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

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A Look Ahead

Western Graduates Awarded Chocolate Store

MWSU Art Society Founded to Support Music, Theatre and Art

Planetarium Reopens After Renovation

Points of Pride

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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 271-4124.

June 6 - June 30, 2011

A Look Ahead

MWSU Arts Society Founded to Support Music, Theatre and Art

The MWSU Foundation is offering arts patrons a new way to be involved with the arts at Western: the Missouri Western Arts Society.

“The arts are an essential part of Western’s mission,” said Dr. Laurel Vartabedian, co-chair of the society’s 2011-2012 membership committee. “Our hope is that the Missouri Western Arts Society will encourage attendance at performances and exhibitions, provide opportunities for students and faculty in our arts programs to interact with the community and provide financial resources to supplement the annual budgets of the arts programs.”

Society memberships will help enrich Western’s arts curricula, expand performance and exhibition opportunities for students and provide scholarships for youth enrolling in the Community Arts classes as well as technological and artistic support for all programs.

“We’re grateful to Dr. Vartabedian and to Karen Graves, a longtime advocate of the local arts scene, for agreeing to co-chair the initial membership drive,” said Dan Nicoson, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the MWSU Foundation. “They recognize the important role that Missouri Western plays in the region’s arts community and can effectively and passionately tell others of that role and the need for their support.”

Members can choose to direct their contributions to the art department, music department, theatre program, musical theatre production or the Center for Community Arts. Or they can direct that their gifts be undesignated, to be used at the discretion of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the benefit of arts programs.

Those who join in the 2011-2012 academic year will be designated charter members, and will be specially acknowledged in membership rosters as long as they maintain consecutive years of membership.

There are four levels of membership: the Shakespeare Circle, named in honor of playwright William Shakespeare, for gifts of $100 to $249; the da Vinci Circle, named for artist Leonardo da Vinci, for gifts of $250 to $499; the Beethoven Circle, named for composer Ludwig van Beethoven, for gifts of $500 to $999; and the Medici Circle, named for the family of Renaissance art patrons, for gifts of $1,000 or more.

Members of the society receive several benefits:

·         Listing in the MWSU Foundation’s annual report and other publications

·         Acknowledgment at performances and exhibitions

·         Membership certificate

·         Discounts for Community Arts Classes

·         Periodic communications from the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as the Palette publication of the Center for Community Arts

·         Invitations to special events to meet students and faculty in the arts programs

·         Event tickets. Members also have the option of declining the tickets, qualifying them for a larger income tax deduction.

To request additional information about the Missouri Western Arts Society or become a member, call the MWSU Foundation office at 816-271-5647.

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Softball Camp

Girls ages 6-14 participated in the Griffon softball team's annual hitting and fielding camp June 1-3. Here, the young players learn proper sliding technique on the artificial turf of the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

MWSU Planetarium Reopens After Renovation

The renovation of Bushman Planetarium inside Agenstein Hall has proven to be a resounding success, with multiple showings of three different programs selling out after the public reopening last month.

“The new projector, sound system and dome allow us to present a truly immersive theater environment,” said Dr. Christopher Godfrey, professor of physics. “Viewers are surrounded by three-dimensional images that instantly transport them from Earth to the farthest star and back again. This is unlike what most people think of when they think of a planetarium experience.”

The planetarium features a Digistar 4 projection system from Evans and Sutherland, the world’s leading manufacturer of planetarium systems. The dome is tilted slightly, rather than directly overhead, making viewing easier. A 17-channel stereo sound system enhances the viewing experience.

The planetarium is currently offering:

·         “Wonders of the Universe” gives viewers the chance to peer deep into space through the eyes of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and travel back in time billions of years to witness the birth of the universe. It will be shown at 11 a.m. on June 11 and 7:30 p.m. June 14, 15 and 16. Please note that the June 14 show is sold out.

·         “Black Holes” features 3-D simulations of one of the most mystifying, awe-inspiring phenomena in the universe. Where do black holes come from? Where do they go? How do we find them? Is there one on Earth’s horizon? It will be shown at 12:30 p.m. June 11.

