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Donna Gehrke-White
interviewed 50 Muslim women in the United States for her book, and she had
a message for her audience: “They’re not what we see in the world media.”
Gehrke-White,
Pulitzer-prize winning features writer for The Miami Herald, spoke at
Western’s Eggs and Issues last week about what she learned about these
women while writing her recent book, “The Face Behind the Veil: The
Extraordinary Lives of Muslim Women in America.” The audience of almost
200 was the largest in the history of the Eggs and Issues speaker series.
Her presentation was
filled with stories of the lives of the women – escaping from political
turmoil in their homelands, adapting to life in the United States, and
becoming quite successful.
“Islam stresses
education,” she reiterated throughout her presentation, “They have made
amazing progress.” She said many women who were refugees were not able to
read or write when they came to the United States, but they will make sure
their children graduate from college. “Refugees are very driven for their
children to succeed. They are willing to make tremendous sacrifices for
their children.”
Gehrke-White noted that
the population of Muslims is rapidly growing in the United States, and she
divided the women she interviewed into four categories: new
traditionalists, blenders, converts, who make up about 30 percent of the
Muslim population in the United States; and changers.
She said she has never
seen the face of her website designer, because she is a new traditionalist
Muslim. They wear face covering as a sign of modesty. “They wanted me to
tell everyone that they feel a spiritual return to their faith by wearing
covering. Their husbands or fathers do not force them.”
On the other hand, the
“blenders” have chosen not to wear covering, often facing grave
disapproval from their families. “They say they can be a good Muslim
without a veil.”
It is also the blenders
who have changed the mosques in the United States. Rather than only being
a place for prayer, the mosques here have become spaces for Koran study,
Boy Scout meetings, and community gatherings.
The changers are in the
public eye and carry the title “first Muslim …” or “first female Muslim
…,” as they are judges, Islam Society presidents, museum directors and
more. They are the ones who started a movement to end honor killings in
their homelands.
She noted that Muslims in
the United States often face discrimination, but slowly, things are
changing.
“These women are
fascinating. We (the United States) are never going to be the same.”
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Don't Miss "House of Yes" Theatre Production
And you thought
your family was odd?
The second
production in the Western's theatre season,
Wendy MacLeod’s “The House of Yes,” opens Nov. 2 at the Black Box Theatre
in Thompson E. Potter Hall. The production begins at 8
p.m. and runs from Nov. 2-4 and 9-11. A matinee performance will be shown
at 2 p.m. Nov. 12. Ticket prices are $8 for general admission, $4 for
senior citizens and Western students, faculty and staff. Seating is
limited. Please call ahead for reservations at 4443.
An experiment in
environmental theatre, “The House of Yes” is a comedic tragedy that
follows an upper class family’s destruction from the John F. Kennedy
assassination. Marty Pascal, played by Brandon Hylton, Smithville, Mo.;
returns home for Thanksgiving dinner to introduce his fiancée, Lesly,
played by Amber Redmond of St. Joseph; to his family. Upon arrival, Lesly
starts to uncover disturbing family secrets. Audience members can expect
the unexpected, warns director Jeremy Warner, instructor of theatre.
The play is a search
for one’s identity, dealing with inner secrets, and one’s own sense of
family and belonging as overshadowed by the political catastrophes we
witness which are warped by the media’s coverage, said Warner. The play is
hilariously funny, yet deeply disturbing as it probes the skeletons hidden
in a rich family who has cut themselves off from the rest of the upper
class.
“I am particularly
excited about the show, because the audience will be centered in the
action instead of outside the action,” Warner said. “I can guarantee that
most people attending this play will have never had a theatre experience
like this before, as we step out of the proscenium stage and into the
magical realm of environmental theatre.”
“The House of
Yes” was originally performed in April 1990 in San Francisco at the Magic
Theatre. It has since been seen in 1993 at the Gate Theatre in London and
in 1995 at the SoHo Repertory Theatre in NYC.
Along with Hylton
and Redmond, cast members include Christiana Hansen, Omaha, Neb.; Jennifer
George, St. Joseph; and Grant Metcalf, Smithville, Mo. Justin Gabbert, St. Joseph, is assistant director, and Matthew
Flynn, St. Joseph, is stage manager.
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Points of Pride October 2006
Excellence in our Faculty/Staff
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Dr.
Todd Eckdahl, department chair and professor of biology, and colleagues
from the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching, received a grant from
NSF for $307,000 to support micro-array workshops for undergraduate
faculty during the next three summers. Dr. Eckdahl also received the
Yancey Outstanding Faculty Service Award from Beta Beta Beta National
Biological Honor Society for his 10-plus years of service as District
Director for the three-state area.
