Week of March 23 - 29, 2009

Week of March 23 - 29, 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:

Western Celebrates Education Accreditation

Western Hosts Women's Leadership Summit

Western Hosts First Thursday Noontime Concert Series

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 Tower Topics to submit any story or photo ideas.

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:
Jennifer Kohler

Staff Adviser:
Kent Heier

Correspondents Networking Luncheon

Representatives from about 30 departments across campus attended the Correspondents Network Luncheon March 19. The correspondents serve as liaisons between the departments and the office of public relations and marketing, letting PRMA know about news and happenings. Three correspondents were recognized for outstanding contributions. Pictured, from left to right, are Roger Swafford, director of public relations and marketing; Dr. Evelyn Brooks, professor of nursing; Barb Harris, administrative assistant in criminal justice and legal studies; Sandy Rogers, student development program coordinator; and Kent Heier, assistant director of public relations and marketing. Evelyn, Barb and Sandy have done a tremendous job of letting PRMA know about what's going on in a timely fashion, so PRMA can in turn let the public know.

Western Celebrates Education Accreditation

Western will celebrate its continuing accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and continuing program approval from the Missouri State Board of Education during a reception at 4 p.m. March 25 in Blum Student Union, rooms 222-223. The public is invited.

“National accreditation and state approval confirms that our teacher education programs meet the highest standards,” said Dr. Cindy Heider, assistant vice president for academic and student affairs. “Secondary and elementary schools that hire our alumni can be assured that they have learned and practiced what it takes to be an effective teacher.”

In the past decade, NCATE accreditation has moved from a focus on curriculum and what teacher candidates were offered to a data-driven performance-based system that measures what candidates know and are able to do. NCATE standards require teacher candidates to have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter they plan to teach as well as the skills necessary to convey that knowledge so that students learn. Education programs are required to assess candidate competence throughout the program.

“Western’s program is a perfect blend of theory and practice,” said Dr. Richard Porr, associate professor and chair of the education department. “We believe that teachers learn to teach by teaching, so we provide our students with multiple opportunities to participate in elementary and secondary school classrooms, giving them the chance to practice what they learn in class.”

Western has offered teacher education since becoming a four-year institution in 1969, and has been accredited by NCATE since 1973.

“Earning national accreditation and state approval of our teacher education program is a thorough process, involving most of our academic departments as well as our partners in elementary and secondary schools throughout the region,” said Dr. Joseph Bragin, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. “Congratulations to Richard and the many people who’ve worked so hard on this to earn this recognition.”

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Visit Day

Admissions had an Open House and Griffon Preview day March 20 for prospective and admitted students. Over 180 students and about 200 parents/guests checked in that morning for the visit and more were expected to show up during the afternoon for departmental open houses. It was by far the largest visit day Western has ever seen, and 90 percent of the students are already admitted to the University. The day was designed to allow students and parents to tour campus in the morning and then visit various campus departments in the afternoon.

Western Hosts Women's Leadership Summit

The Center for Multicultural Education at Western will present the third annual Global Women’s Leadership Summit March 27-28. The theme for the summit is “Ending Violence Against Women.” The cost for the summit is $10 for students and $20 for all others.

The summit opens at 4 p.m. Friday with registration, a women’s art gallery and an info fair featuring local vendors and their products in the Blum Union Lobby. A Wall of Pledges to End Violence Against Women will also be set up.

Angela Rose, a national leader in the fields of sexual assault and violence prevention, will give the keynote address at the opening banquet, starting at 6 p.m. Friday in Spratt Hall 214. Rose’s address is titled “Shattering the Silence of Sexual Violence.”

The second day of the summit begins with a continental breakfast in Spratt Hall 214 at 8 a.m. and a welcoming address by Jean Brown ’73, CEO of the St. Joseph YWCA. Educational sessions will be presented throughout the day by community leaders, Western faculty and students. Subjects include the status of women abroad, domestic violence, dating and positive life skills. Lunch will be served at noon. A self-defense workshop will be presented at 3:30, followed by closing remarks.

A registration form is available at www.missouriwestern.edu/cme. Tickets can also be purchased in the Center for Multicultural Education, Blum Student Union room 210. Call 4150 for more information.

