Week of  Feb. 26-March 4, 2007

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 Women MIAA Champs!

Western Hosts Panel on Iraq War

Fountain City Brass Band to Perform March 3

Western Hosts Applied Learning Conference

Tower Sports

News Briefs

Calendar

Ads

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.

Western Women MIAA Champs!

The # 2 nationally ranked women’s basketball team claimed the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) outright Feb. 2, cutting the nets down at the Western fieldhouse after a 77-58 win over Northwest Missouri State.

The win secured Western’s championship run through the MIAA’s regular season and its # 1 seed in the MIAA postseason championships, which will take place March 1-4 at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. The Griffons are 27-1 overall this season and 16-1 in the MIAA.

The Griffons got off to a hot start at home, leading the Bearcats by as many as eight points through the 12-minute mark, but the Bearcats, winners of four of their last five games, battled back to take a brief lead before the Griffons went on a mini-run of their own that gave them a 45-36 halftime lead.

The Griffons went on to outscore the Bearcats 32-22 in the second half and win.

For the game, Western shot 41.4 percent from the field and hit nine of 20 three-point field goal attempts. Leading the way for Western was junior forward Jill Johnson, who collected a game-high 21 points and her sixth double-double of the year with 10 rebounds. Johnson went 10 of 13 from the free throw line as well. Western also got 17 points from junior guard Ashleigh Curry and 14 points and 10 rebounds from senior Tera Petersen. Petersen became the 12th Griffon in school history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.

To purchase post-season tournament tickets, visit http://www.gogriffons.com.

Article contributed by the sports information department.

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Western Hosts Panel on Iraq War

The war in Iraq will be the topic of discussion when Western hosts a multi-disciplinary panel of Western professors at 1 p.m. March 1 in Spratt Hall, room 205.

Panelists include Dr. Dan Trifan, professor of history; Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics; Dr. Dan Cox, assistant professor of political science; Dr. Ali Kamali, associate professor of sociology; and Dr. Phil Mullins, professor of philosophy.

Panelists have been asked to reflect on the war from their own disciplinary perspective and, if they choose to do so, to respond to historian Michael Oren’s recent book, “Power, Faith and Fantasy,” about our country’s long-standing relationship with the Middle East.

The panel discussion is sponsored by the honors program and the Alpha Chi National Honorary Society.

For more information, call 4535 or email sawin.

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Fountain City Brass Band to Perform March 3

The Fountain City Brass Band will make its St. Joseph debut at 8 p.m. March 3 at the Missouri Theater, 717 Edmond. Tickets will be sold at the door, or they can be purchased through the Allied Arts Council of St. Joseph (816-233-0231). Ticket prices are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors, and $6 for students with valid student ID. The performance is sponsored by the Western music department.

The concert is in conjunction with the Great Plains Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conference that will be held at Western March 1-4.

Founded in 2002 by Lee Harrelson, assistant professor of music, the Fountain City Brass Band (FCBB) is a 30-piece brass ensemble that has quickly become one of the finest ensembles of its type in the United States. At the U.S. Open Brass Band Championships in 2005 and 2006 the FCBB was voted as the “most entertaining band in America.” Last spring the FCBB performed at the North American Brass Band Championships, inspiring one long-time board member to quote, “That was the best performance ever by a band from North America.”

The FCBB strives to present performances that encompass a wide array of genres, from Broadway to Big Band and Classical to Patriotic. The St. Joseph debut will be no exception with music from John Williams to Philip Sparke to Leroy Anderson. The band will also welcome a special guest artist, euphonium virtuoso Dr. Benjamin Pierce. Dr. Pierce, an international soloist and faculty member at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, will perform Vladimir Cosma’s Euphonium Concerto.

Along with the music department, the concert is sponsored by the Western chapters of Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota. The Great Plains Tuba and Euphonium Conference hosts students and faculty from throughout the Midwest for clinics, performances and competitions. For more information on the conference, visit www.gprtec.com. For more information about the concert, visit www.fcbb.net.

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Western Hosts Applied Learning Conference

When Western became a university in August 2005, the State Legislature designated applied learning as Western’s statewide mission, which refers to providing students with practical experience outside of the classroom that connects to the theory learned in class. In fact, more than 80 percent of Western graduates complete such experiences as service-learning, undergraduate research, internships/practica, study-away programs, and co-curricular programs.

Therefore, it was only natural for Western to share its applied learning expertise and host its second annual Applied Learning conference Feb. 23 and 24. Along with 13 Western faculty and staff, 57 faculty and staff members from 26 higher education institutions in 12 states and Mexico gave presentations.

The conference provided a venue for scholars and practitioners in applied learning areas to gather and share their work, said Kelly Henry, Western’s director of applied learning. “We want to develop an identity as a resource to learn about applied learning, and we want to help other institutions develop applied learning programs,” she said.

Janet Eyler, professor of the practice of education, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, and author of “Where’s the Learning in Service-Learning?” conducted a workshop Friday afternoon. Keynote speakers included Robert G. Bringle, professor of psychology and philanthropic studies and director of the Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis Center for Service and Learning; L. Dee Fink, higher education consultant who was the director of the Instructional Development Program at the University of Oklahoma; and Carlos Ernesto Teissier, the international affairs director for the Universidad Regiomontana and a consultant for the Study Abroad Foundation for Latin America.

A poster session featuring applied learning research and experiences was held Friday evening. 

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Tower Sports

Congratulations women! MIAA Champs!

Men's Basketball

• Loss vs. Northwest Missouri State, 61-69, Feb. 21

• Loss vs. Missouri Southern, 70-82, Feb. 24

Women's Basketball

• Win vs. Northwest Missouri State, 77-58, Feb. 21

• Loss vs. Missouri Southern, 69-75, Feb. 24

• March 2 vs. Pittsburg State in MIAA Championship Tournament, Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. at 12 p.m.

