Week of

Week of Sept. 10-16, 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:

Does the United Nations Have a Future?

Western Receives Federal Law Enforcement Grant

National Science Foundation Awards Western Competitive Grant

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

Sorority Recruitment


Sorority recruitment took over Western's campus Sept. 4-9. The four sororities set up information tables in Blum Union where they talked to potentials about Greek life. Sept. 9 was Bid Day where the the organizations received their new members and the Rho Gammas (recruitment counselors) reaffiliated with their organizations.

Does the United Nations Have a Future?

International reporter, author and journalist Pierre-Edouard Deldique will speak at Western on the future of the United Nations Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Kemper Recital Hall in Spratt Hall.

Deldique has experienced professional success in various venues. He has also given many lectures about the UN and the world’s feelings toward the organization. Deldique has had editorial responsibilities at Radio France International, compiled broadcasts in French with Voice of America in Washington, D.C. and contributed an article to the French magazine Télérama. Deldique has also produced two books: Faui-il Supprimer l’ONU? (Should We Abolish the UN?) and Fin de Partie à l’ONU (End Game at the UN). Deldique now follows the UN and moderates two shows, Une Semaine de l’Actualité (Week in Review) and Signes Particuliers (Distinguishing Marks), for RFI.

This event is open to the public, and a reception will follow Deldique’s presentation. The Co-Curricular Events Committee and the Alliance Française de St. Joseph sponsor this event.

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Alumni Drive-In

Young and old alike visited the Horseshoe Lake Drive-in for face-painting, fun and movies. Alumni brought their families to see family classics on the big screen. The Baptist Student Union brought a moon-bounce for kids to enjoy and the ladies of Alpha Sigma Alpha face-painted.

Western Receives Federal Law Enforcement Grant

Policing Institute Gets National Training Mission

The Missouri Regional Community Policing Institute (MO-RCPI) at Missouri Western State University now has a national mission, thanks to a $714,010 grant from the federal Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves announced the grant award.

The money will be used to coordinate and deliver training nationally for topic areas identified by the Bureau in support of efforts to prevent crime, drug abuse, and violence. The Missouri RCPI and five other RCPIs will work within the 27-member RCPI National Network to schedule, coordinate and cosponsor training for law enforcement agencies, businesses and community stakeholders throughout the nation.

“In receiving this grant, we have demonstrated our capacity to deliver training across the country,” said MO-RCPI project director Bryan Courtney. Since it was founded in 1997, the institute has facilitated training sessions and conferences for more than 700 Missouri law enforcement agencies, 20,000 law enforcement officers and 6,500 community members.

“This is precisely in line with the university’s mission of applied learning,” said Dr. Steve Estes, Western’s dean of professional studies. “The institute provides law enforcement officers with knowledge they can apply in their communities.” The institute has received almost $6 million in federal funding over the last 10 years, Estes said. “We’ve been training law enforcement officers for a long time, and we’re good at it,” he said.

“This is great news for Missouri Western State University and St. Joseph,” said Rep. Graves. “Law enforcement agencies from all across Missouri and the country will benefit from the training and knowledge they gain from this grant.”

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Synthetic Biology Research Grant

Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor and chair of biology; Dr. Jeff Poet, assistant professor of mathematics; and a group of student researchers had their first activity associated with the new $170,000 NSF Undergraduate Biology and Mathematics grant. They had a kickoff celebration for the grant and their weekly series of BioMath Connections meetings. After having refreshments at the celebration, students, faculty and administrators connected online with Davidson College in North Carolina for a quick presentation and a meet-and-greet. While talking with Davidson, Xiao Zhu, freshman biochemistry major from Chengdu, Sichaun, China, found that one of her Davidson counterparts went to high school with her in China.

National Science Foundation Awards Western Competitive Grant

U.S. Senator Kit Bond announced Aug. 28 that the National Science Foundation has awarded Missouri Western State University a $170,000 competitive grant for its Synthetic Biology Research for Undergraduates (SyBR-U) program.

“This funding will assist an institution that is already on the cutting edge of scientific research in many fields,” Said Senator Bond. “This program will go a long way towards attracting and training future scientists and researchers at Missouri Western.”

Western will use the funds to expand opportunities for undergraduates to discover connections between mathematics and biology and to conduct research in synthetic biology, a new field of study with applications in energy, medicine and technology. Western is collaborating with Davidson College in North Carolina on the project. The three-year grant will pay for communication technology needed for the collaboration, visits by nationally known guest speakers, research supplies, summer stipends for research students, and travel to the annual international Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition at MIT. Last year, the combined Western/Davidson research team won five awards at iGEM, including a first place award for oral presentation by the Western team.

