Week of January 30 - February 5, 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:

Applied Learning Conference

College Goal Sunday

Dr. Todd Eckdahl to Speak at Eggs and Issues

Tower Sports

News Briefs

Calendar

Points of Pride

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.

Student Editor:
Katie Johnston

Staff Advisers:
Kristy Hill and Diane Holtz

Applied Learning Conference

Registration Deadline is Feb. 1

Western's First Conference on Applied Learning in Higher Education will be held Feb. 10-11. The conference will feature presentations from over 50 individuals representing more than 20 institutions of higher education across the state, as well as a significant number of presentations from Western's own faculty and staff. Keynote addresses include:
 

• "Reflecting on Service," Janet S. Eyler, author of "Where's the Learning in Service-Learning?"
• "Engaging Departments: Building Academic Community-University Partnerships for the Common Good," Kevin Kecskes, author of "The Engaged Department"
• "Internationalization of the Campus:  What It Is, How To Do It, and Why This Doesn't Work," Terry Rodenberg, assistant vice chancellor for international affairs at East Carolina University and winner of the Andrew Heiskill Award for Innovation in International Education

The conference schedule is as follows:

Friday, February 10th
1-5 p.m. On-site registration/check-in, Fulkerson Center
3-5 p.m.  Concurrent presentation sessions, Spratt Hall
5-6 p.m. Poster Session, Spratt Hall Atrium
6-6:45 p.m. Dinner, Kemper Room of Fulkerson Center
6:45-7:45 p.m. Eyler Keynote Address, Kemper Room of Fulkerson Center
8 p.m.  Social Hour, Stoney Creek Inn, 1201 N. Woodbine, St. Joseph, Mo.

Saturday, February 11th
8-9 a.m. Breakfast, Kemper Room of Fulkerson Center
9-10 a.m. Kecskes Keynote Address, Kemper Room of Fulkerson Center
10 a.m.-12 p.m. Concurrent presentation sessions, Spratt Hall
12-12:30 p.m. Lunch, Kemper Room of Fulkerson Center
12:30-1:30 p.m. Rodenberg Keynote Address


The conference concludes at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 11.  Please note that the $35 conference fee is WAIVED for all Western faculty and staff.  The deadline to register for the event is Feb. 1.

For more information, contact Dr. Kelly Henry, director of applied learning, at 5693.

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College Goal Sunday

Now is the time for high school seniors and their parents to be thinking about financial aid for college next fall. The financial aid office at Western, along with area high school counselors, wants to make the financial aid process as easy as possible. Western’s financial aid office is hosting College Goal Sunday for prospective college students and their parents 2–4 p.m. Feb. 12 in Leah Spratt Hall. The Northwest Missouri School Counselor Association is sponsoring the event. Anyone who needs assistance filling out financial aid forms may attend.

The purpose of College Goal Sunday is to educate high school students and their parents about financial aid. Financial aid professionals and counselors will be available throughout the day to assist families in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to answer questions.

During the presentations, participants will be presented with an overview of federal, state, and other assistance opportunities; information about application procedures and deadlines; how the government determines eligibility for aid; how to locate and apply for scholarship opportunities; information about financial aid scams and how to avoid them; and much more. Students and their parents must bring their 2005 federal tax records.

Information and assistance provided will be relevant to most colleges and universities nationwide. Information specific to Western will also be provided upon request.

For more information, contact Angela Beam, director of financial aid, at 4361 or by email at lepley@missouriwestern.edu.

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Dr. Todd Eckdahl to Speak at Eggs and Issues

Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology, will give a presentation entitled “The Stem Cell Debate: It’s All About Eggs and Issues” at the Eggs and Issues speaker series, a free breakfast presentation for the campus and the community. Dr. Eckdahl will speak at 7 a.m. Feb. 15 in the Fulkerson Center. To make a reservation for the free breakfast, call 5646 by Feb. 10.

“In November 2006, Missourians will likely have a chance to vote on a constitutional amendment that would allow stem cell research and protect the use of stem cell treatments,” said Dr. Eckdahl. He said he will discuss the background of stem cell research to help develop informed opinions.