·         “Extreme Planets” explores the planets that exist outside our solar system. Since 1995, more than 400 extrasolar planets have been discovered. This show gives us an idea of what the surfaces of these worlds might look like. It will be shown at at 7:30 p.m., on June 6, 8 and 9, but these performances are all sold out.

Tickets are $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for children ages 6-12, Western students and employees with ID, and those with a military ID. Seating is limited to 40 people, so advance purchase of tickets is recommended by calling 816-271-4288. You may also purchase advance tickets online at www.missouriwestern.edu/csmp/planetarium/index.asp.

Dr. Godfrey says the department plans offer shows regularly throughout the summer and fall. The university has acquired several other shows, including “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure,” “Africa: The Serengeti,” “Forces of Nature” and “Wild Ocean.” Check the above web site for additional information.

The planetarium was an original feature of Agenstein Hall when it opened in 1969. The original Spitz planetarium, projector and console were donated by the family of the late E. Dwight Tarbell, a retired architect and amateur astronomer. It was remodeled in 1997 through the generosity of the Joseph R. and Bess G. Bushman family.

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Spring Commencement 2011

Points of Pride

Excellence in our Faculty/Staff

• Dr. Bill Church, instructor of English; Peter Hriso, assistant professor of art; Pi-Ming Yeh, assistant professor of nursing; received the Jesse Lee Myers Excellence in Teaching Awards.

• Dr. Jeremiah Still, assistant professor of psychology, received the Dr. James V. Mehl Outstanding Faculty Scholarship Award.

• Tara Stoll, video communications producer, received the James J. Scanlon Service-Leader Award.

• Diane Holtz, coordinator for public relations and marketing and alumni services; received the Presidential Citation Award: Service to Campus Colleagues.

• Brett Esely, assistant director of athletics external relations athletics, received the Presidential Citation Award: Service to the University.

• Dr. Christopher Bond, assistant professor of communication studies, was elected president of International Listening Association at the 32nd Annual ILA Convention in Johnson City, Tenn.

• Dr. Rick Hardy, assistant professor of recreation, was appointed by the mayor of St. Joseph to serve on the Hotel/Motel Tax Citizen Committee. The committee was formed to inform voters of the tax and help get the tax passed during the single ballot initiative on June 7.

• Teresa Harris, associate professor of art, had her mixed-media work, “Amiot,” accepted into Harper College’s “Small Works National Art Exhibition” in Palatine, Ill. Her work was among 21 pieces that were selected from 998 entries.   

• Pete Hriso, assistant professor of art; had an animated short film accepted into the California International Animation Festival in Modesto, Calif. Screening will take place on KAZV-TV, a local TV station with a possible audience of more than 1.5 million people. He also screened an animated short film at the Kansas City Film Fest/KC Jubilee and screened and exhibited several animated short films at the Digital Arts Festival in Redmond, Wash. Hriso won Best Animation for his animation, “Sunset.”

•  Geo Sipp, assistant professor of art, had four prints selected into the 31^st MiniPrint Exhibition at the ADOGI Print Center in Cadaques, Spain. The exhibition traveled to Barcelona, Spain and Bages, France.

• Geo Sipp, assistant professor of art, was requested by the American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to be the external reviewer for a university research proposal, “Developing Photo Gravure Methods of Reproduction.”

• Brett Luthans, professor of business, presented his research, “Academic Success of Business School Students: The Relationship Between PsyCap and GPA,” at the Western Decision Science Institute annual meeting.

• Dr. Allison Sauls, associate professor of art and department chair, presented a paper, “How Sense of Place Works: Mapping Epistemological Symbols of Memory and Projection,” at the biannual On Stream Collaborative Conference of the Foundations in Art: Theory and Education Organization and Mid-America College Art Association in St. Louis.

• Dr. Janelle Torres y Torres, assistant professor of chemistry, gave both a poster and oral presentation, “Dual Credit General Chemistry:  A Model University-High School Collaborative Effort,” at the Experimental Biology 2011 conference in Washington, D.C.

