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July 30 - Aug. 12, 2007 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: Western Begins News Recycling Program Career Center Makes Improvements Western Presents Research Symposium Saint Joseph Symphony and Western Decide to Go in a New Direction 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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Western Begins New Recycling Program On July 9 Western began the first stage of its recycling effort to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills. Western has contracted with RSP, Inc. to recycle sorted office paper. In later stages, shredded paper and newspapers may be added. Blue recycling containers have been given to every department and computer lab on campus. Every Thursday, custodial staff members empty the bins into special dumpsters for the program. At this time, the following items are welcomed in the blue bins:
At this time, the following items cannot be recycled in this program:
For more information contact Greg Monach at 5882, Lonnie Johnson at 4417, Beth Wheeler at 5887, or Kristy Hill at 5649.
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Career Center Makes Improvements New space and new software are some of the recent improvements to Western’s career center, in an effort to better serve both students at Western and employers in the community. The center, on the second floor of Eder Hall, now has a new entrance and reception area. Previously, the center shared space and an entrance with the nontraditional student center. Linda Garlinger, director of career development, said the new space creates a more professional center for employers in the community to visit. Additionally, she tries to create an atmosphere for students that “bridges the college atmosphere with the business community” for those who are close to graduating and thinking about a career. The center also recently purchased software, Perfect Interview, which helps students hone their interviewing skills. Students’ mock interviews are recorded by a computer monitor-mounted camera. Garlinger said the center serves not only the career-minded students getting ready to graduate, but also those who are looking for a part-time job while working on a degree. In the past year, the office purchased a software database, NACELink, which helps students find jobs. Employers both on- and off-campus can submit job postings to NACELink, and job seekers can easily access the listings. “It’s a wonderful instrument,” said Garlinger. She noted that it has search and sort options, and it is easy for her office to run reports from it. Students can also upload resumes and cover letters onto it. Garlinger also noted all the resources that are available on the career center website – personality tests, information on many careers and strategies to prepare for them, instructional videos and more. “I love making the matches between employers and students,” said Garlinger. “And I really like helping students find what they want to do.” |
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Western Presents Research Symposium Teams of Western students and faculty and area high school students presented the results of research projects at the sixth annual Summer Research Institute Symposium July 27. The eight-week Summer Research Institute brought students from 11 area high schools to work in small teams with Western students and professors on projects in biology, chemistry, engineering technology, journalism, mathematics and psychology. “The Institute gives area high school students the chance to do something they wouldn’t ordinarily do,” said Dr. Ben Caldwell, associate professor of chemistry and Summer Research Institute director. “They engage in original research projects with Western students and faculty members mentoring and encouraging them.” The Institute also benefits the Western students, Caldwell said. “They take what they learn in the classroom and apply it,” he said. “Passing their knowledge on to the high school students reinforces their learning even more.” The program began with brief opening remarks and presentations from two of the teams in the theater: a conservation biology team that has been studying the nesting habits of raccoons on the Western campus and an environmental chemistry team that has explored ways to recover heavy metals during the process of washing Missouri Air National Guard aircraft at Rosecrans Memorial Airport. The presentations were followed by a poster session and reception. |
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Saint Joseph Symphony and Western Decide to Go in a New Direction At the July 12 meeting, the Saint Joseph Symphony Board of Directors voted to go in a new direction after the 2007-2008 concert season. Dr. Deborah Freedman’s contract as conductor will end at that time. “The Board has been looking at ways to reinvigorate interest in performances in Saint Joseph. We are working on a comprehensive plan to increase attendance and revenue with the symphony over the next few years,” said Dr. Robert Spurgat, president of the Saint Joseph Symphony. “Deciding to seek a new conductor was a difficult decision, but one that is important to the overall plan for the organization.” This season will mark Dr. Freedman’s 20th and last year with the Saint Joseph Symphony. “Dr. Freedman has been a shaping force for the symphony, and we appreciate her service to the symphony,” added Dr. Spurgat. Western and the Symphony have partnered for at least 27 years. The conductor is employed a third of the time by the symphony and teaches two-thirds of the time through the university. In addition to her service at the symphony, Dr. Freedman teaches Perspectives in Music, the French horn, and has worked with the honors program and the outdoor semester. “Dr. Freedman has long been a valued faculty member at Western,” said Dr. Matt Gilmour, professor of music and department chair. “She is a strong contributor to the campus and the community beyond.” Her contract will end after the 2007-2008 school year. “We value our long-standing partnership with the Saint Joseph Symphony and feel it is an important way in which the university supports the community,” said Dr. Joseph Bragin, provost for Missouri Western State University. “We will continue that partnership, as we look for the next conductor.” |
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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. New Class Added for Fall Semester Michael Ritter, director of disability services, will teach a class called Motivation and Success this fall. The subtitle of the class is How to Get More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't. The class will teach students how to bring more of the good stuff like happiness, joy, peace, relaxation, love, and success into their lives. At the same time, it will teach students how to get rid of the bad stuff like negative attitudes, bad habits, unhealthy lifestyles, etc. The class will teach the secrets of success from the masters of motivation like Og Mandino, Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Wayne Dyer, W. Clement Stone, Jim Rohn and many others. Don't worry if these names are unfamiliar; by the time the semester is over students will have learned more about motivation and success than most people learn in a lifetime. This class works best if you sign up with a friend so please pass this information along to everyone you know. The course was added late, so it isn't in any of the printed course listings. The course number is CED228-01 and the Course Registration Number (CRN) is 11511. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Michael Ritter at 4330 or mritter. |
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Thursday, August 2
Tuesday, August 21
Monday, August 27
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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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