Week of  January 19 - 25, 2009

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:

State OKS Deal to Bring Chiefs Camp to Western

Western Alumnus is 'Going to Hollywood'

Western to Display Art by Armin Mühsam

Tower Sports

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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.

State OKs Deal to Bring Chiefs Camp to Western

State officials have given final approval to tax credits that could bring the training camp of the Kansas City Chiefs to Western, Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder formally announced Jan. 16.

“It’s a great day to be in St. Joseph,” said Kinder, who serves as chair of the Missouri Development Finance Board (MDFB), the panel that initially approved the $25 million in tax credits last month. “We’re very excited about this new partnership developing between the great organization of the Kansas City Chiefs and Missouri Western State University.”

The tax credits will help generate $50 million for improvements to Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs Kansas City home. The Chiefs will donate $10 million to Western for facility improvements, including the construction of an indoor practice facility. Western is working with the city of St. Joseph, Buchanan County and private donors to secure additional funding for the project. If the facilities are in place, the Chiefs will hold their three-week summer training camp at Western beginning in 2010.

“This is the right time, the right opportunity to move our training camp back to Missouri,” said Denny Thum, interim president of the Kansas City Chiefs. The indoor practice facility, which will also include a locker room, weight room, training room, meeting rooms, lecture halls and coaches’ offices, will be a “showplace,” Thum said. “What we’re excited about is that we’ll leave a legacy on this campus.”

Because of the size of the tax credits, the deal required the signatures of three state department directors. Outgoing members of former Gov. Matt Blunt’s administration gave their approval last week before leaving office, Kinder said.

“I want to thank Lt. Gov. Kinder; Mr. Thum, the Hunt family and the entire Chiefs organization; State Senator Charlie Shields; Dirck Clark, chair of the Western Board of Governors; and Dave Williams, our athletic director, for their support and leadership on this project,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Western’s president. “This will be of tremendous benefit to Western and the St. Joseph community, and we’re happy to be a part of it.”

Hosting the Chiefs’ training camp would bring significant economic benefits to the region, said Ted Allison, president and CEO of the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the money spent by the expected 5,000 visitors a day, Allison said the camp could strengthen the ties between St. Joseph and Kansas City.

“The interstate between Kansas City and St. Joseph will be a little bit shorter,” Allison said. “Many Kansas City residents will come to St. Joseph that might not have visited us otherwise. Once they see what we have to offer, we’re sure they’ll return again and again.”
 

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Western Alumnus is 'Going to Hollywood'

Asa Barnes Advances on American Idol

Western alumnus Asa Barnes received a coveted “golden ticket” during the premiere of the eighth season of the singing competition “American Idol,” and will appear on the show next month.

Barnes, a 2003 graduate with a bachelor of science in education with a concentration in vocal music, teaches band at Smith-Hale Middle School in Kansas City, Mo. In the Kansas City audition episode of the show that aired last night, Barnes received “yes” votes from all four celebrity judges after performing Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

Barnes now advances to the “Hollywood Round” of American Idol. He and other contestants vie for one of 36 semi-finalist positions during the next phase of the auditions. The Hollywood Round episodes air Feb. 3, Feb. 4 and Feb. 10, with the Top 36 as selected by the judges revealed on Feb. 11. Voting by viewers will begin Feb. 17 to determine the 12 finalists and, ultimately, the competition’s winner.

Barnes won the Fox 4 KC Idol Live event last year to earn an audition spot before the celebrity judges. Previously, he made the top 75 contestants in “Idol’s” fourth season.

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Social Work Program Reception

Western to Display Art by Armin Mühsam

Armin Mühsam’s “Works on Paper” will be exhibited in the Potter Hall Art Gallery at Western Jan. 22-Feb. 6. The Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The artist will give a talk to open the exhibit Jan. 22 at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow. The public is invited. There is no admission charge.

“My work focuses on the changing and changed landscape, particularly the face of nature as altered by human intervention,” Mühsam has written about his art. “My paintings are executed like traditional landscape paintings, deliberately seducing the viewer with the ‘beauty’ of technological architecture.”

Mühsam is an associate professor of art at Northwest Missouri State University.

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Tower Sports

Men's Basketball

• Loss vs. Quincy, 84-91, Jan. 12

• Loss vs. Truman State, 67-69, Jan. 14

• Loss vs. University of Central Missouri, 66-76, Jan. 17

• Jan. 21 vs. Southwest Baptist University at 7:30 p.m.

• Jan. 24 at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan., at 7:30 p.m.

Women's Basketball

• Win vs. Truman State, 68-64, Jan. 14

• Loss vs. University of Central Missouri, 66-74, Jan. 17

• Jan. 21 vs. Southwest Baptist University at 5:30 p.m.

• Jan. 24 at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan., at 5:30 p.m.

Memorial Service A memorial service for Dr. Keith Roberts will be held at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in Blum Student Union, Hoff Room 218. Roberts, who was director of research, grants and sponsored programs, loved his job and the people he worked with at Western. We hope you will be able to join us in remembering our friend and colleague and the impact he made at Western. At the request of his wife, Amy Bunnell, a scholarship has been established. Memorial gifts may be made to the Dr. Keith R. Roberts Memorial Scholarship for the Advancement of Science in care of the MWSU Foundation.

