Week of

Week of Aug. 13-26, 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:

Mitchell Avenue Construction Update

Western Students Teach in Afghanistan

Western Student Receives P.E.O. Scholarship

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 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:
Jennifer Kohler

Staff Advisers:
Kristy Hill and Diane Holtz

Juda Hall Renovations

Juda Hall is undergoing major renovations. All of the stair-towers have been replaced and two of them have been repositioned. Soon the walkways will be reconfigured, so it will no longer be possible to walk from corner to corner. All rooms were painted. All carpet was removed and vinyl tile was replaced instead. Plumbing has been replaced in bathrooms and fiberglass shower inserts have been added. All rooms will receive new wooden furniture, and all metal furniture has been removed.

Mitchell Avenue Construction Update

Road construction will continue for several weeks on some areas of Mitchell Ave. On August 15, the main entrance to Western’s campus on Mitchell Ave. is scheduled to open with access only from the west, as the bridge will re-open at that time. Mitchell Ave. will still be closed east of the main entrance.

The SE College Drive entrance (east of the main entrance) is scheduled to open August 22, only with access from the west. Access to campus entrances on Mitchell Ave. from the east is scheduled to be available August 27.

Residence hall students will receive specific instructions as to which lot they will be permitted to park in. Students moving in to Vaselakos and the Living/Learning Center residence halls should plan to park in Lot O. This can only be accessed from 50th St. from the east. Students may enter 50th St. from Mitchell Ave. or Messanie St. from Riverside Rd.

At the completion of the project, the SE College Drive entrance will be across from American Family Insurance’s main entrance, and there will be a permanent stoplight installed.

Even after the campus entrances on Mitchell Ave. are opened, there will still be road construction and possible lane closings, so please allow extra travel time until the work is complete.

To view a map of the temporary university directions visit http://www.missouriwestern.edu/constructionMap.pdf.

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Artscape

Area youth participated in the week-long Artscape program at Western from Aug. 13-17.

Western Students Teach in Afghanistan

Two Western students spent part of their summer teaching in Afghanistan.

“It was absolutely amazing,” said senior history and government major Natalie Bailey. She and Hannah Coy, who graduated in May with a bachelor of science degree in social work and an emphasis in international studies, taught about visionary leadership at the Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Herat in western Afghanistan. Coy says both she and Bailey had experience in student engagement at Western, and used those interactive learning skills in teaching the future leaders of Afghanistan. They say the response was very positive.

After teaching in Herat, Bailey and Coy traveled to the capital city of Kabul. They both taught in the summer program at the International School of Kabul, a K-12 school serving Afghan children as well as the children of diplomats, aid workers, and business people from other countries. They visited other schools and orphanages in the city as well. Coy also traveled to nearby villages, teaching English to children and educating women about hygiene and child care. “The culture in the villages is completely different from the city,” she said. “It’s much more traditional.”

Bailey and Coy traveled with a group of people from St. Joseph and Kansas City through Morningstar Development, a nonprofit organization committed to helping rebuild Afghanistan. Part of the funding for Bailey’s trip came from the MWSU Foundation’s Student Excellence Fund, which provides financial assistance for students to participate in activities that complement classroom learning. Bailey is working on an individual research project looking at the work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Afghanistan. “NGOs are helping to replace the infrastructure that has been destroyed through 30 years of war,” Bailey said. She also received funding from the Student Government Association’s Financial Oversight Committee. Both Bailey and Coy received private donations by faculty and staff members.

Bailey would like to go back to Afghanistan, where she said the culture is much more laid back. “It’s refreshing because their society is very relationship based, while we’re very task oriented,” Bailey said. Coy said the trip was a good fit with her plans to pursue a graduate degree in international development. “This is what I want to do,” she said.

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Downtown Center

University administration have leased space in the Scottish Rite building downtown for the new Downtown Center. The location offers 15,000 square feet of space, a 300-seat auditorium and modern utilities. A variety of programs will operate from the downtown location, such as professional and personal development courses offered through the Western Institute or conferences scheduled by groups outside of Western. The Law Enforcement Academy has moved there as well, placing them near the downtown law enforcement facilities.

Western Student Receives P.E.O. Scholarship

Western junior psychology major Suzanne Jones of Stewartsville, Mo., was awarded a P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education grant. The grant was presented to Jones by Jeanette Kragel, president of the HY P.E.O. chapter in St. Joseph and a former nontraditional student at Western.

The P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Program for Continuing Education, established in 1973, is a grant program providing financial assistance to women whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to resume studies due to changing demands in their lives. They must have need for financial assistance with their educational expenses to improve their marketable skills.

P.E.O. is a society dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for women. Through the years, this project has paid more than $22,300,000 in small grants to more than 24,700 women.

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Register for Fall Classes at Western!

Registration for Western’s fall 2007 classes will be held Aug. 21 on the first floor of Eder Hall. Classes begin Aug. 27.