• Dr. Christopher Bond, assistant professor of communication studies, presented, “Increasing Verbal and Nonverbal Awareness in the Workplace,” at the regional meeting of the Human Resource Management Association of Northwest Missouri.

• Dr. Christopher Bond, assistant professor of communication studies, presented two Continuing Medication Education trainings, “Satisfying the Patient’s Need to be Heard While Managing Your Time,” and “Using Listening Style Framing to Maximize Patient Compliance.”  These trainings were part of a CME seminar “Listening in Healthcare: Better Outcomes through Better Listening,” a joint sponsorship with the East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine and The International Listening Association.

• Dr. Christopher Bond, assistant professor of communication studies, attended the 32nd International Listening Association Convention in Johnson City, Tenn., and presented, “Student and Faculty Perceptions of Listening Barriers Within the Classroom.” 

• Dr. Jeff Woodford, assistant professor of chemistry, attended the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim, Calif., where he chaired a committee charged with developing the next standardized examination for the first semester of general chemistry. He also presented a research poster on high-level calculations on model compounds for DNA bases. 

• Dr. Shawna Harris, assistant professor of communication studies, was a panel member of a round table discussion on listening barriers in the classroom at the annual convention of the International Listening Association in Johnson City, Tenn.

• Dr. Jennifer Hegeman, assistant professor of mathematics, presented, “Course Redesign in College Algebra: What NOT to Do,” at the Mathematics Association of America Joint Sectional Meeting at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo.

• Dr. Baoqiang Yan, assistant professor of computer science, gave a presentation, “An Effective Way of Introducing iPhone Application Development to Undergraduate Students,” at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Central Plains Conference in Warrensburg, Mo.

• Dr. Jeff Poet, associate professor of mathematics; and Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology and department chair; presented, “Synthetic Biology: An Opportunity for Multidisciplinary Faculty-Student Group Research at PUIs,” at the sixth annual Midwestern Conference on Research at Predominately Undergraduate Institutions at Park University in Parkville, Mo.

• Dr. Jeff Poet, associate professor of mathematics, delivered the keynote address at the Missouri Section Meeting banquet of the Mathematics Association of America at Columbia College. His address, “Under the Influence,” challenged faculty and students to show appreciation to their academic mentors. 

• Dr. Jeff Poet, associate professor of mathematics, presented, “Bacterial Computers: Attempts to Fine-Tune a System,” about the summer 2010 synthetic biology research project, co-authored with senior mathematics major Jeff Stevens at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo.

• Dr. Cynthia Bartels, English instructor; presented her paper, “Redefining the 1950s Home: Three Beat Women’s Versions of June Cleaver,” at the National Popular Culture Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

• Dr. Mike Cadden, professor of English and department chair, presented his paper, “Fake and Exaggerated Realism in Children’s Literature,” at the Conference of the International Society for the Study of Narrative in St. Louis.

• Dr. Jeanie Crain, professor of Englsih, presented at the April Higher Language Commission annual conference, “Measures of Measuring Effectiveness: What AQIP Institutions Identify as Measures,” in Chicago. 

• Dr. Kay Siebler, associate professor of English, presented a paper at the Conference on College Composition and Communication in Atlanta regarding best practices in training teachers to teach writing. 

• Dr. Kenneth Dagel, associate professor of geography, presented at the 42nd annual South Dakota State Geography Convention. His lecture was titled, “Crossthreading: The Role of Geography in Landscape Appreciation and Energy Use.”

• Dr. Catherine Kendig, assistant professor of philosophy, gave the presentation, “Problems of Demarcation:  How Can We Distinguish Science from Non-science or Pseudoscience?”  As part of a panel discussion with Jerrold Barnett and Richard Toomey hosted by Northwest Missouri State University and the International Honor Society in Philosophy in Maryville.

• Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies; Dave Tushaus, professor of legal studies and department chair; and Dr. Greg Lindsteadt, assistant professor of legal studies; presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences International Conferences in Toronto. Katz’s presentation was, “Restorative Justice: Developing Community Participation in the Criminal System.” Tushaus’ presentation was, “Creation an Online Curriculum in a Criminal Justice Department.”

