Month of July 2006

Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. 

Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200

Click any link for these stories:

Western Team Enters International Competition

PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR SELECTED FOR NEW YORK COLLEGE'S RESEARCH PROGRAM

STEVE FORBES IS WESTERN CONVOCATION SPEAKER

News Briefs

Calendar

POINTS OF PRIDE

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Archives

The deadline for all entries is 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, for the next week's issue. Tower Topics will be online weekly during the fall and spring semester.  For more information call 271-5651.

Student Editor:
Peg Pella

Staff Advisers:
Kristy Hill and Diane Holtz

Western Team Enters International Competition

Using genetic engineering  to solve a mathematics problem, an international competition, two professors and seven students, and pancakes are all part of a Summer Research Institute team at Western. The team, which includes a Central High School senior, is conducting a research project for an international competition sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The team from Western is only one of 39 entered in the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, and in November, they will travel to MIT to present their research.

 “We’re competing with the big guys,” said Dr. Jeff Poet, assistant professor of mathematics, who is leading the team with Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology. He noted that Western is the only Midwestern institution in the United States in the competition. The majority of the U.S. college and universities are east- and west-coast schools, including Berkeley, Caltech, Duke and Harvard. International participants include teams from England, Japan, Slovenia, South Africa, and Mexico, among others. Western is one of only two teams in the competition from a primarily undergraduate institution. Link to the map at http://parts2.mit.edu/wiki/index.php/world_map.

The group is seeking to use the bacterium E. Coli to solve “The Pancake Problem.” Given an arrangement of different sized pancakes in a stack, the goal is to determine the least number of flips needed to order the pancakes from smallest to largest. “It’s a classic mathematics problem,” said Dr. Poet. “We’re just trying to play the game with E. Coli instead.”

Eric Jessen, a senior biology major from Brookfield, Mo., explained the research project using a pancake analogy. Within an E. Coli cell, pieces of DNA are the “pancakes,” and enzymes are the “spatula.” The team will construct DNA with some of the pieces in an incorrect order and allow the enzymes to flip pieces of DNA until the correct order is obtained, at which time the bacteria will glow red.

Mathematics is involved in both the framing of the problem and also in the modeling of the solution. So one student on the team, Marian Broderick of Wichita, Kan., is a mathematics major. Along with Dr. Eckdahl, Dr. Poet, Jessen and Broderick, the team includes Western students Adam Douglas Brown, St. Joseph; Trevor Butner, Savannah, Mo., Brad Ogden, St. Joseph; Kelly Malloy, Brookfield, Mo. and Central High School student Lane Heard.

“We are a part of something really big, exciting and new,” said Dr. Eckdahl. “This is the most suited project for undergraduate research I have ever seen. It’s exciting, it’s creative, and it’s pushing the envelope to the point you make mistakes. And it’s all about teamwork.”

Dr. Eckdahl and Dr. Poet noted that besides the outstanding learning opportunity for students, two more factors make this project exceptional: It is multidisciplinary and multi-institutional. Western’s biology and mathematics departments are working together on this project, and the team is also collaborating with Davidson College in Davidson, N.C. on the research.

“That may be our biggest contribution,” said Dr. Poet. “To figure out how people 1,000 miles apart can collaborate.” 

An ambassador for MIT’s iGEM program, Andrew Hessel, visited Western June 6 and 7 to meet with the team. “They’ve got a really interesting fundamental idea,” Hessel said of Western’s project. “The downstream application for this problem is very interesting. On a competitive level I think they are doing well.”

He noted that the purpose of the iGEM competition, which began in 2004, is to “use the tools of synthetic biology to make the coolest things you can. It’s really looking for creative application.”

