Week of Aug. 28, 2006

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:

Sartre's "No Exit" Opens Sept. 11

Meet Colleen Kowich, New Director of Alumni Services

Western Opens New Site in Northland

Points of Pride

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.

Staff Advisers:
Kristy Hill and Diane Holtz

SARTRE'S NO EXIT OPENS SEPT. 11

“No Exit,” a play translated by Peter Bowles from the original by Jean Paul Sartre, opens Sept. 11 at the Black Box Theatre in Thompson E. Potter Hall. The play runs through Sept. 17. Shows are at 8 p.m. Sept. 11-16, and 2 p.m. on Sept. 17. Ticket prices are $8 for general admission, $4 for senior citizens and Western students, faculty and staff.

The play is directed by student Aaron Westlake of St. Joseph, the first student to direct a show in the regular performance season. He has directed two productions in the off-season and assisted Jeremy Warner, instructor of theatre, in the regular season production of “Bodies, Rest and Motion.”

“The experience was the best one I've had theatrically and it solidified for me that I really wanted to pursue directing.” Westlake said. “I knew that the department was looking for shows to produce for the next season, so I came up with a detailed proposal and submitted it.”

Jean Paul Sartre’s “No Exit” was first performed at the Vieux-Colombier in May 1944, just before the liberation of Paris. Three characters, a man and two women, find themselves in hell, which for them is a room with nothing but each other.

Credeau, played by Anothony Bossler of St. Joseph, finds himself in a single room with Inez, played by Jennifer George of St. Joseph and Estelle played by Bekka James, Humboldt, Neb. His sin had been cowardice in life, and in hell he tries to use the two women as mirrors in which he will see a complacent and reassuring picture of himself. The women find themselves in the same self-discovery struggle, not liking what they see. Soon they find they are in a self-styled hell where no torture is necessary – they have each other for that. Joining the three in Hell is the only inhabitant we see, the bellboy, played by Christian Burnett of St. Joseph.

 “I happened to pick up the play at a used bookstore while I was assistant directing ‘Bodies, Rest and Motion’ last year,” said Westlake. “When I read it I was amazed on many levels. One, it was one of the first scripts that I immediately loved upon the first reading. I wasn’t exactly sure why at that point, but I knew I had to read it again. I did, and I just had a gut reaction that this could have the potential to make an amazing piece of theater.”

For more information, call 816-271-4443.

Top of Page

MEET COLLEEN KOWICH, NEW DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI SERVICES

Colleen Kowich began her duties as director of alumni services on Aug. 14.

“There are many Western alumni who have been tremendously successful and are examples of students who have benefited from the quality of the university’s faculty and programs. Expanding the network of alumni connected to Western is our top priority," said vice president for university advancement Dan Nicoson. "Ms. Kowich has demonstrated her ability to develop the relations between a university and its alumni, and we look forward to having her as part of our team.”

 Kowich says she wants to support the alumni association in helping the university fulfill its goals and mission, and that she is looking forward to moving the alumni association to the next level. Her goals include involving Western students in the alumni association, and continuing activities that keep alumni connected to the university.

She has served as director of alumni relations at Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Fla.; and alumni volunteer coordinator and acting director of alumni relations at Adrian College, Adrian, Mich. She earned a bachelor of arts in English from Adrian College and a master of arts in education, student personnel services, from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

 Kowich replaces Julie Fiedler, who relocated to Iowa in July.

                                                                                                                                                                                     Top of Page

WESTERN OPENS NEW SITE IN NORTHLAND

Western’s site in the Kansas City Northland has moved to the Tuileries Plaza at I-29 and NW 64^th St, next to Bonefish Grill. Western Institute hosted an enrollment open house at the new location Aug. 22.

 Western will offer a bachelor of science degree in elementary education and an American Bar Association (ABA) approved legal assistant certificate at the new site, along with a precious metal clay course.     

The specialized legal assistant certificate program focuses on the technical and legal specialty courses for a career as a legal assistant, or paralegal. The program is for students who have already earned some college credit, or even a college degree, and want to explore or further a legal career. The legal assistant program is the only public Missouri university legal assistant program with ABA approval.

 The Kansas City Northland education program is designed for students who have earned their associate’s degree and want to earn a bachelor’s degree. The elementary education program is approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the National Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. 

Western graduates consistently pass the Praxis II exit exam at a rate that is above state and national averages.

 Western’s Center for Community Arts will be offering a precious metal clay course from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 15 with a one-hour lunch. This is a fun and creative course where students experience making pure sterling silver jewelry with pieces of clay.

 More Western programs are coming soon to the Kansas City Northland. For more information, contact Western Institute at 816-271-4100 or toll free at 866-U-WIN-GOLD. Visit our website at www.wi.missouriwestern.edu.

Top of Page

Orientation for new students and faculty

Left: Becky Monnig of Campus Activities Board (CAB) visits with Kevin Knox of St. Louis  and Brandin Erickson of Amazonia, Mo. at Griffon Edge's Welcome Fair. Griffon Edge is the annual three-day orientation for new students. Right: Faculty members speak at an orientation session for new faculty on Aug. 22. Pictured is Dr. Douglas Eicher, Maureen Raffensperger, Bill Church, Julie Baldwin, Dr. Jimm MacGregor, and Suzanne Kissock.

