Week of October 4 - 10, 2004 

Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. 

Missouri Western State College, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200

Click any link for these stories:

Russian Economics Expert to Visit Western

Western Hosts International Film Festival

News Briefs

Calendar

Points of Pride

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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:
Paula White

Staff Advisers:
Kristy Hill and Diane Holtz

Russian Economics Expert to Visit Western

Dr. Victor Supyan, Russian economics expert and deputy director of the Institute of the USA and Canada Studies in Moscow, will visit Western Oct. 16-24 to discuss a number of joint international projects with the Western Institute, and make two presentations that are open to the community.

Dr. Christopher Shove, executive director of the Western Institute, said the purpose of Dr. Supyan’s visit is to discuss several joint projects between Western and the Institute of the USA and Canada Studies. He and Dr. Supyan are planning an international business conference to be hosted at Western next summer, a distance education program in Moscow, where Russian students would earn a business degree from Western; and several research projects. They also will discuss the inclusion of Russia in Western’s travel/study abroad program.

Dr. Supyan will present “Business and Economic Trends in Russia” at the college’s Eggs and Issues at 7 a.m. Oct. 21 in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building, Enright Room, 214. To make reservations for the free breakfast, call 5646 by Oct. 15.

He will also make a presentation at a lunch for business leaders in the community from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building, Enright Room, 214.  To make reservations for the lunch, call 816-271-4115. Dr. Supyan’s presentation is “Business and Economic Trends in Russia: Opportunities for American Businesses.” Cost is $25.

Dr. Supyan was born in Moscow and graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He did post-graduate studies at the Institute of the USA and Canada Studies, and was a junior and senior research fellow there, also. He earned a doctorate in economics in 1975, and a post-doctorate degree in economics in 1990 from the Institute.

He is the author, co-author and editor of more than 35 books, textbooks and brochures; and author of more than 150 articles published both in Russia and abroad.

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Western Hosts International Film Festival

Western will host the Griffon International Film Festival, a juried event featuring 40 comedy, documentary, and dramatic award-winning films from all over the world, including Scotland, Italy, England, and the United States.

The festival begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building, Kemper Recital Hall, and will run all day Oct. 16 and 17. The community is invited to attend.

“We are bringing filmmakers to Missouri Western and St. Joseph to expose our students to independent filmmakers and to films they won’t see in most theatres,” said Deny Staggs, assistant professor of theatre and coordinator of the film festival. He said over 175 films were submitted from all over the world for inclusion in the festival, and only 40 were chosen. “It’s not your mainstream type of films, but they are very entertaining.”    

Along with film showings throughout the two-and-a-half day event, filmmakers will also offer “hands-on” master classes such as Auditioning and Casting, Shaping Your Story into a Screenplay, Camera Dance, the Art of the Handheld Camera; and Shoot Day and the Role of the Assistant Director.

Staggs noted that the film festival will be a great learning experience for students. They will benefit not only from the master classes, but also from the seeing the diversity of films and ideas in creating those films.

Friday evening events are free, and will be held in the Kemper Recital Hall of the Spratt Building. Ticket Prices for Saturday and Sunday include the All-Access Pass for $30 for all classes and all films. A Festival Pass is $15 and includes passes to all the films, but not the classes. Individual screenings are $5. Admission to the films is free for Western students.

Participants may obtain schedules of the film showings and classes, or purchase tickets in the foyer Spratt Building throughout the festival. Tickets do not need to be purchased in advance. 

“We have everything from animation to comedy to drama to international films,” said Staggs. “Everybody’s really excited.”

The festival is sponsored by the Western student group Communication Connection. For a complete listing of the schedule, films, film information and ticket information go to http://www.missouriwestern.edu/griff or call 4441.

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• Western will host historian Dr. Tom Spencer Oct. 7. He will present “Challenges for Missouri History and Politics: The Divided Mind of Missouri” at 7 p.m. in the Leah Spratt Multipurpose Classroom Building, Kemper Recital Hall.  The event is free and open to the community. For more information, contact Dr. Mikkelsen at 4530.

