Week of March 29 - April 4, 2004

Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. 

Missouri Western State College, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200

Click any link for these stories:

Groundbreaking Held for Fulkerson Center

Professor of Irish Studies Visits Campus

Four Conservation Seminars Held in April

Tau Kappa Epsilon Raises Awareness and Funds for Homeless

Points of Pride

News Briefs

Calendar

Ads

Archives

The deadline for all entries is 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 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:
Jenny Pawlowski

Staff Advisers:
Kristy Hill and Diane Holtz

Groundbreaking Held for Fulkerson Center

Groundbreaking was held March 23 for the Fulkerson Center at Western, and construction began last week. The 12,000 square-foot structure is named for Marie Fulkerson and her late husband, Lyman Fulkerson.

"Mrs. Fulkerson is a generous supporter of the college. We are grateful for her gift," said Dr. James Roever, vice president for Institutional Advancement. "This center will greatly enhance the opportunities for workforce development and training in the region and will provide space to showcase the successes of college alumni."

In addition to the gift from Mrs. Fulkerson, 43 other donors contributed to the project, which was part of the "Our Promise" capital campaign. Special recognition will be attached to five rooms: the Logan Family Educational Resource and Assessment Lab, supported by the directors of the John Sublett Logan Foundation; the Kemper Room from the William T. Kemper Foundation; the MeadWesvaco Room; and a room in memory of Richard Austin Rochambeau, Sr. with a gift from the Leah Spratt Trust. A gift from Dr. Joe Friedman established the Alumni Room in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joseph (Joe) and Gladys Friedman and in honor of Joseph J. Droher.

The new center will include three large meeting rooms that can be opened, when needed, into one large area that will accommodate up to 500 individuals for large seminars or banquets. There will also be a special room to honor Western alumni.

As part of the Fulkerson Center construction, some renovation will occur in the east wing of the Spratt building to include breakout rooms and a training and assessment center. The training and assessment center personnel will offer local businesses computer training and job assessment. The east wing of the Spratt Building also includes alumni services offices and institutional advancement offices.

The Board of Regents approved a bid of $1,687,246 from E.L. Crawford Construction for the construction project in February, and work is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Ellison-Auxier Architects designed the building.

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Professor of Irish Studies Visits Campus

The center for multicultural education will host Dr. Eamonn Wall at 6:30 p.m. April 5 in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building, Kemper Recital Hall.

Dr. Wall will perform original poetry pieces and engage students in a discussion on Irish culture. There will be an opportunity for student open mic poetry following the performance and discussion. The event is free and open to the community.

Dr. Wall was born in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland. He holds a bachelor of arts from University College in Dublin, Ireland, and a master of arts from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Before entering his current position as the Jefferson Smurfit Professor of Irish Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, he was an associate professor of English at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and served as director of the Creighton Irish Summer School.

Published poetry works include "Dyckman-200^th Street" (1994), "Iron Mountain Road" (1997) and "The Crosses" (2000). He has also written several books of prose including his personal memoir, "From the Sen-e^' Cafe^' to the Black Hills" (2000).

For more information, contact the center for multicultural education at 4150 or cme@missouriwestern.edu.

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The biology department is hosting four natural resource conservation and management seminars in April. All presentations are co-sponsored by the student chapter of the Wildlife Society and will be held at 4 p.m. in the conference room of the Missouri Department of Conservation Building on campus. The speakers and topics are as follows:

• April 2—Cory Kudrna, refuge operations specialist at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, will speak on the role of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System in the conservation of modern wildlife resources.
• April 7—John Fleming, district forester for the northwest district of the Missouri Department of Conservation, will speak on the role of applied forest management in wildlife conservation and management in Missouri.
• April 14—Jeff Powelson, private land conservationist for the northwest district of the Missouri Department of Conservation, will speak on conservation issues and private land use in Missouri.
• April 21—Harold Kerns, wildlife biologist and fisheries district supervisor for the northwest district of the Missouri Department of Conservation, will speak on managing healthy fish populations in Missouri lakes and ponds.

For more information, contact the Western biology department at 4379.

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  Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity Raises Awareness and Funds for Homeless

Most people will never experience what it feels like to sleep in a box outside a grocery store, but for the sake of the homeless, the Xi-Eta chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity at Western is willing to find out.

