July 16-29, 2007

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:

Western Alumnus Earns Graduate Scholarship

Students Explore Art in Amsterdam and St. Petersburg

Western Hosts Public Presentations by Ukrainian Professor, Students

Western Governors Approve Budget

Western Students Understand "Global Viewpoint"

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.

Western Alumnus Earns Graduate Scholarship

Ghazala Saleem awarded $50,000 per year for six years

Last month, Western alumna Ghazala Saleem was visiting Columbia University in New York City. She had been accepted there and really wanted to attend, but wasn’t sure how she was going to pay for her studies. While in New York City, she learned that she would receive the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholarship. Saleem could receive up to $50,000 per year for six years for tuition, fees, books and living expenses. She was one of 34 selected from 977 applicants.

“When I first heard about it, I didn’t believe it,” said Saleem, who graduated from Western in December 2006 with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. “It was like a miracle. I couldn’t sleep for three nights.”

Saleem plans to earn a master’s and doctorate in occupational therapy. Her interests lie in brain injuries, domestic violence victims and eating disorder patients. “With occupational therapy, you bring hope and optimism to those you help, and that’s what I want to do.”

She started at Western with a career in nursing in mind, but quickly became interested in psychology and occupational therapy. “My professors were so helpful. They provided me with so much support. Missouri Western was like a second home for me.”

Saleem said she believes her research experience at Western – she even presented at two research conferences – prepared her well for her graduate studies.

Dr. Phil Wann, professor of psychology, sent a recommendation letter to the Foundation for Saleem. “She was a wonderful student; she excelled in every academic skill,” he said. “This is a tremendous accomplishment.”

Dr. Wann noted that Saleem graduated in December with the highest grade point average in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Saleem, a native of Pakistan, moved to the United States with her family 10 years ago. They lived in Mound City, Mo. when she was a Western student, but she and her family are currently living in Pierre, S.D. She leaves for New York City in August, and says she will miss her family, which includes her parents and two brothers. “I am so grateful to my family,” she said. “They are very supportive.”

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 2000 through the will of Jack Kent Cooke, who owned many radio stations and newspapers throughout Canada. Students must be nominated by a faculty member from their institution. According to the Foundation website, the scholarship supports students of “exceptional promise, application, deportment, and character who have financial need and demonstrated excellence in academic endeavors and extracurricular activities.” The website states that it is among the largest and most competitive scholarships in the country.

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Students Explore Art in Amsterdam and St. Petersburg

Tours of art museums, churches and palaces; viewing 300 year-old windmills, and even participating in a wrestling match were all part of the travel experience for 22 Western students and faculty and community members when they traveled to Amsterdam, Netherlands and St. Petersburg, Russia for 20 days in June.

“It was amazing,” said Anthony Bossler of St. Joseph. “Seeing how different cultures work was the best part.” Bossler, who graduated in May with a theatre/video degree, called the trip a graduation present to himself. He plans to create a documentary of his experiences.

Kraig Keesaman, from Osborn, Mo., called the trip a “life-changing experience. I was very interested in seeing the cultures and sights.”

Keesaman, a senior public relations major, and Brian Jacobs, a senior computer information systems major from St. Joseph, added a little extra to their travel abroad experience – they were on the card as a tag team for a wrestling match during a side trip to Antwerp, Belgium.

“I was very excited about having a wrestling match overseas,” said Keesaman. “It’s one thing to visit a new place, but to visit a new place and do something I love was just awesome.”

Neither Keesaman nor Jacobs mentioned who won the match, but Jacobs said he got a “pretty cool bruise on my left eye.”

All three students agreed that the art museums were a spectacular part of the trip. Bossler noted that is was great to see original artworks of artists he had studied. Jacobs said the art at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg was incredible. Keesaman said he appreciated the trip coordinator, Geo Sipp, associate professor of art; serving as a tour guide at the art museums. “He was very interesting; he really knows his stuff.”

Bossler said the experience makes him want to travel more, and Keesaman said he is already saving to go on a trip through Western next year. He is starting to contact wrestling promoters overseas.

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Western Hosts Public Presentations by Ukrainian Professor, Students

A professor and two students from Ukraine will give two presentations in St. Joseph about their home in the former Soviet Republic.

Journalism Professor Zoriana Mamatoyuk, economics student Marina Kovalchuk and journalism student Zhenia Komarov, all of Lutsk Liberal Arts University in Lutsk, Ukraine, will speak about the role of religion in Ukraine at 2 p.m. July 29 at Wyatt Park Baptist Church, 2902 N. Leonard Road.

Mamotyuk teaches journalism classes at Lutsk Liberal Arts University and is doing doctoral work at Lviv National University. She has also worked as both a newspaper and radio reporter in Lutsk, a town of 200,000 in western Ukraine. Kovalchuk just completed her third year of study in international economics, while Komarov has studied journalism for four years.

Their visit to the United States is co-sponsored by the Western Institute, the MWSU Foundation, and Western’s Co-Curricular Events Committee.

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New Gym Floor

The floor in the Looney Complex Arena is getting a complete makeover. For the past few weeks, workers have been laying new wood over the old gym floor. Construction is expected to be completed Aug. 24.

Western Governors Approve Budget

The Western Board of Governors approved a $46.2 million operating budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. This is an increase of about $1.8 million over the current budget and includes increases in employee compensation and benefits, student scholarships and work study, funding for strategic initiatives and for operations of the University’s new Downtown Center, said Ron Olinger, vice president for financial planning and administration.

“This is a conservative budget born of cautious optimism,” said Dr. James Scanlon, Western’s president. Scanlon said the higher education budget approved by the General Assembly included a welcome 5.5 percent increase in state support for Western. Minus the traditional 3 percent “Governor’s Reserve,” Western will receive about $21.7 million from the state next year. 