Western’s Summer Research Institute, which began in 2001, consists of several teams from departments across campus that conduct research throughout June and July. Each team includes Western students, area high school students and professors. This year, along with Dr. Eckdahl’s and Dr. Poet’s team, some of the research projects are Learning Economics by Designing a Video Game, Preliminary Research on Design and Construction of Lunar and Martian Space Bases, Design and Simulation of Nanostructure Devices, and Domestic Violence and Order Protection: What Will the Courts Provide? Students will make a presentation of their research at a public forum on July 28..

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PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR SELECTED FOR NEW YORK COLLEGE'S RESEARCH PROGRAM

Amanda O’Dell is spending six weeks this summer at Buffalo State College (BSC) in Buffalo, N.Y., in an intensive developmental psychology research program. The senior psychology major was one of 10 students selected nationwide to participate.

The program, funded by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, includes one-on-one research with a BSC psychology faculty member, two courses for college credit, and research rotations at several area agencies. O’Dell will also participate in workshops on applying to graduate school, career preparation and research ethics.

Dr. Teddi Deka, associate professor of psychology, encouraged O’Dell to apply, although preference was being given to New York students. “We were really excited,” said Dr. Deka. She’s a really good student. I thought this would be a good opportunity for her because she’ll get a lot of research experience.

”O’Dell hopes to conduct research in body image in developmental psychology. When she returns to Western this fall, she will continue the research, at least nine hours per week, with Dr. Deka serving as her faculty mentor. The research will be conducted as part of O’Dell’s honors independent research. Western’s honors program will pay her transportation costs to and from Buffalo.

O’Dell, currently the president of Western’s chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology; and an officer in the psychology club, plans to attend graduate school after graduating from Western and earn a doctorate in developmental psychology.

“Ultimately, my goal is to teach at the college level and to continue my research at a small to mid-size college or university – just like Missouri Western. I hope I can make Western proud through my research pursuits.”

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 Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes, Inc. and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, will speak on economic trends that will affect the future of global business and government at 9:30 a.m. in the M.O. Looney Complex. The event is free and open to the community.  He will also speak and answer questions at a dinner Oct. 2 in the Fulkerson Center.

 “Featuring Steve Forbes as the speaker for the Convocation on Critical Issues continues the tradition of fine speakers of national prominence,” said Dan Nicoson, vice president for university advancement. “We are fortunate that we have a benefactor who is contributing to the MWSU Foundation’s Convocation fund to supplement sponsorship funds, which allowed us to obtain a high caliber speaker like Steve Forbes.”

Since Forbes assumed his position in 1990, Forbes, Inc. has launched a variety of new publications and businesses, including ForbesLife, Forbes Asia, and Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew and Polish editions for the magazine. The company also publishes the Gilder Technology Report, as well as a number of investment newsletters. The company’s website, Forbes.com, receives over 10 million hits per month. 

Forbes magazine has a circulation of 900,000. That magazine, combined with Forbes Asia and the company’s eight local-language editions, together reach a worldwide audience of over five million readers.

In 1996 and 2000, Forbes campaigned for the Republican nomination for the presidency. He is the author of two books, and writes editorials for each issue of Forbes.

Forbes was born in Morristown, N.J. and graduated with a bachelor of arts in history from Princeton University. At Princeton, he was the founding editor of Business Today, which became the country’s largest magazine published by students for students.

He currently serves on several national boards, including The Ronald Regan Presidential Foundation and the Heritage Foundation. He served on the Board of Trustees at Princeton for 10 years.

Western inaugurated the Convocation program in 1993 as part of an overall commitment to offer enriching experiences to students, while bringing together the college and community. Past speakers have included Bill Bradley, David Gergen, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Jerry Linenger, David McCullough, Dr. Joseph Nye, Colin Powell, Arthur Schlesinger Jr, Daniel Schorr, Patricia Schroeder, J.C. Watts, and Bob Woodward.

For more information about the dinner or the Convocation presentation, call 5646.

