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

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A Look Ahead

Western Student to Speak at Commencement Dec. 18

St. Joe Symphony Presents "Yuletide Pops"

News Briefs

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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 207).

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 271-4124.

Student Editor:
Jenna Haecker

Staff Adviser:
Kent Heier 

back to MWSU

Dec. 13, 2010 - Jan. 13, 2011

A Look Ahead

Note: This is the last edition of Tower Topics for the fall semester. We'll return on Jan. 13. Enjoy the Winter Break!

Monday, Dec. 13

  • Final Exams Begin

  • "Christmas at the Cathedral", 7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Cathedral, 519 N. 10th St.

Tuesday, Dec. 14

  • GISC Sports Camp Registration, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Griffon Indoor Sports Complex (see details below in News Briefs)
  • Bowling NIght, 7-10 p.m., Belt Bowl
    • The Griffon Veterans Education Transition Support (VETS) is a new student organization on campus, here to help out the great veterans of our country. They open memberships to all members of our nation's military as well as memberships to all of those who support the military. They are holding a fundraiser for everyone to come out and relax during finals week. It will be $10 to bowl as many games as one can in three hours, including shoe rental. For more information please contact Griffon VETS President Matthew Huffman at 916-244-9726 or mhuffman3@missouriwestern.edu.
  • Holiday Brunch deadline
    • Reservations need to be made by responding to the e-mail previously mailed out or by calling the Presidents Office at 816-271-4237.

Wednesday, Dec. 15

  • New Telephone System meeting, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Kemper Recital Hall
    • A Missouri Western committee is looking at installing a new telephone system with completion before school starts in August 2011. The committee is committed to saving the university money as well as adding features. Everyone is welcome to attend. All input is appreciated.

Thursday, Dec. 16

  • GISC Sports Camp Registration, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Griffon Indoor Sports Complex (see details below in News Briefs)
  • Staff Association Winter Retreat, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hoff Conference Rooms, Blum 218-219

Friday, Dec. 17

  • Last day of Finals

  • ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, 9 a.m., Enright Community Rooms Spratt 214/216

  • Holiday Brunch for employees and retirees, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Fulkerson Center
    • This year we are collecting for the Second Harvest Food Bank Backpack Buddies Program. Items requested are: Single Serve Cereal; Easy Mac (or equivalent); Chef Boyardee Ready Made Meals (or equivalent); Granola Bars or Single Serving Snacks items.  Please bring items from the above list to donate to this worthy cause.  Cash or checks payable to the Second Harvest Food Bank will be accepted.
  • Student fashion designers deadline
    • All applications and designs for student fashion designers for the annual WAC spring fashion show need to be turned into the Center of Student Engagement no later than noon. Applications are available in the CSE.For more information contact Lauren Dillon.
  • Applications for Adopt-A-Family deadline
    • Will you and your family need assistance in order to have a joyful Christmas? The Adopt-A-Family can help. Applications will be taken from families and individuals needing help for Christmas at the AFL-CIO Community Services office, 1203 North Street. Applications are accepted Monday-Thursday from 1-4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Documents needs are attached on the back. Applications can be picked up at the non-traditional center Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 18

  • Pinning Ceremony for Nursing Graduates, 8:30 a.m., Fulkerson Center

  • Winter Commencement, 11 a.m., M.O. Looney Complex

  • Wintersession starts

  • Saint Joseph Symphony, "Yuletide Pops," 7 p.m., Missouri Theater
    • The Saint Joseph Symphony will performs its annual Yuletide Pops concert with a program featuring holiday songs and the New Generation Singers under the leadership of Byron "Bemo" Myers II. Tickets from $13 to $43 are available online at saintjosephsymphony.org or by calling 816-233-7701, or at the Symphony office at 120 South 8th Street in St. Joseph.

Sunday, Dec. 19

  • Griffon women's basketball vs. Washburn University, 1:30 p.m., Looney Complex

    • Western improved their record to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the MIAA with a convincing 76-58 victory over Fort Hays State on Dec. 11. Rachel Luteyn led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

  • Griffon men's basketball vs. Washburn University, 3:30 p.m., Looney Complex

    • The Griffons got a big win on Dec. 11, handing No. 6 Fort Hays State their first loss of the year as James Harvey scored his only point on a free throw with 0.5 seconds remaining to lift Western to a 78-77 win. The Griffons are now 4-5 overall and 2-2 in MIAA play.

Wednesday, Dec. 22

  • Holiday break begins, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 23

  • Campus Closed, Dec. 23 - Jan. 2

Friday, Dec. 24

  • Christmas Eve

Saturday, Dec. 25

  • Merry Christmas!

Thursday, Dec. 30

  • Griffon women's basketball vs. Newman, 7 p.m., Looney Complex

Sunday, January 2

  • Griffon women's basketball vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 1:30 p.m., Looney Complex

  • Griffon men's basketball vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 3:30 p.m., Looney Complex

Monday, January 3

  • Welcome back! Campus reopens

Wednesday, January 5

  • Griffon women's basketball at Northwest Missouri State, 5:30 p.m., Maryville, Mo.