Beginning at 10 a.m. April 5, the fraternity will sponsor their first-ever "Teke-In-A-Box" philanthropic event to raise money for area food distribution centers. Fraternity volunteers will live in makeshift cardboard homes outside the St. Joseph Hy-Vee grocery store for 48 hours. They will accept monetary donations as well as canned goods and other nonperishable food items. Radio station KKJO 105.5FM will broadcast from Hy-Vee in the afternoon on April 6.

The chapter has set a goal of $2,000 to be split between Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater St. Joseph and St. Joseph’s Open Door Food Kitchen. All canned food donations will be given to Second Harvest for distribution to homeless and low-income families in the community.

The total amount of donations will be announced on Western’s campus at approximately 1 p.m. April 7. Rachel Riggert, Second Harvest’s development and volunteer coordinator, will give a short presentation on the importance of giving back to the community as a young adult. "Without the help of volunteers like the TKEs, we could not carry out our mission to end hunger," Riggert said.

TKE members will also host a car wash on campus April 7 to raise additional funds. For more information, contact TKE president Jeff Brandhorst at jjb6219@missouriwestern.edu .

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• Geo Sipp, assistant professor of art, had a print selected for inclusion in the 17th Parkside National Small Print Exhibition at the University of Wisconsin.  Additionally, the University of Wisconsin acquired the print entitled "The Nocturnal Musings of John Negroponte" for their permanent collection. He also had a mixed media drawing/lithograph entitled "Jacob’s Waltz" displayed at the Dennis Morgan Gallery in Kansas City, Mo.
• Dr. Bill Eickhorst, professor of art, exhibited a mixed-media print in "Print Types" exhibition at the Dickenson State University in Dickenson, N.D.  He also exhibited two works in the Albrecht-Kemper Museum’s Annual Members Exhibit.  He won first prize in printmaking and second prize in the mixed-media category.
• James Estes, professor of art, had a ceramic sculpture titled "Mellow Skies" accepted into the "Topeka Competition 26" exhibition, a seven-state regional competition.
• Jeannie Harmon-Miller, associate professor of art, had her photograph "Hope" selected for inclusion in the seven-state juried exhibition "Photography Midwest" at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The show will run through March 2004.  This photography also received first place award in the photographic division in the Albrecht-Kemper Museum’s "30th Annual Membership Exhibition."
• Geo Sipp, assistant professor of art, had his drawing, "Sew He Popped A Cop At Chesme Church," win a Juror’s Award at the "America’s 2000:  Works on Paper Competition."  The work is exhibited at the Northwest Art Center at Minot State University in Minot, N.D.  The juror for the exhibit is Shelley Langdale, assistant curator of prints and drawings at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
• Dr. Cary Chevalier, associate professor of biology, taught 11 students in Introduction to Global Positioning Systems for Mapping and Navigation. Since its inception in fall 2002, over 150 people have completed this three-day course though the Division of Continuing Education.
• Dr. Pat McMurry, professor of economics, is chair of the United Way Housing Committee. The committee is comprised of a wide range of individuals from throughout the city who are interested in providing access quality housing to low-income families.
• Dr. Allison Sauls, associate professor of art, was the juror for an art exhibition "Nature’s Web" held by the Columbia Art League in Columbia, Mo.
• Dr. Michael Ottinger, assistant professor of physics, and Dr. Martin Johnson, dean of liberal arts and sciences, wrote a grant for $117,000 entitled "Fostering Science Learning Through Inquiry Based, Student-Centered Pedagogy and Learning Communities." The grant will provide 15-20 middle and high school teachers an opportunity for a two-week intensive seminar in the summer and four days in the spring and fall on interactive science and lab projects, as well as $1,500 worth of equipment for their schools.