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• Mike Ritter says that the new lift chair at the swimming pool brought a "blissful smile" to the face of student Jenny Koebel this month. The hard work of Western’s Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) committee was rewarded by the happy face of Koebel as she managed with minimal assistance to enter the pool and gain a world of independence. Born with cerebral palsy, Koebel has limited mobility - but when she entered Western's pool she was "free and in control of her otherwise unruly muscle movements." When Ritter asked her if he could use her name and the nature of her disability in an email, she responded with "You can use my name and disability. In fact, shout 'Jenny Koebel says thank you' from the rooftops." Installation was the result of hard work of Ellen Kisker, A.D.A. coordinator; Craig Darrough, environmental safety coordinator; Brian Harrah, physical plant;  Wonda Berry-Howe, director of recreation services; Al Martin, mechanical supervisor and the maintenance team (who had to design a booster pump to make the chair fully functional as the incoming water was insufficient to sustain the chair); Lori Gregory, nontraditional student and lifeguard at the pool, and all of the A.D.A. committee members past and present.
   

• Young Player Camp - Soccer for players ages 10-14 will be held July 10 through 13 from 8:45 to noon, directed by Jeff Hansen. The camp is focused on fundamental and advanced skills as well as fun. Campers will  be provided with fundamental instruction, and advanced skills to further the player's abilities. Camp fee includes a free t-shirt. Cost: $80 (due by June 30) $85 (late registration)
   

• Griffon Basketball Camp - for boys going into 2nd - 7th grade will be held July 17-20 from 1:00 to 5:00, with Tom Smith. Camp is designed to help young players develop proper basketball skills. Camp will include station drills, individual contests, (one on one, free throw, etc.) and game competition. The week will begin with 3 on 3, and progress to 5 on 5. Games and competitions will be divided by equal age groups.

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Monday July 3

• First day of classes for 2nd four-week summer session

Tuesday, July 4

• Campus Closed; Independence Day Holiday

Wednesday, July 5

• Driver Education. 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 10 sessions, Monday through Friday, through July 19.

Thursday, July 6

• Summer Art Adventure - Navaho Sand Painting. 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art

Friday, July 7

• Summer Classes Held

Monday July 10

• Departmental Exit Exam 4 p.m. Fred Eder Hall, room 208.

• July 10 through 12 Cutting Edge Auxiliaries Summer Camp.  For information call 4420 or 417-428-1914 or 
  camp@cuttingedgeauxiliaries.com

• July 10 through 13 Young Players Camp. For information call 5902 or 5901, Jeff Hansen

Tuesday, July 11

• ACT Residual. 8 a.m. Fred Eder Hall, Room 208.

Wednesday, July 12

• MAPP Exit Exam. 5 p.m. Fred Eder Hall, Room 208.

• "How to be a Successful Nontraditional Student at MWSU." 10 a.m. - noon, Fred Eder Hall, room 208.

Thursday, July 13

• GED. 8 a.m. Fred Eder Hall, Room 208.

 Sunday, July 16

• Drumline Camp through July 19 for high school and upper middle school.  For information call 4420 or 4110.

Monday July 17

• Griffon Basketball Camp July 17 through 20. For information call 4486, Tom Smith

• Final exams for eight-week and 2nd four-week summer sessions

Saturday, July 29

• Family and Friends Golf Tournament. Fairview Golf Course, St. Joseph. Call 5926.

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POINTS OF PRIDE

Excellence in our Faculty/Staff

• Dr. Chris Shove, executive director and dean of the Western Institute, won the Missouri Association of Adult Continuing and Community Education (MAACCE) Award of Merit for 2006. The award is given to nominees that promote the development of adult and community education. The Western Institute was recognized for its off-campus programs in the high schools, Kansas City North, and travel study abroad classes; conferences, seminars, GED classes, Geographical Informational System classes, and distance university classes for the Western Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center. Dr. Shove received recognition and a plaque at the MAACCE conference.

