Week of August 30 - September 5, 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:

Convocation on Critical Issues Features Bob Woodward

Freshman Receive Warm Welcome at Western Events

Sweeney and Speros Join Western

Points of Pride

News Briefs

Calendar

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:
Paula White

Staff Advisers:
Kristy Hill and Diane Holtz

Convocation on Critical Issues Features Bob Woodward

Author and journalist Bob Woodward will be the featured speaker at Missouri Western State College’s 11^th annual Convocation on Critical Issues at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 14 at the M.O. Looney Fieldhouse. His topic is “Plan of Attack: President Bush and the War on Terrorism,” based on his recent bestseller, “Plan of Attack.” The event is free and 9:30 a.m. Classes are cancelled on that day.

In his talk, Woodward will provide the audience with the inside story of the Bush Administration’s decision to go to war and the efforts that followed to deal with the conflict. Woodward will share with audiences his extensive access to dozens of key Bush administration figures to uncover the inside story that reveals how Washington works and the struggles to determine America’s political agenda. His numerous anecdotes and stories shed light on how the current Iraqi policy took shape, and comments on what the future holds for both the administration’s key players – and the war in Iraq.

Woodward will also speak at a Convocation Dinner at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 in the Nelle Blum Student Union Forrest Hoff Room. To make reservations for the dinner, call 816-271-5646 by Sept. 6. Cost is $30.

Named one of the Best Investigative Reporters in America by the New York Times, Woodward, recipient of almost every major American journalism award, has been with the Washington Post since 1971, serving as an assistant managing editor for the past 23 years.

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Freshman Receive Warm Welcome at Western Events

The new academic year at Missouri Western State College kicked off with a variety of activities to help first-year students get off to a good start.

Though classes did not officially start until Aug. 30, freshmen arrived Aug. 24 for Griffon Edge, a three-day orientation program. Almost 800 students participated.

“College is the ultimate experience, and at Western you will get everything a college can offer,” Student Body President Elijah Haahr said in a letter  to the new studnets. Along with Griffon Edge, two weeks of activities  were planned to help introduce the  freshmen to Western and to other students. 

 The students were also introduced to Western’s organizations and clubs, during Griffon Edge and a Welcome Fair  introduced them to the resources available at Western and the community.

“At Western, we offer more than 80 clubs and organizations to get you involved, and these will help give you the real world skills you need when you graduate,” said Haahr.

Griffon Edge activities included campus tours and also several workshops addressing college life.  Students attended a Western football game and a tailgater. In addition, the students took part in a Traditions Night where they talked about Western’s traditions, learned the school fight song and the Alma Mater.

A convocation for the new students was also held. At the convocation administrators, faculty, and staff spoke to introduce students to the concept of citizen scholors. Griffon Edge participants also took part in a college reading program, where students read a book before they arrived and shared discussions about it throughout the week.

This year, a  service day was added to the  orientation program where students participated  in a variety of service projects to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Students  built house components in the parking lot of East Hills Shopping Center, picked up trash throughout the community, distributed information about Habitat for Humanity, engaged in yard work at several Habitat houses, and hosted several car washes to raise money  for Habitat.

“I am really excited about the day of service. I think that it is awesome that we brought it to Griffon Edge,” said Kylie Lowe, a junior from Blue Springs, Mo. who helped run the program this year. “I am passionate about service and it is going to be awesome. We’ll all be working together and giving back to the community. The impact is going to be great.”

Upcoming events for the new students include movies, bowling, a dance party, a volleyball tournament, free skating and an overnight lock-in. Luckily, for any student who might be feeling homesick,  Famliy Day is planned for Sept. 18.

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Sweeney and Speros Join Western

Stan Sweeney and Michael Speros are two of the newest additions to Western's family.  Sweeney is the new director of student activities and began his duties Aug. 9. For the past five years he has served as the associate director of student activities for Greek Affairs at Indiana University.  He holds a bachelor of science in communications from Central Missouri State University and a master of science in education from Eastern Illinois University.  

Speros became Western's director of residential life in July. He most recently worked at Illinois State University where he spent 11 years working in a number of different capacities in University Housing Services.  In December 2003, he received the Neal R. Gamsky Quality of Life Award from Illinois State.  He holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics with a minor in business/marketing and a master of arts in couseling/student personnel services from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.  