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Mary Jo Gay, associate professor of nursing,
completed degree requirements for the Ph.D. in nursing from the
University of Missouri – Kansas City.
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Marsha Dolan, associate professor of nursing
and coordinator of the Health Information Technology Program, has been
selected to serve on the American Health Information Management
Association’s (HIM) Component State Association (CSA) Task Force for
2007. The CSA Task Force is comprised of 10 representatives from various
state HIM associations. The group works to strengthen the federation
model, develop guidelines for local and regional HIM associations that
are in line with national guidelines, and perform review of CSA bylaws.
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Dr.
Cosette Hardwick, assistant professor of biology, has been appointed
president-elect of the Central Consortium of Clinical Educators of PT
and PTA Programs.
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Sharon Gray, associate professor of music,
has been appointed by the director of the Allied Arts Council to a
committee comprised of arts representatives and members of the city
council to determine the future of the historic Missouri Theater.
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Dr. Nancy Edwards, professor of education, was appointed
to NCATE’s executive board by virtue of her election as chair-elect of
the Coalition of Organizations for the Professional Preparation of
Educators (COPPE). In addition, each specialty group appoints only one
representative in the nation to NCATE and Dr. Edwards remained the
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) appointee to NCATE.
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Kit Blake, instructor of education, attended
the MSC-IRA board meeting and state council meeting with the
International Reading Association in Jefferson City, Mo. She serves as
the state secretary.
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Lisa Robbins, instructor of education, was
appointed co-chair of the State Interagency Coordinating Council – a
federally-mandated council for disabled children from birth to age
three. The council meets in Jefferson City, Mo.
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Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies,
whose report entitled “A Decade of Restorative Justice in Missouri’s
Juvenile Courts: Accountability, Restitution & Transformation” was
published by the Missouri Department of Public Safety. The report was
distributed to all Juvenile Courts in Missouri, as well as other
juvenile justice stakeholders. Katz also presented “Stakeholder
Attitudes and the Future of Restorative Justice in Missouri” at the
Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Juvenile Restorative Justice
Conference in Jefferson City, Mo.
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Dr.
Joseph Bragin, provost and vice president for academic and student
affairs, addressed the faculty and students of Western’s chemistry
department on the subject of “Symmetry Selection in Artificial DNA Base
Pairs,” a summary of his recent studies in the molecular electronic
structure of biopolymer mimics.
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Ramona Finley, assistant professor of
criminal justice; Jill Miller, professor of criminal justice; Suzanne
Kissock, assistant professor of criminal justice; and Dr. David Tushaus,
department chair and associate professor of legal studies, all attended
the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Juvenile Restorative Justice
Conference in Jefferson City, Mo. where each served as a moderator for a
workshop at the conference.
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Dr.
David Ashley, professor of biology, attended the National Speleological
Society meeting in Bellingham, Wash. to present a paper, “The Aquatic
Community of Tumbling Creek Cave (Taney County, Missouri): Results of a
Decade of Monitoring,” in the Cave Biology Section. Dr. Ashley also
presented a guest seminar in the Environment Stewardship Series at
Region 7 headquarters (Kansas City) of the Environmental Protection
Agency. The focus of the seminar, “The Loess Hills Landform,” was on the
ecology of the loess hills of northwest Missouri and on Dr. Ashley’s
research on the natural history of the western prairie fringed orchid (a
state endangered species).
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The department of chemistry completed a
highly active summer term with tremendous research activity. Faculty
members Dr. Ben Caldwell, associate professor of chemistry; Dr. Mike
Ducey, professor of chemistry; Dr. Jonathan Rhoad, assistant professor
of chemistry; and Dr. Steve Lorimor, associate professor of chemistry,
maintained a total of six research projects involving a total of 14
students.
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Dr. Len Archer, department chair and
professor of chemistry, gave an invited presentation at the fall
national meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco,
entitled “Methods and Scenarios for Utilizing Digital Resources in the
Teaching of Undergraduate Environmental Courses for Chemistry Majors.”
It was included in a daylong symposium on the use of digital resources
for environmental chemistry. Dr. Michael Ducey, professor of chemistry,
was also a co-author of the presentation.
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Deborah Becker, instructor of computer
science, and Linda Garlinger, director of career development, presented
a computer science, mathematics and physics colloquium entitled
“Interview Tips and Tricks and Finding Your First GREAT Job.”