• Dr. Nannette Wolford, associate professor of physical education, coordinated the Jump Rope for Heart with the help of Greg Kriewitz, instructor of physical education, and the Foundations of Physical Education class and other physical education majors. Over 400 elementary students from 13 schools raised $20,000 for the American Heart Association.
• Dr. Margie Miller, president-elect and Dr. Nannette Wolford attended the planning of the Missouri Alliance for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance convention in Tan-Tar-A at Lake of the Ozarks. Dr. Wolford is one of her assistants for the planning.
• Dr. Kenneth Lee, professor of mathematics, attended the National Meeting of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America in Phoenix, Ariz.
• Dr. Michael Ottinger, assistant professor of physics, chaired the Mid-America Regional Science and Engineering Fair, with the winners scheduled for nationals in Portland, Ore.
• Dr. Ben Caldwell, associate professor of chemistry, published an article entitled "A Curriculum Skills Matrix for Development and Assessment of Undergraduate Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory Programs" in the journal, "Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education."
• Dr. Allison Sauls, associate professor of art and chair of the department, has been asked by publisher Pearson Longman, New York, NY, to review a text entitled, " Barnet’s: A Short Guide To Writing About Art, seventh edition." She is also participating in a research study focusing on visual art and design in higher education.  The purpose of this research is to gather data about the role of artists as professors and design professionals as professors.  The survey is being done by the Lynch School of Education at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
• Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, presented his new research "The Choice of Distance Education: A Success Factor" at the Western Regional Science Association’s 43rd Annual Conference, held in Maui, Hawaii.  He also served as discussant and chair of another session entitled "Transportation and Movement Systems" at the same conference.
• Jan Norton, Center for Academic Support director, presented a 75-minute concurrent session,  "Survey Research: Turning Questions into Answers," at the recent conference of the National Association for Developmental Education.  In addition, she has been selected by the American Council of Developmental Education Associations to serve on a blue-ribbon commission which will study ways in which six professional organizations dedicated to developmental education and learning assistance can increase their collaborations and possibly even merge.
• Stephen Molloy, artist-in-residence faculty, performed the Hummel "Trumpet Concerto" with the St. Joseph Symphony, conducted by Dr. Deborah Freedman, associate professor of music. Ravel’s "Mother Goose Suite" and Mendelssohn’s "Scotch Symphony" were presented by the Symphony.
• Ellen Bottorff, pianist and vocal instructor, performed a Valentine season program of songs of love and romance, voice and piano, for the Noontime Series at First Presbyterian Church.
• Dr. Larry Lawson, associate professor of business and chair of the department, presented "Revenue Surrogates for Cost Centers with Discernable and Differentiable Products" at the corporate finance section of the Eastern Economics Association in Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Nannette Wolford, associate professor of physical education, presented information on learning communities to Highland Community College, Highland, Kan.
• Michele Linder, instructor of recreation management, presented "Real Leadership" and "Preparing Students: It’s a Team Effort" at the Missouri Parks and Recreation Conference in Columbia, Mo.
• Maureen Raffensperger, associate professor of biology, as she presented a half-day seminar, "Balance Dysfunction in the Elderly: Predicting and Preventing Falls" to over 40 area health care personnel. Four physical therapy assistant students assisted her.
• Kent Pickett, assistant professor of computer science, presented a colloquium entitled "The Use of 3-D Terrain Image Generation in Virtual Reality."
• Kappa Mu Epsilon initiated 12 students into the Mathematics Honor Society. Dr. Kevin Anderson, assistant professor of mathematics, was the speaker.