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Points of Pride

Excellence in our Faculty/Staff

• Dr. Dennis Rogers, professor of music and director of percussion studies, is a recipient of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Award for 2004-2005. The awards are granted by an independent panel and based on the unique prestige = value of each writer’s original compositions, as well as recent performances.
• Karl Bell, multicultural education director, was selected to participate in the Bridging Higher Education to the State initiative sponsored by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The theme of the project is “Perspectives in Government, Business and Education on Higher Education Access” and its purpose is to draw on the perspectives of early and mid-career professionals to further develop higher education policy.
• Peggy Ellis, director of noncredit programs and training for business/industry, assisted area companies in preparing applications for customized training funds. Over $80,000 has been allocated to area companies.
• Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, had a research paper co-authored by Bijan Vasigh of Emry-Riddle Aeronautical University, entitled “Testing Sensitivity of Student Enrollment with Respect to Tuition at an Institution of Higher Education” published in International Advances in Economic Research.
• Dr. Phil Mullins, professor of philosophy, recently had an essay entitled “Polanyi on Science Policy” published in Polanyiana. Dr. Mullins also had his review of Myron Tuman’s Critical Thinking .com: A Guide to Deep Thinking in a Shallow Age published in Computers and Composition 21.
• Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, presented two seminars, “How to Make a Company’s Work a Success?” and “Building a Testable Model of Distinct and Successful Distance Education Programs” at Indiana University, Bloomington, to doctoral students and faculty.
• Carolyn Windsor, assistant professor of nursing, and Bonnie Gregory, assistant professor of nursing, recently attended and presented “Assessing Cultural Competence in the First Semester Nursing Student,” co-authored with Dr. Evelyn Brooks, associate professor of nursing, and Cyrstal Harris, assistant professor of nursing, at the 15^th Annual Nurse Educators Conference in Breckenridge, Colo.
• Dr. Teddi Deka, associate professor of psychology, and psychology major Angela Mobley presented a paper entitled “Accurate and Inaccurate Stereotype Threats Affect Male and Female Performance” at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society held in Chicago.
• Dr. Phil Wann, professor of psychology, and psychology graduate Caroline
  Flanagan presented a paper on “Stereotype Theatre, Individual Threat, and Mental Rotation” at the American Psychological Society.
• Dr. Phil Wann, professor of psychology, and psychology graduate Aron Gerhart participated in the Society for Teaching of Psychology/American Psychological Society Teaching Institute in Chicago. Their poster was entitled “Bisecting and Behavior: Does Lateral Inattention Predict Performance in Introductory Psychology?”
• Dr. Gene Bonham, assistant professor of criminal justice, completed all requirements for his doctorate of criminal justice at Sam Houston State University. Dr. Bonham also participated at the Missouri Technical Association Conference in Springfield, Mo., where he answered questions about the criminal justice’s two-year program.
• Dr. Randye Williams, associate professor of physical education, attended a state meeting of the Council on Adolescent School Health in Jefferson City, Mo. The topic of discussion was adolescent workers, permits, and issues surrounding adolescent employment.
• Crystal Harris, assistant professor of nursing, presented “Developing Cultural Competence for a Global Community” at the Third International Public Health
  Conference in Topeka, Kan. Over 200 people attended representing 30 countries.
• Carol Roever, associate professor of business, and Kathleen Randall, 2003 graduate, presented “Understanding United States Culture: Is the Cell Phone Moving the U.S. Toward a Polychronic Culture?” at the European Convention of the Association for Business Communication in Milan, Italy. Carol was also the speaker at the June graduation ceremony for the second Stepping Stones class, a program designed to encourage students to enter the healthcare field or to enhance their medical credentials, sponsored by Heartland Health.
• Dr. Judy Grimes, dean of student services, provided the opening session at the Retention Management System Community of Educators’ Workshop in New Orleans.  Her topic was “Using a Strength’s-Based Approach to Advising Undecided Students.”  She also made a presentation at the National Conference on Student Retention focusing on the use of the College Student Inventory in advising freshmen. 
• Ellen Kisker, coordinator for the nontraditional student center, attended the National AHEAD (Association of Higher Education and Disability) Conference in Miami.  She continues to serve another year on the executive board for Missouri’s AHEAD.
• Linda Garlinger, director of career services, attended the Rocky Mountain Association of Colleges and Employers Annual Conference.  She and Ellen Kisker, coordinator for the nontraditional student center, also attended the Missouri Employment Summit in Columbia.