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Remington Technology

Jesse Rice of Classroom Services demonstrates the new presentation equipment that will be installed in Remington and Agenstein Halls. A state-of-the-art digital document camera that operates through the computer is a great upgrade from the current document cameras. It features a flexible camera head, still shots and video, including audio, so the lecture can be recorded. Additionally, the monitor in each room will be an interactive monitor, where the professor can write on the computer screen and it will show up on the projector screen. There is also the capability of a split screen, where the professor can display something from both the document camera and the computer on each half of the projector screen, or two computer images side by side.

Western Hosts First Thursday Noontime Concert Series

The Western department of music and the First Presbyterian Church will present “Sounds of the Season” for the final First Thursday Noontime Concert Series at 12:10 p.m. April 2 at the First Presbyterian Church, 301 N. 7^th St.

“Sounds of the Season,” featuring music for Lent, Holy Week and Easter, will be presented by the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary and Bell Choirs. The Sanctuary Choir is directed by Jerry L. Anderson and the Bell Choir directed by Judy Long. The program will include the singing of hymns by the audience and choir and vocal solos by Martha Chesney, soprano, and Steve Mahl, baritone, sophomore of Troy, Mo.

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.

For more information, contact the first Presbyterian Church office at 816-232-3358, the Western music department at 4420 or Anderson, who is the Noontime Concerts coordinator, at 816-232-3358.

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ALEKS

R.E. Moore, director of developmental math, invited Denise Lujan, University of Texas - El Paso, to Western to observe how Western's ALEKS program works. Lujan is one of many people that Moore has invited to Western to look at the system.

Tower Sports

Baseball

Loss vs. University of Nebraska-Omaha, 4-6, March 18
Win vs. University of Nebraska-Omaha, 2-1, March 18
Win vs. Upper Iowa University, 8-1, March 21
Win vs. Upper Iowa University, 6-1, March 21
Win vs. Upper Iowa University, 7-3, March 22
Win vs. Upper Iowa University, 6-3, March 22

March 27 at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo., at 3 p.m.
March 28 at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo., at 1 p.m. Doubleheader.
March 29 at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo., at 1 p.m.

Softball

Win vs. Drury University, 1-0, March 17
Win vs. Drury University, 2-0, March 17
Win vs. Northwest Missouri State, 6-0, March 19
Win vs. Northwest Missouri State, 6-5, March 19
Win vs. Quincy University, 3-1, March 21
Win vs. Wayne State (Neb.), 4-2, March 21
Win vs. Concordia St. Paul, 4-2, March 22
Win vs. Upper Iowa University, 4-2, March 22

March 24 vs. Missouri S&T at 4 p.m. Doubleheader.
March 27 at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., at 2 p.m. Doubleheader.
March 28 at Emporia State in Emporia, Kan., at 12 p.m. Doubleheader.

Tennis

Loss vs. Northwest Missouri State, 0-9, March 18
Loss vs. Fort Hays State, 4-5, March 20

March 27 vs. Nebraska-Omaha at 4 p.m.
March 27 vs. University of South Dakota at 8 p.m.
March 28 vs. Emporia State at 3 p.m.

Men's Golf

March 23-24 at Pasta House Drury Invitational in Springfield, Mo.
March 29-30 at MWSU Invitational at the Moila Country Club

Women's Golf

March 29-30 at MWSU Invitational at the Moila Country Club

Important Registration News Advisement for the summer and fall 2009 terms begin March 25. If you do not know who your advisor is please check on My Western self-service page under Student & Financial Aid, Student Records, View Student Information. Contact this individual or the department concerning sign-up opportunities for advisement.

Pancake Dinner Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority is having an all you can eat pancake dinner fundraiser from 5-7 p.m. March 26th at Wyatt Park Baptist Church, 2902 Leonard Road. Cost is $7.00 a ticket. Buy your tickets from any Sigma Sigma Sigma member or at the door!

Double Take Pianists David Allen Edwards and Dr. Matthew Edwards will present “Double Take,” a program of works for two pianos, at 7:30 p.m. March 27 in the Potter Hall Theater. The recital is free and open to the public. Dr. Matthew Edwards is associate professor of music and director of keyboard studies at Western. He and his brother will perform works by Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Franck, Copland, Scriabin and Prokofiev.