Baseball

• Loss vs. Lewis-Clark State at Lewiston Invitational, 0-11, Feb. 22

• Win vs. St. Martin's at Lewiston Invitational, 4-0, Feb. 22

• Win vs. St. Martin's at Lewiston Invitational, 6-5, Feb. 23

• Loss vs. Western Oregon at Lewiston Invitational, 9-14, Feb. 23

• Feb. 28 vs. Wayne State (Neb.) at 2 p.m. Doubleheader

• March 3 vs. Angustana (S.D.) at 12 p.m. Doubleheader

• March 4 vs. Angustana (S.D.) at 12 p.m.Doubleheader

Softball

• Loss vs. Ouachita Baptist in the Henderson State Tournament, 2-3, Feb. 23

• Loss vs. Arkansas-Monticello in the Henderson State Tournament, 3-11, Feb. 23

• Cancelled vs. Southern Arkansas in the Henderson State Tournament Feb. 24

• Cancelled vs. Henderson State in the Henderson State Tournament Feb. 24

• March 3 vs. Nebraska-Omaha in the MWSU Tournament at 1 p.m.

• March 3 vs. SW Minnesota in the MWSU Tournament at 5 p.m.

• March 4 vs. Fort Hays State in the MWSU Tournament at 11 a.m.

• March 4 vs. Augustana in the MWSU Tournament at 3 p.m.

• March 4 vs. Missouri Southern in the MWSU Tournament at 5 p.m.

Judy Shepard to Speak In October 1998, Judy and Dennis Shepard lost their 21-year-old son Matthew to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. Judy will visit Western and present “The Legacy of Matthew Shepard” at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Potter Hall theater. She will speak about what people can do as individuals and communities to make the world a more accepting place for everyone regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression. The event is free and open to the community. "The Laramie Project," the movie of Matthew's murder, will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 in Blum 223.

LeAlan Jones to Speak Western will host author LeAlan Jones at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 in Spratt Hall Kemper Recital Hall. Jones will speak on social justice issues. The event is free and open to the community. Jones is a freelance writer and journalist in Chicago. He began his career in 1993 at the age of 13 when he collaborated with his friend Lloyd Newman and radio producer David Issay to create Ghetto Life 101. This award-winning radio diary about growing up on Chicago’s South Side aired on National Public Radio.

Apply for Western Scholarships Students who wish to be considered for Western and affiliated scholarships for 2007-08 need to complete the following no later than March 1:

• Complete the 2007-08 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

• Complete the General Scholarship Application on-line at https://www-sec.missouriwestern.edu/admissions/app/curstu/Login.asp.

• Submit any letters of reference or other required information online.

• Complete FAFSA Verification (if applicable) no later than disbursement of the award.

First Thursday Noontime Concert Series Western will co-sponsor the First Thursday Downtown Noontime Concert Series at 12:10 p.m. March 1 at the First Presbyterian Church, 301 N. 7^th St. The concert will feature the Western Symphonic Winds Ensemble conducted by Jeff Hinton, assistant professor of music and director of bands. The community is invited to bring lunch and eat while listening to the performance in the sanctuary of the church. The event will last approximately 35 minutes, and there will be an opportunity to meet the performers after the concert. A minimum donation of $3 per person is suggested in order to meet the expenses and provide continuation of the series. 

Command Spanish ® Courses in Northland The Western Institute is offering a Command Spanish® course at its Kansas City Northland location. Spanish for Human Resource Personnel is from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays from March 20-April 17. Cost is $175 and includes a book.  Classes will be held at Tuileries Plaza, 6336 N. Lucerne Ave., Kansas City, Mo. Hwy I-29 Exit 5 at NW 64^th St. Enroll at least one week prior to the beginning of the course. For more information, contact Peggy Ellis at 4116 or ellisp. To enroll in the class, call 4100.

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Monday, February 26

• Senate meeting at 5 p.m. in Blum 220

• AMA selling St. Patrick's Day t-shirts from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Blum Union and Popplewell Hall

• LeAlan Jones presentation at 7 p.m. in Spratt Hall Kemper Recital Hall

• Blood Drive sponsored by the Student Nurses Association from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Blum Union lobby

Tuesday, February 27

• Residence Council meeting at 7 p.m. in Commons building

• Interfraternity Council meeting at 7 p.m.

• OSSW meeting at 4:30 p.m. in Popplewell 201

• "Laramie Project" showing at 7 p.m. in Blum 223

• AMA selling St. Patrick's Day t-shirts from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Blum Union and Popplewell Hall

• "Cilantro y perejil" foreign film series at 6:30 p.m. in Hearnes 102

Wednesday, February 28

• CAB meeting at 4 p.m. in Junior College Room

• Chinese New Year Celebration lunch in cafeteria

• AMA selling St. Patrick's Day t-shirts from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Blum Union and Popplewell Hall

• Judy Shepard's "The Legacy of Matthew Shepard" at 7 p.m. in Potter Hall theater

Thursday, March 1

• The Ebony Collegians meeting at 5 p.m. in the Junior College Room

• Student Court meeting at 5 p.m. in the President's Dining Room

• Faculty panel on war in Iraq at 1 p.m. in Spratt 205

• First Thursday Noontime Concert Series at 12:10 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 301 N. 7^th St.

• Scholarship Application Deadline

• Western and Willie's... a Hoopin' good Time! Alumni Social, 2-11 p.m. at Willie's Pub in Kansas City, Mo.

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For Sale: Two tickets to a George Strait concert at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. Concert is at 7:30 p.m. March 2.  Tickets are in section 215 R. $143. Call 816-304-0938 for more information.

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