Excellence in our Students

• Angela Mobley, psychology major, and Dr. Teddi Deka, associate professor of psychology, presented a paper entitled “Accurate and Inaccurate
  Stereotype Threats Affect Male and Female Performance” at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society held recently in Chicago.
• Caroline Flanagan, psychology graduate, and Dr. Phil Wann, professor of psychology, presented a paper on “Stereotype Theatre, Individual Threat, and Mental Rotation” at the American Psychological Society.
• Aron Gerhart, psychology graduate, and Dr. Phil Wann, professor of psychology, participated in the Society for Teaching of Psychology/American Psychological Society Teaching Institute in Chicago. Their poster was entitled “Bisecting and Behavior: Does Lateral Inattention Predict Performance in Introductory Psychology?”

Excellence in our Programs

• Jim Vetter, Western Institute adjunct instructor facilitated a 10-session series on Leadership Development for 17 supervisory employees at Systems and Services Technologies, Inc.
• During the summer, the Western Institute Center for Arts and Culture, formerly Midland Empire Community Arts, brought 629 students of all ages to campus for arts and cultural enrichment courses.
• The Western Institute Center for Arts and Culture, in conjunction with the St. Joseph Allied Arts Council, held the annual “Artscape” children’s camp.  In its 17^th year, Artscape engages children, grades three-10, in hands-on learning activities in a broad spectrum of the arts for five full days.  A maximum enrollment of 180 students was achieved a week before the camp began.
• Western Institute’s Conferences hosted Contest and Judging School for Harmony College with 210 attending.  Harmony College had nearly 600 participants.
• Conferences hosted Drumline Camp with 60 students attending.
• Peggy Ellis, director of noncredit programs and training for business/industry, assisted area companies in preparing applications for customized training funds. Over $80,000 has been allocated to area companies.

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• Missouri Western State College alumnus Steven Moellering will be the leadoff performer for the sixth season of the First Thursday Downtown Noon Concert Series. The audience is invited to bring lunch and eat while listening to the 35-minute piano performance held at 12:10 p.m. Sept. 2 in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church, 7^th & Jules.  Beverages will be provided, and there will be an opportunity to meet the musician after the concert.

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Monday, August 30

• CLASSES BEGIN

Tuesday, August 31

• Late registration/add period

• Drop period

Wednesday, September 1

• Late registration/add period

• Drop period

Thursday, September 2

• Home football game, 7 p.m.

• Late registration/add period

• Noontime Concert Series, 12:10 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 7^th & Jules

Friday, September 3

• Ramada Inn Volleyball Invitational 

• Late registration/add period

Saturday, September 4

• Ramada Inn Volleyball Invitational 

• Library closed

Sunday, September 5

• Library and Center for Academic Support closed

Monday, September 6

• Labor Day - Campus Closed

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• For Sale: Speaker box that fits in the back of a car. In very good shape. $50 or best offer. A picture can be e-mailed if desired. Please call Jennifer at 816-671-9625.

• For Sale: Printer and monitor.  Lexmark Printer and NEC monitor, both great condition. If you are interested, please contact Eric at 816-383-6829.

• Freestanding Fireplace for sale (woodstove with glass doors) with blower and thermostat.  Must sell.  $400 or best offer.  Will deliver, you unload.  Call Ethel Catron at 4330

• Wooden bunk bed, no mattresses.  $50 or best offer.  Call Ethel Catron at 4330.

• For Sale:  Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica 15th Edition and The Annals of America - A chronicle of a nation's history from 1493-1986.  $400.  Leave message at 667-9108.

• For Sale:  Pentax K1000 SLR camera.  Fully manual.  Original camera bag, strap, owners manual, etc. Original lens is a Pentax with an additional Tamron 20~200 mm lens.  $400.  Leave message at 667-9108.

• For Sale:  Cherry Dining Room Set, Excellent Condition.  Include table, 6 chairs, lighted hutch and table protectors.  $800 or best offer.  Call 279-3924.

• For Sale:  Light Colored Tweed Couches.  Excellent Condition.  $100 each.  Call 279-3924.

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