• Emily Kempf won a first place award at the Great Plains Students Psychology Convention at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo. for her poster, "Time’s Up: The Effects of Time Urgency on Dyadic Performance."  Her research was sponsored by Dr. Brian Cronk, professor of psychology, and Dr. Kelly Henry, assistant professor of psychology.
• Advanced photo student Kristin Wampler had her work selected in the "24th Annual College Photography Contest & Publication."  Over 31,000 photographs were entered from student photographers in the United States and Canada.  The contest was sponsored by Nikon and Serbin Communications.  This year’s judges were photo faculty from Brooks Institute of Photography, Art Center College of Design and Nikon USA.
• The following advanced photo students had work juried and accepted into the "20th Annual Five-State Photography Competition" in Hays, Kan.:  Sarah Fisher had three photographs accepted and won first prize and a cash award in the People category; Mary Sullwold had four photographs accepted and Matt Stauss had one photograph accepted.
• Liam Davis-Mead, who will be graduating Spring 2004 with majors in computer science and mathematics and a minor in physics, scored a "2" on the 2003 Putnam Exam. This places him in the top half of the test takers nationwide.
• Junior Bob Hughs has been selected as Western’s new student regent for a two-year term. He is a nontraditional student and is majoring in finance and economics.
• Four physical therapy assistant students joined their instructor, Maureen Raffensperger, associate professor of biology, as she presented a half-day seminar, "Balance Dysfunction in the Elderly: Predicting and Preventing Falls." Students Jessica Gifford, Nicole Salfrank, Becky Whitwer, and Kimberly Weaver assisted in the training for over 40 area health care personnel.
• Eight psychology students presented papers at the recent Great Plains Students’ Psychology Convention held at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo.  The students were Jill Nesslage, Joan Gillahan, Emily Kempf, Kasey Starr, Angela Mobley, Bryann Halloway, Joe Fehlker, and Natalie McQuinn.
• Physical education majors Greg Coleman and Ashlee Liebhart presented a wellness booth for the parents, teachers, and students at Pickett Elementary in St. Joseph.
• Health, physical education and recreation students Jennifer White, Lakeeia Hawkins, Katie Noyd, Valeria Brandt, Aviella Moore, Jaymi Blackmore, Meagan Smith, Cooper Allen, Joey Evans, Ryan Bray, and Eric McGrath organized a Resume Connection booth at the Missouri Parks and Recreation Conference in Columbia, Mo. They also organized nightly student socials for all students attending the conference with the help of University of Missouri – Columbia students.

• Eleven Continuing Education Extended Campus Travel and Study Abroad programs are planned for the Spring and Summer 2004 semesters.  The programs include England, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New York, San Salvador, Washington, DC, and Egypt.  Currently 167 participants are signed on to travel abroad, which is up from 106 last year.
• Continuing Education Extended Campus recorded 325 students enrolled in Distance Education courses for the Spring 2004 semester, up from 288 in Spring 2003.  There were 16 courses offered with three teleclasses and 13 Internet courses. They also recorded 643 students enrolled in high school college credit and high school distance education courses for Spring 2004.
• The Residence Council and Campus Activities Board co-sponsored a "Lock and Key" party. Approximately 50 students attended the party.
• Residential Life learning assistants sponsored a financial aid awareness program entitled "Come On and Take a Free Ride." Angie Beam, director of financial aid, presented how the financial aid system works and reminded students of upcoming deadlines. There were approximately 30 students in attendance.
• Resident assistants worked throughout the month of February with students to make Valentine cards for local nursing homes. They also sponsored a RAVE program that was attended by about 70 students. This was an alcohol awareness dance party with mocktails and music. The importance of being safe and the dangers of drinking around people you don’t know were stressed.
• Bobbie Delaney, the advisor to the Judicial Board and residence hall director, provided training for students who were selected to serve on the Residence Hall Judicial Board. The students will continue to meet weekly throughout the semester to hear judicial cases in the residence halls.
• Assistant Residential Life Director Kristi Schulte and Residence Hall Director Sarah Lloyd facilitated a staff in-service for resident assistants about diversity. A discussion was held on how diversity is represented on campus, stereotypes that students often have, and strategies for discussing diversity issues with students.
• Conferences hosted the annual Women’s Health Information Management Symposium. Approximately 150 women from St. Joseph and the surrounding areas listened to presentations on women’s health. There were five different sessions offered, as well as a luncheon with Deb Gaudlin, a humorist and motivational speaker.
• The Griffon Jr. Singers, co-sponsored by Continuing Education’s Midland Empire Community Arts and the St. Joseph School District, performed at five local elementary schools. This 95-member strong select children’s choral music group rehearses weekly on campus, and they regularly perform at many local civic events.
• The Western bands hosted the North Kansas City School District High School Honor Band for rehearsals and a concert. The event was coordinated by Jeff Hinton, assistant professor of music, and the band was conducted by Richard Yeager, assistant professor of music.
• The Western Symphonic Winds performed in tandem with the North Missouri Invitational Honor Band in Cameron, Mo. This is the very first meeting of this band of high school students from Cameron, Gallatin, Braymer and Maysville.

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• The Lions Club Scholarship is now considering both sight and hearing impaired students. The application deadline is May 1. For more information or to apply, contact the Financial Aid Office at 4361. 