  • Griffon men's basketball at Northwest Missouri State, 7:30 p.m., Maryville, Mo.

Saturday, January 8

  • Griffon women's basketball at Lincoln University, 1:30 p.m., Jefferson City, Mo.

  • Griffon men's basketball at Lincoln University, 3:30 p.m., Jefferson City, Mo.

Wednesday, January 12

  • Last day for early registration

  • Griffon women's basketball at Truman State, 5:30 p.m., Kirksville, Mo.

  • Griffon men's basketball at Truman State, 7:30 p.m., Kirksville, Mo.

Thursday, January 13

  • Wintersession ends

  • Walk-in Registration, 1-6:30 p.m., Eder Hall

Rube Goldberg Mini-Golf

   

   

   

Students in a 3-D Design class taught by Neil Lawley converted a room in the Fulkerson Center into a mini-golf course on the last day of classes Dec. 10. The assignment called for students to create a mini-golf hole incorporating a "Rube Goldberg" machine,

Western Student to Speak at Commencement Dec. 18

The Winter Commencement for fall graduates will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 in the M.O. Looney Complex arena. For the first time in school history, a student will be the featured commencement speaker: Lindsey Jackson, a senior speech communication major.

“We’re pleased that Lindsey is starting a new tradition, and I’m sure she’s going to do a wonderful job,” said President Vartabedian. “We’re Missouri’s institution of applied learning, and giving a speech to her graduating classmates is a great way for a communications major to apply what she’s learned.”

Jackson was chosen from a pool of six candidates nominated for the honor by fellow students, faculty and staff. The executive board of the Student Government Association, or SGA, interviewed finalists and presented a recommendation to Dr. Esther Perález, vice president for student affairs.

“Lindsey has been an outstanding leader on Western’s campus, serving as an SGA Senator, SGA Director of Communications and a Resident Assistant, just to name a few,” Dr. Perález said. “She is an active volunteer in the community and has outstanding communication skills, which she uses to describe how her experiences as the child of an Air Force father helped expand her knowledge and understanding of other cultures, making her a true ‘citizen of the world.’ She has relied on those experiences to help in her academic career.”

Students were excited to have one of their own speak at commencement, Dr. Perález said, and plans are to continue the new tradition every December. Jackson said she’s honored to be the first student chosen as commencement speaker. She plans to talk to her fellow seniors about how they all got to this point in their lives.

“No senior would have made it this far without the help of family, friends and Western faculty and staff,” Jackson said. “I guess you could say I’ll be honoring all those who have been pivotal in our journey.”

Jackson will graduate in May 2011. She plans to marry shortly after graduation and pursue a career in public relations.

The MWSU Alumni Association is hosting a free reception for all graduates and their families immediately following the ceremony in the old gym. A pinning ceremony and reception for nursing graduates is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 18 in the Fulkerson Center. A commissioning ceremony and reception for graduates of the ROTC program will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 17 in the Enright Community Room, Spratt Hall room 214/216.

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Light Up Western

      

 
President Bob and Dr. Laurel Vartabedian and the Division of Student Affairs co-hosted "Light Up Western" for students on Dec. 6. At left, SGA President Dillon Harp lit the Christmas trees in the Blum Union. Upper right, low brass students from the music department provided musical entertainment for the lighting of the Glenn E. Marion Memorial Clocktower. Lower right, student organizations competed in a singing contest for cash prizes.

St. Joe Symphony Presents "Yuletide Pops"

The St. Joseph Symphony will perform its annual “Yuletide Pops” program at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Missouri Theater, 717 Edmond Street. The program will feature holiday songs and the New Generation Singers under the leadership of Byron “Bemo” Myers II.

The New Generation Singers are a Christian ensemble composed of approximately 100 area high school and college age youth from all over the region from many churches and many denominations. Each year they build a “Sermon in Song” that they share on Sundays throughout the summer with local churches before going on a two week tour. Throughout the last 40 years, the ensemble has performed coast-to-coast in the U.S. and has also appeared in Canada.

“This is really going to be a Holiday Concert to remember,” said Rico McNeela, the symphony’s music director and director of orchestral activities at Missouri Western State University. “We've got lots of great holiday music, and the New Generation Singers will bring many, many wonderful young voices and a level of enthusiasm and excitement that can't be matched!”

The New Generation Singers join the Symphony for several songs including “Mary Did You Know?,” “The Many Moods of Christmas” and “For the Glory of the King.” The Symphony will also perform many favorite pieces including “Sleigh Ride,” “Bugler’s Holiday,” “Ave Maria” and “The Blue Danube.” To conclude the evening’s program, all audience members are invited to participate in a Christmas Sing Along of familiar carols with the Symphony and New Generation Singers.

The concert is sponsored by Nestlé Purina and they will host a reception after the concert with Nestlé Tollhouse cookies and hot chocolate.

Tickets from $13 to $43 are available online at saintjosephsymphony.org, by phone at 816-233-7701 or at the Symphony office at 120 South 8th Street in St. Joseph.  The theater box office opens at 5:30pm the night of the concert.