Western professors praised the program for providing a rich research experience for students. “It gives students the chance to design a project, perform the experiments, troubleshoot any problems, evaluate the results, and present their work at an international forum,” said Dr. Jeff Poet, associate professor of mathematics at Western and one of the team’s faculty leaders.

In the program's first two years, students have been identified for participation near the end of their college careers. Now, they'll be identified much earlier -- in the spring semester of their freshman year. "This grant will make interdisciplinary research the foundation of our program rather than the pinnacle of it," said Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology and the other faculty leader.

Project leaders anticipate that their approach to engaging students in the discovery of connections between mathematics and biology and their methods of distance collaboration will serve as a model for institutions across the country that share the responsibility of educating tomorrow’s research scientists.

Senator Bond is a strong supporter of Western. The Senator has secured planning funds for Western’s math and science building as well as funding for the new business incubator that will enhance research and employment opportunities.

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Tower Sports

Soccer

Loss vs. Central Missouri, 1-2 (OT), Sept. 7
Loss vs. Park University, 1-2 (OT), Sept. 8

Sept. 14 vs. Emporia State at 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Washburn in Topeka, Kan., at 7 p.m.

Volleyball

Loss vs. Cameron University, 2-3, Sept. 6
Win vs. Saint Edward's University, 3-1, Sept. 7
Loss vs. Central Oklahoma, 0-3, Sept. 7
Loss vs. Saint Mary's University, 1-3, Sept. 8

Sept. 12 at Truman State in Kirksville, Mo., at 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 vs. Upper Iowa at 3 p.m.

Football

Win vs. Minnesota-Duluth, 45-27, Sept. 8

Sept. 15 vs. Northwest Missouri State at 6 p.m.

Men's Golf

Placed 8th at the Missouri Intercollegiate Golf Tournament, Sept. 3-5
Sept. 16-18 at Truman State Invitational

Ambassadors Luncheon The Western Ambassadors will hold a luncheon Sept. 14 in Spratt Hall, room 214. A social begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at noon. Cost is $7.50 per person. The luncheon is open to the community; make reservations by calling Ellen Kisker at 4280 by Sept. 12. Dr. Richard Crumley, retired professor of biology at Western, will give a presentation about unusual plants entitled, “The Mystery of Nature.”

GED Graduation for WRDCC The next GED graduation ceremony for the WRDCC is at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 26 in the visitor's center at WRDCC. Dr. Scanlon will be guest speaking. If you are interested in attending, you must have prior authorization to enter the building. You may obtain the form to fill out for authorization from Jamie Willis of the Western Institute. Contact 4100 for more information.

Blood Drive The Missouri Western State University Student Nurses’ Association will be sponsoring a Community Blood Center blood drive on Monday, Sept. 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Blum Student Union Lounge. All donors receive free t-shirts. To sign up or receive more information visit www.esavealifenow.org and enter the code: mwstu.

Fishing Organization If you enjoy working with the disabled and/or veterans this organization is just for you! Western student Sarah Spiers is looking for disabled people and veterans who don’t get the chance to go fishing because of time constraints or abilities. She’s also looking for people to be “fishing buddies” for disabled people. All interested persons should email Sarah Spiers at sspiers1@missouriwestern.edu or call her at (816)-449-5657 or (816)-649-9513.

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Monday, September 10

Alpha Omega recruitment - games and snacks at 7 p.m. in Blum 222
Senate meeting at 5 p.m. in Blum 220

Tuesday, September 11

Alpha Omega recruitment - ice cream and a movie at 7 p.m. in Blum 222
Residence Council meeting at 7 p.m. in Commons Building

Wednesday, September 12

Alpha Omega recruitment - community service at 7 p.m. in Blum 222
WAC meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Junior College Room

Thursday, September 13

Alpha Omega recruitment - mini golf (bring $5). Meet at 7 p.m. in Blum 222.
Student Court at 5 p.m. in Blum 222

Friday, September 14

Alpha Omega recruitment - kick-off party and BBQ at 5 p.m. outside the Commons Building
Ambassadors Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in Spratt 214

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Looking for: Looking to purchase a used piano. Contact kathy Joe at 232-5817 or 4585.

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

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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.

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