POINTS OF PRIDE

Excellence in our Faculty/Staff

·        Dr. Brenda Blessing was selected to receive the 2006 Award of Distinction from The Ohio State University PAES Alumni Society. The award is presented to alumni who have achieved national or international distinction in his/her field of endeavor. Dr. Blessing was nominated by the school of physical activities and educational services, formerly the school of health, education and recreation.

·        Marsha Dolan, associate professor of nursing and coordinator of the health information technology program, is the president of the Missouri Health Information Management Association. Under her direction, the Missouri chapter was awarded first place in the diversity programs category in the development and implementation of the second annual American Health Information Management Association’s Core Service Achievement Awards.

·        Ten staff members were awarded Outstanding Staff Employee Awards for 2006. This award program recognizes and rewards exemplary performance by employees based both on performance of their responsibilities as outlined in their position description and associated goals, and on their specific contributions to the mission, goals and values of the university. The following individuals were named outstanding employees: Amy Bennett, recruiting specialist, human resources; Mary Dean, administrative coordinator, admissions; Dan Eckhoff, bursar, business office; Deana Elder, financial aid default coordinator; Kathy Joe, accountant; Dennis Johnson, public safety officer;  Kendy Jones, director, campus printing and design services; Rhonda Rund, director for the center of community arts, Western Institute; Tara Stoll, video communications producer, instructional media center; and Tom Williamson, assistant to the chair, business department.

•  Three Western employees were awarded Outstanding Administrator Awards for 2006: Mark Mabe, information technology services director; Dr. K. Eugene Eulinger Jr., registrar, and Mark Linder, director of athletics. This award program recognizes and rewards exemplary performance by Western administrative personnel, based both on performance of their annual goals and on their specific contributions to the mission, goals and values of the university.

• Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology and department chair, received the Beta Beta Beta (National Biology Honor Society) Yokley Faculty Service Award for 2006 for his outstanding service and leadership to Western’s chapter and chapters in Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas.

·        American-born classical guitarist, composer and author Anthony Glise, instructor of music, was elected to the board of an ongoing media development project of the French national music organization, Domaine Musique. Domaine Musique, in conjunction with the National French Film Commission, are the two major underwriters for international feature films and documentaries shot in France. Glise has accepted a post on the council as one of the only two traditional classical music composers on the assembly. Glise is the only non-French composer ever invited to join this prestigious assembly, which monitors project development and implements new programs to further expand the relationship between French-based composers and the international film industry.

·        Dr. Ann Thorne’s article, “Developing a Personal Style: Janet Flanner’s Literary Journalism,” has been published in American Journalism: A Journal of Media History.

Top of Page

YOUR EMAIL MOVED!

Do you know where your email is? Effective Aug. 25, Western changed its email systems from Gold Link to Group Wise. The new email still includes a calendar, email and contact lists. It is a feature-rich system that will better support your needs. You still access it from the Gold Link home page. Your email before the transition on August 25 is not lost! But you have to move it to your new email. Unfortunately, the calendar information must be manually re-entered. All information before August 25 is lost. Also, your address book contents did not transfer. Questions? Go to www.missouriwestern.edu/groupwise or email groupwise@missouriwestern.edu .

Top of Page

Monday, August 28

• Classes begin; Welcome Week begins.

• Senate in the Sun
  Food and Drinks available starting at 5 p.m. Get to know your SGA Leaders by the Clock Tower

• Griff-fun Fest, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Blum Union.

• "Yo Mama" RC Style
  Commons Building starting at 7 p.m. put on by Residence Council.

• Non-Trad Student Services Open House. Light snacks and refreshments from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Nontraditional Student Services, Eder Hall, 200.
   

Tuesday, August 29

• Nontraditional Student Services Open House
  Light snacks and refreshments will be served in Eder Hall 200 from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• Student Services Open House
  Light snacks and refreshments will be served. Come to Eder Hall 209 and find out what is available to students. 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Volleyball in the Dark
  Starts at 9:00 p.m. on the Commons Volleyball Court. Sponsored by Residence Council.
• Drive-In Movie
  In Blum Union Parking Lot at Sundown/Dusk

Wednesday, August 30

• Greek Opportunities
  Considering joining a fraternity or a sorority? Greek Opportunities for Students will be an introduction into Greek Life at Western. Come see what it is all about! Blum Union 219.
• Knockout Tournament
  Commons Basketball Court starting at 7 p.m.

Thursday, August 31

• Welcome Week BBQ
  Commons Building Courtyard from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Bowling Night, 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Belt Bowl, 210 N. Belt Hwy.

Monday September 4

• LABOR DAY HOLIDAY - Campus Closed.

Top of Page

• For Rent: 1524 Jules, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, older home with large rooms. Multiple roommates ok. $600 per month plus deposit. Call 816-510-4272. Kwame Torres
   

• Roommate wanted to share large home with male student close to campus. $300/month. If interested, please call 816-244-8009.
   

• Car for sale: 1989 Honda Prelude, 2 door red, sunroof, 5 speed, needs minor motor work.  $900.00.  call 233-5413, leave message.
   

• CBR600F4:  2001 Red/Black only 7,800 miles, very clean, minor scratches, garaged, never wrecked, $4,800.00 FIRM, (816) 390-3055.

• For Sale: Good, clean, used carpet 10' x 11'; golden brown color and no stains. $50 or best offer. 816-271-5692.
   

Top of Page