billiken basketball game

Thursday, Feb. 2nd, 7:00-8:00 pm BSC 251 – Go Fish Tournament

Friday, Feb. 3rd, 6:00 pm – Join APO for dinner at Picklemans

Rush events are not mandatory but a great way to learn more about the organization. For more info, go to APO’s website.

Sigma Kappa (ΣΚ) is informally recruiting next week, from January 30 – February 2. Julia Hummel has more:

On Monday, come enjoy some ice cream at Sigma SKoop and learn what Sigma Kappa is all about! [BSC St. Louis Room - 7PM]

On Tuesday, share in our philanthropy as we decorate Cupcakes for a Cause and deliver them to Jesuit Hall! [Reinert Banquet Hall, 7PM]

On Wednesday, come see Sigmas in Stars Hollow as we watch an episode of Gilmore Girls and play some fun trivia! [Griesedieck Blue Room, 7PM]

On Thursday, we are hosting an invitation-only Sigma Spaghetti dinner where women who have come to our events can come and see more of our special sisterhood. [DuBourg Refractory Room 157, 7PM]

For more information, email Continuous Membership Chair Julia Hummel (jhummel5@slu.edu) or Katie Carpenter (mcarpen5@slu.edu)

Campus Ministry has this awesome thing called Christian Life Communities. Check it out:

Are you thirsting for a deeper relationship with God?  Join a CLC.  CLCs are more than just another meeting to attend.  Being part of a Christian Life Community is a way of life!

Praying with the tools of Ignatian Spiritulaity, Christian Life Communities are small groups that meet weekly to seek and better understand God’s activity in their lives.

For more information about Christian Life Communities at SLU, attend an Information and Discernment Session.

The information sessions are listed below.

Sunday, Jan. 29 @ 10pm in Our Lady’s Chapel (located beneath College Church);

Monday, Jan. 30 @ 6pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Tuesday, Jan. 31 @ 7pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Wednesday, Feb. 1 @ 12pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Thursday, Feb. 2 @ 12pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Friday, Feb. 3 @ 3pm in the Eckelcamp Center for Campus Ministry

Sunday, Feb. 5 @ 10pm in Our Lady’s Chapel (located beneath College Church)

For more information, email clc@slu.edu.

Photo by Steve Day. Licensed by Creative Commons.

Here’s something you might not have known about Saint Louis University. Our college-in-prison program has been nominated for Monsanto’s “Grow St. Louis” contest. This could mean that our program could win an award of up to $15,000!

This money would go towards buying books for students, compensating faculty, bring in speakers to the faculty, and support other administrative aspects of the program.

It’s  up to you to make it happen: vote here before Sunday, Jan. 29th!

Support the SLU Prison Program
Before Sun. 29th
here
free

Spirit and History: Paintings by Father James Hasse and Judge Nathan B. Young will open with a 6 p.m. reception on Friday, January 27.

Father James Hasse spent over 40 years of his ministry in African-American parishes throughout the Midwest. He was deeply influenced by the community he served, and his work reflects Biblical themes, as related to the strife of the African-American woman.

Judge Nathan B. Young practiced law for nearly 40 years in St. Louis, co-founded the St. Louis American newspaper; and became the first African-American municipal judge in the city.  Young created paintings that chronicled the changes and development of the American experience for for change and development.

Spirit and History exhibit
opening reception Friday, January 27  6PM
SLUMA
free

Tonight, January 26th, Students United for Africa presents “SUFApalooza,” a cultural affair in the BSC Wool Ballrooms from 6:30PM – 9PM. All proceeds tonight will go to SUFA’s school and library project in Ghana!

Bring $10 for delicious food and a great show. Food from Meskerem (Etheopian), Ranoush (Syrian) and The King and I (Thai) will be served starting at 6:30PM. Performances will take place from 7PM – 9PM including SLU student groups and professional African Dancers from African Musical Arts, Inc!

T-shirts and authentic Ghanain bracelets will be for sale! There will be a 50/50 raffle drawn at the end of the night!

SUFApalooza
Thurs. Jan. 26th 6:30 PM
BSC Wool Ballrooms
$10

Questions from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings, Twilight to True Blood, and any witch, wizard, or warlock in between!

Test your knowledge of these mythical things and have a magical time this Thursday, Jan 26th. Join Billikens After Dark with your team of four at the Billiken Club from 9:15p.m. until 10:15p.m.

Billiken Series of Pop Culture- Do You Believe in Magic?
Thursday, Jan. 26th: 9:15p.m.-10:15p.m.
Billiken Club (Salsarita’s)
free