The budget includes an unrestricted reserve of about $5.2 million. “The reserve insures the University’s financial security and flexibility,” Olinger said.

“Western remains committed to providing affordable excellence—a quality education at the best value possible,” Scanlon said. Tuition and fees at Western are below both the Midwest and national averages.

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Western Students Understand "Global Viewpoint"

Students in Western’s Global Viewpoint class truly understand the concept of a global economy after studying global businesses in the Pacific Northwest and spending nine days visiting Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia this past semester.  

The Global Viewpoint course, offered at least every two years since 1986, teaches students about the issues that companies face when they do business internationally, said Dr. faye smith, who taught the class. She and Tom Williamson of the business department accompanied 14 students on the trip. In the past, the class has studied and visited foreign countries, but the focus of the culture studies for this class was the Native American heritage of the Seattle region.

The class toured seven businesses, including Pike Place Fish Market, Starbucks and Microsoft headquarters, and the Port of Seattle. Additionally, the St. Joseph Weyerhaueser Co. arranged a visit with their headquarters outside of Seattle. They also visited several museums with Native American collections.

“I really enjoyed the businesses,” said senior marketing major Monica White. “It helped me see all the different aspects of doing business.”

She was impressed with the corporation’s willingness to share information with the students, and Dr. smith agreed.

“All the businesses were so gracious and so interested in partnering with us in learning activities,” said Dr. smith. She said the businesses took a lot of time with the students, sometimes more than a half a day, and that the students met with senior officials of the company.

Drew Bouge, marketing major from Agency, Mo., said teams of students researched the companies that they visited before the trip, so they really learned a lot. “It’s a great experience to see how businesses do things. The best part of the trip was getting to go to all the businesses.”

Past Global Viewpoint classes have included trips to Finland and Sweden, Germany, Turkey, Poland, New Zealand and England.

Faculty and Staff News:

• Dr. Kenneth Rosenauer, professor of journalism and English, has been elected to a two-year term as president of College Media Advisers, Inc. He will take office during installation ceremonies in October in Washington, D.C., at the group’s fall national college media convention.

• After a distinguished 23-year career with the U.S. Army, LTC Robert Gardner, professor of military science and director of the ROTC program, retired from the military and from his position at Western.

• LTC Marcus D. Majure has been named the director of the military science program (ROTC) at Missouri Western State University. LTC Majure was formerly the director of the Mississippi State University ROTC program.

• Dr. Teddi Deka, department of psychology, was promoted from associate professor to professor.

• Dr. Jeffrey Poet, department of computer science, mathematics and physics, was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor and was also awarded tenure.

• Darcy Groce, administrative coordinator for the college of professional studies, received the Woman in Support Services Award at the YWCA Women in Excellence Awards Luncheon. Groce has served in her position for 12 years where she carries extensive responsibility for financial records at Western. She has worked for four different administrators and provided much-needed continuity when her supervisors have accepted other positions. Groce is responsible for coordinating a recognition ceremony for outstanding students each year, plans and implements new faculty orientation and trains administrative assistants in the use of the computer system. She is active in the community, serving on the United Way Allocation Committee, and she is the university's representative for the United Way campaign. She also volunteers in her church.

Student Organization Orientation and Registration The annual student organization orientation and registration sessions are coming up. All student organizations will be required to send an executive board member, and a faculty/staff advisor to one of seven sessions in the fall semester. Please make a note of these dates if you are a student leader, or organization advisor: Orientation Sessions- Sept. 18 at 4 p.m., Sept. 19 at 1 p.m., Sept. 20 at 5 p.m., Sept. 24 at 6 p.m., Sept. 25 at 7 p.m., Sept. 26 at 5 p.m., and Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. Online Registration must be completed by Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. Please keep an eye out for more information. If you have questions, please contact Luke Herrington, student organization intern, in the center for student engagement at 4159.

Searching for Truck/Trailer We would like to have a float for Western in the Southside Fall Festival Parade, but we need a trailer and/or truck! Does anyone have one they would be willing to let us use? The parade is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. We would need the trailer a couple days ahead of that to decorate it. We do have someone who is willing to drive the truck in the parade if the owner doesn't want to. Contact Diane Holtz at 5651 or holtz.

Take me out to the ball game The St. Joe Blacksnakes, partnered with the United Way of Greater St. Joseph, have brought United Way Nights at the Blacksnakes. Fifty percent of the ticket price for each ticket sold by United Way or United Way volunteers is donated to United Way. Upcoming United Way Nights are July 21 and July 29. Games start at 7:05 p.m. Grandstand tickets are $6 each, and box seat tickets are $8 each. Call 364-2381 for more information.

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Friday, July 20

• Payment for Fall '07 registration due

Thursday, July 26

• Final exams for eight-week and second four-week session

Sunday, July 29

• "The Role of Religion in Ukraine," at 2 p.m. at Wyatt Park Baptist Church, 2902 N. Leonard Road

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For Sale Vic Firth Percussion Set: includes bells, drum pad, drumsticks, mallets, books, carrying case, and music stands.  In excellent condition. Less than one year old. Cost is $249. Call 271-5841.

For Sale Rhythm Art Snare Drum Pak: comes with snare drum, drumsticks, music books and video, music stand, and carrying case. Excellent condition. Cost is $75. Call 271-5841.

For Sale by Owner: 5410 South 40th (A Highway) 2/3 acre ranch home. Living area of 2,400-plus, 3 bedroom, 3 bath. Large family room with walkout basement and large two-car attached garage. Lots of extras, underground electric fence to keep pets safe, central vacuum unit, landscaped yard, and more. Visit online at www.aokhometours.com/075627, or call for an appointment at 816-279-2582. Asking Price:  $203,000.

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