Dr. Eckdahl graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a major in chemistry and a minor in biology. He earned a Ph.D in molecular genetics from Purdue University and has completed post-doctorate work on virology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

His research interests include using modern molecular biology techniques such as DNA sequencing, molecular cloning, and microarray analysis. Dr. Eckdahl is also interested in the area of synthetic biology, which is the combination of engineering principles with molecular biology tools to design biological devices that carry out new functions within cells.

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Tower Sports

Men's Basketball

• Jan. 25 - Western 75, Washburn 71

• Jan. 28 - Western 80, Missouri Southern 63

Women's Basketball

• Jan. 25 - Western 66, Washburn 74

• Jan. 28 - Western 61, Missouri Southern 69

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• Ready.Set.Go...Discover College, an early awareness program for middle school students, needs faculty to help give presentations as the middle school students visit campus. For example, last year several nursing professors taught the students how to take their heart rate, a criminal justice professor brought a polygraph test to his presentation and demonstrated how it worked. Each presentation is 45 min. and begin at 9:15 a.m., 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Dates available are March 3 and 31, April 21 and 28, and May 5. For more information contact Kim Schank at 4266 or redmon@missouriwestern.edu.

• The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the center for multicultural education will co-sponsor a program addressing concerns about leadership in the black community. They will present information about past leaders and groups, hear key points from a leader in the NAACP state conference as well as hear responses from a panel of campus and community leaders. Come and get information, ask questions and learn why this topic is important to ALL of US. If you have questions please email westernnaacp@yahoo.com

• Do you find yourself using words that may be offensive to others? Did you know that some words we use are so powerful that they can be emotionally and mentally harmful to others? The Expanding Our Horizons Project presents "The Power of Words Series." This will give participants an opportunity to come together to explore the use of such words and discuss ways to be more socially considerate. Mark the following dates on your calendar: Jan. 31, Feb. 21, March 7 and 28, April 11 and 25. Sessions will take place at 6 p.m. in Blum Union 222. Participants will receive a nationally recognized certificate of completion on April 25 during the Social Action reception. This program is free to all students, faculty, staff and community members.

• Interested in joining Alpha Gamma Delta sorority? Come to our informational meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 in Blum Union, room 218. For more information contact Heather Porter at hmp7212@missouriwestern.edu or 816-383-3330.

• Calling all male students! Would you like to be part of a very distinguished fraternity that has been rated #1 fraternity on campus for the last few years? If so, Tau Kappa Epsilon is for YOU. Contact us at: tke@missouriwestern.edu Check out the TKE Rush Homepage, flyers in the halls, and don't forget to attend this week's events.

• S.O.S. Peer Educators are looking for tattooed individuals for a tattoo fashion show at Western. There will be a meeting for tattooed models at      4 p.m. Feb. 7 in Eder Hall, room 208. If you are interested and can't make the meeting, please contact Karen Pruitt at klp8862@missouriwestern.edu or 4218.

• Alpha Omega is a non-Greek Christian sorority. We hold Bible studies every Monday from 7-9 p.m.  Any lady who would like to join Alpha Omega, our next meetings will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 in Blum Union, room 222. You can also email us at alphaomega@missouriwestern.edu. 

• Are you looking for a unique summer job? The first year student programs office is looking for enthusiastic, mature, dedicated students to serve as Orientation Ambassadors for this summer. Orientation Ambassadors help lead the Destination Western Orientation and Griffon Edge Programs and allow you the opportunity to give presentations to groups of 15 - 25 students on academic policies and procedures as well as facilitate team and builder/icebreaker activities, initiate and develop open peer relationships with incoming students, serve as a peer educator and peer advisor, act as a role model for new freshmen, their families, and transfer students. Orientation Ambassadors must meet the following criteria: complete at least one semester at Western prior to application; be a degree seeking student enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours at Western; have an overall GPA of 2.25 or higher and a semester GPA of at least 2.5; be free of disciplinary probation and suspension, and be willing, able and committed to participating in all training programs. Applicants graduating in May of 2006 will not be considered. For more information about this position, visit www.missouriwestern.edu/studentemployment, keyword "Orientation Ambassador." Applications are due to the Student Development Office by Feb. 1.

