Winona State University's Newspaper since 1919

The Winonan
Signs scattered across campus encourage students to vote right in Kryzsko Commons.
Election Day 2024: College in the Midst of Election Season
Often on Winona State University’s campus students who need an accessibility accommodations are met with roadblocks. One of the most common is the accessible door open buttons not working.
Accessibility or Unacceptability: How Accessible is Winona State?
A campus flourishing with flora, Winona State has been deemed one of the greenest colleges in the nation.
Winona State Named One of the Nations Greenest Colleges
Dr. Kenneth Janz is all smiles as he celebrates his official inauguration as the 16th President of Winona State University.
Dr. Kenneth Janz as President of Winona State
Dr. Heidi Morrison’s Book Talk: “Lived Resistance Against the War on Palestinian Children”
The Warriors attempt to defend the harsh hits by the Mankato Mavericks.
Winona State Women’s Volleyball Falls to Minnesota State, Mankato
The Winona State football team displays their solid defense at the end zone.
Winona State vs. Bemidji State: The Football Experience
In a doubles match, the Warriors put their all in to achieve a win.
Women’s Tennis Completes Successful Fall Pre-Season
The Warriors display their play-to-win attitude against Concordia University.
Winning Streak Ends for the Warrior Women’s Volleyball Team
Warrior Chloe Turner (#5) battles against an opposing player for the ball, a display of the teams desire to play to win.
Winona State Women’s Soccer Takes Another Win on Alumni Day
Often on Winona State University’s campus students who need an accessibility accommodations are met with roadblocks. One of the most common is the accessible door open buttons not working.
Accessibility or Unacceptability: How Accessible is Winona State?
A campus flourishing with flora, Winona State has been deemed one of the greenest colleges in the nation.
Winona State Named One of the Nations Greenest Colleges
Dr. Kenneth Janz is all smiles as he celebrates his official inauguration as the 16th President of Winona State University.
Dr. Kenneth Janz as President of Winona State
Student actors provide spooky scenes for those moving through the haunted floor event.
Prentiss-Lucas Hall Hosts a Spooky Haunted Floor for Halloween
“Many of our LGBTQIA+ students and staff do face discrimination on campus, and with continued attacks on LGBTQIA+ people, our campus has the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to marginalized students by updating Title IX polices to reflect the updated rules.”
Title IX: Are LGBTQ+ Students Truly Protected at WSU?
To submit a 'Letter to the Editor' please email winonan@go.winona.edu.
Letter to the Editor: A Call for the Removal of the Somsen Hall Mural
To submit a 'Letter to the Editor' please email winonan@go.winona.edu.
Letter to the Editor: Student Organizing: Why the restrictions?
To submit a 'Letter to the Editor' please email winonan@go.winona.edu.
Letter to the Editor: Crisis Pregnancy Centers
Building in Winona.
Staying in Winona – an Opinion Piece
The Poll: How do you feel about the current immigration process?
The Poll: How do you feel about the current immigration process?
To submit a 'Letter to the Editor' please email winonan@go.winona.edu.
Letter to the Editor: A Call for the Removal of the Somsen Hall Mural
To submit a 'Letter to the Editor' please email winonan@go.winona.edu.
Letter to the Editor: Student Organizing: Why the restrictions?
To submit a 'Letter to the Editor' please email winonan@go.winona.edu.
Letter to the Editor: Crisis Pregnancy Centers
The Poll: What does Martin Luther King Jr. Day mean to you?
Smiling brightly, Joe Eichele says goodbye to The Winonan.
Editor Farewell: Joe Eichele
September 9th, 2023, Jacob Gifford poses on his favorite throne in Stark Hall reading the last edition of The Winonan. Gifford has a true sense of appreciation for where he chooses to relive himself while on campus. Read to find the hot spots on campus where you should try next time you need to go.
Shine or Stink: Ranking WSU bathrooms
TV Review: “Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”
TV Review: “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”
Amala Ekpunobi, a speaker from PragerU. She returns again to Winona State University on Oct. 14 after speaking at the campus last year.
Letter to the editor: statement on Ekpunobi event
Letter to the editor
Letter to the editor
Remembering Chadwick Boseman
Remembering Chadwick Boseman
"We Live in Time” starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, is the new romance film of the year.
Film Review: “We Live in a Time”
More Than Just Posters: “Get Out and Vote” Student Poster Event
Elizabeth "Lyz" Jaakola shares her cultural music with different instruments and song.
International Music Series: Exchanging Culture
“Chromakopia” the 8th album from Tyler the Creator received public and critical acclaim.
Music Review: Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia
Dr. Alan Dunbar performs passionately for a captive audience at the Faculty Recital.
Story Telling Through Music: Faculty Recital with Alan Dunbar
More Than Just Posters: “Get Out and Vote” Student Poster Event
Elizabeth "Lyz" Jaakola shares her cultural music with different instruments and song.