Leadership Lexicon The Leadership Lexicon has been redone so that every year a new, specific leadership trait is covered. There are no lectures this year and we are focusing on team building. It will be a fun time for current leaders as well as new aspiring leaders to come participate. The event starts at 10 a.m. March 29. Sign up in the Center for Student Engagement in Blum Union 207 or email slassen@missouriwestern.edu for an application.

International Photo Contest The Center for Multicultural Education is sponsoring a photo contest and art Expo. The theme this year is "Capture the Spirit of Culture." The contest rules and regulations are available in the Center for Multicultural Education, Blum 210 or you can email cme@missouriwestern.edu to request forms.

FAFSA Reminder Help us help you – make sure your financial aid application is submitted by April 1. Fifty-three percent of students who did not complete their FAFSA before April 1 last year would have qualified for the Access Missouri grant. That could be $2,150 that you did not need to borrow to pay for school. See Financial Aid if you need assistance – Eder Hall Room 103. Visit www.fafsa.gov to fill our your FAFSA.

Up 'til Dawn Up 'til Dawn is a student-led program hosted on college campuses throughout the country. You can be a part of our campus' effort to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the internationally-known center for research and treatment of catastrophic childhood diseases. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org. Want to get involved? There will be a team informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. March 30 in the Hoff Community Room, Blum Union room 218. Contact Lolita Murphy at lmurphy or call the CSE at 4159 for more information. Up 'til Dawn Awareness week is April 13-17.

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Monday, March 23

Griffon Luncheon from 12-1 p.m. in the upstairs banquet room at La Dolce Vita at 36th Street Restaurant
Senate meeting at 5 p.m. in Blum 220

Tuesday, March 24

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

Wednesday, March 25

Advisement for the summer and fall 2009 terms begins
Western Activities Council meeting at 4 p.m. in Blum 223

Thursday, March 26

Sigma Sigma Sigma Pancake Dinner from 5-7 p.m. at Wyatt Park Baptist Church, 2902 Leonard Road. Cost is $7.00 a ticket.

Friday, March 27

Last day to submit request for proposals for funding from the MWSU Foundation for special projects to be awarded for academic year 2009-2010
Women's Summit banquet from 6-8 p.m. in Spratt 214
"Double Take" piano recital at 7:30 p.m. in Potter Hall Theater

Saturday, March 28

Women's Summit exhibits and presentations from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 29

Last day to view Senior Art Exhibit in Potter Hall Gallery
Leadership Lexicon beginning at 10 a.m. in Blum Union

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For Sale: NASCAR Tickets! April 2009, Kansas Speedway, Craftsman Truck and Indy Car Series, 4 tickets each race. Half price - $25 per ticket. Email bjm1465@missouriwestern.edu for more information.

For Sale: Tickets to the Lions Pancake Days at the Army National Guard Building, Faraon and Woodbine. Cost is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children under $10. Tickets cost $6 at the door. All you can eat pancakes and more from 7 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. March 27-28 and 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. March 29. Contact Mary Dean at 4269 or dean@missouriwestern.edu for more information.

For Sale: KAWASAKI 2007 Ninja 250, blue, 2,500 miles, garaged, jacket and helmet included, $2,700. Call 816-671-9338 after 5 p.m. or email saffell@missouriwestern.edu for more information.

Needed: The Library is looking for a medium-size bookcase (3-4' wide x 4x5' high), metal or wood, for a project to be set up in the Commons Building. If any department can help, please notify Judy Noland at judnol or 4554.

Wanted: Your want ads!

You are welcome to submit ads to the Western ADvantage each week.

To be fair to everyone, please follow these guidelines for submission. Only ads from campus constituents are accepted.

Ads for non-campus organizations or professional businesses will not be printed.
Ads can cover items wanted, items to be sold, garage sales, etc.
Ads may be edited for length, style or content. The staff reserves the right to evaluate the appropriateness of ads for inclusion.
Ads received by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday will be included in that Monday's publication. Ads received after the deadline will be included in the next edition.
Ads will automatically run for a two-week period. Extensions are granted by resubmitting the ad.
Ads will only be accepted by email, fax and campus mail. Please send submissions by email to publicrelations@missouriwestern.edu ; to fax 4414 or by mail to Tower Topics, University Advancement, Leah Spratt Hall, Room 106.

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