• Tim Talbot won the Missouri Association of Adult Continuing and Community Education (MAACCE) Special Achievement Award for 2006. Talbot is employed as an adult basic education teacher with Western Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center and the Western Institute. The award is given to nominees that improve the practice and delivery of adult education, display innovation in the delivery of practice, and contribute to the betterment of individuals. Talbot has brought his business background into the classroom to help students understand leadership, goals, core values, and mission statements. He has presented his Ladder of Success program to several state and regional conventions as workshops for corrections staff. Talbot received recognition and a plaque at the MAACE conference June 21.

• Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, was selected as one of the referees by the International Journal of Applied Management and Technology.

• Linda Garlinger, director of career development, served as United Way Allocations Chair for 2007 allocations process. She also participated in Women at the Leading Edge Seminar, an eight-part series on leadership through a grant from the Central Exchange Bank in Kansas City, Mo. Garlinger also conducted a Resumé Writing Workshop.
• Robin Findlay, associate professor of theatre, has been re-elected to the board of Ashland Avenue Neighborhood Association.

• Dr. Teddi Deka, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Patrick McMurry, professor of economics, received acceptance of their manuscript entitled “Success in Face-to-Face Versus the Distance Telecourse Environment:  A Matter of Contact?” by the International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning.

• English instructor Bill Church's short story, "His Abortion," was published in the literary magazine, Steam Ticket, Vol. 9, May 2006.

• Assistant professor of physical education Dr. William Russell’s manuscript entitled “The Argument for Promoting Authentic Assessment in Physical Education” has been accepted for publication in the Iowa American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Journal.

• Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, presented his research paper entitled “Modern Banking & Strategic Portfolio Management,” at the 2006 International Applied Business Research Conference held in Cancun, Mexico. The paper was included in the refereed proceedings of the conference. He also served as discussant of several other papers at that conference.

• Dr. Teddi Deka, associate professor of psychology, together with student Crystal Deets, presented a poster entitled “Negative Self-Descriptions Reflect Self-Worth, Development and Transition in Middle School” at the annual Association for Psychological Science Convention in New York City.

• Dr. Patricia Marsh, assistant professor of psychology, and Dr. Phil Wann, professor of psychology and department chair, presented a study entitled “Silver Screen Psychology:  How Effective is the Film ‘Retrieval’ in Helping Students Learn About Memory?” in the Council of Teachers of Undergraduate Psychology Creative Classroom Poster Session at the Midwestern Psychological Association meeting in Chicago.

• Dr. Evelyn Brooks, professor of nursing, presented “Folic Acid Education and Awareness-NW Missouri Activity Update” at the Spring 2006 Missouri Folic Acid Advisory Committee meeting, Genetics and Health Childhood, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in Jefferson City.

• Dr. Judy Grimes, dean of student services; Elaine Bryant, student services coordinator; and Rosalie Guyer, advising and A+ coordinator; facilitated a workshop for faculty advising this summer and for staff from various departments across campus.

Excellence in our Students

• Western student Crystal Tracy won first place in the social psychology poster session at the Great Plains Student Psychology Convention held at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg. Her research was entitled “Will Someone Watching You Exercise Improve Your Workouts and Affect Self-Esteem?”  Dr. Phil Wann, professor of psychology, was the faculty sponsor for the paper.

• Western student Crystal Deets, together with Dr. Teddi Deka, associate professor of psychology, presented a poster entitled “Negative Self-Descriptions Reflect Self-worth, Development and Transition in Middle School” at the annual Association for Psychological Science Convention in New York City.

• Erin R. Wilson and Alyssa J. Myers, psychology majors, presented their research at the annual regional Psi Chi meeting held at Midwestern Psychological Association's meeting in Chicago. Their work was entitled "Models of Group Development:  Competing or Complementary?" and was sponsored by Dr. Kelly Henry, associate professor of psychology. 

• Western percussion ensemble students, under the direction of Dr. Dennis Rogers, professor of music, organized and produced the “eXtreme Percussion” event. There were two sold-out performances which were performed by 10 competing bands from the surrounding area.