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Dr. Bob Bergland, associate professor of
journalism, gave a presentation, “Politics, Media and Ukraine,” to the
St. Joseph Kiwanis Club and a presentation, “Online Journalism,” at West
Platte High School.
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Dr. James Bargar, professor of psychology,
presented a workshop entitled, “Case Examples of Service-Learning for
Academic Credit in Two Undergraduate Psychology Courses” at the Missouri
Campus Compact Conference on Civic Engagement and Service-Learning held
at Osage Beach, Mo.
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Dr. Konrad Gunderson, assistant professor of
accounting, presented his paper entitled “A Capstone Approach for
Teaching Financial Instruments in Intermediate Financial Accounting” at
Fort Hays State University, College of Business and Leadership, during
the 2006 Business and Leadership Symposium.
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Marsha Dolan, associate professor of nursing
and coordinator of the Health Information Technology program, along with
Julie Wolter from St. Louis University and Beth Friedman from Friedman
Consulting, presented at the national American Health Information
Management Association Convention on the “Evolution of the Personal
Health Record, Where We’ve Been, Where We Are Now and Where We Are
Going.” The meeting was held in Denver.
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Greg Lindsteadt, instructor of criminal
justice, successfully defended his dissertation in the criminal justice
department at Indiana University, Bloomington.
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Larry Andrews, professor of criminal
justice, took students from his criminal evidence class and students
from the Regional Law Enforcement Academy to observe a statutory rape
trial at the Buchanan County Courthouse. Fifty students were able to see
evidence and criminal procedures presented by both the prosecution and
defense lawyers and were able to apply material from their classes to
the real-life situation of criminal court.
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Dr. Nannette Wolford’s, professor of
physical education, PED 245 class (Methods and Techniques of Individual
and Dual Sports) worked with 23 homeschooled children to teach them
beginning skills of tennis on Western’s campus. Dr Wolford also wrote
grade level expectations in the area of physical education for the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
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Dr. Nancy Edwards, professor of education,
and Dr. Terry Barmann, assistant professor of education, attended
NCATE’s Accreditation, Accountability, and Quality Conference in
Washington, D.C. Edwards presented the following topics at two major
concurrent sessions: “Our Educational Performance System and How We Plan
to use it for NCATE Accreditation and Beyond” and “Reliability and
Validity of Student Performance Assessment Pieces.”
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Dr. Cindy Heider, associate professor
of teacher education and interim dean of professional studies,
represented Western at the Higher Education Partnership meeting which is
a partnership between the Kansas City, Missouri School Districts and
regional teacher education programs. Dr. Heider also made a presentation
at the 33rd Plains
International Reading Association Regional Conference in Omaha on
“Reading Motivation: Possibilities for Teaching and Learning.” She
represented Western at the Northwest Missouri School Administrators
Association meeting held in St. Joseph.
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Admissions hosted the Kansas City, Mo,
Kansas City, Kan high school and community college counselor luncheon at
the Kansas City Royals Stadium Club. There were over 82 counselors in
attendance. Dr. Judy Grimes, dean of student services, presented
information on the Griffon Gateway Program.
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Cathy Gann, center for academic support, and
Dawn Terrick, instructor of English, presented at the College Reading
and Learning Association National (CRLA) Conference in Austin, Texas.
Their presentation was entitled “Using the Learning Community to
Instruct and Engage Underprepared Students.” Gann is also the treasurer
for the Heartland CRLA Chapter.
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Rosalie Guyer, advising and A+ coordinator,
and Dr. Judy Grimes, dean of student services, made a presentation
entitled “Diverse Strategies for Empowering Advisors to Meet Today’s
Advising Challenges” at the National Academic Advising Conference in
Indianapolis. In addition, Guyer and Dr. Shauna Hiley, associate
professor of chemistry, presented four advising workshops at Western to
help advisors prepare for the upcoming registration days in November.
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George Hammer, A+ specialist, made a
presentation at Lafayette High School to the Scholarship Class on
utilizing A+ funds at Western. He also met with the Benton High School
A+ Advisory Committee.
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Dr. Tim Crowley, counselor, provided
sessions on stress management to several COL101 classes, while Dave
Brown, director of the counseling center, provided presentations on
learning styles to six separate COL101 classes. Brown also conducted a
two-hour presentation on time management skills for an Honors
Colloquium. Dr. Vincenza Marash, counselor, worked with the residential
life staff on issues surrounding empowering the genders and was a guest
reader during the recent “Fate of Hate” conference.