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Lights and Tights

                       

               

"Lights and Tights," the Renaissance Feast that serves as a fundraiser for the musical theatre program at Western, drew more than 100 attendees on Dec. 4. Students and faculty from the music and theatre programs provided entertainment while dressed in period costume, and guests were encouraged but not required to don appropriate attire as well.

News Briefs

HOLIDAY BREAK EXTENDED -- In appreciation for your dedicated service and to allow you to better prepare for the holidays, we have decided to give you an extra holiday on Thursday, December 23. As such, your holiday break will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22, and run through Sunday, January 2 with offices re-opening on Monday, January 3. If you have turned in absence reports for this day, adjustments will be made automatically.

ADOPT A FAMILY – Will you and your family need assistance in order to have a joyful Christmas? The Adopt-A-Family can help. Applications will be taken from families and individuals needing help for Christmas at the AFL-CIO Community Services office, 1203 North 6th Street. Sign up begins Monday, November 8, 2010 and end Friday, December 17, 2010. Applications are accepted Monday-Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Documents needed are attached on back. Applications can be picked up in the Non-Traditional Student Center, Eder 200, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

SORORITY HELPS ALUMNA - Alpha Gamma Delta will be collecting clothing and monetary donations to help a victim of an apartment fire that occurred on Monday. Early Monday morning, on Nov. 29, 2010, a Missouri Western alumna lost nearly everything when her apartment was destroyed by a fire. Now, the ladies of Alpha Gamma Delta are requesting your help in collecting both clothing and monetary donations to help put her back on her feet. The ladies of Alpha Gamma Delta will also be selling Candy Canes to help raise money to assist the victim affected by this tragedy. Anyone willing to make a donation can contact a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, including President Courtney Hall at chall4@missouriwestern.edu or 816-244-2409; or take your donations to the Center for Student Engagement on the second floor of the Blum Student Union. Requested Donations Include: -Size Large Women’s shirts -New Kitchen Utensils and small appliances -Winter clothing- hats, scarfs, gloves, etc.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION ADVISER NEEDED - A group of students are trying to establish a U.S. armed forces veteran's fraternity here on campus known as Omega Delta Sigma (ODS). Colony and school application requirements include a MWSU faculty/staff advisor upon registration. A military veteran is ideal but NOT required. If there is anyone interested in being said advisor, please contact Jeremy Filbert at jfilbert@missouriwestern.edu or call him at 816-352-7874.

GISC SPORTS CAMP - The Griffon Indoor Sports Complex will be hosting a youth activity/sport camp during the holiday break. On December 27-30, the GISC will be hosting CAMP GISC which is day camp for children in grades 3-8. Registration will take place from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex on December 14 & 16. The registration for each child is $90, which includes lunch daily and a camp shirt. Activities including flag football, kickball, soccer, team building exercises, relays, movies, swimming and much more will be scheduled throughout the week. For more information you can visit www.gogriffons.com or call 816-271-4556. 

WINTER SESSION – Accelerate your academic career! With Winter Session classes you can use your winter break to earn 3 or 5 credits. Take a course to apply to your major, or explore an area of interest. Online and on-campus options are available. Classes run December 18, 2010 - January 14, 2011. See http://www.wi.missouriwestern.edu/wintersession.asp for more information!

PRIORITY REGISTRATION - Current students, it's not too late for priority registration for the Spring 2011 semester. Schedule an appointment with your adviser to start the process. Make sure to do it before finals are over, as your adviser may be off campus soon after.

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Multidisciplinary Research Days

Dozens of students presented research projects during the annual Summer Research Institute/Undergraduate Research Summer Institute Multi-Disciplinary Research Day Poster Session on Dec. 7.

ADS

FOR SALE: Darkroom - complete. Beseler enlarger with dichroic color head, 6' sink. All equipment included (trays, timers, film safe, etc.). $1,000. Call 816-279-5598.

PLYOMETRIC BOX FOR SALE: One 20" plyometric box for sale. It is made of 3/4" plywood. Nailed, screwed & glued together. 3/8" solid, non-slip, rubber top. Excellent condition. Rarely used. I bought this at BiggerFasterStronger.com for $129 plus s/h. Asking $75 or best offer. 816-390-5443

ENTERTAINMENT CENTER AND TV FOR SALE: Oak Entertainment Center and a 52" Sony TV for sale. Would prefer to sell them together, but would be willing to separate. Entertainment center is adjustable for TV size, has lights, glass doors with adjustable shelves, sliding storage compartment and bottom storage cabinet. Entertainment center is currently at 115" width including the TV and 75" height. Smoke free, pet free home. Price is negotiable - WE WANT THIS GONE ASAP! Cash only. Will need to bring help loading. No delivery. 816-390-5443.

QUEEN SOFA BED FOR SALE: Navy plaid, great condition! Call 816-294-8178.

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; by fax to 4414 or by mail to Tower Topics, , Leah Spratt Hall, Public Relations and Marketing office, Room 207. 

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