• The nontraditional student club is collecting phone cards to send to soldiers who are in Walter Reed Hospital due to injuries sustained in Afghanistan and Iraq.  There is is a box in the Fred Eder Student Services and Classroom Building, room 202, where phone cards, along with thank you cards, are being collected. They will be mailed prior to Easter.  

• Foreign Language Day, sponsored by the English, foreign language and journalism department and Alpha Mu Gamma is April 1.  This year's theme is “Spring Brings Hope, So Does Understanding…Through Foreign Languages." The focus will be on German language and culture.  The events of the day are as follows:
       --10 a.m - noon: Registration, viewing of posters, food entries, SU Lounge
       --10:30 a.m.: German language spelling bee, beginner and advanced levels, SU 207
       --11:30 a.m.: Campus-wide, multi-lingual scavenger hunt
       --12:30 p.m.:  International Cuisine Contest, SU Lounge
       --12:30-1:30 p.m.: Ethnic dancing. Western students will demonstrate and provide dance instruction, SU Lounge
       --1 p.m.:  German poetry recitation, SU 207
       --1:30 p.m.: Viewing of student-produced foreign language commercial, Leah Spratt Hall, Room 101
       --2 p.m.:  Awards ceremony, Leah Spratt Hall, Room 101
       --5 p.m.: Euro-trivia Bowl, LRC 102
       --6:30 p.m.:  German film, "Männer," LRC 102

• In cooperation with the Western music department, the Noontime Concert Series will present “Sounds of the Season” 12:10 – 12:45 p.m. April 1 at First Presbyterian Church, 7^th & Jules. The 30-voice First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir, including Western students and faculty, will present Lenten, Holy Week and Easter music joined by a brass quintet with timpani. The audience is invited to bring lunch to eat while listening to the performances, and beverages will be provided. 

• The deadline for entering the Gold Standard contest is 4:30 p.m. April 1. Every entry with a different story is entered into the drawing for $100. To enter the contest, go online at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/discovergold and click on "Gold Standard Contest." Submit your stories of how you have discovered gold at Western. 

• Discover Gold t-shirts are available for sale for $5 in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building, room 106. A variety of sizes is available.

• In honor of Mathematics Awareness Month celebrated in April, the computer science, mathematics and physics department colloquium "It's Tournament Time!" is 3:30 - 4:20 p.m., April 7, in the Evan R. Agenstein Science & Math Building, room 109. Lecture will be given by Dr. Jeff Poet, assistant professor of math. Everyone is invited to attend, and all participants are asked to bring two different-colored writing implements. Refreshments will be served at 3 p.m. in the Agenstein Science & Math Building, room 118.

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Tuesday, March 30

• Faculty flute recital, 7:30 p.m., FA Theater

• Baseball vs. Lincoln, 3 p.m.

• Softball vs. Central Missouri State, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, March 31

• Summer and fall preregistration begins

• Coffee and Conversation, 9 a.m. - noon, SS/C 202

• Spring Career and Health Fair, 1 - 4 p.m., Leah Spratt Hall, Enright Room

• Baseball vs. Central Arkansas, 2 p.m.

Thursday, April 1

• Foreign Language Day, SU Lounge

• Noontime Concert Series, 12:10 - 12:45 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 7th and Jules

• Standard Gold Contest ends, 4:30 p.m.

• Summer financial aid deadline 

• FAFSA priority deadline

• Tennis at Emporia State, 3 p.m.

Friday, April 2

• Last day to withdraw from classes

• Conservation Lecture, 4 p.m., Missouri Department of Conservation Building conference room

• Phenomenal Women Cheesecake Banquet, 7 p.m., SU 222

• Softball vs. Southwest Baptist, 4 p.m.

• Baseball vs. Southwest Baptist, 6 p.m.

• Women's Golf at Truman Classic

Saturday, April 3

• GRE Test, 8 a.m. - noon, SM 308

• AIC Exit Exam, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., SS/C 208c

• Tennis at Southwest Baptist, 11 a.m.

• Softball vs. Missouri-Rolla, noon

• Baseball vs. Southwest Baptist, 1 p.m.

• Women's Golf at Truman Classic

Sunday, April 4

• School of Professional Studies Honors Convocation, 2 p.m., FA Theater

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