• Are you interested in joining SIGMA SIGMA SIGMA Sorority? Contact Kelly Files, Tri Sigma Recruitment Director for more information 383-2890 kjf6581@missouriwestern.edu. 

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Monday, January 30

• United States Department of Agriculture-Office of the Inspector General Interviews

Wednesday, February 1

• CSMP Department Colloquium - "Mathematical Coloring Book," Dr. Don Vestal - 3:45 p.m. Agenstein 109

Thursday, February 2

• First Thursday Downtown Noontime Concert - 12 p.m. First Presbyterian Church, 7th & Jules.

Friday, February 3

Saturday, February 4

• Women's Basketball vs. Southwest Baptist - 5:30 p.m.

• Men's Basketball vs. Southwest Baptist - 7:30 p.m.

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Points of Pride

Excellence in our Faculty/Staff

• Dr. Mike Smith, professor of education, received Honorable Mention for his video production, “Learning to Teach Reading,” at the 2005 Communicator Awards competition.       

• Tara Stoll, video producer/technical director, was awarded an Award of Distinction for the recent distance education video promo “It's All About You,” at the 2005 Communicator Awards Competition. Danielle Hunt, manager, educational television services, was awarded an Award of Distinction for the program opening to the telecourse “SOC 200 Introduction to Archeology with Dr. Jimmy Albright,” and two Awards of Distinction for this year's United Way video production, “One Gift, Many Lives.”

• Dr. Melissa A. F. Daggett, assistant professor of biology, was elected to the Association of College and University Biology Educators steering committee for the next three years.

• Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology, served as laboratory coordinator for two three-day National Science Foundation-sponsored workshops held at Morehouse College in Atlanta. The workshop and the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching (GCAT) will be featured in a NSF monthly newsletter presented to the U.S. Congress and in an article in Science magazine.

• Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology, co-authored a paper with former biology students Sara Freel and Dan Bradford. The paper was published in the Summer 2005 issue of Cell Biology Education.  

• Victoria Sample, central stores/laboratory coordinator, is the Lead Author of the K-12 Science Safety Policy Guide for the Houston Independent School District, Houston. The manual will be published and marketed internationally by the Laboratory Safety Institute, Natick, Mass.

• Janice Ragland, adjunct professor of music, had 12 students in the pre-collegiate division of the Missouri Music Teachers Honors Competition, with her students winning top honors in each division.

• Dr. Brenda Blessing, professor of recreation management and acting dean of professional studies, attended and participated in the NCAA Membership Summit for all divisions in Orlando, Fla. She also attended and participated at the NCAA National Convention and MIAA Winter Meeting in Indianapolis.

• Kathy Kelly, administrative coordinator for student development, attended the National Orientation Directors Association Conference, along with business majors Harold Calloway, sophomore; Jeremy Wilder, junior; and Bradley Dixon, sophomore.

• Jeannie Harmon-Miller, associate professor of art, had a mixed-media triptych entitled “Dark Light” juried into the national juried exhibition 12x12 sponsored by the Middle Tennessee State University.

• Geo Sipp, associate professor of art, had a print from his Algerian Series entitled “Oil Fields,” selected for inclusion in the 19th Parkside National Small Print Exhibition to be held at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside.

• Dr. Marilyn Hunt, associate professor of speech and department chair, attended the National Communication Association annual conference in Boston. Dr. Hunt delivered a paper on “The Senior Experience: New Approaches in Assessment,” and discussed a simulation assignment for use in teaching Organizational Communication on a panel, “Ensuring the Educational Health of Communication Classrooms: Experiential Teaching Strategies, Activities and Opportunities for Engaging Students.” Additionally, Hunt completed a short course on “Assessing Student Learning Outcomes, Reflection, and the Effects on Community Partners in Service-Learning Courses.”

• Dr. Judy Grimes, dean of student services, provided presentations on student services for Western football recruits and their parents during January campus visits.

