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

Week of Aug. 27 - Sept. 2, 2010

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A Look Ahead

'Perfect Timing' Saves Western on Bond Issue

Chiefs Training Camp a Success

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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 271-4124.

A Look Ahead

Friday, Aug. 27

• Griffon Edge continues
• Residence halls open for all students

Saturday, Aug. 28

• Griffon Edge concludes

Monday, Aug. 30

• Fall semester 2010 begins

• Late registration, 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Admissions Office (Eder Hall 101)

• Western Warm-Up Kickoff, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., around the Glenn E. Marion Memorial Clock Tower

  • Campus departments and organization, local businesses and service agencies will have information booths set up for students.

•  Greek Barbecue, 5 p.m., west side of Blum Student Union

Tuesday, Aug. 31

• Community Blood Center Blood Drive, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Blum Union first floor lounge

  • The community’s blood supply is critically low. Help take the sting out of summer blood shortages by donating. To make an appointment online, go to www.savealifenow.org and use the sponsor code: mwstu. For more information contact Tay Triggs at 271-4150, or for medical eligibility questions call 1-800-245-7035.

• Late registration, 1 – 6:30 p.m., Admissions Office (Eder Hall 101)

• Last day for employees to renew their parking hang tag or decal

  • Click here to start the process.

Wed., Sept. 1

• Step Afrika, 7 p.m., Potter Hall Theater

  • The Western Activities Council and the Center for Multicultural Education present a free performance of the only professional dance troupe in the world dedicated to traditional stepping, a unique dance tradition created by African-American college students which features intricate rhythms and sounds made through a combination of footsteps, claps and the spoken word. Click here for more information.

• Late registration, 1 – 4:30 p.m., Admissions Office (Eder Hall 101)

Thursday, Sept. 2

• First Thursday Noon Concert Series, 12:10 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 7^th and Jules

  • Jazz pianist and Western alumnus Jeremy Gregoire will perform. A minimum donation of $3 is recommended to help defray expenses and insure the continuation of the series. Click here for more information.

• Late registration, 1 – 4:30 p.m., Admissions Office (Eder Hall 101)

• Faculty Senate, 3:30 p.m., Blum 220

•  Griffon football vs. Mesa State, 6 p.m., Spratt Memorial Stadium

  • The Western football team kicks off the 2010 campaign under the lights. The Griffons were picked fourth in the MIAA coaches’ poll and third in the MIAA media poll. Nationally, they are ranked No. 14 in the D2Football.com poll and No. 20 in the AFCA coaches’ poll. Click here to view the media guide for the 2010 season.

Friday, Sept. 3

• Chemistry department picnic, 11 a.m., Murphy Hall lawn

• Late registration, 1 – 4:30 p.m., Admissions Office (Eder Hall 101)

• Griffon soccer vs. East Central University (Okla.), 2:30 p.m. at Emporia, Kan.

  • The Western soccer team begins the 2010 season on the road. The Griffons had the best season in the program’s brief history last year, with an 8-10-2 season, and every player returns. They were picked fifth in the MIAA preseason coaches’ poll. Click here to view the media guide for the 2010 season.

• Griffon volleyball vs. Cameron University (3 p.m.) and Ouachita Baptist University (7 p.m.) at Memphis, Tenn.

  • Western volleyball opens the 2010 campaign in the Christian Brothers University Tournament in Memphis. The Griffons hope to improve on their 11-22 record from a year ago. They were picked 10^th in the MIAA preseason coaches’ poll. Click here to view the media guide for the 2010 season.

Saturday, Sept. 4

• Griffon volleyball vs. University of Illinois-Springfield (1 p.m.) and Christian Brothers University (3 p.m.) at Memphis, Tenn.

Sunday, Sept. 5

• Griffon soccer vs. Angelo State University (Texas), noon, at Emporia, Kan.

Monday, Sept. 6

• Labor Day, campus closed

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'Perfect Timing' Saves Western on Bond Issue

Historically low interest rates combined with assistance from the federal government will save Western thousands of dollars on a bond issue to finance the construction of a new residence hall.

“This is really an exciting transaction,” Chris Collier of Edward Jones told the Board of Governors on Aug. 26. “The university timed it perfectly and structured it perfectly. It’s the lowest cost of financing I’ve seen in ten years of doing this.”

Western benefits from historically low interest rates, Collier said. In addition, the bonds qualify as recovery zone bonds under last year’s federal stimulus package, meaning the federal government will pay 45 percent of the interest rates. Over the 25-year life of the bonds, the university will pay an average interest rate of about 3.5 percent.

The Board of Governors actually approved two bond issues at their Aug. 26 meeting. One bond issue, for $15 million, will pay for the new residence hall that’s currently under construction south of Scanlon Hall. The university had planned to borrow $16 million, but construction bids came in much lower than expected.

The second bond issue refunds the university’s outstanding bonds from 1998. Collier said the refunding component will save the university nearly $50,000 per year.

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Chiefs Training Camp a Success

By all accounts, Western’s first opportunity to host the summer training camp of the Kansas City Chiefs was a resounding success.

“I think it exceeded our expectations,” Dave Williams, athletic director, told the Kansas City Star. “With this big of a project, you’d think you’d have more things come up that we weren’t ready for, and I felt we were ready for most of the things we saw.”

An estimated 60,000 visitors came to Western’s campus during the camp, an average of about 2,500 fans per practice. That includes a Spratt Memorial Stadium record of 10,721 for Family Fun Day on Aug. 7. Many of those visitors were very complimentary, including the Chiefs.

“I couldn’t have been happier with the entire operation, especially for the first time going through,” said Todd Haley, Chiefs head coach, during one of his last press conferences in St. Joseph. “My hat goes off to all the people involved, especially the guys here that got this place ready and had it running like we’d been here for years.”

“This has been awesome,” said general manager Scott Pioli. “This has been fabulous for us in terms of the facilities, the closeness of everything, the energy from the fans. There’s a different energy here. The players talk about it on a daily basis … We’re home, this is where we’re supposed to be. I’m glad we’re here.”

Special events for the fans included the Red Rally prior to the first practice on July 30, the dedication of the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex on July 31, a free evening practice on Aug. 4, Family Fun Day on Aug. 7, and the Camp Send Off and Gatorade Junior Training Camp on Aug. 18.

The Griffon Indoor Sports Complex drew rave reviews.

“Wow!” was the initial response of Chris Mortensen of ESPN when he was asked about the facility by Dave Riggert on ESPN 1550. “To be honest with you, I was blown away … This is better than some of the [NCAA] Division I facilities.”

Dr. Patrick McMurry, professor of economics, collected data from visitors and businesses throughout the three-week camp to compile an economic impact report on the camp. Final numbers won’t be known for a while, but many business owners and tourist attractions reported an increase in traffic.

The exact financial impact on the university won’t be known for a while either, but Western does expect to meet its goal of at least breaking even.

As a thank you, the Chiefs made free tickets to the preseason game against the Eagles on Aug. 27 available to employees. The initial allotment of 700 tickets was quickly distributed and hundreds more were ordered.

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