Excellence in our Programs

• The 29^th annual Chemathon was held in May. The chemistry department hosted over 450 students from 25 area high schools. The chemistry and physics professors led the events which included written tests, oral team competitions, “Chemistry Game Shows,” and building vacuum cannons. The grand prizes for the top winners in six divisions of written tests were scholarships for six credit hours at Western. The Chemathon co-directors were Dr. Shauna Hiley, associate professor of chemistry, and Dr. Michael Ducey, assistant professor of chemistry. 

• The Center for Community Arts Symphonic Youth Orchestra performed their annual spring concert in the Thompson E. Potter Hall Theater.  Approximately 125 people attended this event, which was directed by Terry Brock, instructor of music.

• The Center for Community Arts Griffon Jr. Singers Premiere and Prelude Choirs performed their annual spring concert in the Thompson E. Potter Hall Theater. There were approximately 350 people in attendance, and the choirs were directed by Karen Jensen and Karen Heyde-Lipanovich.

• The Suzuki violin students performed a special public concert in the Thompson E. Potter Hall Theater to honor the five graduating senior violin students:  Sarah Potts, Lindsay Tubbs, Christine Mathews, Seo-Hyun Kim, and Victoria Vaughn. Approximately 75 people attended this event, which was directed by Terry Brock, Suzuki violin teacher and instructor of music.

• The department of music presented their second annual Collage Concert at the Missouri Theater. Ensembles and solos from all disciplines in the department participated. The event was a fund-raiser for the renovation of the department’s piano laboratory.

• The fourth annual St. Joseph International Guitar Festival was coordinated by Anthony Glise, instructor of music, and Dr. Mark Mikkelson, associate professor of history, philosophy and geography and director of the center for arts, culture and literacy; and hosted by the department of music. Participants, instructors and contestants came from the United States and all over the world.

• The annual All Star Jazz Band Camp was hosted by the department of music and coordinated by Bob Long, assistant professor of music. This camp is comprised of first-place winners from the instrumental competitions in the midwest area. As a finale to the camp activities, they performed in the Coleman Hawkins Festival in St. Joseph, Friday and Saturday.

• House for sale by owner: 517 N. 27th St. Quiet neighborhood. 2-3 bedroom raised ranch, main floor laundry, hardwood floors, updated bath, kitchen appliances included, water softener, fenced backyard. For more information, call 244-9095.
   

• For Rent: House in Stonecrest - 3 bedrooms plus loft, family room, 3 baths, fenced back yard, quiet cul-de-sac. 509 Meadowcrest Court. $750/month. Call 910-546-2162 or 910-546-2108.
   

• Car for sale: Hyundai 2003 Elantra. Low miles. Factory warranty remaining. Four cylinder, five speed. Excellent car, cold air, great mileage. Listed in "Consumer Reports" 'best buy' for reliability and price. Asking $7,750. Call 816-567-2067.
   

• NASCAR Tickets for sale! Section 230, Row 47, Seat 15-18 (four tickets each race). Busch Series, Sept. 30, $80 each; Nextel Cup Series, Oct. 1, $125 each. Email bjm1465@missouriwestern.edu.
   

• House for sale: 2522 Jules, beautiful historic 2 1/2 story, 3 BR, 2 1/2 baths. Completely renovated and move-in ready. Wood floors throughout, new kitchen, wood fence and patio, one-car garage, new central air, Trane furnace and new heat pump, finished family room on 3rd floor, leaded windows, pocket doors, fireplace and more! $130,000. Call 244-6138 for tour. 
   

• CBR600F4:  2001 Red/Black only 7,800 miles, very clean, minor scratches, garaged, never wrecked, $4,800.00 FIRM, (816) 390-3055
   

• Large Tent accommodates 6 people. Color: green. Excellent condition. $50.00. Contact Gladys Patten at 4364 or gpatten@missouriwestern.edu.

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