• Mark Linder, director of athletics, and Wonda Berry-Howe, director of recreation services and facilities, have been working with the St. Joseph Visitors and Tourism Bureau to make Western the home base for the AAU nine-13-year-old girls regional basketball tournament. Benton High School and Spring Garden Middle School courts will be used along with two courts at LeBlond High School and two courts at Western. Finals will now be played at Western.

• Dr. Judy Grimes, dean of student services, helped coordinate a visit to campus by a U.S. State Department -sponsored group of international visitors from Egypt, Norway, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Their objective was to examine how young Americans acquire public policy at the local, national, and international levels. Others meeting with them included Dr. Paul Shang, dean of student development, Tay Triggs, director of the center for multicultural education, Dr. Chris Shove, executive director/dean of the Western Institute, and Stan Sweeney, director of student activities.

• Teresa Harris, assistant professor of art, had a work “Reliquary I” exhibited at the Kansas Artist Craftsman Association Membership Exhibition at the Sabatini Gallery in Topeka, Kan.

• Dr. Melissa A. F. Daggett, assistant professor of biology, presented a workshop entitled “Implementing Independent Research Projects for Undergraduates Using Adult and Embryonic Zebrafish” at the 49th annual meeting of the Association of College and University Biology Educators (ACUBE) meeting at Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Mo. She also presented a poster entitled “A Molecular Approach for Using Crayfish to Determine Water Quality in Small Streams” at the Genes in Ecology, Ecology in Genes Symposium in Overland Park, Kan. Dr. Daggett also participated in the Avila Science and Math Challenge for Young Women at Avila University, Kansas City, Mo.

• Dr. Diane Gorcyca, professor of speech; Dawn Terrick, instructor of English; and Cathy Gann, reading and study skills coordinator for the center for academic support, presented a program, “Implementation of Curricular Integrated Learning Communities” at the Learning Communities Conference sponsored by Harper College in Chicago.

• Evan Noynaert, associate professor of computer science, presented a CSMP Colloquium entitled “Plagiarism Detection Software.”

• Steve Morris, assistant professor of philosophy, presented a paper entitled “Folk Notions and Free Will” at the 51st annual meeting of the Florida Philosophical Association in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

• Jerry Anderson, associate professor of music, presented a piano and organ program for the Noon Recital Series at the First Presbyterian Church.

• Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies, presented the results of the first year of research on her grant from the Center for Women in Transition. She presented the data gathered from a statewide study of stakeholder and public attitudes toward the Missouri criminal justice system, to the funder in St. Louis. This report sets the baseline for the three-year research grant. 

Excellence in our Students

• Steven Hart, biology major, received a competitive award of $751 from the Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honor Society Research Foundation to support his research on anti-tumor drugs with Dr. Todd Eckdahl, professor of biology.

• Business majors Harold Callaway, sophomore; Jeremy Wilder, junior; and Bradley Dixon, sophomore attended the National Orientation Directors Association Conference with Kathy Kelly, administrative coordinator for student development.

Excellence in our Programs

• The department of music and the St. Joseph Area Music Teachers Association (SJAMTA) sponsored a Christmas Young Monster Piano Concert. Seven ensembles of 16 pianists at 8 pianos performed. Alumnus Steven Moellering was commissioned by SJAMTA to write a composition, “A Jazzy Christmas,” that was performed by 33 teachers who formed their own ensemble. 

• VIP Visit days held in the fall were well attended with over 439 students and parents in attendance. The VIPs who gave the campus tours during the fall of 2005 have a cumulative GPA average of 3.3. The VIPs are: Michelle Delaney, Rachel Donnell, Andy Ewing, Tia Frahm, Brittney Kelley, Kylie Lowe, Mallory Paines, Tanisha Washington, Erin Wilson, Trevor Parker, Jennifer Foster, Tara Duckworth, Jenna Gilpatrick, Rebecca Monnig, Katy Schwartz, Seth Logston, Mallory Hall, Tierha Jones.

• The Center for Multicultural Education is continuing with the Expanding Our Horizons project. Throughout the spring semester, presentations on the “Power of Words” series will be given to students, faculty, and staff. The purpose of the series is to facilitate discussions surrounding the use of words and how it affects the people around us. The series will also provide opportunities to explore words and terms that are more social-justice-oriented. Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the semester.

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