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Steve Potter, counselor, and Dave Brown,
director of the counseling center, attended a statewide conference on
suicide at the University of Missouri-Columbia. All 12 state
universities were represented at the summit as the campuses attempt to
establish a statewide network of support and resources for this growing
concern among the student population.
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Michael Ritter, coordinator of
disability services, presented “Motivation and Self- Esteem” to a group
of 5th and
6th graders
at Hall Elementary School. He also emceed this year’s No More Stares
conference and presented a breakout session on “Caring for the
Caregiver.” No More Stares is a regional conference on disabilities
which is held annually in St. Joseph.
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Dr. Tim Crowley, counselor, was the keynote
speaker this year at the No More Stares conference. There were well over
200 people in attendance throughout the day.
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Michael Ritter, coordinator of disability
services, has been co-presenting with his wife, Michelle Ritter,
webmaster, on “The Dangers of Drinking and Driving” for most of the
COL_101 classes. Michael Ritter has been chosen to be one of the keynote
speakers at the Meeting of the Minds Conference in the spring of 2007.
Meeting of the Minds is an annual conference sponsored by the statewide
Partners in Prevention underage drinking program. Michael Ritter also
presented a training session on “Disability Awareness” for tutors in the
Center for Academic Support and he has submitted an application to be a
Disability Awareness merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts of
America.
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A Career Decision Making Seminar, conducted
by Linda Garlinger, director of career development, was held for 65
Upward Bound students, and she attended a business etiquette seminar
hosted by Leadership St. Joseph. Garlinger also presented a Networking
and Business Etiquette Dinner at the Embassy Suites Hotel at Kansas City
International Airport. Eighty people participated, which included 17
Western students. Garlinger met with faculty in the business department
to discuss career services and joint efforts to assist students in the
job search process. In addition, an etiquette class was held for nursing
students and a business etiquette dinner seminar was held at Rockhurst
University.
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Jeff Wilson, student employment, was a
featured speaker at the Disabilities Awareness in the Workplace
Conference at Citicards.
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Peggy
Ellis, director of professional training, attended the Governor’s
Conference on Workforce Development. The conference brought together
over 800 public and private sector professionals to explore the links
between workforce development and economic development.
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Dr. Steven
Lorimor, associate professor of chemistry, and Western senior
biochemistry/molecular biology major Darcie Elder gave a research poster
presentation entitled “Evidence for the Generation of p-Diphenoquinodimethane.”
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Marsha Dolan, associate
professor of nursing and coordinator of the Health Information
Technology (HIT) program, accompanied 21 HIT program students who were
attending the Kansas City Health Information Management Association.
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Dr. Shiva Nandan, professor of marketing,
and business major, Brad Meyer, attended the International Business and
Economics Research Conference in Las Vegas and presented a paper
entitled “An Essay on Postmodernism: Manifestations in Contemporary
Business and Marketing.” Dr. Nandan also served as a session chair at
the conference.
Excellence in our Students
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Chemistry senior Deborah Wright; incoming
freshman chemistry students Jonathan Morrison and Joseph Noynaert;
Excelsior Springs High School senior Tara Hill; and Dr. Mike Ducey,
associate professor of chemistry; presented “Solvent Induced Order in
Alkyl Imidazolium Ionic Liquids” at the annual Summer Research Institute
Symposium.
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Chemistry seniors Darcie Elder and Janessa
Paden; Chillicothe High School senior Amanda DeBey; Dr. Ben Caldwell,
associate professor of chemistry; and Dr. Mike Ducey, associate
professor of chemistry; presented “Examination of Protein Interactions
in Pituitary Hormone Production” at the annual Summer Research Institute
Symposium.
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Chemistry majors LeeAnn Schuster and Luke
Vollmer, members of Western’s Alchemist Club (our American Chemical
Society Student Affiliates section), presented a poster entitled,
“Discover Gold with the Alchemist Club at Missouri Western State
University.” Western senior biochemistry/molecular biology major Darcie
Elder and Dr. Steven Lorimor, associate professor of chemistry, gave a
research poster presentation entitled “Evidence for the Generation of p-Diphenoquinodimethane.”
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Business major Brad Meyer and Dr. Shiva
Nandan, professor of marketing, attended the International Business and
Economics Research Conference in Las Vegas and presented a paper
entitled “An Essay on Postmodernism: Manifestations in Contemporary
Business and Marketing.”
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Fifteen cadets and cadre members of
Western’s ROTC program participated in a four-day staff ride to the
Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana. Under the direction of LTC Rob
Gardner, professor of military science, the group’s primary focus was to
bring to life the Battle of Little Big Horn. They provided examples of
leadership and examined the various factors of battle such as tactics,
terrain, communications, leadership and psychological factors of the
battle.