• Dr. Barb Eddins, assistant professor of education and interim department chair; and Dr. Susan Claflin, assistant professor of education; gave a presentation, “Accessing the General Education Curriculum that is Aligned with State Standards,” at the International Council for Exceptional Children Conference in Washington, DC.

• Roger Voelkel, assistant professor of nursing, presented at the Assessment Technologies Institute – National Nurse Educators Summit in Orlando, Fla. The title of his presentation was, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Multiple High Fidelity Simulations.”

• Dr. Pi-Ming Yeh, assistant professor of nursing, presented, “Family Caregivers Reactions and Related Factors among Taiwanese with Hospitalized Relatives,” at the Midwest Nursing Research Society 35^th annual Research Conference in Columbus, Ohio.     

• Kit Blake, instructor of education, presented at the International Reading Association Conference in Orlando, Fla. The title of her presentation was “Reflective Practice and its Relationship to the Preservice Teacher’s Literacy Pedagogy.”

• Dr. Catherine Kendig, assistant professor of philosophy, was part of the Honors Program panel discussion of Rebecca Skloot’s, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” This was an interdisciplinary faculty book review.   

• Dr. Jim Okapal, assistant professor of philosophy, was a panel member for the movie presentation of “Waking Life” and presented his paper, “Lions, Tigers and Andys, Oh My!: The Moral Status of Non-human Sentients in Philip K Dick,” at the Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

• Dr. Kathleen O’Connor, associate professor of nursing and department chair, attended the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

• Dr. Allison Sauls, associate professor of art and department chair, and Neil Lawley, assistant professor of art, attended the Foundations in Art: Theory and Education Conference in St. Louis.

• Dr. Ben Caldwell, professor of chemistry and department chair, attended the Experimental Biology 2011 conference in Washington, DC. where he served as a supervisory judge for the 15^th annual Undergraduate Poster Competition sponsored by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He also served on several ASBMB committees as a regional director for the Undergraduate Affiliate Network, and as a member of the graduate survey subcommittee of the ASBMB Educational and Professional Development Committee.

• Dr. Jeff Poet, associate professor of mathematics, served as one of three facilitators for a Project NExT Workshop, an event whose purpose is to mentor and encourage mathematics faculty early in their academic careers. Specifically, Dr. Poet’s portion of the workshop was on the preparation of tenure and promotion packets.

• Deborah Becker, instructor of computer science; and Connie Hecker, instructor of computer science; attended the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Central Plains Conference in Warrensburg, Mo.

• Dr. Tingxiu Wang, professor of computer science, mathematics and physics and department chair; Dr. Gavin Waters, assistant professor of mathematics; and Dr. Tim Miller, assistant professor of mathematics; attended the Mathematical Association of America meeting in Columbia, Mo.

• Dr. Kaye Adkins, associate professor of English; attended the international conference of the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing and met with the organization’s executive council as the liaison for the Council for Programs in Technical and Scientific Communication.

 Excellence in our Students 

·         Students in Free Enterprise received the Lowe’s Community Improvement Challenge grant. The group partnered with Riverside Church, to develop a community garden.

·         Students In Free Enterprise attended the SIFE Student Conference and Competition in Chicago, where they received a second runner-up trophy. Mike West, instructor of business, accompanied the students.

·         Matt King, biology major, received a $400 Undergraduate Travel Award from the Undergraduate Affiliate Network of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to attend the Experimental Biology 2011 conference in Washington, DC

·         Jeff Stevens, senior mathematics major, along with Dr. Jeff Poet, associate professor of mathematics, presented “Bacterial Computers: Attempts to Fine-Tune a System,” about the summer 2010 synthetic biology research project. At Columbia College in Columbia, Mo.