International Music Series: Exchanging Culture
Dr. Alan Dunbar performs passionately for a captive audience at the Faculty Recital.
Story Telling Through Music: Faculty Recital with Alan Dunbar
The cast of Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!" shows off their skills on the stage.
Children’s Show Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” Rocks the Stage
Sanorah Goldoff, an actress and the producer of this production of "Alabaster," poses as her character, June, during a live performance. Photo Contributed by the WSU Theater Department.
“Alabaster:” Performing the Art of Healing
"We Live in Time” starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, is the new romance film of the year.
Film Review: “We Live in a Time”
Elizabeth "Lyz" Jaakola shares her cultural music with different instruments and song.
International Music Series: Exchanging Culture
“Chromakopia” the 8th album from Tyler the Creator received public and critical acclaim.
Music Review: Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia
Dr. Alan Dunbar performs passionately for a captive audience at the Faculty Recital.
Story Telling Through Music: Faculty Recital with Alan Dunbar
“Late night with the devil” is now available on Hulu, and it is a great movie for this Halloween season.
“Late Night with the Devil” and Commentary on AI in the Film Industry
Often on Winona State University’s campus students who need an accessibility accommodations are met with roadblocks. One of the most common is the accessible door open buttons not working.
Accessibility or Unacceptability: How Accessible is Winona State?
Dr. Kenneth Janz is all smiles as he celebrates his official inauguration as the 16th President of Winona State University.
Dr. Kenneth Janz as President of Winona State
As peers wrote words of encouragement on brightly colored post-it notes, they connected with others through their shared experiences.
A Tribute to Transfer Students
An Open Letter to Winona State University
For commuters, long drives and limited parking may inhibit their abilities to feel like an active student on the WSU campus. Sarnia St. provides some parking for students living in East Lake when the lot is full or if they do not have a parking pass.
Commuter Students Navigate Their Spot On Campus
The Warrior Cupboard booth, set up at the Warrior Game Day Experience, collects donations to fill the Cupboard.
Warrior Cupboard: Preventing Food Insecurity on Campus
“It's been very rewarding for all of us as a dining team to get such positive feedback so early in the school year. It really motivates us and it motivates our team too. We're just feeding off of what the students have been telling us," Tracy Jaquette said.
Changes to Dining on Campus: More Than Just Food
The Winona State University International Club and International Student & Scholar Services teamed up to host a celebration of culture. Pictured above is Yujiro Nakano, a kendama World Cup champion. Nakano is one of many international students who performed for the audience.
Annual International Night: Crossroads of Culture
On Wednesday Nov. 2, International Student Services hosted an international coffee hour in Gildemeister Hall. This event is typically held on the first Wednesday of each month. The events offer a chance for students to interact with other students from around the world in an educationally-focused environment. Depending on what the students decide, the events can range from very casual to quite organized.
Photo Story: International Coffee Hour
R.I.C.E. Club was formed to focus on forming bonds between people. R.I.C.E. stands for Racial Integra- tion and Cultural Enrichment.
New R.I.C.E. club promotes diversity and inclusivity
“Many of our LGBTQIA+ students and staff do face discrimination on campus, and with continued attacks on LGBTQIA+ people, our campus has the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to marginalized students by updating Title IX polices to reflect the updated rules.”
Title IX: Are LGBTQ+ Students Truly Protected at WSU?
The Warrior Cupboard booth, set up at the Warrior Game Day Experience, collects donations to fill the Cupboard.
Warrior Cupboard: Preventing Food Insecurity on Campus
Winona State nursing students provide other students an easy opportunity to receive their vaccinations right on campus.
Pop-Up Flu Shot Clinics Provide Students Opportunities for Easy Vaccination
The “Freshman 15” is often used as a scare tactic for incoming college freshmen because of the normal bodily shifts and changes that occur during this time. How much is this affecting students?
The Freshman 15 – Factual or Fatphobia?
During Thursday night on Oct. 24., the amount of rain was so drastic, an email was sent out to students about relocating their cars in the gravel lot due to ankle high rain fall. Students stood outside of the Quad and Prentiss- Lucas hoping to get soaked from cars passing by. The next day, the volleyball courts in front of PL are proof of that. Students have called it the ‘PL Pool”.
Weather Trouble – Flooding in Prentiss-Lucas on Oct. 24
Winona State University's Newspaper since 1919

The Winonan
Winona State University's Newspaper since 1919

The Winonan
Alek LaShomb

Alek LaShomb, News Editor

Alek LaShomb is the news editor of the Winonan.

