Week of  March 24-30, 2008

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:

Griffon Alert Now Available

Wildlife Student Chapter Honored

Western Helps in Sponsoring Research Symposium

Professional Studies Honors Convocation

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.

Griffon Alert Now Available

Recently the Western Board of Governors approved an investment in campus safety and security when they authorized a new emergency notification system known as Griffon Alert. The first part of that notification system, text messaging, is now ready to be implemented.

Emergency messages will be sent to the cell phones and e-mail addresses of students, faculty and staff who choose to subscribe to the service. Griffon Alert will only be used to contact the campus community in the event of an emergency. There are no fees for the service other than the text messaging fees charged by your mobile phone provider.

Students and employees may now sign up for this service by visiting www.missouriwestern.edu/griffonalert. To create an account, follow the instructions and use your Western e-mail user name and password. Have your cell phone handy – a verification text message will be sent to complete the registration process. You can also choose to sign up for e-mail alerts only. You can list up to two cell phone numbers and two e-mail addresses on your Griffon Alert account.

Future components of the Griffon Alert emergency notification system include indoor emergency beacons with audio and visual alarms, LCD text displays and text-to-voice annunciators; an outdoor public address system; and a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone system, using the Ethernet connection in each classroom to provide two-way communication in the event of an emergency. The comprehensive system meets the recommendation of Gov. Matt Blunt’s Campus Security Task Force that colleges and universities use the best available technology to reach all stakeholders quickly. Installation on these components is expected to begin later this spring with completion scheduled before the fall semester.

If you have any questions about the emergency notification system, please e-mail griffonalert@missouriwestern.edu.

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Wildlife Student Chapter Honored

The Western chapter of The Wildlife Society was recently named student chapter of the year by the Society’s North Central Section.

Student chapters are judged on their accomplishments over a two-year period in several categories, including workshop development, professional development, contributions to wildlife management, community service and natural resource education. Western’s application detailed numerous chapter activities, including many cooperative conservation projects with state and federal wildlife agencies.

 Those activities help students develop skills they’ll use in natural resource management careers. “I’ve been working on my résumé and I realized that most of my relevant experience came through The Wildlife Society,” said Brooke Hodge, senior wildlife and conservation management major from Kansas City, Mo., and vice president of the chapter.

Many chapter activities allow students to work with professionals in the field, Hodge said, including a dove wing survey at the Pony Express Lake Conservation Area in DeKalb County; work days and deer surveys at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Holt County; and the school’s first wildland fire training course coordinated by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The North Central Section includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, with a total of 22 student chapters. “This section includes some of the largest and oldest student chapters at some of the largest natural resources management schools in the country,” said associate professor of biology Dr. Cary Chevalier, the chapter’s faculty adviser. “To win chapter of the year honors speaks very highly of the quality of our students and the hard work they do.” Western also won the award in 2004.

“Western has a statewide mission of applied learning,” said Dr. Joseph Bragin, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. “The opportunity for members of The Wildlife Society to work with professionals in the field is a perfect example of students taking knowledge gained in the classroom and applying it in real-world settings.”

For more information about The Wildlife Society, contact Dr. Chevalier at 4252 or cchev@missouriwestern.edu.  

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Western Helps in Sponsoring Research Symposium

Western will host a nursing research symposium from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 27 at the Fulkerson Center.

Dr. Jean Watson will be the guest speaker at the Greater Kansas City Nurse Educator Advocates for Undergraduate Scholarship (NEAUS) Regional Undergraduate Research Symposium. Dr. Watson is a distinguished professor of nursing and holds an endowed chair in caring science at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. “Dr. Watson is recognized throughout the world for her work on the philosophy and theory of human caring,” said Dr. Stephanie Corder, assistant professor of nursing. “We’re fortunate to have someone of her caliber keynote the first of what we plan to be an annual symposium.” She will speak on the art and science of caring in nursing.

Research presentations will follow Dr. Watson’s keynote address and a lunch. “This is an opportunity for undergraduate nursing students in the region to share their work with their fellow students, faculty from other nursing schools and professional nurses,” said Dr. Corder. Research subjects include evaluating outcomes for patient care, understanding patient perspectives and addressing the nation’s nursing shortage. Dr. Watson will comment on the student presentations then conclude the symposium with remarks on the future direction of nursing research.

The symposium is sponsored by NEAUS, the Western department of nursing, the Co-Curricular Events Committee, the Omicron Nu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society and Heartland Regional Medical Center.

For more information call the nursing department at 4415.

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Professional Studies Honors Convocation

The College of Professional Studies at Western will hold its annual Honors Convocation at 2 p.m. April 6 in Potter Hall Theater. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony.

This annual event honors students who have qualified for scholastic key and outstanding graduate awards. Recipients of scholastic keys must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 for freshmen, 3.8 for sophomores and a 3.75 for juniors and seniors. Outstanding graduate awards are for seniors who satisfy specific criteria set by each department.

Jill Miller, a Western alumna and professor of criminal justice, will be the keynote speaker.

The College of Professional Studies is comprised of the following academic departments:  business; criminal justice and legal studies; education; engineering technology; health, physical education and recreation; military science; and nursing.

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Tower Sports

Baseball

• Loss vs. Arkansas Tech University, 0-3, March 10

• Win vs. Arkansas Tech University, 4-2, March 10

• Loss vs. Harding University, 1-2, March 11

• Loss vs. Harding University, 3-9, March 11

• Loss vs. Fort Hays State, 5-6, March 14

• Win vs. Fort Hays State, 5-0, March 15

• Win vs. Fort Hays State, 14-4, March 15

• Win vs. Fort Hays State, 13-6, March 16

• Loss vs. Emporia State, 3-8, March 21

• Loss vs. Emporia State, 7-10, March 21

• Loss vs. Emporia State, 5-6, March 22

• Loss vs. Emporia State, 8-14, March 22

• March 28 at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., at 3 p.m.

