Week of April 5 - 11, 2004

Week of April 5 - 11, 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:

Jan Aspelund Named Human Resources Director

Ambassadors Host Night at the Ritz

Specialty Courses Offered in May

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 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

Foreign Language Day

One of the many activities of Foreign Language Day April 1 was ethnic dancing lessons. Above left, Western student Alex Gris and alumna Gloria Norris demonstrate how to Salsa dance. Right, Gris teaches high school students, participating in Foreign Language Day, how to Salsa. Photos by Paula White

Jan Aspelund Named Human Resources Director

On March 22, Jan Aspelund joined the Western community as the new human resources director.

“I am really excited about being here,” Aspelund said. “Missouri Western was an organizational structure I found attractive: one of moderate size, a solid foundation and an excellent reputation in the area. During the interview process, the goals and objectives presented to me made it an attractive position to move into, where the organization could grow and develop.”

Aspelund has over 15 years of experience in both the private and public sector of human resources management. She most recently worked as the director of human resources for Saint Leo University, Fla.

“My philosophy on human resources is that it is an advisory role for an organization where you work with all members of the college community to help them understand all areas of human resources.”

Aspelund earned a bachelor of arts degree from Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, and a master of business administration in marketing from Golden Gate University, San Francisco. She was born in Boston and spent many of her childhood years in St. Louis. She has lived all over the nation, including 20 years in San Francisco.

“I very much like the St. Joseph community and from a family aspect, I think it is a wonderful place to have a family. It is a good environment for (my son), both educationally and for him to learn and understand the true meaning of community.”

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Musical Entertainment

Students in the Nelle Blum Student Union were recently treated to musical entertainment. Musicians included Western alum Aaron Williams, left, playing the marimba (photo by Paula White), musical group Patchouli, center, and freshman Lauren Morehead, vocals and violin, right. Photos by Tracy Johnson

Ambassadors Host Night at the Ritz

The Western Ambassadors will host the 10th annual Night at the Ritz fund-raiser April 30 at the St. Joseph Ramada Inn. The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. This year’s event is the "Caribbean Cruise Night at the Ritz," and entertainment will be provided by the Western Chamber Singers and the Western Steel Drum Band. All proceeds from the event provide scholarships for nontraditional students at Western.

Individuals or businesses may sponsor a table of eight for $500, which also includes recognition on the program and at the dinner. Individual tickets are $30 per person.

"We really appreciate the support of our sponsors and individuals. Students who have received the Ambassadors scholarships in the past often tell me how much the scholarships mean to them," said Ellen Smither, coordinator of the nontraditional student center and liaison for the Ambassadors. "Many of them say they could not have earned a college degree without our financial assistance."

To make reservations or to sponsor a table, call (816) 271-5646 by April 23.

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Searching for a Career

Senior speech communication major Maggie Franz, left, discusses career opportunities with a representative from the Boy Scouts of America. Right: Sophomore public relations major LeAnne Pierce promotes the Walt Disney World college program at a recent career fair held on campus.

Specialty Courses Offered in May

The office of continuing education will hold two upcoming specialty courses in May: Certified User Mapping Global Positioning Systems (GPS) workshop and a course on human skeletal remains.

There will be two GPS workshops May 19-21 and May 25-27 from 8 a.m.– 5 p.m. daily. Because each workshop is limited to 10 participants and fills quickly, early registration is suggested. The workshops are open to the public.

Participants of the workshop will use commercial mapping-grade GPS receiver systems. The workshop will cover basic concepts of the GPS system, as well as basic operation of data loggers, receivers and antennas. The workshop will be a mix of lectures, demonstrations, hands-on computer activities and field exercises with GPS equipment and software.

Anyone interested in learning how to search, recover and identify human skeletal remains may now enroll in a course May 24-29. The class will meet 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and may be taken for three graduate or undergraduate credit hours as well as for noncredit. Enrollment is limited to 36 participants.

The course will consist of lectures, labs and field experiences. Lecture topics include recovery techniques, use of forensic odontology and radiology, map reading, scene documentation, evidence collection and basic methods of skeletal identification. A field practicum for gravesite recovery, along with a surface recovery and identification of bones, will be provided.

