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Week of May 5-11, 2008 Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. |
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Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200 |
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Click any link for these stories: Governors Approve Bond Issue for Athletic Facilities Western Entrance Renamed for Rep. Ronald Reed 14th Annual 'Night at the Ritz' May 9 Western to Offer Forensics Course 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
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:
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Governors Approve Bond Issue for Athletic Facilities The Western Board of Governors April 24 authorized a $6.6 million bond issue to pay for improvements to athletic facilities. “The bond issue allows us to more quickly give students the next phase of what they said they wanted when they passed the Max Experience,” said Dave Williams, Western’s director of athletics. In March, 2006, students approved a fee of $5 per credit hour up to 12 hours per semester to fund facility improvements as well as programs to enhance student experiences at athletic events. The bond issue will pay for three major projects, including a new baseball stadium on the north side of campus. “Phil Welch Stadium is a great place to play ball,” said Williams of Western’s longtime, city-owned home. “But moving the games on campus will get the student body more involved in the baseball program.” Another major project involves improvements to Spratt Stadium, the home of Western’s football and women’s soccer teams. The money will be used to improve the seating areas and concourse on the home side of the stadium, replace the bleachers on the visitors’ side and construct a new building that will be used for visitors’ side restrooms and locker facilities for the soccer team. Finally, the bond issue will pay for the construction of the “Griff Zone,” a sports-themed student recreation area to be located on the first floor of the M.O. Looney Complex. “The Griff Zone will be a gathering spot for all students,” Williams said. It will also serve as a concession area during basketball and volleyball contests. The board’s action authorizes the university to issue the bonds when market conditions are favorable. The revenue bonds will generate at least $5.6 million for the construction projects, said Rick Gilmore, interim vice president for financial planning and administration. The annual debt service will be no more than $460,000, to be paid out of funds generated by the Max Experience fee, Gilmore said. |
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Western Entrance Renamed for Rep. Ronald Reed The Western Board of Governors April 24 approved a resolution to rename the central campus entry from Mitchell Avenue to Downs Drive as “Ronald S. Reed Jr. Way.” “As a state representative in the 1960s, Ron Reed was instrumental in the creation of what is today Missouri Western State University,” said Dr. James Scanlon, Western’s president. “It is appropriate that the university honor his work in this way.” Reed, a St. Joseph attorney, has written a brief history of the legislative struggle that led to Western’s creation. Reed was elected to the Missouri State House of Representatives in 1964 and made the creation of a four-year school in St. Joseph a top priority. The dream became a reality in 1969, when what had been created as St. Joseph Junior College in 1915 became a four-year college. If the city of St. Joseph approves the name change, Reed will become the third person for whom a university roadway is named. Downs Drive, the circular drive at the heart of campus, is named for longtime State Senator John Downs, who sponsored the legislation creating Missouri Western. James McCarthy Drive, the street connecting Downs Drive to Faraon Street, was named in honor of Dr. James McCarthy, who served 18 years as Western’s executive vice president and interim president before retiring in 2001. A ceremony dedicating Ronald S. Reed Jr. Way will be scheduled after the city gives its approval to the name change. |
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14th Annual 'Night at the Ritz' May 9 The 14th annual “Night at the Ritz,” sponsored by the Western Ambassadors, is May 9 at the Ramada Inn, 4016 Frederick Ave. This year’s theme is “Mystery Night at the Ritz,” and a mystery play, written by Peggy McDonald, a member of the Ambassador Board, will be performed. A reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The annual Night at the Ritz raises money for scholarships for nontraditional students at Western. The cost for individuals is $35 and sponsorship opportunities are available. “This academic year, we gave out more than $19,000 in scholarships to nontraditional students,” said Ellen Kisker, director of nontraditional services. “That wouldn’t be possible without the community’s generous support.” To reserve tickets call 4582 or 4280. |
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Western to Offer Forensics Course Western, along with the Southern Institute of Forensic Science, is once again offering the forensics course LAW 399-99, “Human Skeletal Remains: Search, Recovery and Identification for Law Enforcement and Death Investigators,” during the May 12-17 intersession. This five-day intensive course combines lectures and laboratory experiences, as well as various methods of locating and recovering human remains and the preliminary techniques in identifying the remains. The class meets from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, and the final exam will be Saturday. The course is open to students of all majors, as well as high school students and members of the community. Cost is $695 and there are no pre-requisites. Participants may receive three credit hours, and the course is also offered for P.O.S.T. certification for law enforcement officials. Board certified forensic anthropologists will teach the course. For more information, contact Darcy Groce, administrative assistant for criminal justice and legal studies, at 4207. |
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Baseball
Softball
Men's Golf
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Pass the Power Adult Literacy The Pass the Power Adult Literacy program moved to its new location at the Downtown University Center, 515 N. 6th Street. The program's new phone numbers are 271-4113 (general) and 271-4119 (program director). A small sign similar to the one for the Law Enforcement Academy has been added to the large Missouri Western sign in front on the center. Commencement Western will hold its commencement ceremonies at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. May 10 in the Looney Complex. President Dr. James Scanlon, who is retiring June 30, will be the featured speaker at each ceremony. Other events include an ROTC commissioning ceremony at 1 p.m. May 9 at the Blum Union, room 218, and a pinning ceremony for nursing graduates at 8:30 a.m. May 10 in the Fulkerson Center. Receptions will follow the commissioning and pinning. The Alumni Association will host a free reception for graduates and their families after each commencement ceremony on the lawn west of the Looney Complex. Retirement Reception The department of criminal justice and legal studies would like to invite everyone to celebrate Jill Miller's 30+ years of service to Western from 4-6 p.m. May 6 in the Junior College Room. Jill is retiring at the end of July from Western as a full professor. Her service to the campus and to the St. Joseph community leaves an important legacy worth commemorating. Student Engagement Office To support Western students as they prepare for final exams, the center for student engagement, Blum 207, will extend office hours during finals. The office will be open from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. May 5. There are computers for student use, study areas, a small group meeting area and large work tables for projects. Light refreshments will be served. All students are welcome. For questions, call 271-4159. Free Webinar The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State invites everyone to attend a free webinar from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. May 7 in Spratt 201on understanding the needs of Arabic speaking students. Attendees will hear from three institutions that envisioned and implemented collaborative training projects that prepared their faculty and staff to better understand and respond to the specific needs of Arabic speaking students. Presenters will share key lessons learned and project implementation strategies. Lions Club Pancake Days The 55th annual Lions Club Pancake Days will be May 9-11 at the National Guard Armory at Woodbine and Faraon. Advance tickets are available for $5 from Jay Summers. For tickets email Summers at summers@missouriwestern.edu. |
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Monday, May 5
Tuesday, May 6
Wednesday, May 7
Friday, May 9
Saturday, May 10
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For Sale: Sears heavy duty treadmill. Barely used. Contact johnsond@missouriwestern.edu. |
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Wanted: Your want ads! You
are welcome to submit ads to the Western ADvantage each week.
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