The registration schedule is as follows:

Candidates for fall graduation (must have an application on file in the Registrar’s office): 10 a.m.
Degree-seeking seniors (90 hours and above): 10 a.m.
Degree-seeking juniors (60 - 89 hours): 11 a.m.
Degree-seeking sophomores (30-59 hours): 12 p.m.
Degree-seeking freshmen (less than 29 hours): 1:30 p.m.
Evening degree-seeking: 5 p.m. or during appropriate daytime category
Non-degree seeking students: 5:45 p.m.

Late registration will be held Aug. 27-31 in Eder Hall, and the late registration fee is $50. Registrar’s office hours for late registration and schedule adjustments are Aug. 27, 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Aug. 28, 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; and Aug. 29, 30 and 31, 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

An information display with admissions and financial aid materials will be set up at East Hills Shopping Center by JC Penney’s from Aug. 6-31.

For more information, contact the admissions office at 4266.

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Tower Sports

Soccer

Aug. 23 at Upper Iowa in Fayette, Iowa, at 2 p.m.
Aug. 26 at Missouri-Rolla in Rolla, Mo., at 2 p.m.

Volleyball

Aug. 24 vs. Drury at MSSU Invitational Tournament in Joplin, Mo., at 12 p.m.
Aug. 24 vs. Missouri-St. Louis at MSSU Invitational Tournament in Joplin, Mo., at 5 p.m.
Aug. 25 vs. Angelo State at MSSU Invitational Tournament in Joplin, Mo., at 10 a.m.
Aug. 25 vs. Central Oklahoma at MSSU Invitational Tournament in Joplin, Mo., at 3 p.m.

Kickball Tournament Phi Mu is holding their second annual Kickn' 4 Kids Kickball tournament. Entry fee is $50.00 per team. Each team consists of 10 players. The tournament will take place Sept. 22 at Drake fields on 22nd Street. There will also be a raffle, concession stand, and Pie-A-Phi. If you are interested in entering a team please contact Lacy Frans (lfrans@missouriwestern.edu). Entry Deadline is Sept. 1.

Quiznos Operation Hours Do you miss the fresh taste of a toasted Quiznos sub? The wait is almost over! Beginning Aug. 15 Quiznos will once again be operational for your dining pleasure. Listed below are the days and hours your Quiznos sub will be waiting for you.

Aug. 15 - Aug. 17 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Aug. 20 - Aug. 24 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Aug. 27 Full Operational Hours of 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Vehicle Registration Vehicle registrations for 2007-2008 are now being accepted by Parking and Security Services. Full-time faculty and staff may register online if they wish for their registration fees to be deducted from their pay check. Please go to: https://webreg.missouriwestern.edu/employees/startupemppermit.asp and follow the registration steps. After online registration you may then pick up your decal in Blum 100. If you are a part-time employee or faculty member, you will need to come to Blum 100 to complete a scan sheet in order to register your vehicle. If you are full-time and wish to pay by check, you may come to Blum 100 and fill out a scan sheet. Should you wish to pay by cash, you will need to pay at the Business Office and bring a paid receipt to Blum 100.

Anyone associated with credit classes (part-time included) are required to register the vehicle(s) they will be operating or parking on campus.
Employees may register more than one vehicle, but only one may be on campus at a time.
Registrations fees are $20.00 per year for the first vehicle and $10.00 each for additional vehicles.
Decals are not transferable from one vehicle to another.
Parking and Security Services hours are currently 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to serve you. Soon we will resume later operating hours and will start opening at 7 a.m. for better service. Be watching for our new hours.

Please stop by our office in Blum 100, or give us a call at 271-5666 if we may assist you in any way.

Student Organization Orientation and Registration The annual student organization orientation and registration sessions are coming up. All student organizations are 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 6 p.m. Oct. 1. 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.

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Wednesday, August 15

Main entrance to campus opens with access from East

Saturday, August 18

Griffon volleyball alumnae match at 6 p.m. with a social to follow

Tuesday, August 21

Walk-in Registration begins at 10 a.m. in Eder Hall

Wednesday, August 22

Griffon Edge from 12:30-10 p.m.
Faculty and staff family picnic at 4 p.m. at the picnic area near the softball field

Thursday, August 23

Griffon Edge from 9:45 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday, August 24

Griffon Edge from 9:45 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday, August 25

Griffon Edge from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Monday, August 27

Fall semester classes begin
Griffon Fun Fest from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the clock tower

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For Sale: 1989 Ford Lariat pickup - dualie, rew cab, brown/beige. $1,800. Please call 4554 or 816-390-6184 or email judnol.

Carpool: Looking for somebody to carpool with from St. Joseph to Kansas City in the morning and back in the afternoon. Will help with cost of gas for the trips. If interested please call 617-331-9423 or email Radi71@yahoo.com.

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, University Advancement, Leah Spratt Hall, Room 106.

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