• In lieu of closing on the Columbus Day holiday, campus offices will be closed and no classes will be held on Friday, Oct. 8. The campus will be open on Columbus Day Oct. 11.

• Several departments will open their doors to the community Oct. 8 as part of the 2004 Homecoming festivities. Most departments will be open from 4-6 p.m., and campus tours will be offered. Visitors will be able to see the recently completed residential commons building, and the Missouri Department of Conservation building will be open from 5 -6 p.m. for tours and demonstrations. A free planetarium show will be featured at 5 p.m. in the Evan R. Agenstein Science and Math Building, room 105. Departments in the Agenstein building, which include biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics, will be open from 1:30 to 6 p.m., and will offer department presentations, panel discussions and tours.

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Monday, October 4

• Planetarium Show, More Than Meets the Eye, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 5

• "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" Auditions, 7 p.m., Black Box Theatre, FA 106

Wednesday, October 6

• "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" Auditions, 7 p.m., Black Box Theatre, FA 106

• Volleyball vs. Emporia State, Emporia, Kan., 7 p.m.

• Planetarium Show, Hubble Vision, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 7

• Noontime Series, First Presbyterian Church

Friday, October 8

• Library Closed

• Campus Offices Closed

• Center for Academic Support Closed

• Campus Tours and Open Houses

Saturday, October 9

• HOMECOMING

• Football vs. Truman State, 2 p.m.

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Points of Pride

Excellence in our Faculty/Staff

•  Jeannie Harmon-Miller, associate professor of art, had a photograph “Blue” juried into the Texas Photographic Society Exhibition, TPS: The National Competition.  The juror was Sue Brisk, Editorial Director for North America with Magnum Photos.

• Geo Sipp, assistant professor of art, had three works selected for a group exhibition at Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kan. 

• Dr. Jason Baker, assistant professor of biology, attended the American Society for Microbiology Conference on Undergraduate Education and conducted research with student Byron Thornton that was funded by an NIH grant.
• Dr. Susan Hennessy, associate professor of French, initiated a cooperative exchange agreement with the Université d’Angers in Angers, France. The exchange agreement is the first student exchange program at Western.
• Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology, had an article published entitled, “The Microarray Revolution...Perspectives From Educators” in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Journal.
• Dr. Alicia de Gregorio, associate professor of Spanish, presented her paper “La presencia de España en Kansas City, Mo.” at the Annual Meeting of Asociación de Licenciados y Doctores Españoles en Estados Unidos (ALDEEU), which was held in Lorca, Spain. She was also elected to serve as an officer of the Executive Board of ALDEEU.
• Sharon Gray, associate professor of music, Frank Thomas, associate professor of music, Janice Ragland, instructor of music, and Ellen Bottorff, instructor of music, presented  “Vocalease,” a public performance and vocal workshop on vocal health, language and performance practice. This two-day clinic was presented in Lee’s Summit, Mo., and in the Kemper Recital Hall at Western.
• The second annual International Guitar Festival was hosted and organized by Dr. Matthew Gilmour, professor of music and chair of the music department, and Anthony Glise, visiting professor of music. The festival drew competitors, clinicians and vendors from many international locations.  Prizes were awarded to Isaac Bustos, Nicaragua, Munhk-Orgil Turbold, Mongolia and Nenad Savic, Serbia.
• Dr. Dennis Rogers, professor of music, organized and supervised the 12th Annual Drumline Camp.  Alumnus Jay Albright, Band Director, Cameron High School, was principal clinician, assisted by recent graduates Jeff Siasoco, Aaron Williams and Tracy Thomas. Current Western percussion students assisted participants, which included high and middle school students and prospective Western percussion students.
• Dr. Robert Bergland, associate professor of journalism, Dr. Ann Thorne, associate professor of journalism, and Dr. Ken Rosenauer, associate professor of journalism, presented a paper “The Journalism Workshop Course: What is the Nature of this Beast?” at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference in Toronto.  The paper was one of four refereed papers presented at an invited session on “Problems Facing Campus Media.”
• Dr. Michael Ottinger, assistant professor of physics, along with Dr. John Rushin, professor of biology, Dr. David Ashley, professor of biology, Dr. Victoria Wacek, assistant professor of teacher education, and Dr. Martin Johnson, dean of liberal arts and sciences, presented a two-week inquiry-based workshop entitled “Fostering Science Learning” for middle and high school teachers. The workshop was offered as part of the DHE Teacher Quality Grant.  Participants learned how to incorporate inquiry-based experiments in their teaching curriculum, received instruction on developing learning communities and the learning cycle, and received over $1,200 worth of electronic data acquisition equipment for their classrooms.
• Ellen Bottorff, instructor of music, accompanied a vocal performer in the National Association of Teachers National Convention in New Orleans.  The soloist she accompanied was awarded fifth place.
• Joanne Katz, associate professor of legal studies, co-presented with Sandra Rempe from the Missouri Department of Public Safety, “Instituting Restorative Justice in Missouri’s Juvenile Courts: One Court at a Time” at the International Conference for Restorative Practices in Vancouver, British Columbia.
• Dr. Nannette Wolford, associate professor of physical education, presented an early childhood program through Educare entitled “Early Childhood-Active Start” to area daycare and childcare providers.  Dr. Wolford also participated in a Quality PE Training meeting entitled Jump Into Action in Columbia, Mo.
• Denise Smith, associate professor of business, presented a paper entitled, “Religious Discrimination by Public Employers: A Review of Constitutional Protections” at the annual conference of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business in Ottawa. 
• Dale Krueger, associate professor of management, and Denise Bartles, associate professor of business, presented a case study on America West Airlines at the Society for Case Research at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo.