·         Biology students, Matt King and Hillary Turner, presented a research poster, “Examining Albumin’s Esterase Activity for Use in the Biochemistry Teaching Laboratory,” at the Experimental Biology 2011 conference in Washington, DC

·         Chemistry students, Amy Melton and Samantha King, working under the direction of Dr. Ben Caldwell, professor of chemistry and department chair; and Jeff Woodford, assistant professor of chemistry; presented a research poster on the kinetic activity of albumin proteins on the decomposition of esters in aqueous solution at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim, Calif.

·         Jeff Stevens, senior mathematics major, presented, “A Geometric Investigation of an Arithmetic Expression,” an individual discovery project that Dr. Jeff Poet associate professor of mathematics, mentored, at the Mathematics Association of America at Columbia College in Columbia, Mo.

·         Thirteen mathematics students participated in the Missouri Collegiate Mathematics Competition. Western fielded five teams for the event, more than any other school in the state and more than Western has ever fielded in past competitions. Team sponsors were Dr. Jeff Poet, associate professor of mathematics; Dr. Tim Miller, assistant professor of mathematics; and Dr. Gavin Waters, assistant professor of mathematics.

·         English major, Stacey Weidmann, presented her paper, “Student Movements in Europe,” at the 2010 National Popular Culture Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Excellence in our Programs

·         Griffon Art Society students received the Most Outstanding Special Interest Organization Award from the Student Government Association. The group also participated in the Murals for Minds project.

·         Alumni Shannon Swanson (graphic design, ’06) and Brandon Todd (graphic design,’06) spoke about their design careers to Teresa Harris,’ associate profess of art, Final Portfolio class. Swanson is currently environmental designer at Populous Global in Kansas City, Mo., and Todd is a freelance graphic designer in Kansas City. 

·         Tula Pink, graduate of the Otis School of Art and Design and owner of the Tula Pink Pattern Company and designer of many national and international fabric collections, spoke to Teresa Harris,’ associate profess of art, Final Portfolio Class about graphic design careers. Pink was previously the art director at Capitol Records and exhibition designer the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

·         The annual Calculus Bee was held, with the top five high school students receiving $1,000 scholarships and the top three receiving gift certificates to the campus bookstore. Dr. Kevin Anderson, associate professor of mathematics, organized the event and was assisted in the written exam and countdown round by mathematics faculty members.

·         The Association for Information Technology Professionals gave two free computer workshops, a beginning and an intermediate, for community members.

·         More than 50 Girl Scouts explored France, Québec and Africa during a French Immersion Camp on the Western campus. Dr. Susie Hennessy, professor of French and foreign language coordinator; two teachers with the St. Joseph School District, and French student Caitlin McKinney led the Girl Scouts on imaginary tours of Francophone regions while helping them earn badges about foreign countries and cultures. The girls learned about marine life in the Mediterranean, Carnaval in Québec, and traditional dress in Africa.

·         Dawn Terrick, instructor of English, hosted the fifth annual reading and reception for the ENG 100 student publication, “Discovering the Student, Discovering the Self.”

·         The staff of Western’s literary magazines, led by Dr. Bill Church, instructor of English, hosted a public reception and reading to celebrate the arrival of the 2011 publications. “The Mochila Review,” a national literary magazine featuring fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, is produced as part of ENG285 and is edited by Dr. Church. “Canvas” is the student literary magazine funded by The MWSU Foundation with additional support from the English, foreign language and journalism department. The student staff and area contributors read selections from both publications, and awards were presented to the student winners for the best poetry, prose, and visual art. 

·         The Organization of Student Social Workers was awarded the MWSU Foundation Excellence in Philanthropy Award. 

·         The social work program hosted the annual Social Work Institute, and more than 92 community professional and students attended.

·         Griffon Jr. Singers entertained more than 1,000 local elementary students and several hundred retirement home residents during the annual Spring School Tour; performed for 200 at a local concert; and received high marks from judges at the Children’s Choral Festival at Worlds of Fun.

·         Symphonic Youth Orchestra presented a public concert to more than 100.

·         The Center for Community Arts partnered with the Allied Arts Council and the St. Joseph Public Schools to bring Shakespeare Festival St. Louis to St. Joseph to conduct in-school and public performances and activities. 

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