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Financial Aid Awareness Week Feb. 13-17 Stop by the financial aid office to receive help filling out financial aid forms and be entered to win prizes! |
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Week of Feb. 13-20 Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. |
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Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200 |
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Click any link for these stories: Western Chamber Singers Perform at Conference Conference on Evolution and Intelligent Design Lost & Found: If you have lost any items, please come to SU 228 to claim them. You may be required to describe the item. Click on
Guidelines for Tower Topics: Tower Topics submissions should state time, date, place, sponsor, title of event, name of speaker's and admission fees. Send complete information to the Public Relations and Marketing office (Leah Spratt Hall, Room 106). 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:
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Western Chamber Singers Perform at Convention Each year, thousands of music educators from across the state gather at the Missouri Music Educators (MMEA) Convention to be equipped by the latest methods and materials in music education and inspired by the greatest ensembles in the state. A central aspect of the convention is the performances by selected choirs, bands and orchestras, and the Western Chamber Singers were chosen to perform when the group met in January at the Tan-tar-a resort in Osage Beach, Mo. Appearing at this convention is a highly coveted opportunity reserved for the finest ensembles in the state, said David Benz, director of the Chamber Singers. “Being selected to perform at this convention places your ensemble in front of the most discerning and capable music audience in the state of Missouri. They are an audience of conductors and performers. Further, we would be on stage with the best high school and university choirs in Missouri. While it is a very supportive atmosphere, it is immediately apparent which universities have the strongest music programs. It was our job to prove that we have an exemplary music program at Western.” The ensembles are selected through a rigorous audition process by adjudicators from outside of Missouri. The group found out they would be performing at the convention last July, and preparing for the performance meant coming back to school a week early to perform a five-day tour that included eleven concerts at area high schools. The tour culminated with a performance in the Capitol rotunda in Jefferson City, Mo., sponsored by State Sen. Charlie Shields. “I am so very proud of our singers here at Missouri Western,” said Benz. “They enthusiastically adopted this goal of singing at this convention and then committed themselves to the work and growth needed to justify our being there. “When the Singers first heard the literature I had selected for them to prepare and perform at Tan-tar-a they knew it was going to be a level of work beyond anything they had ever undertaken. They accepted the goal and they achieved the goal -- beautifully!” Reports from the convention by teachers have been extraordinary, he said. The Chamber Singers have been said to have presented the premiere performance of the entire convention presenting the most advanced literature with extraordinary beauty and creativity.
“I learned something critically important about these singers as we toured and performed. They have deep hearts filled with music and their combined voices are truly beautiful. They love to sing at the highest academic level. While only the most select singers could ever perform with this group I hope many people get the honor and pleasure of hearing them sing.” |
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Conference on Evolution and Intelligent Design Promoting healthy dialogue on national critical issues from the perspectives of science, philosophy and culture is the goal of a conference on Evolution and Intelligent Design at Western Feb. 23-26. Western will host three nationally known speakers who will lecture to classes, make presentations, and participate in a panel discussion and a public forum. The conference presentations and panel discussion are for invited participants only, but the public forum is free and open to the community. It will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 in the Fulkerson Center. The topic is the political movement behind intelligent design. Featured conference speakers are Dr. Ursula Goodenough, Dr. Paul Nelson and Dr. Michael Ruse. Dr. Goodenough is a professor of biology at Washington University in St. Louis. She is author of the textbook, “Genetics,” recognized as a classic in the field. The book has been through three editions and translated into five languages. Her 1998 book, “The Sacred Depths of Nature,” examines spiritual responses to our scientific understandings of nature, particularly biology and evolution at a molecular level. She has served as president of the Society of Cell Biologists and as president of the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science. Dr. Nelson is a philosopher of biology specializing in evolutionary developmental biology and developmental biology. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Department of Philosophy. His doctoral thesis will be published as volume sixteen in the University of Chicago Department of Ecology and Evolution’s “Evolutionary Monographs” series. It is the first in this series to critique neo-Darwinism. Dr. Nelson has written several articles on the philosophical aspects of evolutionary biology including one recently published in “Biology and Philosophy.” He edits the journal Origins & Design. Dr. Michael Ruse is the Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University. The author of many books, including “The Evolution-Creation Struggle” and “Taking Darwin Seriously,” he is also the founder and editor of the journal Biology and Philosophy. Dr. Ruse is one of the most renowned writers on the subject of evolution. He earned his doctorate from the University of Bristol. Dr. Sandie Seeger, assistant professor of biology, and Dr. Steve Morris, assistant professor of philosophy, are coordinating the conference. Dr. Seeger said there are many topics in university science classes that place scientific views in tension with the belief systems of many Americans, but there is never enough time to fully discuss the controversial topics during class times. So she believes the conference will offer a forum for students to hear both sides of an issue and have the opportunity to ask questions. “We hope the conference will give participants a better understanding of science, the scientific method, and how these influence culture and philosophy,” said Dr. Seeger. For more information, contact Dr. Seeger at 4382 or sseeger. |
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Twenty Western staff members were awarded Outstanding Staff Employee Awards for 2005-2006. This award program recognizes and rewards exemplary performance by employees based both on performance of their responsibilities as outlined in their position description and associated goals, and on their specific contributions to the mission, goals and values of the university.
The following individuals were outstanding employees:
Jennifer Bagley, head coach, women’s softball; Susan Bracciano, assistant registrar; Cori Criger, classroom services manager; Barbara Davis, administrative coordinator – liberal arts and sciences; Judy Fields, institutional research analyst; Jamie Hahn, admissions coordinator; Alice Harless, custodian; Stena Hinkle, administrative assistant-psychology; Diane Holtz, public relations and alumni services coordinator; Danielle Hunt, education television services manager; Sandy McGuire, custodian; Carey McMillan, senior accountant; Beverly Payne, advising and placement director for business; Peggy Payne, assistant director of admissions and recruiting; Jon Recob, groundskeeper; Sandy Rogers, student development program coordinator; Victoria Sample, central stores laboratory coordinator; Patsy Smith, assistant athletic director/SWA; Terry Smith, assistant director of admissions/operations, and Stacy Turner, administrative assistant for the Western Institute.
The awardees will be recognized at a dinner with the Western Board of Governors and at an employee reception. |
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Men's Basketball Feb. 8 - Western 80, Truman State 57 Women's Basketball Feb. 8 - Western 57, Truman State 48 Tiffany Davis, the junior point guard for the women's basketball team, holds the MIAA triple-double record. On Feb. 1, Davis had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists against Washburn's Lady Blues. |
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Monday, February 13
Tuesday, February 14
Wednesday, February 15
Thursday, February 16
Friday, February 17
Sunday, February 19
Monday, February 20
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