LaShomb is a senior at Winona State University and is majoring in Political Science, with a minor in Mass Communications- Journalism.

LaShomb also serves on the executive board for the National Society of Leadership and Success as Community Events chair. His hobbies include writing and hiking. LaShomb operates a blog in his spare time at https://casperscauldron.wordpress.com/

All content by Alek LaShomb
Winona State had made the decision to restructure the Child Center’s staffing requirements, which includes wages, educational experience and lesson planning structure. Winona State faculty, staff and students created a petition that was in opposition to the restructuring of the Children Center and has garnered more than 300 signatures.

Proposed Child Center cuts prompt outcry from community

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
April 21, 2021

Editor Farewell: Alek LaShomb

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
April 21, 2021
The grassfires by Garvin Heights lookout were both caused by accidents when people were trying to burn paper. No persons were hurt from either fire.

Two grassfires ignite at popular hiking spots, Garvin Heights

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
April 14, 2021

More COVID relief funding possible for students

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
April 7, 2021
Winona State University club, WSU Students for Reproductive Justice, coordinated a protest of the Warriors for Life event that was held at 7:30 p.m. on March 22 outside of Kryzsko Commons. Roughly 45-50 people participated in the protest through reproductive justice-inspired signs, inlcuding the students pictured. COVID-19 guidelines were enforced by Reproductive Justice club members.

Warriors for Life club hosts “The Future is Anti-Abortion” speaker event, students protest

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
March 24, 2021
The Winona County Sheriff's department recently acquired several more drones, causing some contention among the community and particularly with the community group, Community Not Cages. Pictured is one of the department's drones.

Winona County Sheriff’s dept. gives drone policy update

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
March 17, 2021

Bike rental program receives $10,000 from Student Senate

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
March 10, 2021
Federal CRRSAA money is currently being held by the Department of Education, which is requiring an official plan of disbursement to students before the withdrawing of funds. Following Senate’s recommendation, $284,847.80 would be allocated to the emergency fund, with $1,538,178.12 reserved for Pell grant and $1,025,452.08 for non-Pell grant students.

Further COVID-19 relief funding likely for some WSU students

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
March 3, 2021
Winona County Sheriff’s department recently acquired it's fifth drone, having infrared heat seeking (FLIR) capabilities.Community Not Cages stressed their concern over the use of FLIR drones, claiming they can look through structures to read individual heat signature.

Local activist group concerned over Sheriff Office’s new drones

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
February 24, 2021

Students to receive further COVID relief funds

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
February 10, 2021

Annual safety report shows increase in liquor law violations

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
February 3, 2021

Winona sees decline in voter turnout

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
January 27, 2021
Jimmy Jam's is packed wall to wall with comics and games.

Local business adapts to COVID-19

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
November 18, 2020
Winona State boosts voting turnout efforts

Winona State boosts voting turnout efforts

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
October 28, 2020

The Sholom Home’s downfall to vacancy

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
October 21, 2020
Local Cotter Schools adjust to COVID-19

Local Cotter Schools adjust to COVID-19

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
October 14, 2020
According to Nancy Dezer, the board chair for Winona Area Public Schools, the original hybrid plan was delayed due to Winona’s steep increase in positive COVID-19 cases. Moreover, community service for Winona State sports teams has been put on hold due to the pandemic.

WAPS react to WSU quarantine

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
October 7, 2020
WSU clubs adapt to COVID regulations

WSU clubs adapt to COVID regulations

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
September 23, 2020
Winona State implements quarantine

Winona State implements quarantine

Alek LaShomb, News Editor
September 16, 2020
A protestor holding a Black Lives Matter (BLM) sign at Windom Park, on Tuesday, Sept. 1. A group of people took part in a peaceful protest led by Eileen Hanson. The protest Black Lives Matter supports people of color fighting police brutality. Specific names in context come up including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more. The motorists passing by expressed support by honking.

Winona State to make changes to support BLM

McKenna Scherer and Alek Lashomb
September 9, 2020
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