For more information or to enroll in either of these courses, call the continuing education office at (816) 271-4100.

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Discover Gold t-shirts are available for sale for $5 in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building, room 106. A variety of sizes are available.
The 25th annual Criminal Justice Day is April 7 from 8:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m in the Nelle Blum Student Union Forrest Hoff Room, 218. Representatives from local, county, state and federal agencies will be present, providing career information to students. The day will include a presentation by Paul Kavanaugh entitled, "Discovering Gold: A Legal Career," at 2 p.m. in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building, Kemper Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the community. For more information, contact Barb Harris at (816) 271-4293.
Dr. Joseph Friedman, a 1939 graduate of St. Joseph Junior College, will present a lecture on the Holocaust at 7 p.m. April 7 in the Frank Popplewell Administration and Classroom Building, room 304. Dr. Friedman will share his personal experiences as a member of military personnel during World War II. In 1981, Dr. Friedman received a certificate from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council for valiant service during the liberation by allied forces of Nazi concentration camps. At the request of the Holocaust Museum Council, his activities were recorded and became part of the oral history archives of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Campus Activities Board (CAB) is sponsoring the event. For more information, contact Chad Elifrits at 4153 or the CAB office at 4410.
Phi Epsilon Kappa and the Ebony Collegians are hosting a three-on-three basketball tournament for any Western students April 9 in the M.O. Looney Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building Arena. Registration and warm-up begins at 6 p.m., with the tournament following at 7 p.m. The cost is $10 per person to participate. There will be raffles, concessions and a disc jockey. Prizes will be awarded to the top team. For more information, email jvw5838@missouriwestern.edu.
The campus community is invited to submit nominations of professional and support staff employees who have made outstanding contributions to Western through the performance of their duties. Support staff and professional staff employees will receive awards in the form of a plaque and monetary recognition. The criteria for receiving the award includes overall job performance, relationship with college constituencies, commitment to a student-centered focus in providing service, participation in college and community activities, exceptional contribution to the mission of Western. To nominate an individual, submit a letter to the president's office in the Frank Popplewell Classroom and Administration Building or email Dr. James Scanlon, Western president, at scanlon@missouriwestern.edu by April 16. A program for the entire college community to present the faculty and staff awards will be held at 3 p.m. April 28.
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.

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Monday, April 5

Pre-registration begins
Academic Profile, 5-6:30 p.m., LRC 102
Poetry Reading and Irish Presentation, 6:30 p.m., Leah Spratt Hall, Kemper Recital Hall
Educational Ecological Citizens Lecture, 7:30 p.m., LRC 102
Softball vs. Park, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, April 6

Kappa Mu Epsilon National Mathematics Honors Society Book Sale, SM first floor lobby
Baseball vs. Emporia State, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, April 7

Kappa Mu Epsilon National Mathematics Honors Society Book Sale, SM first floor lobby
Criminal Justice Day, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., SU 218
Education Career Fair - bring resumes, 1 - 4 p.m., PE Arena,
"It's Tournament Time!" computer science, mathematics and physics department colloquium, 3:30 - 4:20 p.m., SM 109
Conservation Lecture, 4 p.m., Missouri Department of Conservation Building conference room
Exit Exams, 5 - 8 p.m., JGM 201, 205 and 208
Dr. Joseph Friedman Holocaust lecture, 7 p.m., A304
Softball at Emporia State, 3 p.m.
Tennis at Concordia, 3 p.m.

Friday, April 9

Spring disbursement for loans, second disbursement
Three-on-Three Tournament, 6 p.m., PE Arena
Tennis vs. Truman, 3 p.m.
Baseball vs. Missouri Southern, 6 p.m.
Softball at UNO Invitational

Saturday, April 10

Academic Profile, 9 - 10:30 a.m., LRC 102
Baseball vs. Missouri Southern, 1 p.m.
Softball at UNO Invitational

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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, Institutional Advancement, Leah Spratt Hall, Room 106.

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