Excellence in our Students   

• Marcus Shobe was awarded the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Scholarship for minority accounting students .

• Alyesi Bobo and Melina Paden studied at the Université d’Angers in Angers, France during the spring 2004 semester as part of the cooperative exchange agreement.

• Jennifer McKinley, a criminal justice and legal studies major and business minor, presented “Freedom of Religion in Public Schools” at the annual conference of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business in Ottawa, sponsored by faculty member Denise Smith.  Jennifer’s paper was one of only seven student papers selected for presentation in a national competition.
• Sharon R. Kipple, a senior accounting and finance major, earned the Student Achievement Award from the Wall Street Journal. Both Kipple and the college were listed in an ad in the Wall Street Journal in recognition for the award.

Excellence in our Programs

• Prairie Lands Writing Project is one of 10 writing project sites nationwide to be awarded a $5,400 National Reading Initiative mini-grant as a part of the National Writing Project/Carnegie Foundation project to support programs for teachers in grades four-12, which focus on improving reading comprehension strategies and their connection to writing.

• Western hosted the St. Joseph School District College Fair.

• The counseling center staff provided 20 breakout sessions for Griffon Edge students during the orientation sessions.  Staff members have also been training new tutors, organizing various supplemental instruction and study group sessions, and helping to advise and develop schedules for students. They also helped with the late add/drop process. 

• Peggy Ellis, director of noncredit programs and training for business/industry, represented Western at the MeadWestvaco Transition Team meeting. This sponsored event by the AFL-CIO presented educational opportunities and available resources to corporate labor and management representatives.

• Western and MO Career Center staff met jointly to determine an action plan to enroll dislocated workers from MeadWestvaco for fall enrollment. A plan is being established with the nontraditional student center to assist Mead personnel in completing campus entrance requirements (ACT test, application forms, financial aid forms, etc.) in preparation for spring 2005 enrollment.

• Additional Customized Training Program funding has been allocated for four area companies. This brings the total 2004-05 allocation to over $102,000 for the St. Joseph region.

• The Western Institute, admissions, nontraditional student center and human resources represented Western at MeadWestvaco’s Job/Resource Fair.

• Peggy Ellis, director of noncredit programs and training for business/industry, met with the St. Joseph area Chamber of Commerce and Triumph Foods to determine a strategy for the development of up to two distinct work products:  1) The development of a training package that will meet the needs of Triumph Foods and will prepare individuals to be ready for employment with Triumph Foods; 2) the development of a marketing initiative to promote this opportunity to dislocated workers as a clear path to employment.  

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