Excellence
in our Programs
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The Dual Credit General Chemistry I program
continues to expand and is now being conducted in 20 regional high
schools, the largest Dual Credit program at Western. The program is
managed by new faculty member, Dr. James Puckett.
This year, 116 students throughout northwest
Missouri and northeast Kansas are enrolled.
An average 25 percent of students taking the Dual Credit Chemistry
course enroll as full-time degree seeking students at Western. This
program is a collaborative effort between the College of Liberal Arts &
Sciences and the Western Institute.
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Dr. Elizabeth Latosi-Sawin, professor of
English, joined Dr. Deborah Freedman, professor of music; Russell
Phillips instructor of psychology; and Jim Grechus, professor emeritus
of health, physical education and recreation; in supervising the
northern trek of Westerns Outdoor Semester. The students visited several
historical and cultural sites on the northern plains before camping and
canoeing on the upper wild and scenic portion of the Missouri River in
honor of the third and final year of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.
Western’s Outdoor Semester is the university’s oldest, multidisciplinary
faculty/student learning community. Jerry Wilkerson, professor emeritus
of mathematics, assisted the group.
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Seventeen teachers from 10 area schools,
K-12, are participating in the “Blogging” or “Digital Composing and
Digital Literacy” professional learning communities at Western this fall
as a part of the National Writing Project’s (NWP) Technology Initiative,
“Teaching in a Digital World.” Prairie Lands Writing Project is one of
eight NWP sites nationwide receiving $15,000 grants to sponsor
teacher-based technology research projects during 2006-2007.
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Prairie Lands Writing Project (PLWP) is
delivering a three-day professional development series, “Let’s Talk
About Writing: Looking at the Six Traits,” for the certified staff (60
teachers and administrators) at Excelsior Springs High School this fall.
Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English and PLWP site director, is
facilitating the in-service with PLWP Teacher Consultants Sara Capra,
Park Hill High School language arts teacher, and Michele Thomason,
Platte County R-III At-Risk Coordinator.
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The Pony Express ROTC participated in a
Field Leader’s Reaction Course (FLRC) in Topeka, Kan. The FLRC is
designed to develop and evaluate leadership and to build teamwork.
Course administration is accomplished using the established cadet
organization and chain of command. Cadet leadership potential is
assessed by committee evaluators which consist of fellow cadets and
cadre. Cadets are provided the opportunity to get early feedback on
their leadership strengths, weaknesses, styles and techniques.
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The Big Event was held with participants
being taken to several sites in St. Joseph to provide some needed
service. Sites included the Pumpkin Fest (Pony Express, Girl Scouts of
America), Youth Alliance Beautification, Mid-City Excellence, Habitat
for Humanity, Faith in Action, and Salvation Army. The collaboration
resulted in over 200 hours of volunteerism.
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The Center for Multicultural Education
presented the first annual Fate of Hate program, a compilation of
activities regarding anti-hate and discrimination in Missouri and
society at large. Participants viewed documentaries, learned about those
who have died as a result of hate crimes, and learned about leading
social justice workers in society. There was also a moment of silence
dedicated to the victims and survivors of Sept. 11, 2001.
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The Fall
Career Fair was held in the Fulkerson Center. Approximately 65 companies
registered to attend. Western partnered with the Employment Coalition of
the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce, Eagle Radio, Alpha Kappa Psi
Business Fraternity and The Physical Therapy Assistant Association to
host this event. Radio stations K-JO and Q-Country broadcasted live from
campus for this event.
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Admissions hosted the St. Joseph College
Fair, with 80 colleges and universities in attendance. It was an
excellent opportunity to showcase Western to more than 450 students and
parents from Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. Lisa Siudym, director of
financial aid, presented two workshops for parents and students on the
new changes for the Federal Financial Aid application. Siudym also
covered all scholarships that are available.
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Recent VIP activities include hosting the
St. Joseph Regional College Fair, helping with the Northwest Missouri
State Counselors Association meeting, working at Worlds of Fun for a
fundraiser, giving tours for the Western Hall of Fame Committee. VIPs
also began telecounseling to make potential incoming freshman aware of
admission counselor’s visits to high schools. They have also assisted
admission counselors with the Des Moines, Iowa; Bethany, Mo.; Cameron,
Mo.; and Kansas City, Mo. college fairs.
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National Orientation Directors Association
(NODA) awarded Western in two categories: best newsletter and best
orientation handbook.
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