• March 29 at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., at 1 p.m. Doubleheader

• March 30 at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., at 12 p.m.

Softball

• Win vs. University of South Dakota, 4-0, March 10

• Loss vs. Augustana College, 6-7, March 10

• Loss vs. North Dakota, 5-7, March 15

• Win vs. North Dakota, 6-3, March 16

• Win vs. Winona State, 6-1, March 16

• Loss vs. Winona State, 0-9, March 16

• Win vs. Northwest Missouri State, 5-4, March 19

• Loss vs. Northwest Missouri State, 0-1, March 19

• Loss vs. University of Mary, 3-4, March 20

• Win vs. Concordia St. Paul, 4-3, March 20

• Win vs. Minnesota State - Mankato, 4-1, March 21

• Win vs. Upper Iowa, 9-0, March 22

• Win vs. Wayne State College, 3-1, March 22

• March 25 at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb., at 2 p.m. Doubleheader

• March 27 vs. University of Central Missouri at 4 p.m. Doubleheader

• March 29 vs. Wayne State College in Omaha, Neb., at the UNO Softball Classic at 11 a.m.

• March 29 vs. Augustana College in Omaha, Neb., at the UNO Softball Classic at 1 p.m.

• March 30 vs. Southwest Minnesota State in Omaha, Neb., at the UNO Softball Classic at 9 a.m.

• March 30 vs. Minnesota State - Mankato in Omaha, Neb., at the UNO Softball Classic at 1 p.m.

• March 30 vs. University of Nebraksa - Omaha in Omaha, Neb., at the UNO Softball Classic at 3 p.m.

Tennis

• Loss vs. Fort Hays State, 3-6, March 15

• Loss vs. Northwest Missouri State, 0-9, March 19

• March 24 at Johnson County Community College in Kansas City, Mo., at 2:30 p.m.

• March 26 at Emporia State in Emporia, Kan., at 2:30 p.m.

• March 28 vs. Northeastern State University at 3 p.m.

• March 29 at Nebraska-Omaha in Omaha, Neb., at 6 p.m.

Appreciation Dinner The Board of Directors of the Western Foundation will host an appreciation dinner entitled, “A Fountain of Thanks,” at 6:30 p.m. April 8 in the Fulkerson Center. Dr. James Scanlon, Western’s president, will provide the keynote address regarding major initiatives of the university. Members of the Western League for Excellence and the Clock Tower Society are invited as the board of directors’ guests. All other reservations are $20 per person. For more information call 5670.

Important Registration News Advisement for the summer and fall 2008 terms begin March 26. Registration begins at 7 a.m. on each scheduled date. The following is the schedule according to class status:

• Seniors (90+ hours) - begins March 31

• Juniors (60-89 hours) - begins April 3

• Sophomores (30-59 hours) - begins April 7

• Freshman (0-29 hours) - begins April 9

If you have any questions please call the Registrar's Office at 271-4211

New Endowed Scholarship Dr. Elizabeth Latosi-Sawin, professor of English at Western, and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Mary Ann (Latosi) Jernigan USAF (Ret.) have donated an endowed scholarship to Western in memory of their parents. The John A. and Gertrude F. Latosi Nursing Scholarship will be given to one nursing student entering his or her third semester in the nursing program who has maintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher in nursing courses.

Planetarium Series The Western Planetarium will hold its spring series with shows entitled “More Than Meets the Eye,” “Lewis and Clark” and “Hubble Vision.” The dates are as follows:

• March 25: “More Than Meets the Eye”

• March 31: “Lewis and Clark”

• April 1: “Hubble Vision”

All shows begin at 7 p.m. and last approximately 50 minutes. The seating capacity is 40 people. Tickets are $3 each which must be paid at the door. Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling 4370 or 4288. The planetarium is located in Agenstein Hall, room 105.

Homecoming Steering Committee Applications Applications for the 2008 Homecoming Steering Committee are now available. Please stop by the CSE to pick one up.You must have a 2.3 cumulative GPA to join the committee, and you will earn points for your student organization in the overall Homecoming competition. If you have questions, you can contact one of the Homecoming Steering Committee Co-Chairs: Luke Herrington at lmh6331@missouriwestern.edu, and Scott Lassen at slassen@missouriwestern.edu. Call the CSE at 271-4159 for more information. Applications are due by 4 p.m. April 11.

Cheerleaders and Yell Leaders Needed Western needs Cheerleaders and Yell leaders for the 2008-2009 school year. Anyone interested please go the Missouri Western Athletics web page. Click Athletics info then cheer squad for more information.

Conference on Autism The Northwest Missouri conference on autism, "Connecting the Pieces in Northwest Missouri," will be held at Western April 5. This day-long event will provide information and support to families whose lives have been touched by the diagnosis of autism, as well as for the educators and other professionals who work with them. Registration fees are as follows: Professional $55, Adult $35, Student $15. If you would like to receive a brochure and registration form, contact Pam Schneeflock at pschneeflock@ptimpact.com. The Western office of disability services is proud to be a co-sponsor of this event.

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Monday, March 24

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

Tuesday, March 25

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

• Planetarium series "More Than Meets the Eye" at 7 p.m. in Agenstein 105

Wednesday, March 26

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

• Advisement begins

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