Open Mic Night Creative writers at Western invite the public to an open mic session called “New Lit Out Loud” at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at Foster’s Martini and Wine Bar, located at 726 Felix Street. “New Lit Out Loud” is a celebration of creative writing by those who have stared into the abyss of the blank page and have lived to tell about it. Campus and community writers are invited to read their short stories, poetry, excerpts from longer works and anything else they have to offer. First-timers and experienced readers alike are encouraged to come. Time slot signups will begin at 6:45 p.m. For more information, contact Kathryn Strasser at kstrasser@missouriwestern.edu.

Student Marketing Survey Winners of the Student Marketing Survey drawing are Daphne Urban and Samantha Wilkins. The pair each win a $50 gift certificate from the Campus Book Store. Please stop by the Public Relations & Marketing Office, 207 Spratt to claim your prizes!  Thanks to all the students, over 500, who took time to give us feedback on the surveys. The large number of surveys returned was wonderful, but the great number has taken us some time to summarize. For example, there were 13 pages (single spaced) of comments received in the open comment section of the survey. We had an almost even number of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors participating, with the greatest numbers from freshmen and seniors. The results will be used to help plan MWSU’ s marketing and PR more effectively. Because MWSU resources were used exclusively for the survey, there was minimum cost involved. The savings are in the thousands of dollars from using an outside firm. Special thanks to the Craig School of Business’ Dr. Vivek Madupu, IMC’s Cindy Wells for helping us with the Class Climate survey tool, and student assistant Jennifer Kohler.

Student Citizenship The Nontraditional Student Center is excited to announce that John Manyok, one of Western's students who is a Lost Boy of Sudan, has received his U.S. citizenship. Help congratulate John by attending an informal reception in his honor from 1-2:30 p.m. Jan. 27. in the Nontraditional Student Center, located in Eder Hall 200.

2008 W2's The 2008 W2's will available for pick up after Jan. 16-27 in the Business Office. All W2's not picked up by the close of business on Jan. 27 will be mailed. Reprints of the W2's will not be available until after Feb. 13. You must have some form of photo identification to pick up your W2. For more information contact, Gyla Adamson, payroll coordinator, at 4581 or gbuffington@missouriwestern.edu.

Theatre Production The upcoming Black Box presentation is "Fool for Love" by Sam Shepard. The production runs Jan. 28-30 and opens at 8 p.m. each night. Tickets are $6.

Student Excellence Deadline Student applications for spring semester for the Student Excellence Fund must be submitted to the Foundation Office, Spratt 111, no later than 4:30 p.m. Feb. 2. The Student Excellence Fund is a source of financial assistance provided for Western students through the MWSU Foundation. This fund reimburses students for expenses incurred while presenting papers, participating in conferences, etc. For detailed information link to: http://www.missouriwestern.edu/foundation/excellence.html. For questions, contact Kim Weddle at 271-5647.

The Extreme Team Back by popular demand, the World’s #1 Acrobatic Slam Dunk Act “The Extreme Team” will return to the MWSU Fieldhouse Feb. 4 as Griffon Basketball hosts Fort Hays State. This will mark the fourth consecutive year The Extreme Team has performed in the Fieldhouse. Two performances will take place during the evening as the group will perform at halftime of both the men’s and women’s games with a teaser performance during a first half time out of both games as well. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling the Griffon Ticket Office at 4481 or 5904. Fans may also purchase tickets in person anytime Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in Looney Complex Room 224 or 229 or on game day beginning at 4 p.m. at the main ticket window. General admission prices are $7 for adults, $3 for youth (ages 7 – high school) and senior citizens. Children six and under are free. MWSU faculty and staff members may purchase half price general admission tickets in advance ($3 for adults, $1 for youth). A limited number of chairback reserved seats are available for $15.

Student Payroll Information Western is furthering its efforts in going green. Effective March 20, 2009, all students that are set up for direct deposit will be receiving their direct deposit advice slip via email. You will be receiving the payroll email several days before pay day but the funds will not be available until the actual pay date. This means hard copies of the direct deposit slip will no longer be available for distribution on pay day. Those students who are not set up for direct deposit will not receive an email with their pay information; you will continue to pick up your pay check starting at 10 a.m. on the pay date in the Business Office.

There is now a link to payroll information. This link will assist with answering basic payroll questions. You can also find the 2009 payroll payment schedule and payroll deadlines. Payroll Forms such as W4's and direct deposit are also available on this link. Simply go to Western's Home page, click on the A-Z search, click on the letter P, then select Payroll Information.

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Tuesday, January 20

• Residence Council meeting at 7 p.m. in the Commons Building

• Brown bag lunch hour and showing of the documentary “February One” at 12 p.m. in Blum Union 223. Food is not provided.

• Presidential Inauguration scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. CST

Wednesday, January 21

• WAC meeting at 4 p.m. in the Junior College Room

• Brown bag lunch hour and showing of the documentary “The Road to Brown” at 12 p.m. in Blum Union 223. Food is not provided.

• Showing of the movie “Ruby Bridges” at 6 p.m. at East Hills Library, 502 N. Woodbine.

•  “New Lit Out Loud” open mic session at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at Foster’s Martini and Wine Bar, located at 726 Felix Street

Thursday, January 22

• NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet at 6 p.m. in the Fulkerson Center.

• Memorial service for Dr. Keith Roberts at 3:30 p.m. in Blum Student Union, Hoff Room 218

• Intramural dodgeball entry deadline. Register your team at Looney Complex 147.

• Armin Mühsam’s “Works on Paper” exhibit opens in the Potter Hall Art Gallery at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow.

• Board of Governors meeting at 5:30 p.m. in Blum Union 220.

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